Ashes(123)

The resemblance was clear to see, Knox thought. And that only fed the pride he felt each time he looked at Asher. "I still hope he has your eyes."



"Then you're an idiot."



Knox shot her a mock glare. "Your eyes are unique and beautiful."



"They're a pain in my ass – that's what they are." She stilled as Asher shifted, but he didn't wake.



Knox sighed. "He keeps pulling his knees up and trying to curl into a ball."



"Like he's still in the womb." Harper stretched, yawning. "I really need coffee. And food."



"I told Meg that you're awake. She'll bring us breakfast soon and formula for Asher, since it's likely he'll wake up soon too. While we wait, you can tell me what happened yesterday."


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Her stomach plummeted. "Do we have to talk about it?"



He breezed his thumb along her jaw. "I need to know, baby. I can understand why you wouldn't want to talk about it, but -"



"Not knowing is driving you crazy, I get it."



"I know a little from McCauley." He quickly relayed the child's version of events to her. "I need to hear the rest."



"Okay." So, she told him how Nora had taken her, and how Linda had then stayed inside the circle with her while the incantors chanted, infecting her with magick and inducing labor. "Nora wasn't working with the other Horsemen. She said they wanted to lie low for a while. Unfortunately, that was all she said about them. I got the feeling she didn't want the attention being taken from her." Harper cocked her head. "How did you get to me?"



"Thatcher reopened the portal."



She blinked. "Thatcher?"



"I didn't like accepting his help. For all I knew, he was stalling for Nora. That was why I had Levi contact his incantor-friend. She said that Thatcher was doing exactly what she would have done, only he was doing it faster, so I didn't interfere and just hoped to God he wasn't playing me." It was the fear in her telepathic voice that had made Knox take the chance. He hadn't been able to bear it.



"So, you no longer suspect him of being one of the Horsemen?"



"I didn't say that. I'll never dismiss any of them as potential suspects. Not when that would put you and Asher at risk. Did Linda happen to tell you why she helped Nora?"



Harper took a moment to gaze at her son again before answering, "She promised Linda she could have Asher. As you know, all Linda wanted was a child."



Knox frowned. "I don't think Nora would have handed him over to anyone."



"Neither do I." Harper fiddled with her rings. "I said as much to Linda, but she didn't listen. So I killed her," she added a little too cheerfully.



Knox chuckled. "I'm jealous."



"Hey, you got to kill Nora, remember."



"No, my demon did." He exhaled heavily. "I was really hoping it wouldn't kill her. She could have told us who the last Horseman is."



"She wouldn't have told," said Harper. "And, honestly, I wouldn't have wanted to let her live. She was too powerful. I'd have worried that she might escape, especially since it's highly likely that she was able to help Crow escape your prison." 



Knox rubbed her thigh. "Then I'm glad she's gone so you don't have to waste another thought on her."



So was Harper. "Does Wyatt know about Linda yet?"



"He knows that she's dead and that she was working with Nora to some extent, but he doesn't know the full story yet. He will soon. Keenan and Larkin will pay him a visit later today."



"On the one hand, I feel bad for him. It's going to be hard for him to accept that his partner pretty much betrayed us all, but he betrayed her first. Talia was one of the people he cheated on Linda with."



"And yet, she wanted McCauley?" Knox asked, incredulous.



"She wanted a kid." Harper lightly stroked Asher's leg over his fleecy white blanket. "How was McCauley when you last saw him?"



"Same as always, but he seemed glad to get back to Elena. I think he'll settle there."



"Good. He might be weird and creepy, and it's true that his demon sent him to warn me for selfish reasons, but he still helped you work out what was happening."



Knox nodded, slightly distracted by how stiffly she was moving. "How sore are you?"



"Not as sore as I thought I'd be."



"Maybe that's because you weren't in labor for very long. According to Sharon, first pregnancies usually …  why do you have an odd look on your face?" But she didn't answer him. "Harper," he prodded.