Ashes(39)

Knox twisted his mouth. "From what I've heard, you lack the sort of ethics that would hold you back from doing such a thing."



"I don't claim to have many morals, but I am not a stupid man. Targeting your mate would be the height of stupidity."



"It would. But maybe you're also a man who feels you're untouchable. Maybe you feel that sending encrypted emails protects your identity."



Dion's mouth tightened. "I did not hire those hunters."



"If it wasn't you, Mr. Boughton, who could it have been?"



"I truly don't know. I do not concern myself much with the outside world. I prefer my own company. But it seems obvious to me that the Horsemen would be responsible, whoever they are."



"Oh, I believe there's a very good chance that this person is one of the Horsemen," said Knox. "If I can identify who hired these demons, maybe I can identify one of the Horsemen."



"I have no idea who it could be. If I did, I would tell you. I don't like that a group of demons are conspiring against the Primes any more than you do."



"I'd like to believe you, Mr. Boughton, I really would. But it seems quite a coincidence to me that a person who collects sphinx wings also uses encrypted emails to communicate with hunters …  just as the demon who I seek does."



Flushing, Dion said, "I am not the only person who uses that technique to protect my identity. In fact, I learned it from my old Prime."



Knox's muscles tensed. "And just who is your old Prime?"



"Thatcher."



Son of a bitch.



Sitting on the swing, five-year-old Heidi glared at her brother's back. She'd told him she was hungry and wanted to go home, and he'd promised her they'd leave in ten minutes. That was ages ago. Robbie was still at the other side of the playground, leaning against the monkey bars, flirting with girls. 



Heidi rolled her eyes and pretended to gag. She could hear them laughing, even though it was kind of loud with the swing creaking, the kids shouting, and the parents talking. She'd bet the girls wouldn't find him so funny if they knew about his "secret" magazine collection.



Maybe she should go over there and tell the girls that he just wanted to "get laid". Heidi might not know what exactly that meant, but she figured it had something to do with him not being a virgo anymore …  or was it a virgin? She shrugged.



Yeah, she'd tell the girls. Then she and Robbie could finally go home. He wouldn't like it, and that would make it more awesome.



Laughing to herself, she held the bumpy chain links tight and twisted herself around, laughing even louder when the swing bounced back around. And now there was a man standing in front of her, smiling. A demon. She dug her heels into the dirt, bringing the swing to a halt.



"You're Heidi, right?"



She didn't say anything. Just stared at him. He had a nice smile, she thought.



"You're Harper's cousin."



He knew Harper?



"She told me about you," he said. "You really do look like a little angel, don't you? It's all that long white-blonde hair, the rosy cheeks, and those pretty blue eyes."



Her eyes were aquamarine actually, but she didn't say that. She bit her lip and said in a wobbly voice, "You're really tall."



Smiling softly, he squatted in front of her. "That better?"



She nodded and gave him a shy smile.



"My name's Dean. I'm one of Knox's sentinels."



Heidi frowned. "I thought he only had four sentinels." She'd met them all. Keenan was the funniest.



"He used to, but now he needs more to make sure Harper's protected. I was just at your grandmother's house. She asked me to tell you that you need to come back inside. Harper was attacked again."



Again?



"Hunters tried to steal her wings. She's okay, but your grandmother is upset and she's worried." He reached out to grab her arm. "Come on, I'll walk you -"



"Stranger!" she bellowed in his face. "Stranger danger! Gun! Fire!"



"Little bitch," he spat, yanking her off the swing.



Heidi screamed and screamed and screamed until a horrible ringing sound filled the air. Blood started to come out of his ears, and that was why she wasn't supposed to use that scream – it could burst people's eardrums and even make windows smash, but Heidi didn't want the bad man to take her. With a loud shout, he let her go. She hit the ground hard, and stopped screaming.



"Heidi!" It was Robbie's voice, and he was close. The man ran into the trees, and some people chased after him.



Robbie helped her stand. "Are you okay? He tried to take you?"