by Lauren Dane
He wouldn’t have meant any harm of course. And that niggled, too, because if he couldn’t have seen it coming it was an indicator he lacked the subtlety and political smarts to survive out there in the field.
He’d get his trial by fire either way, as she’d decided to let him come before she’d gone to sleep earlier that day. But she’d spank his ass for this bullshit later on.
“He’s my valet. I’ll decide where he should go.”
“It’s time for you to let him out in the field with you. That’s his job, Rowan. I know you worry,” Susan spoke before Rowan could interrupt. “We all worry those first few times a valet begins to accompany us on missions. Truth be told I never stop worrying.” She shrugged. “But nonetheless, for us, it’s another foundational support source out in the world. You need him and so I’m sure you realize this and already were planning on letting him go with you, but I wanted to bring it up.”
This was all true and something she needed to hear. But not in that setting. Still, it was a warning. Damn politics.
“He and I spoke about this issue and it’s resolved. I appreciate your bringing it up, but it’s handled.”
“You won’t be allowed to showboat out there.” Each time Roth spoke she hated him a little more.
Ice cold spread through her belly as Rowan turned her attention to Celesse. “Why do you invite non essential personnel to these meetings?”
“Someone has to hold you accountable,” Roth shot back.
“By getting spelled up and nearly starting a war?” Rowan responded, baiting him with his behavior at the Joint Tribunal.
“By Vampires! You keep saying they’re not a threat. I’m proof they are.” He smiled like he’d made some sort of point.
“And I saved you. Along with some Vampires. And you’re still fucking useless or worse, getting in my way. You serve absolutely no purpose.”
A few partners muttered, angry that she’d spoken out the way she had. Of course none of them had been nearly killed because of something Roth had been part of.
“What? Oooh, upset because someone has a spine enough to speak the truth about the dead weight Hunter Corporation carries? All of you who ride desks, you know nothing of risk and you most assuredly don’t know a thing about how to do the dirty work you and your little cabal rely on to stay alive.”
Rex, Susan’s husband and another partner at the Hunter Corp., put a hand in front of his mouth to hide his expression. Susan smirked, and Celesse, from her office in Paris made that French wordless noise that sounded like approval and rebuke all at once.
Roth sputtered some more. “You’re out of line!”
“There’s not much worse than a man who thinks he’s smarter than he is.”
Before she could get truly warmed up and insult him and possibly make him cry, a knock sounded and David peeked in. “The Vampires are here. Are you ready?”
Rowan had planned to have this handled by the time the Vampires showed up but there was nothing to be done about it and the outcome would be the same no matter what. Repeated bullshit like this call with Hunter Corp. or not, she had a mission and she would complete it with or without them.
This would be her team and if the Vampires and Hunter Corp. didn’t like it, they could all go fuck themselves. Rowan was going to run Enyo to ground and kill her extra hard. If she had to quit a job that needed her more than she needed it, so be it. In fact, now that she’d allowed herself to even consider that idea, it didn’t seem like an altogether bad one.
“Send them in.” Rowan looked back to the screen.
Clive and Warren came in, sitting down on either side so they could see the screen with the London and Paris motherhouse staff.
“As I was saying, my team will be me, David, the Scions of North America and Europe and one of The First’s Five. We will leave in two days’ time.”
Clive didn’t say anything but it didn’t matter, arguing started in London and Warren groaned.
She spoke to Warren in an undertone. “Shut up. I have to deal with you guys all the time and you’re just as bad.”
He grinned at her. “Is this one of those things where it’s only okay to make fun if they’re your family?”
“Yes. Which means I get to make fun of everyone and you get to make fun of no one.”
Clive sniffed, but it was nearly a snort. She was such a bad influence on him.
Cheered up by that thought, she brought two fingers to her lips and whistled loud enough to shut down the arguing on the other side of the call.
“I’m going to go ahead and keep this call moving. You can listen or you can argue with one another. I had a meeting an hour ago with one of The First’s people. There have been three possible sightings so after this call ends I can get working. David will be in touch with support needs.”
“This isn’t over. You can’t just do whatever you want. This is Hunter Corp. business.” Roth’s tone made her want to punch something.
“This is my business. She nearly killed me. After Roth and his dumbass stepdaughter stirred the pot and made things worse. I’m cleaning this mess up because I can’t trust it to happen correctly otherwise. I’ve been recuperating for some time and I didn’t see any of you getting in the saddle to take out a Vampire barely made much less one who is older than most languages spoken on Earth today. So do me a favor and quit yapping.”
“Rowan, please.” Celesse held up a hand.
“Please what? Come on. This piece of shit is attempting to hamper my investigation for what? What possible benefit is there in me letting you sandbag me with someone I’ll have to protect and watch out for? All to run back to this garbage human to tattle? If you want to know what I do, ask. Otherwise I’m not an employee. I’m a full partner and this is what I’m doing.”
“You’re not the only partner though! This is not only your decision to make.”
Truly angry now, she leaned close enough to the monitor, wanting him to see it on her face. “Listen here, you. I don’t give even the tiniest hint of a memory of a fuck about how you think or what you feel. You’ve proven yourself to be petty, unreliable and a coward. You have nothing to offer me and I’m not pretending otherwise. You’re not my boss, or my dad, or even anyone I’d cross the street to save.”
She sat back, ready to burn something down. Constantly hindered and hampered by small dicked assholes who didn’t care about the balance the Treaty kept. Didn’t care about keeping the peace and humans out of the crossfire.
“This sort of vulgar display is why you need to be reined in.”
“You think you’re the man to do it, Roth? I have to admit I’d love that. So please do come at me and I’ll happily throttle you once more and toss you out like trash.”
“This isn’t useful,” Celesse said with a sigh.
“You’re right. It’s not useful. It’s waste of my time. It’s a waste of my time as a Hunter. People like him are far too casual about tossing others into the way to take a bullet for them. I go out there and get between everyone else and the monsters they can’t fight off if they tried. If that’s vulgar, I’d rather be that than a fucking bootlicking coward. Now. I’m at the end of my patience here with this whole process. This is what is happening. If Hunter Corp. has a problem with that or thinks it can send someone else to do this, you better speak up right now and a hearty good luck to you.”
“Are you threatening us?” Roth’s voice had an edge of fear in it. Good. He should be afraid.
Rather than raising her voice, she leaned back in her chair and kept her tone smooth and patient. The Goddess let herself shine through Rowan’s gaze briefly. “This is why you don’t understand me. I’m not playing power games or trying to be cutting. You’re not worth my energy. I’m telling you how this will go.” But the voice was Brigid’s as the Goddess filled Rowan up so fast it hurt.
/> Susan, hearing the tone of Rowan’s voice, knowing the Goddess stirred and that meant trouble—leaned over, shifting her body to be between the screen and Roth, shutting him out. “This silly game has gone on long enough. Rowan is right. This entire charade is a waste of time. None of the rest of the partners has to deal with this level of interference.”
“Everyone else has manners!” Roth proved himself totally inferior at understanding a threat to his existence.
Rowan rolled her eyes. “I don’t need manners. I have a sword.”
Susan gave her an exasperated, if not amused, expression and Rowan huffed a breath, but shut up.
Susan continued, “That’s neither here nor there. Moreover, none of us is capable of handling this and we know it. I have appointments shortly. Rex and I have already submitted our feelings on this particular situation. We cast our votes in Rowan’s favor.”
“As do I and the rest of the partners here in Paris,” Celesse broke in.
“I’ll keep you updated via David.” Rowan leaned forward and turned the screen off, cutting the call. There’d be fall out probably. But she didn’t care.
“What a bunch of assholes.”
She turned to Warren, a finger held up. “I already warned you about that.”
“Just stating the obvious.”
Rowan rolled her eyes. “No entourage either. You can have one support person for the three of you.”
“That’ll be Alice then,” Clive cut in smoothly.
“Perfect. She knows David and they can work together. And she’s good at everything without being too smug.”
“Why not my assistant?” Warren asked.
“Because.”
“Because?”
Because it would only make him more insufferable and it would make Clive unhappy too.
Europe was Warren’s territory. He’d be handy for that reason, but also the power balance would be off and that would lead to Vampire antics because they were all babies. All sorts of feather displays and dick measuring and it was boring.
Alice was a perfect choice. Competent. Unflappable and a rather capable fighter when she needed to be. Clive would ease back and Warren would still be on his territory and Recht would only care if anyone got in his way or fucked something up.
“Because I said so. I don’t want to trip over two dozen Vampires all there for the sole purpose of fluffing your ego and fetching you things. You’re Scion so I’m sure giving Clive and Recht feeding privileges in the area will suffice for the duration of this thing.” She snapped her fingers twice for emphasis. “This is a job. We go in, we find her and I cut her fucking head off. After that if you want to have a bunch of sycophants around to butter your toast and yank your wiener I don’t care because I’ll be gone.”
“You could always fluff my ego.”
She rolled her eyes. “Ew. Try it on a human who doesn’t know what a bunch of weirdo control freaks you all are.”
Clive actually growled but he didn’t move so she continued her work. There were complicated things going on between him and the other Vampires and probably something romantic she should be paying attention to. But she had no time for it. He’d tell her eventually if she missed something long enough.
Rowan pointed to the map she’d just unrolled. “I’m sure Recht already told you about the sightings.” She then pointed to a rather thick file folder. “He’s provided all the Five have gathered. I’ve sent a copy to Las Vegas where my staff will combine what we have and then get it all back to me with notes.” Carey, her office manager and chief smart guy, would organize all the information just how she liked it.
“I plan to get started right away. I’m having dinner sent in so if you two need to handle your feeding business, now’s the time.”
Clive stood. “I’ll let Alice know she’s coming along.”
Rowan saw the relief in his gaze. He’d been worried about leaving her there with Theo. She worried about the same. In the end, David and Alice would help and they’d keep one another safe and be out of Theo’s reach in case he got cranky over something like eye color and ripped someone’s head off over it.
“Be back shortly. I’ve already fed but I’m not going to miss whatever Cook sends as well.” He left, as did Warren, who also said he’d return in a few minutes.
“With me,” she said to David, who followed her out into the hall. “Please inform Recht that we’re ready for him.”
“You’re mad at me.”
Rowan sighed. “You went around me, behind my back when I’m already having trouble with them. You weakened me by filing an official request.”
He went pale, shock on his face. “A report? No. No, I didn’t! I would never do that to you. I know Ms. Espy’s valet. I called her two days ago, not as your co-worker but as your friend and someone who has gone through the process of having a valet out in the field with her. She gave me a lot of wonderful advice but that’s all it was. She said I filed an official request? Why would she do that?”
Rowan had no idea. “I don’t entirely know. But what I do know for certain is that Susan Espy does nothing without a reason. She’s the most calculating human being I’ve ever met. I thought it was a warning to get you under control, but that’s obviously not it. I’ll need to think on it more.” If it was a warning of some type as Rowan suspected, the way it had been delivered indicated Susan felt she might be monitored in some way.
Rowan focused back on David. “I don’t want you out there but you’re my valet and you’re supposed to be, so, okay. If you get killed I’m going to be so pissed off. So don’t because I know people. I’ll have you brought back so I can kick your ass myself. Alice is coming and she’s an utter badass so that’s good. Since we’re flying private carrier you can bring your weapons. As you’re going out in the field with me I will expect you to be at a constant state of readiness. My word is your law. This is not a democracy. I’m in charge. You obey me. That’s how it works. Do you understand?”
He nodded. “Yes.”
He had no idea. But everyone had to learn to survive and the world continued to get more and more dangerous. He needed to be his own best weapon. “Guns need ammunition. You have to remember to bring a knife, keep it clean, sharp, well oiled and loved. Your body and your brain is something you always have. Your training has only begun. Be careful what you wish for, David.”
“Thank you for giving me a chance. And for believing me. I wouldn’t harm you. Not ever. I never would have expected her to do this. I’m so sorry.”
“We’ll figure it out. She has a reason for it and it wasn’t to embarrass me or dress me down. Go on and get Recht.”
He bowed and was gone.
Rowan leaned against the doorway and stared up at the soaring arches above her. It was full dark by that point and though it was far quieter with the staff at skeleton crew numbers, the place still hummed with Vampire energy and power.
Even after being away for fifteen years, that sound seemed to automatically register as comforting background noise.
She’d need to go to Theo and take tea with him but this business needed to get in motion first.
Enyo hadn’t just nearly killed Rowan. Hadn’t just ambushed her when she was weaponless like a coward. For either of those things alone, Rowan would have hunted her down and ended her.
Enyo had done those things on ground that was Rowan’s.
This Keep—with all the best and worst moments of Rowan’s life in the stones at her feet—wasn’t always a place she wanted to be, but it was home. This place was hers. Enyo had violated that and in doing so, the final thing had settled Rowan into a place she rarely went, but knew very well.
Oh, they all thought she was badass when she was having a normal day. It was a point of pride, she couldn’t deny it. But this?
This hunt was an exorcism
. There was no mercy inside Rowan when it came to Enyo. There was nothing that would move or sway her from her path.
Enyo thought she had an enemy, a pawn in her game to take control of the Vampires and go to war with humanity.
That was small potatoes compared to what Enyo had truly done.
Rowan was on a righteous path. She waged a holy war with Enyo as her target. The master Vampire was dangerous on every level. There’d be no Vampire whisperer to get her calm enough to crate her for a while and set about reeducating the ancient.
Rowan would not truly rest until Enyo no longer existed.
And the Goddess within agreed with a flash of heat.
Before Rowan there hadn’t been a Vessel for Brigid in centuries. It turned out Enyo had killed the last one and Brigid was pissed the fuck off and definitely on board with taking care of this problem.
She pushed out of her lean and stalked back into the conference room. She had a dangerous enemy to track down and kill.
Whistling, she got to work.
* * *
“I don’t know why it has to be your assistant who comes along. You’re getting special treatment.” Warren’s tone was dangerously close to a whinge.
“I’m quite certain no one complains as much as you do, Warren.” The Vampire had been alive during the dark ages. Why hadn’t that made him appreciative of his life now?
Rowan. Rowan who seemed to glow from all the magic and power she stored inside her skin like a nuclear reactor.
Vampires were avaricious. Greedy. There was no one in all the world like Rowan. Warren wanted that for himself.
And Rowan was Clive’s.
Clive pushed his annoyance away. It would be beneath him to alert this other male that he’d allowed himself to be rattled.
He’d keep it locked down until he had the proper chance to make his point.
They were predators after all. Clive was very good at patience. With the exception of one red haired Hunter.
They were also leaders in the Vampire Nation and he needed to remember this hunt was about more than finding the perfect opportunity to use violence to make his point about who Rowan belonged to.
