Ashes(72)

"My mate believes he was being truthful," said Knox. "I trust her judgement." 



Malden inclined his head. "In any case, I personally have no information about the Horsemen."



Knox twisted his mouth. "Shame. But I did not call you all here to discuss the Horsemen. I'm sure most, if not all, of you heard that my mate was recently attacked by hunters."



"I heard," said Dario. "Is she all right?" There was genuine concern in his voice.



"Fine. She fought them hard. They wanted her wings. In fact, they were hired to acquire them. Since my mate's wings have never come to her, it was a waste of their time and earned them nothing but an early and excruciating death."



"The Horsemen hired them?" asked Raul.



"That was my first thought," said Knox, tapping his fingers on the smooth glass table. "Then her cousin was almost kidnapped. The demon who attempted to take the little girl had also been hired by someone."



Jonas' brow knitted. "That doesn't mean the two events are necessarily related."



Jolene spoke then. "Both the hunters and the kidnapper were hired by someone who sent an anonymous, encrypted email that self-deleted shortly after being opened. That's not a technique that's widely used, but I know of some people who do use it."



Thatcher sat up straighter, looking resigned. "You might as well know that I am one of those people."



"Oh, I already knew that," Knox told him. "Just as I already knew that the main collector of sphinx wings is your cousin, Francisco Alaniz."



Thatcher's mouth pinched. "Francisco does not collect them for collecting's sake."



Knox held up a hand before the demon could explain further. "The wings on his wall belonged to his relatives and are trophies – I know. Don't worry; Francisco didn't mention you. He did, however, mention Dion Boughton. I was surprised to learn from Dion that he once belonged to your lair."



Raul's eyes slid from Knox to Thatcher and back again. "Are you accusing Thatcher of something?"



Knox arched a brow. "Should I?"



"I don't deal on the black market," Thatcher stated. "And I don't hire minions."



A ringing made them all turn toward the sound. Flushing, Malden pulled out his cell and quickly tapped the screen, quieting the device. "I apologize. I'm curious, Knox – does Harper blame Thatcher? Is that why she's not here?"



"She's not here because I insisted that she rest. Being hexed takes a toll on even the strongest of demons."



Raul paused with his glass halfway to his mouth, gaping. "Your mate was hexed?"



"Just yesterday," Knox confirmed. "She survived it, of course."



Mila raised her brows, looking impressed. "She's strong."



"It astonishes me that people fail to see just how strong she is." Knox steepled his fingers. "She wasn't too weak to attend the meeting, but I want her at top strength for our trip. We're not willing to miss our vacation for someone who stupidly assumed she wouldn't fight off a hex." He didn't want anyone thinking that the hex had sent him and Harper running, so he felt it would be simpler to imply that the trip was organized prior to the magickal strike.



Thatcher sighed, face hard. "I suppose this makes me an even likelier suspect. I'm an incantor, after all."


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"Yes, Thatcher, it does," said Knox.



"Why would I harm your mate?" Thatcher's hand clenched, and Knox half-expected him to thump the table. "Considering you're quite adamant that the Horsemen are real, I would have thought you would be blaming them. Or are you also accusing me of being one of them?"



"I'm not so blinded by the Horsemen situation that I believe they're responsible for everything that happens. If I were one of them, I'd lie low."



"As would I," said Jolene.



"If you're looking for someone who would mean your mate harm, you should be looking at the other side of the table." Thatcher's gaze drilled into Alethea, who gawked at him.



"You bastard," she hissed. "Don't you point fingers at me."



Thatcher raised his hands in a helpless gesture. "I only speak the truth. Everyone here knows that you would see Harper dead, given the chance."



Jonas held up a calming hand. "Alethea and Harper do not get along, that is true, but -"