Ashes(105)

To Harper's shock, Alethea's own demon rose, but before it could say a single word, Jonas swiftly propelled it away. It was a few moments before Knox's demon finally retreated.



"You okay?" Harper asked him.



"I should be asking you that. It was you who she tried to hurt."



Jolene made a dismissive sound. "Ignore her. And ignore all this ‘advice' you've been given – it's just verbal junk mail. And to think that they'd risk upsetting a pregnant she-demon …  there are lot of people who are simply, well, stupid. Don't listen to any of the others either, sweetheart. Pregnancy is a personal, subjective experience. What people can forget is that everyone experiences it a little differently. It's challenging and it can be scary, but it's a gift and a privilege. Enjoy it."



Harper smiled. "I will. Thanks, Grams." Scooting to the edge of the sofa, she said, "Larkin, I gotta pee." And the tension was broken.



The harpy chuckled. "Come on."



Harper gave Knox a quick kiss and then allowed Larkin to help her stand.



"Ooh, I'll come too." Khloë rose. Swayed. Double-blinked. Larkin put a hand on the imp's shoulder and sat her back down. Khloë didn't even seem to notice.



"I'll stay here," slurred Raini. "You know I don't like it when the room spins."



Devon tossed back the rest of her Cosmo and stood. "I'll go with you. I got your back."



Harper didn't bother pointing out that the hellcat could barely walk. It was an unspoken rule that none of them ever went to the restrooms alone. It wouldn't matter to Devon that Larkin was coming along; Devon would feel the need to come too.



Larkin remained in front of Harper as they headed to the restrooms. There was no need to weave their way through the throngs of people – they easily moved aside at the "don't fucking test me" expression on the sentinel's pretty face.



Mere feet away from the door, Larkin came to a halt. "Motherfucker."


      ///
       
         
       
        



"What is it?" Harper tracked her gaze. And winced. "Oh."



"What?" asked Devon from behind.



"Carla's heading to the restrooms, with one eye on Harper," said Larkin. "Why this bitch seems to like waylaying you in restrooms, Harper, I don't know." Larkin pushed open the door for the ladies' room and peeked inside. "Coast is clear. Go."



Harper walked in, but Devon remained with Larkin.



"Go, Harper," said the hellcat. "We got this."



Larkin frowned at Devon. "I'm a sentinel, I will deal -"



"We got this."



Harper sighed. "Whatever. Just keep Carla away from me." Her demon would go ape-shit if the woman confronted Harper again.



Alone in the restrooms, Harper quickly did her business – all the while, Larkin and Devon argued with Carla outside. Their voices were muffled, thanks to the closed door and the loud music, so Harper couldn't make out what was being said.



After washing her hands in the sink, she turned to grab some paper towels …  and there was McCauley. She almost jumped out of her freaking skin. "Jesus, kid, what's with the sneaking around?" Her demon stirred, anxious and ready to defend.



He blinked. "You need to run."



Harper's body went rigid. "Run?" It didn't sound like a threat, but …



"She's going to hurt you."



All right, that was unexpected. And damn creepy when spoken in that toneless voice. She licked her lips. "Who?" But the boy just stared at her with those chillingly blank eyes. "I don't understand, McCauley."



"I didn't kill them."



Harper didn't have to ask who he meant. "Was it your demon?"



He shook his head.



She frowned. "Do you know who did it?"



He nodded slowly.



God, trying to get info out of the kid was like trying to get blood out of a stone. "Who was it?"



"Linda."



"Linda?" Harper found that she wasn't quite so surprised by that answer. A part of her had always thought something was …  off about the woman. Still, a whole lot of things were off about the kid laying accusations at Linda's door, so Harper wasn't totally convinced. "Why?" 



"She wanted me to stay with her. And she hated Talia."



The latter didn't made sense. "Why did she hate Talia?"



"I don't know." He paused. "She kept calling me Sam. I told her that's not my name, and she yelled at me."