Wrath of the Goddess

by Lauren Dane

  Wrath of the Goddess

  By Lauren Dane

  Rowan Summerwaite is back—and more than a little pissed off—in Wrath of the Goddess, the fifth installment in New York Times bestselling author Lauren Dane’s Goddess with a Blade series.

  You can’t keep a vengeful woman down for long.

  Rowan Summerwaite, elite hunter and human vessel to the goddess Brigid, has returned home to Las Vegas—and she’s mad as hell. It seems someone thought they could eliminate Rowan and everyone she holds dear.

  That someone was dead wrong.

  With tensions between paranormal factions at an all-time high, Rowan and her crew, along with her sexy Vampire Scion husband, Clive Stewart, have their work cut out for them. The Vampire Nation has at least one traitor in their midst, leaving them extremely vulnerable...but if it’s a war they want, Rowan’s prepared to bring the pain like never before.

  Rowan knows her duty is to those she’s sworn to protect, but it seems the harder she fights, the more barriers she hits...and the more friends she loses.

  With even her closest alliances in question, Rowan will have to accept that sometimes the path toward the greater good means making heartrending sacrifices along the way...

  One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

  And see how Rowan’s fight began in Goddess with a Blade, Blade to the Keep, Blade on the Hunt and At Blade’s Edge, available now!

  This book is approximately 82,000 words

  This one is for my mother.

  Dear most wonderful readers,

  Welcome back to Rowan’s world. It’s been a while (sorry about that!) but Rowan and Clive have returned to Las Vegas with Rowan and Brigid hot on the trail of those responsible for the murder of her dear friend.

  I love this world and these characters so I’m absolutely thrilled to be immersed in this universe once more. I hope you all find Wrath of the Goddess to be worth the wait!

  See you again very soon with the next installment and the conclusion to this particular story arc in the Goddess with a Blade series, Blood and Blade.

  Read hard!

  Lauren

  Contents

  Three Days Ago

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Chapter Eighteen

  Chapter Nineteen

  Chapter Twenty

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Excerpt from Diablo Lake: Moonstruck by Lauren Dane

  Acknowledgments

  Also by Lauren Dane

  About the Author

  Three Days Ago

  Cataline twisted and pinned Rowan’s hair into a braided crown.

  “These are a present from your husband,” Cataline said as she brought out a dazzling pair of diamond chandelier style earrings.

  “I think I’ll keep him,” Rowan murmured as she slid into shoes.

  “He does a good job in the present department and he’s certainly not hard to look at. You’ve made your father so happy, Rowan. The rest of the household too.” Cataline hugged Rowan tight before dashing off with a warning not to mess up her hair or clothes.

  Like she was four.

  Rowan put on some lipstick and after one last look, headed downstairs.

  Clive knew she was on the way, felt the build, the crackle and snap of her energy as she got closer. He smiled at the sight of her in that dress with those earrings. She looked every bit as perfect as he knew she’d be when he picked them out for her.

  She came straight to him. He kissed her wrist. “You look fantastic. Would you like a glass of champagne?”

  “Yes, that’d be lovely.”

  He clinked his glass to hers as they began to make their way through the reception, spending time with each Scion, accepting gifts and congratulations in a long ritual that took a total of two and a half hours just to complete.

  Rowan hadn’t complained a single time. He knew she’d been agitated a few times. Bored here and there. Genuinely touched as well. She did everything expected of her and she did it to perfection.

  When she’d told him she was good at this, she hadn’t been bragging. Nor had it been a surprise to him. He’d seen her work a room multiple times and never ceased to be amazed by her skill at reading people.

  “Before we go in to dinner, I have something for you.” Theo flicked his wrist and a rolling cart came in with a laptop on it bearing Carey’s face.

  “You didn’t think I’d miss out on all the festivities did you?” Carey asked her. “I’m here working, but I’m there in spirit. We’ll have a shindig here for you when you and Clive get back. You look gorge in that green. Dang, your dude has good taste.”

  Rowan grinned. So damned happy to see his face. To hear he was pleased for her. It rang through her emotions so clearly he didn’t have to be bonded to her to see it all over her features.

  “Thank you. Be sure to water my plants. We’ll be home in a few days.”

  There was a crashing sound in the background and Carey turned to look over his shoulder. “What the fuck?”

  Rowan got closer to the screen. “What’s happening?”

  Clive moved with her. He pulled his phone from his pocket, calling his office to get his people out to help Carey.

  The alarm went from the klaxon to red lights.

  Carey grabbed a gun from a holster attached to the underside of his desk. But it was too late. Two bodies showed up, keeping their faces out of the camera. They held Carey in place, gagging him and tying his wrists to the chair arms.

  It was a bad dream, watching as Carey struggled, ineffective against the hold they had on him. Must have been magic being used because Carey was a big guy, he should have been able to at least struggle harder.

  Fear was in his gaze as he looked into the camera.

  “You there! In my home. What is it you seek from me,” Rowan demanded, hoping she could talk them down or at the very least give time for Vampires to show up or Carey to free himself.

  “Just so we’re clear, Ms. Summerwaite. You won’t win. Everything and everyone you love will be ripped from you.”

  It was impossible to know which one said it, or if it was even one of them at all. Carey tried to struggle but to no avail.

  Then, as Rowan started to beg to make a deal, the person on the right reached into the camera’s range. Carey’s gun held in someone else’s hand was placed to his temple.

  “Wait!” she ordered.

  The click and resulting boom of the weapon discharge, the thwack of Carey flying apart and hitting the wall, staining the computer’s camera red, hit Rowan like a physical thing.

  Rowan wailed and nearly crumpled. She threw her body toward the laptop, calling Carey’s name. Someone held her waist, enabling her to keep her feet. Theo, she thought.

  In the background Clive ordered China and a full team of Clive’s lieutenants out to hunt the assailants down.

  Rowan needed to keep them there
long enough for the Vampires to arrive. She gathered herself, shaking with outrage for long moments. “You. There in Vegas.” Brigid had taken over enough to get the words out, make them seem threatening.

  * * *

  Her voice was deadly calm. The hair on the back of Clive’s neck stood up.

  In Las Vegas, one of the sorcerers at the apartment spoke. “You need to understand we can get to you anywhere, anytime. You can play your little games in London, but we’re going to win and kill as many people you care about as we can.”

  “Why? What’s your game?” she snarled.

  “If I told you that I’d be helping.” A hand shoved Carey over, chair and all. And then the screen went black.

  Rowan had gone very pale. “He wasn’t even thirty.”

  “Rowan, come sit.” Theo pushed everyone else from the way and took her to a nearby settee. “What can I do?” he asked her as he set her down carefully.

  Clive had never seen The First act this way with anyone else. Ever.

  “I... I don’t know.”

  He reached out to slap her cheek. Clive could see it coming. Felt as if the world slowed down to a crawl.

  And then he caressed Rowan’s hair instead and Clive had to turn away for a few breaths, shaking at how close he’d come to assaulting The First.

  “I’m sorry you lost your friend,” Theo told her as Clive turned back around. “Now. Snap out of it, Petal. If you lose focus you let this enemy win. You can’t allow it. Pain is useful. Don’t ever forget what you feel right this moment but if you don’t put it away it’ll slow you down and be your undoing.”

  David inched a little closer to kneel near her. “I can get us on a plane back immediately. We’ll do what’s right. We’ll get even for this.”

  Rowan swallowed hard and then nodded, so lost before speaking to her father. “Okay. I’m going home. I’m sorry, but I need to leave. Normally I’d stay, but he...”

  “He was your family. I understand. Use whatever Nation resources you need to get back to your city.” Theo took her hands in his. “These people who’ve just taken your friend. They want grief to fog your choices. You can’t bring him back, but you can exact your vengeance. You can set the balance right again.”

  Rowan took a shuddering breath and her gaze settled on Clive. He hurt that she’d had to lose someone so close and important. Someone whose loss she’d feel responsible for until she died.

  But he was glad it wasn’t her. Glad she was alive, even if Carey wasn’t. She didn’t need to hear that, but he felt it just the same.

  “Alice will coordinate with David and get everything set. Cataline will get you packed so we’re ready to go when we’re set,” Clive told her.

  She was going to tell him he didn’t need to accompany her back, he saw it on her face, felt the buildup in her energy. But she let it go. Instead, she let herself need him. Let herself be taken care of just a little.

  “Okay, thanks.”

  Susan took over with Rowan, getting her to eat a little while things got handled. David and Alice made things happen and he got his last bit of work done with the Scions before they headed to the airfield down the mountain from the Keep.

  Theo kissed her cheeks and hugged her. “I know your heart is broken. I wish I could take your pain away. Know that whatever means I have are yours should you but ask. Please be safe. Don’t break my heart too.”

  Rowan hugged him back. “Thank you. I’m sorry to have to leave early,” she said.

  “I’m surprised you held on as long as you did,” he teased lightly.

  “You can’t possibly be leaving to deal with a human! The First has given you this honor,” Thomas said.

  Rowan didn’t bother speaking. She just walked over, kicked Thomas in the balls hard enough that he doubled over and stayed down, before heading back to Clive.

  His mother hugged them both. “I’m ever so sorry, sweetheart,” Antonia said.

  Charles nodded once and they got into the car. She put her head back against the seat, closed her eyes and didn’t say another word until they had taken off.

  “Take a pill and get some sleep. It’s a ten hour flight. You can’t do anything in the air. David is handling everything he can.” Clive steered her toward the small, light tight bedchamber.

  “I can’t close my eyes right now. I keep seeing his brains. The look on his face right before they killed him. He knew. In those last moments he knew and I wasn’t there. I couldn’t protect him. Another person who got killed because of me.”

  “You can’t do everything. You can’t be everything to everyone. There are bad people in the world who wish to do you and yours harm if for no other reason than you do good for the world.”

  “What if it’s David next? Or Alice?”

  “Both of them know what they signed on for.”

  Rowan clapped her hands over her ears as she began to cry. “I don’t think I can say that and believe it anymore.”

  “But it’s true. Everyone takes chances on some level. But you? And those like you? You take life and death chances all the time. I wish it were different! Do you think I like the very real possibility that it could be you? That I could bear the loss of even Alice, but the absence of you in the world would break me into little pieces? I hate it. But you are who you are. You made this choice and you make it anew every day. Just like Carey did. Just like David and Alice do.”

  “I’m going to hunt them down and kill them so hard they’ll wish they never even thought about me.”

  “Yes, you are. I’m going to help you. Carey deserves that.”

  She looked up at him after mopping her face with the back of her hand. “Thank you. For being there. For letting me fall apart.”

  He hugged her, again, so relieved she was there. Alive. Vibrant and his.

  “I’ll hold your broken pieces if you promise to do the same for me when I need it.”

  She burrowed in closer, wrapping her arms around him, burying her face in his chest.

  “We’ll make it. Together.”

  Chapter One

  Rowan hadn’t taken the pill and the oblivion it promised. Even though she knew the pain she had to face over the helpless nearly ten hours as they flew back to Las Vegas.

  Carey didn’t have the luxury of forgetting. Her employee, assistant and very good friend was dead. Murdered by those who used him to get at Rowan. She’d seen it on her computer screen, the moment he’d been killed, the gore and violence of it indelibly burned into her memory.

  She hadn’t protected him. He was her family. Someone she was supposed to protect and she couldn’t.

  Clive shooed her into the bed of the plane’s light tight cabin as it began to taxi, getting underway on the trip back to the United States from Germany.

  “You can’t do everything. You can’t be everything to everyone. There are bad people in the world who wish to do you and yours harm if for no other reason than you do good for the world.”

  Which she knew. In her head. Her heart was another matter.

  “What if it’s David next? Or Alice?” Those questions battered her brain on a loop.

  “Both of them know what they signed on for.” He kept his voice calm but Rowan heard the fear there. Understood he worried for his people too.

  Suddenly she snapped. That whatever it was that’d been holding her together was gone. How could she ever ask anyone else to help her? Put them in this sort of danger?

  Rowan clapped her hands over her ears as she began to cry. “I don’t think I can say that and believe it anymore.”

  Clive made a sound, as if her pain was his and she supposed due to their recent blood bond—and the fact that he knew her better than anyone—he probably did pick it up from her emotions.

  “But it’s true. Everyone takes chances on some level. But you? And those like you? You take life and death chan
ces all the time. I wish it were different! Do you think I like the very real possibility that it could be you? You made this choice and you make it anew every day. Just like Carey did. Just like David and Alice do.”

  Clive wrapped himself around her and she let him. Let him soak up as much of her anxiety as was possible. Let herself need him. Knew he needed her, which made it easier to trust, to lean on him.

  In Rowan’s belly, She stirred. The goddess Brigid shared Rowan’s body and consciousness. Rowan was the first Vessel to Her in modern history. Clive and Brigid had a complicated relationship, but She approved of Rowan trusting her husband enough to rely on him.

  It let some of her anxiety fade so the anger could settle. Anger, Rowan could deal with. Rowan and anger had a long and important history. It had gotten her through when everything else had run dry.

  Now it was wrath that would guide her.

  Brigid approved, banking a low, steady heat within. “I’m going to hunt them down and kill them so hard they’ll wish they never even thought about me.”

  “Yes, you are. I’m going to help you. Carey deserves that.”

  It was the last bit and the fact that she knew he meant it, that made the biggest difference. She wasn’t alone. “Thank you. For being there. For letting me fall apart.”

  “I’ll hold your broken pieces if you promise to do the same for me when I need it.”

  She burrowed in closer, knowing her warmth soaked into him the way his comfort soaked into her.

  “Rowan, you’re of no use to anyone if you don’t get some rest,” he said softly, his lips against her temple. “Please. For me will you at least try to sleep?”

  “Until you go under. I’ll stay until you go under.” Rowan knew she wouldn’t be able to sleep. But she had no plans to give up the haven his arms provided.

  She remained with him holding her close as she wept. Cried so much it gave her a headache. Even her bones hurt, as if the grief had begun to eat her alive from the inside.

  He said little, only stroking a slow hand up and down her spine. Every once in a while he’d murmur something in French, which managed to break her heart even as it made her better.