Ashes (Dark in You 3)

“Did you expect to?” asked Tanner.

“No.” In fact, she’d been hoping that they wouldn’t attend. Maybe that was mean of her, but she simply didn’t trust them not to cause a scene.

“They’re leaving in three weeks anyway, so nothing you say tonight is anything they need to hear.”

He was right, she thought, as she closed the curtain. Harper smoothed a hand down the side of her dress. “I wish we didn’t have to make a huge, public announcement.”

“The lair needs to know.”

“Yeah, I know that, but I would have preferred it if we didn’t have to make a big thing out of it. It would have been easier to just ask you and the other sentinels to pass on the news.”

“You’re their Prime, and there are certain expectations that come with that position. Making public announcements about key information is one of them. Celebrating important events is another. Your pregnancy is both of those things.”

“Yes, but have you not seen how people respond to a pregnant woman?” By the way his brow furrowed, no, he hadn’t. “Everyone’s suddenly an expert on babies and they’re all full of advice and nosy-ass questions. I’m glad my stomach’s not that big – people are a hell of a lot worse if there’s a bump. They try rubbing it like it’s a damn genie-infested lamp.”

“Genie-infested?” he chuckled.

“You get my point.”

“I do. How about this? If anyone seems like they’re about to say anything inappropriate or touch your belly, I’ll step in and interrupt the conversation.”

“That would be good.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do.” Tanner folded his arms. “On another note, Keenan said you called Lucian earlier.”

Harper nodded. “I thought it best that he found out about the pregnancy from me.”

“How did he take the news?”

She pursed her lips as she thought back to the conversation…

“Are you freaking kidding me?” Lucian burst out.

Harper sighed. “Lucian —”

“It’s not enough that you mated the psychopathic bastard, you’re now going to have his psychopathic spawn?”

“Hey! My child is not psychopathic.”

“Don’t kid yourself. If it takes after you, it’ll be a treasure. If it takes after him, it’ll be a living nightmare.”

Harper scratched her chin. “He took it pretty well.”

Tanner snorted in disbelief.

The door behind her creaked open, and Knox’s cologne drifted to her. She turned as he and Levi entered the small space. She couldn’t stop a smile from curving her mouth as she got a good look at him in all his GQ motherfucking glory. No one had the right to exude so much sex appeal. No one. But as he crossed to her, emanating raw power and masculine intensity, a hot and heavy need unfurled inside her.

And he’s all mine, she thought to herself. Her demon was just as smug about it.

Knox actually stopped in his tracks as he absorbed the sight of her. Standing there in the pure-white sleeveless, ankle-length, one-shoulder dress, she made him think of a mythological Greek goddess. Her ivory skin had tanned into a pretty gold shade that matched the ends of her dark hair and gave her skin a healthy glow. Her hair was currently bunched up into some kind of elegant updo that appeared to look deliberately tousled.

Best of all, he could see part of his brand on her breast.

Knox crossed to her with a smile and slid an arm around her. “You look beautiful. Sorry about the delay.” He fingered one of her white-gold earrings. As always, seeing her wearing something he’d bought her stoked the possessive streak in him. He gently rubbed her stomach as he reached out and gently touched the baby’s mind. All he sensed was contentment. “You ready?”

“Not really.”

“It will be fine.” He kissed her. “Now, we need to be clear on a few things. At no point tonight will you be on your own. When it’s time to work the room, I’ll be with you. When you need to use the restrooms, Larkin will accompany you. It’s not that any of us believe you’re in danger from our lair – it’s that we refuse to take any chances.”

“I don’t want to take chances either.”

“Good.” He stroked her stomach again. “I’ll go begin the announcement. You know when to join me, don’t you?”

“Don’t worry; I haven’t forgotten anything.”

Let your anxiety go, baby. Don’t let them see you nervous.

She nodded and breathed away the tension in her spine.

“That’s my girl.” Knox released her and slipped out from behind the curtain. The murmurs and laughter died down as people spotted him, and all eyes turned his way as he crossed to the stand in the center of the dais, where a microphone waited.

His amplified voice came over the sound system as he spoke. “First of all, thank you all for making it here tonight. I’ll begin by assuring you that this isn’t a gathering to discuss the Horsemen or any issue within the lair. I’ve called you here because I have some good news to share.” He paused for effect. “In approximately two months, there will be a new addition to the lair.”

There was a rustle of fabric as the curtain opened and then Harper and Tanner stepped out. Tanner and Levi melted into the shadows while Harper crossed the space to Knox. In that dress, her bump wasn’t at all obvious, but enough of the crowd caught his meaning to study her closely. Then applause and cheers rang throughout the room.

“It isn’t something you need to keep secret,” Knox told them when the applause faded. “But news travels fast among our kind, and we wanted you all to hear it first.”

A waiter stepped up onto the dais and handed Knox two glasses. One was filled with champagne and the other with water, at Knox’s earlier request. He gave Harper her glass and they both then raised them to the crowd, who raised theirs right back.

Knox clinked his glass against Harper’s, and they both sipped at their drinks. “Now we mingle,” he said. “Just a couple of hours; then we can leave.”

Bracing herself, Harper inhaled deeply. The scents of perfume, cologne, fresh flowers, and scented candles washed over her, making her nose wrinkle. “Let’s get it over with.” Her low heels clicked along the glossy hardwood floor as she walked off the dais. People immediately came forward, faces beaming.

“Congratulations!” one of them fairly sang.

Harper returned the smile. “Thanks.”

The two words were repeated over and over as a continuous flow of people passed on their best wishes. Harper’s face soon began to ache from smiling. As Knox charmed them all, Harper mostly just sipped from her glass. She had to admit, her mind occasionally drifted, especially when any of them tried chatting business. Hell, even watching champagne bubbles rise in the flutes was more entertaining than that at times.

Of course, the boredom was often alleviated by those people who – just as she’d predicted – had some “advice” to impart. Some were nice about it and seemed to mean well. Others spoke with a smugly omniscient voice that grated on her nerves and pissed off her demon. By the sheer force of her will, Harper had held her smile in place and accepted their wisdom with a nod.

As he’d promised, Tanner stepped in when it became too awkward. Thankfully, no one tried touching her stomach, because she wouldn’t have been able to bite back any snarky remarks if they had.

The whole thing might have been easier if it wasn’t so damn hot. Knox must have sensed that it was getting too much, because he moved her to stand directly beneath one of the ceiling fans. She gave him a grateful smile… and then people once more appeared at their side. Again, Harper mostly stayed silent and just sipped from her glass.

“Here,” said Larkin. She exchanged Harper’s nearly empty glass of water for another. The ice cubes tinkled against the deliciously cold champagne flute.

Harper eagerly sipped from it, and a cube of ice bumped her lip. “You’re a gem.”

The harpy smiled. “And you’re doing well, considering you’re probably screaming inside your head.”