Blaze (Dark in You 2)

“You think I’m to blame for Crow’s actions?”

“He wouldn’t have taken my mother if she wasn’t related to you.”

“Or maybe he would have, since she intervened when he was in the process of draining Delia. Did you ever think of that? Did you ever consider that he might have taken anyone who stepped in that day?”

Roan snorted. “Why would he take just anyone?”

“Why do demons bordering on rogue ever do any of the things they do?”

Hands fisted so tight his knuckles were white, he leaned forward a little as he snarled. “I’m sure the one thing she’s wishing right now is that she never had you.”

Harper almost laughed. “Roan, I’m sure she’s been wishing that for many, many years.” And Harper had accepted it, so if he thought that little comment would hurt her, he was wrong.

“And who could blame her after what your father did to her?”

Okay, that annoyed Harper. Lucian had shit on Carla, true, but the woman was responsible for her own actions. That was how life worked. “You need to move along now. You’ve had your moment in the spotlight. I’m sure everyone’s impressed with the disrespect you show to your Prime.”

“Prime?” he scoffed. “You’re not and never will be Prime material. You’re a Wallis, a sad excuse for a sphinx. Jesus, you don’t even have wings.”

Enough was enough. She lunged forward and fisted a hand in his T-shirt, making his eyes almost bug out of his head. “Now you listen to me, you snotty little fucker. We both know this isn’t about Carla. You have a problem with me being your Prime and you’re using your mother’s disappearance as an excuse to vent, which pretty much makes you a prick.”

Harper expected him to struggle. He didn’t; he just looked at her warily through eyes flickering nervously. That anxiety pleased her demon. “Do you think dishing out bullshit to your Prime makes you seem big and bad to others? I got news for you, Roan. It just makes you look like a disrespectful asshole. Not strong. Not scary. Hell, compared to the people I’ve dealt with in the past you’re a sweet little puppy that keeps stupidly rolling in its own shit. I don’t have the time or patience for the stream of stupidity that flows through your head.” She shoved him away from her, disappointing her demon, who wanted to snap his neck. “Go.”

“But don’t go far,” Tanner growled. “Knox is going to want to see you.”

Roan swallowed hard. To his credit, he tried to look dignified as he marched past them.

“You should have let me beat the shit out of him,” rumbled Tanner as they carried on walking en route to Knox’s office.

Harper shook her head. “I’m co-Prime, right? That means I’ve got to act like one.”

Tanner blew out a breath. “Knox will be pissed. Roan was warned to leave you alone. He ignored that warning.”

“Why would he dare?” Harper truly didn’t get it. “He was punished for saying crap about me once before. Wasn’t that enough?”

“Evidently not,” replied Tanner. “Making sure you hurt is apparently more important to him than his own pain. News of this will get round fast. You need to tell Knox before someone else does.”

Eventually they reached the large combat circle, beneath which Knox’s office was located. She followed Tanner up the flight of stairs behind the dome and over to a door marked “Office”; as always, it seemed to pulse with Knox’s power.

Stood there like a sentry, Levi inclined his head. “He’s waiting for you, Harper.”

“Thanks.” She twisted the metal knob and pushed the door open. Inside the office, Knox was standing behind his desk, having what seemed to be a somewhat unpleasant conversation with someone on the phone. His dark eyes met hers, and the strain around his features fell away.

Closing the door behind her, she crossed to his desk.

“Just get it done,” Knox ordered before ending the call. “Sorry, baby. There was a problem at one of the hotels. Apparently a fellow demon thought it was acceptable to fairly destroy a deluxe suite simply because he’s a celebrity.” He walked to her, drew her close, and kissed her soft and long. “You taste like coffee and caramel.”

“That’s because I had a caramel latte before I came here.”

He cocked his head. “Something’s wrong. What is it?”

She placed her hands on his upper arms. “Don’t freak out or anything. I’m fine; I’m not upset, just annoyed.”

Every muscle in his body tightened. “What happened?”

“Roan confronted me.” Anger reverberated against her mind, but nothing in his expression gave away that anger.

“What exactly did he say to you?” Knox asked as her body softened against his; he knew she was trying to soothe him. “Shouldn’t I be the one doing the comforting?”

She smiled, curling her arms around his waist. “I don’t need comfort. I’m really not upset.”

“Not upset,” he agreed. “But this saddens you.”

“It would be nice if things could be different,” she admitted. “But it is what it is.”

Knox tucked her hair behind her ear. “Tell me what he said to you.” With a sigh, she did. And anger roared through him. His demon shot to the surface and stroked her hair, vowing, “It will be dealt with.”

The lethal edge to its disembodied tone made Harper shiver. She nodded.