BURN (19 page)

“Lairs target each other in the hope of expanding their power. In doing so, they cause suffering to their own. How is that beneficial for us? How many of you have lost people you cared for? How many of you have suffered because of such greed? I do not feel I can allow that to continue, and I find it difficult to believe that any of you can overlook this.”

If I didn’t know what good a liar she is, I might have bought that devastated look on her face,
said Knox. His concern was that many others would buy it.

“It is not simply strays and small lairs that are vulnerable,” she continued. “Each and every one of us are in a weak position when it comes to the matter of our main enemies – dark practitioners. Do we unite against them? No. Primes are so busy keeping power for themselves that they are blind to the truth. We have made ourselves easy prey. Demons are not built to be prey. We are predators through and through. Still, this is what we have done to ourselves. Apart, we are vulnerable. Together, we are strong.”

She focused on the camera. “If I am elected, I will put in place a pyramid hierarchy that is similar to the layout of authority that exists within each lair. A constitution will be formed that stipulates and restricts the power and influence of each level within the hierarchy. Primes will still have power, but they will also have regulations that prevent them from warring with each other. This will protect all of you.”

Her hand balled into a fist. “Our kind needs a Monarch that will bring changes, will find solutions, and will give equal rights to every demon. Malden promises us all a voice, yet his lair stole my campaign materials and removed them from every establishment within the Underground.” Whispers traveled around the room, and an angry flush marred Malden’s cheeks. “That not only takes away my voice, it takes away your right to have an unbiased opinion. He doesn’t promise you a voice. He promises you the illusion of a voice.”

Even Harper could admit that much was true.

“What do I promise you? Security. A guarantee that no one will ever again target you, no matter who you are – a stray, an average demon, a Prime. If you elect me, I will build a Force that will protect us against dark practitioners; a Force that will hunt down and punish those who have taken our friends or families. I will provide protection for strays, who have the right to be without a lair
and
still have the protection that every other demon is granted. I will ensure that lairs are no longer able to terrorize others.

“This is not just about electing a Monarch, it is about choosing how our kind would like to live. None of us want our species to remain prey. You can change that. How? By electing a Monarch; by electing me. I hope you make the right decision.”

“That was a clever speech,” allowed Jolene. “And that worries me.”

Isla smiled, spine straight. “If anyone has any questions, I will be happy to answer them.”

A female Prime called out, “What makes you think a hierarchy will be better than simply having a Monarch?”

“Look at your lairs. You have a hierarchy within each one, do you not? It helps maintain order. It makes people feel secure, because they know exactly where they stand. It helps the demons on the lowest level of that hierarchy feel secure, because they have the knowledge that they are protected. Rules and regulations keep things running smoothly. At present, we do not have those.”

There was a small silence before another voice asked, “How would you choose where each Prime exists within such a hierarchy?”

“The decision would depend upon their individual level of power. They need to be strong enough to hold their position.”

“Why?” a different Prime asked. “You’re promising a future without war. Why does it matter if they can hold their position?”

“Demons respect power,” she replied as impatience very briefly flickered across her face. “A Prime on a high level would need the respect that ensures Primes on levels below them take their authority seriously.”

“But what about the Primes
you
decide should be placed on the lowest level?” called out Malden. “They would have no real power at all. It would only be a matter of time before they started challenging Primes on higher levels in an attempt to overthrow each other.”

“They would need my permission to battle; such a rule would be in writing.”

Jolene scoffed. “And we’re supposed to wave that piece of paper at any lair who bothers us and hope it makes them go away?”

Isla’s jaw clenched. “If a Prime did such a thing, they would be severely punished.”

“But the damage would already be done,” Malden pointed out.

“Yes,” allowed Isla, “but once they were punished, the rest of our kind would be very hesitant to do so again.”

“You say that small lairs are vulnerable now,” began another Prime. “Your plan – which would include placing us on lower levels – would simply make us even more vulnerable.”

“You would have the protection of the higher levels.”

That same Prime addressed everyone as he asked, “Can any Prime in this room say they haven’t punished one of their Force or sentinels for abusing their power over the other lair members? The same would happen to each Prime if a hierarchy was implemented,” he told Isla. “That power would be abused, and the vulnerable would pay for it.”

Isla shook her head. “If we implement my hierarchy, there would be better order, less demons being harmed, and safer streets. In addition, we would not have divides. We would effectively be united. It would put us in a good position if somehow our existence was exposed to humans.”

Someone from the back of the room snorted. “It’s been exposed many times to humans, and we’ve dealt with it each time.”

“Yes,” agreed Malden. “One point I want to make is this: if you really had such faith in your own plans, you wouldn’t try to attack my character and my promises by fabricating stories about me stealing your materials.”

She regarded him with disappointment. “You and I both know it’s the truth.”

Raul spoke then. “I asked Malden this question yesterday, and I’ll ask you the same thing. How do you think you can exert your authority over Primes who are more powerful than you?”

“There are few Primes more powerful than me,” replied Isla, her tone arrogant. “In any case, I don’t need to be more powerful than someone to exert authority.”

Raul snickered. “How else could you keep someone like Knox Thorne in check? If you tried to punish him, he wouldn’t stand there and take it. He’d retaliate.”

“Knox would never harm me.”

Harper turned to Knox. “I think she truly believes that.”

“He and I go back a long time,” Isla went on. “We have too much regard and respect for each other for him to harm me.”

Raul raised a brow at Knox. “Is that true?”

“I wouldn’t
like
to harm you,” Knox told her. “But that doesn’t make you safe from me. And I’ll never give you or anyone else any power over me.” Never in his life would anyone ever control him again.

That response had Raul smiling. “Let’s pretend you’ve been elected, Isla. You’re Monarch. He’s refusing to do what you want. So, what do you do?”

Face hard, she responded, “Punish him, of course.”

“How? How can you be expected to take him on?”

“All of us here would stand united against any crime committed. That means we would unite against him. I doubt even Knox could defeat us all as a unit.”

“And what if we don’t want to join you in standing against him?” asked the Prime directly behind Harper. “What if we’d rather mind our own fucking business?” Some chuckled at that.

“That would be considered a betrayal.”

Raul sighed, waving a dismissive hand. “Maybe the public might be in favor of your hierarchy. But as far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing realistic about it. Like Malden, you’d be biting off more than you can chew.”

She licked over her front teeth. “I’m sorry that’s how you view things, Raul. It’s true that we can keep our ways as they stand. But then our problems will also remain. Think on that.”

CHAPTER TWELVE

There were certain types of people who were only interesting when they were drunk. Dario was one of those people. Sadly, he wasn’t drunk.

As he did his best to convince Harper that electing a Monarch would benefit the U.S., she got the feeling he was hoping that if he could get her onside, he could thereby get Knox onside. Snort. No one had that kind of influence on Knox. The idiot should know that.

Glancing at the reception desk, she saw that Knox was still there; flicking through papers with the concierge, who had rushed to him as they exited the restaurant not long after Isla’s speech. Knox had left her with Tanner while he quickly helped his staff deal with something. Dario must have seen it as an opportunity to speak with Harper without any interference.

“Isla was correct when she said that electing a Monarch could bring some form of order,” said Dario. “But, like Malden, she wants to be Monarch for all the wrong reasons.”

“Is that right?” Harper’s disinterested tone didn’t faze him.

“What they want isn’t order. It’s power. Nothing more, nothing less.”

“Hmmm.”

“They’re not interested in the well-being of our kind. Surely you see that.”

She sighed. “Let me just save you some time, Dario, and make it clear that nothing will warm me to the idea of having a Monarch.”

“Then you’re failing to see the bigger picture.” He stepped close to her,
too
close. Beside her, Tanner growled, but Dario didn’t seem to notice. “You’re a smart girl, Miss Wallis. I can see that sharp mind right there in your eyes. You have to know that electing a Monarch is the way forward.” He held out his hand. “How about you and I go to the bar, discuss this further?”

“Why would we do that?”

Knox’s mind brushed against hers, bringing a shocking vibe of black jealousy.
Why is Dario so close he’s practically touching you?

He’s just trying to get my vote
. And she didn’t appreciate the accusatory tone of Knox’s voice…like she was flirting with the asshole or something.

“Dario,” Knox drawled as he and Levi joined them. Knox didn’t return to her side. He moved to Dario’s side instead, but his focus was on Harper – his brooding eyes glittered with jealousy, possessiveness, and anger.

As Dario turned to face Knox, he immediately stepped back at his dark expression. “I was just talking with your anchor.”

“I see that.” And it took everything Knox had not to gut the prick, especially while his demon’s predatory possessiveness was whipping through him. It wasn’t just because Dario had edged into Harper’s personal space. It was because not only was there a covetous glint to his eyes, a greedy desire to possess, but because Dario was telepathically broadcasting that desire loud and clear.

Knox was powerful enough to pick up stray thoughts and images from people’s minds if their shields weren’t solid. Dario was very clearly imagining Harper naked beneath him, her legs wrapped around him while he fucked her hard.
Not
a picture Knox wanted in his head.

He could understand Dario’s urge to have her. Harper was beautiful, unique, without guile, and so aloof that it was a challenge to any male demon worth his salt. Knox had picked up that challenge. But she was also
his
and…and now Dario was fantasizing about her sucking him off.

“I suggested that she and I could go to the bar for a—”

“That won’t be happening,” Knox rumbled. “And neither will the shit that’s going through your head.”

Dario paled. “We were just going to discuss the election, that’s all.”

Knox could sense Dario doing his best to clear his mind, to keep a firm grip on his fantasies, and to focus totally on Knox. But, as if the pressure was simply too much for him, Dario’s fantasies all burst out of that mental grip and flashed through his head like a flicker pad: images of him fucking Harper, tasting her pussy, tying her up, sucking on her nipples, having her ride him, and forcing her to suck his cock…It was too much for Knox, and it was far too much for his demon.

Harper inwardly cursed as Knox’s eyes bled to black. Head tilted, the demon slowly advanced on Dario like a predator closing in on its prey. The rage emanating from it sent apprehension prickling down her spine. Hey, just because she knew it wouldn’t hurt her didn’t mean it wasn’t a scary fucker – especially when she had seen for herself exactly what it was capable of doing to someone that pissed it off.

To Dario’s credit, he stood his ground against that chilling presence. She had no clue what was going on, but she could sense that Knox’s demon was seriously unhappy.

“I see what you want,” it told Dario, who swallowed hard. “I see it all.” It slowly shook its head. “You can’t have her. She’s mine.”

Clearing his throat, Dario nodded. “Understood.”

Yeah? Well she was glad
someone
understood, because Harper was still a little confused here. She looked from one male to the other as Knox’s demon retreated. “I really hope that wasn’t about me. We were only talking about the election.”

Knox turned to her. “Really?”

“Yes, he thinks that—” Harper nearly jumped out of her damn skin when an ice-cold fingertip flicked her clit. No, he
hadn’t
just done that in public! He hadn’t just—

She jerked as the same fingertip circled her clit, making it heat and tingle. Oh, the bastard.

Dario frowned at her. “Are you all right?”

“You don’t look too good, baby,” commented Knox, ensuring he looked the image of concern. “Your cheeks are flushed. Must be all the champagne.”

An icy finger slid through her folds, and Harper had to lock her knees to stay upright.
Stop it
, she hissed.
Knox didn’t. As he and Dario talked, the finger casually slid through her folds over and over, pausing now and then to play with her clit. She didn’t know how something so cold could give off so much heat.
I will kill you for this
. The psychic finger sank inside her, and she couldn’t hold in a gasp.

Brow creased in worry, Knox moved to her. He stroked a hand over her hair and down her back to rest on her ass – an unmistakable display of masculine possession. “Maybe you should go upstairs and lie down.”

I’m going to rip your cock off and
—

A second finger joined the first; they scissored, stretched, and swirled. Despite her best efforts to withstand the pleasure, her knees buckled. She had to grab onto Knox’s shirt for support.

He curled his arm around her. “Seems like the champagne’s definitely gotten to you. Dario, enjoy your evening.” There wasn’t an ounce of sincerity in the latter words. Knox guided her to the private elevator that would take them straight to the top floor. All the while, those icy fingers continued to pump.

You’reamotherfuckingcocksuckingpsychopathicsonofabitch!

A hard thrust of those fingers wrenched a gasp from her. At this point, her pussy was flaming and throbbing –
needing
him so badly it was all she could do not to sob. But he was being a dick.

When Levi and Tanner went to step into the elevator, Knox shook his head. “Take the stairs.” The sentinels nodded, giving him a knowing smile.

The moment the doors closed, she whirled on Knox with a growl. Before she could say a word, his mouth crashed on hers and his tongue shot inside. The kiss was dominant, possessive, and devastating. He forcefully backed her into the wall, making the breath slam out of her lungs. His hands shackled her wrists and held them high above her head – the entire time, the psychic fingers continued to drive her to the brink of insanity.

Knox kicked her legs apart and used his lower body to pin her in place. “Look at me.” As she did, her eyes changed from amber to gold; they blazed with a raw need that made his gut twist. He fucking burned for her. He was hard and hurting, aching to be in her, to feel her pussy clenching and squeezing him. But not yet.

As the fingers picked up their rhythm, Harper moaned and bit hard on her lip. Being unable to move, unable to arch into the thrusts, only increased her frustration. But she didn’t fight him, knowing from experience that the sadistic bastard would slow down to punish her if she didn’t let him lead.

“Good girl, take it.” Upping the pace of the thrusts to reward her, Knox sucked on her earlobe. “Did you know that if I stopped now, you’d stay like this? You wouldn’t be able to finish yourself off. It wouldn’t matter how hard or how many times you fucked yourself with your fingers, it wouldn’t matter if you turned to someone else – which you wouldn’t, or I
would
fucking kill them for even daring to touch what’s mine.” He stared into eyes that were glazed over with lust. “Only I can take that ache away once I put it there, Harper. Only me.”

“Knox, I’m really, really close to coming.” At that moment, they reached the top floor. His hand shot out and punched the emergency button before the doors could open. Then the cold, tormenting fingers dissolved, making the blistering ache inside her even worse. “No!” she sobbed.

“Tell me you want my cock in you.” Defiance flared in her expression. He arched a brow. “If you want it, you have to tell me.”

She licked her lips. “I want your cock in me.”

He peeled up her dress, hoisted her up, and unbuttoned his fly as she curled her limbs around him. “Are you protected?” he rumbled.

She nodded. Demons had invented contraceptive pills before humans.

“Good. I want to shoot my come inside you. I want you dripping with it.” He plunged inside her, groaning as her pussy clamped around him like a vice. “I love that you get so fucking wet for me.” He drove into her again. “And I love being in this pussy. Tight. Hot. Slick. And mine.”

Harper clung to him as he brutally powered into her at a furious pace – taking everything, demanding everything. She was so hot and hypersensitive inside and he was so big that it should have been painful, but nothing had ever felt better than his cock stretching her, filling her to bursting.

“Tell me you belong to me, Harper,” he growled. Her eyes narrowed. “Say it.”

She snarled. “Now you’re pushing it.” He stilled, pinning her with his dark sensual gaze that suddenly glittered with danger and caution. She froze instinctively.

“Say it,” he rumbled, his tone dominant and implacable.

“I’m your
anchor
, so you have rights to me,” she conceded. “But I belong to me.” He smiled crookedly, but it didn’t relax her – there was nothing reassuring about that smile.

Knox punched his cock inside her once, twice. “Oh, you’re so wrong, baby.” The words were soft yet insistent. “You belong to me.”

She shook her head. “You’ll give me up.” He’d have no choice once his demon lost interest. But resolve was suddenly etched into every line of his face.

“No.” He drove deep once more. “I won’t.”

“Your demon will make you do it.” She swallowed hard as his eyes bled to black.

“No, little sphinx,” countered that familiar emotionless voice. “You’re ours.”

It began ruthlessly ramming into her at a feverish pace. For a few moments Knox regained control, groaning about how hot she was, how her pussy was made for him. Then the demon was back, driving so deep inside her she knew it was in her womb. Again and again they switched, so that she was being ferociously fucked by both Knox and his demon. Neither gave her any reprieve.

As her pussy tightened and fluttered around his cock, Knox knew she was about to come. “Wait,” he ordered.

“I can’t,” she sobbed.

But he knew she would; she always did. Even when he shifted his angle, hitting her sweet spot, she held back for him. “Good girl. You can come now.” He growled low in his throat as her blazing hot pussy squeezed and rippled around him when she came, screaming. “Fuck.” He jammed his cock deep and exploded, shooting jet after jet of come inside her.

Eyes closed, she slumped over him as tremors racked her body. Knox hit the emergency button to release the elevator and then pyroported into the bedroom of their hotel suite. His little sphinx was so wiped out that even the lick of flames against her skin didn’t disturb her.

Carefully, he laid her on the bed and removed her clothes before removing his own and settling beside her. Shudders were still rocking her, but her panting had eased. As his arm slipped around her and pulled her against him, she opened eyes that were now a jungle green.

“Why do I get the feeling that the public psychic finger-fucking incident was brought on by Dario’s thoughts?” she asked.

“Because it was.”

Her brow furrowed. “I’m confused.”

Toying with her necklace, he explained. “I didn’t like seeing him so close to you. It was bad enough that he’d been watching and ogling you all night.” Her frown deepened. “You never notice when males are staring at you, but trust me, they do.” He smoothed his hand down her back. “But I picked up some of his thoughts. He was imagining you and him in some very—”

“La, la, la, don’t tell me, I don’t want to know.” She juddered, not at all turned on by the idea of Dario touching her in any way. “So, why did I get sexually tormented?”