Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 111986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 111986 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 560(@200wpm)___ 448(@250wpm)___ 373(@300wpm)
Maybe Knox should feel some regret, feel some sense of guilt, for having taken her as his mate and brought this level of danger to her life. But he couldn’t. He’d never have any regrets about Harper, even if it meant that a cloud of menace would always hang above them. It was no doubt selfish and unfair of him, but he’d never claimed to be good. Never would be “good”.
Likewise, his demon had no regrets. But then, it wasn’t capable of remorse. It had no conscience, no pity, no sense of fair play. Demonkind had been very wise to ask that archdemons remain in hell. It was where they belonged; the only place that beings so destructive and cruel should be allowed to inhabit.
Knox wasn’t sure if Harper truly grasped that his demon’s sanity rested on the mere fact that her heart beat in her chest. She anchored it in so many ways that it would literally be lost without her. It was exactly the same for Knox.
The person targeting her truly had no idea just what fate they were tempting. Oh, they no doubt suspected that Knox would snap and cause a mass amount of destruction if she died, but they might also believe that it would turn demonkind against him and, as such, many would come together to take him down.
They didn’t understand that none of them would even have a chance to take him down, let alone the ability. Really, they’d better hope to fucking God that their plans didn’t succeed, or the Earth would be nothing but wasteland by the time Knox and his demon were done with it. The remains would make hell look like a damn paradise.
Standing at the entrance to the boardroom, Knox watched as Thatcher approached with one of his sentinels. His demon sneered, just as it had at every other person who neared it. Anger still had a tight hold on the entity, and all it wanted was to be with its mate – but not before delivering a special brand of vengeance. And since the male heading toward them could quite possibly be responsible for her pain… yeah, the demon wanted to butcher him with a boning knife.
Unlike Knox, it didn’t care if it punished the wrong person in its quest to discover who hexed their mate – collateral damage was nothing to the entity.
Thatcher nodded. “Good to see you, Knox.” He didn’t seem to be the least bit nervous or worried about what reason Knox could have had to call for the meeting. “I don’t suppose you’ll give me a hint of what this is about.”
“You’ll find out soon enough,” Knox told him, just as he’d told all the others who asked.
Thatcher’s mouth curved. “It was worth a try.”
Knox gestured for him and his sentinel to enter, and they joined the other Primes, who were gathered around the long table. Many were leaning into each other, speaking in low voices – no doubt speculating on what Knox had to say.
More and more people arrived, making his demon more and more restless. When it saw Jonas and Alethea with two sentinels, it unexpectedly settled. No, not settled, he quickly realized. It was putting aside its anger to study them carefully. Very, very carefully. Apparently, it suspected them more than it suspected Thatcher.
Knox gave them a nod of greeting. “Jonas, Alethea.”
Jonas’ smile was as cordial as always. “I must admit, you have me curious. I’m assuming this is about the Horsemen.”
“Have the decency to wait for the meeting to start,” Alethea playfully admonished her brother. She then leaned forward as she shook Knox’s hand, and he got a whiff of her trademark rose perfume that never failed to make Harper’s nose wrinkle.
Knox could see that she was waiting for him to kiss her cheek as he would have done long before meeting Harper, but tonight he didn’t. And it scored a hit, because she narrowed her eyes as she straightened.
“Where is your sphinx?” asked Alethea, the words tightly spoken.
“At home, resting.”
“Resting?” Concern creased Jonas’ brow. “I heard about the hunters. Did more strike?”
“I’ll explain everything once the others arrive.”
Jonas reluctantly walked away without asking additional questions. Alethea shot Knox an unreadable look before trailing after her brother, hips swaying provocatively. Knox subtly inhaled, allowing the scents of coffee, polish, and citrus air freshener to drown out the perfume.
Standing near the far wall, Levi exchanged an impatient look with Knox. The reaper was still fuming about the hex and seemingly had no tolerance whatsoever for Alethea’s brand of petty behavior right now.
Turning, Knox smiled at the sight of two imps approaching. “Jolene, Beck – glad you could make it.”
Jolene’s mouth curled. “Knox, always a pleasure.”
“No Martina?”
“She’s terribly upset about Harper. I couldn’t guarantee that she wouldn’t set anything in your beautiful hotel on fire.”