Knox nodded. “But it’s never been arrogant. If it believes that Asher doesn’t need our protection as much as we think he does, I’m inclined to trust its judgment.” That didn’t mean Knox wouldn’t still worry or be as overprotective as ever.
As Knox’s phone vibrated on the table, Asher blinked. “Ooh.” And then the phone disappeared in a spurt of fire and reappeared in Asher’s flaming hand. The ooh sound usually meant he’d seen something he liked, and that same something often appeared in his little hand.
“Asher,” Knox gently complained as he pried the phone out of his son’s grip. Asher frowned but then just shoved his foot back in his mouth.
“At least he didn’t dump your phone in his porridge this time,” said Harper.
“He probably would have done if he hadn’t already flung the bowl away.”
“Yeah, probably.”
But she was right—it was hard to be mad at anything that cute. Knox ruffled his hair. “It’s the Wallis in you.”
Harper frowned. “You can’t blame my family’s blood every time he misbehaves.”
“Sure I can.”
At that moment, Meg walked in, shook her head at the sight of the spoon on the floor, and picked it up. “Did you enjoy your porridge?” she asked Asher, who was too busy gnawing on his foot to pay her any attention.
“Thanks for the omelet and toast, Meg.” Standing, Knox shrugged on the jacket of his black suit. “Unfortunately, I have to leave now.” Crossing to Harper, he kissed her. “I shouldn’t be home late, but I’ll let you know if I will be.”
Harper plucked Asher out of the highchair. “Come on, let’s go wave bye to Daddy.” With Asher balanced on her hip, she followed Knox to the foyer. As he curled an arm around her, she melted against him and smoothed a hand down his shirt. “I’ll miss you.”
“Good. It’s only fair, since I’ll miss you.” He kissed her again, indulging in a long, thorough taste of her. “Stay safe.” He planted a kiss on his son’s cheek. “Be good for your mom.”
Predictably, Asher blew bubbles at him.
Harper walked out onto the stone step and tipped her chin at Levi, who opened the Bentley’s rear door for Knox. Noticing that Asher was waving, she smiled. But then she saw that he wasn’t waving at Levi or Knox. He was waving at something much higher up. “What is it, little man?” She tracked his gaze and grimaced. “Oh. More crows.” There were at least five perched on the branches of a nearby tree. “Delightful.”
Harper spent the next few hours with Asher—bathing him, dressing him, and then feeding him a slightly early lunch … after which she needed to change him again, since he’d gotten puree all over himself.
Shortly after that, Tanner and Keenan arrived, just as she’d arranged.
In the living room, Keenan took Asher in his arms. “Wipe that anxiety off your face, Harper, he’ll be fine here with me.”
She forced a smile. “I won’t be gone long.” She pressed a long, noisy kiss to Asher’s cheek and then waved. “Bye. Be good for Uncle Keenan.” He didn’t wave back. His little face scrunched up in a way that made Tanner chuckle.
With one last wave at Asher, Harper turned and followed Tanner out of the room, down the hallway, through the foyer, and—
Something yanked her wrist, making her stumble backwards so fast she lost her footing. Landing awkwardly on her ass on the foyer hardwood floor, she hissed.
Tanner blinked down at her. “Damn, you okay?”
“No, I’m not,” she clipped, scrambling to stand up. She spun, scanning the foyer, her heart pounding. Surely the incorporeal hadn’t managed to get inside. Not with the amount of preternatural security measures in place. “Something just fucking grabbed me.”
“Grabbed you?” echoed Tanner, muscles bunching.
At that moment, Keenan came striding toward them with Asher still in his arms. “What’s the hold up?” He frowned at Harper. “Why are you rubbing your butt?”
“Get Asher in the living room, someone just—”
“What’s that?” asked Tanner.
Her head whipped to face him. “What? What do you see?” He was looking at her wrist.
Gently, Tanner lifted her hand to study it. “What is that?”
“What’s what?” Because she didn’t see anything. But then he angled her hand a certain way so that the sunlight shone right on it … and she frowned. “What is that?” It looked like partly translucent string was wrapped around her wrist. She touched it, half-expecting not to feel anything. But it was like she’d skimmed her fingertip over cold metal. “No, seriously, what is that?”
Tanner released her and stepped back. “Try leaving.”
Moving more slowly this time, she stepped outside. No problem. She kept walking, descending the stone steps nice and slow. One. Two. Three. Four—
And then she was pulled backwards again. No, not pulled, she realized. It was more like she was straining against a leash. Stomping back into the foyer, she shut the front door. “Is this supposed to be a cuff or something?” If Knox had done this to keep her home, she was so going to kill him.
Rubbing his jaw, Tanner replied, “I think so.”
Keenan stepped forward to get a good look at her wrist. “The question is … what are you cuffed to?”
“Or who are you cuffed to?” Tanner made a speculative noise and then turned to Asher, who was chewing on his thumb while studying the pretty, freshly cut flowers on the circular table. “Let’s take a look at those wrists, little man.”
Harper snickered. “You can’t think he did it, Tanner, he’s just a—oh, my God.” She felt the blood drain from her face. On his little wrist was a thin cuff identical to hers. Holding his chubby hand, she touched the cuff. Cold metal. “Asher,” she drawled, pointing at her own cuff. “Take it off.” He didn’t; he tried reaching for her hair instead. She gave him her stern, “I mean business” look, and he mimicked her perfectly.
Tanner pointed at the other side of the foyer. “Harper, stand over there. I want to walk between you and Asher and see if anything tangible is actually linking the cuffs.”
She did as he asked and then watched as the sentinel easily strode between them.
He shook his head. “Nothing.”
Crossing to him, she pursed her lips. “So the cuffs don’t have any links?”
“No,” he replied. “I’d say the only thing linking them is power.”
“Meaning they’re psychic constructs. It’s more that he’s linked our psyches than that he’s linked our bodies.” Harper shook her head at Asher, but he was too busy twisting Keenan’s nose to even notice her look of reprimand.
“I don’t think he meant to shackle you to him,” said Keenan, eyes dancing with humor. “I think he just doesn’t want you to leave him. Couple that with all the power that lives in him and, well, this was the result.”
Thrusting her hand into her hair, Harper blew out a breath. Knox, our son has cuffed me to him. And no, I’m not kidding.
Knox’s psychic taste poured into her as his mind touched hers. Cuffed how?
I don’t know. But we’re both wearing thin, barely visible cuffs that feel like metal. There’s nothing physical linking the cuffs, but I can’t move far from Asher without being yanked back toward him.
She had the impression of pure male amusement and even a hint of pride. Apparently, he doesn’t want to be left behind.
Her lips thinned. How can you find this amusing?
If our positions were reversed, you’d be laughing your pretty little ass off.
Yeah, okay, she would. How do I get them off?