Ashes(62)

Knox spoke above all the noise in the room. "We plan to keep the news quiet for as long as it's sensible to do so. I'm sure we can trust you all to keep it to yourselves."



"Of course," Jolene told him, sobering. The others nodded.



"No one," Knox stressed. "You share it with no one – not even members of your family or lair. Do it for Harper and the baby's sake."



Raini put a hand over her heart. "We won't say a word."



Satisfied, Knox nodded.



Jolene and the girls stayed for a while, arguing with Harper about throwing a baby shower. Harper saw it as yet more "fuss". They weren't sensitive to her plight, however, and seemed determined to arrange the shower. Once that argument had past and Tanner was done riling Devon, Jolene drove the girls home in her Mustang.



Finally alone with Harper and his sentinels, Knox poured himself a gin and tonic and then returned to Harper's side. "I don't think I need to tell you all that we need to tighten the security around Harper."



"The problem is that if she has several guards, people may guess why," said Tanner, sprawled on the sofa opposite. "Now that I know she's pregnant, I can see it. The fatigue, the weight loss, the dark circles under her eyes that show she's not sleeping well – they're obvious signs. We attributed it to stress, so others probably did too. But if she suddenly has several guards, people will speculate."



Beside the hellhound, Keenan nodded in agreement. "That will spread like wildfire."



Tanner looked at Harper, expression almost apologetic. "I know you love your job but, not to be an asshole, it's going to be hard to adequately protect you when you're constantly around strangers."



Harper sighed. "Tanner -"



"You have to admit," the hellhound began, "now that you're pregnant and don't just have your own safety to worry about, you're going to look at everyone suspiciously, wondering if they're Horsemen or if they hired the hunters. Your demon definitely will be."



Harper wiped a hand down her face. "All right, I won't deny that. But I have a business to run."



"It's a business you co-run," Knox softly corrected. "You can afford to take some time away from your job. It's true that you're the main draw for the studio, but it's also true that your co-workers are completely capable of running it in your absence."



"I know that, but I also know that I'll get restless and bored and start taking things apart."



Larkin's mouth quirked. "Maternity leave is a good thing." She paused to frown at Keenan, whose arm bumped hers as he dug out his flask. "Demonic pregnancies aren't easy, Harper. The last stage is particularly hard."


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Standing near the fireplace, Levi added, "By then, it will be easy for people to tell that you're pregnant. That's when your safety could really be at risk."



"Don't forget that people are reluctant to fuck with pregnant demons," said Harper. "We can be vicious and moody creatures when crossed." She looked at Knox, adding, "And then maybe you'll finally fear my mighty wrath."



One side of his mouth lifted. "I really don't see that happening."



Harper sniffed. "Fine, blind yourself to the truth."



"Back to the point at hand," said Knox. "Larkin made a valid point. The next few months will be hard on you. Do you really want to make it even harder? And maybe you should bear in mind that being at the studio every day will not make things easier for you – there, you'll have your co-workers constantly coddling you. The further along you get in the pregnancy, the worse that coddling will become."



Pissed that he was right, Harper barely held back a growl. "I'll make you a deal. The doc said that when I hit the eighteenth week, I'll actually start to look pregnant – that will be in just under two weeks' time. On that very day, I will start maternity leave. It's a good compromise." And it would stop her demon from stressing too much.



Knox gave a slow nod. "I can live with that."



"Good, because I don't want to have to hit you."



Levi snorted a laugh. "In the meantime, it would be a good idea to keep Tanner and Keenan close to you at all times."



"I wouldn't worry so much about our lair finding out," said Tanner. "They'll rally around you both."



"That's what Wren said." Harper told them all about the barista.