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“It’s more likely that than anything else.” Raul took a sip of his scotch. “It’s rare that Primes turn rogue.”
“It’s rare, but not impossible,” Alethea pointed out.
Raul’s mouth twisted. “You seem quite preoccupied with Dario.”
“I merely don’t wish to see another Prime turn rogue,” she told him.
Raul sighed. “Look, I know what happened with your old Prime was bad —”
“No, you don’t know,” she clipped. “You didn’t see what happened. You heard about it, but you didn’t see. Let me tell you it is a frightening and painful experience. So many died – women, men, children, demons, humans, animals. A rogue will kill indiscriminately. It cares for nothing. It seeks only to cause pain and misery and destruction. In my opinion, every demon even bordering on rogue should be killed.”
Wow, that was definitely going too far in Harper’s opinion.
Alethea took a deep, centering breath. “I only wish to be sure that Dario is well.”
“I’ll contact him,” Malden told her. “But I’m quite certain we have no reason to worry. I’m also very certain he is not forming an army.”
“I would have dismissed the rumor if it wasn’t for the unpredictable weather,” said Alethea. “You know Dario can influence the weather. If he’s out of control, his gift will be too.”
“Raul can play with the weather too,” one Prime pointed out with an accusatory tone that caused Raul to stiffen. He had bushy eyebrows that Harper badly want to pluck.
“Why would I do that?” asked Raul.
“You tell us,” said Bushy Brows. “Maybe your anger keeps getting the better of you.”
Frowning, Raul put down his glass. “Anger at what?”
“Your female. I heard she left you.”
“The decision to separate was mutual and civil. My anchor can attest to that,” Raul added, to which the she-demon nodded.
Bushy Brows shrugged one shoulder. “Not what I heard.”
“Nor me,” said Malden, a smile playing around the edges of his mouth.
Raul narrowed his eyes at Malden. “Personally, I find the rumor I heard about you much more interesting. Caught cheating on your woman with her two brothers, weren’t you?”
Malden’s cheeks flushed with outrage. “No, I was not.”
Raul raised his hands, smirking. “Hey, I’m not judging. To each their own.”
A lot of rumors going around lately, said Harper.
Knox put down his glass. It would seem so.
Bushy Brows looked at Knox. “I heard one of your demons turned rogue.”
What’s his name? she asked Knox. It’s annoying to call him Bushy Brows in my head. A vibe of amusement touched her mind.
Thatcher. “Not rogue,” corrected Knox. “He is, however, close to the edge.”
“I also heard he had a strange vision,” added Thatcher. “Is that correct?”
Knox tapped his fingers on his crystal tumbler. “Depends what you heard the vision was.”
“That you and your mate would give birth to a soulless child that would demolish the universe itself,” said Thatcher, a challenge in his tone.
Harper rolled her eyes. “The power of Chinese whispers…”
Knox spoke. “Crow claims to have had a vision that Harper and I would have a child and it would be powerful enough to destroy us.”
“More apocalyptic visions,” scoffed a Prime who hadn’t spoken until then. “One of my near-rogue demons also claimed the end of the world was coming, though he didn’t mention you.”
“Maybe Crow really did have a vision that you would have a child capable of destroying us all,” said a female Prime. “You and your mate are both powerful. It would be no surprise if you had a powerful child. Perhaps even so powerful that it can in fact annihilate us.”
Jolene snickered. “You’re making about as much sense as a demon on the edge, Mila.” Raul and many others looked equally amused by Mila’s theory.
“Any other issues?” Jonas asked, waving Mila’s concern aside. A few minor things were raised and dealt with, and then Jonas planted his hands on the table and said, “Well, if no one has any other issues, I think we can agree to end the meeting here.”
Knox nodded. Having exchanged farewells with Jonas and Raul, Knox cupped Harper’s elbow and began to lead her out of the dining hall; Levi, Tanner, and the imps stayed close behind. As they reached the doorway, Alethea slipped in front of them.
“Harper, I’m sorry that I spoke so sharply to you.” Alethea sounded sincerely regretful. “It was uncalled for.”
Harper inwardly snorted. The bitch wasn’t sorry at all. Still, Harper inclined her head ever so slightly.
Alethea then turned to Knox. “I hope none of the rumors about Dario are true. But I’m hoping that if the worst has happened and he’s turned rogue, I will then have your support dealing with him.”
“Why?” challenged Harper.
Alethea blinked. “Excuse me?”
“Why?” repeated Harper. “Jonas is powerful, right? There are plenty of other Primes who could have your back. So why do you so badly need Knox involved?”
“I don’t badly need him to be involved —”
“That’s right; you don’t. But you think the easiest way to get this done would be to use Knox to do your dirty work. He’s not a weapon to be used, and he’s not a shield for you to hide behind.”
