Ashes(64)

Soon enough, they were heading up the elevator and then leaving the club. The valet waited outside with the Audi. As usual, Keenan rode shotgun as Tanner drove them back to the mansion. Taking off her jacket, Harper slung it aside and fanned her face. The cool leather and the blast of cold air from the vents felt so good.



She relaxed in the seat, feeling …  conflicted. While she knew that spending the last stage of her pregnancy at home was the right thing to do, it was going to be damn weird. Since the age of fourteen, she'd had one job or another – even when she was attending many of the different high schools during her traveling years with Lucian. It would be strange to not have her days filled with work, to not have her own money, and to not be doing what she loved.



She wasn't going to renege on her promise – she'd made the right choice for her, Knox, and the baby. But being at home all the time was going to take some adjusting to.



Feeling a jab on the left side of her stomach, she smiled. Now that the baby was bigger, its movements were more noticeable – just as the doc had predicted. The fluttering sensations had become light jabs, thuds, and sometimes she could swear she felt it turn and roll. She put a hand on her stomach, feeling yet another jab. The kicks weren't hard enough to be uncomfortable, but they soon would be. It was scary to think that in another twelve weeks, she'd be holding the baby in her arms. Yep, seriously scary …  but she was looking forward to it. Couldn't wait to see what this little person looked like; whether it was a boy or a girl; what abilities it would have.



A dark, familiar mind touched hers. I'm on my way home. Where are you?



She knew from Knox's telepathic check-in earlier that he'd attended a long-ass meeting in one of his Vegas hotels, where he'd fired a board member who'd been doing a little inside trading. Her mate was known for being ruthless, so she had no idea why anyone would even try to cross him, but whatever. I'm in the car, on my way back too. 



A vibe of contentment tinged her mind. Good. I'll see you soon.



Soon. Puffing out a long breath, she said, "Tanner, could you turn up the air conditioning please?"



"It's already on full blast."



Twisting in his seat, Keenan eyed her curiously. "You all right?"



She shifted against the leather, which seemed to be heating beneath her. "Just feeling a little warm, that's all."



By the time they drove through the iron gates of the estate, she was no longer feeling just "warm". Harper scrunched up her hair to bare the nape of her neck. "God, I'm hot. Isn't it hot?"



"No, it's not hot." Keenan reached over and put his palm to her forehead. "Shit, you're burning up. I mean really burning up. Tanner, check her."



Once Tanner braked outside the steps of the mansion, he turned to press his hand to her forehead. "Your temperature is way too high."



Keenan cursed. "I'll tell Knox she seems to be running a fever." He opened the rear door, helped her out of the car, and guided her inside, passing a concerned Dan. "Knox and Levi are almost here," Keenan assured her as he tossed her jacket at Dan, so she guessed he'd contacted Knox telepathically.



"Is something wrong?" asked Dan, following them into the living room.



"Yes. She's fevered." Keenan led her to the sofa and urged her to lean back as Dan disappeared down the hall, calling out to Meg.



Harper almost jumped out of her skin as fire burst to life in front of her. It crackled and popped as it died off, and then Knox was there – the image of concern.



He crouched in front of her. "What is it, baby?"



"I'm just hot."



Anxiety skittered down Knox's spine. Heat seemed to be literally radiating from her. Knox touched her cheek with the back of his hand and almost snatched it back with a wince. "You're dangerously hot. Feverish." Alarmed, his demon snapped to full alertness.



She shifted restlessly. "My blood feels hot. Isn't that weird?"



Knox blinked. "Your blood feels hot?"



"Is it a pregnancy thing?"



"Not that I'm aware of." He'd never heard of such a thing in his life. Meg rushed inside with a glass of cold water, and Knox took it from her gratefully and handed it to Harper. "Baby, drink this."



Harper took it, but her hand was shaking so badly that he had to help her guide it to her mouth. She was thirsty, but it was hard to drink because it felt like the water was curdling in her stomach like sour milk. Still, her demon urged her to swallow more.



Knox took the glass from her when she gagged. "Are you going to be sick?"