Chapter Fourteen

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

For a while, they simply lay on the kitchen floor, their fingertips idly stroking one another. Once they caught their breath and recovered, Tanner carried her into the bedroom, flicked back the covers, and settled her on the mattress. He then slid in beside her and pulled her close. “You all right?”

She danced her fingers over his sleek, solid chest. “Why wouldn’t I be?”

“That scene at the restaurant wasn’t fun. It can’t have been nice to see that your paternal relatives were having a cozy, celebratory meal they didn’t bother to invite you to.”

“Why would they? We’re not close.”

“Because they do shit like that—deliberately exclude you. And it pisses me off that they blame you for the lack of closeness just to make themselves feel better. They could instead oh, I don’t know, treat you like family.”

“I’ve never been part of their family, Tanner,” she said without bitterness. “I don’t expect to be. I was not part of Finn’s plans, and I was certainly not part of Leticia’s. Why should they make room for me in their lives when I’m nothing more than a result of a one-night stand he should never have had?”

“That hurts you,” he said softly.

She shrugged one shoulder. “A little. No one likes being made to feel unwanted, especially by their own blood. But it’s not a big thing. Take away Finn’s penchant for cheating on women, he’s an okay guy. But he’s not my dad. He’s not the man who loved and supported and raised me. He’s just a guy who forgot to use a condom. For him, I’m a mistake that almost cost him his family.”

“No, baby, what he did was a mistake.” Tanner caught her face with his hands. “You are far from a mistake. And I’ll beat the shit out of anyone who says differently.”

She smiled. “It always feels weird when you’re nice to me.” He just chuckled. “Will you tell me a little about your parents? You don’t have to,” she quickly added.

Tanner could tell by her expression that she truly wouldn’t be upset with him for evading the question. Wouldn’t judge or sulk or accuse him of being too closed off. Honestly, he’d rather avoid the subject, but he heard himself say, “My father was Prime of his lair—a lair which is long gone now. When someone killed and usurped him, they also killed my mother and the other two women he’d bred with.”

Eyes clouding with horror, Devon gasped.

“It gets worse. In total, my father had three other offspring as well as me. They were teenagers. The new Prime snapped their necks, but he didn’t kill me. Maybe he just found the act of killing infants distasteful, or maybe he knew no one in the lair would pledge loyalty to someone who’d kill a toddler—who knows?” But Tanner suspected it was the latter. “He dumped me at Ramsbrook House instead.”

She stroked his chest. “Do you remember any of it?”

“No. I don’t even remember my parents. The staff told me the story when I was old enough to understand.” His only childhood memories centered around Ramsbrook. In some ways, he figured that made his stay there easier than for those kids who’d come from a happy home or were grieving people they loved.

“Is the bastard alive now?” she asked, eyes hardening.

“What do you think?”

“I think you wiped him from the face of the Earth pretty soon after you left the home.” Her tone said she hoped he did.

Yeah, that was exactly what Tanner had done. “He got what he had coming to him.”

“I don’t disagree.” She sifted his hair through her fingers. “Is that part of why you’re reluctant to have kids? You don’t want them being hurt by people who seek to hurt you?”

Tanner blinked. “Maybe. I never really thought about it.” He wasn’t much into self-reflection. “You want kids?” Something flashed in her eyes—something dark and … sad? Whatever it was, it raised his hackles.

She swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

Fuck if the thought of her pregnant with another man’s kid didn’t make his stomach roll. “But you want a mate for that, huh?”

“Yep.”

“What triggered your demon’s want of a mate?”

“Seeing Harper and Knox so settled. It envies them. Wants to be important to someone. Wants that same loyalty, trust, and commitment.”

He gave a slow nod of understanding. It happened to all demons at some point. It had just happened to Devon’s feline a lot sooner than he’d banked on. “And that’s what you’re looking for as well?”

“Is that so bad?”

“No. But you’re already important to a lot of people, kitten.” Including him. “You have their trust and loyalty.”

“It’s not the same,” she said with a weak smile. “I’ll bet the loyalty and trust that exists between you, Knox, and the other sentinels has kept you all reasonably grounded. But I’ll bet it also doesn’t fulfill Knox in the same way that his relationship with Harper does.”

“It’s not the same,” he agreed, thinking of how much more balanced and whole Knox was with Harper in his life. The guy’s inner demon was no less cold and brutal, but its mental state had stabilized since it had taken her as its mate.

The mental state of Tanner’s own demon was going to take a downfall when they were forced to watch their hellcat mate with another. Honestly, it would even sting that her feline had formed an attachment to another male. He was finding that he was possessive of both woman and entity.

He stroked his hand down her spine. “I want you to do something for me.”

“What?”

“I want you to let out your feline.”

She did a slow blink. “What’s that now?”

“I’ve never met it in its true form. I want to see it.” He’d seen hellcats before; they were beautiful creatures. Each time he’d encountered one, every instinct he’d possessed had urged him to growl, chase, take it down. He was certain that wouldn’t happen with her demon.

Devon snickered. “Uh, no.”

“Why not?”

“Is that a trick question?”

“It won’t hurt me.” Well, probably not. “It considers me an ally, remember. Come on, I want to see it.”

She bit her lip. “I don’t know, Tanner.”

“Does it want out?”

“Well, now that you’ve put the idea in its head, yes.”

“Then let it out,” he coaxed.

She sighed. “This could be a real bad idea.”

“I’ll be fine, it won’t hurt me.” He sat up as she reluctantly edged out of bed and closed the bedroom door.

“You sure about this?” she asked when he’d pulled on his jeans.

“I’m sure,” he said, sitting on the floor in the center of the room.

She gave him a look that called him crazy. “All right.” And then it was like she got hit with a smoke bomb. The air misted with something thick and gray.

He’d never seen a hellcat shift before, but he’d known it happened differently with them than it did with hellhounds. There was no popping and reshaping of bones. The change was instant. Fast. Mostly painless.

The mist cleared, and now a hellcat stood a few feet away. He sucked in a breath. It was, in a word, magnificent. Red, amber, and yellow shimmered like flames in its eyes. And those eyes locked on him like nothing else existed. Having that laser-focus on him lifted the hairs on his nape.

In terms of animals, hellcats were close to black panthers. They had a broad head, sleek muscular body, and short soot-black fur patterned with charcoal rosettes so faint you’d only see them if you were looking for them. Its paws were shrouded in faint, dim flames … as if someone had set them alight.

Whereas hellhounds were born to guard the gates of hell, hellcats were born to defend those that dwelled within it—which was easy to see in the regal, predatory, dauntless air they possessed. This feline had that in spades.

They were also moody, territorial creatures that would attack in the blink of an eye so, yeah, he could see why Devon thought him insane for wanting to meet her demon.

Lithe and sure-footed, it padded toward him, its flaming paws leaving a trail of scorch marks behind them. It didn’t move, it flowed. All power and grace and spirit.

He thought it would come to him. It didn’t. It began to circle him. Didn’t snarl or hiss. Just eyed him. Not wary or distrustful. It was just being a typical feline—doling out attention on its own terms in its own time. That made his lips twitch.

His hound moved close to the surface, watched the feline. Tanner braced himself to fight the demon’s instinct to chase and subdue. But it didn’t demand that of him. It was just content to watch the she-demon, admiring how fluidly it moved. Admiring its grace. Its power. Its air of danger.

“Hey,” Tanner said simply.

It chuffed, whatever that meant. Then it gave him its back. Ho, ho, ho, this cat had guts. His hound made a rumbly sound of approval.

The hellcat took a turn about the room sniffing and chuffing and rubbing its body against things, scent-marking the space. But he knew it was aware of him. He also knew it was making him wait.

Yeah, he liked this feline.

He dug his phone out of his jeans’ pocket and skimmed through his messages and emails, feigning disinterest in the demon, knowing it wouldn’t like it. So, it wasn’t long before he sensed it padding his way. He didn’t look up, though. Just kept on staring at his phone.

A tail lightly flicked his head as the hellcat skirted around him and then settled on the floor nearby.

He pocketed his phone. “Hello, beautiful.”

It just stared at him, tail twitching.

“She thinks you’re going to try to hurt me. But you won’t, will you? Because you know I’ll kill for her.”

His hound wanted the freedom to officially meet the feline, but Tanner held tight to his control. He didn’t trust that the two demons wouldn’t end up fighting. The feline trusted him to have Devon’s back, but that didn’t mean it trusted his hound as well, despite the mark on her palm.

“You gonna let me pet you?”

An image flashed in his mind of Tanner’s hand giving its flank a single stroke. “Once,” he understood. “All right.” It was better than he’d hoped for. He slowly leaned forward and gently stroked its flank; the fur was softer than he’d expected. Silky soft, and roasting hot … like the feline had a fever. But he knew it was normal for hellcats.

He straightened. “Thank you. Can I have Devon back now?”

It chuffed at him, but then fog burst into the air yet again. Moments later, Devon was lying on the floor in front of him. All the scorch marks from the demon’s paws had disappeared. That was the thing about hellcats—they left no trace of themselves behind.

He settled down beside her and splayed a hand on her stomach. “Your feline was very well behaved.”

“It didn’t even scratch you,” she said, sounding somewhat perplexed.

“I told you, it trusts me.”

She shook her head. “It doesn’t trust anyone.”

“It trusts me with your safety.” He brushed his mouth over hers. “And so do you, don’t you?”

She swallowed. “Yes.”

He felt his mouth curve. “Good.”

Standing in the living room of Harper and Knox’s stately home, Devon chuckled as Asher dove into yet another gift bag and ripped out the tissue paper. The guests—most of whom were Wallis imps—were scattered around the large, luxurious room, smiling and snapping photos as the little guy opened his birthday gifts.

Each time he tore through wrapping paper, he gave himself a huge clap, grinning when everyone clapped along with him. Only then did he pay a hint of attention to whatever the gift was. And Harper was right in what she’d predicted; if it lit up or made noise, Asher liked it.

“That kid is too cute,” said Khloë.

She wasn’t wrong. Just looking at him made Devon’s heart melt. Those deep-set ebony eyes danced with mischief and were framed by long, thick lashes. His short, wispy, inky-black hair was as silky-smooth as it looked. And his dimples … oh God, those dimples were just adorable. One little smile from him and people were just a goner.

“I can’t believe he’s already a year old,” said Devon. As demonic babies developed faster than human babies, Asher looked more like an eighteen-month-old. He was also steadier, stronger, and more verbal than human kids of his age.

“I know.” Raini sighed. “It doesn’t feel like long ago that I held him for the first time.” She tilted her head. “You know, although he looks uncannily like Knox, he often reminds me of Harper.”

Devon nodded. “He has a lot of her mannerisms.” And when he tiredly rubbed at his little eyes or made that little sob that broke her heart, he also sometimes made her think of another little boy. A boy who’d cried and cried and cried while she’d banged on the car window and—

Not now. No, she wouldn’t let the memories creep up on her on Asher’s birthday.

Sipping her soda, Devon let her gaze sweep around the spacious room. In terms of decorations, Harper had gone all out. There were banners, balloons, streamers, garlands, fairy lights, and fun props everywhere, making the room look like a kid’s wonderland.

The colorful, three-tiered birthday cake situated under the balloon-arch was like something out of a Willy Wonka factory with its swirly frosting, sprinkles, chocolate ribbons, icing decorations, jelly beans, and edible toppers. Yeah, Devon needed a slice of that in her life.

Across the room, Knox’s expression darkened with frustration as something caught his attention. She tracked his gaze and … oh. She clamped her lips closed, fighting a smile, as she took in the new arrival. Clothed in a worn Harley tee, faded jeans, frayed baseball cap, and shabby sneakers, the Devil clapped along with little Asher as the kid applauded himself yet again. The mercurial, antisocial, entitled male totally dug the little boy.

Knox crossed to Lucifer, who beamed and said, “I came to wish my nephew happy birthday.”

“Don’t call him that. We’ve been over—” Knox broke off and stared hard into the guy’s eyes. Then he sighed. “Lou, you can’t come to a kid’s party stoned. You can’t come to my house to see my son stoned. We talked about this, remember.”

“I remember. Sort of.” Lou’s brow pinched. “The memory of the conversation’s a little hazy.”

“Probably because you were stoned when we had it.”

“It’s a likely scenario.” Lou raised his hands. “Fine. No more booting the gong before I come to see Asher. I’ll wait until afterward. Happy?”

“Yes.” Knox inclined his head. “Thank you.”

Smiling to herself, Devon turned back to the girls. Her brow furrowed as she noticed them staring at the four sentinels, who looked deep in discussion about something.

“What do you think they keep having secret talks about?” Khloë asked. “It’s like every time I turn around, they’re huddled together and whispering.”

Devon shrugged. “It’ll be lair business of some kind.”

“Well, I know that much,” said Khloë. “But would it kill them to turn the volume up so we can eavesdrop a little?”

“I asked Harper about it,” Raini told them. “She said something big happened that’s related to the children’s home that Knox and the sentinels grew up in.”

“Really?” Khloë might have said more, but then Keenan looked her way. She gave a haughty sniff and then cut her gaze back to Devon and Raini. “Anyway, let’s talk about something interesting.”

“Personally,” began Raini, “I find it interesting that the incubus is now heading your way, frowning at the glass in your hand.”

Moments later, Keenan sidled up to Khloë. “Should you really be having shots?”

The imp lifted a brow. “This pearl of judgementalism is coming from an alcoholic? Really?”

His mouth thinned. “I’m not an alcoholic. And I’m being serious about this. The last time you had shots at a party, you were contemplating the wisdom of positioning a party horn at the tip of your ass hole to see if you had enough, and I quote, ‘fart fire-power’ to make it go off. I managed to talk you down, but it took some serious effort on my part.”

Khloë patted his arm. “I was just fucking with you, Keenan. As if I’d honestly put a party horn in my ass!” She angled her body away from him just enough to subtly look at Devon and mouth, “Did I really talk of doing that?”

Lips twitching, Devon nodded.

“Whoa,” Khloë mouthed.

“Just lay off the shots this one time,” Keenan told her. “In fact, give me the glass. I’ll go get you a soda or something.”

Khloë turned back to him. “I don’t want soda.”

“And I don’t want to have to talk you down from doing dumb shit again.”

“You don’t have to, Keenan. I don’t need a babysitter. I’m a full-grown adult.”

“With the impulse-control of a child.”

“All I’m hearing is blah, blah, blah, it totally sucks to be me, blah.”

Devon went to exchange an eye roll with Raini, but the blonde’s gaze was focused inward in a tell-tale sign that someone was speaking to her telepathically. Devon gently nudged her and asked quietly, “Everything okay?”

Raini blinked, and the cloud left her eyes. “Yep. Fine.”

“Was that Maddox telepathing you again?”

The blonde just shrugged and grabbed a brownie from her paper plate.

“You can’t block him?”

“Nope. Either he’s a guy who can’t be blocked or it’s because he’s my anchor.” Raini bit into her brownie. “I’m okay. It’s just frustrating.”

“Do you talk to him?”

She shook her head hard. “I know better than to respond to him. He’ll get bored soon enough.”

Well that was the hope. “And if he doesn’t?”

Raini’s shoulders slumped. “I don’t know.”

Hoping to get rid of the lost look on her friend’s face, Devon said, “I will say one thing. He’s hot.”

Raini’s eyes lit with amusement. “Don’t let Tanner hear you talking like that. He’ll growl and snarl and throw you over his shoulder. Which sounds like it could be fun.”

Devon laughed. “Yeah, it kind of does.”

Soon Asher was done opening his gifts and the party games began. Honestly, it was amazing how competitive imp children could be. Jolene had to step in several times to stop the kids arguing and trying to choke one-another. Khloë’s little sister, Heidi, even set a little plastic chair on fire when she lost at musical chairs.

When it came time to light Asher’s candles, they all crowded around him and sang happy birthday. Knox helped him blow them out, and then the kid shoved his hand right into the cake.

Laughing, Devon snapped a photo with her phone as Harper wiped his sticky hand. “You’re a menace,” Devon told him.

He took a blob of frosting from his sleeve and offered it to her. “Kick.”

“He means cake,” said Harper, her mouth quirking.

Devon took the blob from him. “Aw, thanks little man.” And then flames burst to life around her phone, which then disappeared in a blink.

Fire erupted out of Asher’s clean hand. The flames died away, revealing her damn cell. “Ooh, mine.”

Devon twisted her mouth. “Ah, so he was trading the frosting for my phone.”

“No,” sighed Harper. “I think he was just trying to keep you distracted so he could take the cell. Asher,” she drawled in her “you’re in trouble” voice. “Give it back to Auntie Devon.”

He mimicked his mother’s frown. “Mine.”

“No, not yours. You can’t take people’s things.” Harper took the phone from him and handed it back to Devon. “Stuff it in your pocket fast.”

Devon did so, chuckling at Asher’s pout. She scooped him up and balanced him on her hip. “I can make faces too.” She crossed her eyes, sucked in her cheeks, and stuck out her tongue. His pout melted into a smile, and he tried copying her.

“Now wait a minute,” said a voice to her left.

Devon looked to see Lou trailing after Jolene, who was heading toward them.

“Are you insinuating that I’m friendless?” he demanded.

Jolene turned to him. “I didn’t imply it. I said it.”

He jutted out his chin. “I have tons of friends, thankyouverymuch.”

“Asher and your pets don’t count.”

Lou ignored that. “I even have a BFF. He and I go way back.”

“Oh yeah?” Jolene folded her arms. “What’s his name?”

Lou’s mouth bopped open and closed. “Bart. He’s tall. Always wears a suit. Has great teeth.”

“You’re talking about your shrink. And his name’s Garth.”

“Well, I call him Bart. It’s a nickname. BFFs have nicknames for each other.”

Rolling her eyes, Jolene pivoted on her heel and held her hands out to Asher. “Come to Grams.” She snatched him before Devon had the chance to object.

Lou scoffed. “Why would he want to go to you when he can come to Uncle Lou?” He tried taking Asher, but Jolene tightened her hold. And then flames roared to life around his little body and he disappeared from his grandmother’s arms.

Hearing a burst of flames behind them, they whirled to see him sitting on the table next to his birthday cake. Once again, he shoved his hand into it.

Harper growled. “Dammit!”

Devon’s chuckle faded as she felt Tanner’s attention settle over her. Her gaze instantly found him prowling toward her with little Heidi at his side. The little girl was babbling about something or other while waving a form at him.

Tanner sighed down at her. “I tell you what, kid. I’ll sponsor your school run—even though I think you’re just making this up to get money out of people—if you’ll stop stealing my wallet. Now give it back.”

Heidi blinked, all innocence. “Wallet? Why would I have your wallet?”

“Hand it over.”

“Fine.” Mouth setting into a disappointed pout, Heidi gave him back the wallet and stomped away.

“Typical imp,” Tanner said to Devon, curling an arm around her waist. “If you’re dumb enough to not pay attention, they’ll rob you blind.”

Devon shrugged. “If it makes you feel any better, she probably would have given the wallet back to you at the end of the party. I’m not saying all your cash would still have been in it, though, or that she wouldn’t have scribbled down your bank card details.”

Tanner shook his head. “Unreal.”

Hearing Asher’s infectious laugh, she turned to see him running from Lou, who was demanding to have his cap back. “He looks more and more like Knox every time I see him.”

“He does,” Tanner agreed. “You love the little guy, don’t you?”

“Hell, yeah,” she said. “Who wouldn’t?”

“Then why do you sometimes seem so sad when you look at him?”

The unexpected question hit her right in the solar plexus, making her feel like she’d had the breath punched out of her. Had she really been that obvious? Or had he just come to read her well? “It has nothing to do with Asher. It’s also not something I can talk about here.”

His gaze drifted over her face. “All right.” He put his mouth to her ear. “Do you think it would be rude of me to put you flat on your back on that table and eat you out?”

Once again, he’d shocked her. But this time a laugh bubbled up. “Given the amount of people here, it could get awkward. Maybe you could do it in your apartment later.”

He pulled back and arched a brow. “Yeah?”

“Oh, yeah. Your services will be appreciated. And rewarded.”

His smile faded as Jolene appeared at their side wearing a sober expression. “Something wrong?” he asked.

“Wrong?” echoed the Prime. “No. In fact, I have news I think you’ll both be pleased to hear.”