Total pages in book: 125
Estimated words: 117510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117510 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 588(@200wpm)___ 470(@250wpm)___ 392(@300wpm)
Knox could agree with the latter. “But she would have been party to something that brought harm to me, my mate, or my son, wouldn’t she?”
Jonas looked about to deny the accusation, but then he sighed. “The temptation would have been there, but I don’t believe she would truly have gone through with it. No, I think the Horseman lied to her about what his intentions were for the incorporeal. They told her whatever would gain them her cooperation.”
“Yes, because Alethea was so naïve and easily manipulated,” Knox said, sarcasm heavy in his tone. “Be real, Jonas. Your sister was cunning and devious; she would have recognized if someone was trying to play her.”
“Then they were damn convincing or someone she trusted, because there is no way I will believe she would have knowingly worked with the Horseman. She obviously discovered who they were and wanted out, so they killed her to protect their identity. And now they’re coming for you. Or, as it would appear, they’re coming for your son. And if they really have an incorporeal in their arsenal, I’m sorry to say that he’s doomed.” Jonas turned back to the fireplace. “Now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone. There’s truly nothing more I can tell you anyway.”
Believing the latter, Knox decided to back off. But it was hard when anger still ravaged his insides. If Jonas hadn’t kept the incorporeal a secret, the entity wouldn’t now be targeting his son. If Harper had been here, she probably would have flown at the other Prime and gripped him by the throat. Knox was highly tempted to do that very thing, but it was possible that Jonas would later think of something else that could help. And considering Jonas wanted the Horseman as badly as Knox did, killing the Prime would mean there was one less person searching for the bastard. Knox would deal with Jonas at a later date.
“I’m holding a meeting with the other Primes,” said Knox.
“Well, I do hope you enjoy it. I have no interest in going.”
Knox had thought as much. “That’s up to you. But a discussion about the Horseman needs to be had.”
Jonas’s gaze went inward. “I wasn’t entirely convinced they were real.”
“Many weren’t.”
“I should have looked harder for her.”
“She didn’t want to be found; you said so yourself.” Too angry to have any interest in comforting the other Prime, Knox turned and left the mansion.
As he and Levi slid back into the Bentley, Levi said, “Well, that answered a lot of our questions. For instance, we now know that it was highly likely that Alethea was the one who went after Heidi—she needed a demonic child to sacrifice, and it would have given her a kick to kill a relative of Harper. It must have pissed Alethea off big time when her plan failed.”
And while that was a relief, it also sadly meant that … “Some other child must have died in Heidi’s place, otherwise the incorporeal wouldn’t be free.”
Levi nodded, expression grim. “We also now know that Jonas did in fact want an archdemon, just as Malden said. But it wasn’t because Jonas had a nefarious plan, it was because he was trying to foil his sister’s nefarious plan. An incorporeal demon … Damn, Harper’s going to freak.”
Knox felt his brow furrow. “No, she’ll stay calm.”
CHAPTER FIVE
“Alethea had a what?”
“Shh, baby, calm down.”
Harper did a slow blink, thinking he had to be kidding. “Calm down? Calm down? Knox, that bitch had an incorporeal demon, it’s now on the loose, and it went after Asher. There’s also a damn high chance that Alethea meant to sacrifice Heidi in order to free the fucker. It’s good for the damn dolphin that she’s not alive, because I’d have smacked the motherfucking shit out of her. Really. I’d have put her through an eternal loop of soul-deep agony until she’d begged for a mercy that would never have come.”
His cock inappropriately twitched—it seemed to love her bloodthirsty streak. Ignoring the “I told you she’d flip her lid” look from Levi, who was leaning against the wall, Knox spoke to Harper in a soothing tone. “I don’t doubt that, baby. I’d have been right there with you, delivering my own brand of punishment. But we’ll have to be content with knowing she suffered an excruciating—if much too fast—death and concentrate on dealing with those who’d worked with her, including the incorporeal.”
“Deal with it how? Correct me if I’m wrong, but those fuckers are practically impossible to kill.” Harper shoved a shaking hand through her hair. Fury and anxiety clawed at her insides. How the hell could she neutralize the threat to her son if she couldn’t damn well destroy it?
Knox rested his hands on her shoulders. “They can be killed but, yes, they make tough opponents for a number of reasons. But so do we, baby.”