Driving through the fenced in property, Harper found herself frowning at the sight of Jonas’s home. Oh, it was impressive with the expansive lawn, statues, and fountain. The mansion itself was certainly grand, and she did like the large windows and thick white columns. But it was too… showy. Too snobbish. It had no personality and there was nothing welcoming about it.
The Bentley came to a stop near the front entrance, where a valet waited. Harper almost smiled at the extreme reluctance with which Levi handed over the keys. He and Tanner then stayed close behind Harper and Knox as they ascended the small set of slate steps.
The well-dressed demon at the door smiled. “Mr Thorne, Miss Wallis.” He gave the briefest of nods to both Tanner and Levi. “If you would please follow me.”
As they stepped into the open entryway, she was hit by the scents of polish and potpourri. With the crystal chandelier, painted high ceilings, and stone flooring, the interior was just as impressive on the inside. It was also just as soulless.
“Our home is better,” she whispered to Knox, who gave her a lopsided grin that made her body perk up in all the right places.
The butler escorted them to a formal dining hall that was fit for royalty and seemed completely over-the-top. Still, Harper smiled as Jonas came forward, crystal tumbler in hand.
“Ah, Knox,” greeted Jonas. “Glad you could make it. Harper, it’s indeed a pleasure to see you again.” He exchanged nods with both Tanner and Levi.
“Thanks,” said Harper. She kind of liked Jonas. He seemed genuine and friendly, despite his apparent need for his home to be unnecessarily extravagant. Maybe he was compensating for something.
“We were so hoping you would come,” said a voice that made Harper’s demon sneer. And then Alethea sidled up to her brother, wearing that cloying rose perfume again.
“Were you now?” said Knox, expression hard.
Alethea’s eyes cut to Harper and then hardened. “Sphinx.”
“Dolphin,” returned Harper. Her demon wanted her to smack the bitch who coveted its mate. Maybe later.
Jonas cleared his throat. “We’ll be getting started soon. Please have a seat.” He swept his hand toward the eternally long table. “I believe your designated seats are at the center.”
Placing his hand on Harper’s lower back, Knox guided her toward the table. The other demons nodded respectfully, fear and respect shimmering in their eyes. The fear pleased his demon, who hadn’t wanted to come; it had no interest in politics.
“I see you’ve been seated near me, Knox,” said Raul, a Prime who Knox respected. “And we’re right near the floral centerpiece that smells so strong I’m getting a headache. Hi there, Harper.”
Harper gave Raul a smile, but she ignored his anchor – the uptight she-demon had flirted with Knox in the past. Not at all cool.
Finding his name card, Knox growled when he saw that Harper hadn’t been seated next to him. Alethea had. He glanced around, searching for Harper’s spot.
“Oh, she’s been placed opposite you,” announced a male demon on the other side of the table, holding up the name card near his.
Just as Knox had expected, Harper gave the demon a winning smile; she loved to toy with the guy because, well, that was what imps lived to do: fuck with people.
“Malcolm, hi,” she greeted pleasantly.
As usual, a muscle in his cheek ticked. “It’s Malden.”
Harper blinked. “Isn’t that what I said?”
Hiding his amusement, Knox reached over and grabbed her name card.
“You should swap mine with the dolphin’s. Better yet…” Harper tore up Alethea’s card and threw the tattered pieces under the table.
“Could you stop referring to her as a mammal?” asked Knox with a reluctant smile as they took their seats. The sentinels stood behind them, on guard.
Harper pursed her lips. “I suppose I could instead call her ‘that lying, skanky, soulless bitch.’”
“It has a nice ring to it,” Tanner said.
Harper thought so too.
A server appeared with a trolley of bottles and then offered Knox and Harper a choice out of a variety of mostly foreign-sounding drinks. She only recognized scotch, brandy, and wine. She left the ordering to Knox.
“I like that you do that,” said Knox when the server walked away.
Harper frowned. “What?”
“Let me choose your drink.” It was a simple thing, really, but Knox liked that she trusted him with it; trusted he’d know what she’d like.
“Oh. Good.”
“Jonas, it’s always a pleasure,” said a familiar voice that made Harper smile. Jolene. Behind her were Martina and Beck, staring at the furnishings and ornaments; most likely wondering what would be worth stealing.
“The three of you have been seated at the far end,” Alethea told her.
Jolene frowned. “I can see my granddaughter in the center. We’ll sit with her.”
“There’s no room for you there,” said Alethea.
“There’s an empty seat opposite Knox.”
“That’s Harper’s chair.”
“Really? Odd. Because she’s sitting right next to Knox.” Jolene walked to Harper, who stood and gladly accepted her one-armed hug. “Hello, sweetheart.”
Harper patted her back. “Hey, Grams.”
Pulling back, Jolene eyed the brand on Harper’s throat and sighed. “Really, Knox, you need to get that demon of yours to ease up on the possessiveness before it writes your name on her forehead.”
“Don’t give it any ideas,” Harper muttered.
Martina kissed her cheek. “Don’t worry, I won’t set any fires,” she whispered.
Not sure she believed that, Harper nodded at Jolene’s anchor. “Hey, Beck.”
He winked. “Sweetheart, how are —”
Alethea shrugged past him and stopped in front of Harper. “That’s my seat.”
Blinking, Harper said, “I’m not sure why you’d think that.”
“My name card is…” Alethea’s voice trailed off as she read the name card she was pointing at. “It was here.”
“I can’t imagine why it would be here,” said Harper. “I mean, the only she-demon that should be at his side is his mate. And that’s just not you.” Knox, I can’t promise I won’t kill her at some point. Both Harper and her demon felt it was only fair that he knew.
Knox stroked a hand down her hair. Want me to deal with this?
Nope. Harper smiled at the male fast approaching. “Jonas, I don’t suppose you know why your sister’s trying to push me into making a scene, do you?”
His face reddened. “Please give me a moment,” he said to Harper before dragging Alethea aside. Twin spots of color on her cheeks, she hissed something at her brother. Whatever Jonas whispered made Alethea blanch. Chin up, she spun on her heel and stalked away.
Jonas then returned to Harper. “I apologize on my sister’s behalf.”
“No harm done,” said Harper as she returned to her seat.
I didn’t expect you to leave the matter to Jonas, Knox told her.
She’ll be embarrassed to have her older brother reprimand her right in front of everyone.
Knox’s mouth twitched into a smile. He’d expected Harper to threaten Alethea… maybe demonstrate just how much soul-deep pain could hurt. There would likely never be a day when he could predict her responses.
“Hello, Jolene,” Malden greeted pleasantly, all charm, as Jolene sank into the chair meant for Harper. Male Primes were shuffling along to make room for Martina and Beck, obviously eager to please the astonishingly beautiful Martina who was sweet, kind, and – unbeknown to them – addicted to setting fires.
Jolene smiled. “Well, hello… um…”
Harper leaned forward and supplied, “Malc—”
“Malden,” he quickly corrected.
Jolene nodded slowly. “Of course.”
Tanner spoke into Harper’s ear. “You two just can’t help yourselves, can you?”
>
Harper shrugged. “It would be no fun if we did.”
He just snorted.
A chair further down scraped against the floor as Alethea sharply pulled it out before none-too-gracefully settling into it, looking much like a spoilt child who was on strike. It was a wonder she didn’t fold her arms across her chest.
Harper’s demon grinned in satisfaction. “She’s a bit of a brat, isn’t she?” A faint vibe of amusement touched Harper’s mind.
Knox lay a hand on his mate’s thigh. “As she’s used to living among humans – a race she finds easy to manipulate – she isn’t used to people not falling in line with whatever she wants.”
“The new studio is coming along very well,” said Jolene.
“It is,” agreed Harper. Her family had been a big help in stripping the place bare and then helping paint the walls, fit the flooring, gloss the doors, put up shelves, update the kitchen, ready the stockroom, and also set up the autoclaves and partitions, etc. Soon enough, they would be able to move in all the equipment and furnishings, and hang up the tattoo flash.
The space was pretty big, so getting it ready was no simple job. Sure, they could have hired a company to take care of it all, but there was some satisfaction in playing such a big part in setting everything up. They’d decided to keep the name “Urban Ink,” and one of her cousins had created the most amazing sign with a font that was part calligraphy, part graffiti.
“How are your plans for the grand opening coming along?” Jolene asked.
“Pretty great. There are only a few last things to take care of.” Belinda had been shocked that Harper didn’t want her help planning the opening. She was also horrified that Harper was throwing a street party and stated that it would never be successful. Whatever.
“Several people have asked me when the new studio will open,” said Knox. “I think it will do very well in the Underground.”
“Did you know that a smug glint pops into your eyes whenever we talk about it?” asked Harper, amused. “You’re still gloating that you got your way.”
“Not gloating,” lied Knox. “I’m just happy that you’ll be somewhere safer.”
She gave a soft snort. “You’re totally gloating.”
A hush fell as Jonas took his seat at the head of the table. “Let us have a light lunch before we begin.”
Servers then entered the dining hall with platters. There were posh-looking salads, little fish-cake thingies, bruschetta, caviar, and a variety of small weird stuff. Harper wrinkled her nose. What are they?
A range of hot and cold canapés, Knox replied.
Oh.
Her glum tone made his mouth quirk. He flicked her earring gently and kissed her temple. I’ll take you to a restaurant of your choice after we’re done here.
Dude, you’re so getting lucky later. Sipping at her red wine, she saw Alethea watching them with an inscrutable look on her face. The dolphin quickly looked away.
Harper tried the bruschetta, which was kind of nice but it sadly left her hungry. When the clink and clatter of tableware came to an end about an hour later, the servers removed the plates and cutlery.
Jonas cleared his throat. “Now, shall we begin?” Murmurs of agreement spread throughout the hall, and Jonas nodded in satisfaction. “Good. Is there anything in particular that anyone wishes to discuss?”
“Isla’s lair has not yet agreed on a replacement for her,” said a Prime at the far end of the table. “It is currently operating without a Prime.”
The demon beside Beck spoke. “I heard there’s a lot of arguing going on about who will rule it.”
Another Prime frowned, confused. “I heard they simply don’t intend to replace her until they’ve grieved her death. In any case, the fact that there’s a lair operating without a Prime is concerning.”
“It’s also none of our business unless there’s a reason for us to step in,” said Raul. “Right now, the lair isn’t being a problem for anyone.”
“Onto another subject, Dario has gone off the grid,” one Prime announced. “I don’t suppose anyone knows why that is?”
Jolene’s brow furrowed. “Gone off the grid?”
“He’s become quite the recluse,” said Alethea. “There are rumors that he’s building an army.”
There was a short silence. Harper broke it. “Our kind don’t do war.” Mostly because demons found it boring.
“Yes, but he’d hoped to be elected as a Monarch over us all,” Alethea reminded her. “Perhaps he’s angry that the elections didn’t go in his favor. Perhaps he’s so determined to be a ruler he intends to fight for that.”
“I find it difficult to believe Dario would feel that way,” said Raul, leaning back in his chair with his hands behind his head. “He didn’t seem all that bothered by losing the election.”
Harper happened to agree with that.
Apparently, Malden also did because he nodded. “He was disappointed by the result of the voting poll, but not terribly angry. It was only Isla who reacted badly.”
Alethea twisted her mouth. “In all honesty, I don’t believe he’s forming an army. But I still find his behavior odd. I don’t like to say it, but it’s possible that Dario’s strange behavior is a result of him turning rogue.”
Malden’s jaw hardened. “I will not believe that.”
“It was just a thought,” she said with a shrug. “Maybe it’s something we should investigate, just to be sure. I went to his home, hoping to see him for myself and put my mind at rest. He refused to see me.”
“You say that like you’re someone important,” one Prime said to Alethea with a derogatory snort. “You’re not a Prime. He’s not obliged to see you. And you’re certainly no friend of his.”
Harper fought a smile as spots of color entered Alethea’s cheeks.
Alethea’s hand curled tight around her napkin. “Dario and I have history.”
“Yes, history,” said Malden. “As I recall it, you two didn’t part on good terms. Unlike you, I am his friend. Until recently, I was in regular contact with him. He showed no signs of mental degradation.”
Jonas spoke up. “I’m skeptical about him being rogue and about him forming an army. But I can’t think of a reason why the man would lock himself up in his own home.”
“Maybe he’s found himself a nice woman and they’re not inclined to leave the bedroom,” joked the Prime beside Harper.
“It’s more likely that than anything else.” Raul took a sip of his scotch. “It’s rare that Primes turn rogue.”
“It’s rare, but not impossible,” Alethea pointed out.
Raul’s mouth twisted. “You seem quite preoccupied with Dario.”
“I merely don’t wish to see another Prime turn rogue,” she told him.
Raul sighed. “Look, I know what happened with your old Prime was bad —”
“No, you don’t know,” she clipped. “You didn’t see what happened. You heard about it, but you didn’t see. Let me tell you it is a frightening and painful experience. So many died – women, men, children, demons, humans, animals. A rogue will kill indiscriminately. It cares for nothing. It seeks only to cause pain and misery and destruction. In my opinion, every demon even bordering on rogue should be killed.”