with either society’s security chief.
“I’ll deal with it,” she said. She leaned forward and opened the side door of the van. “Wait here.”
Hopping out, she assessed the park. Three of the Enforcers – including the man who made her heart flip in her chest – stood on one side, waiting, while Olivia and a handful of her IAB members stood closer to the van. She sensed Declan but didn’t dare look at him. Olivia had come only to start trouble; there was no other reason for her to be there after Zoey told her she was outbid.
Tall, polished and beautiful, Olivia smiled at Zoey the moment she set foot out of the van and started forward.
Zoey walked a short distance from the van. She rested one palm on the hilt of her knife and waited for Olivia to reach her.
“Zoey,” Olivia said. “Always a pleasure.” She held out a hand.
Zoey ignored it. Olivia’s magic was strong, but Zoey’s connection to Declan provided a buffer. Olivia was no longer able to influence her the way she once was.
“I’ve wanted to talk to you in person for some time,” Olivia said. She dropped her hand, her smile still in place despite the snub. “You made a deal with the Enforcers for Aiden?”
Zoey crossed her arms with a nod.
“What if I could give you something they couldn’t?” Olivia continued.
“There’s nothing you have that I want, except money, and you got outbid,” Zoey replied.
She heard the van door close behind her and glanced over her shoulder. Vikki stood beside Aiden, both of whom were watching the exchange. Ginny slid into the driver’s seat, ready to drive.
“Nothing at all? Maybe an end to the blackouts? A cure to your Halflings’ … issues?”
Zoey’s gaze narrowed. It took all her strength not to take the bait and admit that yes, there were issues and yes, she was out of her league. Olivia knew about them, which meant either she was causing them, or Zoey’s theory about a mole was correct.
Olivia made an attempt at looking sympathetic. “Really, Zoey. All I want is to help my daughters succeed. We have the same purpose, an end to the Cambions.”
“Then why the fuck are you working with them?”
“I’m sure you know by now how political your situation is. Imagine mine.”
“I’ll never give you the means to control me again or buy in to your delusion about killing off my kind when we’re no longer of use to you.”
“Your kind,” Olivia repeated, amused. “There are only five of you worth saving after decades of genetic experiments.”
Zoey bit her tongue, ready to snap the woman’s neck.
“Still not willing to talk?” Olivia asked.
“Fuck you, Olivia.”
“The technology I used to create you, and the solution to your dying Halflings, can be yours, if you work with me. They can just as easily fall into the wrong hands, if you insist on defying me and the Sucubatti.” Olivia’s voice was nearly a whisper. “I’ll do whatever it takes to convince you of where you belong, Zoey. I gave you some time and space to think about it in the hopes you’d see what I’m offering.”
Zoey stared at her, not trusting herself to respond. In the far reaches of her mind, a light bulb went on, one triggered by the acknowledgment that Olivia had the ability to save the Halflings.
There was a way that didn’t require building Chrissy a lab. All Zoey had to do was infiltrate the IAB and take it. Which was easier? Building a lab or breaking into Olivia’s? Zoey knew which was probably going to be cheaper.
“Turn over Aiden to me, and I’ll help you stop the blackouts,” Olivia offered.
“You know that won’t happen. I don’t trust anything you say, Olivia, and I never will.” Zoey motioned for Vikki to follow and started forward. “We’re done here.”
Olivia caught her arm. “Zoey, don’t be a fool. You swore to help the innocent. Every deal you make with the Incubatti makes them stronger. Declan, the Enforcers and their Council still support what the Cambions are
“I’ll deal with it,” she said. She leaned forward and opened the side door of the van. “Wait here.”
Hopping out, she assessed the park. Three of the Enforcers – including the man who made her heart flip in her chest – stood on one side, waiting, while Olivia and a handful of her IAB members stood closer to the van. She sensed Declan but didn’t dare look at him. Olivia had come only to start trouble; there was no other reason for her to be there after Zoey told her she was outbid.
Tall, polished and beautiful, Olivia smiled at Zoey the moment she set foot out of the van and started forward.
Zoey walked a short distance from the van. She rested one palm on the hilt of her knife and waited for Olivia to reach her.
“Zoey,” Olivia said. “Always a pleasure.” She held out a hand.
Zoey ignored it. Olivia’s magic was strong, but Zoey’s connection to Declan provided a buffer. Olivia was no longer able to influence her the way she once was.
“I’ve wanted to talk to you in person for some time,” Olivia said. She dropped her hand, her smile still in place despite the snub. “You made a deal with the Enforcers for Aiden?”
Zoey crossed her arms with a nod.
“What if I could give you something they couldn’t?” Olivia continued.
“There’s nothing you have that I want, except money, and you got outbid,” Zoey replied.
She heard the van door close behind her and glanced over her shoulder. Vikki stood beside Aiden, both of whom were watching the exchange. Ginny slid into the driver’s seat, ready to drive.
“Nothing at all? Maybe an end to the blackouts? A cure to your Halflings’ … issues?”
Zoey’s gaze narrowed. It took all her strength not to take the bait and admit that yes, there were issues and yes, she was out of her league. Olivia knew about them, which meant either she was causing them, or Zoey’s theory about a mole was correct.
Olivia made an attempt at looking sympathetic. “Really, Zoey. All I want is to help my daughters succeed. We have the same purpose, an end to the Cambions.”
“Then why the fuck are you working with them?”
“I’m sure you know by now how political your situation is. Imagine mine.”
“I’ll never give you the means to control me again or buy in to your delusion about killing off my kind when we’re no longer of use to you.”
“Your kind,” Olivia repeated, amused. “There are only five of you worth saving after decades of genetic experiments.”
Zoey bit her tongue, ready to snap the woman’s neck.
“Still not willing to talk?” Olivia asked.
“Fuck you, Olivia.”
“The technology I used to create you, and the solution to your dying Halflings, can be yours, if you work with me. They can just as easily fall into the wrong hands, if you insist on defying me and the Sucubatti.” Olivia’s voice was nearly a whisper. “I’ll do whatever it takes to convince you of where you belong, Zoey. I gave you some time and space to think about it in the hopes you’d see what I’m offering.”
Zoey stared at her, not trusting herself to respond. In the far reaches of her mind, a light bulb went on, one triggered by the acknowledgment that Olivia had the ability to save the Halflings.
There was a way that didn’t require building Chrissy a lab. All Zoey had to do was infiltrate the IAB and take it. Which was easier? Building a lab or breaking into Olivia’s? Zoey knew which was probably going to be cheaper.
“Turn over Aiden to me, and I’ll help you stop the blackouts,” Olivia offered.
“You know that won’t happen. I don’t trust anything you say, Olivia, and I never will.” Zoey motioned for Vikki to follow and started forward. “We’re done here.”
Olivia caught her arm. “Zoey, don’t be a fool. You swore to help the innocent. Every deal you make with the Incubatti makes them stronger. Declan, the Enforcers and their Council still support what the Cambions are
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