Blade to the Keep

by Dane, Lauren

  “What says the Hunter? Has she taken offense?”

  Rowan did not so much as glance in Enyo’s direction. Theo was in charge there, and anyone who thought otherwise was signing their own death warrant. Her back hurt like a bitch, and if she wasn’t full of a Goddess’s power, that poison Collette had used on her would have killed her by now.

  “This is not helping your cause!” Enyo called out, though Rowan wasn’t sure whom she was speaking to.

  Brigid burned through her so hard and fast she couldn’t help but gasp. Her back burned, the pain nearly unbearable, and then it ebbed. She turned, looking through Rowan’s eyes and spoke to Enyo, again in ancient Greek.

  “You are a petty dabbler. Your pathetic tossed bones and sacrifices are not enough to fell my Vessel. You are an amateur. You were then and you are now.”

  “Who are you?” Enyo took a step closer but did not cross into the challenge space.

  Brigid’s laugh was deep and laced with anger, menace and disgust. It flowed through Rowan and outward like a physical thing. The heat of that possession brought steam from her skin as it met the cold night air.

  “You know who I am. I am whole and full. You are a piece, a broken, jagged child. A shadow of your former self. I still rule the battlefield.”

  “Brigid...” The name was a breath of sound. “You did not tell me what this Hunter is, Tages. You have broken your own rules.”

  Theo spoke at Rowan’s back. “You are as much of a fool as she just branded you. Everyone knows what Rowan is. She told you she was a Vessel multiple times. It is well known. You simply didn’t pay attention. Which is your error, not mine.”

  “Still more pretty than smart, I see,” Brigid taunted, but remained where she was. “A pretty face still gets one far in the world. But it’s not everything, and your inability to listen and use your brain and follow directions is how you ended up in this mess. And several thousand years later you still can’t craft a spell to save your life. And it won’t.”

  “You watch your tongue, human.”

  “Does no one listen at all? No wonder she gets so frustrated.” Rowan turned to face Theo. Brigid didn’t cede any room, keeping control.

  “You are nothing,” Theo said in the barest of sounds. Collette whimpered, and then he dropped her lifeless body to the ground. Collette’s body shimmered a moment and then wisped away into ash.

  Brigid was impressed, and Rowan was thankful she was far enough removed not to freak that he’d just killed someone with a few words.

  Theo moved to her and examined her closely. “I smell poison. Begone, Goddess, I wish to speak to my daughter.”

  “We discussed this before, Vampire. I go where she goes. As for the poison, the one you killed had it on her nails. It would have killed a human quite quickly.”

  He moved around Rowan, examining her back. “One of your number used poison. This speaks quite ill of your honor, Enyo.”

  “The Hunter still lives. I had no idea Collette was going to use it until she leapt into the challenge area. I cannot be held accountable for such things.”

  It was Rowan who turned, Brigid’s gaze burning from her, Brigid’s words coming from her mouth. “If not you, who then? Hmm? Casta, do tell us who should be held responsible?” Okay then, so Casta was Enyo’s original name. This Vessel business would be so much easier if Rowan and Brigid could just have a conversation so Brigid to get her up to speed on just exactly what this beef was based on.

  “Who are you? I demand you tell me right this instant.” Enyo’s eyes were wide with rage.

  “You knew my Vessel as Moibeal.”

  Enyo recoiled as she shook her head. “I saw her die. You are not Moibeal.”

  Rowan knew Moibeal was one of the very first Vessels to carry Brigid. Rowan riffled back through her memory trying to remember how it was she had died.

  “I am not Moibeal. Moibeal was part of me. She still is. I haven’t forgotten her and I won’t allow you to either.”

  “Is that a threat?”

  Brigid’s laugh cut through the air. “As my Vessel would say, it’s a promise.”

  The silence between them tautened until Rowan’s muscles cramped. Finally Brigid let go and slid back, allowing Rowan to take over again.

  She had an amendment to pass and that was what she would do. She had to kill someone to get to this point, and she wasn’t going to get caught up in a new challenge or battle. Not before that vote.

  Rowan brushed her hands down the front of her pants. “Are we done here? I’m hungry, and we have a meeting to run after dinner.”

  Theo waved a hand. “Rowan is the winner of the Challenge. Dinner will be served in twenty minutes. Go on.”

  Clive moved in her direction, but Theo sighed sharply. “Scion, you may have her when I’m finished. Be sure that useless, mewling fool from Hunter Corp. isn’t sowing any dissension.”

  Clive paused and Rowan shook her head slightly. Theo was in no mood to be thwarted right then. He had something he wanted to address between himself and Rowan and that was that. Clive had to back off because Theo got what he wanted.

  There’d be some hot, biting and scratching type fucking later on that night once all this other stuff was taken care of, and she let Clive see it in her eyes.

  He bowed. “As you wish, Ovilius.”

  Satisfied his Scion was obeying, Theo turned his attention to Rowan again. “We need a little chat. First, let me deal with this.” Theo took her hand and placed it on his arm. “Nadir, be sure this mess is cleaned up. If Enyo or any of the Blood Front Vampires even looks sideways at my rules, you will take them into custody.”

  “Ovilius, what of Marcilius?”

  “Place him in my dungeon. Chain him, hands and feet. No blood. No food. He may have a bucket with rainwater. He is to have no visitors and nothing sent to him from outside. I’ll deal with him when I’ve decided what fantastically painful punishment befits his insolence.”

  They strolled through the lanes created by his perfectly trimmed hedges. “Are you all right? Really?”

  “I am. I’ll be sore tomorrow. My shoulder was dislocated, but it popped back into place when I fell. My back...well, Brigid burned the poison from my system.”

  “You will bear scars, I’m sorry to say.”

  They could go with the ones he’d given her.

  She heaved a breath. “I’m alive. That’s in the win column. Now, will you tell me what the heck is going on with Enyo?”

  “I am...restricted.”

  “You? How? I need to know what I’m dealing with, Vater.”

  “Ah, love can turn a man’s head. It’s a geas.”

  Rowan blinked hard. “You’re restricted by a geas? She created it? Enyo?”

  He nodded. “Thousands of years ago. As I said, she was singular. I never had any imaginings that things would simply not work out. Who would I have told and for what purpose? It seemed inconceivable then that I would be alive today. The very concept of the Vampire Nation was a passing fancy in those days. She needed protection. I cared for her and wanted to protect her. But now it leaves the most important person in my life in danger, and for that I am sorry.”

  “I don’t know what to say when you’re like this.” She was fairly sure that she shouldn’t have risked being so open with him. But it was out there now.

  He chuckled softly. “That makes two of us, Petal. Be very careful of her.”

  “She’s a witch.”

  He said nothing. He would have denied it, could have denied it, if it hadn’t been true.

  “I’m generally immune because of Brigid, but I’ll keep my eyes open for sure. I just want to get dinner over with and the vote taken. The entire purpose of this trip is that amendment. It’s my main goal. Once that’s done, whatever happens happens. But until then I have thi
s stuff hanging over my head.”

  “I’m very proud of you, Rowan. You have handled this entire situation with much skill and finesse. When this is over, I would very much like it if you’d come here to stay. Not out of obligation. A week. Come in July when it’s warm. Cook will ply you with all your favorites. Recht tells me your training is quite good. You’ll let me watch you with him this time. Bring Clive, too. We can scare him for fun.”

  “Don’t tell him this, but I like him, so while it’s fun to yank his chain, I think if you did it, it might make him have a heart attack or something.”

  He turned her back toward the house. “Fine. Will you come back then? A real visit?”

  “I can probably get away for a week. But not until August or early September. Summer in Las Vegas should be quiet because it’s hotter than the surface of the sun, but it makes the Vampires crazy and the dust devils get up to stuff. I don’t know exactly what, but it’s enough to keep me on my toes.”

  “All right. You promised. If you don’t I will come to you and then there’ll be a diplomatic incident and everyone will throw a tantrum and it will make everyone nervous. I hate to travel, Petal. You know that.”

  He was so spoiled.

  “All right. I need to run upstairs to change before dinner. My shirt is shredded, and I’ve got blood and venom on my pants too.”

  He kissed her check and pushed her toward the stairs. “Don’t make me wait. I find myself famished.”

  She kept herself together until she stood in her room. Totally naked, clothes on her bed waiting for her, she started to shake and couldn’t seem to stop.

  It wasn’t the killing of Victoriana. The Vampire had deserved what she got. It was what followed. Collette’s attack and Theo’s response. The way he’d broken her down and then yanked all her life away until he’d killed her true with a few words.

  Rowan had been caught in that focus before. Had wanted to die rather than face what those eyes had told her. She breathed today because he hadn’t spoken the sentence he did to end Collette’s life.

  But he could have. At any time when she was growing up. Hell, he could probably do it now. Brigid was strong. A deity, even. But Theo was three thousand years old.

  And despite her better judgment, despite knowing all she knew, she loved him. Knew in his twisted way he’d done all he had because he loved her too and wanted to make her strong and hard.

  But some days? Well, it would have been nice to have had a snack after school made by a suburban mom. Homework that didn’t involve painful punishments for being wrong.

  Some days being normal would have been such a beautiful thing.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Clive had been on his way out of the room to go find her when she came in. On the surface she was smooth and icy calm. But he knew her. Knew that entire experience with The First and Collette had shaken her to her core.

  Knew, too, that if he made any attempt to address it or comfort her, it would only make things worse.

  The First saw her and nodded to the staff. “Dinner, after a delay, is served.”

  Rowan walked past Enyo without even looking at her, but he knew she paid attention to what the Vampire was doing, or not doing, in any case.

  Not caring what anyone thought, Clive took her elbow and brushed a kiss over her cheek. “Nice slaying, Hunter.”

  Her sly but pleased smile was a gift. “Thank you, Scion. I’ll collect on your promise later, after the vote.”

  “I should hope so, Hunter.” He pulled out her chair and she allowed it. He’d push her to reveal her feelings about this whole mess once they’d finished and gotten back home. Maybe he’d spirit her away somewhere when they got back. Just for a few days.

  Food began to appear and be served and the silence was tense as people began to eat.

  “Mr. what is it again, Ms. Summerwaite? Weasleing?” The First looked down the table toward Roth. Clive didn’t dare look.

  “Wesslyian.” Rowan’s lips wobbled as she held back a smile before she sipped her wine.

  “Yes, well, I see you’re back after being ejected after your tantrum. Just what goes on at Hunter Corp. these days? Who is in charge there, Rowan?”

  Rowan sighed heavily and placed her glass down. “I can’t very well stake them all. Enyo is still sitting here at the table so we all have our crosses to bear.”

  The First got very quiet and then he burst out laughing. “I suppose you’re right.”

  That storm passed quickly enough, and Roth seemed to have seen enough at the challenge to keep his damned mouth closed, so Clive was relieved on that count.

  At the end of the meal, Rowan looked around the table. “I propose we save dessert for after the vote.”

  Paola rapped the table with her knuckles. “Agreed.”

  * * *

  At the door to the meeting room Rowan stopped people who were not members of the committee. “The vote will be held and announced immediately afterward if you want to have a drink out here.”

  “This is outrageous!”

  Rowan got right in Enyo’s face, Brigid burning through her again. “Get the fuck out of my face. You’ve done enough. You said your little piece, and it’s been registered with whatever weight your people give it. I don’t give a tiny fuck about you or your feelings. You’re not welcome, so back off.”

  “You’ll pay for this.”

  “Yeah, yeah. Get in line behind Collette and Victoriana.” Rowan gave Enyo a toothy smile. “Oh, that’s right. You can’t. Maybe you can find some of their ashes if you have a broom.”

  “Damn, you’re harsh.” Warren chuckled as he walked past Enyo and into the room. She noted the look Clive gave Warren, though. He wasn’t pleased with that teasing comment.

  Rowan shut the door and turned to the rest of the people in the room.

  “Let’s cut through the shit and just take a vote.” Rowan didn’t bother sitting. She wanted this over with. Whatever happened after was fine, but once that vote was taken it was binding and would stay in place until, at the very least, the next Joint Tribunal where it could be amended out.

  “I agree. What says Hunter Corp. regarding the revised language?” Paola asked.

  “We agree to the proposed revision of the amendment and cast our vote in favor of the amendment to the Treaty as worded in your proposal.”

  “We do the same.” Paola lowered her chin slightly. Each of the Scions did the same but one, Takahiro. “We have one no vote, let the record reflect that. The majority carries and the amendment to the Treaty passes.”

  Rowan and Celesse showed their wrists and just like that, the amendment became binding and a part of the Treaty.

  “Imagine how much easier this could have been without all the drama.”

  She raised a brow Paola’s way. “There’s more drama, actually. I have a few things to say about that. I need to check on something, but I’ll clear this up when I get back.”

  Paola’s brows rose. “All right.”

  Despite the weight of the other stuff on her plate, an intense sense of satisfaction warmed Rowan. She’d done it. Challenges, crazy shenanigans from human and Vampire alike, magical interference and every childhood boogeyman she could have faced, and she’d fended them all off enough to get the amendment through and the Treaty changed for the better.

  She’d done what was necessary to protect everyone she was charged with protecting. Rowan breathed out, letting herself have just a few moments to be proud of herself and what she’d accomplished as she walked out through the main hall.

  They’d make the announcement shortly, but she needed to ask Dina a clarifying question and she wanted to look back through some of the info on Enyo Carey had sent while she’d been involved in a challenge to the death, as well.

  Celesse caught up with her. “Want to t
ell me what’s going on?”

  Rowan gave her a brief recap of her suspicions.

  “Well.” Celesse blew out a breath. “You sure you want to even say anything?”

  Rowan paused.

  “I thought about it. I really did. I mean, it’s over now. We had a vote and the amendment went through and that was our goal. But if my suspicions are correct, I need to speak about them in public. This sort of tampering isn’t something Vampires would take kindly to, and they shouldn’t. Plus, I need to put some cracks in some power bases.”

  Celesse nodded. “Yes, I see your point. What can I do?”

  “Keep an eye on Roth. Make sure he stays clear of The First.”

  Celesse tried not to smile but lost the battle. “He really doesn’t like Roth, does he?”

  “Well, he’s not alone. But Roth was thwarted, and I don’t quite know why he’s here at this point. I don’t trust him, and I want to know what he’s up to.”

  “Rex isn’t going to let him get into trouble.”

  “No, but two sets of eyes are better than one in any case, don’t you think?”

  “Sure. I’ll let you make the call to the Motherhouse.” Celesse took her hand, shaking it. “This would not have happened without your leadership.”

  “Ha! Nightmares, brawls, a challenge to the death. I’m so leadertastic.”

  Celesse gave a Gallic shrug and one of those noncommittal sounds the French do so well. “Without you to hold it all together and address it, things would have fallen apart.”

  “Thanks.”

  Celesse headed one way and Rowan into the kitchen. She grabbed an apple slice as she walked past a table, and one of the cooks, a third cousin, whacked her hand with a wooden spoon and a grin.

  “Dina, may I have a moment?”

  “Of course.” She pointed to the little room she considered her office. “I needed a tea break anyway.”

  Once they’d settled, Dina opened a cabinet and pulled out a pretty red package. “Chocolates from Warren.”

  “That’s lovely.”

  “He wanted me to make strudel. An exchange, he said.” Dina blushed happily. Clearly she would have made the strudel by request because she wanted people to enjoy her food. But who didn’t like to get chocolates from handsome men like Warren?