Their Secret Obsession (A Reverse Harem) by Pippa Moon

"Or what?" I laughed, shaking my head. "Are you going to hurt me? We have already established that I carry the child you want so badly."

"Badly?" He asked, stepping closer, the darkness following him like a cloak. "You have a high opinion of yourself. Your 'father' did too, and look where he is now. Maybe you should dial it down a tad, honey."

"I am not wrong though, am I?" I nodded, deciding to call his bluff and ignore his snarky comments. I wasn't my father! When his thin lips pursed, I snorted and nodded. "I thought so."

"I don't need you, just what you carry. Perhaps it is wise to remember that." He laughed, but the confident edge to his tone was gone.

"And you think any daughter of mine, with my blood raised with my morals, would want to be with a man.. Or a demon... who had hurt her family.. Her mother?" I asked plainly, my lips curling seeing my words sink. "Who is to say she would know?" He countered, his confidence still wavering.

"What the fuck does that mean?" Knox snarled, but I held my hand out to him, needing him to stay with Kane until I knew we were all safe.

"The truth always comes out in the end... something you should consider.." I announced to silence Astaroth's reply, out of fear he would only rile Knox up further.

"What is that meant to mean?" He barked his tone just as angered as Knox's when he had asked. Shrugging, I ignored him as he narrowed his eyes at me, enraged.

"It means I will agree to consider your request. And have an answer for you by 3 pm. That gives us time to listen to your master plan and put the wheels into motion. If we agree!"

"I sense a BUT..."

"But..." I grinned, popping the T. "You heal Chase. He has nothing to do with our drama. He is innocent in this." I bartered firmly.

"Doesn't he?" He asked, shaking my head, reminding myself that he was fond of casting doubt and causing chaos.

"Then, you will heal Kane and release him!" I added with a firmness that I hoped came across as confidence.

"Full of requests... Aren't we?" He laughed, but the smugness was almost gone.

"They are not requests.. They are conditions," I replied, coldly.

"I could just kill you all.. Sounds like a lot less work." He replied with just as much coldness coating his words, but his eyes gave him away.

"Go for it.. But with it, you kill this love you have been harping on about."

"Is that everything?" He asked, not replying to my challenge with a heavy sigh, relenting in his threat, giving away more than I am sure he hoped.

"No. You will agree not to lay a hand on my mates, my family or theirs again." I stated, my eyes holding his steady gaze. "There will be no compromise on this." "Will I?"

"Yes! And that includes your magical

bullshit... No harm is to come to them from you! Or anyone

associated with you. If it does, then I will take my chances with the Moon Goddess."

"You think she is better than me?"

"No, I think she is just as cunning and manipulative. But at least she has been honest with me so far. She hasn't played games... I know where I stand with her. Can't say the same for you, can I?"

"You really think that?" Knox asked, his shock obvious.

"I can tell you now, she will do everything in her power to stop your children from being born..."

"Why?" I asked, not wanting to

believe him, but something about the way his eyes pinched and the curve of his lip told me that he was

just as scared as us that som

would come to the pups I carried.

QUMS

"A child with powers and abilities like your daughter will have... Could only be seen as one thing in her eyes."

"A threat!" Kane answered, his unwavering voice getting our attention. "She will be a threat!"