“It didn’t seem like a big deal. No one would attempt an attack in a house full of people—especially when those people are Wallis imps.”

“Someone did. And that someone was sent by Alethea’s reliable source. But they wouldn’t have known to go there if it hadn’t been for you,” Harper spat, pointing the blazing stick at her. “In fact, if you’d just come to us months ago with what you knew, this all could have been avoided. But you didn’t. I doubt you ever even considered it. My son was attacked, Sherryl, and you profited from it.” Her demon shot to the surface and hissed. “Anyone who was even the slightest bit involved in what happened to the child will pay in blood, including you,” it told her.

Hate gathered behind Sherryl’s eyes until they practically shone with it. “And I should be afraid of a sphinx that doesn’t even have fucking wings? I should care about the fate of a kid that’s probably just as much of a freak as its mother? You should have been the one who died in that video. Or better still, your brat should have been the one crying and screaming while his flesh blistered and melted. At least I have the comfort of knowing all three of you will be dead soon. The Horseman, whoever the fuck he is, will come for you.”

The demon’s smile was rather serene. “I know,” it said. “And he’ll die too.” With that, the demon jammed the flaming stick into the bitch’s eye.

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Knox stared down at the charred, bloodied, battered body in front of him. Sherryl Malloy had taken a long time to die. Both Harper and her demon had put the familiar through a shitload of well-deserved pain—a pain that might have ended sooner if Malloy hadn’t screamed her hope that Asher died a dreadful, agonizing death at the hands of the Horseman. Maybe she’d thought that such words would drive Harper into delivering a killing blow. They hadn’t. His mate had remained completely controlled.

Harper had warned him that she could be scary. Warned him time and time again that a sphinx in ‘berserker mode’ was a dangerous creature. But he hadn’t been able to imagine his mate ever truly losing her shit in a spectacular fashion. Now he understood that a sphinx’s version of ‘berserker mode’ didn’t involve an explosion of rage. No, their rage remained relatively contained, but they showed no mercy whatsofuckingever.

Harper had been almost robotic in the way she’d systematically subjected Malloy to several rounds of excruciating torture. A lesser man might have been freaked out by it. Her demon had surfaced occasionally to join in on the fun, but Harper had taken the lead. Sensing that she’d needed it, Knox had stood back and left her to it.

He knew her actions were driven by not only anger but her fear of what could have happened to Asher and Heidi. The fact that they were safe and unharmed just wasn’t the point. Not when their fates were intended to be utterly horrific.

In order to ensure Asher’s safety and survival, Knox and Harper needed to send a clear message that anyone who had even the tiniest role in a plan to target Asher would suffer inconceivable agony.

No one who looked at what was left of Sherryl Malloy could miss that message.

His demon was proud of its mate. Approved that she’d showed no mercy. While Knox also approved, he was concerned that Harper’s conscience would feel the strain of it later. She wouldn’t regret what she’d done, but she’d be upset that she didn’t regret it. Might even be a little disturbed to learn just how far she’d go to protect and avenge their son.

Keenan and Tanner had entered the boathouse moments ago, curious about what was taking so long. They’d been taken aback by the gruesome sight they found, but not horrified—they’d seen Knox dole out much worse torture. Hearing that it was Harper who was responsible, however, had been a huge shock to them. Not a bad shock, though. No, like Knox, they approved of their Prime’s actions even as they knew Harper’s soft heart would pay a price for it later.

“Conference call’s scheduled to start in thirty seconds. You both ready?” Larkin asked from behind him.

Turning to face the sentinel, expression blank, Harper lifted her chin slightly. “Ready.” She hadn’t said much since Sherryl took—well, croaked—her last breath.

Knox moved closer to his mate’s side so that their bodies brushed, giving her space yet also letting her know he was there. “Let’s get this done,” he said.

The harpy pressed a few buttons on the laptop. “And we’re live.” She turned it to face them. The wide screen was a grid of faces as the other Primes stared back at them. Only Jonas, who hadn’t accepted his invite to the video conference, was missing. As Harper had telepathed Jolene with a heads-up about the situation, the female imp was the only one who wasn’t completely clueless as to why Knox had arranged the video conference.

If he and Harper weren’t blocking their view of Sherryl, they would have no doubt all jerked back in horror. Yeah, the view was that bad.

“I know many of you are exceptionally busy,” said Knox, not bothering with any preliminaries, “so I appreciate you all cutting your activities short to take this call.”

“Is this about the Horseman?” Raul instantly asked. “Have you discovered his identity?”

“No,” said Knox, “but we’re getting closer and closer to finding him. It’s only a matter of time before we do.” He truly believed that.

“Then what is the big emergency?” asked Malden.

Knox looked at Thatcher, face hardening. “I believe we have something that belongs to you. Or someone. Sherryl Malloy is one of your demons, correct?”

“Yes,” Thatcher confirmed, thick brows drawing together. “Why is she with you?”

Knox kept his eyes on Thatcher to monitor his reaction closely as he and Harper parted, revealing Malloy. The Prime recoiled in horror, eyes wide. There were gasps, curses, and horrified mutters from the other Primes. Only Jolene, expression grim, stayed silent.

Face reddening and contorting with fury, Thatcher demanded, “What happened? What did you do to her, Thorne?”

“He didn’t do it,” said Harper, voice hard. “I did. She was passing on information to Alethea—information that led to the attempted kidnapping of my niece and to the incorporeal’s attack on my son.”

The Primes fell silent, all looking varying degrees of shocked. Harper suspected they were more shocked to hear that she’d killed Malloy than they were to hear why Harper had killed her. After all, the Primes had always insisted on viewing Harper as someone who was playing out of her league; a fluffy bunny trying to hang with feral wolves. That was their mistake.

Thatcher’s lips parted in surprise. “You’re certain?”

A flash of anger sailed through Harper. “Do you think I’d do that for shits and fucking giggles?” She had no regrets about what she’d done, but she hadn’t enjoyed it. Her demon, on the other hand, had been on cloud goddamn nine.

Incredulous, Thatcher shook his head. “It makes no sense that Sherryl would have placed your family in danger. She was dating your cousin.” Watching as Harper slowly lifted a brow, realization seemed to dawn on Thatcher. He sighed. “She was using him to get information.” His eyes flicked to Knox. “I suppose the reason you didn’t call me until now is that you suspect me of being the Horseman. I would have taken care of her punishment.”

A low hiss came out of Harper. “That kill was ours,” she told Thatcher, jabbing her finger in the corpse’s direction. “That creature—or what’s left of her—endangered our son. The Horseman wanted us to know what happened to people who got in the way of his plans. Well, that is what happens to anyone who even plays a part in any harm that befalls my family. And when I get my hands on the Horseman—and I will—he won’t get off so lightly.”