Page 74 of Demon's Mate
Harper gave him a startled look. “You really think we can take control?”
“Yes.” Control over what happened would be important to Harper after everything. “You’re in charge of your own life. No one, especially not your father, can take that from you again.”
“But how can we be sure?” Harper’s face filled with conflicted emotion. “I can’t ask you to kill him, but I don’t know if he’ll stop otherwise.”
“Of course you wouldn’t ask for your father’s death, sweet. You’re a kind person, and that isn’t something I’d expect you to want, even if the man deserves it. But I don’t think I need to kill him to ensure he leaves you alone.”
“No?”
Ash smiled. Putting Harper’s father in his place would calm the anger building inside him. “He’ll be surprised to find one demon at your side, let alone three. Surely, threatening him would be enough to make him run and hide.”
Harper bit his lip. “He might not be that surprised.”
“Why not? Even if he’s well-educated in magical history, we’re more legend than real to most witches.”
“True.” Harper shifted so he was facing Ash, bracing against his chest. “But not to my coven.” He averted his eyes. “Supposedly, the Nightingales are descended from Lucifer, and my father is pretty serious about serving him. He made it his mission to find you and your brothers. He suspected you lived in Shearwater Landing a long time ago and sent me to search the city’s stone memory.”
Ash’s whole body tensed.
Harper’s gaze darted to Ash’s and caught his rigid posture. “I was never going to tell him if I found you. I was failing at mysearch anyway, and being sent here was the only reason I was finally able to escape.”
“Your coven is the one hunting us?” Ash was having trouble processing. What were the odds of that?
“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you sooner.” Harper’s hands flexed on Ash’s chest. “My plan was to warn you and the other demons if I found you and ensure my coven never found out anything about you. I wasn’t letting them get any more power. I promise.”
Ash relaxed, his shock dissolving. Harper’s fear kept him guarded, and Ash would never hold that against him.
“I can see why you didn’t tell me right away. I’m only beginning to understand what you were running from, and I wouldn’t expect someone in your position to trust blindly. But what do you mean by letting your coven get more power? How would finding us help them achieve that?”
If Harper’s coven had been planning to slay Ash and his brothers for the magic in their demon blood, Ash didn’t think he could stop Onyx and Dante from killing the Nightingales.
“My father planned to hand you over to Lucifer and hoped to gain favor and power for being such a good servant.” Harper wrinkled his nose. “I’d never have let that happen. I was only ever looking for you to warn you. I swear.”
Ash ran a hand through Harper’s hair. “Of course you wanted to warn us. You’re kind, Harper. You’d do nothing less. You’ve been fighting against your father your whole life. You’d never choose to serve him.”
“Thank you for believing me,” Harper murmured. “I wish I’d trusted you sooner.”
“Don’t worry about it. You were being smart.” Ash cupped Harper’s cheek. “I’m just happy I’ve finally won you over. It feels like quite an accomplishment.”
Harper tried to bite back a smile but didn’t quite manage.
Ash rubbed his hands up and down Harper’s back. “How’d you escape? You said your coven isn’t in Shearwater Landing?”
Harper rested his chin on his hands and told Ash how he grew up on a remote compound in the Colorado mountains. His upbringing made Ash’s demon fire burn with rage, but it also showed him how strong and resilient his flower was. Harper told Ash how he planned his escape for months. He’d been more careful and patient than Ash ever could have been.
Ash couldn’t imagine facing his future with anyone else. Harper would be a rock by Ash’s side.
“You’ve accomplished so much on your own, Harper, but you aren’t alone anymore. When you need to face something, I’ll be right there with you. You only have to ask.”
“Thank you.” Harper’s hands clenched, then relaxed. The rest of his muscles seemed to follow, a small shiver coursing through him.
“How did your coven plan on handing us over?” It was almost harder to capture a demon alive than to kill one. Not much on Earth could hold them.
Harper frowned. “I don’t know. It’s one of the holes in my father’s plan. He liked to imply he had a connection to Lucifer, but I think he was lying. I don’t know how he planned to relay your location. I doubt Lucifer responds to séances.”
A sharp laugh escaped Ash. “No, he definitely doesn’t.” At least that was good news. The Nightingales didn’t seem like a strong threat, except to Harper.
“What happened?” Harper hesitated, curiosity shaping his face. “I mean, I know demons fell to Earth in a rebellion, but how did Lucifer become someone you needed to escape? Weren’t you all on the same side? Why are all the demons in Hell and not on Earth like they used to be?”
