Embers (Dark in You 4)

“She said I reminded her of her when she was younger,” said Sherryl, words coming sharp and fast. “She took me shopping, clubbing, and introduced me to her friends. She was surprised when she realized I was friends with Ciaran.”

Harper gave her a look of mock pity. “She wasn’t surprised. That was why she befriended you. She wanted to use you. But I don’t feel in the least bit bad for you, since you used Ciaran. You started dating him so that you could try milking him for info on our family.”

Roughly, Harper yanked out the metal sticks and took a step back, mostly because being so close to the scent of burning flesh was not fun. Sherryl sagged slightly in her chair, fists clenched, tears dripping down her face, flesh still sizzling. “Why would you help Alethea?” Harper asked, but Sherryl was busy gaping at the blood seeping out of her charred jeans. “Why did you help her?”

Sherryl swallowed. “All she wanted was some info on what the Wallis imps did with their time. Said she was worried they intended to attack her at some point so she wanted to monitor their movements and habits. It seemed harmless to tell her stuff.”

Harmless? Harper’s demon hissed, tempted to lunge to the surface. For now, it was content to let Harper lead. “And just what did you get out of it? Don’t tell me you were just being nice like Alethea.”

Sherryl hesitated, gaze darting to the side. Would she never learn?

Harper thrust one of the sticks into the familiar’s shoulder, and the air was filled with the sound of yet more skin sizzling. She waited for Sherryl’s horrific scream to die down before she spoke. “I believe my mate warned you that I was very short on patience. Now, answer my damn question.”

Taking a shuddering breath, Sherryl squeezed her eyes shut. “She paid me for the info, and she said she’d arrange for me to transfer to her lair.”

Knox arched a brow. “You don’t like having Thatcher for a Prime?”

“It’s not that,” replied Sherryl, opening her eyes. “My ex is part of Thatcher’s Force. He’s making things difficult for me. I just want out.”

“Hmm.” Knox twisted his mouth. “Where did she go when she left her home?”

“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me. She just said it was someplace safe.”

“But you stayed in communication with her?” asked Knox.

“Only through telepathy.”

Tipping his head to the side, Knox said, “You must have known that Alethea was working with someone.”

“She never mentioned anyone else.” Sherryl’s brow puckered as something seemed to occur to her. “Though she did once say that she had it ‘on good authority’ that the Wallis imps would target her.”

Harper narrowed her eyes. “What else did she ask you to do?” When the familiar hesitated, Harper twisted the stick that was still stuck in her shoulder. Sherryl cried out through her teeth. “What else did she ask you to do?” Harper demanded.

Sherryl’s pained gaze cut to Knox. “She wanted to know what you are. She thought the imps might know; that you might have told them.”

“So you asked Ciaran,” prompted Harper.

Sherryl nodded. “He said that my guess was as good as his. I knew he was telling the truth. I can smell lies. They have a distinct scent. Like smoke.” She swallowed. “I got the feeling he wouldn’t have told me, even if he did know.”

She was right to have that “feeling”. Harper knew her cousin wouldn’t have told an outsider jack shit. “What else did Alethea ask of you?”

“She wanted to know about your kid. Said if I heard anything at all about him, I should tell her. But no one ever spoke of him in front of me. I asked Ciaran about him, said I’d love to meet him, but Ciaran blew me off without even being rude. He’s good at that.”

Evasiveness was a trait that every imp possessed, so Harper didn’t see why the familiar would be so surprised. “Just what info did you pass to Alethea?”

“I didn’t know anything to pass on.”

“But she kept in touch with you. She wouldn’t have done that unless you were being useful. So, what did you tell her?”

“I kept her updated on the imps’ movements. And, okay, I lied to her a few times.”

“And just what lies did you tell her?” asked Knox, voice a lethal purr.

Sweat beading on her forehead, Sherryl flexed her bony fingers. “I told her I’d met your kid and that he didn’t seem powerful. I said he didn’t use any abilities in front of me.”

“And?” Knox pushed.

“And I told her I overheard imps say you were a hybrid, but that I didn’t know what breeds your parents were.”