Ashes(59)

Knox drank what was left of his coffee. "I'd say I'm sorry that they'll coddle you, but I'm not." The more people protecting her, the better, as far as Knox was concerned. Eyes narrowing, she flipped him the finger. Knox just chuckled.



In the coffeehouse later that morning, Harper stood at the end of the counter while the barista prepared her order. Hearing the bell chime, she glanced at the door. Not Carla, she noted. Good. She'd checked each time she heard the bell. It would be just her luck that the woman sought another confrontation. Her demon really wouldn't do well with that right now.



"How are you feeling today?" asked Wren.



Harper smiled. "Good, thanks. You?"



"I'm fine." Wren put the last of the cups on the tray. "Frothed vanilla milk for you again, I suspect," she added quietly with an odd gleam in her eyes



Harper stilled as the implication of that comment sank into her brain. "You knew?" All this time, she'd known? "How?"



"I sense these things. I wasn't sure if you knew or not, but I've noticed you're scanning the room as if potential threats may be lying in wait. Your demon's paranoid, huh?" Wren leaned forward to make the conversation private. "Don't fear that I'll share what I know. You've had to deal with many people who would like to see Knox fall. It means you haven't quite realized just how many people wish him to thrive."



"Thrive?"



"Knox is everything a lair could want in a Prime. There are many who would defend him with their lives, though he doesn't need their protection. If he produces a child who might one day take his place, our lair will continue to be strong. I won't do anything to put that child at risk. And it would be at risk, but you're smart enough to already know that."



Harper gripped the tray tight. "Does anyone else suspect the pregnancy?"



"Not that I'm aware. I'll let you know if any whispers begin to spread. I can assure you that the lair will close ranks around you, Knox, and your child. Most will be happy for him, just as they were happy for him when he took you as his mate. We want only good things for our Prime. Oh, there are those who have their grievances with him, but all will support him in this. As I said, they want the lair to be strong for their children, their grandchildren, and their grandchildren's grandchildren, and so on and so on." 



"In other words, don't worry so much?"



"A child is always a blessing. A pregnancy should be a time of celebration, not fear."



She had that right, thought Harper. "Thanks." Lifting the tray, she walked to the condiment trolley, where Raini was waiting.



As they added milk, sugar, and toppings to the drinks, Raini asked in a low voice, "How did Knox take the news?"



"Very well, thank God. I'll tell the others tonight." Harper had already invited everybody to the house later. "Um, thanks for pushing me to take the test."



Raini smiled. "You can thank me by taking things easy. I get that you'd rather be at work, but pace yourself and work shorter hours."



"God, you sound like Knox."



Raini just snickered. "You don't look as tired today."



"According to the doctor I spoke to, the fatigue will start to wear off. It's no wonder I looked like shit the past few months. Every bit of goodness I took in was going to the baby."



"And you weren't resting like you should have."



Harper held up her hand and pledged, "I will not overdo it. My demon wouldn't allow me to anyway."



"Good. Then let's get moving."



As his visitor entered the office, Knox rose from his seat. "Pamela," he greeted simply. Ever since Linda and Wyatt mentioned that Talia's mother had appeared at their home, he'd anticipated that Pamela would eventually come to speak with him about McCauley. Pamela Winters wasn't a she-demon who backed down. She was a hard, strong-willed woman who could crush a person's confidence with just a look. In that sense, it wasn't surprising that she intimidated Linda.



Pamela was also very conscious of public opinion, so he'd imagine that Talia's lifestyle had been deeply embarrassing for the judge. That may have been why she rarely spoke of her daughter but raved about her son – a very well-known defense attorney who lived in Chicago.



Pamela gave him a gracious nod. "Mr. Thorne. Thank you for seeing me."



Knox gestured for her to take the seat opposite him, and they both sat down. "It seems an inadequate thing to say, but I'm sorry for your loss."



Pamela's smile was brittle, and he got the feeling she'd heard the words so many times that she was tired of hearing them. "Thank you. I know Talia was an addict and had her problems, but she wasn't a bad person."