“What kind of mission?” Raul asked, frowning.

“To kill me,” said Harper. “But their plan didn’t work so well, because a near-rogue can’t be controlled.”

“Crow’s attention instead turned to me,” began Knox, “and he tried to attack me on several occasions. You’re wondering why anyone would do such a thing to Crow. It has come to my attention that there are demons who wish to see the fall of the Primes.” The crowd exchanged shocked looks. “They call themselves the Four Horsemen. Isla was one of them, which left only three… until Harper killed another of them in self-defense – the same demon who manipulated Crow.”

“Who was it?” asked Malden.

“The eldest son of the woman Crow kidnapped and butchered,” Knox told him. “When he prowled through the Underground with a photo of his mother, asking if anyone had seen her, we believed he was concerned for his mother’s safety. In truth, it wasn’t really her he was attempting to find, it was Crow – he’d lost control of his puppet. Unfortunately, we do not have the names of the other two Horsemen. It would not surprise me if they were in this very dome.” He ran his gaze along the crowd. “Know that I will find you,’ he warned. “And I will destroy you.”

“I’ve never heard of any demons calling themselves the Four Horsemen,” said Thatcher, brows pulled together in confusion.

“Now you have,” said Knox. “By all means conduct your own investigation. It might help us identify them sooner. You may all be interested to know that they are the source of all the rumors. They want the Primes to turn on each other and, in doing so, do all their dirty work for them. Be very careful what rumors you do and don’t believe.” With that, Knox handed the microphone back to the demon still hovering and then helped Harper down from the podium, where Tanner and Levi waited.

“Making the announcement tonight was a good idea,” said Levi, looking at the muttering crowd. “The Horsemen’s main advantage was the secrecy of their existence. They’re not so secret anymore. People will be alert for any strange activity.”

“They’re also very suspicious of each other now, though,” Tanner pointed out. “Paranoia can lead to fighting.”

True enough. “The Primes had a right to know they were being played.” Knox wouldn’t have liked such information being kept from him. Turning to Harper, he asked, “Ready to leave now, baby?”

“Totally,” said Harper.

“Want to say goodbye to your family and friends first?”

She turned to do so, but as she took in Lou and Jolene arguing, Martina flicking through another wallet, and Khloë attached to Keenan’s back snapping selfie after selfie, Harper shook her head. “Nah.”

The hotel they were staying at for the night wasn’t far from the dome. The ride in the private elevator was a delicious agony; the air snapped taut with so much sexual tension, she was surprised she couldn’t reach out and touch it. After all his possessive touches, she was flushed and aching, and more than ready to be fucked.

The elevator stopped with a ding, and the doors slid open. They stepped straight into a spacious entryway, and then the breath exploded out of her lungs as Knox slammed her against the wall. His dark eyes sparked with such raw need that she knew there would be nothing sweet or gentle about what came next. Awesome. She did not have the patience for soft or slow. Her demon was totally up for it.

“Open for me,” he ordered, voice deep and dominant.

Harper parted her lips, and his tongue plunged into her mouth. He did what he always did when he kissed her. Dominated her mouth. Ate at it. Possessed it. Took and took until her head spun and she had to clutch his shoulders to steady herself. He tasted of him and power and champagne, and she was starting to feel a little drunk.

Harper sucked on his tongue, and his eyes flared. A growl rumbled up his chest, vibrating against her nipples – they pebbled at the sensation, almost painfully tight. A greedy excitement clawed at her; an excitement that was as demanding as his mouth and the confident hands that sank into her hair, holding her head how he wanted it.

Feeling acutely empty, Harper arched into him, grinding her clit against his cock; he was hard and ready. Knox growled again, pressing her harder against the wall and pinning her still with his hips. Every cell of her body cried out in frustration. She needed more, needed him.

Knox roughly peeled up her dress, heard something tear. Fuck it; he’d buy her a new dress. Snapping off her thong, he cupped her pussy. “Mine.” All his. He slipped a finger between her folds, finding her deliciously slick. He spread her cream around her clit and gave it a gentle pluck. “You’re going to come for me, Harper. Then I’m going to fuck you.”

Well, that sounded super good to her. He took her mouth as he slid his finger between her folds, dipping it ever so slightly inside her but not thrusting, the bastard. Again and again, he did it as she moaned and bucked her hips, hinting for more. Finally, he slipped a finger inside her, and her head fell back as she moaned with both bliss and relief.

“No,” he rumbled, fisting a hand in her hair and angling her head so he could watch her eyes. “Don’t look away from me.”

That bossy tone would probably never fail to make Harper bristle, which was why she almost swore at him. But then he curved his finger to rub at her g-spot and, yeah, he was instantly forgiven. He kissed her again, swallowing every moan as he fucked her with his finger. It felt so good, but it wasn’t enough. She needed his cock. The addictive burn of his clever mouth fueled the hunger raging through her; a hunger so hot and carnal that she shook with it.