Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon

"You need me to make this deal, right? After all, your mind games and trickery with Knox forced him to agree." I asked, dismissing his comment with a challenge of my own. Daring him to contest my statement. "Consent is consent." Astaroth shrugged, unbothered by my accusations. I lifted my chin defiantly to meet Astaroth's gaze. His laughter cut through the silence like a knife, each offence and insult a reminder of the power he held over us.

For now!

"Is she always this feisty?" Astaroth asked Knox, but his eyes remained glued on me.

"Yes!" Knox replied quickly, his tone laced with entertainment, a smile twisted the corners of my lips, loving that even in our darkest moments he could make my stomach flutter with excitement. 21 suggest you answer her question, big guy!" Knox added with a grunt, yet still Astaroth's eyes remained glued on mine.

"I need you to agree, yes." Astaroth responded, his eyes narrowed on me as he delved into my mind, his large form drawing nearer, his presence so suffocating, I instinctively stepped back, a silent plea for him to stay away. But Chase lay at my feet, his still form a stark reminder of the vulnerability that surrounded us.

"Why?" I asked as I refused to surrender to despair. "Why not Kane? He is just as protective as Knox. Do you really think he won't have something to say about who his daughter mates?" I asked with determination.

"He is.."

"It doesn't matter!" I growled, cutting him off. "Because what you fail to understand is that we are a family!" I snapped, my eyes raised to meet Knox's, only then realising that he had edged closer to Astaroth, who seemed oblivious.

But Knox's intentions were clear to me.

Attack!

"That is a mistake," I boomed, at Astaroth, but it got Knox's attention, his motions paused momentarily to look at me. Those big blue eyes I adored Were filled with anger, and not because of Havoc. It was all him. Levetting my eyes on my mate in a silent plea not to do anything stupid, let out a breath seeing his movements falter as his eyes lingered on mine filled with

surrender.

"Do you think it really matters to us who her biological father is?" Knox asked Astaroth, when a smile split Astaroth's lips, and he dismissed Knox with a wave of his hand without even looking at him. I continued, confident my mate would behave given the slight - for now!

"We will be a team!" I barked over Astaroth's laughter. My eyes flicked to Kane needing to check on him, because his breathing had become so slow it was making me nervous. Knox, sensing my fears, nodded his face tight with anger as he headed over to Kane, letting me deal with the demon who it seemed only

cared for what I had to say anyway.

"We WILL make decisions as a family, we WILL raise our children as a family! Make no mistake, Kane WILL be just as involved as Knox and I. There will be no, his and his! Just OURS!" I stated with firmness.

"Is that so?" Astaroth laughed

bitterly, the sound losing its charm, sounding more like nails on a chalkboard than the enchanting lure it had been when I arrived. I could see there was more he wanted to say, more he wanted to share with

us, No doubt only to with our

heads further than he already was.

"Say it beast," I growled, my eyes flickering to where Knox was lifting Kane's chin as he hung on the wall, Knox's eyes filled with concern for his brother only making me more anxious and nervous. I had to get them out of this place. And fast.

"From the glimpse of the future I have seen, Kane will be team... Beast!" Astaroth smugly grinned. "So you see, I do not need his consent, I know he will freely give it, in fact, he will beg me to court her." He added with a wink that sent a chill through my blood.