Total pages in book: 127
Estimated words: 119942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 119942 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 600(@200wpm)___ 480(@250wpm)___ 400(@300wpm)
“Hello, Harper,” he drawled. Why he seemed to think he was suave and charismatic, she had yet to figure out. In reality, he was sly, smarmy, and bursting with a sense of self-importance. He had to sit pretty high on the power spectrum, but she suspected he wasn’t quite as powerful as he liked to believe.
Harper forced a smile. “Hi, Malcolm.”
“Malden,” he corrected; a muscle in his cheek ticked – just as it always did when she called him that, knowing he hated it.
“Sorry, I’m not good with names.”
Draping an arm over the back of her chair, Knox looked at Malden. “I see you’ve met my anchor.” Knox also saw that Malden was trying to charm her, and he didn’t like it.
Malden’s gaze danced from him to Harper. “Yes, I have. I know Jolene quite well. Here she is now.”
Harper couldn’t help but smile at the sight of her grandmother, aunt, and Beck. Harper rose to her feet, immediately gaining their attention, and they headed straight for her. Jolene had a very confident walk – shoulders back, spine straight, chin up, and her stride purposeful. No one walked better in high heels than Jolene Wallis. A smile spread across her face as she reached Harper and gave her a one-armed hug. “Harper, I’ve missed you.”
Stepping back, Harper said, “Grams, you look smart.” Jolene had a very natural veneer of elegance, her clothes always sleek skirts and blouses.
“As do you. I’m guessing you’re uncomfortable like that, though.”
“So true.” Harper nodded at the burly guy who was Jolene’s anchor. “Hey, Beck.”
He winked at her. The guy was like an annoying yet amusing uncle.
As her aunt pulled her in for a hug, Harper had to force a smile, wondering why the hell Jolene would bring her to something like this. Martina Wallis was fun, high-spirited, and so beautiful she could bewitch any male. She also liked to set shit on fire.
“Aw, it’s so good to see you.” Martina kissed Harper on the cheek.
No fear in her eyes, Jolene turned to Knox, who was also standing. Not much rattled Jolene. And if something did, she destroyed it – problem solved, in her opinion. “Knox Thorne, it’s always a pleasure.”
He nodded, a slight smile curving his mouth. “Jolene.”
“I expect you to be a good anchor to my granddaughter.”
“I expect you wouldn’t allow anything else.”
Jolene cackled, clearly quite happy with his answer. “I didn’t realize you had a sense of humor. You’ll need one if you have Harper in your life. Let’s sit.” She looked down at Malden. “You don’t mind shuffling along, do you um…?” She clicked her fingers, as if struggling to recall his name, but she knew damn well what it was.
“Malcolm,” Harper helpfully supplied.
“Malden,” he instantly amended, the tick in his cheek going crazy, though he did shuffle along. Jolene and Martina then sat on Harper’s left while Beck stood behind Jolene.
Jolene leaned into Harper. “And you criticize me for messing with people.” She patted Harper’s hand. “I taught you well.”
“You brought Martina?” Harper whispered.
“She distracts people, it makes them easier to read.” It was true that many of the males were drooling over the woman already. “The security here isn’t all that good, which concerns me.”
“You snuck inside, didn’t you?” Not that Harper would expect anything different from an imp, particularly a Wallis.
“Of course.” Glancing at the doorway, she said, “That’s Isla Ross.”
The woman was amazingly beautiful, her features were eerily perfect, and her skin was flawless…but there was something almost robotic about her as she slowly crossed the room. It was odd.
When Knox tensed ever so slightly, Harper knew he’d spotted her. “Here goes,” she said. His hand squeezed her thigh gently, almost soothingly.
Isla was searching for an empty chair when she finally glimpsed Knox. She came towards him with a half-smile. “Knox, it’s been a while.”
He stood, not speaking until she’d exchanged greetings with Tanner and Levi. “Isla, you look well.”
Her smile brightened a little. “Thank you. We should talk before you leave.” Then she walked on past, not even acknowledging Harper.
“That was easy,” Tanner said quietly.
“I don’t think she realized Harper was with us,” said Knox, retaking his seat. “I usually come to these events with only two sentinels as company.”
“Is there a problem I should know about?” Jolene quietly asked Harper.
Harper leaned into her. “In sum, there’s a possibility that Isla believes that Knox is her anchor, which means…”
“She might not be so happy to meet you,” finished Jolene. Then she shrugged. “You can take her.”
When a blond, smartly dressed male with an air of authority waltzed inside, all the demons standing then immediately took their seats. He settled in the chair at the head of the table. “Afternoon, everyone. For those of you who haven’t met me before, I’m Raul Harlan. As you all know, we’re here to discuss…well, the fact that Isla’s making a lot of noise about things that don’t interest me. But her noise is getting louder, and it’s time to get the whole thing settled.”