Blaze (Dark in You 2)

“Honestly, I’ve never seen the imps suffer any major injuries,” said Devon. “Sometimes they walked away with a concussion, a broken arm from an awkward fall, or a broken foot after being stomped on. But, really, that’s it.”

“That’s it?” echoed Knox.

Devon pursed her lips. “Nothing I say is going to make you feel better, is it?”

“Not a thing.” Knox looked back at his mate just in time to see her start to mount the bull. “Fuck.”

Harper held onto each side of the chute as she slowly eased onto the bull’s back. Beneath her, the bull snorted, no doubt angry and uncomfortable at the rope wrapped around its flank. Her demon was excited. It had always enjoyed the sport. Each pump of adrenalin increased the entity’s excitement.

“The rules are pretty simple,” the rodeo clown told Harper. “You’ve got to hang on for eight seconds. If you touch the bull, yourself, or the rope with your free hand, you’ll be disqualified.”

She nodded, already well aware of that.

“When you fall, get up and run because trust me when I say he’ll come after you.”

“Got it.” With her gloved hand, she got a firm, solid grip on the flat, braided rope.

The rodeo clown sighed. “You sure about this? I have a feeling your mate won’t be pleased.”

Yeah, well, her mate was currently standing with an ex… whatever she was. And the bitch touched him. Not in the mood to be nice, she said, “You’re in my way. Move.”

He chuckled and stepped aside with an expression that said, ‘It’s your funeral.’

“You’ll be fine,” Khloë told her. “You always were the best at this.”

“See you in about eight seconds.” Harper nodded to signal she was ready, and then the bucking chute opened.

The bull stormed into the arena, and Knox’s heart slammed against his ribs. There was no gentle build up, no moment of reprieve. The bull bucked. Kicked. Reared. Twisted. Spun in fast, tight circles. All the while, his mate clung on with her thighs – one arm in the air. The crowd hooted and hollered and cheered her on, including her friends and the sentinels.

He wanted to telepathically call out to her, but she didn’t need a distraction right now. So all he could do was watch… and then it was over. It seemed like she’d no sooner shot into the arena than she deliberately threw herself to the ground and a loud whistle was blown.

The rodeo clown distracted the bull while Harper ran flat out for the exit, glancing up at the huge screen blazing “TEN SECONDS.” She skidded to a stop near Khloë, threw her hands up high and yelled a battle cry worthy of any warrior. Everyone cheered with her, chanting her name, but she didn’t seem to care about the attention. She was chatting excitedly with Khloë as the imp helped her remove the protective gear.

Levi sidled up to Knox. You know why she did this, don’t you?

To give me a heart attack? Knox was pretty sure the organ came close to collapsing.

This wasn’t about you. Before she became your mate, she had a completely different life. It was simple, but fun. Imps are wild and bold. Like every Wallis, she grew up doing risky, dangerous, and highly illegal shit – not taking life too seriously.

Yeah, Harper had told him about the many different “experiences” she’d had over the years, such as engaging in high-speed car chases and breaking into bank vaults.

Now everything’s changed for her, Levi went on. Things aren’t so simple anymore. She gets to have fun, but not the same kind of fun. Instead of doing wild and dangerous things, she’s walking around with bodyguards and dealing with an overprotective mate. She has to take life seriously now because she’s a co-Prime – something, I’ll remind you, she never wanted. Jolene raised her to take over from her, but she had no interest in the position.

I know all this. He knew she probably worried she’d lose who she was. I do, but bull riding —

Is probably something she started to learn when she was a kid. Tonight, she needed fun, a distraction, something familiar that made things simple again just for a short time. She warned you at the very beginning that you’d never control her. Considering she’s accepted all of you, it would be shitty of you not to accept all of her – even the parts that drive you crazy.

I don’t want her to change. Knox wanted her exactly as she was.

Then don’t give her a bucket load of shit for this. I’m not saying you have to be okay with it. I didn’t like seeing her on the back of a bull either. But if you berate her for being who she is, you’ll hurt her. I don’t think you want that.

Knox exhaled a heavy breath, knowing Levi was right; resenting that Levi was right. He waited impatiently as she walked toward them, still talking animatedly with her cousin. Her cheeks were flushed and her eyes were gleaming. She looked happy. Exhilarated. Energized. And he found that he didn’t have it in him to be pissed at her.

Raini, Devon, and Larkin crossed the space to her, congratulating her and asking how the hell she’d managed to hold on for ten seconds. After a minute or so, Harper’s gaze cut to him and turned wary and unsure. He hated that. Hated that wariness. Come here, baby. And she moved right to him.

Knox smoothed his hands up her arms, feeling for any injuries, as he said, “Imagine my surprise when I saw you on the monitor in my office.”

Harper smiled at his concern. “Nothing is broken, don’t worry. You should let go of me. I’m covered in dust.” Some was even stuck in her throat. But Knox held her tighter.