Goddess With a Blade

by Lauren Dane

  He stood, unfolding himself with effortless grace. Even as he paced, the power swirled around him.

  “Did you confront him?”

  “I’d received an official complaint and inquiry from the family of his intended. I came back to my rooms to speak with him, but he’d gone out. I’d planned to have him followed, but he was so stupidly in love, he led me straight to her. And you.”

  He paused a moment and looked back her way. “When I saw her, when I saw them together I knew why he’d done it. There was much love and devotion there. And then you. He knew what he’d done. Augusto asked me to spare you and I agreed. She, Belinda, made me give my word that I’d allow the witches to get at you when it was time. This was a difficult promise to make. But over time, as you grew and I could see just how powerful you’d become, I knew I was right to assent to that too.”

  She licked her lips before speaking, choosing her words carefully. “You’re The First, none question you. How could you kill him? You still didn’t get a child between his line and the other one. Killing him made no difference in the outcome.”

  “I am The First, but you lie to yourself if you think I don’t have to answer to anyone. We have rules. Those rules have protected us for thousands of years. That system of regulations has kept us safe for generation after generation and no one, least of all me, had the right to disobey. You know this. He took an oath and he broke it. Knowing the punishment for such an infraction. I had no choice but to do exactly what I did. He was an extraordinary man and I loved him very much. Don’t strip him of that strength and intelligence to paint him as a hopeless innocent, Rowan.”

  It was easier to think of them as star-crossed lovers who’d been innocents.

  “I knew one day you’d look at me with eyes filled with the dreadful knowledge of what I’d done. I made mistakes. Many of them over the millennia, but you were not one of them. I could not save them, but I could raise you in the tradition he was raised. I do not—will not—make excuses for what I did. And you have made me proud, even as you’ve torn my heart out. This is what it means to be a father.”

  Nothing else he could have said would have impacted her more. It was the longest speech he’d given her in decades. It wasn’t closure really, but that was impossible anyway. He gave her the story and in doing so, part of himself. As he had here and there over her life, he’d given her glimpses of his weak spots, trusting her to not exploit them.

  And while she’d left him and a part of her hated him, she never had used anything he’d given her so freely to harm him.

  “In any case, it is good to see you. Good to see how much power flows through you now. I expect to see more of you in the future. You are the Vessel, without a doubt. And a Hunter. But you are also my daughter. No matter how much you try to deny it.”

  He sat again and she knew he’d say no more about it. But what he had said was important.

  It would have been nice to have one simple and uncomplicated relationship in her life. But she had what she had and it was more than many others. Complicated and dark it might be, he did love her in the only way he could. Messed up as it was, she loved him in return, even if he remained alien to her in most ways.

  She handed him the plate of cookies and he took two, a smile lurking at his mouth for just a moment.

  “Tell me what it is you need.”

  She sipped as she gathered herself again and then told him about the situation. Laid it all out toward one goal, getting permission to tell Jack.

  He listened until she’d finished and she readied herself for the questions she knew he’d batter her with until he was satisfied.

  There was no denying he was brilliant. The ultimate predator. Dangerously intelligent. Provocative. He led her in a dance of his own choosing as he sailed his inquiries her way.

  But he’d taught her well. They’d danced this way before and she found it was rather like playing Monopoly—it came back to you.

  “You say yourself that he did not see any evidence of this human woman’s true descent into her substance addictions. This shows poor judgment. You said he was full of grief and anger. This shows an unbalanced emotional state. How can I in good conscience give this unbalanced, emotionally unstable police officer access to information that could bring harm to my people?”

  “He’s not stupid. He sees that these murders are supernatural. So far he’s pretending he doesn’t, but now that his woman has been taken, he won’t sway from the truth. He’ll have to know. It’ll become his holy mission.”

  “What is that to me?” He brushed lint from the front of his jeans.

  “I know a little something about holy missions. He will avenge her. And if that means he’ll expose you all and bring death to himself, he’ll do it. If that means losing his job and being hunted forever, he’ll do it. Give him the truth of it, let me share with him just how much is being done and I can diffuse him. I need the information he can give me.”

  He looked at her sideways and made a sound. “Is that so? You are unable to procure this information without him? How have you done this before? I’m told your investigative abilities are peerless. Are you telling me this is a lie?”

  She wrestled her annoyance.

  He rapped on the wall and Enzo poked his head in. “Send for the Scion. I’d hear what he has to say for himself.” Theo looked back to Rowan after he’d given the order.

  “I’m a good investigator and I have other avenues for information, as you well know. However, I’m involved openly here. I’ve been working closely with Jack on this case and he knows I’m not telling him everything. In this instance, his assistance is helpful. I could procure it elsewhere but that would take more time and invite more examination of me and who I work for.”

  “And think you I should care about that? About the Hunters being inconvenienced?”

  “You’d best care about the Vampire Nation being exposed once and for all and not at a moment of your choosing but as serial killers. Bloody fangs and torn-up human flesh. The treaty will be a small inconvenience compared to humans in a blood frenzy as they hunt you.” She poured herself another cup of tea. “It’s going to happen. Really it’s a matter of time. But we both know you’d be far better off coming out in a coordinated public-relations-friendly way instead of this.”

  “Finally you loosen up, petal. I’ve been waiting to see your sunny side shine through.” As she processed his silly comment, he turned toward the doorway. “Now, what think you, Scion?”

  Rowan didn’t look up. She sipped her tea and kept her breathing and heart rate even. She would not give either man the pleasure of getting to her. Or knowing it at any rate.

  In one easy movement, Clive went down to one knee and offered his throat. His suit didn’t even get mussed up when he did it. As always, it called her to muss him up just because. “It is a pleasure to have you here, Ovilius.” Ovilius, the Latin word for shepherd and the formal term of address from a Scion.

  Clive stood and moved to the chair next to Rowan’s. “Ms. Summerwaite.” He nodded and she blinked his way.

  “I believe the Hunter is correct. And if I might offer something to this discussion?” Clive waited for Theo’s nod before he went on. “I am of a similar opinion about this human Ms. Summerwaite speaks of. He is unstable. However, she is correct that in this particular situation sharing information with him could be crucial.”

  “You will be with her when she informs this human. If he makes any indications that he will share what he learns or that he cannot handle what he is told, you will wipe his memory of the information. And do be sure to impress just how dire the consequences should be if he exposes us. My lieutenants won’t leave a body for any humans to find.”

  Rowan used every bit of her discipline not to react. She got what she wanted, she needed to hold on to that. Even if Clive would be there, which would totally muck things up with Jack. She could still tell him and that was a win.

  Theo watched her carefully, waiting for any slip in her behav
ior and she’d give him none. At last he smiled and sat back. “Now, as to what you’ll do for me in return.” He steepled his fingers, bringing the urge to smile to her lips. He’d taken to that move after watching the Francis Ford Coppola Dracula movie. An inside joke between them.

  She waited, outwardly patient. He knew, of course, exactly what he planned to ask her for. Or rather tell her to do. He’d known before he’d arrived in Vegas. He’d probably planned this for years, just waiting for all the pieces to come together just so. It was why he was who he was.

  “I believe you are correct about the reality of exposure and our need to control such a thing rather than be known hand in hand with some event which places us in a negative light.”

  Rowan refreshed his tea and decided to confound Clive a little by making him a cup, as well. The surprise and then wary curiosity he wore on his features amused her.

  “I also believe, as do my advisors, that perhaps a closer alliance with the Hunter Corporation is in order. I don’t like the partner we must deal with. She bothers me and is generally unpleasant to look upon.” He sniffed and then sipped his tea. “We need more than a person to make complaints to. We want a true liaison who understands the world of the Vampire and the world of humans. From the perspective of an Other. You will be our liaison. This string of events only makes it more clear to us that as Others, we need to find ways to stand together. I’ve sent my formal request to the Joint Tribunal so you should expect to hear shortly.”

  Wonderful. The politics of such a move would be a pain in her ass. Celesse would be angry that Theo would have elevated Rowan’s status in such a way as to circumvent all her plans for her own people. They’d assent. After all, this sort of access to the Vampire Nation would be a coup.

  Moreover, it would make Rowan more powerful than all but the top few partners. Some of them would like that, and some would feel threatened. It would take a great deal of internal scuffling, but she’d be fine in the end. Still, it was a huge time suck. She’d need to seek Susan’s advice. Her mentor and chief protector would have useful advice.

  Rowan may not have been a Vampire by blood, but it was enough that she thought like one and because of that, she had zero doubt in her ability to weather this storm and come out stronger for it.

  Chapter Twenty

  “You’ll be quiet and let me explain the situation to Jack.”

  Clive made a face as he followed her into the elevator. “I don’t need your permission to speak.”

  “You do in my house. Jack is my friend. He’s suffering and I aim to help him through it. He doesn’t like you and he sure doesn’t trust you so I need you to keep your mouth closed and let me do the talking.”

  “I have to take his blood. Just a little. It’ll enable me to wipe his memories easily if he reacts badly.”

  She sighed. “I know. Just keep that to yourself for a while, please.”

  Because she said please, and because he knew she’d be raw from the meeting with The First, Clive backed off.

  She showed him into a small, formal living room space. “Wait here. I need to talk with him first.”

  He paused, thinking it over and she touched his arm.

  “Whether you do or not is going to boil down to whether or not you trust me. So make up your mind now or we can’t do this.”

  Did he trust her? A silly question, he realized even as he thought it. He’d had her in the heart of his home. In his bedchamber. If she’d meant harm, she’d have made a move by then. She was certainly capable and fierce enough.

  “All right then. I’ll wait.”

  He watched her leave and took that time to put away the look on her face when he’d entered The First’s quarters. So much energy in that room. He’d tasted her sorrow, her anger and her grief. But also her love and respect.

  She and her foster father had had some sort of emotional breakthrough. He’d seen it in both, stamped all over their body language. He’d thought himself above and beyond the ability to be moved by the simplicity of something like that, but he’d been wrong. As off balance as she and her foster father were, Clive too had been turned sideways.

  His respect and like for Rowan Summerwaite had grown. And now, he had to find a way to make this situation with her ex work out. He’d sooner punch the cop in the face for making Rowan so upset, but that would only make matters worse.

  Clive stifled what would have been an undignified snort. It was more like he hated to think about making her life any more difficult than it already was. Which he’d given up wrestling with, he realized.

  Alice had been right. Damn it all. He could remind himself all night long of just how inappropriate she was, how bad she was for him and obviously vice versa. And yet, none of that seemed to matter.

  Rowan shoved away the rawness from the exchange with Theo and searched out David, who led her to Jack.

  “Where have you been? And no more fucking lies, Rowan. I’ve had it with lies. You know something you’re not saying and my woman died because of that.”

  She sighed, wrestling with her own guilt. “I was getting permission to share the information I have with you.”

  He stood quickly, on shaky legs.

  She barely stifled a snarl of disgust. “First thing first, get your fucking head out of that bottle. You’re useless to me and to Lisa if you’re drunk.”

  “I just had a beer with some food.” His mouth turned into a sullen frown and she realized, not for the first time, just how many men in her life got pouty of late. She really should look into hobbies that included happy people for a change.

  “We’ll pretend I don’t see three bottles over there on the counter, shall we?” Bracing herself, she faced him fully. “There’s really no way to prepare you for this one so let me just say it. I can tell you, but that’s not without strings.”

  “What sort of strings?”

  “Clive Stewart will walk you through this next part. But I want to assure you I’ll be with you the whole time. I wouldn’t allow you to be harmed.”

  “Like Lisa?”

  “Now it seems to me that when someone has gone out of their way to help you, it’s unconscionably rude to treat them so poorly. You wouldn’t be here right now if Rowan hadn’t risked herself on your behalf.” Clive strolled into the room and she wanted to hug him and hit him at the same time.

  “If she’d shared with me right off Lisa would be alive right now.”

  Clive raised a brow, every inch the arrogant Scion. “Blaming Rowan for your girlfriend’s drug addiction is absurd. Why her and not you? Hmm? How is it that it’s everyone’s fault but yours, Mr. Elroy?”

  “Enough.” Rowan stepped between them. She looked into Jack’s eyes. “This is how it has to be. I answer to people, just like you do. So do you want to know or not?”

  “Fine.” He had no idea of course, just what was about to happen, but how could he?

  Clive moved closer. Close enough that she caught a wisp of his scent. Those pheromones would help calm Jack, but hoo-boy, her hormones liked them too. He’d use just enough to bespell Jack so he could take blood. Rowan wished she could just tell Jack, what she was allowing was, in its own way, a violation of her own rules. But she knew it couldn’t be controlled any other way. This would keep Jack alive, even if he freaked out at what he heard.

  Knowing there was no way around it still didn’t make her feel any better about it. Knowing that the easy way they had, the years of friendship might very well mean nothing to him once he knew. And yet she had to do it anyway. For him.

  “What I’m about to tell you can’t be repeated. Not to anyone.”

  “Is this about the mafia or something?” Jack’s eyes had blurred just a little. Clive’s thrall was ridiculously strong to work so quickly and with such a small push.

  “Something like that. But if you repeat it, it will get you dead. And I can’t protect you from that. I had to make promises of my own.”

  “She risked a great deal on your behalf, Mr. Elroy.”
<
br />   Rowan turned to Clive to find he’d put on part of his glamour. Good Goddess, he was irresistible enough on a daily basis, but when he went all vampy he was a thousand times more. More everything.

  Jack’s face lost some of its tension as he looked to Clive. “If this is illegal how can you expect me to turn the other way?”

  Now he was going to play morally superior? “Like you did when Lisa popped pills and stole from the evidence locker? We’re running out of time, Jack. Can you put your misplaced sense of judgment away long enough to hear this or not?”

  “I said fine. Do what you need to do. We’re wasting time with this bullshit.”

  She took Jack’s hands and let a little of her magick slide between them. Warm and comforting. She’d helped him the day before, but the next part would most definitely need some assistance from her special skills arsenal.

  Ha. Like Batman’s utility belt?

  His spine relaxed and the fury faded from his gaze.

  “Clive has to take some blood from you,” she murmured as Clive glided around them both, silent and graceful.

  Rowan watched, caught up in the spell of it, as Clive bent his head and broke Jack’s skin. Caught up at the sight of the bright red bead of blood and then of Clive’s tongue sliding over the slice to heal it.

  Jack drew a breath, laced with pleasure as Clive straightened and moved away, back behind Rowan again.

  She waited a few more beats as the thrall wore off and Jack came back to himself. His eyes widened as he tried to pull his hands away from her hold. “What the hell just happened to me?”

  “Clive took some blood from you. Just a few drops. It had to happen. I’m sorry for it, but that’s the truth. Come on, Jack. Do you really think what’s going on out there is because of a human? You said it yourself, the scenes aren’t normal. Not even for a serial killer. If you want to know, you have to realize there’s way more to the world than you think.”