Blood and Blade

by Lauren Dane

  First they had to get all the info they could from Rod. Clive could indeed tap into Rod’s head and take his memories. It would most likely leave Rod a mess and the memories weren’t like an encyclopedia article. It was bits and pieces and symbols and faces. It had to be put together and it took time. And even then, just because Rod had experienced it didn’t mean Clive would see it. It wasn’t that fine a tool.

  It’d be easier and more expedient to just get the information via interrogation and by that point, Rod wasn’t going to put up a fight. Rowan knew that silver had to burn. Hoped it did because he was part of the group that had her friends murdered.

  Clive had gone full Vamp. His eyes held that otherworldly light. His voice seemed charming and melodic but it was totally his glamour. He had the dial turned up to eleven.

  Even if she couldn’t see that with her own eyes, she sure as fuck felt it through their bond. He was rip-apart-cars level mad.

  “Where do you get the spells?” Clive demanded.

  “I have sources. Mages and sorcerers who make extras to send my way. It’s a boutique business and I only serve the highest quality of clientele.” Rod looked to Rowan who flipped him off.

  “Names and contact information,” Clive ordered.

  Rod tried to hem and haw but finally gave them the information. Genevieve spent a few minutes conferring back and forth with someone over her phone before she came back into the room.

  “How long have you been working with Thomas?” Clive asked.

  “Four years.”

  “Who runs the Blood Front now?” Rowan asked as she chose a stiletto that’d been edged in silver and quenched in holy water. “Answer me completely and honestly and do not make me repeat myself. This is heading for your eye if you fuck around. I swear to you right now.”

  He believed her. “Garen.”

  “Was he in charge during the last purge handed down by The First?” Theo had not too long ago gone out and slaughtered entire lines of Vampires he’d found to be part of a Blood Front conspiracy that had aimed to kill Rowan and weaken the Vampire Nation to start a war.

  He’d killed a whole lot of Vampires then so she found it astonishing that these fuckers didn’t just find a new hobby to avoid trouble from their leader.

  Rod said, “No. He was third in line. When the others were disciplined and there were leadership openings, he took it on.”

  Rowan probably saw the back of her brain when she rolled her eyes. “Disciplined. That’s a word for it. He hunted them down. Ran them into the ground. Killed them painfully by ripping them apart and then he ate them. Bones and all and shit them out. That’s what happened to them. Their names will never be spoken officially again. Those who managed to escape him the first time will truly understand what a miscalculation it was to continue playing Blood Front Vampire instead of vacationing in Paris. I will never understand how stupid you all can be when it comes to your existence.”

  “Who is working with Thomas within House Stewart?” Clive asked.

  “Like me, Thomas has family who ignore his brilliance. And so he must suffer the weight alone.”

  “I should stab you in the face for believing such utter bullshit,” Rowan said. She should do it anyway. If anyone deserved to be stabbed in the face it was Rod. And Thomas, he deserved a knife in the face too for what he’d done to destroy Clive’s entire family.

  Rod was so narcissistic and delusional about this whole martyr gig he believed himself to be part of that Rowan knew he was telling the truth. Mostly.

  She cocked her head, staring at Rod and once she snagged his attention—with a rather satisfying wince—Rowan brought the blade up to catch the light and make her point.

  “Who else within House Stewart is involved?” Brigid asked through Rowan this time. Dimly, Rowan knew Rod was now staring a goddess in the eyes as She took over consciousness.

  “Arthur and his paramour,” Roderick gasped out, fear sweating through his skin. Brigid loved that scent. Loved that She’d inspired it in part.

  Brigid stepped back and Rowan managed to withhold her reaction to Clive’s other uncle being named. She knew they were both assholes who thought she wasn’t fit to be in their family. Knew they had a bit of an anti-human thing happening too. But she’d considered them both below her notice and of no real threat.

  Goddess, she’d fucked up so badly to not even consider that Thomas and Arthur might have been part of the Blood Front on some level.

  Rowan cut her gaze to Clive, who’d gone very, very still as he took the information in. The situation had gotten impossibly more complicated.

  “My uncles. Did they both pay for Lyr’s bills?” Clive asked with a nonchalance she knew he was not feeling.

  “No. He was a go-between a few times when Thomas couldn’t make it. Once or twice he brought his woman. Look, I’m not trying to turn on them. I’m just being cooperative. Right?” Rod appealed to Rowan. As if she was going to say, oh hey no big deal.

  She gave him no expression one way or the other but she rolled her eyes so hard in her head.

  “It’s their money anyway. Why should Charles get all the money and power while Thomas and Arthur have to live in the shadow? On the scraps?”

  “Scraps? They have done nothing to earn the very comfortable living afforded to them by my father. Thomas and Arthur live in the shadow because that’s what roaches do. Charles has done nothing to shame our family name. Because Charles was every bit Malcolm’s son and has led the line with loyalty, strength and dignity since his father passed it to him. Because unlike his useless, sniveling younger brothers, Charles served on the front lines of multiple bloody wars in defense of the other Vampires. Many of which still live today. Thomas and Arthur have had the years and the means with which to build themselves into any number of successful people. And they chose you. And this.” Clive’s voice had gone colder with each word until Rowan was certain she could see her breath. The weight of his power, the terrible fury of his glamour at that point prickled against her skin like static electricity.

  Only Rowan knew that beneath the chilly demeanor and delivery, Clive’s emotions were a churning sea of lava. So. Much. Rage. Calculation. Derision. Honor. Duty. Disappointment. Grief. It was all there and he knew she felt it and would never use it to hurt him.

  Even at that terrible moment Rowan knew how fortunate she was in her choice of life partner.

  Rod wasn’t going to have an answer for any of that because as Clive had pointed out, the other Vampire and those he served knew nothing of honor and dignity. The words meant nothing to Rod. The tone though, well, Rowan watched as Rod tried to make himself smaller. Something she’d seen myriad creatures do in the presence of a very angry Vampire. Something she herself had done as a child when Theo lost his temper.

  Clive questioned Roderick for several long minutes more, picking apart every phrase, every pause and breath until there was nothing else to be learned.

  “What questions did you have?” Clive asked Genevieve.

  “These are some very dangerous powerful objects.” She pointed to the desk nearby and the two boxes they’d brought from their search. “The spells aren’t something that can be created in a factory. Some would have taken blood sacrifice. The gloves that I managed to despell, those are a thousand years old and have been used in some of the worst acts of slaughter in our history. The tie pin as well. These items are on banned lists for all magic users. Where did you get them?”

  Rod had enough sense to realize Genevieve, though pretty on the outside, had the potential to harm him even worse than Rowan and Clive had, so he answered with two names Rowan wasn’t familiar with but clearly Genevieve was because her expression locked down the immediate surprise and then went very hard.

  “Are there any more objects?” Genevieve asked.

  He revealed a hiding spot outside the house and the meeting place he’d received
the magical objects at.

  Rowan wanted to ask Clive privately what he wanted to do about his uncles but they weren’t done yet. If Clive killed this Vampire, he’d have to deal with Warren. So she’d handle that part because Warren would have to be suicidal to come at her over a very obvious Treaty violation.

  And because if he tried, Rowan would flay him alive for letting this mess happen in his territory, which she’d be totally within her rights as a Hunter to do. If she executed a Scion—another one—it would only serve her. Make her reputation scarier. She would choose Clive over any of these people without a second thought. She’d be sure Warren could see that in her demeanor if he came at her. But she didn’t think he would because he had some major shit to clean up in his territory. She’d be doing him a fucking favor.

  “Genevieve, I need you to go over this entire house from top to bottom to be sure we’re not missing anything,” Rowan said. “Then we’re going to handle the rest.”

  Clive gave her a sideways glance but said nothing else.

  Rowan bent to speak to her dog. “Star, stay in here with David and watch Rod. Bite him if he tries anything.”

  Star licked her nose, which Rowan took as agreement. Also David would make plenty of noise.

  She jerked her head to have Clive join her outside and the two of them went into the kitchen at the back of the first floor to speak privately.

  “Wait,” she said before he opened his mouth. “You’re constrained here as Scion. I’m not. You’re going to have enough things to deal with shortly. He’s broken the Treaty. He needs to be executed. His family will suffer greatly if he’s not. They’ve been loyal. He shouldn’t be able to drag them down. Not if I step in now. And look, even if he hadn’t so egregiously broken the laws, he’s too dangerous to leave alive. No matter how you plan to deal with the other matter.”

  Clive scrubbed his hands over his face. “I want to rip him apart.” She wasn’t sure if he meant Roderick or his uncles. Most likely all of them.

  “I know. Let me do it for you.” Normally she would have simply repeated her intention to do whatever it was she was going to do because he couldn’t be allowed to boss her around or he’d get used to it. But this was different. She needed to be softer for him right then.

  “Let’s pick this place apart, top to bottom. I want every scrap of evidence we can find,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips before holding it in his a moment.

  Rowan nodded when he let go. “I’ll have Susan come by once the sun is up and I’ll be here as well. If there’s a piece of evidence to be found, we’ll find it. Magic stuff wise, Genevieve can have a witch go through the place with her. After you’ve gone to daylight rest I’ll handle it.” She put a palm on his chest, letting herself draw comfort from the solid strength beneath the suit. She didn’t say the please out loud, but let it echo through her.

  His ragged sigh and the very slight crack in his Scion demeanor brought tears but she choked them back. He needed laser focus and she’d do everything possible to help.

  “I need to see my parents first.”

  “Okay. That’s fair. Don’t do anything rash. They haven’t... They’re not part of this.”

  Clive snorted. “Darling, you’re getting rather soft in your waning years. Worried I’ll execute them?”

  He tried for a light, teasing tone but failed.

  “No. I’m not. You’re many things but you know your mother and father are not guilty of any of this. But your house doesn’t need to suffer either.”

  “I could lose everything because of this.”

  Rowan took both his hands to stay the pacing he’d started. “You will not. We’re smarter than these dicks, Clive. You know it. I know it. Together we will figure out just what path will be best. Your parents will be safe. You will be safe. You will not lose your position. If you act swift and brutally to the threat Arthur and Thomas pose.”

  “You’re such a devious, vicious killer. Is it any wonder I adore you so? Look at you here, holding my hand and plotting bloody revenge at the same time. You’re my bloody miracle, Rowan.”

  She allowed a smile before she got serious again. They had a lot to do and the hours until daylight were dwindling.

  “You know how much I love to do crime, Scion.”

  He pulled her to him, wrapping his arms around her tight and she poured all the positive energy she could into him. Into their bond. It made her stronger to do it. Made him stronger as well.

  “I cannot deny you an opportunity to do crime then, Hunter.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Clive waited in the car while Rowan finished her business inside the house. Her presence had pulled him back from the edge. Something he’d never forget.

  She put his family first. Another thing he’d never forget.

  He made a call. Leaving a message for Alice to put things on lockdown. He didn’t say outright what was happening but that she was to shut down any access to accounts, passports or Vampire Nation resources of any type when it came to anyone in his family.

  He then made a call to his parents, who were happy to hear that he was in London with Rowan. They didn’t miss the stress in his tone and invited them over whenever they could get there. He cautioned them about any contact with anyone but him or Rowan.

  When Rowan came out a few minutes later, alone, he let her drive to his parents’. She said nothing more to him, which he appreciated. She just let him plan and think and prepare for what had to be done.

  His mother opened the door. Though she was far less formal than his father, it was unusual for her to perform a task their staff were responsible for. She took his expression in and stood back, waving them into the house.

  “It’s my darling new daughter,” she said, winking at Rowan.

  “Evening, Antonia.” Rowan paused for a double cheek kiss and then a hug Clive knew she didn’t have to grit her teeth through. His mother and his wife had a rocky start—mainly because his mother had been as crafty as Rowan—and a practical joke had been the opening volley and also a genial introduction. Rowan had found it hilarious in the end and the two most important women in his life had bonded.

  “Come through to my study. It’s sound proofed. I have a feeling whatever it is you’re about to tell us shouldn’t be overheard,” his father said from the other side of the entry.

  Once they’d settled, Rowan sat back, Clive knew, to let him take the lead. He just laid it all out as simply and frankly as possible, including the siphon spells to power an as yet unknown power.

  At the end, his mother’s face went very still. She’d never really liked her brothers-in-law and certainly never trusted them. But this was another level of betrayal. Another type of lawbreaking that could bring the full power and anger of the Vampire Nation—specifically The First—down on their house. His uncles could have sentenced them all to death.

  His father though, he sucked in a breath and then began to pace. Rowan’s expression went affectionate for a moment before she schooled herself into blankness once more. Charles paced when he was thinking. A mannerism Clive had picked up centuries before when he’d been growing up, learning at his father’s knee.

  “I know you won’t want to ask, so I’ll say unequivocally your mother and I know nothing of this. Further, if we had even an inkling, we’d have come to you to say so. What are you going to do?”

  “Of course you didn’t. But I’m glad you declared that before I had to ask. I don’t want to. I believe you to be uninvolved. But it’s best to just get that part out of the way.”

  “This puts us all under an order of execution,” his mother said and Clive shoved the sick fear as far away as he could.

  “Well, you and Charles aren’t going to be executed and that’s final,” Rowan said and then looked askance at Clive when he sighed. “What? I’m not beholden to Nation rules. You are. Whatever. Thomas and Arthur made thei
r own bed but there’s no way they’re taking your parents down with them. I will not have it and that’s that.”

  Clive’s mother smiled quickly and then looked to Clive. “I’m glad to hear it. But what of the House? The line itself? Your position as Scion?”

  “You must act quickly and severely. No mercy to a single being in either of their houses,” his father told him.

  And as old as he was, as successful and ambitious and, he knew without it being conceit, as powerful, those words from his father helped him realize what was necessary and accept it.

  “His position of Scion is fine,” Rowan said and Clive sent her a sideways glance. At best it was fifty-fifty. She caught it though and shook her head, vehement. “Your position of Scion is fine. Period. I’m not saying you don’t have to bring the hammer down on a lot of people in like twenty minutes, but you do it and you handle it and things are going to be all right.”

  If she thought for even a moment he’d let her get into debt with her father to save him and his position as Scion, Rowan needed a very long time to think about what a mistake that was.

  “Don’t give me that face, Clive. And stop growling in your head about how you won’t let me use whatever power I have to intervene with Theo on your behalf. You can just shove that right up your behind. I do what I want. You knew that when you married me. But I don’t think I’ll have to bargain on your behalf. Not if you act swiftly and utterly. You do that and you do it right now and he’ll respect you for it. But you can’t wait any longer. I’m sorry,” Rowan told his parents. “We need to go and go very soon. We have hours before sunrise, but let’s face it, what we mean to do will take hours to do right.”

  Charles stopped his pacing. “Wait here. I’m coming with you.”

  Clive couldn’t believe this was all happening. It was mutiny all over the place and Rowan sowed the seeds!

  “Stay here,” he said but his father just waved it away.

  “Clive, they’re my brothers. This is my House. Even though you’re Scion, I am the head of House Stewart and this breach of security is my problem to solve.”