“It was a good idea to keep the food and entertainment outside,” said Levi. “It means everyone’s not crammed in the studio and there won’t be plates and cups all over the place.”
It also meant Harper could stand outside to take a break and breathe.
“You’d be surprised by how many people have swiped a business card from the desk.” Khloë tipped her chin toward the flow of demons moving in and out of the studio. “I think a lot of them were just being nosy when they went inside.”
“But if they were impressed enough to take a card, that’s good,” said Keenan, staring at a completely casual Khloë with a furrow between his brows – something he’d been doing for a while.
Harper figured he expected her cousin to feel awkward after her drunken behavior. If so, he was wrong. Khloë didn’t do “awkward.”
“This is a way bigger turn-out than we had at the first opening, which isn’t at all surprising given we have a good reputation and you’re now a Prime,” said Devon, eating off a flimsy paper plate. She hissed when Tanner snatched a chicken wing from it, but the hellhound just ignored her.
“Roan walked by earlier.” Khloë paused to pop open a can of soda. “I half-expected him to come over and be a dick to you again,” she told Harper. “But he seemed to think better of it because you had this tower of terror and sex appeal at your side.”
Knox blinked, unsure if he was offended or not. “Tower of terror and sex appeal?”
Khloë lifted one shoulder. “Am I wrong?”
Chuckling, Harper shook her head. “No, you’re not.” Her demon was in complete agreement that its mate was both hot and terrifying at the same time.
“Have you noticed that a lot of people are staring at you, looking puzzled?” Devon asked Harper.
She glanced around. Huh. Devon was right. “Weird.” But whatever.
Knox understood why they were looking puzzled, because he’d been playing close attention. It was interesting to see people’s reaction to Harper. She didn’t talk or act like a typical Prime, demanding respect and acknowledgment and submission. She never rubbed her status in people’s faces. Never spoke like she was above them or like they owed her anything. She smiled and laughed and ate junk food, and he could see that most just didn’t know what to make of her.
She hadn’t simply opened the studio with that “build it and they will come” attitude, relying on her status to reel curious demons in. It was a technique that would have worked, after all. No, she’d been professional about it and shown that she took pride in her business. It was something they’d admire and respect.
Splaying a hand on her lower back, Knox asked, “How are you doing?”
Harper’s mouth twitched. “In other words, have I hit my ‘dealing with people limit’? I’m close.” It had been a long, loud, busy day. She was glad it was almost over. Thank you for staying with me. I know you have an endless amount of stuff to do.
He gave her a soft kiss. You’re more important than any of that. This is a big day for you; of course I’d be here.
Even though I sowed pink sequins on your tie? Her lower stomach clenched at the lopsided smile he gave her.
Even though, he replied. Am I going to find any appliqués on my other clothes?
Not unless you piss me off again.
“Look who’s here,” drawled Devon, gesturing at someone behind Harper.
Curious, Harper turned. And groaned.
Devon, however, flashed the she-demon a bright smile. “Belinda, it’s always good to see you.” The hellcat held out her plate. “Fries?”
Belinda jerked back, nose scrunched up, like she’d been offered a roasted rat. “No, thank you.” She cleared her throat and flashed Knox a gracious smile. “You look a little out of place here.”
Okay, that pissed Harper off. “I know you might have meant that as a compliment to him, but it was a shitty and most decidedly snotty thing to say.”
Belinda lightly patted her bun. “I just meant that, well, this isn’t his usual scene. Really, Harper, it’s not the sort of party a Prime would throw.”
“It’s not a party, it’s an opening,” Harper told her. “Now, is there something you wanted?”
Belinda went to open her briefcase. “Well —”
“No, no, no,” Devon interrupted, slinging her empty plate in the garbage can that Raini had artfully painted. “Today is about the studio, not the shindig.”
Knox sighed. “It’s not a shindig.”
“I just needed you to sign a few forms,” Belinda said to Harper.
“That can be done tomorrow, Miss Thacker, I’m sure,” said Knox, a hard edge to his voice.
Belinda’s smile was brittle. “Of course.” She looked around, taking in the big crowd of people. “Well, it would seem the free food did the trick.”
Knox stiffened at the bitchy insinuation that the success of the opening was owed to the free food. “Careful, Miss Thacker.”
Belinda swallowed hard. “I simply meant that it was a good idea. I was praising Harper.”
No, she wasn’t. He went to say as much, but then Harper’s elbow jabbed his side.
“I appreciate the compliment,” said Harper.
Straightening her blouse, Belinda said, “Well, I’ll be on my way.”
As the cambion click-clacked away on those heels, Khloë turned to Knox. “You thought it would be a good idea to hire her? Really?”
“She’s good at her job and hasn’t given me any problems in the past,” he said. “She was always polite and helpful.”
Khloë snorted. “That’s because you weren’t mated in the past.” Crushing her empty soda can, she said, “I’m going to get a burger.”
“I’ll go with you, keep you out of trouble,” said Keenan.
Khloë frowned. “No one could keep me out of trouble.”
So true.
As they walked off, Raini stepped out of the studio and asked, “Was that Belinda I just saw?”
“Yep,” replied Devon. “She was being her usual snotty self. Well, I say ‘usual’… according to Knox, she was always nice and helpful in the past.”
“Yeah?” said Raini. “She was probably eager to impress him, thinking she had a chance with him. Now she’s eager to stress Harper out and make her feel like she doesn’t suit him or his lifestyle.”
Knox frowned at his mate. “What did she say to you?” He’d known Belinda was annoying her, but he hadn’t been aware that she’d been making sly personal comments.
Raini blinked. “You haven’t told him?”
No, because Harper wasn’t like Belinda – she didn’t go whining to people about stuff, expecting them to deal with her problems for her. She’d blow the whole thing off if she didn’t know for sure that Knox wouldn’t let this go until he knew everything. “I’ll tell you later,” she said to him. “But only if you promise not to intervene.”
“Harper, I hired her to help you. She’s supposed to be making things easier for you, not harder. You can’t expect me to overlook this.”
“You call me your co-Prime, but do you really mean that?”
“You know I do,” he fairly growled. How could she even ask him that?
“Then you can’t fight my battles for me. It would undermine my authority. Besides, it’s kind of fun to make her do all these things for the shindig that make her gasp in horror.”
Raini nodded, smirking. “It really is.”
“You mean like the sticks with chunks of steak on?” asked Levi, mouth twitching.
Harper snorted. “I’m not surprised she ran off to whine about it.”
Knox tilted his head. “A part of you finds it amusing that I have to deal with her complaints, doesn’t it?”
Harper put a hand on her chest. “I would never be so selfish as to not share with you the wonder that is Belinda.”
Tanner snickered. “She’s right. Mates should share everything.”
Harper’s chuckle faded as she caught sight of none other than Carla appr
oaching, arm in arm with Bray. Well, wonderful. Her inner demon tensed, baring its teeth.
“What’s she doing here?” asked Devon.
“We’ll soon find out,” said Harper. Tanner sidled up to her protectively so that she was flanked by him and Knox.
Moments later, the couple came to a stop in front of them. The guards at their back nodded respectfully at both Harper and Knox. Bray stiffly inclined his head, and Carla… well, for a while, she and Harper just stared at each other. The moment stretched until it was painfully awkward.
Finally, Harper greeted, “Carla, Bray.”
Carla glanced through the window. “The place looks good. Even better than your old studio.” Which would suggest she’d actually seen the old studio, but that could be a lie. “I’m sure it will do well.” Her eyes slid back to Harper. “I just wanted you to know that I don’t blame you for anything Crow did. He’s responsible for his own actions.” She gave a humorless chuckle. “Well, considering he’s far from sane, it might be fair to say we can’t really hold him responsible. In any case, I don’t blame you.”
And if Carla hadn’t said the latter like it made her considerate and merciful and she deserved some praise, Harper’s inner demon might not have wanted to pop her right in the face.
Face hard, Raini said, “Of course it’s not Harper’s fault. No one should ever think otherwise.”
“I hear you’re treating Crow with drugs,” Bray said to Knox, a note of anger in his voice.
“I know you probably want him dead,” said Knox. “It’s perfectly understandable.”
“Surely you want him dead after what he did to your mate.” Bray’s gaze cut to Harper. “You should want him dead too. He deserves to be punished.”
“Yes, he does,” Knox easily agreed. “But to punish him while he believes I’m evil incarnate would only feed his fantasy and make him a martyr in his own mind. Then it wouldn’t be a punishment, would it?”
Bray swallowed. “Well, I suppose that’s true.” Movement on their right seemed to catch his attention. His eyes hardened. Following his gaze, Harper saw Delia standing with a small group of women, looking pale and harried.
“She thinks Crow can be helped,” said Bray sharply.
“It’s natural that she doesn’t want to give up on him,” said Harper. “No one can judge her for that.”
“I damn well can,” snapped Bray. “She’s supposed to be Carla’s friend.”
“I’m sure Delia is, but she’s also Crow’s partner,” Harper pointed out. “I wouldn’t want to give up on Knox, and I’d imagine you wouldn’t want to give up on Carla, so how can we be mad at her for standing by him?”
Bray’s eyes narrowed. “You weren’t so understanding when it came to Roan.”
Knox stiffened. “Be very cautious about what you say next, Bray.”
Harper almost shivered at the silken menace in his voice. Her demon hissed at Bray, backing up its mate.
Carla spoke. “Roan didn’t mean the things he said. He was angry and scared for me. He’s always been an emotional boy. If he does or says anything else, please bear that in mind.”
“If he steps wrong again,” began Knox, “he’ll be punished again. Nothing will get him a free pass, Carla.” His eyes cut to Bray. “And you should seriously rethink ever using that sharp tone with my mate again.”
Bray’s Adam’s apple bobbed and he lowered his eyes submissively.
“There’s plenty of food, feel free to grab some,” said Devon. It was a subtle attempt to make them move along. It worked. They nodded and headed for the grill with their guards.
“As much as I feel bad for her after what she went through, I could happily slap her right now,” said Raini. “I can’t believe she said she doesn’t blame you for what Crow did like that made her a good and kindhearted person. I mean she genuinely seemed to be expecting gratitude from you for it.”
Devon nodded. “Not holding you responsible for Crow’s actions should be natural, not a kindness. That woman is not, and has never been, kind. She’s just…”
“She’s just Carla,” Harper finished, having long ago realized that her birth mother simply wasn’t normal. “And she’s not important right now. This day is about the studio, nothing and no one can spoil it.”
Raini gave a curt nod. “Right. It really has been a productive day. I took a lot of bookings. Some were from people who wanted us to fix badly-done tattoos they got from the other places round here. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Our local competition tried to recruit me.”
Harper gaped. “You’re kidding!”
Devon hissed. “Motherfucker. Who exactly was it?”
“A tall guy with dreadlocks and lots of piercings,” replied Raini, smiling. “He said he owns the Sleepy Hollow Parlor and he wanted me to come work for him. Can you believe that?”
“What did you say?” asked Levi.
“I told him to go fuck himself with a blow torch, obviously,” replied Raini.
“Obviously,” said Levi.
“I could kill the cheeky fucker.” Harper glanced around, looking for him. “He needs to —” She frowned as a red-faced Keenan stumbled past with Khloë on his back, doing his best to buck her off. But the imp held tight, pulling lots of weird expressions as she took selfie after selfie of the two of them.
Devon sighed at the spectacle. “You know… I sometimes look at how well-organized, precise, and fearless Khloë can be and think, ‘Wow, she’d make an excellent army general.’ But then I remember it would only be a matter of time before she’d be shot by her own troops.”
It was sad because it was true.
“What’s his deal with cameras?” Raini asked Levi.
The reaper shrugged. “He just hates having his picture taken.”
Devon sighed again. “I guess we better dislodge her from him.”
Harper went to follow both Devon and Raini, but then she froze as anger seemed to suddenly blast from the archdemon at her side. His eyes briefly bled to black. She grabbed his arm. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Knox’s nostrils flared. I’ve just spoken with Larkin.
And?
Crow is gone.
Gone? What the fuck?
Harper watched as Knox paced up and down in front of the fireplace, muscles rippling beneath his suit, looking much like a caged tiger. To say he was pissed would be a massive understatement. Hell, they were all pissed. No one could work out how Crow could possibly have escaped his cell.
The prison was well-guarded and had several, complicated security measures in place. In addition, the building was safeguarded by a myriad of spells that also prevented anyone from teleporting inside. Each individual spell was actually covered with a protective spell to stop them from being unraveled.
They’d initially suspected that dark practitioners had somehow miraculously managed to find a way to undo the spells, but an incantor had visited the prison and assured them that no one had even attempted to tamper with the spells.
Yet, Crow was gone.
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