Knox reached for the surface, suppressing his demon, and cupped her neck. Brushing his thumb up and down the column of her throat, he said, “I’m sorry Roan said those things to you. You didn’t deserve it. And he knows better than that.” Keenan, find Roan. Apprehend him. He and I need to have another talk. You know where to take him.

Sure thing, Keenan replied. Can I ask why?

He confronted Harper and said some very unacceptable things.

A growl. I’ll get the little bastard.

Harper smoothed her hands up his back. “Who you talking to?” As their psyches were bonded, she could feel echoes of any telepathic conversations he had; she just couldn’t make out the words.

“Keenan,” he replied.

It was easy enough to guess. “You sent him after Roan.”

“He should have heeded my warning. I thought he had. Apparently not.” And Knox would ensure the little bastard paid for it.

“His head is a mess right now.”

“Not my problem. And it’s certainly not yours. He shouldn’t have tried to make it yours.” But of course Harper would take pity on him.

“He didn’t hurt me. Not physically or even emotionally.”

“Because you don’t care enough about him for anything he does to hurt you.” In fact, Knox would be surprised if she cared for Roan at all. But she did care that things had to be this way. “He didn’t know that, though. He set out to hurt you.”

“I don’t think he wanted to hurt me. I think he just wanted to vent.”

“That’s not the point. I warned him. My demon warned him. Apparently my last punishment didn’t get through to him, so we’ll have to try something else.”

She resisted asking just what that punishment would be. “Can we go home now?”

He kissed her. “Whatever you want, baby.”

CHAPTER TEN

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.