Ashes

  “Maybe they thought it would be good for us, or maybe they were just too lazy to be bothered guiding us because they had such busy social lives; I don’t know. Talia went through the typical teenage rebellion, but it’s hard to rebel against people who don’t care if you do it. She kept pushing them, wanting a reaction. All she did was mess up her life.”

  “Whereas you cut your losses and moved on.”

  Daniel shrugged. “Yeah, I guess you could put it that way. Look, I didn’t want the kid to go down Talia’s road. He’s been through enough, considering what his human mother did. So I told them they should just let him stay with Linda and Wyatt. Besides, if my parents had really wanted him, they’d have taken him when he was a baby.”

  For a moment, Knox said nothing. “They knew about him?”

  Daniel seemed surprised by the question. “Oh yeah. My mother was there for his birth. She pressured Talia to switch him for a human baby. It didn’t take much pressure, but it was still a shitty thing to do.”

  Knox exchanged a look with Keenan. “Why do you think they wanted him now, Daniel?”

  “Because they were all about appearances. It would have looked bad to others if they hadn’t tried to take him in. They wouldn’t have wanted a black mark from society.”

  Knox could easily believe that. “Is there anyone who may be upset with your parents?”

  “Linda Sanders, but I don’t believe she did it. Linda came to the house, trying to pay my parents to back off and let her keep McCauley. They refused, but it didn’t lead to a major row or anything.”

  Frowning, Keenan spoke. “I was under the impression that things were going well.”

  “They were,” said Daniel. “Everybody seemed to be working together for McCauley’s sake. But then Linda came here Thursday night and declared that she and Wyatt were taking McCauley away for the weekend to Florida, so my parents would have to miss their scheduled visit with him. My mother said she’d never begrudge McCauley a trip but that she didn’t appreciate Linda giving them such short notice. Linda seemed… disappointed by the response, as if she’d hoped to draw my mother into an argument – Pamela Winters wasn’t a woman who was easily riled.”

  “When did Linda offer her money?” asked Knox.

  “As she was leaving. She was almost at the front door, and then she just turned and said she’d give Pamela forty grand if she’d agree to stay away from him.”

  Keenan whistled. “Linda meant business.”

  “My mother was pissed, but she didn’t raise her voice. She just turned down Linda’s offer and ordered her to leave. Linda apologized for offending her, said she just wanted what was best for McCauley, and then she left.” He paused. “Like I said, I don’t think Linda hurt them. My mom was a judge and she got a lot of hate mail. It was probably someone who was either pissed at her for sentencing someone they loved or it was someone who wanted revenge because she sent them to prison.”

  After a moment, Knox nodded. “Thank you for answering our questions. If you need anything, let me know. Take care, Daniel.”

  “He’s right, you know,” said Keenan as they walked back to the Bentley, where Levi waited. “The attack was most likely related to one of Pamela’s cases.”

  “Most likely,” agreed Knox. It made the most sense, after all. But he couldn’t bring himself to fully believe it. “Let’s get back to my mate.”

  Back at the mansion, Knox found her in the living room, watching some kind of quiz show. She slowly stood and walked straight to him. He curled his arms around her. “Before I answer your questions, what did the doctor say?”

  “He did the tests,” she said. “Everything came back normal. Now what happened?” Harper’s eyes widened as he told her about the murders. “Hell. Do you think it could have been McCauley?”

  Knox grimaced. “I’m not sure it’s something he could have physically done.”

  “He could have enhanced strength like my cousin. Or he could have somehow mind-fucked someone into doing it for him. Its seems weird that he would, though. I mean, Keenan told you earlier that his visits with Pamela and Rupert had gone just fine. I suppose the demon could have still been pissed at them for not taking McCauley in as a baby. It’s not their fault that they hadn’t known about him, but our inner demons often see things in black and white.”

  Knox rubbed her back. “It turns out that they did know about him.” He relayed his conversation with Daniel.

  “Well, shit. That’s definitely a reason for McCauley and his demon to be pissed at them. Are you going to at least talk to him about it?”

  “Yes, but he’s in Florida right now. Linda and Wyatt took him there for the weekend. That means I can’t talk to any of them face to face until Sunday.”

  “Someone will notify them about the deaths, so we can’t monitor how they react to the news,” she pointed out.

  Knox arched a brow. “We?”

  “Yes, we,” she insisted. “By Sunday, we’ll have announced the pregnancy, so it won’t be a problem if they see me. They won’t be there for the announcement, but they’ll still hear about it from someone.” She propped her chin on his chest. “We can’t keep it a secret any longer, Knox.”

  He brushed his nose against hers. “We could if I just hid you here,” he joked. Well, it wasn’t entirely a joke.

  Harper rolled her eyes. “Have you thought about where you’ll make the announcement and how you’ll go about it?”

  “Yes. This is what I was thinking…”

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  Beneath the sounds of people talking and laughing was the hum of the ceiling fans and the clinking of flutes. Harper peeked through the black curtain to take a good, long look at the ballroom. “There’s a whole lot of people out there, Tanner.” Not the entire lair, which was unsurprising. Their lair was particularly large, so many families often sent one or two of their own to represent the family and hear whatever announcement was made. It meant that the events weren’t too hectic and crowded, which worked out best for everyone.

  “You don’t need to be nervous,” Tanner assured her, like, for the tenth time. “The lair won’t respond badly to the pregnancy.”

  Harper turned back to him, hiding once more behind the curtain on the small dais. “Probably not, but I’ll have to, you know… talk to people. Mingle.” Harper was dreading it. She simply didn’t have the people skills required for it. Luckily, her mate did.

  She hadn’t seen Knox since breakfast, and she knew he was currently dealing with some issues within the hotel. As hiding her rounded stomach while walking through the Underground wouldn’t have been the easiest thing she’d ever done, she’d had Ciaran teleport her and Tanner from the mansion to the penthouse suite. There, she’d showered and changed into a long, white, chiffon dress that wasn’t loose-fitting yet cleverly made her baby bump a lot less distinctive.

  Tanner, Keenan, and Larkin had then walked her to the dais of the ballroom. Keenan and Larkin were circling the ballroom, on guard. Everyone was ready and in place. Now, all they were waiting for was for Knox to show up.

  The last time she’d telepathically spoken to him had been twenty minutes ago, when he’d informed her that he was heading to the penthouse to quickly shower and change. Since Knox was wicked fast at getting ready, she could only assume that he’d been waylaid by his staff yet again or he’d be here by now. Where are you?

  Within moments, his mind brushed against hers. Dealing with a minor matter before the concierge starts to cry.

  She chuckled. At Tanner’s questioning look, she waved a hand and then peeked through the curtain again. People mingled as they sipped wine and nibbled on appetizers being served by waiters that circulated the room. Other guests were gathered around the tall, high tables on which bowls of pretzels and flickering candles were placed. Keenan and Larkin were patrolling the room, their eyes sharp. “I don’t see Carla, Bray or Kellen.”

  “Did you expect to?” asked Tanner.

  “No.” In fact, she’d been hoping
that they wouldn’t attend. Maybe that was mean of her, but she simply didn’t trust them not to cause a scene.

  “They’re leaving in three weeks anyway, so nothing you say tonight is anything they need to hear.”

  He was right, she thought, as she closed the curtain. Harper smoothed a hand down the side of her dress. “I wish we didn’t have to make a huge, public announcement.”

  “The lair needs to know.”

  “Yeah, I know that, but I would have preferred it if we didn’t have to make a big thing out of it. It would have been easier to just ask you and the other sentinels to pass on the news.”

  “You’re their Prime, and there are certain expectations that come with that position. Making public announcements about key information is one of them. Celebrating important events is another. Your pregnancy is both of those things.”

  “Yes, but have you not seen how people respond to a pregnant woman?” By the way his brow furrowed, no, he hadn’t. “Everyone’s suddenly an expert on babies and they’re all full of advice and nosy-ass questions. I’m glad my stomach’s not that big – people are a hell of a lot worse if there’s a bump. They try rubbing it like it’s a damn genie-infested lamp.”

  “Genie-infested?” he chuckled.

  “You get my point.”

  “I do. How about this? If anyone seems like they’re about to say anything inappropriate or touch your belly, I’ll step in and interrupt the conversation.”

  “That would be good.”

  “Then that’s what I’ll do.” Tanner folded his arms. “On another note, Keenan said you called Lucian earlier.”

  Harper nodded. “I thought it best that he found out about the pregnancy from me.”

  “How did he take the news?”

  She pursed her lips as she thought back to the conversation…

  “Are you freaking kidding me?” Lucian burst out.

  Harper sighed. “Lucian —”

  “It’s not enough that you mated the psychopathic bastard, you’re now going to have his psychopathic spawn?”

  “Hey! My child is not psychopathic.”

  “Don’t kid yourself. If it takes after you, it’ll be a treasure. If it takes after him, it’ll be a living nightmare.”

  Harper scratched her chin. “He took it pretty well.”

  Tanner snorted in disbelief.

  The door behind her creaked open, and Knox’s cologne drifted to her. She turned as he and Levi entered the small space. She couldn’t stop a smile from curving her mouth as she got a good look at him in all his GQ motherfucking glory. No one had the right to exude so much sex appeal. No one. But as he crossed to her, emanating raw power and masculine intensity, a hot and heavy need unfurled inside her.

  And he’s all mine, she thought to herself. Her demon was just as smug about it.

  Knox actually stopped in his tracks as he absorbed the sight of her. Standing there in the pure-white sleeveless, ankle-length, one-shoulder dress, she made him think of a mythological Greek goddess. Her ivory skin had tanned into a pretty gold shade that matched the ends of her dark hair and gave her skin a healthy glow. Her hair was currently bunched up into some kind of elegant updo that appeared to look deliberately tousled.

  Best of all, he could see part of his brand on her breast.

  Knox crossed to her with a smile and slid an arm around her. “You look beautiful. Sorry about the delay.” He fingered one of her white-gold earrings. As always, seeing her wearing something he’d bought her stoked the possessive streak in him. He gently rubbed her stomach as he reached out and gently touched the baby’s mind. All he sensed was contentment. “You ready?”

  “Not really.”

  “It will be fine.” He kissed her. “Now, we need to be clear on a few things. At no point tonight will you be on your own. When it’s time to work the room, I’ll be with you. When you need to use the restrooms, Larkin will accompany you. It’s not that any of us believe you’re in danger from our lair – it’s that we refuse to take any chances.”

  “I don’t want to take chances either.”

  “Good.” He stroked her stomach again. “I’ll go begin the announcement. You know when to join me, don’t you?”

  “Don’t worry; I haven’t forgotten anything.”

  Let your anxiety go, baby. Don’t let them see you nervous.

  She nodded and breathed away the tension in her spine.

  “That’s my girl.” Knox released her and slipped out from behind the curtain. The murmurs and laughter died down as people spotted him, and all eyes turned his way as he crossed to the stand in the center of the dais, where a microphone waited.

  His amplified voice came over the sound system as he spoke. “First of all, thank you all for making it here tonight. I’ll begin by assuring you that this isn’t a gathering to discuss the Horsemen or any issue within the lair. I’ve called you here because I have some good news to share.” He paused for effect. “In approximately two months, there will be a new addition to the lair.”

  There was a rustle of fabric as the curtain opened and then Harper and Tanner stepped out. Tanner and Levi melted into the shadows while Harper crossed the space to Knox. In that dress, her bump wasn’t at all obvious, but enough of the crowd caught his meaning to study her closely. Then applause and cheers rang throughout the room.

  “It isn’t something you need to keep secret,” Knox told them when the applause faded. “But news travels fast among our kind, and we wanted you all to hear it first.”

  A waiter stepped up onto the dais and handed Knox two glasses. One was filled with champagne and the other with water, at Knox’s earlier request. He gave Harper her glass and they both then raised them to the crowd, who raised theirs right back.

  Knox clinked his glass against Harper’s, and they both sipped at their drinks. “Now we mingle,” he said. “Just a couple of hours; then we can leave.”

  Bracing herself, Harper inhaled deeply. The scents of perfume, cologne, fresh flowers, and scented candles washed over her, making her nose wrinkle. “Let’s get it over with.” Her low heels clicked along the glossy hardwood floor as she walked off the dais. People immediately came forward, faces beaming.

  “Congratulations!” one of them fairly sang.

  Harper returned the smile. “Thanks.”

  The two words were repeated over and over as a continuous flow of people passed on their best wishes. Harper’s face soon began to ache from smiling. As Knox charmed them all, Harper mostly just sipped from her glass. She had to admit, her mind occasionally drifted, especially when any of them tried chatting business. Hell, even watching champagne bubbles rise in the flutes was more entertaining than that at times.

  Of course, the boredom was often alleviated by those people who – just as she’d predicted – had some “advice” to impart. Some were nice about it and seemed to mean well. Others spoke with a smugly omniscient voice that grated on her nerves and pissed off her demon. By the sheer force of her will, Harper had held her smile in place and accepted their wisdom with a nod.

  As he’d promised, Tanner stepped in when it became too awkward. Thankfully, no one tried touching her stomach, because she wouldn’t have been able to bite back any snarky remarks if they had.

  The whole thing might have been easier if it wasn’t so damn hot. Knox must have sensed that it was getting too much, because he moved her to stand directly beneath one of the ceiling fans. She gave him a grateful smile… and then people once more appeared at their side. Again, Harper mostly stayed silent and just sipped from her glass.

  “Here,” said Larkin. She exchanged Harper’s nearly empty glass of water for another. The ice cubes tinkled against the deliciously cold champagne flute.

  Harper eagerly sipped from it, and a cube of ice bumped her lip. “You’re a gem.”

  The harpy smiled. “And you’re doing well, considering you’re probably screaming inside your head.”

  Harper couldn’t deny it. If it hadn’t been for the reassuring p
ressure of Knox’s warm hands, she would have undoubtedly snapped at someone by now. If his fingers weren’t splayed on her back, they were cupping her elbow or massaging her nape. Sometimes he kept his arm curled around her waist, as if suspecting that she wanted to bolt – which she did. He also laid the occasional soothing kiss on her temple, palm, hair, or wrist.

  Each touch was a reminder that he was there; a reassurance that she was doing fine; and a reward for not complaining. Those touches and kisses also helped keep her demon at ease. It didn’t like crowds or mingling any more than Harper did.

  At that moment, the concierge appeared and spoke quietly into Knox’s ear. He then gave him a helpless shrug and waited patiently.