“Fine,” he said, petulant. “When he murders you in your sleep, don’t come crying to me.” The line went dead.
Raini shook her head. “I don’t have words where he’s concerned.”
Harper slipped her cell back into her pocket. “Yeah, most people don’t.” Swinging open the door, she strolled into the working area with Raini. Harper then signaled for Khloë and Devon to join them in the back room.
Devon, who was sweeping the floor, said, “Give me two seconds.”
Phone to her ear, Khloë raised her forefinger at Harper as she spoke to whoever was on the other end of the call. “I can assure you that your tattoo is not washing off. It’s just a little excess ink. Some will wash or flake out as your body heals. Try your hardest not to pick at the scabs. If after the tattoo is fully healed it still seems to have breaks in the lines, come back and we’ll patch it right up.”
The doorbell chimed, and Harper tensed as Kellen walked inside. His shoulders were hunched and his gaze was wary as he scanned the studio until he spotted her. He offered a sheepish smile that made her chest twinge.
Tanner, who’d followed him inside, raised a questioning brow at Harper. He says he wants to talk to you. I can throw him out if you want.
I’ll talk to him. She was interested to hear what he had to say. Tanner nodded but didn’t leave, eyes boring into Kellen’s back.
Harper slowly made her way to him, unsurprised when Raini and Devon followed. Harper waited until her cousin ended her call before she said, “Hey.”
Rubbing the back of his nape, Kellen spoke. “Harper…” His face was a mask of regret.
She took pity on the kid. “It’s okay.”
“No, it’s not,” Kellen insisted, his expression downcast. “But I didn’t know what to do.”
She tilted her head. “About what? Why did you think I wouldn’t want to see you?”
He licked his lips. “Roan… it was my fault he yelled at you.”
Harper blinked at the unexpected answer. “How could it be your fault?”
“He found out that I meet with you sometimes. I don’t know how; he wouldn’t tell me. Anyway, he was really pissed…” He trailed off, cheeks reddening.
“It’s okay, you can use bad words,” she told him with a smile. “So he was upset with you?”
“He said I was betraying Mom by seeing you. He told me if I didn’t swear to stay away from you, I’d be sorry. I told him it was my life and my decision. Then he… I really am sorry. I didn’t think he’d stay bad stuff about you to the lair and then yell at you, I thought he’d yell at me. Then when he got punished by Knox, Dad was really mad at me. He said I should have just left well enough alone.”
“Why would Bray blame you for what Roan did?” asked Devon, folding her arms. “That’s shitty.”
“Roan flies into rages sometimes,” said Kellen. “I get blamed for ‘setting him off.’” His eyes cut to Harper. “I wasn’t sure if you’d blame me too.”
Harper exhaled heavily. “Roan did what he did because he’s an ass, not because of anything you did or didn’t do. I do not blame you. Got me?”
Swallowing, he nodded curtly. “Yeah. Bray and Roan won’t like that I’ve come here, but I heard that Mom spoke to you. I figured if she could, I should be able to, right?” He jutted out his chin.
“Right,” said Harper, “so come tell me what you’ve been doing with yourself lately.”
Tanner then returned outside so Khloë could lock the front door and flip the sign to “Closed for Lunch.”
Harper led Kellen into the back room, where all five of them took a seat at the table and dug into the deli takeout. As they ate, he and Harper caught up on what had been happening in their lives. She hadn’t realized how much she’d liked their little talks until he stopped answering her calls. Over the years, she’d seen Roan and Kellen from afar. Had wondered what they were like. Roan might be an ass, but Kellen was a sweet kid who didn’t bother with swagger to try to fit in. He just was who he was, and she respected that.
It was shortly after they had finished lunch that there was a knock at the front door.
“I’ll get it,” announced Devon, disappearing out of the room. She returned moments later with Knox, who looked as hot and tempting as ever.
Harper smiled at him, and her demon practically rubbed its hands with glee. “Hey there.”
Knox stroked a hand over her hair and nodded at her brother, surprised to see him. “Kellen. I trust you won’t shut Harper out like that again.” It was a pressing suggestion that carried a threat.
Kellen swallowed nervously. “I won’t.”
“Good.” Knox suspected the teenager didn’t realize how much it had hurt Harper when he cut contact with her, but Knox knew. And he had no intention of allowing it to happen again. Turning back to Harper, Knox asked, “How long before you’re done here?”
Rising from her seat, Harper started clearing the table. “We’re closing at two today so we can go to the BBQ, remember. You’re invited too.”
“Ah, yes,” said Knox. He’d forgotten about that, what with all that was going on. “I’m afraid you won’t be going to the BBQ.”
She slowly lifted a brow. “I won’t.”
“No, because I need you to come with me somewhere.”
“Yeah? Where?” she asked, intrigued and wary at the same time. He just gave a crooked, enigmatic smile.
“Don’t worry, you’ll like it.”
“So this is a surprise for her?” Raini asked Knox, looking excited on Harper’s behalf.
“Yes,” replied Knox, amused to see that his mate was looking at him suspiciously. He wondered if she’d ever like surprises. He doubted it. “Meet me at my office after you’re done here.”
“Seriously, where are we going? Where are you taking me?” Harper couldn’t keep the impatience out of her voice. The truth was that she wasn’t a fan of surprises or delayed gratification. And he damn well knew it.
His mouth curved. “You’ll see.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
After a short flight on the private jet, Harper found herself standing on a pier where a line of boats rocked gently as their owners waxed, cleaned, or hauled on supplies. The sun sparkled off the exteriors, seeming to somehow illuminate them. That same sun beat down on her, prickling her cheeks and nose. The seagulls flying overhead cawed and screeched.
None of that held her attention.
She was too busy staring at the breath-taking, four-decked, gleaming white mega yacht in front of her. All sleek fiberglass and polished wood, it was a sight to behold. “That’s pretty impressive.”
“Thank you,” said the demon at her side.
She blinked up at Knox. “It’s yours? Of course it’s yours. Dumb question.” She should be used to his level of luxury by now.
“Ours,” he corrected. What was his was hers, as far as Knox were concerned.
“We’re going to spend the weekend on the yacht?” The only clue he’d given her as to where they were going was that she’d need bikinis.
“I want us to have some uninterrupted time together.” They hadn’t had enough of it recently; he’d neglected her again, and he hated that. Although Tanner and Levi were coming along, they would give them space. “It will be good for us.”
“I accepted your apology for all the brooding. I’m honestly not mad about it.” He didn’t need to do nice things for her.
“I know, which I appreciate because I am nowhere near as understanding as you are.” Knox would have lost his patience and demanded her attention because, well, he was that selfish. He placed a hand on her lower back. “Come on.” Knox guided her along the pier, across the bridge, and onto the main deck. “I want to introduce you to the crew.”
Having met the rather charming, uniformed crew – all of whom were demons – Harper tangled her fingers with his as Knox took her on a tour of the yacht. The bright and spacious interior was as impressive as the exterior. The lower deck featured a home theater, gym
, guest cabins, crew quarters, engine room, and also an exterior platform with outdoor showers and plenty of “toys,” including kayaks and motor boats.
The sun terrace of the main deck led into a salon – a place to escape the sun that had comfy looking couches, a wide-screen TV, and a bar. The dining salon was just as spacious, and the galley was every chef’s wet dream. Large windows were everywhere, allowing in plenty of light.
The upper deck featured a sun terrace for outdoor dining and also Knox and Harper’s extremely decadent bedroom suite – or stateroom, as he called it, whatever. The sun deck was probably the coolest of all, though, with its Jacuzzi, wet bar, and cozy little seating area.
After the tour was over, Harper slipped on a hot-pink bikini and settled on a rattan lounger on the main deck. Smearing on sunscreen, she peeked at Knox, who was sprawled on the lounger beside hers in just swim shorts, drinking wine. He was also closely watching the movements of her hands, and she had to smile.
He looked more relaxed than she’d seen him in a while. But then, it was pretty impossible to be anything but relaxed right then. The heat of the sun, the cool spray of the ocean water, and the light, salt-scented breeze – it all created a deliciously lazy atmosphere. The only sounds were that of the engine, the hull slicing through the water, and the soft laughter of Levi and Tanner who were on the above deck. They were giving her and Knox privacy, bless them.
“I’m not sure whether this bothers me or not,” said Knox.
Confused, she frowned. “What?”
“The brand on your breast is slightly visible through the thin material of your bikini. I like that I can see it.” It was sexy as hell. “But I don’t like that it’s eye-catching enough to draw people’s attention to your breasts.” They were for his eyes alone.
She snickered. “Take the matter up with your demon.”
“Baby, that put-out tone isn’t fooling me for a second – you like that brand.”
Yeah, she did. She liked the others too, for that matter. “Whatever.” Putting down the bottle of sunscreen, she lay back.
“Did Kellen tell you why he thought you wouldn’t want to see him?”
“Yes.” Harper repeated the conversation she’d had with Kellen. “I’m surprised Bray wasn’t supportive of Kellen being in contact with me. I mean, he was upset with Carla for the way she abandoned me. He’s all about family.”
“Bray’s had it hard lately, what with Carla disappearing,” said Knox. “He probably just wanted to keep Roan calm so that he didn’t do anything else that would earn him a punishment from me.” That didn’t mean Knox could or would excuse Bray’s behavior.
“Well, his plan failed.”
Knox put his empty glass on the small table between them. “I don’t want to talk about him or anything else that could ruin the mood.”
“So I probably shouldn’t tell you that Lucian called me earlier, huh?” she said with a smile.
Knox’s demon snarled. “What did he want?”
“His emu died. He’s devastated.”
Emu? Knox’s demon rolled its eyes. “Is he coming back to Vegas any time soon?”
“No. It’ll probably be another few months before he does. Besides, he’s still sulking over my refusal to leave ‘that psychopathic bastard.’”
“He’s a waste of skin, Harper, and a sad excuse for a parent.” The only reason Knox hadn’t beat the shit out of him was that Lucian did actually care for her in his own way. She was the only person he had an attachment to, in fact.
“He’s not so bad.”
“You deserve a better father than he could ever be.”
“Your parents let you down, but you still cared for them right up until the end, right?”
“Hmm.” His parents hadn’t been biologically related to him, since his kind were born from the flames of hell, but they had cared for him. Loved him, even. They’d also fell victim to the lies and manipulation of a demon cult-like leader and failed to protect Knox from him.
Eventually they’d stood up for him. And then the leader had slit their throats as punishment. At that point, Knox lost control of his demon for the first time in his life. And the demon avenged his parents in a very painful and final way.
“What were your parents like, if you don’t mind me asking?” asked Harper.
“Of course I don’t mind you asking. They were idealists. Not always grounded in reality. They didn’t like what they were. It wasn’t that they were ashamed of being archdemons; it was that they hadn’t liked living a life in which they had to hide what they were from their friends. My mother liked to cook, but she wasn’t very good at it. My father liked to build things. He was full of ideas, but he never finished any project that he started unless he was ordered to do so by the leader.”
Then they were very unlike Knox, thought Harper. He saw things through to the end. “I don’t think they purposely failed you, Knox. I don’t think they meant to hurt you.”
“Their intentions were good when they helped form the group.” For that reason, he could forgive them for their mistakes. But Lucian? His motivations were always selfish, and Knox would never make allowances for that.
“This may seem like a really dumb question,” began Harper, “but do you remember anything about being born from the flames?”
“No, I don’t. My earliest memories are of when I was a toddler.”
“Tell me a little about the children’s home you stayed at.” He’d only ever mentioned that in vague terms, so all she really knew was that it was where he met the sentinels.
“It wasn’t good. It wasn’t bad.” But at least he’d been safe there. “It was cold. Dull. There was no real color there. Everything was plain, including the food. The staff were strict, but they had to be in order to deal with a group of demon orphans. I liked the library. I spent most of my time there; absorbed every bit of knowledge I could find.”
“Is the place still standing?”
“Yes. It’s a hotel now.”
“You bought it,” she guessed.
“Someone needed to save it.”
Like it had saved him, Harper thought. The ice clinked against the glass as she sipped at her soda. “What drew you and the sentinels together?”
He thought about it for a moment. “Rage, maybe.”
She hadn’t expected that answer. “Rage?”
“All five of us carry it, each for our own reasons. Isla had it too.”
“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry that she put you in a position where you had to kill her – she was once your friend, so it had to have hurt on some level.”
Knox looked at his mate, amazed she could feel that way when the person in question had wanted her dead and, in temporarily stealing some of Harper’s power, made her vulnerable to the dark practitioners that had then kidnapped her. That night had been awful for her in more ways than one, but she could still speak Isla’s name without anger. “Come here.”
Harper slid off her lounger and straddled him. “What?”
He smoothed his hands up her back, breathing in the coconut scent of her sunscreen. “It’s a very good thing that I was the first demon to ever possess you. Not just because I would have been tempted to hunt down and destroy the others, but because if another demon had had you, he wouldn’t have let you go. Then I’d have had to kill him to take you from him.”