Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 110802 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 554(@200wpm)___ 443(@250wpm)___ 369(@300wpm)
“Crow isn’t even close to a real match for Knox,” said Ciaran, frowning. “It doesn’t make sense that someone would try to kill Knox using a mentally unstable demon who’s not powerful enough to really be a threat.”
Martina nodded. “It does seem like a rather bad plan.”
“So poor it wouldn’t be worth trying,” added Jolene. “Believing he was ‘given’ the mission is part of his delusion.”
That made sense. And yet, Harper wasn’t convinced.
She tensed as she heard another car approaching. Not just approaching, slowing down. Please, no, don’t be him. It could just be a neighbor’s car, she thought as it came to a stop. Or it could be someone visiting one of the neighbors. There was really no need to panic… even though the sound of a door slamming shut was followed by footsteps coming up the gravelly path. It could be Beck. Or one of her cousins. Or —
The doorbell peeled.
“That’s probably Knox,” said Jolene. “I take it you don’t wish to see him.”
Harper shook her head. “I’m too tired for him, Grams.” A girl needed to be at her sharpest when dealing with someone like Knox Thorne. Right then, she was emotionally drained and way too angry to have an actual conversation with him.
“Sending him away won’t be easy,” Ciaran warned.
Jolene rose from the couch, determination etched into every line of her face. “No, but it will be done.” Her heels click-clacked on the hardwood floor as she strode out into the hallway and to the front door. “Well, hello, Knox.”
Even from the living area, Harper could hear his response perfectly.
“Jolene,” he greeted. “I’ve come for Harper.”
“Yes,” said Jolene, “I gathered that.”
A sigh. “If you’re not going to invite me in, send her out.”
“She said she’d follow me to the door, but it seems she hasn’t. Maybe we shouldn’t be surprised, since she’s not a woman of her word.”
Harper’s mouth quirked, in spite of her dull mood.
Jolene spoke again. “It might be a good idea if you give her some space.” It wasn’t a suggestion; it was an instruction. And it no doubt made him bristle.
“I’m not leaving without her, Jolene.”
“Well, I can assure you right now that you won’t leave with her,” stated Jolene, voice hardening. “You promised me she would be safe with you. You promised that you wouldn’t hurt her.”
“I’d never hurt her,” Knox immediately responded. Harper, come to me.
Harper snorted. He couldn’t be serious.
“There are different types of pain, Knox,” said Jolene. “You didn’t hurt her physically, which is the only reason you’re breathing. But you hurt her heart – something you should have protected with everything in you.”
A pause. “Jolene, this is between me and Harper.”
“No, it isn’t, because she doesn’t want to see you.”
Harper, unless you want your grandmother and me fighting, come to the door.
Cursing to herself, Harper stalked out of the room and down the hallway.
“It would seem she does keep her word after all,” Jolene said to him.
Harper came to a stop behind Jolene, and his gaze boldly locked with hers. Her chest hurt just looking at him. He was so achingly good-looking. Living, breathing seduction. And a total asshole. Her demon glared at him, upper lip curled.
He held out his hand. “Come on.”
She shook her head. “Go home.” Looking at him was pissing her off all over again.
Harper —
Just. Leave.
Knox inwardly cursed. His mate was a lot of things, but not cold or distant. At that moment, she seemed both those things. The short physical distance between them might as well have been an ocean. She was lost to him right then. And he didn’t know how to bring her back.
He did know that it would be a lot fucking easier if her family backed off and let them deal with it. Jolene, however, still stood there like a sentry. Martina and Ciaran were at Harper’s back, scowling at him. What’s more, other demons were gathering in the yard, watching with shrewd eyes.
That was the thing about imps. You took on one; you took on them all.
Not that Knox was worried. He could kill them all with minimal effort. He wouldn’t, of course, since they were Harper’s family. But a display of power would serve as a decent enough warning to make them back off. And he would have made such a display if two little girls hadn’t dashed into the house and coiled themselves around Harper’s legs… which was no doubt why they’d done that. Imps of all ages were as cunning as they came.
His demon growled at the scene. It wanted its mate. Wanted to smash down the wall she’d erected between them. Wanted to grab her and haul her home. But Knox knew better than to even attempt to touch her right then. Besides, he’d messed up enough already. So he sighed and said to her, “I’ll be back in the morning. Be ready.”