Burn

  Harper frowned. “Who told you about that?”

  “I heard Jolene and Beck talking about it.” Beck was Jolene’s anchor.

  “Eavesdropping again?”

  “Why didn’t you tell me? You knew that night in the Underground, but you didn’t say anything.” Khloë sounded genuinely hurt.

  “I was kind of in shock. It’s a big thing, and I didn’t really know how I felt about it. We both know what your reaction would have been.”

  “If you’re insinuating that I would have interfered in any way, shape, or form—”

  “You would have hounded me until I gave in and bonded with him, and if that failed you would have concocted some sort of plan with the rest of our family to make it happen – and we both know it. This has to be my decision, and mine alone.”

  “But you told Raini and Devon,” she whined.

  “Because although they’re full of opinions, they don’t believe it’s their right to mess with my life. That’s a Wallis thing.”

  Khloë huffed. “Fine. You can at least tell me if you’ve bonded with him yet.”

  “I haven’t.”

  “You didn’t say ‘yet’, which means you’re considering refusing to do it. Look, I know you find it hard to trust and let people in. But you have the comfort of knowing that Knox can’t possibly be any less reliable than either of your primary blood relations.” Primary blood relations being Carla and Lucian. Khloë simply refused to refer to them as ‘parents.’

  “That’s true,” Harper allowed with a sigh.

  “You sound really glum. How about we go back to the Underground this weekend? Sunday night’s the best. It’s too hectic on Fridays and Saturdays.” As demons could go for days and days without sleep, they didn’t need to worry about staying up late on work nights.

  “Sure. But no more duels.”

  “We’ll see.”

  It occurred to Harper as she ended the call that those were the last words Knox had said to her. If it turned out that Knox was just as mentally resilient as Khloë, then Harper would definitely have a problem getting him to do anything she wanted him to do – including walking away from her. Not great.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Come to me, Harper.

  With a gasp, Harper bolted upright in bed. And cursed. That rumbly, velvet voice called to her day and night; tempting her and teasing her with a promise of sexual satisfaction. Worse, the words snaked over her skin like demanding hands, making raw need inflate inside her – an overwhelming pressure that had nowhere to go. Her whole body felt hypersensitive, edgy, and tingly.

  Cursing him to hell and back, she clambered out of bed and headed for the kitchen area, where she switched on the coffee machine. She had seen him twice during the past week; on both occasions he had collected her from the studio and taken her to dinner. It had been a different restaurant each time. He was clearly trying to ensure as many demons as possible saw them together.

  As she’d watched people rush to aid, serve, or talk to him wherever they went, it had quickly become clear that he welded a shit load of social power. That fear of him was always present, though. Even humans sensed that there was something dangerous about him.

  Each time they were together, he surprisingly made a distinct effort to get to know her, asking questions about her family and the places she’d seen during her travels. He shared some of his own memories with her, though nothing too personal. He’d also hinted at her accompanying him to the conference in New York, wherein the Primes would discuss the matter of electing a U.S. Monarch, since many demons took their anchors to important events. Harper was nosy enough to be considering it, but she wasn’t yet totally sure she—

  Come to me.

  Again, his voice snaked over her skin. Squeezing her eyes shut, Harper shook her head. For the first time, she responded to his call. Why are you doing this to me? She’d seen the way females responded to him, doubted he’d ever be short of women eager to hop in his bed. She’d also noticed that those women were just like Kendra – tall, elegant, and well-groomed. Harper was none of those things and she was totally okay with it. That didn’t change the fact that she wasn’t his usual type.

  I want you.

  Like it was truly that simple for him. She scratched at her arm, feeling itchy with the restlessness that was taunting her entire body. His mind brushed against hers, almost as if he was trying to comfort her. She was glad her mental shields were tough enough to withstand him or he’d no doubt pour into her mind until she could feel him everywhere. Telepathy wasn’t an invasion of the mind. It was like one mind picking up the frequency of another and using that channel of communication to speak.

  Maybe you only want me because I’m not tripping all over myself to get to you. Demons loved challenges.

  A vibe of male amusement touched her mind. We both know it’s more than that, but I’ll admit that your stubbornness is refreshing. His mind stroked hers once more…and then it was gone. And for some stupid, irrational reason, she felt more alone than she ever had before.

  It wasn’t only her stubbornness he seemed to find entertaining. Knox also seemed to be enjoying how difficult she found it to adjust to having someone who looked out for her. He’d installed a high-tech security system at her apartment and the studio. He’d also assigned Tanner to be both her driver and bodyguard – something she’d expected Tanner to resent, given that it had to be a boring job. But her new bodyguard made it clear to her that since she was important to Knox, her safety was equally important to Tanner and the other sentinels.

  Part of her balked at having a driver, felt it impeded on her independence. But traveling in a Bentley beat using public transport any day. As such, when she left her apartment later that morning to head for work, Tanner was waiting outside. They talked a little during the short journey, at the end of which he parked in a spot outside the studio and, as usual, remained in his car while she went inside.

  “Morning,” sang Khloë, who was sitting at the reception desk. “I brought bagels.”

  “You mean you stole bagels.”

  Khloë just shrugged.

  Peeking at Tanner through the window, Devon asked, “Is he ever going to come inside?”

  “I doubt it,” replied Harper. “He takes his sentry position very seriously.”

  No sooner had Harper began setting up her station than Raini appeared, took her by the arm, and started pulling her toward the back of the studio. “What? What is it?”

  “I have something to show you,” said the succubus. Inside the office, Raini dug into a black store bag and pulled out a pair of tailored black pants and an elegant blouse. “What do you think?”

  Harper gave the suit an approving nod. “It’ll look good on you.”

  Raini rolled her eyes. “It’s not for me, it’s for you.”

  “What?” squeaked Harper. “I don’t do ‘elegant.’ I can’t.”

  “If you go to the conference in New York, you’ll have to. And if you just lose that expression that dares the world to come at you, you’ll easily pull off elegant. Oh, and I got you shoes to match.”

  “I’m not good at—”

  “Think of this suit as armor. You’re going to be in a place swarming with high-profile demons, and they’ll undoubtedly be dressed all prim and proper. You’ll feel better if you’re dressed just the same.”

  “Armor,” echoed Harper. “I can work with that.”

  Raini gave her a beaming smile that lit up the room. “Excellent! One more thing before we get to work: have you tested the bed springs with Knox yet? Why are you scowling? I was just asking.”

  Carla Hayden, Knox noted, didn’t look much like her daughter. Although they were both petite, she lacked Harper’s delicious curves. Her facial features were exotic where Harper’s were soft. In addition, Carla’s skin was a golden shade while Harper’s was ivory perfection. There were only three physical traits they seemed to share: height, hair color, and the slightly pointed chin.

  When Harper looked
at someone, it was with a bold, daring ‘fucking try me’ expression that amused both Knox and his demon. Carla, however, was all smiles and grace and pleasantness. They both had a certain sensuality to their movements. But whereas it was innate and unconscious with Harper, it was superficial and practiced with Carla.

  Standing in the office of one of his casinos, Carla nodded. “Mr. Thorne.”

  “Sit,” he invited, forcing himself to be civil. He’d suspected the woman would come at some point, wanting to know if the rumors circulating about the identity of his anchor were true. It had been three days since he’d last seen Harper. Three days of his demon hounding him to seek her out, to take her as they both wanted. There was no denying that it was utterly fixated on her.

  Knox could admit to being just as impatient to have her. One of the things he liked most about her, despite how contrary it made her, was her independent streak. He also liked that she was upfront, tenacious, and unpredictable. It was a package that fascinated him.

  Nervously, Carla cleared her throat. “I hope I find you well and…” She trailed off when Knox held up his hand.

  “We both know you didn’t come here to enquire about my welfare, so I’d prefer it if you didn’t make unnecessarily small talk.”

  “Very well.” She paused briefly. “I heard that you found your anchor.”

  “You heard correctly.”

  “I heard her name is Harper Wallis.”

  Something about the way she stumbled over the name made Knox realize…“You didn’t name her, did you?”

  She averted her gaze. “I had some difficulty deciding on one.”

  “You also had difficulty being a mother to her, as I understand it.” So much difficulty she hadn’t even bothered to give Harper a name before dumping her.

  “So she told you.” Carla exhaled heavily. “I ask you not to take everything you heard as gospel. The Wallis family have a very one-sided account of what occurred back then.”

  “You didn’t leave your child with Jolene Wallis?”

  “It’s not as simple as that. I have no idea if Jolene and Lucian told Harper lies about me or if she, like them, enjoys exaggerating the tale. But there is much more to the story than whatever she told you.”

  Knox sank into his seat, regarding her thoughtfully. “Why come to me with this?”

  “You’re my Prime, and your opinion of me is important to me. I just ask you not to judge me on the information you’ve been given by Harper. It’s clear that – as I feared – you’re angry with me because of what you’ve heard, but please be fair. You have known me for some time. Harper’s your anchor, but the reality is that you don’t know her.”

  “I’d say it’s you who doesn’t know her.” Carla seemed abashed, but he wasn’t buying it. “Are you implying that she lied to me? That’s a very serious allegation to make.” And it offended both him and his demon that anyone would accuse Harper of such a thing.

  “I know,” agreed Carla, sounding distressed to even consider it. “But it’s that or she’s simply repeating lies the Wallis family have told her.”

  “As I see it, if you truly had any regard for her, you wouldn’t have abandoned her.”

  “It wasn’t as simple as that. I thought that if I left her with Lucian for a little while, he would bond with her and then we could be a family. It was a foolish plan, and I saw that soon enough. I went back for her, I did. But Jolene refused to let me take her. I tried again and again, but then Lucian took her away. I never had a chance of finding her after that, he was always moving.”

  If Carla was lying, she was very, very good at it. According to Harper, Jolene had sent her to live with Lucian when she was four. Was it possible that Jolene had done that to keep her out of Carla’s reach?

  “Soon after that, I met Bray and we eventually had our sons. My focus had to be on them.”

  “In short, you’re saying that if Jolene and Lucian hadn’t tried to come between you and Harper, you would have been a mother to her?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “Hmm. She’s been in Vegas without Lucian since she was eighteen. Yet, you’ve made no effort at all to see her. That strikes me as odd for someone who claims to be so unhappy about not having their daughter in their life.”

  “I thought about going to see her, but I knew Jolene and Lucian had filled her head with a pack of lies. I worried that she’d slam the door in my face. I don’t think I could take that.” Carla swallowed hard, the image of an emotional mess. “Do you think she would ever want to speak with me? Has she given you any indication that she might be prepared to do so?”

  “Anything Harper tells me will remain between her and me. I’d never break her confidence.”

  “Naturally. I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have asked that.” There was a pause before Carla timidly enquired, “How is she?”

  “That’s a question for Harper to answer. I’m her anchor. But I don’t speak for her. Now if you’re finished, I’m a busy man.” But he got the feeling that she wasn’t finished, that there was something else.

  Carla immediately shot to her feet. “I understand. Thank you for your time, Mr. Thorne.” When she reached the door, she glanced at him over her shoulder. “Before I go…”

  And here it is. “Yes?”

  “Please give Harper a message for me. Please tell her that, whatever she may think, I have always loved her. I never stopped thinking about her, wondering where she was and how she was doing. Not even for a single day.” Then Carla was gone, and Levi slipped inside.

  “You heard that?” Knox asked him.

  The sentinel nodded. “Do you believe her?”

  “I’ll concede that there are always two sides to every story, but that’s not to say that I believe Carla’s account. You?”

  “She sounded truthful. But…”

  “Yes. But.”

  “If you asked her sons whether she’s a good mother, I think you’d get conflicting answers. Roan is a self-righteous prick who hops, skips, and jumps at her say-so. Her youngest, Kellen, seems to despise her.” Levi tilted his head. “Are you going to give Harper the message from Carla?”

  “I haven’t decided yet. You think I should.”

  “I think you want her to trust you. She won’t if you keep things from her – even if your reason is to protect her or her feelings.” Levi grinned. “It bugs you that you can’t control this.”

  Of course it did. Knox took control of whatever situation he found himself in. “And that amuses you far too much.”

  An unrepentant shrug. “I always figured you’d be indifferent to your anchor, since you don’t need one.”

  “It’s not that simple, which you’ll learn for yourself when you find yours. Then I’ll be the one who’s laughing.”

  Knox?

  He instantly tensed at the wariness in Harper’s voice. What’s wrong?

  Who the hell is Silas Monroe? Because he just walked into my office.

  Shit. I’m on my way.

  Harper eyed her visitor with a mixture of distrust, irritation, and confusion. She’d been going through the accountancy books when there had been a rhythmic knock at the door followed by the immediate entrance of a dark, gangly guy who apparently didn’t have the manners to wait until he’d been summoned to enter someone’s office.

  She could sense he was a demon, so he should know better than to invade the personal space of another demon uninvited. That had annoyed her, and because she was in a shitty mood after arguing with Royce again, she’d simply asked, “Who the fuck are you?”

  He’d presented her with a huge grin, ignoring the disapproval radiating from her colleagues in the doorway. The grin was pleasant enough, yet…there was something sly in the curve of it. A cunningness that seemed to match the callous glint in his eyes. “Silas,” he’d replied in a British accent. “Silas Monroe.”

  “What do you want?” She highly doubted it was a tattoo, since he could have discussed that with Raini or Devon – it was Khloë’s afternoon of
f. No, this wasn’t about a tattoo. Something was very weird here. She’d instantly called out to Knox, wondering if he knew the guy. She hadn’t expected Knox to declare he was coming, but maybe she should have.

  You don’t have to come. No answer. So she focused solely on Silas, who was glancing around the office, as if admiring the décor.

  “He said he wanted to speak to you,” Raini told Harper, though she was glaring at his back. “I explained that you were busy right now, but he said he could smell you and then just barged right past me.”

  Did he now? Harper slowly got to her feet as she repeated, “What do you want?”

  He shrugged. “To have a little chat.”

  “I don’t chat.”

  “Really? That’s sad.”

  “No, it’s not.”

  Harper, don’t let Silas touch you, said Knox, his voice hard. I don’t think he’ll be stupid enough to try to harm you, but he’s obviously stupid enough to bother you.

  If the fucker tried to touch her, he’d find her pen – which she’d infused with hellfire – lodged up his rectum. He cast the object a wary look as he said, “Come on, luv, there’s no call for rudeness. Let’s start again. Hello Miss Wallis, I’m Silas.”

  “Yeah? Well, I’m bored. You can go now.”

  He didn’t look in the slightest bit offended. “Now that wasn’t nice.”

  “If you want ‘nice’, you came to the wrong fucking person. I’m a fully qualified bitch who’ll happily rip you another ass hole if you don’t get the fuck out of my office.” She arched a brow when he didn’t move. “Why are you still here?”

  “More to the question,” began Tanner as he strolled past the girls and into the office, his gaze hard and intent as it locked on Silas, “why are you here at all?” No doubt Knox had sent him inside to protect her if necessary.

  “Tanner,” Silas greeted pleasantly. “It’s a surprise to see you.” Yeah? He didn’t actually look all that surprised.

  “I asked you a question. I never ask twice. So tell me, why are you here?” Tanner sounded more dangerous than she’d ever heard him.