by Lauren Dane
Donna’s eyebrows raised. “He said that?”
“He didn’t make it up. I mean, it’s customary in their world if one of the spouses is a warrior of some type.” It was that he’d put it there without hesitation. She wondered if he’d even noticed it when he’d given her the ring. She hadn’t really thought about it until several hours later.
“He accepts who and what you are. That’s a good sign.”
Which was exactly why it meant so much.
“Yes. Despite the whole Vampire thing, he’s...he’s nice. I mean, he’s still one of them so he’s arrogant and bossy and thinks he’s the only person capable of doing anything right. But I like him more than I want to kill him. Most days.”
“Considering what a wretched bitch you are, that’s not a bad thing.”
A laugh bubbled up from Rowan’s belly as a rush of gratitude hit her. She only saw Donna once a year, maybe two and yet, she was someone Rowan trusted. Trusted enough to give her admission to Rowan’s home, and to her life. It was good to be teased by a friend like her.
“I’ll probably tell him this story. If I’m feeling nice,” Rowan said.
“So maybe never?”
“You’re so mean,” Rowan said around a snicker.
“My ex said the same thing when I spelled him so that his butthole itched every three hours for six days. My mom taught me that spell.” Donna’s smile was proud.
“What?” Rowan had to put her espresso down because she shook so hard with laughter. “Man, I wish I knew that spell.”
They finished their breakfast as the city came alive all around them and then moved to stroll along the canal, over the footbridge and around the palazzo.
As they headed away from the area, back over Rialto and into Costello, where the Goldonis lived.
“Here’s what I know.” Donna spoke quickly as they weaved through the already growing crowds fresh off the cruise ships that docked nearby. “I started asking around about new long term tenants who may not have been human.”
“As you do.”
“What?”
“Sorry. Americanism. It was a way to comment on the absurdity of putting the word out for non-humans being totally normal for us. He—Clive—only gets about half the references.”
“Naturally you do it even more often.”
Rowan nodded, mock serious. “It’s like we’re sisters.”
Donna’s smile brightened. “I understand that one.”
“You’re quick that way.”
“I am. Which is why I had two suspects within three hours of finding out she was possibly coming here.”
“Also one of your finest qualities.”
Donna unlocked the main door to the building she and Marcelo lived in. Her parents lived down the hall and Marcelo’s brother lived a floor up. It was like a magical fortress in there. Whatever she had to say to Rowan, Donna wanted to be sure they weren’t overheard.
The entry to their flat welcomed Rowan with the scent of yeast and something fresh and green.
Window boxes lining the entire living room burst with all manner of living things. Herbs, flowers and vegetables filled the space with so much vitality Brigid approved as mightily as Rowan did.
They got morning sun but at the end of the day, when it was hottest, they got shade. It made their apartment even more soothing to be in. Rowan had spent hours in the kitchen with Donna and her mother the last time she’d been in Venice. Cooking. Drinking wine or tea. Rowan liked to watch Donna create the complicated potions she used for her magic. The energy of the flat embraced her, made her feel safe.
A conjuror worked magic through spellcraft. As they learned and their control grew, their ability to work more and more complicated and powerful spells also grew. Most never got past dabbler levels, but Donna and her mother were both fairly strong.
In fact, Donna led the gathering there in Venice. A gathering was a group of conjurors who worked together. She was sort of an ambassador, president, judge and teacher all at once.
“Sit. I think tea is in order for the rest of the telling.” Donna indicated the scarred kitchen table. Rowan did and after she set the water to boil, Donna joined her.
“I wanted to come here so that we could speak privately. There’s quite a bit of Vampire and magical power in my city that’s recently arrived from the outside. It makes everyone else nervous. The practitioners have been asking around but no one seems to know the source. Not for sure. But whatever is in that palazzo we were looking at is my guess.”
Rowan would have to take Donna’s word for it. She had her own sort of magic, but no talent for that sort of working.
“Shortly after learning Sangre International owned the property, my cousin had finally gotten back to me. He works for a security company. They got a service call for the system in that palazzo. One of the panels had water in it so he had to tear it out and put another in so he was there for several hours. He said there were three Vampires, one female. He told me she smelled like almonds.”
Rowan blew out a breath. The very oldest Vampires smelled like almonds. Enyo definitely fit that bill.
“Two human security. From dawn to twilight they patrol the exterior every hour at the quarter after. They’re not using any specialized equipment. No body armor though they’re carrying side arms. They also have food delivered to the outer gate. Idiots.” Donna got up to pour the hot water into teacups and bring them back to the table.
“It’s got to be her. We won’t know for sure until dark though. She’s bound to have a fortified resting chamber, so I can’t just go in and stake her while she’s at rest or even count on her dying if I burned the place to the ground. It’s such a beautiful building I’d hate to destroy it. And it belongs to the Vampire Nation so if I do destroy it they’d demand to be compensated for it. Even though it’s their property this woman is in to start with. This is the level of ridiculous my life has gone to.”
“Fire jumps from building to building too easily anyway.” Donna patted her hand with a smirk. “So when are you going in? I have some rudimentary plans for the building that should help us.”
Rowan shook her head. “I appreciate your help. I’ve already transferred your fee plus an additional fifty percent for the speed and thoroughness of your work. I’ll take over from here.”
Her friend’s amusement slid into hard lines. “My mistake. I shouldn’t have made that sound like a request. You’re family. There’s to be no argument.”
“It’s one thing to sneak around and gather intel for me. This is something else.” Enyo was the scariest thing she’d ever come up against other than Theo. Rowan was sure she’d kill Enyo or die trying. But the humans she cared for were fragile. So, so vulnerable.
“I’m not saying anything negative about your ability and power. You’re a badass. But she’s like nothing you’ve dealt with before. I can’t risk you.”
“Those of us in Venice who are practitioners have a loose organization. As I said, we’ve noted the rise of some new magical power. Poison on the breeze sometimes. We believe this is connected to your Vampire and as such, it concerns us. Today, while it’s daytime and safe,” she added before Rowan could argue, “at least let me walk with you back to your villa. We’ll take a small detour past that palazzo. Just so I can get a little closer. You’ll be with me. It’s daylight. I might be able to tell if it’s a Vampire working magics or if she’s got them with her as part of her retinue.”
Rowan groaned. “We can go now if you have the time. I appreciate your assistance.” Help freely offered was something sacred. While she wanted to keep them safe, she didn’t intend on insulting these women and the truth was, the expertise they had to offer would be valuable.
After tidying up the kitchen, they headed back out. The warmth of the earlier morning had gotten heavier as rain waited somewhere ne
arby. The scent of it, in Venice like nowhere else, already hung in the air.
Before they’d even crossed the footbridge to the other side of the canal, a faint hint of dark, sticky magic laid itself against the breeze for a brief moment. Donna’s muscles tightened up. Brigid, too, rose and her power unfurled slowly, filling the space in a warm wave.
Donna paused, turning to Rowan, looking her over carefully. “Well.”
“The last year has been intense.” Rowan turned her back, looking carefully at the rear corner of the building. It also helped not to look at Donna.
Each threat she’d faced had made her stronger. The distressing thing was that she kept having to tangle with super old Vampires who kicked her ass sideways, nearly killing her, before she’d been able to vanquish them.
It hurt to nearly die. But worse than embarrassment and all the pain, it filled her with outrage that she hadn’t vanquished Enyo.
Things wouldn’t be balanced until Rowan had erased the ancient Vamp from the earth. And it wasn’t only Rowan who burned with the need to end the Vampire. Enyo had killed the last Vessel who carried Brigid, which meant She hated Enyo as much as Rowan did.
The score to settle was one of those big, giant holy mission type things and Rowan was totally okay with that.
“Sometimes the path to greater power is a painful one,” Donna said, understanding in her tone.
There was always a balance to keep. It would never not be a part of her life. It hadn’t been a happy, bouncy road to get to that point where she’d not only accepted what it meant to be a Vessel, but she embraced it.
It was then, that moment where she accepted her path and took it up like a mantle, that she and Brigid had kicked open the last doors between their power and became something else. Something stronger and faster and ultimately more powerful and deadly.
But the path had been lit with a whole lot of pain and anguish. Donna was right about that.
As they circled around to stroll along the narrow walk at the front of the palazzo, that sticky energy nearly touched Rowan.
Donna spoke under her breath as she hustled Rowan along about three times as fast as they’d been moving before.
Down narrow alleys and through the tiniest of courtyards and Rowan realized they’d ended up at the canal her house looked on.
“I’ve never come home this way.”
“I know a thing or two.”
Rowan smirked at Donna. “I bet you do.”
Once they’d gotten inside her villa and the doors were locked behind them with the wards in place, Rowan finally asked, “Okay, mind telling me what just happened?”
Donna brought a bottle of red wine left over from the dinner the night before and poured them each a sizeable glass and nearly drained hers in a few swallows.
Well, that was alarming.
“I haven’t been that close to it before. I suppose I thought it was superstition but really it was most likely self preservation to keep my distance. There is something profane in that palazzo. Wrong. Yes, there are Vampires there. But I can’t say if it’s yours or another,” Donna said. “Whatever the case, it needs to be routed and driven from here. Even those who practice dark energy have lines they won’t cross. There are rules you don’t break without risking a great deal.” She made the evil eye with a nimble flick of her wrist.
“Let’s hope it’s her and not an entirely new and separate threat. I sort of have a lot to do right now.” Rowan finished her wine.
“Trouble likes company.”
“I’m trouble’s best friend.”
“How long has it been since you’ve slept?” Donna asked.
Over a full day by that point. “That’s on my list. But I have other things to do first.” Like call Hunter Corp. and report in because even if Roth was being a treasonous asshole, not everyone there was. This clusterfuck was Hunter Corp.’s job and she had no plans to let them sidle away from their responsibility.
After that rousing call, she’d check in with her investigator to see if he’d heard anything of use to her about Roth and this business with David. Then she might just be able manage to grab a few hours’ sleep before the Vampires woke up.
Right then, Rowan pushed away her exhaustion and began to put together an angle of attack. “You said you had the plans for the palazzo?”
“We aren’t done negotiating yet.”
Rowan shook her head. “Nope. I’d appreciate the plans, but I’m sure Carey could get them too. I’m not going to let you put yourselves in the line of fire.”
“I can help you, Rowan. Me and the other practitioners in Venice. We can put our magic to good use.”
Rowan’s power seemed to fill the room in one hard burst. “It’s my job to protect humans from creatures like whoever is in that palazzo. It’s my job to kill it and end any threat. This is what I’m going to do.”
Donna blew out a breath. “I understand you want to protect us.”
Affection was one thing; she cared for the Goldonis. She’d protect them, even if they were unhappy about it. “The sentence needs to end right there.”
David came into the room but instead of leaving, he came to stand with them, a brow rising as he caught sight of the wine.
“You’ve been busy today.”
They filled him in on what they’d learned. David made notes and sent several texts to Carey, who coordinated with his counterpart at Hunter Corp.
“Donna is right, Deese.” David said this respectfully, but he was firm.
“I liked it better when you were perfectly obedient.” Rowan frowned his way.
He bowed slightly, hiding a smile still showing in his eyes. “I am yours to command. As ever.”
“Look at you! Was that sarcasm? I wrote that book, mister. Don’t try it. You’re not even afraid of me anymore. I’m slipping. I used to make people weep with a look and now you’re giving me puppy dog eyes. It’s like I’m in hell.”
David ignored Rowan. “How close do you have to be for your magic to be effective?” he asked Donna.
“We can all stay at least several houses away. My mother and I can access the third floor of the café where Rowan and I sat earlier today. Across the canal from the palazzo. The others can position themselves similarly.” Donna turned her attention to Rowan. “All of us, across traditions and practices are standing against this abomination and rooting it out. Let us be your shield. You’ll be gone in a few days. Venice will still be here. We’ll still be here. And it’ll remain our job to keep it safe. We’ve already been working—all of us with the gift—together to find it. We’re no small power and we’re at your disposal.”
They were right. But damn it, the more things she had to keep track of, the slower her response would be.
Rowan had allowed herself to be soothed by this sense of camaraderie, and of course she was appreciative of Donna’s expertise. But Rowan was responsible for her and all these other practitioners. Didn’t they get it?
Rowan blew out a frustrated breath. Trying to manage people was a pain in her ass. “I need to take a walk to think about it.”
“You shouldn’t go out alone,” David admonished.
Rowan’s eyebrow slid up very slowly. Sarcasm was one thing—and she was proud he was so good at it—but he needed to remember what she was. “I’m a big girl.”
Chastened, he nodded. “Of course. I’m not questioning that. Merely requesting that you be safe. Which of course you will be because that’s your job.”
“Nice recovery. Get back with Carey and then have Susan’s valet set up that call with Hunter Corp. I don’t want you dealing with Roth, or anyone else but Celesse or Susan. Oh and for that conference call, make sure Carey’s included.” He’d know bullshit in ways Rowan wouldn’t even think to be suspicious of. He was crafty in ways she wasn’t. “Anyone starts t
rouble while I’m gone, shoot them in the face. And then text me.”
She headed back out, needing to be alone to parse over all the stuff in her head.
The desire to simply go over to that palazzo, kick the doors open and hunt until she sliced Enyo’s head off rode her nerves, made her jittery. Like a bead of water skittering across the surface of a hot pan.
The Rowan she’d been would have done it a year ago.
Now she had all these people to juggle. Some to protect, others to mollify, fear or deceive. And some of those people were all those at once.
Her life before Clive came into it had been free of having to ask people for permission to do things. Or to seek their input.
Clive had changed things.
That was pretty mushy, she realized, cringing. But there was no denying it. He’d come along at a time when everything in her life had been in flux. Any other man and she’d never have considered him.
But he’d gotten all up in her head and her life and her heart and there wasn’t much else to do.
He’d changed her and then the intervening year a hundred other things had altered her life.
And six months ago her loyalty to Hunter Corp. had been unquestioned. Sure she had annoyances, but most things annoyed her and people being in charge of her had always chafed.
The Joint Tribunal had changed things. Roth trying to harm David had changed things. Hunter Corp’s foot dragging when it came to investigating the role of one of their own in this leak they so clearly have within their organization had changed things.
She didn’t trust them anymore.
She headed down to the Grand Canal so she could grab a water taxi. Rowan had already walked up and down the bridges and back alleyways so at least she could cruise through by water while she was doing her thinking.
Rain was coming but that hadn’t stopped the crowds. Rowan waited her turn in the line up for the water taxis, neatly defending her turf when a young couple tried to cut in line.