Stolen Moments, Stolen Power

Harper Wallis, now co-Prime of a powerful demon lair with her mate Knox Thorne, is adjusting to life as a mother to Asher, a uniquely gifted demonic child. Their world is one of power, politics, and constant threat, but also of deep, sometimes volatile love. The story opens with domestic banter and the ever-present tension of being targets due to their status and Asher's potential. Harper's family of imps, her sentinels, and Knox's overprotective nature form a web of support and friction. The narrative quickly establishes that in this world, love and power are inseparable, and every moment of peace is hard-won and fragile.

Tea Party Turmoil

At a seemingly innocent family tea party, Harper's son Asher is nearly abducted by a demon who takes Harper's form. The attack is swift and terrifying, revealing that Asher is the true target of powerful enemies. Harper's maternal instincts and demonic powers save her son, but the incident exposes the vulnerability of even the most protected. The event is a catalyst, setting off a chain of investigations and reprisals, and highlighting the ever-present danger that comes with power and parenthood in the demon world.

The Doppelgänger Attack

The failed abduction attempt is revealed to be the work of an incorporeal demon—an entity that can possess bodies and mimic forms. The attack leaves Harper shaken and guilt-ridden, questioning her ability to protect Asher. Knox's rage is barely contained, and the couple's psychic and emotional bond is tested as they process the trauma. The incident also exposes the limitations of their power and the cunning of their enemies, who are willing to use any means to get to Asher.

Aftershocks and Anchors

In the aftermath, Harper and Knox struggle with guilt and blame, both internal and external. Their relationship is both a source of strength and a crucible for their fears. The concept of anchors—psychic partners who stabilize demons—is explored, showing how these bonds can be both empowering and suffocating. The couple's ability to work together, forgive, and trust each other becomes their greatest weapon against the threats they face.

Incorporeal Threats

The investigation reveals that the attacker was an incorporeal demon, freed from a collector's vault by Alethea, a former rival. This entity is nearly impossible to kill and can possess any host, making it a terrifying adversary. The incorporeal's motives are unclear, but its interest in Asher suggests a larger, more sinister plot. The lair mobilizes, and alliances are tested as the threat escalates from personal vendetta to existential danger.

The Fourth Horseman Revealed

A chilling video surfaces, revealing the existence of the fourth Horseman—a shadowy figure orchestrating attacks on the Primes, the ruling demons. The Horseman's message is clear: the Primes must fall, and Knox is the first target. The revelation that Alethea was involved, and possibly killed, adds layers of betrayal and urgency. The lair braces for war, knowing that the enemy is both powerful and intimately familiar with their weaknesses.

Family, Friends, and Foes

As the investigation deepens, Harper's relationships with her family and friends are strained. Drew, a childhood friend and former crush, reappears, complicating matters with jealousy and unresolved feelings. The sentinels, anchors, and lair members are all drawn into the conflict, revealing hidden agendas and old wounds. The lines between friend and foe blur, and Harper must navigate a minefield of loyalty, love, and suspicion.

The Cage and the Child

Asher's powers grow, and he unconsciously binds Harper to him, revealing abilities beyond those of a typical demon child. The lair's enemies close in, and Harper is forced to take Asher out of the safety of the estate. The threat of the incorporeal looms, and the lair's defenses are tested. The bond between mother and child, and between Harper and Knox, is both a shield and a vulnerability.

The Truth About Asher

The search for the Horseman leads to the discovery of a hidden basement where victims were sacrificed to empower the incorporeal. Tanner, the hellhound, identifies Drew's scent, implicating him in the conspiracy. But the true revelation is about Asher: he is not a sphinx, as everyone believed, but an Anubis—a rare and feared breed capable of harvesting souls and commanding death omens. This truth changes everything, forcing Harper and Knox to confront the reality of their son's destiny and the dangers it brings.

The Final Confrontation

The Horseman's identity is revealed as Jonas, a Prime with a vendetta rooted in childhood trauma and a desire for chaos. Alethea, thought dead, is alive and complicit. In a climactic battle in the rainforest, Harper and Knox face Jonas, Alethea, the incorporeal, and their minions. Asher's Anubis powers manifest, turning the tide. The incorporeal is destroyed, and the siblings are captured, but not before Harper and Knox are pushed to their limits—physically, emotionally, and morally.

The Chamber of Retribution

Jonas and Alethea are imprisoned in Knox's Chamber, a place of torture and retribution. Harper, once seen as the softer half of the ruling pair, exacts her own brand of justice, sending a message to all who would threaten her family. The lair and the wider demon world are put on notice: the cost of targeting Asher or challenging Knox and Harper is agony and annihilation. The couple's unity and ruthlessness are now legend.

Healing, Home, and Hope

With the immediate threats vanquished, Harper and Knox turn to healing—both their wounds and their relationship. Guilt, anger, and the trauma of battle linger, but their love endures. Asher's true nature is accepted, and the family begins to find a new equilibrium. Old friendships are mended, and the lair settles into a wary peace, knowing that danger is never far away.

A New Kind of Family

The lair's dynamics shift as new alliances are forged and old rivalries are put to rest. Harper's acceptance of Asher's Anubis nature, and the sentinels' loyalty, create a new kind of family—one built on trust, resilience, and shared purpose. The couple's leadership is solidified, and their love, tested by fire, emerges stronger than ever.

The Party and the Future

The story closes with a family party, a symbol of survival and hope. Asher's powers are now a source of pride and amusement, and the lair's members—imps, sentinels, and even the devil himself—gather in celebration. Harper and Knox, scarred but unbroken, look to the future with determination. The message is clear: love, family, and power are inseparable, and together, they can face whatever darkness comes next.

Characters

Harper Wallis

Harper is the emotional and moral center of the story—a sphinx demon with a traumatic past, a sharp tongue, and a fiercely protective nature. Her journey is one of self-acceptance, as she learns to balance her roles as mother, mate, and leader. Her relationship with Knox is both a source of strength and a crucible for her insecurities. Harper's greatest fear is failing those she loves, and her greatest strength is her refusal to back down, even when outmatched. Her development is marked by increasing ruthlessness, tempered by compassion, and a willingness to embrace the darkness within herself for the sake of her family.

Knox Thorne

Knox is the most powerful demon in existence, an archdemon who rules through fear, charisma, and an iron will. His love for Harper and Asher is both his greatest vulnerability and his greatest source of power. Psychologically, Knox is driven by a need for control, shaped by a traumatic childhood and a lifetime of isolation. His relationship with Harper softens his edges but also exposes his deepest fears. Knox's journey is one of learning to trust, to share power, and to accept that love does not make him weak—it makes him unstoppable.

Asher Thorne

Asher is the catalyst for much of the story's conflict—a child whose powers are unprecedented and whose true nature is a mystery until the climax. As an Anubis, he is both a symbol of hope and a harbinger of fear. His innocence and charm win over even the most hardened demons, but his abilities make him a target. Asher's development is subtle, marked by the gradual emergence of his powers and the deepening of his bond with his parents.

Jolene Wallis

Jolene is Harper's grandmother and the head of the Wallis imp clan. She is cunning, fiercely loyal, and unafraid to bend or break the rules to protect her family. Jolene's relationship with Harper is complex—part mentor, part antagonist, always challenging her to be stronger. She represents the chaotic, unpredictable side of family, and her influence is felt in every major decision Harper makes.

Drew Clarke

Drew is a hellcat demon, Harper's childhood friend, and a source of jealousy and conflict for Knox. His inability to act on his feelings for Harper leads to regret and poor decisions, making him both a victim and a potential villain. Drew's arc is one of self-realization and redemption, as he ultimately chooses to help Harper, even at great personal cost.

Alethea

Alethea is a sex demon with a long history with Knox and a deep-seated resentment toward Harper. Her involvement in the Horsemen's plot is driven by jealousy, ambition, and old wounds. Alethea is both a victim of her past and an architect of her own downfall, embodying the dangers of unchecked desire and the corrosive power of envy.

Jonas

Jonas is revealed as the fourth Horseman, a Prime whose childhood trauma and thirst for vengeance drive him to orchestrate chaos. His psychological complexity lies in his ability to justify cruelty as justice, and his willingness to sacrifice anyone—including his own sister—for his goals. Jonas is both a cautionary tale and a formidable adversary, embodying the story's themes of power, pain, and the cost of revenge.

The Incorporeal

The incorporeal is less a character than a force of nature—a demon that can possess any host, mimic any form, and is nearly impossible to kill. It represents the ultimate fear: an enemy that cannot be seen, predicted, or easily destroyed. Its presence forces the protagonists to confront their own limitations and the fragility of their safety.

The Sentinels (Tanner, Keenan, Larkin, Levi)

The sentinels are more than bodyguards—they are family, friends, and the backbone of the lair's defense. Each has a distinct personality: Tanner the loyal hellhound, Keenan the incubus with a soft spot for chaos, Larkin the harpy with sharp instincts, and Levi the reaper with a dark sense of humor. Their loyalty to Harper and Knox is unwavering, and their development is tied to the evolving dynamics of the lair.

Lou

Lou is the literal devil, a being of immense power and unpredictable motives. He is both a source of wisdom and chaos, offering guidance, mischief, and occasional protection. Lou's relationship with Harper and Asher is oddly affectionate, and his presence serves as a reminder that in this world, even the devil can be family.

Plot Devices

Psychic Bonds and Anchors

The narrative is structured around the concept of psychic anchors—demons who are psychically and emotionally bound, stabilizing each other's powers and inner demons. This device allows for deep exploration of intimacy, trust, and the double-edged nature of dependence. The anchor bond is both a source of power and a potential weakness, as enemies seek to exploit these connections.

The Incorporeal and Possession

The incorporeal demon is a classic horror device, representing the fear of the unseen and the uncontrollable. Its ability to possess any host creates paranoia and forces the protagonists to question every ally and every moment of safety. The incorporeal's presence escalates the stakes and drives the plot toward its explosive climax.

The Horsemen Conspiracy

The Horsemen serve as the story's central mystery and primary antagonists. Their conspiracy is revealed through a series of attacks, betrayals, and revelations, using foreshadowing and red herrings to keep the reader guessing. The eventual unmasking of Jonas and Alethea as the masterminds ties together the personal and political threads of the narrative.

Family and Found Family

The story uses the motif of family—both biological and chosen—to explore themes of loyalty, betrayal, and redemption. Harper's relationships with her grandmother, friends, and sentinels are as important as her romance with Knox, creating a rich tapestry of connections that both support and complicate her journey.

Power, Control, and Vulnerability

Throughout the narrative, power is both a blessing and a curse. The characters' abilities are sources of pride and protection, but also targets for envy and fear. The plot repeatedly forces the protagonists to confront their own vulnerabilities, whether through physical injury, emotional trauma, or the threat to their child.

Foreshadowing and Misdirection

The story is structured to keep the reader off-balance, using foreshadowing and misdirection to build suspense. The true nature of Asher, the identity of the Horseman, and the motives of key characters are all revealed gradually, with each twist recontextualizing earlier events and relationships.

Analysis

Embers is a high-octane, emotionally charged urban fantasy that explores the intersection of love, power, and vulnerability in a world where danger is both external and internal. Suzanne Wright uses the supernatural as a lens to examine very human fears: the terror of losing a child, the pain of betrayal, and the struggle to trust and be trusted. The book's central lesson is that true strength lies not in invulnerability, but in the willingness to fight for those you love—even when it means embracing your own darkness. The narrative's focus on family, both blood and chosen, underscores the idea that survival is a collective effort, and that love, when combined with power and ruthlessness, can be the ultimate weapon. In a modern context, Embers speaks to the anxieties of parenthood, the complexities of partnership, and the necessity of forging your own path in a world that is often hostile to difference. The story's blend of action, romance, and psychological depth makes it both a thrilling read and a meditation on what it means to be strong, to be vulnerable, and to belong.

Last updated: May 21, 2025