“You’ve overstepped a few times since McCauley came to stay here,” Knox added. “They were minor slips, so I overlooked them. It appears that I shouldn’t have.”
Linda’s eyes darted from Knox to Wyatt and back again, but her mate didn’t speak up for her. “I’m sorry. Truly. I’m just a little emotional right now. He’s just a boy. I want to protect him, as any mother should – biological or adopted.”
“I never once led you to believe that McCauley would stay here permanently.”
Her mouth fell open in surprise. “He’s happy here.”
“Happy?” echoed Harper, frowning. “What makes you think so?”
Linda licked her lips. “He’s settled. He’s content. Tell them, Wyatt.” But Wyatt didn’t. He looked at the floor, clearly knowing better than to lie to his Primes.
Knox stared at Linda. “You truly believe that you have a bond with McCauley?”
“It was slow coming but, yes, I believe we’re starting to connect.”
“Then you’re in danger. Surely you’ve noticed that McCauley’s behavior is not normal.” Seeing that she was about to object, Knox snapped, “Don’t try bullshitting me, Linda. Open your fucking eyes. He is nothing like your average child, not even a traumatized child.”
“He has trouble connecting with others, yes, but should we really expect anything else? His biological mother gave him away, and his human mother both neglected and tried to kill him.”
“Yes, neither of his mothers were there for him,” said Knox. “From what I understand, his human father was no better. So, taking into account the behavior he displays, who do think stepped in and raised him?”
The implication sank in, and Linda shook her head sadly.
“Maybe you’re right and McCauley isn’t dangerous, but his demon is. And I think his demon wants rid of anyone it believes is a threat to its parental role. You and Wyatt are threats.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “But he hasn’t tried to hurt us.”
“Really? Not once.”
Her eyes slid away. “They were accidents.”
“He burned her hand with hellfire when she tried to stroke his hair,” Wyatt said. “He shoved her hard when she once tried to kiss him. Just yesterday, she tumbled down the stairs mere moments after he growled at her to get out of his room.”
“It was his demon, not him,” Linda insisted.
“Which supports my point.” Knox stepped forward. “You want a child, Linda? There are plenty out there who need a home and would accept and return the love you have to offer. McCauley can’t be that child for you. If you were honest, you would admit that you don’t love him; you love the idea of having a child.”
Squeezing her eyes closed, Linda said nothing. Finally, she opened them. The denial had been replaced by a sad acceptance. “Where will you take him?”
“It’s best that you don’t know that,” Harper told her.
Flicking a look at Harper’s rounded stomach, she said, “If he’s really a danger, I don’t think it would be a good idea for him to stay with you.”
No, neither did Harper. “He won’t be staying with us.”
Linda swallowed. “I’ll go to him, explain what’s happening, and pack him a bag.”
Knox nodded. “Go with her, Wyatt.”
“No, please, I’d like some private time with him to say goodbye.”
Knox inclined his head, and she scurried out the room.
Harper’s brow pinched as she sensed Knox telepathically chatting with someone. When it seemed to have ended, she asked, Who was that?
Larkin, Knox replied. I was checking that she was nearly here. We need her to give McCauley a ride to his new home. Knox didn’t want the cambion around Harper.
Wyatt rubbed at his forehead. “I know this is the right thing to do for everyone, so why do I feel like a bastard?”
“Because he’s six years old,” said Harper. “And you have a heart.”
It was a good ten minutes before Linda and McCauley returned to the kitchen. Linda appeared hesitant and sad. McCauley seemed to be completely unaffected.
Wyatt crouched down to him. “Hey, buddy. It’s a real shame that you have to leave. If you tell us that you’re happy here, we can sort something out and you can stay.” But McCauley didn’t say a word, so Wyatt nodded and added, “Wherever you go, take some time to decide whether you’d like to come back here. You’ll be welcome if you do. Take care of yourself.”
Linda helped the boy slip on his coat and then handed a rucksack to Knox. “Here’s his bag. I packed some clothes and things.”
“Thank you,” said Knox. “I’m sorry it has to be this way, but it’s necessary.”
Linda rubbed her arm. “I know, I just wish it wasn’t.”
Knox gestured for Levi to leave the house first. McCauley easily followed the sentinel outside without even a backward look at Linda or Wyatt. Linking his fingers with Harper’s, Knox led her down the path with Tanner close behind them.
Larkin was stood near an SUV where a few members of the force were waiting, having responded to Knox’s summons. Is everything all right? she asked.
Yes. I need you to take McCauley to Elena and Andre’s house. They’re expecting him. Knox then turned to McCauley. “This is Larkin, one of my sentinels. She will take you to a house not far from here. It’s a place where many children stay who have no family to care for them. You’ll have your own room, and you’ll be safe there. Harper and I will keep an eye on you, make sure things are going well for you. Does that sound good?”
“Yes, sir,” replied McCauley with no emotion whatsoever.
“You’ll only be brought back here if you decide that it’s what you want.” Knox wanted McCauley and his demon to understand that Linda and Wyatt wouldn’t push for him to return, just in case the demon viewed them as a threat.
McCauley nodded and then hopped into the SUV with Larkin.
Harper waved to McCauley as the SUV drove away, and he gave her the slightest wave. She turned to Knox. “You arranged this with Elena and Andre in advance?”
Knox nodded. “When you pointed out that the demon could be eliminating threats to its role, I knew I had to get him out of there.”
“You think he’ll be okay with them?”
“Neither Elena or Andre will try to ‘parent’ him, so the demon shouldn’t see them as competition. They’re used to difficult children, and they’re both powerful enough to ensure that McCauley causes no harm to himself or anyone there.” Knox waited until they were inside the Bentley before he added, “He touched your mind?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t a shy touch, either. It was bold, deliberately rude.”
“As if he was provoking you?”
“I got the feeling it was more like he was testing me.” But Harper had no idea what the test was supposed to be.
“His demon thinks you won’t harm him.”
Harper snorted. “It’s wrong. If the kid was any threat to me or mine, I’d disable him, no matter what it took. Considering I have an unborn child to protect, no one would blame me for it.” Not even Lou, despite his law that no child of any species should be hurt.
Knox laid a hand on her stomach. “Our child isn’t bad.”
“I know that, but McCauley’s demon seems determined to make him believe that everyone around him is a threat.”