Levi ignored that. “One thing Alethea was never good at was letting go of an insult. I don’t mean the sarcastic insults you like to shower her with. I’m talking slights to her character or ego.” He paused to take a sharp turn. “You already know that Knox’s demon quickly got bored with females in the past. He warned them it would happen, but most still caused a fuss over it. Alethea didn’t get upset that he didn’t commit to her. She accepted it. But that was because Knox didn’t commit to others either.
“Then you came along and he claimed you in a matter of months. Alethea had known him for centuries. To her, you’re an imp, a Wallis, someone completely beneath her. She can’t understand why he could possibly want you when he could have her. Knox giving you something he’d never given to her – especially the ultimate commitment – is something she feels insulted by. She’s tried to intimidate and manipulate you into leaving him, but nothing ever worked. That only makes it worse for her.”
“So you don’t think she wants Knox?” Harper wasn’t so sure she agreed with that.
“I think she wants him,” said Tanner. “But I think she also knows it’s not going to happen. Still, that doesn’t mean she’ll ever accept you as his mate. She’ll hurt you however she can just because it makes her feel better.”
Harper thought about it a minute. “It’s like she entered us into some kind of imaginary competition. Knox wasn’t really the prize, though, was he?”
Knox sighed. “I’m right here, you know.”
Levi’s mouth quirked, but he responded to Harper’s question. “No. She might have ‘won’ Knox, but the real prize was that she’d then feel like the goddess she believes herself to be. Alethea’s kind can enchant and seduce any human. That’s why she spends so much time around them – it makes her feel powerful to be the object of so many fantasies, to be able to manipulate and control people that way. For her, the ability to make any man want her equates to power.”
Tanner nodded and threw Harper a brief look over his shoulder. “She’s not used to being turned down. It makes her feel like she’s without that power that she’s become so used to. But Knox chose you, not her. You took away her power, you made her feel weak – just as it would make you feel weak if she took away your ability to fly or strike out at people with soul-deep pain. She’ll never let that go.”
Harper tossed Knox a look of irritation. “Did you really have to shake the sheets with such a fucking egotistical nut job?”
Knox chuckled. “I sincerely regret it, and I’m sorry that she tries so hard to hurt you. I’d offer to kill her, but you’d just tell me that you would rather deal with the matter yourself.” He pressed a soft, apologetic kiss to her mouth. “Forget about her. She’s not important. Never was.”
Tanner grinned. “Aw, that was cute.”
Knox shot him a scowl. “It’s really no wonder that Devon wants to kill you.”
Tanner’s grin widened. “The little hellcat wouldn’t do that.”
Harper snorted. “You persist in believing she’s some cute little kitty that you could easily handle. One day, that attitude’s going to come back and claw you on the ass – literally.”
That didn’t seem to bother Tanner at all. In fact, he looked like he’d enjoy it.
Twisted.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Leaning against the doorjamb of Knox’s home office a week later, Harper waited as he finished his call. He’d begun to spend more and more time at the mansion, doing meetings via teleconference whenever he could. She knew it was because his protective instincts were becoming harder to deal with, and she was guessing that his demon was also more at ease when she was around. Her own demon certainly preferred being at home and having Knox nearby.
As he finally ended the call, she arched a brow. “You busy?” He didn’t just stand; he sort of… gracefully uncoiled from his seat, and she had no idea why she liked that so much.
“Never too busy for you. You know that,” said Knox. The baby’s mind lightly touched his – it often responded to his voice that way, and it got to him every time. Rounding his desk, Knox tilted his head, tension mounting inside him as he took in her nervous expression. “Something wrong?”
“No. I just have something to show you.”
He smiled as realization dawned on him, and the tension in his muscles fell away. “You’re finally letting me see it?”
She pushed away from the doorjamb. “Yes. It’s ready.”
Knox draped his arm over her shoulders. “Lead the way.” She hadn’t let him in the nursery even once since she’d began painting it, wanting it to be a surprise. She’d let him do a few things, such as assemble the pretty dragonfly mobile – and he suspected that was because she wanted to be sure he felt involved to some extent – but that was pretty much it.
He hadn’t complained. He’d sensed that she’d made it her project and that designing it meant something to her. Since he wanted her happy, and since Meg had explained that it was a “nesting” instinct that was perfectly natural, he’d given Harper that.
Once they reached the closed door of the nursery, she said, “Don’t forget; if there’s anything you don’t like, we can change it.”
“I’m sure I’ll like it just fine.” Twisting the knob, Knox pushed open the door… and his mouth almost fell open. Damn, the woman had been busy, and her hard work had paid off.
He walked silently along the plush, cream carpet and skimmed his hand over the side of the crib. Like the dresser, changing table, and rocking chair, it was a light, smooth pine. Woodland murals decorated the lemon walls and closet doors, matching the woodland-themed quilt. The most striking artwork was the large, white, tree mural that spanned from floor to ceiling.
The pine shelves were lined with the gifts she’d been given at the baby shower – stuffed animals, baby monitors, and a photo frame that held the baby’s first ultrasound picture. A diaper pail and baby chair, both of which were also gifts from the baby shower, sat in the corner.
The breeze coming through the open window fluttered the white curtains and jingled the dragonfly mobile that hung over the crib. The room felt bright and airy, especially with so much natural light. When the sun shone on the lemon walls, they turned into a deeper, sunbeam shade. She’d created a warm, serene space that was as inviting as it was cozy. He was now extremely glad he’d accepted her request to leave the whole thing to her.
“I was startled when the delivery guys assembled the furniture before they left,” she said. “I’m used to flatpacks.” Still, it had taken Harper a week to get the room exactly the way she wanted it. She’d bet Tanner and Keenan were ecstatic that the manual labor was over, because she’d really put them to work. “Well, what do you think?” He turned to face her, and the pride on his face warmed her.
“I think you did an amazing job.” Knox placed his hands on her shoulders. “And I think you made the best decision when you chose to design it yourself.”
She smiled, relieved. “I’m glad you like it.”
He cocked his head. “You were worried that I wouldn’t?”
“Well, you’re a very selective guy. Hard to please, in many ways.”
He breezed his mouth over hers. “It’s never hard for you to please me. Really, I love what you’ve done with the room, and I think the baby will love it too. I meant to ask, why the dragonfly mobile? I like it. I’m just curious.”
“For the same reason that I got the tattoo of one on my nape. I admire them – despite having a short lifespan and being very delicate, they don’t let either hold them back. Plus, they’re master fliers. Any sphinx would love to be a master flier.” And she wanted that for the baby; was a little worried that, like her, its wings wouldn’t come to it naturally.
“Ah, I get it.” Knox gestured at the box and bag near the closet. “I see that you have everything ready.”
“Yep. All we have to do on the big day is take it downstairs to the living room.” She’d chosen to have a home birth, which wasn’t uncommon fo
r demons. She liked the idea of being in her own home, a familiar place where she felt comfortable, relaxed, and safe, while she went through what would no doubt be a hell of an experience.
Her main reason for choosing a home birth, however, was that she wouldn’t feel safe in a hospital. It would be a time when she was vulnerable, when Knox was distracted, and when the baby wouldn’t be all that difficult to get to – no matter how many precautions were taken. As such, people might think it was a good time to attack. At home, she and the baby would be a hell of a lot safer.
Everything she needed for the birth was ready in the box, thanks to Meg – old sheets and towels, blankets, and plastic sheeting among other things. Meg had also gotten hold of a portable heater to keep the baby warm – apparently, her daughter had used one and it had been ideal.
Harper had still packed a bag with toiletries and clothes for her and the baby, just in case there were complications and she needed to be transferred to a hospital. It also meant she didn’t have to send Knox and Meg on errands to seek out the stuff she wanted during the home birth; all they’d have to do was grab her bag.
Rodgers hadn’t advised against a home birth, since the last ultrasound scan had showed that the baby had indeed had a growth spurt. It was no longer smaller than it should be and, in fact, was a little bigger than he’d expected.
“Nervous about the birth?” asked Knox as they left the nursery, closing the door behind them.
She bit her lip. “Yeah. I’ve read about it, heard countless stories about it, and I’d like to think I’m prepared, but I still have my worries.”
Hating that he couldn’t fix that for her, Knox said, “I’ll help however I can. Tell me what you want and I’ll make it happen. Whatever you need me to do, I’ll do it.”
“I don’t need you to do anything complicated. Just be there.” If she could feel close and connected to this person who made her feel safe, Harper knew she’d get through it okay.
He rested his forehead against hers. “I will be with you every step of the way, I promise. And speaking of the baby, I have some news. The lair is organizing a parade in the Underground.”
Her brow furrowed. “A what?”
“A parade in honor of the baby.”
Harper groaned. “Knox, you saw what people were like at the announcement – full of questions, horror stories, and unwanted advice. The further along a woman is in the pregnancy, the worse it is. When Heidi’s mom was pregnant, I felt so bad for her. It’s like people see a baby bump and forget the existence of etiquette. They commented on everything – her boobs being bigger, the weight she’d gained, her face being plumper, her ankles swelling up.”
Knox raked his gaze over her. “I don’t mind that your breasts are bigger. The only weight you’ve really gained is the weight you initially lost. And your face isn’t plump. Your ankles don’t look swollen either.”
“Not the point, Thorne. Heidi’s mom gracefully ignored it, but I don’t have her easy temperament. I’d rather have the damn baby shower again, and that’s saying something.”
“I thought baby showers were supposed to be relaxing events.”
“Not when they’re thrown by imps, they’re not.”
When Jolene had told him that she’d organized a baby shower for Harper, he’d envisaged a relaxing get-together that involved silly games, finger foods, a diaper cake, and lots of oohing and ahhing as the guests sat in a circle watching the mother-to-be open their gifts. But it turned out that an imp baby shower was nothing like that.
Although Harper had warned him that it would be a rowdy event, he hadn’t realized just what she meant until he’d later pulled up outside Jolene’s house to hear “Ice Ice Baby” filtering through the open windows. The imps had a mimosa bar, a DJ, karaoke, and a BBQ going, and everyone other than Harper had been absolutely smashed by the end of it.
Curling his arms around her shoulders, Knox brushed her nose with his. “All right, I’ll ask the lair to cancel the parade.” He tilted his head when her brow creased. “Why don’t you look happy about it?”
“Because part of me now feels guilty and ungrateful. I don’t want to offend the lair.”
Knox almost chuckled. In her shoes, he wouldn’t have felt guilty at all, but Harper had a marshmallow center that meant she’d never be as selfish as he was. “I’d sooner offend our lair by canceling the parade than ask you to do something that you don’t want to do.”
“Stop being so nice when I’m being so whiny.”
“You’re not being whiny. Even if you were, I’d say you had every right to be. You’re hormonal and heavily pregnant, which is making you feel edgy. No one who’s edgy wants to deal with anything that annoys them. You’re also feeling hyper-protective of the baby, so it’s perfectly natural that you wouldn’t want strangers around you – especially strangers who might try touching your stomach.” Neither Knox nor his demon liked the idea either.
“You really don’t think I’m being stroppy and unreasonable?”
“No, I don’t. I’m guessing your demon’s just as restless and close to snapping – from what I’ve heard, that’s pretty normal during pregnancy. I just thought you might like to get out of the house. You’ve worked so hard on the nursery that, aside from attending the baby shower, you haven’t been anywhere. You were adamant that staying in the house all the time would make you crazy.”
Harper frowned. “I would have thought you’d be happy that I haven’t been anywhere.”
“I find that I don’t like you doing anything that seems out of character for you – it makes me worry. Meg assured me that you were nesting and there was no need for me to be concerned, but I’ll always worry about you.”
Harper thought about it for a moment. “It might actually be good for me to leave the house and get some air. And it might be best to let everyone see that I’m pregnant and satisfy their curiosity so they’re not all staring at me if I need to go to the Underground for any reason.”
“It might be,” he agreed, careful not to push her either way.
“It bothers me that people might think I’m hiding – that would give whoever’s fucking with us a real kick. It would also make us look weak.” Which was exactly why she hadn’t wanted to stay in the villa for long, she reminded herself.
“Personally, I don’t much care what other people think. But I do care that people might believe I don’t trust in my ability to protect you.”
Harper sighed, and her shoulders drooped. “When’s the parade scheduled for?”
“A week’s time.”
And that meant her stomach would be even bigger for the event. Great. “I’ll go, but I can’t promise I’ll last long or that anyone who upsets me will walk away unscathed.”
“Don’t worry; I don’t think anyone will really want to tangle with a pregnant she-demon.” Hormonal and intolerant, they didn’t deal with bullshit well at all. Harper was impatient with bullshit at the best of times.
“I’m gonna need a new dress.”
“Most women wouldn’t utter those words with irritation.”
“I’m not most women. I’m also not in the mood to go to the mall. My back hurts and my joints ache.”
He gently rubbed her back. “So have Raini pick something up for you, like you did when you needed a dress for the announcement.”
Raini was indeed good at choosing outfits for people. Harper wondered if part of the reason the succubus enjoyed choosing pretty clothes for others was that she very rarely bought any for herself.
“Fine,” relented Harper, smoothing her hands up his chest. “But I expect a chocolate reward of some kind.”
“I can arrange that.” He gave her a quick kiss. “Tomorrow.” Another kiss. “Now we shower.”
“I’d rather play Naked Twister.”
He laughed. “Keeping up with your sex drive might kill me.”
“There are worse ways to die.”
There were indeed. “You know what I just realized?”
A
shiver worked through Harper at the sound of his “sex voice”. It was all dark, dominant, and hypnotic. “What?”
He scraped his teeth over her earlobe. “We haven’t christened the closet.”
Harper swallowed. “That’s a bad oversight on our part. Terrible, even. I’m thinking we should rectify it.”
“It wouldn’t be right if we didn’t.” Thrusting his hands into her hair, he kissed her. Licked into her mouth. Sucked on her tongue. Bit at her lip. Took and tasted and dominated. All the while, he was backing her into their room and then through to the closet. Stopping near the sofa, he said, “I want what’s under these clothes. Take them off.”
A little dazed by that hot, heavy kiss, Harper nonetheless managed to shed her clothes without stumbling or losing her balance. She was rather chuffed with herself for that. “This is the part where you get naked too.”
Ashes Page 27
