was going to try to take him out.”
Khloé had heard as much from her twin. “He didn’t speak to Knox for, like, two weeks. I asked why. He just said he felt that Knox could have done more to save me. I think Keenan just felt guilty for not getting to me earlier and he needed someone else to blame.”
“I don’t know. Your incubus doesn’t seem like the kind of person who’d point the finger at someone else if he knew the guilt belonged to him.”
True, but it was the explanation she gave to anyone who questioned her about it. Truly, she wasn’t entirely sure why Keenan felt the Prime could have done “more,” but she hadn’t pushed him on it, sensing there were certain things the sentinels were forbidden to share with anyone—even their mates.
Khloé wasn’t mad about it. She understood that some secrets just weren’t his to share, and she liked that he had such integrity. His loyalty was still primarily to her, and that was what counted.
Besides, she’d be a damn hypocrite to whine at him for keeping secrets when she, too, was required to keep secrets from people she cared for and trusted. Not from Keenan, though—he knew all about little Asher and what he’d done to Lane. Of course, Harper and Knox had spun the story and claimed to others that Enoch had purged Lane of his powers—something people had bought, considering Lazarus demons specialized in death and destruction.
Harper and Knox had been shocked to hear how Asher and his demon had come to Khloé’s aid. If she wasn’t mistaken, it scared the couple that he was so powerful—especially since people would seek to destroy him while he was young and vulnerable if they considered him enough of a threat.
Understanding why they were so intent on protecting Asher’s secrets, Khloé, Ciaran, and Jolene had consented to having the memories of what he’d done erased or adjusted. It hadn’t worked on Khloé, though. Probably because it was difficult to manipulate the minds of those who specialized in mind control themselves.
Neither Knox nor Harper had panicked about that, though—they trusted that she’d never betray her little dude. They only worried that someone could pluck Asher’s secrets from her brain.
At this point, Khloé was pretty sure the kid was no sphinx, but she hadn’t asked for confirmation of that, just as she hadn’t pushed to find out what breed of demon Knox was. There were some things a person was simply better off not knowing.
As for little Lane, Knox’s Force had found and returned him to the Prime. Despite that his anger with Thea was still fresh, Keenan had ensured that Lane wouldn’t pay for her sins and had placed the boy with a good foster family within their lair, refusing to put him in a home for demonic children.
Lane seemed to be doing as well as could be expected. His gifts hadn’t returned, which meant that Asher truly had extinguished Lane’s personal stock of power. And that was just damn frightening.
“Careful you don’t trip,” Teague said to her when her heel sank into the soil.
“Fuck off, Batman,” Ciaran muttered, still sleeping.
“Should we wake him?” asked Teague.
She flapped a hand. “Nah, he’s fine there.”
“What about Beck? I don’t know how someone can fall asleep in a sandbox, but it can’t be a good thing.”
“He’ll be okay.”
The tall, prickly grass brushed her ankles as they crossed the yard and headed inside. The scents of alcohol, perfume, pizza and other various foods hit her hard. She’d only taken two steps when she noticed Keenan edging his way through the traffic of people near the fridge. His expression softened when he spotted her, and she couldn’t help but smile at that.
Stalking toward her, he exchanged a brief greeting with Teague, who then walked away and left them alone. Keenan pulled her close, his mouth twitching. “Are you blitzed?”
“Nope, I’m Khloé. You should know this already.”
“Did you know that you have a piece of popcorn stuck to your forehead?”
She blinked. “It’s still there? Wow.”
He flicked it off and then pressed a kiss to her mouth. “You took too long to come back to me,” he complained, tucking her hair behind her ear.
“I was gone for, like, ten minutes.”
“You know I miss you when you’re not with me.”
She snorted. “What I know is that you like to have me in your sight at all times to reassure yourself that I’m fine.”
“That, too.” He raked his gaze over her, and his eyes grew heated.