Embers (Dark in You 4)

Hearing a distinct fart, Harper looked at Asher. He glanced around, as if unsu

re where the sound came from. She snorted, turning back to Knox. “The idea of leaving him makes my stomach churn.” She stilled as Knox’s eyes bled to black and the room temperature lowered.

“You worry too much, little sphinx,” the demon told her. “The boy will be fine.”

The sheer confidence in that statement made her frown. “What are you keeping from us?” Because it certainly seemed to believe that it knew something about Asher that she and Knox didn’t. “I can’t properly protect him if I don’t know the entire truth.”

“That is my point … he doesn’t need you to protect him,” said the demon, voice flat and low. “Do not worry for the boy. Instead, pity the person who tries to harm him.” With that, the entity retreated.

Rubbing her chest, Harper asked, “What did that mean?”

“I don’t know,” said Knox. “The demon may think it knows what Asher’s other abilities will be.”

“Maybe.” It would be another couple of months before all Asher’s abilities truly surfaced, and Harper wasn’t at all sure why Knox’s demon would believe it knew what those abilities would be, but she supposed it was as good a theory as any. “Your demon can be damn cryptic.”

Knox nodded. “But it’s never been arrogant. If it believes that Asher doesn’t need our protection as much as we think he does, I’m inclined to trust its judgment.” That didn’t mean Knox wouldn’t still worry or be as overprotective as ever.

As Knox’s phone vibrated on the table, Asher blinked. “Ooh.” And then the phone disappeared in a spurt of fire and reappeared in Asher’s flaming hand. The ooh sound usually meant he’d seen something he liked, and that same something often appeared in his little hand.

“Asher,” Knox gently complained as he pried the phone out of his son’s grip. Asher frowned but then just shoved his foot back in his mouth.

“At least he didn’t dump your phone in his porridge this time,” said Harper.

“He probably would have done if he hadn’t already flung the bowl away.”

“Yeah, probably.”

But she was right—it was hard to be mad at anything that cute. Knox ruffled his hair. “It’s the Wallis in you.”

Harper frowned. “You can’t blame my family’s blood every time he misbehaves.”

“Sure I can.”

At that moment, Meg walked in, shook her head at the sight of the spoon on the floor, and picked it up. “Did you enjoy your porridge?” she asked Asher, who was too busy gnawing on his foot to pay her any attention.

“Thanks for the omelet and toast, Meg.” Standing, Knox shrugged on the jacket of his black suit. “Unfortunately, I have to leave now.” Crossing to Harper, he kissed her. “I shouldn’t be home late, but I’ll let you know if I will be.”

Harper plucked Asher out of the highchair. “Come on, let’s go wave bye to Daddy.” With Asher balanced on her hip, she followed Knox to the foyer. As he curled an arm around her, she melted against him and smoothed a hand down his shirt. “I’ll miss you.”

“Good. It’s only fair, since I’ll miss you.” He kissed her again, indulging in a long, thorough taste of her. “Stay safe.” He planted a kiss on his son’s cheek. “Be good for your mom.”

Predictably, Asher blew bubbles at him.

Harper walked out onto the stone step and tipped her chin at Levi, who opened the Bentley’s rear door for Knox. Noticing that Asher was waving, she smiled. But then she saw that he wasn’t waving at Levi or Knox. He was waving at something much higher up. “What is it, little man?” She tracked his gaze and grimaced. “Oh. More crows.” There were at least five perched on the branches of a nearby tree. “Delightful.”

Harper spent the next few hours with Asher—bathing him, dressing him, and then feeding him a slightly early lunch … after which she needed to change him again, since he’d gotten puree all over himself.

Shortly after that, Tanner and Keenan arrived, just as she’d arranged.

In the living room, Keenan took Asher in his arms. “Wipe that anxiety off your face, Harper, he’ll be fine here with me.”

She forced a smile. “I won’t be gone long.” She pressed a long, noisy kiss to Asher’s cheek and then waved. “Bye. Be good for Uncle Keenan.” He didn’t wave back. His little face scrunched up in a way that made Tanner chuckle.

With one last wave at Asher, Harper turned and followed Tanner out of the room, down the hallway, through the foyer, and—

Something yanked her wrist, making her stumble backwards so fast she lost her footing. Landing awkwardly on her ass on the foyer hardwood floor, she hissed.

Tanner blinked down at her. “Damn, you okay?”