by Lauren Dane
To stave off nervousness, or maybe to give it voice, Rowan asked, “If he’s not awake in five minutes what do we do?”
Star stretched up to lick the hand resting on Clive’s chest, reassuring, before she lay down once more.
“Okay,” Rowan murmured to the dog. “Thank you.”
Having a dog that was a magic dog was pretty nice.
Genevieve said, “Do you think I could come along with you the next time you go to Imbolc celebrations in Kildare? I admit how fascinated I am about the magic you and Brigid share. I’ve only known one other Vessel over my life and her not very well at all. I want to see and learn.”
“I haven’t been to Imbolc with her yet. Me first,” Clive said, his voice a little rusty.
Rowan leaned forward and laid a kiss on her Scion before he could say another world. “You cannot do that again.”
He sat up as he gave her a look. “Darling Hunter, how many times have I watched you on the verge of death? On the other hand I was out”—he stopped and looked over to Betchamp who held up four fingers—“four minutes and death wasn’t even in question.”
But it had been. Because Rowan kept losing people she loved and for those four minutes, she had no idea how to help him.
Still. He had a point so she rolled her eyes at him and stood. “I’m so hungry. Let’s eat while you tell us what you found in Lyr’s memories.”
“Rowan.” Clive took her hand, pulling her to a stop as everyone else headed toward the table. He turned her to face him and then wrapped her in his arms. “Every moment I knew you were here at my side.” He kissed the top of her head. “I’m not leaving you.”
Rowan buried her face in his chest a moment to push the tears back. They made her feel like a fool but now that he was all right, all the terror rushed through her body and all the worst-case scenarios raced through her mind.
He spoke against her ear. “There now. It’s all right. I promise. Let it all go and soon you’ll be vexed with me for some reason or another. I love you beyond measure.”
Like that wasn’t going to make her cry? Rowan sucked in a breath and stepped away from him, out of his embrace.
“Of course you do. Now that you’ve scared the hell out of me and put dinner off for so long, let’s eat or I’ll get hangry.”
He pulled her to him once more, planting a kiss on her mouth before he released her, following in her wake.
* * *
Clive didn’t need to eat to live as humans did, but he enjoyed eating human food. Enjoyed watching his wife as she fussed over him but tried to pretend it was no big deal. Enjoyed that he’d finally been able to access that which had been denied to him by Lyr’s magic.
Overcoming that block to gain access to Lyr’s memories had been a victory. Though Lyr was truly dead, there were others and Clive would be able to find them because he’d been stronger than Lyr in the end.
It didn’t bother him that he’d had someone else defeat the magic in him. She was one of his in a sense now. She’d held his life in her hands and had done him only good. It meant he had resources better than Lyr’s. And it meant he could beat this foe.
That he’d do so with something he’d taken from Lyr would be utterly delicious.
He knew Rowan only had so much patience and would be asking him about it soon enough so he sifted through all the memories as they ate, trying to get them in some sort of order before he spoke.
Finally, when he knew she was just about to demand he talk, Clive put his teacup down and settled back in his chair, taking Rowan’s hand because he wanted to and because she was still recovering from a scare and they both needed it.
“I will know more when I awaken at dusk but I can give you what I’ve pieced together so far. I’ve never experienced a Vampire this old and well protected before.” It usually took him a bit to put everything together. All the images and snippets of faces and details had to coalesce into something understandable.
“Before you do, would you like me to tell you about the spell in Lyr’s blood?” Genevieve asked right before she took a bite of lemon cake.
“Yes. In the interests of keeping a logical order.”
“As I said, it was in his blood. Triggered, I believe by his death. The spelltrap began a sort of cascade then, further infecting you with the passage of time.”
Ah. Interesting. Clive would think on that and circle back to it later. Maybe he would benefit from such a protection. He wasn’t the only Vampire in the world who could take memories that way and he certainly knew details that would be incredibly dangerous in the wrong hands.
“The spell created a lock on all those memories. Eventually they might have come to you. But given the size of what you coughed up after only a week, it’s more likely that it would have killed you if not caught.” Genevieve nodded her thanks to Elisabeth, who put another slice of cake on her plate.
Star grunted with a half bark at the end and Clive looked down at her. “I’m not a fan of hearing such things either.”
“Let’s make that the three of us,” Rowan said as she took her hand back to finish up her cake. “But you said it’s gone.”
Genevieve nodded. “There’s no trace of dark or malevolent magics on or in you that I could sense. Just Vampire magic and the bond you have with Rowan and the bond you share with the Vampires and Protected in your service. Bonds are protective magic. Yours protected you as much as possible. I imagine all the Vampires in your territory will feel better when they awaken.”
“You know a lot about Vampires,” Clive said. Enough that it made him slightly uncomfortable though certainly still grateful she’d just saved him.
Genevieve shrugged one shoulder. “I’ve learned a few things over the years. I haven’t seen a spell like this before though. Not exactly. There are layers to it. I will think on that and study. It tasted different than straightforward dark magework.”
“Do you think you could make a spell like that for me?” Rowan asked. “If I was drained a bad guy might see something that could put people in danger. But I want to be sure it wouldn’t trigger for a blood exchange.” His foulmouthed, ill-tempered wife blushed and charmed him anew.
That she’d said it to another person, in front of David, was a step he wasn’t sure she’d ever make so it never ceased to humble him.
“I will think on it for you and your Vampire too. Maybe something all your field Hunters could use as well,” Genevieve said. “I admit I’m a little excited by the prospect. I love to create new magic. I just need to figure out how that trigger worked,” Genevieve said.
“These layers you talked about,” Rowan said, “we know there’s someone at the top orchestrating this whole thing that most likely isn’t a Vampire or a witch so it’s a few different types working their own magic together. Wouldn’t that account for what you’re sensing?”
Genevieve nodded. “Certainly there’s an element to it that’s evidence of multiple types of magical energies used to create a single spell. And of course we know Lyr was a sorcerer himself and was Made by a Vampire who was also a witch. All these things play into it. The taste of it was familiar but not quite. I’ll be investigating that spell because the Conclave should know what’s happening.”
Genevieve was a very powerful force within the Conclave Senate, which was the witches’ version of governance. As this particular situation was rife with bloody fuck all magic from all corners, Clive wasn’t surprised she’d want to keep the Conclave apprised of the magical elements.
The Vampire in him was definitely uncomfortable about any outsider knowing Vampire Nation business. But that same Vampire also knew her knowledge made his position stronger and was willing to share because it benefited them all.
“Okay, so she shared her stuff. What do you know at this point?” Rowan finally said and it pleased him that she sounded a little impatient. It meant she was feeling much less worr
ied about him.
“There’s a rather large magical black market in London. Lyr made purchases. How many I don’t know. Most recent memories are the clearest.”
“How long can you go back to access memories?” Genevieve asked, curiosity in her tone.
* * *
Rowan snorted and spoke to Genevieve. “Goddess. I thought I was the blunt one. You have no filters. You can’t just ask a Vampire all the secrets of his gifts.”
Genevieve’s expression before she flattened her mouth out told Rowan she thought that was bullshit. “Why not? I’m curious. I like to know things. How can you know if you don’t ask?”
“Vampires love secrets. They’re coin of the realm. You earn access to secrets. And telling secrets about gifts and powers can aid an enemy. You know that.” Rowan turned to Clive. “She gathers knowledge like Vampires gather secrets and fascinating people. Mainly it’s harmless.”
He smirked but it was a quick smirk, before he spoke. “Suffice it to say very powerful and impactful memories can be years and years old. Most memories, though, aren’t going to be around for longer than a few months. The ones I’m most likely going to recall in detail will be fresh or very important.
“His black market contacts I’m going to assume are part of whatever big picture plan he had. I don’t have faces I recognize yet. But I do have some information about location and who he met with last time.”
Rowan figured he’d probably need to look through the photos of the sorcerers that’d been placed in a file for precisely that reason. A gallery of rogues—only gross ones and not hot dukes you’d want to read about in a romance.
As he didn’t mention that to Genevieve though, Rowan kept it to herself. She probably wasn’t supposed to know about it either but you got to know stuff when your dad was the boss and your husband ran a continent. Also, she’d set stuff on fire the last several times they tried to hide important things from her so while Theo didn’t care so much, Clive had learned his lesson.
“I’ll have my people get to work on the information I do possess and I’ll pass it on to you,” Clive told Genevieve. “I’m satisfied with the Conclave handling all this black market business. I have my own wrongdoers to run to ground and punish.”
They finished up their dessert and Genevieve stood. “I’m sure you two want some time alone before the sun comes up. I’m running on very little sleep and I have several phone meetings to deal with later so I’m off. Rowan, call me when you wake up.”
Clive stood as well, giving Genevieve a small bow of thanks. Elisabeth handed a bag holding several slices of lemon cake to her before Rowan walked her out.
“Your assistance has been incredibly helpful,” she told Genevieve. Yes, the rules about debt were a little different between friends, but it was always wise to avoid debt neither party wanted incurred.
“That’s what friends do for friends. We’re fighting the same enemy. We can work together when possible. That makes it more fun.” Genevieve winked before she leaned in to hug Rowan quickly. “Sleep well. I’ll see you later and we’ll talk about scheduling to get your entire property warded. What you have is fine. More than fine. But I’m better.”
Rowan laughed and watched Genevieve pull her sporty little car around the circular drive and head out, through the gates that opened for her.
* * *
It was clear to Genevieve that Rowan and Clive needed some time alone to process what had happened that night. Sunrise wasn’t so very far away so she took her leave and headed off into the desert.
She didn’t have a road in mind; instead she followed the pull of magic in the earth and let it guide her down one back dirt road after another until she knew it was time to stop and get out.
Out here, the desert smelled clean. A little spice of various plants hung in the air and she followed it on foot until she came to an outcropping of rocks overlooking the valley below.
Knew as she settled herself on the biggest, most stable rock, the earth welcomed her, held out the bounty of the magics stored there.
What she’d seen when she exorcised the darkness from Clive, what she’d felt needed to be released, had taken a toll on her system. She hadn’t told Rowan, who only would have worried. Genevieve knew how to siphon it off, drain it from herself but not create a toxic trap for anyone or anything else.
Lyr had been killed true-dead, yes. But what or who he represented remained. Tensed and ready to strike again. Ready to take whatever it wanted. The raw greed of that spell and the magics that had powered it couldn’t be allowed to continue unchecked.
The Conclave wouldn’t tolerate such toxic magics. Couldn’t and still continue to hold itself out as a governing body that protected those with magical gifts it claimed to represent. Moreover, that type of working was a violation of the Treaty, which exposed them to the judgment of Hunter Corp., which no one wanted. Genevieve knew Rowan and knew she would not stop until this threat was finally extinguished so it was better to do it together, share power and resources, than try to fight a war on multiple fronts.
That spell lurking in Lyr’s blood was connected to whatever power had created it. If Genevieve could follow it, she’d have a roadmap right back to the being she and Rowan were looking to eradicate.
Genevieve held her palms up in her lap, the backs of her hands resting lightly on her knees as she took a deep breath and then several more. Centering herself. Tuning in to whatever frequency the magic waited for her on so it could tell her what she wanted to know.
It would also take away the toxic, dark power. Cleanse it from her system and remove it so no other beings would be harmed.
Genevieve sang a spell. A very old spell she’d learned from her first teacher. That witch had thrown bones and read palms. She ingested cocktails of powerful roots and herbs to help her visions. She’d taught Genevieve how to rein her power in so it didn’t fry her brain. She’d given the tools to a very young witch so that young witch could ride that power and harness it with the cadence of words woven into a spell.
That jagged darkness flowed away from the ball she’d crushed it into. Left Genevieve completely, and in doing so, the potential for wrong, for injury and pain also left. Drifted away only to be pulled apart until it was nothing.
She sang away her fear and her worry for the future. Embraced her place in the world. Embraced her power and the pain that had gotten her that far.
The voices in her head ebbed at the song, relaxed and let the magic do what it needed to do.
When Genevieve came back to herself the sun had risen fully, casting a beautiful golden orange light over the desert in the valley below. Pockets of blue gray shadow held in between the rocks and rising mountains all around her.
And on the other side of the small ledge, across the desert floor, the leader of the local Trick of Dust Devils leaned against his motorcycle. Watching her.
Darius didn’t move to approach her. Didn’t attempt to hide his presence or to leave, so Genevieve nodded, knowing that despite the distance, he’d see.
There was potential between them. On more than one level. It was so big she’d shied away. Wanting to postpone it until they were done dealing with the immediate trouble of these sorcerers.
She wasn’t sure Darius would allow distance. At least not for long. But for that day he did. So Genevieve put it aside and stood, stretching and letting the magic of a new morning greet her. Letting the aches fall away. She’d eaten and visited with her friends. Even managed to help them. Now it was time to go home. Sleep a few hours before she got up to continue working on this mess.
And as she drove away, she saw Darius turn the opposite way, a cloud of dust in his wake.
Chapter Five
“I think you need to rest,” Rowan told Clive after she’d let Star out and then back inside.
“Daylight approaches. So you get your wish. Frankly, I’d prefer it if I could be a
wake during the light if for no other reason than to keep an eye on you.”
“I managed okay during the daytime for a long time before I got myself all hitched up with a Vampire.” And he was the one who had coughed up a wodge of gross dark stuff not too long ago. He was the one who’d been targeted by dark magics—in his body—and didn’t even know it.
“Stop panicking,” he said quietly as they went into her room.
“I can’t help it!” Rowan threw her hands up, frustrated and uncomfortable. “I can’t fight spells that lurk inside you. I can’t punch them or slice them in two. I’m helpless against something that could have killed you.”
He sighed and wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight for long moments. “We lead dangerous lives, darling Hunter. We have to accept that each time one of us is out of the other’s sight. Just like I accepted your worry that something was wrong with me after trying to access Lyr’s memories.”
“After I nagged you for an entire week.”
“Certainly. But I did accept it and you must admit you like to nag. Genevieve came and did her magic and I’m all right now. I have some answers and when I wake up at dusk, I’ll have more. But while I’m out today, you’ll be gallivanting around flaunting yourself in the face of myriad dangers. And I have to accept that.”
“I don’t gallivant!”
He just gave her Scion face and in the end she had to laugh because what else could she do other than curl up into a terrified ball and never leave the house again?
“I can’t ask you to stop worrying any more than you can ask that of me. That’s love, I suppose. All I can ask is that you do your very best not to get killed or maimed. Or at the very least save your maiming and killing of other creatures until I can watch since you’re so alluring when you’re killing things.”
“Are you flattering me into some sexytimes?” she asked, pulling her shirt up and off.
“Always.”
She laughed, easing a little. Falling into their back-and-forth and letting the magic of their relationship do its work.