Blade to the Keep

  “One more question. This one from Rowan to Tages.”

  “I indulge you far too much.” But he spoiled it with a small smile. “Go on then.”

  “You and Enyo? I mean, you know.” She waggled her brows at him.

  He chuckled and the sound flowed over her like a caress. “Back when we were a lot younger, she was...singular. She still is. But dangerous. Too dangerous to be around for very long.” He finished his tea. “And since you asked about my love life, I ask about yours. Things are good between you and my Scion?”

  She took a deep breath. “Yes. Mostly. He’s a Vampire, so he’s arrogant and bossy and cocky.”

  “But he nearly got into a fight over your honor in a meeting here. He has publicly claimed you. I like that. He’s strong enough to keep your interest, and you’re strong enough to not get run over. And I’m powerful enough to end him should he ever harm you. It’s a good situation for a father to be in.”

  She choked as she tried not to laugh and finally gave in. She had no idea Clive had thrown down for her. Clearly she needed to get the full story from Clive when she had him alone. “I’m going to tell him he came up in our conversation. Just to keep him on his toes.”

  Theo took the teacup she’d just refilled for him. “I expect nothing less, Petal. Try not to put me in a place where I’ll have to be angry with you or have to lodge a complaint over killing one of my people. All right?”

  She shrugged. “I have a very strong feeling I will not be leaving here without some blood on my hands. You have my word any kill I make will be justified. But I cannot promise you that I won’t have to execute a Vampire.”

  On her way out an hour or so later, he stopped her with a kiss to her forehead. “I want you to remember that in the time when I was young, the world was full of magic,” he murmured as the doors opened to let her leave.

  So, yes, Enyo was the source of this magic bullshit. Great.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Rowan and Celesse met with their assistants and the remaining members of the Hunter Corp. team. “I can accept this wording.”

  Rowan nodded at Celesse. “Yes. I wish for more, but we could get nothing at all and the problem will remain. If we can get this voted on at the session after dinner, we can get out of here tomorrow and get this presented to the Full Partners the following day.”

  “Anxious to get home to Las Vegas, are we?” Celesse smirked.

  “I’m done with politics for a while after this. Still feeling all right after waking up?” Though the bundles seemed to have protected sleep, she wasn’t sure how they’d work once people had woken up.

  “Best night of sleep I’ve had since we arrived, and I’m feeling refreshed. Please do thank the kitchen staff for me. I’ve spoken to the rest of the HC staff and everyone feels better today.”

  “The Vampires I’ve spoken with so far also report deep, uninterrupted rest. I also called the Motherhouse in London and advised them to take a look at Roth and Valerie to see how they are. If this was some sort of magical interference, they’ll need a cleanse of some sort. I hope it involves enemas.”

  Celesse laughed and then glared at Rowan. “If it was magic, Roth’s going to claim he wasn’t responsible for the physical assaults on you.”

  Rowan sighed. “Yes, and he’d be right. Probably. He still needed to be ejected, and Valerie still needs to be fired as she was a twit before she arrived. But if we can prove this was magical interference, I’d be a jerk to hold Roth responsible for something out of his control.”

  “I doubt he’d be as understanding in your place.”

  Rowan shrugged. “Most likely. But I’m not a petty, power-hungry asshole. All I can be is Rowan Summerwaite. So. Anyway, there was some big fight about it at the Motherhouse and now things have calmed because of my call. I can’t bring the Hunter Corp. down because I don’t like Roth Wesslyian. I mean, if I ever get a chance to punch him again? I totally would. But I can fight my own battles without burning shit down at Hunter Corp.”

  “Damn it, Rowan. You’ve grown into a woman worth admiring. I haven’t always been convinced you were ready for a full Partnership and you go and prove me wrong.” Celesse stood. “Shall we go to dinner and get this over at last?”

  “Yes, goddess, let’s.”

  Only, when they got out to the hallway, Roth Wesslyian stood with Rex Espy. Rowan tried not to goggle at them both. Honest to goddess, how was she supposed to get her job done with all this interference and political side talking?

  “I wish I could say this was a happy moment. I’m always happy to see you, Rex, but this is not the time for nonsense. We’ve had enough.”

  Rex held his hands up in entreaty. “Understood. Roth wanted to come here in person to apologize for his behavior, and as we did find magical tampering with his state of mind, I thought it would be wise if I allowed it, but escorted him. Should we encounter any problems.”

  “You must have run for the airfield like five minutes after I hung up the phone with the Motherhouse. He could have apologized when I returned to the Motherhouse in a few days.”

  “Don’t be angry with him. I wanted to do this right away.” Roth’s tone bordered on civil but didn’t quite make it.

  “I’m not angry with him. I’m frustrated with this silly, petty nonsense. In case it’s escaped your notice, this is a highly important meeting, and you’ve done nothing but be a distraction.”

  Rex’s face told her this was beyond his control, but that he would have no problem taking Roth out if he pulled any shit.

  “I’m a Full Partner and I felt it necessary to come here.”

  “You seem to have problems with your self-control. This is not a matter of what you want.” She shifted her attention to Rex. “I am not convinced of the wisdom of this move. Mr. Wesslyian lost his shit in front of the most prestigious members of the Vampire Nation last night. Interference or not, they’re not going to trust him—or me, for that matter—with this sudden reappearance. Which seems so very fortuitous for a man we all know doesn’t want the amendment to pass.”

  “I am opposed to this amendment, Rowan, but I do not assault people I disagree with. I apologize for that.”

  She shook her head as she looked to Rex. “I’m not all right with this.”

  Celesse shifted with a sigh. “Admittedly, I, too, am troubled by Roth’s appearance. We have business to attend to, and this is not what we need right now.”

  “What would make you all right with it? Short of his leaving, that is,” Rex asked of Rowan.

  “It doesn’t matter what she wants.” Roth sneered, and instead of rolling her eyes, Rowan simply went very cold and remote.

  “It does. As the Liaison, I have every right to choose who says what and how. That’s part of the job.” She turned to Rex. “So, we just voted to accept the new language, and that is what we will act on. Mr. Wesslyian will not speak in any official capacity in any meeting, or I will be pursuing his dismissal, affected by magic or not.”

  “I can’t believe you’d be so petty.”

  She held up a hand in Roth’s face. “You don’t know me very well then.”

  Rowan turned her back to walk away, but heard Rex say, “She’s the one who saved your ass with that call about the magic to start with. You need to connect with your gratitude.”

  “And if you don’t, you’d better hope Rex or I get to you first, before she can,” Celesse said quietly before she moved to catch up with Rowan.

  Roth was going to be trouble and, when he was, she would take care of him. This amendment was going to pass, and she was going to go home and not deal with any of these petty assholes for the next six months.

  * * *

  Clive caught sight of her as she came into the cocktail hour. She was annoyed; he saw it in the set of her eyes. He’d heard Roth Wesslyian had returned with
Rex Espy holding his leash, and he figured that was the reason for her expression.

  He’d have to give her a thorough workout later on that night to relax her.

  She turned right as he smiled, and she started and then rolled her eyes at him, knowing he was thinking about sex. But she looked less annoyed than she had earlier, so that much was a win.

  Rowan made a circuit of the room, touching base with the Scions she knew supported her. She was in her element here. She might complain about the politics of this Joint Tribunal business, but when the vote came in later to adopt the amendment, it would largely be because of her efforts.

  He couldn’t recall the last Hunter who had so much sway or who was held in such high esteem by the Vampire Nation. Despite the chaos, she did what needed to be done, even going so far as to procure the sleep protections for the attendees. She didn’t let anything get in her way for very long. She simply worked out how to burn it down, climb over it or work it to her advantage.

  “She’s done an excellent job.” The First appeared at Clive’s side, and Clive worked not to jump. He hadn’t even heard the Vampire approach.

  “You raised her well, Ovilius.”

  The First nodded. “I wish I could take credit for all of it. Her father was exceptional, and from what I understand of her mother, she was, too. The Goddess’s humans made her strong as did the Hunters. Though they don’t deserve one such as our Rowan.”

  “You’d have her here then?”

  “And why not? Do you not think she’d make an excellent Scion?”

  “She’s not Vampire. She doesn’t want to be.”

  “You’re so sure of that?”

  “Yes. Rowan is what she is. She cannot be anything but that. She is a better Vampire than most of us, this is true. But she does not want to be made. She doesn’t want to lose the sunlight.”

  “She’s too vicious to be tamed by the lackeys at Hunter Corp.” The First sniffed, offended. “They do not appreciate her.”

  Clive tended to agree with the latter, but that was Rowan’s business.

  “Her Goddess will be sure she’s as vicious as she needs to be.”

  “You understand her. This pleases me. If you make her unhappy, I will hurt you. Badly. For a very long time.” At this, The First smiled and headed toward Rowan.

  Rowan Summerwaite was royalty. And like royalty, pissing off her daddy, the king, meant the knight got separated from his head.

  Lucky for him, she was worth the risk.

  Alice entered the room, and he moved in her direction, needing to take care of some last-minute business before dinner got started.

  * * *

  Rowan took note of the little discussion Theo had with Clive before he glided over to where she’d just finished a conversation with Warren.

  “I see your human weasel has returned. Are you regretting my offer to turn a blind eye to killing and leaving him for the small mammals to eat?”

  She snorted. “Yes. Definitely. Though there’s always tomorrow.”

  “You are aware that he’s deeply offended several members of the team.”

  “I am. He’s been advised to keep his lips together. If he doesn’t, I’ll handle him myself. Immediately.”

  Roth stood on the other side of the room with Rex, who raised his glass to her when he caught her eye. She smiled and raised hers back.

  “This man is good to you? The one with the weasel?”

  “He’s the husband of my trainer at Hunter Corp. Rex Espy.”

  “Ah. I know him well. Or his writings, in any case. He’s brilliant.” Theo didn’t even add for a human, so he truly did admire Rex.

  “Definitely brilliant. His military strategy blows me away. He’s also an ace bridge player.”

  Theo’s gaze lit. “He is? You should be my partner and we can play him and someone else. Does Clive play?”

  “Probably. I’ve never asked.” And she had no intention of playing bridge as Theo’s partner. He was great at it, and 70 percent of the time he’d be fun. But that other 30 percent he could pout or go into a rage. He was a terrible loser.

  “I promise to be on my best behavior.”

  She kept her gaze down on her glass so as not to give her misgivings away, so she felt, rather than saw, the old Vampires enter the room.

  The Scions were already in attendance, so when she did look up, she knew it would be the Blood Front Vamps coming their way.

  Theo sighed heavily.

  “I cast aside my status and call a challenge.” Victoriana wore a smirk when she said this.

  Stunned, Rowan placed her glass on a tray and gave her attention to the Vampire before her.

  The air around Theo went icy cold. “Is that so?”

  He moved forward but did not get between Rowan and Victoriana. It would weaken them both if he went too far, but his rage was palpable. If Rowan didn’t kill Victoriana, Theo most assuredly would. But Rowan had every intention of doing it herself. She’d wanted to push Victoriana into a challenge, and it had worked. The timing wasn’t what she wanted, but Rowan could make it to her advantage in any case. And the bonus would be Victoriana gone.

  “She’s insulted me. Honor demands I have the right to challenge.”

  Rowan smiled, showing her teeth. She didn’t need sharp incisors to appear scary. She just let her bloodlust show in her features, and Victoriana faltered.

  Yes, that’s right, bitch. You made a mistake. Now I’m going to make you own it.

  The room had gone utterly silent.

  But before Victoriana could wise up and rescind, Rowan stepped forward. “Challenge accepted.” She turned her back and began to walk to the door.

  “It can wait until after dinner,” Victoriana called out.

  “No, it can’t. You challenged me. I answered. Let me kill you and be done so my meal isn’t ruined.” She looked at Roth, who stood near the doors with Rex and Celesse, wanting him to understand she had no fear when it came to getting shit done. Rowan called back over her shoulder, “The gardens out back have a wide open space in the center. It’s suitable for a challenge. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. If you’re not, you forfeit your life.”

  Without waiting, she stalked toward the stairs leading up to her rooms. She needed to change from her formal clothing into something she could fight in. And she needed her blade.

  Celesse caught up with her. “I won’t ask if you’re sure about this. What can I do?”

  “She challenged first, so I really had no choice but to accept. Hunter Corp. is fine if I kill her. Which I will.”

  “I’m not concerned about the paperwork, Rowan. She’s old.”

  “Meh, not even five hundred yet. Though her maker was well over fifteen hundred when he made her. She’s powerful. But like most Vampires who are young but carry that much power, she’s stupid. And that will get her killed, which will underline my power with the bonus of weakening hers.”

  The guards moved from her way as they headed down the hall to her suite.

  “Security is different up here from where we’re at,” Celesse spoke quietly.

  “Yes, well.” Rowan didn’t want to say it was where Theo’s daytime resting spot was. She didn’t want to endanger him, though it wasn’t that hard to figure out.

  “Do you need a second or anything like that?”

  David opened the door and ushered them in. “I took the liberty of laying out something more suitable, Déesse.”

  Rowan began peeling off her clothing as they both followed her.

  “You’re a kickass bitch, Celesse. But you can’t be my second. Even the strongest human being would be ill-suited to that position. If by some chance she does beat me, if I had a second, she’d be able to challenge them too. There’s not a Hunter here who could do it.”

 
“You’re doing it.”

  Rowan zipped her pants and pulled on boots. “I’m not human.”

  Celesse sighed. “Susan is going to be really angry with me if you get killed. She’s a harpy at the best of times. If you get killed on my watch, she’ll make my life a misery until I jump off a building to rid myself of her voice.”

  That made Rowan laugh. “She totally would. Though Rex would suffer her wrath first since he’s here too. But I’m going to win. I’m going to win, and she’s an idiot because she’s just handed me a huge advantage in these negotiations. I’m going out there, and I will kill her and that will end all her silly Vampires-are-superior-beings bullshit. A Hunter will kill her, and that will remind every last Vampire here that the amendment is the easiest way to keep the peace.”

  “It’s barbaric! A fight to the death is ridiculous. Over what? A stupid insult?”

  “They’re not barbarians, Celesse.” Rowan tucked her hair back in a low ponytail and then into the collar of her shirt to keep it out of the way. “They’re Vampires. I’m speaking to them in a manner they’ll understand. And maybe now Roth and his little group will understand a few things, as well.”

  They went back out into the hall, and she sent Celesse ahead, saying she’d meet her downstairs. “I need to get my blade. I’ll be down shortly. Will you please check with Rex and one of you phone the Motherhouse to let them know what’s happening? I don’t want the news to come from Roth.”

  Celesse nodded and then took Rowan’s hands. “Good luck. And kill her fast.”

  Rowan nodded and turned to head around to where she knew they’d been keeping her blade, only to find Recht approaching, holding her sword in the scabbard. He knelt and held it out. “Your blade, little goddess.”

  She took it and David helped her secure the rig so it sat at her back and wouldn’t impede movement.

  “Thank you.”

  “I would like to be your second.”

  She paused, surprised. “Recht, I don’t think that’s wise.”