Ashes

by Wright, Suzanne

  “Her effort didn’t work so well. Turns out his skin’s impervious to fire.”

  “He’s one of us?”

  “She seems to believe he’s a changeling. That’s why she put him in the oven – apparently, it’s a surefire way of exposing a changeling child. He’s six.” Knox watched realization dawn on Talia. Fear flashed across her face. “You didn’t ask my permission, Talia.”

  She licked her lips, shoulders curving inward. “I-I knew you wouldn’t give it to me.”

  “Why did you do it?” asked Tanner.

  Talia snorted a laugh. “Are you kidding? Look at this place. Look at me. Kids need love and security and all that jazz, right?”

  “You could have tried to improve your situation,” said Tanner.

  Talia shook her head hard and glared at the floor. “I couldn’t have loved him,” she mumbled. “I wanted to. I just couldn’t.”

  Something about the way she said it made Harper guess, “You were raped.”

  Talia flinched.

  “You should have told us,” Knox said through his teeth. “We would have taken care of the situation.”

  Talia looked at him, eyes wet. “There wasn’t anything you could have done. The son of a bitch was human. I took care of it myself.”

  “You killed him,” said Harper.

  Her eyes flared. “Hell yeah, I did. It wasn’t anything he didn’t deserve.”

  Harper wasn’t going to argue with that. “You didn’t abort the baby, though.”

  Talia shrugged, briefly averting her gaze. “He hadn’t done anything to anybody. Wasn’t his fault. But I’m not, you know, maternal. Never wanted kids. Still don’t. Which is a good thing, really, considering I ain’t straight.” She jutted out her chin. “Judge me for giving him away if you want, but he wouldn’t have had a good life with me.”

  “He didn’t have a good life with the humans,” Knox pointed out. “What happened to their biological child?”

  “It was on life support. I had the midwife from our lair – Sella Monroe – exchange the babies. He wouldn’t survive among demons. They’d see him as easy prey.”

  “There’s nothing weak about your son,” said Knox.

  She stiffened. “What do you mean?”

  “He’s powerful, Talia.”

  She shook her head. “I swear to you, there wasn’t even a slight aura of power around him. I couldn’t sense his demon. I might as well have been holding a human baby. Ask Sella, she’ll tell you.”

  “Maybe the power and his demon stayed dormant for a little while – there’s no way to be sure.”

  Talia sank into the saggy couch, as if her legs were too weak to hold her up any longer. After a few moments, she spoke. “So he’s okay?”

  “He’s fine. He’s staying with Wyatt and Linda Sanders at the moment.”

  Sensing where this was going, she began shaking her head again, eyes wide with panic. “I can’t take him. I wouldn’t make a good mother. I don’t have anything to give him.”

  “He has nowhere else to go, Talia.”

  “The Sanders will keep him. You know they will. He’ll be happier there.”

  “Talia —”

  “I can’t take him.” Her words broke on a sob. “Don’t ask me to. Please. I can’t.”

  Knox exhaled heavily. “All right. But I can’t guarantee that people won’t realize you’re his mother. He looks like you. You might even find that he pays you a visit someday.”

  “He’ll hear enough to know I’m not what he needs,” she mumbled.

  “Take care, Talia. We’ll let ourselves out.”

  As they walked down the stairwell, Tanner said, “I went in there prepared to be pissed at her.”

  “She genuinely does believe she did right by him.” Harper sighed. “If all she’d have been able to see was her rapist whenever she looked at him, then maybe she did.”

  “Are you leaving McCauley with Wyatt and Linda?” Tanner asked.

  Reaching the front door, Knox held it open. “If the arrangement is working for all concerned, yes.” Once in the Bentley, Knox said, “Levi, we need to make a pit stop at the Sanders’ home.”

  “You got it,” said Levi. “Is Talia the kid’s mother?”

  “Yes.” Knox quickly told him what was said and then pulled out his phone and dialed Wyatt’s number. “I have some information for you, but I don’t want to speak of it while McCauley’s nearby. Meet me at the end of your front yard in ten minutes.” When Wyatt agreed, Knox ended the call.

  “Do you think they’ll want to keep McCauley?” Tanner asked.

  “Linda will,” began Harper, “but I’m not so sure about Wyatt.”

  When Levi finally parked at the bottom of the Sanders’ yard, both Linda and Wyatt were waiting there, expressions grim.

  The moment Knox and Harper slid out of the car, Linda stepped forward and asked, “What is it?”

  “We have the identity of McCauley’s mother,” Knox told her. “It’s Talia Winters.”

  For a moment, an odd look crossed Wyatt’s face. Then it was gone, and he blew out a breath. “He looks a little like her. How did I not see it?”

  “Have you come to take him?” asked Linda, voice shaky.

  “Talia doesn’t believe that her home is the best place for him,” said Knox.

  “I’d have to agree,” clipped Linda. “She’s a hooker.”

  Harper arched a brow. “She’s a stripper, which is different.”

  Linda lowered her gaze. “You’re right, of course. I apologize.”

  Yeah? She didn’t sound all that apologetic.

  “We’d be happy for him to stay here,” Linda told Knox. “I’m sure McCauley would be fine with it.” Hearing their landline ringing, she said, “Excuse me.”

  Once Linda was inside the house, Knox turned to Wyatt. “How has McCauley been?”

  “Not an ounce of trouble,” replied Wyatt. “Almost painfully polite. You wouldn’t think the kid had been through a traumatic experience. He never talks about his human parents or what happened to him.” He shrugged. “Maybe he’s in denial or something, I don’t know.”

  “Your mate loves him,” said Tanner.

  Wyatt gave him a weak smile. “She loves that she has someone to love.”

  “I’m going to be honest with you,” began Harper. “If you ask me, there’s something not quite right about that kid.”

  Wyatt sighed. “I know what you mean. Something about him rubs my demon up the wrong way. But he’s just a kid, and – whether he’s traumatized or not – he’s been through something awful.”

  Harper raised her hands. “If you’re happy for him to stay here, we won’t interfere with that. But you have to be sure, Wyatt. Because even though the kid freaks me out a little, I don’t want him to have to bounce from home to home. He needs stability.”

  Wyatt gave a slow nod. “I agree. I’m happy for him to stay with us.”

  Well he sure didn’t look happy about it. Harper figured he was doing it for his mate’s sake. Noticing movement in her peripheral vision, Harper looked to see McCauley staring out of the living room window. She waved to him, forcing a smile. He waved back, but the move was almost mechanical.

  “All right,” said Knox. “He can stay with you if you’re positive that it’s what you want.”

  “I’m certain,” Wyatt told him.

  Knox nodded and then ushered Harper back into the Bentley as he spoke to Wyatt. “I’ll check in occasionally to make sure this arrangement is working for everyone. I trust that if you have any problems, you will call me.”

  “I will,” Wyatt promised.

  As Levi pulled away from the curb, Tanner spoke to Knox. “Leaving him with the Sanders was the right thing to do.”

  “Yeah, for McCauley,” said Harper. “But maybe not for them.” Time would tell, she supposed.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Knox glanced around the large living room that was all marble floors and dark woods. When Francisco had said that Dion Bou
ghton liked to surround himself with the unique, he hadn’t been understating things. The island upon which his grand, opulent home sat was a tropical paradise. The home itself was filled with antiques, vintage items, unusual ornaments, expensive vases, and servants who were rare breeds of demon.

  Dion sat on a throne-like chair opposite Knox, regarding him with a studious gaze that held an excited glitter. Like someone who was giving an antique a thorough appraisal. Knox’s demon curled his upper lip, not liking that at all.

  He’s excited to see you because you’re as unique as they come, said Levi, who was the only one to have accompanied him into the room. Armand, Keenan, and Larkin waited outside.

  “Are you sure you wouldn’t like coffee or some refreshments?” Dion asked.

  “No, thank you,” said Knox. “We just have some questions.”

  Dion’s smile faltered. “This isn’t a social call, is it?”

  “I don’t do social calls, Mr. Boughton.”

  Disappointment clouded his expression. “Very well. How can I help you?”

  “I don’t know how up to date you are on what happens in the outside world,” began Knox, “but my mate was recently attacked by hunters.”

  Dion looked both stunned and incredulous. “I wouldn’t have thought anyone would dare risk your wrath. Or her wrath, for that matter. Sphinxes aren’t forgiving creatures, and I saw your mate in action on the video footage of the elections when Isla attacked her. I don’t watch much television, but the elections weren’t something I was prepared to miss. Your mate is powerful.”

  “She is,” Knox agreed. “And yet, someone hired hunters to steal her wings.”

  Dion’s brow furrowed. “But she doesn’t have wings.”

  “No, she doesn’t. But it would seem that someone either isn’t aware of that or simply doesn’t believe it – whatever the case, it means the hunters died a very painful death for no good reason.” Knox once more studied the room. “I can’t help but notice that you’re quite the collector. I hear you have a museum here.”

  All emotion left Dion’s face. “You believe I hired the hunters.”

  “Did you?”

  Dion’s back straightened. “No, I did not. Have I hired hunters to acquire things for me in the past? Yes. Did I hire them to steal wings that your mate does not possess? No.”

  Knox twisted his mouth. “From what I’ve heard, you lack the sort of ethics that would hold you back from doing such a thing.”

  “I don’t claim to have many morals, but I am not a stupid man. Targeting your mate would be the height of stupidity.”

  “It would. But maybe you’re also a man who feels you’re untouchable. Maybe you feel that sending encrypted emails protects your identity.”

  Dion’s mouth tightened. “I did not hire those hunters.”

  “If it wasn’t you, Mr. Boughton, who could it have been?”

  “I truly don’t know. I do not concern myself much with the outside world. I prefer my own company. But it seems obvious to me that the Horsemen would be responsible, whoever they are.”

  “Oh, I believe there’s a very good chance that this person is one of the Horsemen,” said Knox. “If I can identify who hired these demons, maybe I can identify one of the Horsemen.”

  “I have no idea who it could be. If I did, I would tell you. I don’t like that a group of demons are conspiring against the Primes any more than you do.”

  “I’d like to believe you, Mr. Boughton, I really would. But it seems quite a coincidence to me that a person who collects sphinx wings also uses encrypted emails to communicate with hunters… just as the demon who I seek does.”

  Flushing, Dion said, “I am not the only person who uses that technique to protect my identity. In fact, I learned it from my old Prime.”

  Knox’s muscles tensed. “And just who is your old Prime?”

  “Thatcher.”

  Son of a bitch.

  Sitting on the swing, five-year-old Heidi glared at her brother’s back. She’d told him she was hungry and wanted to go home, and he’d promised her they’d leave in ten minutes. That was ages ago. Robbie was still at the other side of the playground, leaning against the monkey bars, flirting with girls.

  Heidi rolled her eyes and pretended to gag. She could hear them laughing, even though it was kind of loud with the swing creaking, the kids shouting, and the parents talking. She’d bet the girls wouldn’t find him so funny if they knew about his “secret” magazine collection.

  Maybe she should go over there and tell the girls that he just wanted to “get laid”. Heidi might not know what exactly that meant, but she figured it had something to do with him not being a virgo anymore… or was it a virgin? She shrugged.

  Yeah, she’d tell the girls. Then she and Robbie could finally go home. He wouldn’t like it, and that would make it more awesome.

  Laughing to herself, she held the bumpy chain links tight and twisted herself around, laughing even louder when the swing bounced back around. And now there was a man standing in front of her, smiling. A demon. She dug her heels into the dirt, bringing the swing to a halt.

  “You’re Heidi, right?”

  She didn’t say anything. Just stared at him. He had a nice smile, she thought.

  “You’re Harper’s cousin.”

  He knew Harper?

  “She told me about you,” he said. “You really do look like a little angel, don’t you? It’s all that long white-blonde hair, the rosy cheeks, and those pretty blue eyes.”

  Her eyes were aquamarine actually, but she didn’t say that. She bit her lip and said in a wobbly voice, “You’re really tall.”

  Smiling softly, he squatted in front of her. “That better?”

  She nodded and gave him a shy smile.

  “My name’s Dean. I’m one of Knox’s sentinels.”

  Heidi frowned. “I thought he only had four sentinels.” She’d met them all. Keenan was the funniest.

  “He used to, but now he needs more to make sure Harper’s protected. I was just at your grandmother’s house. She asked me to tell you that you need to come back inside. Harper was attacked again.”

  Again?

  “Hunters tried to steal her wings. She’s okay, but your grandmother is upset and she’s worried.” He reached out to grab her arm. “Come on, I’ll walk you —”

  “Stranger!” she bellowed in his face. “Stranger danger! Gun! Fire!”

  “Little bitch,” he spat, yanking her off the swing.

  Heidi screamed and screamed and screamed until a horrible ringing sound filled the air. Blood started to come out of his ears, and that was why she wasn’t supposed to use that scream – it could burst people’s eardrums and even make windows smash, but Heidi didn’t want the bad man to take her. With a loud shout, he let her go. She hit the ground hard, and stopped screaming.

  “Heidi!” It was Robbie’s voice, and he was close. The man ran into the trees, and some people chased after him.

  Robbie helped her stand. “Are you okay? He tried to take you?”

  She nodded. “My butt hurts.”

  Robbie’s face went hard. “I’ll kill him.”

  The people who’d ran after the bad man came back, panting. One of them shrugged and said, “He’s gone.”

  Robbie growled. “He’s what?”

  The human shoved a hand through his hair, looking baffled. “It was like he just… disappeared. He’s gone.”

  Leaning forward in the overstuffed armchair, Harper lifted her mug of tea from the mahogany coffee table and blew over the rim. “Thanks, Grams.”

  Jolene smiled from her spot on the couch, one leg crossed over the other. “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

  Harper took a sip of the tea. She’d asked for coffee, but Jolene had insisted that she needed something to help her “relax”. Really, she didn’t need the tea to relax – not when she was at Jolene’s house, even though her head was pounding. It was a place she loved; a place where she’d always felt safe; a place that a
lways seemed to smell of coffee, cookies, and lavender.

  If the scent of Jolene’s infamous cookies wasn’t enough to make a person feel welcome, they’d certainly feel put at ease by the homey feel to the place. The earthy colors, throw cushions, fleecy blankets, cherished keepsakes, and framed photos – it was a home, not just a house, and that was no doubt what often drew so many of their family and lair there.