Ashes (Dark in You 3)

And I missed you. “How was your day?”

“Relatively good.” Knox nodded in thanks as Raini and Devon shuffled along, making room for him on the sofa. He took the seat next to Harper, draping his arm over her shoulders. How’re you feeling?

Nervous, Harper replied. I know they’ll be happy for us and I’m confident that they won’t spread our little announcement, but it’s hard not to be… protective of the news.

I understand. We can keep it to ourselves a little longer if that’s what you want.

No, it’s better that they know. Hearing a throat clear, Harper realized that everyone was looking at them expectantly.

“Well, don’t keep us in suspense, Harper,” said Jolene. “You know I don’t like that.”

Harper crossed one leg over the other. “We only want to do this once, so we figured it would be easier to just get you all in one place.” She took a deep breath, but no words came out.

Linking their fingers, Knox took pity on his mate. “She’s pregnant.”

“I knew it!” crowed Devon, a huge smile on her face.

The whole room pretty much descended on Harper and Knox, excitedly passing on their congratulations… aside from Keenan, who said to Knox, “Quick, run. I’ll hold her down if she tries to chase you.”

Harper sighed at him. “You’re an idiot.”

“I’ve known this for a while,” said Keenan.

“I can’t wait to be an aunt!” Raini clapped her hands a few times. “How pregnant are you?”

“Sixteen weeks,” replied Harper.

“Ah, that explains so much,” said Khloë. “I should’ve seen it.”

Devon’s eyes widened. “Ooh, we get to go shopping for baby clothes!”

“Um, actually, you don’t,” said Harper. “If a bunch of you buy baby clothes all at the same time, people will guess pretty quickly who they’re for.”

They all fell silent for a moment. Then Khloë spoke. “We’ll take Aunt Kayla with us. She’s pregnant. People will just think the stuff is for her.”

Devon pursed her lips. “That would work.”

“Have you had an ultrasound scan yet?” asked Jolene.

“Yes.” Harper took the picture from her purse and handed it to Raini, who cooed over it before passing it on.

“The baby’s fine,” said Knox, “albeit slightly on the small side.”

“So was Harper,” said Jolene, her smile nostalgic.

Harper raised her brows. “Really?”

Jolene nodded. “You had a growth spurt near the end of the pregnancy. You were still tiny, but not dangerously tiny. There was no need for you to go into an incubator or anything.”

“Are you going to find out if it’s a girl or a boy?” Larkin asked, eyes lit up.

“Personally, I’d rather have the surprise.” Harper looked at Knox. “You?”

“Whatever you want,” he told her. He truly didn’t mind either way.

On the sofa opposite them, Khloë leaned forward. “Got any names yet?”

Harper scratched her nape. “I haven’t even thought about names.” Of course, everyone then helpfully started reciting their favorite names. It wasn’t long before they then all began criticizing each other’s choices.

Knox spoke above all the noise in the room. “We plan to keep the news quiet for as long as it’s sensible to do so. I’m sure we can trust you all to keep it to yourselves.”

“Of course,” Jolene told him, sobering. The others nodded.

“No one,” Knox stressed. “You share it with no one – not even members of your family or lair. Do it for Harper and the baby’s sake.”

Raini put a hand over her heart. “We won’t say a word.”

Satisfied, Knox nodded.

Jolene and the girls stayed for a while, arguing with Harper about throwing a baby shower. Harper saw it as yet more “fuss”. They weren’t sensitive to her plight, however, and seemed determined to arrange the shower. Once that argument had past and Tanner was done riling Devon, Jolene drove the girls home in her Mustang.

Finally alone with Harper and his sentinels, Knox poured himself a gin and tonic and then returned to Harper’s side. “I don’t think I need to tell you all that we need to tighten the security around Harper.”

“The problem is that if she has several guards, people may guess why,” said Tanner, sprawled on the sofa opposite. “Now that I know she’s pregnant, I can see it. The fatigue, the weight loss, the dark circles under her eyes that show she’s not sleeping well – they’re obvious signs. We attributed it to stress, so others probably did too. But if she suddenly has several guards, people will speculate.”

Beside the hellhound, Keenan nodded in agreement. “That will spread like wildfire.”

Tanner looked at Harper, expression almost apologetic. “I know you love your job but, not to be an asshole, it’s going to be hard to adequately protect you when you’re constantly around strangers.”

Harper sighed. “Tanner —”

“You have to admit,” the hellhound began, “now that you’re pregnant and don’t just have your own safety to worry about, you’re going to look at everyone suspiciously, wondering if they’re Horsemen or if they hired the hunters. Your demon definitely will be.”

Harper wiped a hand down her face. “All right, I won’t deny that. But I have a business to run.”

“It’s a business you co-run,” Knox softly corrected. “You can afford to take some time away from your job. It’s true that you’re the main draw for the studio, but it’s also true that your co-workers are completely capable of running it in your absence.”

“I know that, but I also know that I’ll get restless and bored and start taking things apart.”

Larkin’s mouth quirked. “Maternity leave is a good thing.” She paused to frown at Keenan, whose arm bumped hers as he dug out his flask. “Demonic pregnancies aren’t easy, Harper. The last stage is particularly hard.”

Standing near the fireplace, Levi added, “By then, it will be easy for people to tell that you’re pregnant. That’s when your safety could really be at risk.”

“Don’t forget that people are reluctant to fuck with pregnant demons,” said Harper. “We can be vicious and moody creatures when crossed.” She looked at Knox, adding, “And then maybe you’ll finally fear my mighty wrath.”

One side of his mouth lifted. “I really don’t see that happening.”

Harper sniffed. “Fine, blind yourself to the truth.”

“Back to the point at hand,” said Knox. “Larkin made a valid point. The next few months will be hard on you. Do you really want to make it even harder? And maybe you should bear in mind that being at the studio every day will not make things easier for you – there, you’ll have your co-workers constantly coddling you. The further along you get in the pregnancy, the worse that coddling will become.”

Pissed that he was right, Harper barely held back a growl. “I’ll make you a deal. The doc said that when I hit the eighteenth week, I’ll actually start to look pregnant – that will be in just under two weeks’ time. On that very day, I will start maternity leave. It’s a good compromise.” And it would stop her demon from stressing too much.

Knox gave a slow nod. “I can live with that.”

“Good, because I don’t want to have to hit you.”

Levi snorted a laugh. “In the meantime, it would be a good idea to keep Tanner and Keenan close to you at all times.”

“I wouldn’t worry so much about our lair finding out,” said Tanner. “They’ll rally around you both.”

“That’s what Wren said.” Harper told them all about the barista.

“I’m not worried about our lair’s reaction,” said Knox, “but I still want to be in control of when others find out.”

Tanner inclined his head. “Then we keep it quiet for now.”