Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX

As his mate slumped over him, quivering with aftershocks, Knox kissed her temple. “Fuck, baby, I needed that.”

Eyes closed, Harper hummed against his neck. “So did I.” Hot, silky flames rose around them and licked at her skin, but she didn’t stir. Knew they’d never burn her. Moments later, the fire eased away, and she opened her eyes to see that they were standing near the bed.

Knox toppled her onto the deluxe mattress, positioning them both on their sides with their heads on the super soft pillows that his mate adored. Usually, a look of pure contentment crossed her face when her head first sank into them, but not tonight. Lines of strain had settled there, and it didn’t look as if they’d disappear any time soon.

The same anger and agitation lingered in Knox, twisting his stomach and riding his demon. Asher was just a baby. He hadn’t done a damn thing to anyone. Knox wanted him happy, safe, secure. Not the target of a fucking incorporeal.

The fact that the Horseman would send one after a baby said he clearly had no conscience at all. To him, anyone was expendable. Even people like Alethea, who had aided him. All the bastard cared about was achieving his goal.

Knox wondered if behind the Horseman’s determination to succeed lay a hint of desperation. So far, his plans had failed. Those failures were surely hits to his ego. Now he had something to prove—both to himself and to others. But he decided not to say as much to Harper. He wanted her to relax.

Combing his fingers through her hair, he whispered, “Sleep, baby.”

“Can’t. It’s hard to sleep when you know there’s a threat to your son at large. You know, I hate it say it, but sending an incorporeal after Asher was a smart move. We’re now on edge, distracted, and need to be so alert for signs of the incorporeal that we can’t concentrate on finding the Horseman. He was probably counting on that.”

Knox skimmed his fingers over the curve of her shoulder. “I’d say so. It is imperative that we destroy the incorporeal. It won’t stop. Not for anything. Ever seen a dog sitting near a store with its leash tied to something, keeping it from running off? That’s the incorporeal’s situation. It’s stuck until it’s fulfilled its end of the bargain, whether the person it made the bargain with is dead or alive.”

“Everything in me itches to hunt the fucking Horseman and his pet incorporeal.”

It was the sphinx in her, thought Knox. Her kind, like lions, would single-mindedly track, hunt, and run down their prey. That inborn instinct would no doubt taunt her until the incorporeal was caught. “I’ll get them.”

“We’ll get them. You’re not pushing me out of this fight, Knox. This isn’t just about revenge for me. I need to be part of this. I need to be proactive in ensuring you and our son are safe. I know you would love it if me and Asher were here at all times because you’re ridiculously overprotective of us both—”

“That’s not something I can change.”

“And it’s probably something else that the Horseman is counting on. If I’m here all the time, I’m not searching for him. And it will look to others like either I’m hiding from him out of fear or that you’re making me stay on the estate out of fear for me. If demonkind think we fear him, they’ll fear him even more than they already do. People are easier to manipulate and control if they’re afraid.”

Knox wished to fuck that he could argue with that, but he truly couldn’t.

“You know me, Knox. You know I couldn’t stay home until this is all over even if I wanted to—it would only be a matter of time before I snapped.” She’d never been good at staying indoors, even as a kid. And as much as she loved being with Asher, she’d miss adult company. Meg and Dan were great, but they were also busy people. “I don’t want to leave Asher’s side, but the best way to ensure his safety is to get the bastards who are threats to him.”

Resting his forehead against hers, Knox sighed. “I need you safe.”

“I know. But don’t ask me to hole up here. I can’t do it, Knox. Not even for you. Please don’t ask me to.”

Knox silently swore. He’d seen this coming, because he knew her so well. He’d long ago learned that Harper would never ignore the urge to protect those who mattered to her. She was protective right down to her core, much like her grandmother.

“Imagine if I asked you to stay home with me and Asher. Could you?”

He sifted his fingers through her hair. “No,” he reluctantly admitted. “I couldn’t.”

She curled her fingers around his wrist. “We work together on this. I might not be as powerful as you, but I’m not weak.”

“You’re definitely not weak—I’ve never once thought you were anything but strong.” Her expression dared him to prove it, and Knox sighed inwardly. He wasn’t going to be able to talk her out of this. If their situations were reversed, she’d have no more success talking him out of it. So, going against every protective instinct he had, Knox said, “All right, we work together.” His demon snarled, though it also understood and respected her need to hunt the fuckers presenting a threat to their family.

Letting out a long breath, she said, “Good. So what’s the plan?”

“I have the feeling that the best chance we have of identifying the Horseman is if we find out what Alethea was up to before she disappeared. Larkin’s working on that. We also need to find out where Alethea got the incorporeal. I’ll write to Dion tomorrow and request a meeting with him. If he’s not the collector we’re looking for, he may know who is. While we wait for Larkin to gather information and for Dion to contact me, I plan to do the very thing that the Horseman won’t expect—continue as normal and go about my daily business as if he’s not on my radar.”

“You’d be delivering the ultimate insult to him.” Which Harper liked a fuck of a lot. “I’ll do the same.” She chewed the inside of her cheek. “But we need to leave Asher at home whenever either of us leaves the house. People would understand that—they’d see it as us being protective parents, not as us being afraid of the Horseman.”

“You’re only suggesting that Asher remain at home because you don’t feel confident that you can fully protect him,” Knox accused. She didn’t deny it. He framed her face with his hands. “You didn’t fail him the other day, Harper. You protected him.” Knox needed her to believe that. Needed her to let go of her senseless guilt and remember just how strong she truly was. If his faith in her didn’t do that, he wasn’t sure what would.

“He protected himself.”

“He shielded himself,” Knox corrected. “He didn’t get rid of the incorporeal. You did that. And I am absolutely certain that you could do it again if need be. You’re strong. Powerful. You can call on the flames of hell, which means you can destroy the incorporeal. It doesn’t know that, which gives you a major advantage.”

Harper swallowed. “That incorporeal is damn powerful.”

“But not invincible,” Knox reminded her.

“If I’m forced to call on the flames in front of other demons, it could cause us a whole other set of problems, couldn’t it?”

“Potentially, yes. We’ll deal with that bridge if and when we come to it. There’s no sense dwelling on something that may never happen—that’s just borrowing trouble.”

Harper inhaled deeply, taking in the comforting scents of clean linen, fragrant oils, and Knox’s dark sensual cologne. “Can we talk about something else now? My head feels close to exploding.”

“How about we go spend some time on the balcony and get some air?” His mate didn’t do well with being cooped up indoors when stressed.

“That is not a balcony. It has a pool. An infinity pool, to be more precise.”

His mouth curved. “We could take a dip in it now if you want.”

Harper recognized the roguish glint in his eyes and stilled. “Don’t you dare.” But he held her tight as flames engulfed them both again. When the fire died down, she and Knox were suddenly submerged in water. She swatted him. Bastard.

The next morning, as she watched Asher chuck his spoon on the floor for the tenth time, Harper sighed. “I can’t even be mad at him. I mean, look at that face. You can’t be mad at something that cute.”

Slicing into his omelet, Knox glanced at their son. Sitting in the highchair with his legs propped up on the tray, Asher grabbed his foot and started trying to shove it in his mouth. Everything went in the mouth. “At least he ate most of the porridge before he slung the bowl virtually across the room.”

Harper humphed. Asher did the same thing pretty much every meal time. Of course, the bowl and spoon would initially be in her hands. But Asher would at some point pyroport them to himself and then proceed to paint his face and tray with what food he had left before then tossing the plastic dishware away. He’d often then pyroport the spoon back to his hand, only to throw it again.

Bracing her elbows on the dining table, Harper spooned some of her cereal as she asked Knox, “Has Dion responded to your letter yet?”

“No, but I expect he’ll do so soon. Last time I wrote to him, he responded within a week.” Knox studied his mate over the rim of his mug. She seemed better this morning. The lines of stress had smoothed away from her face, and he suspected it was because they’d agreed on how they would proceed. Now that she knew they’d be working together and had a plan of sorts, she probably felt more in control.

“Don’t forget that the meeting with the other Primes will take place tomorrow,” Knox continued. “Keenan and Larkin will stay at the mansion with Asher, so don’t tense up and start panicking. He’ll also have Dan and Meg with him—neither are weak in power. They’ll all be under strict instructions not to allow anyone to step foot on the estate.”

“Do you think Jonas will go to the meeting?”

“No, which is probably for the best.” A grieving demon was an unstable one. “Especially since I know you’d like to—”

“Snap off his dick and shove it down his throat? Yes, I would. If he hadn’t been so intent on dealing with Alethea himself, the incorporeal might not be free right now.”

“You’re not alone in wanting to see him hurt for that, but that will have to wait. We need to take care of the Horseman and the incorporeal first.” Knox forked some of his omelet. “What are your plans for today?”

Harper snorted at his attempt to calm her by changing the subject to something mundane. Still, she went with it. “I thought about going to the studio to check how things are going.” It was something she did once every two weeks.

“Good idea. Seeing you up and around, doing normal things, will stop people from panicking about the Horseman.” Still, anxiety squeezed his heart at the idea of her off the estate while there was a threat at large. Of course, the very last thing he could do was let her see that anxiety when she’d lost a little faith in her ability to protect Asher. She needed to see only the confidence Knox had in her.

She reached for her coffee mug and took a sip. “I doubt it will stop them from panicking, but it might put some people at ease.”

Knox went to speak, but then he paused as her gaze went inward and he felt the echo of a telepathic conversation. When her eyes once more focused on him, there was a hint of exasperation there.

“A skyscraper,” said Harper. “Jolene flattened a skyscraper last night, according to Martina.”

“You’re honestly surprised?”

She sighed. “No, not really.” Hearing that Heidi was meant to be sacrificed during a dark magick ritual was obviously going to infuriate Jolene. It only enraged the woman more that Alethea was dead and, as such, couldn’t pay for her part in that plan. Jolene had a habit of demolishing buildings when she was pissed. “She sounded deceptively calm and rational last time when I told her about the incorporeal situation, but that’s something she’s good at, so I hadn’t bought it. Still … a skyscraper? Good thing it was old and empty.”

Knox gave her a pointed look. “Although you have the power to take down the incorporeal, I trust that you’ll call for me if you come across it.” The statement held a question, because he needed that assurance. It also held a warning. The past few times she was in danger, she’d called for him, but that had been when she was pregnant with Asher. Knox suspected that she never would have pulled him into a dangerous situation if it weren’t for her determination to keep their son safe.

When she didn’t respond, Knox narrowed his eyes. “You long ago made me a promise that you would call for me if you ever needed help. I know you hate the thought of drawing me into dangerous situations—I also understand it, since that works both ways.” Not that he liked or approved of her habit of dealing with things alone. He respected her need to fight her own battles and to do her part in protecting their son, but he wouldn’t agree to her going solo whenever it suited her. “We agreed to work together, remember. That means relying on each other.”

Harper exhaled a heavy sigh. “I’ll keep my promise and call out to you if I need you. But the same goes for you—if something happens, you don’t tell me later just so that I can have an enjoyable day.” It was something he’d done in the past. “You tell me instantly.”

He inclined his head, though he didn’t like it. Resting the cutlery on his empty plate, Knox pushed it aside. “What time are you leaving for the studio?”

“I’ll probably head out in a few hours. Maybe I can have lunch with the girls while I update them. They need to be warned about the incorporeal.”

“You don’t think Jolene will have already told them?”

“If she had, they’d have called me by now. She’s probably having a lair meeting later to reveal all. I’d rather the girls heard it from me.”

“Fair enough.” Knox sipped his coffee. “Keep Tanner with you at all times. The incorporeal can look like anyone. If somebody comes close who has no scent, he’ll know and he’ll pounce.”

She cocked her head. “You think it will come for me?”

“No. What it did the other day, turning up at Jolene’s house and making its move among all those demons, was arrogant. It will have known in advance that you were strong and could cause soul-deep pain. But now that it’s been on the receiving end of such pain and knows exactly what it feels like, the incorporeal won’t be so cocky. Especially since you overpowered it. Besides, it’s bound to the conditions of the bargain. You’re not the target. Still, I won’t take chances.”

Hearing a distinct fart, Harper looked at Asher. He glanced around, as if unsure where the sound came from. She snorted, turning back to Knox. “The idea of leaving him makes my stomach churn.” She stilled as Knox’s eyes bled to black and the room temperature lowered.

“You worry too much, little sphinx,” the demon told her. “The boy will be fine.”

The sheer confidence in that statement made her frown. “What are you keeping from us?” Because it certainly seemed to believe that it knew something about Asher that she and Knox didn’t. “I can’t properly protect him if I don’t know the entire truth.”

“That is my point … he doesn’t need you to protect him,” said the demon, voice flat and low. “Do not worry for the boy. Instead, pity the person who tries to harm him.” With that, the entity retreated.

Rubbing her chest, Harper asked, “What did that mean?”

“I don’t know,” said Knox. “The demon may think it knows what Asher’s other abilities will be.”

“Maybe.” It would be another couple of months before all Asher’s abilities truly surfaced, and Harper wasn’t at all sure why Knox’s demon would believe it knew what those abilities would be, but she supposed it was as good a theory as any. “Your demon can be damn cryptic.”

Knox nodded. “But it’s never been arrogant. If it believes that Asher doesn’t need our protection as much as we think he does, I’m inclined to trust its judgment.” That didn’t mean Knox wouldn’t still worry or be as overprotective as ever.

As Knox’s phone vibrated on the table, Asher blinked. “Ooh.” And then the phone disappeared in a spurt of fire and reappeared in Asher’s flaming hand. The ooh sound usually meant he’d seen something he liked, and that same something often appeared in his little hand.

“Asher,” Knox gently complained as he pried the phone out of his son’s grip. Asher frowned but then just shoved his foot back in his mouth.

“At least he didn’t dump your phone in his porridge this time,” said Harper.

“He probably would have done if he hadn’t already flung the bowl away.”

“Yeah, probably.”

But she was right—it was hard to be mad at anything that cute. Knox ruffled his hair. “It’s the Wallis in you.”

Harper frowned. “You can’t blame my family’s blood every time he misbehaves.”

“Sure I can.”

At that moment, Meg walked in, shook her head at the sight of the spoon on the floor, and picked it up. “Did you enjoy your porridge?” she asked Asher, who was too busy gnawing on his foot to pay her any attention.

“Thanks for the omelet and toast, Meg.” Standing, Knox shrugged on the jacket of his black suit. “Unfortunately, I have to leave now.” Crossing to Harper, he kissed her. “I shouldn’t be home late, but I’ll let you know if I will be.”

Harper plucked Asher out of the highchair. “Come on, let’s go wave bye to Daddy.” With Asher balanced on her hip, she followed Knox to the foyer. As he curled an arm around her, she melted against him and smoothed a hand down his shirt. “I’ll miss you.”

“Good. It’s only fair, since I’ll miss you.” He kissed her again, indulging in a long, thorough taste of her. “Stay safe.” He planted a kiss on his son’s cheek. “Be good for your mom.”

Predictably, Asher blew bubbles at him.

Harper walked out onto the stone step and tipped her chin at Levi, who opened the Bentley’s rear door for Knox. Noticing that Asher was waving, she smiled. But then she saw that he wasn’t waving at Levi or Knox. He was waving at something much higher up. “What is it, little man?” She tracked his gaze and grimaced. “Oh. More crows.” There were at least five perched on the branches of a nearby tree. “Delightful.”

Harper spent the next few hours with Asher—bathing him, dressing him, and then feeding him a slightly early lunch … after which she needed to change him again, since he’d gotten puree all over himself.

Shortly after that, Tanner and Keenan arrived, just as she’d arranged.

In the living room, Keenan took Asher in his arms. “Wipe that anxiety off your face, Harper, he’ll be fine here with me.”

She forced a smile. “I won’t be gone long.” She pressed a long, noisy kiss to Asher’s cheek and then waved. “Bye. Be good for Uncle Keenan.” He didn’t wave back. His little face scrunched up in a way that made Tanner chuckle.

With one last wave at Asher, Harper turned and followed Tanner out of the room, down the hallway, through the foyer, and—

Something yanked her wrist, making her stumble backwards so fast she lost her footing. Landing awkwardly on her ass on the foyer hardwood floor, she hissed.

Tanner blinked down at her. “Damn, you okay?”

“No, I’m not,” she clipped, scrambling to stand up. She spun, scanning the foyer, her heart pounding. Surely the incorporeal hadn’t managed to get inside. Not with the amount of preternatural security measures in place. “Something just fucking grabbed me.”

“Grabbed you?” echoed Tanner, muscles bunching.

At that moment, Keenan came striding toward them with Asher still in his arms. “What’s the hold up?” He frowned at Harper. “Why are you rubbing your butt?”

“Get Asher in the living room, someone just—”

“What’s that?” asked Tanner.

Her head whipped to face him. “What? What do you see?” He was looking at her wrist.

Gently, Tanner lifted her hand to study it. “What is that?”

“What’s what?” Because she didn’t see anything. But then he angled her hand a certain way so that the sunlight shone right on it … and she frowned. “What is that?” It looked like partly translucent string was wrapped around her wrist. She touched it, half-expecting not to feel anything. But it was like she’d skimmed her fingertip over cold metal. “No, seriously, what is that?”

Tanner released her and stepped back. “Try leaving.”

Moving more slowly this time, she stepped outside. No problem. She kept walking, descending the stone steps nice and slow. One. Two. Three. Four—

And then she was pulled backwards again. No, not pulled, she realized. It was more like she was straining against a leash. Stomping back into the foyer, she shut the front door. “Is this supposed to be a cuff or something?” If Knox had done this to keep her home, she was so going to kill him.

Rubbing his jaw, Tanner replied, “I think so.”

Keenan stepped forward to get a good look at her wrist. “The question is … what are you cuffed to?”

“Or who are you cuffed to?” Tanner made a speculative noise and then turned to Asher, who was chewing on his thumb while studying the pretty, freshly cut flowers on the circular table. “Let’s take a look at those wrists, little man.”

Harper snickered. “You can’t think he did it, Tanner, he’s just a—oh, my God.” She felt the blood drain from her face. On his little wrist was a thin cuff identical to hers. Holding his chubby hand, she touched the cuff. Cold metal. “Asher,” she drawled, pointing at her own cuff. “Take it off.” He didn’t; he tried reaching for her hair instead. She gave him her stern, “I mean business” look, and he mimicked her perfectly.

Tanner pointed at the other side of the foyer. “Harper, stand over there. I want to walk between you and Asher and see if anything tangible is actually linking the cuffs.”

She did as he asked and then watched as the sentinel easily strode between them.

He shook his head. “Nothing.”

Crossing to him, she pursed her lips. “So the cuffs don’t have any links?”

“No,” he replied. “I’d say the only thing linking them is power.”

“Meaning they’re psychic constructs. It’s more that he’s linked our psyches than that he’s linked our bodies.” Harper shook her head at Asher, but he was too busy twisting Keenan’s nose to even notice her look of reprimand.

“I don’t think he meant to shackle you to him,” said Keenan, eyes dancing with humor. “I think he just doesn’t want you to leave him. Couple that with all the power that lives in him and, well, this was the result.”

Thrusting her hand into her hair, Harper blew out a breath. Knox, our son has cuffed me to him. And no, I’m not kidding.

Knox’s psychic taste poured into her as his mind touched hers. Cuffed how?

I don’t know. But we’re both wearing thin, barely visible cuffs that feel like metal. There’s nothing physical linking the cuffs, but I can’t move far from Asher without being yanked back toward him.

She had the impression of pure male amusement and even a hint of pride. Apparently, he doesn’t want to be left behind.

Her lips thinned. How can you find this amusing?

If our positions were reversed, you’d be laughing your pretty little ass off.

Yeah, okay, she would. How do I get them off?

He’s just a baby, so he doesn’t have the psychic strength to make the binding last long. They’ll probably disappear in a few hours, maybe sooner.

With a sigh, Harper gave the sentinels a too-quick smile. “Well, it looks like you had a wasted journey. I can’t go out now.”

Keenan frowned. “Why not?”

“I can’t leave Asher as long as I’m psychically cuffed to him, and he can’t leave the estate.”

“You’ll only be gone a few hours.” Keenan raised a hand when she went to argue. “Look, I understand why you want him to stay home. But there’s no way someone can snatch him from you, thanks to these cuffs. And it will be good for him to get out, if you’re intending to keep him confined to the estate for a while after this.”

Tanner stuffed his hands in his pockets. “Keenan’s right. It’s just a few hours. The three of us are pretty powerful, especially as a unit. No one will get near Asher if he doesn’t want them near him anyway.”

Yeah, but … “Taking him with me would be rewarding bad behavior.” Very, very bad.

Tanner’s mouth twitched. “True, but I agree with Keenan—I don’t think Asher meant to bind the two of you together. He just didn’t want you to leave without him.”

Scrubbing a hand down her face, Harper reached out to Knox again. I don’t know what to do. Tanner and Keenan think we should all go to the studio, including Asher.

Knox didn’t respond for a long moment. My demon isn’t anxious at the idea.

No, it wouldn’t be,she grumbled. What was it the entity had said? Pity the person who tried to harm Asher. It was confident that he could take care of himself just fine. And as Harper looked down at the cuff on her wrist, she thought that just maybe Knox’s demon had good reason not to be anxious.

Nonetheless, she wasn’t keen on taking Asher off the estate. And she hadn’t failed to notice that Knox had said his demon wasn’t anxious at the idea, not that Knox himself was okay with it.

“It’s your decision, Harper,” said Tanner. “But I think it won’t be such a bad thing to take him out for a few hours.”

Have the faith in yourself that I have in you,Knox said to her.

Biting her lip, she exhaled heavily. “I’d better carry him, since I’ve no idea how long my ‘leash’ is.”

A little while later, Tanner pulled up outside the nightclub that led to the Underground. As it was daylight, there was no thumping music filtering outside or a long queue of people behind the red ropes. For humans, it was a normal and highly popular club. Only demons knew what was beneath it.

Tanner walked in front while Keenan took up the rear as they all went inside the club and then ventured down the flight of stairs to the basement. Two burly, gruff demons guarded a door at the back of the large space. Both flashed huge grins at Asher, who shyly smiled back. With respectful nods for Harper and the sentinels, the doormen parted to allow them to pass. One then punched in a key code for the elevator, and the shiny metal doors opened with a ping. A short elevator ride later, Harper stepped into what was, literally, a demonic paradise.

Casinos, bars, nightclubs, hotels, restaurants, strip clubs, a rodeo, combat circle, hellhound racing stadium, a shopping mall—you name it, it was probably there. It was hectic of an evening, but it was also quite busy during the day.

Tanner and Keenan protected her from being jostled by pedestrians as they walked down the “strip”, passing lots of stores and venues. The bars, clubs, casinos, and restaurants didn’t have front walls, so it was easy to see people eating, drinking, chatting, laughing, and brawling.

Many stared as they caught sight of Harper, Asher, and the sentinels. Some whispered, some smiled, and others nervously averted their gazes. All looked surprised to see her and Asher, and many shoulders relaxed slightly. Knox had been right; people needed to see them carrying on with their day-to-day activities.

As she neared her studio, Harper smiled. Urban Ink was ideally situated in a hotspot that had top-notch security. It was near not only the best restaurants and the mall but Knox’s main office too. It was also opposite a hotel wherein she and Knox had a penthouse suite.

Routinely, the girls all met at the coffeehouse next door to the studio each morning before work, and Harper missed their morning meetings almost as much as she missed her job. Still, as she’d told Raini, she wasn’t ready to return yet.

“I guess you’ll need to talk ‘details’ for Khloë’s birthday party while you’re here,” said Keenan. “Does she know what she wants yet? Wait, let me guess … she wants the exclusive use of one of Knox’s Underground clubs. Or maybe even a hotel.”

“She wants a garden party,” said Harper.

He blinked. “She wants a what?”

“A garden party—complete with champagne, flowers, sculptures, and other pretty things.”

His brow furrowed. “That doesn’t sound like Khloë.”

“She also wants us all to dress like hobos so that we look ridiculous among all the finery.”

“Yeah, that sounds like Khloë.”

The bell chimed as Keenan pushed open the studio’s glass door. Two clients were waiting on the sofa; one was watching the wall-mounted TV while the other was skimming through a tattoo portfolio. Both looked up as Harper and the sentinels filed inside the spacious reception area that smelled of ink, paint, coffee, and disinfectant.

There was a rock/art/Harley Davidson feel to the studio, which Harper loved. Metal art—which also happened to be enlarged copies of tattoos—hung on the bright white walls, including tribal swirls, Chinese dragons, bright flames, a flock of ravens, and a howling wolf.

Looking up from the obsessively neat reception desk that also doubled as a display cabinet for jewelry and other products, Khloë squealed in excitement. The noise made Raini peek around the checkered glass partition that separated the tattoo stations, and her eyes widened in delight. At the same time, Devon turned away from the lighted tracing table with a ‘What, what’s happening?’ look.

Heels clicked on the hardwood floor as the three girls swarmed Harper. But it wasn’t her they made a fuss of—no, they didn’t even say hello to her. It was Asher they fussed over, peppering his face, hair, head, and hands with kisses.

“Where’s my little dude?” cooed Khloë who, despite being the smallest, managed to be the one who took Asher from Harper’s arms.

“Careful,” said Harper. She held up her wrist so they could see the cuff. “The little bugger bound me to him for a while, so you won’t be able to move far before I get yanked along with you.”

Raini’s brows rose. “He did that?” She chuckled. “This kid cracks me up.”

Tanner tugged on Devon’s hair. “Hey, kitty cat.”

Devon sniffed at him. “Go cock your leg and pee on some trees, pooch.”

With an amused smile, Tanner took position at the door. Harper knew he intended to sniff anyone who entered. If they were without a scent, he’d pounce.

Khloë took Asher to the vending machine, bumped her fist on the side of it, and there was a whirring sound as it dropped a Hershey’s bar.

Keenan shook his head. “I’ve tried to do that, I really have.”

“We all have,” said Harper. But it was a thing that only Khloë and her father seemed able to do.

Raini squeezed Harper’s shoulder. “How are you?”

“Fine,” replied Harper. “I have news you’re not going to like, though,” she added quietly. “It’s not something we can talk about here in great detail.”

Raini’s brow furrowed. “We’re closing for lunch in, like, twenty minutes. I’m almost finished with my client, and these guys are only here for a quick consultation. Can you hang around until then?”

“Sure. Me, Keenan, and Asher will stay in the breakroom out of your way.”

Raini’s gaze slid to the hellhound. “And Tanner’s gonna stay right there?”

“I’ll explain everything soon,” Harper assured her. “Then you’ll understand why we’re being so cautious.”

It wasn’t much longer before the girls closed the studio for lunch. Khloë had apparently nipped to the deli first, because she entered the breakroom with a bag full of sandwiches. The smells of roast beef, peppers, and mayo made Harper’s stomach rumble.

Once they were all gathered around the table, sandwiches in hand, Raini looked at Harper. “Spill.”

Harper stroked a hand over Asher’s hair, who was sitting on her lap and toying with her necklace. “Before Alethea died, she did something pretty stupid. She stole a jarred incorporeal demon from a private collector. She also set it free.”

There was a shocked silence. Then the girls all muttered curses beneath their breath.

“If she was alive, I’d kill the bitch,” spat Khloë.

“The she-demon who went after Asher, posing as you … that was the incorporeal?” asked Devon.

Harper nodded. “Which makes it an ‘it’, not a ‘she’. I don’t know if it will come here, but you need to be on alert just in case.” As they ate, she told them everything that Jonas had told Knox. She also educated them on incorporeal demons before adding, “If you see me, don’t automatically assume that it is in fact me. Ask me something that only I would know. Devon, you’re a hellcat. Your sense of smell is strong. If someone approaches you who has no scent, it could very well be the incorporeal taking on a physical form.”

Khloë absentmindedly tugged on her earlobe. “How do we know if we’re around people who’re hosting an incorporeal?”

“We don’t,” said Harper. “Not unless it wants us to know. That’s why we all need to be alert and careful.”

“Does Grams know about this yet?” asked Khloë.

Harper lifted a brow. “You didn’t hear about the old skyscraper that freakily crumbled to tiny pieces last night?”

“I heard,” replied Khloë. “I’d just hoped it wasn’t Grams.”

Asher’s mind touched Harper’s, and there was a question there. He’d clearly picked up on the tension in the air and wanted to know what was wrong. She smiled at him and gave his mind a reassuring touch as she said, “Nothing, baby boy.”

“On a lighter note, let’s talk party details,” suggested Raini. “Khloë, are you sure about this garden party/hobo fancy dress thing?”

“Yep,” replied Khloë. “And I want a fountain there. A big one. Maybe a mermaid fountain.”

“Are you planning to drink from it?” asked Keenan.

Khloë’s nose wrinkled. “Unless it’s the fountain of youth, I don’t see why I would.”

“Well, that’s good,” he said. “It’s one less thing we don’t have to worry you’ll do while smashed.”

“I didn’t say I wouldn’t do it. I just said I don’t see why I would.”

“Knox said he has a fake flower garden here in the Underground for swanky events,” said Harper. “You could use that.”

Khloë grinned. “Cool.”

“Okay, let’s cover what else you want and then we can hand the matter over to one of Knox’s event planners. They’ll take care of the rest.” It was while they were discussing the food menu—which was simple enough, since Khloë just wanted a burger van and a hot dog stand—that someone’s cell phone began to chime.

Devon sat up straight. “That’s mine.” She dug out her phone, smiled at whatever name she saw on the screen, and answered, “Hey, Drew.” She frowned. “Really? Oh. Okay. Just give me a sec.” Ending the call, Devon said, “Drew’s outside and, apparently, the pooch won’t let him in.”

“Tanner’s just being cautious,” said Harper.

“Well, unless he’s not positive that it’s Drew, there’s no reason my brother can’t come in.” Devon stalked out of the room. Voices mumbled, someone growled, and another hissed. Then the doorbell chimed, and Devon welcomed Drew inside with a cheery voice.

Moments later, he entered the room. Gaze sweeping the space, he greeted everyone. His mouth kicked up into a smile when he spotted Harper. “Hey, didn’t expect to see you here.”

Awkwardness flooded her, but Harper managed to force a smile. “Hi, Drew.”