Knox opened it wide, still holding Asher. Jolene entered first and literally melted as she got a good look at the baby. "Knox, he's just you with a lot less hair."
Harper smiled. "That's what I said."
Jolene wasted no time in taking Asher from him and, nuzzling his head, then made a beeline for Harper. She kissed her hair. "You did good, sweetheart. He's beautiful. Does he have a name yet?"
"Asher," Knox told her.
"Asher," Raini echoed as she walked in. "I like that."
"Very appropriate, all things considered," said Levi, no doubt remembering the shield of embers, sparks, and ashes.
Everyone filed in, kissing Asher's head and then giving Harper a brief hug, but none succeeded at getting their hands on the baby. Jolene was determined to have her moment with him.
"He smells so good," said Khloë.
"I hope you know that male sphinxes are a handful," Jolene told Knox. "Worse than girls. Hopefully he won't share Harper's ability to infuse hellfire into things. She ruined at least three sofas and once set fire to her own cradle because she wanted out. That's not counting the times she burned her way through the safety straps of her stroller, car seat, and high chair. Really, I pity you if Asher has that ability."
"He's powerful," said Devon. "I can feel it."
Tanner nodded. "We had a peek at the kid in action." He briefly described what happened.
Jolene grinned, proud. "He's definitely a Wallis."
Knox's jaw clenched. "He's a Thorne."
Jolene waved that away, as if the surname was a mere technicality. "You know what I mean. Oh, he's waking up. Well, hello there." As a unit, everyone crowded around Jolene, whispering and cooing at Asher, all the while ignoring Jolene's glowers.
Harper smiled as Asher's mind slid against hers – it was a questioning touch, like he was wondering where she was. She gave his mind a reassuring stroke. "This kid is gonna be demanding."
Knox raised a brow. "You expected anything else?"
She shook her head. "No, not at all."
"Grams, stop hogging him," Khloë complained. With a huff, Jolene passed him to Khloë. Soon, the baby was passed around from person to person.
"His demon just surfaced and took my measure," said Keenan, grinning. "I think I passed my assessment, because it retreated."
Taking Asher from the incubus, Raini turned to Harper as she stroked her finger over Asher's cheek. "Does he look like the baby in those dreams you told me about?"
"No," Harper replied. "Those weren't premonitions. Those were my subconscious telling me to wake the fuck up and realize I was pregnant."
///
"He's so tiny," said Devon. "He didn't need an incubator?"
Knox shook his head. "Rodgers thought he might, since he was born early, but he's kept up his own body temperature just fine."
"Of course he has," said Jolene. "He's a Wallis."
Knox glared at her. "He's a Thorne."
Jolene again waved that away. "How much does he weigh?"
"Asher Knox Thorne made his grand entrance weighing five pounds two ounces, which isn't bad at all for a premature baby," said Harper.
"Not bad at all," agreed Jolene. "Well, Harper, how does it feel to be a mom?"
Harper couldn't help but smile. "Like everything's right in the world."
Knox took her hand. Everything is right. "I'm hoping he'll have Harper's eyes."
She sighed at him. "Knox, why do you hate our son?"
Jolene scowled at her. "There's nothing wrong with your eyes. They're beautiful."
"That's what I said," said Knox.
Harper shook her head. "Forget it. How about we just – oh God, no."
Knox frowned. "What?" He tracked her gaze, and could only sigh.
In the doorway, Lou thrust his arms up in the air. "We have ourselves a baby." Stalking forward, he pushed through the crowd until he reached Raini, who was still holding Asher. "Girl? Boy?"
"Boy," Raini told him.
He turned to Knox and raised his hand. "Hey, up high!"
"Well, hello, Lou," Jolene said from behind him.
Lou's mouth tightened and he dropped his arm. "I'm still not talking to you, evil woman."
Jolene rolled her eyes. "You really need to stop holding grudges. Besides, taking things personally when you're dealing with an imp is utterly pointless and -"