At Blade's Edge (20 page)

Chapter Twenty

Alice came in quietly, handing over a file. “This is everything we’ve got. Nadir will also phone in to the meeting to represent the Nation.”

Clive had expected that. Nadir was better to deal with than The First in his current state anyway.

“Is she all right?” Alice asked. “Shall I stay with her while you’re on the call?”

Clive tipped his chin in thanks. “She’s as fine as she can be given the circumstances. Some sleep will help.” And he’d know if she needed him now. Their bond was quiet because she was out. No bright flashes of upset or pain.

Given the location of each Scion across the globe, there was a very narrow window of time when they were all awake and able to phone in for a video conference.

Screen by screen, each one of them popped up, signing in and ready to confront—or so Clive hoped—the problems facing the Vampire Nation connected to—though not solely—the Blood Front Vampires and their foolish collaboration with the sorcerers the Conclave was now on the hunt for.

Clive got them up to speed, informing them all about what had transpired over the last several days. He included his intelligence about what the witches were up to.

He liked Genevieve for protecting Rowan. But he owed his allegiance to the Nation and that knowledge would protect his people without harming anyone in the Conclave.

“I don’t see the point in getting involved in this any further.” Tahar Emeleh, one of the other Scions gave a small shrug.

“We’re
already
involved in this,” Paola Castel replied. “The Blood Front opened the front door and these witches have made themselves at home.”

“And yet, if we stand back we can let Hunter Corp. take the weight of this and handle the problem. They’ll kill one another and we’ll be standing at the end, no matter which group is victorious,” Tahar said.

“That’s not realistic,” Paola said. “The times we live in mean we can’t simply ignore this. We’re honor bound to deal with this.”

“I don’t give a shite about honor when it’s not about Vampires.” Warren Farrelly, Scion of Europe, had been with them on their hunt across Europe for the Blood Front Vampires. He’d seen first hand the scope and depth of the real problem. “But the fact is, this is bigger than standing back and letting the humans and magic users handle the problem. They’re inside the Nation, these traitors to our people.
That
I give a shite about.”

“We can’t allow any more instability within the Nation. Things are tense enough as it is,” Clive said.

“We’re Vampires. We’ve lived a long time.” Tahar was one of the oldest among them. Their focus tended to be bigger, longer term. They fought the last wars. Had suffered loss to their lands and people through dark times.

As far as those like Tahar felt, the stability they’d enjoyed over the last several centuries had been due to being quiet and cautious. Part of that was true.

History and experience were important. But the world they lived in was vastly different than the one Tahar experienced. And that was detrimental because he had no real idea of the scope of media that constantly poised itself on the verge of exposing them to the human world.

“If you weren’t mated to a human you’d be less eager to defend them,” Tahar said, setting off a gale of laughter from Warren.

“Enough of this,” Warren managed once he got himself under control again. “We’re facing what looks to be some rogue magic practitioners with an agenda we don’t understand. Yet. We have bits and pieces and what we know for sure is that they’re behind not only the attacks on Hunter Corp. insiders like Rowan, but the Blood Front’s attempts to harm The First and the Nation. We don’t have to make nice with anyone else to make sure we ferret out whoever is behind this. We’re sworn to protect the Vampire Nation. To sit back now would be to ignore that.”

Tahar growled but nodded. “I agree. But I urge caution. We need not borrow trouble.”

Clive rolled his eyes. In his mind. The face he showed the others hadn’t given the tiniest indication of his emotions on any subject.

“I take it Rowan is going to be front and center on this situation?” Warren asked.

She wouldn’t be the woman he adored if she didn’t get between the bad things in the world and those she felt bound to protect. That group continued to enlarge and he wondered if or when she’d ever reach a place she could step back and rest on her laurels a bit.

“It’s my belief Hunter Corp. has survived this sabotage and will emerge stronger than ever.” Rowan had burned away all the excess. Those who remained would make it a lean, finely honed machine with his wife at the helm. “Goddess help anyone who gets in her way on this.”

“Let them lead. You liaise.” Tahar waved a hand. “You can inform The First regarding these developments on our behalf.”

Nadir had been in the meeting the whole time so he’d already been informed. A sloppy thing for any of them to forget.

When no one objected to that, Clive spoke. “Very well.” Time was shortening, they needed to end the meeting very soon. “On the matter of my wife.” Clive got their attention again. “Rowan’s name will not spill from anyone’s lips in anything less than respectful terms if that speaker would not say the same to me.”

Clive let the weight of that grow a little heavier between them all before they ended the call.

Rowan was more than capable of defending herself, but he didn’t want her to always have to. Especially when these fools were envious of what was his anyway.

Alice sniffed delicately before allowing a smile. “I have details regarding the reception at the Keep next week.”

He took them because Rowan would set them on fire or hide them under a couch cushion or down the garbage chute. “Brief it.”

“He wants you to arrive in three days’ time. He’s going quite, how would Rowan say, ah, old school on this.”

Clive pinched the bridge of his nose. Part of him was triumphant that their leader was paying them such an honor. This sort of thing would cement his future within the Vampire Nation. The First was holding him out not just as a Scion, not just as Rowan’s mate, but as his son by marriage. A step toward being made his replacement.

The larger part worried about Rowan. Her father’s attentions on her in this manner, when his mental health was so precarious, meant she would be under a great deal of pressure to keep things on an even keel. She’d subvert all her rough edges to keep everyone safe. She loved her foster father despite their bloody history. But that love came at a cost to her.

“All the Scions will attend with retinues of ten each. No details are being given to anyone other than a time to be collected for travel.”

Clive smirked. Rowan was going to be entertained by mocking all this pompous, excessive show of power by her father and his people. Most likely for years to come.

“Have you handled that bit of business with my office in Las Vegas?” Clive assumed she had, but it was always wise to double check.

“Naturally. They’re being chosen as we speak and will arrive here day after tomorrow. You’ll be moved to her suites in The First’s wing of the Keep.”

“Ah.” He didn’t bother to hide his smile. It not only brought him closer to The First, but Rowan would be happier the less she had to change her already tumultuous life.

Her father accepted Clive’s future at Rowan’s side. This made them both safer. Hopefully. One never fully knew with The First.

Clive would simply make it a point to shoulder anything he could to help bear that weight along with her.

He’d continue to do his best to protect her where he could. “Please arrange with David to have food sent to the Motherhouse at regular intervals tomorrow. She won’t eat enough otherwise.”

“Good idea.” Alice made a note. “You’re supposed to meet your father for drinks in an hour.”

“Blast. I’d forgotten. I don’t want to leave the house with Rowan resting and recovering.”

“I’ll call him. Arrange for him to come over here. I’ll make sure everything is set up for you and Betchamp can handle the rest while I stay up here to work. I’ll hear if she calls out.”

He didn’t know how his life would get from moment to moment without Alice and her help keeping him on track.

“Thank you.”

She bustled off to handle those details while he dressed for drinks with his father. The cravats she’d had made for him had already been neatly stacked into a drawer in his closet.

It still startled him that she’d given them to him. That she’d known him so well wasn’t that hard to believe, but that sweet, vulnerability of such an intimate present rocked him back on his heels.

Earlier—not just seeing, but
feeling
the depth of her guilt and failure—had burrowed into his memory. His answering rage that she’d ever feel responsible for the things she had no part in, still clung to his heart like spider silk.

He wanted to hold her close, knew she’d only allow that in her weakest moments and hoped he’d be enough. Hoped he’d do this right, or at the very least right enough to keep from breaking the heart she’d given him.

They’d continue to forge their own path, he supposed. Hoped.

* * *

Alice returned some time later to say his father had arrived so they traded places after she promised to notify him if anything changed. Though, he realized, he’d know. Now that she’d given him the gift of her blood she seemed to roar through him like the surf.

Rowan was out, her body doing the work it needed to heal. He’d feel it before she managed to open her eyes. Which was far more reassuring than he’d allowed himself to think about before that day.

His father stood near the fireplace, staring out the window to the garden just beyond.

“Today calls for a drink,” Clive said as he entered the room.

“I agree and I’ve only heard bits and pieces. Is Rowan all right?” Charles asked.

Clive was proud his hands didn’t shake when he poured out two fingers of brandy for them both.

“She’s resting now. Finally. Broken bones, but she’ll heal. Her bruises are already starting to fade. They made her angry. Their mistake.”

“I imagine she gets into trouble frequently.”

Clive’s laugh was humorless. “It’s her job and one she does better than anyone I’ve ever known. Fortunately, she’s rather resilient.”

“Never figured you for bonding with a warrior, though I approve.”

“One can’t plan for a creature like Rowan. One simply holds on and enjoys the journey.”

Charles nodded, thoughtful. “I may have some experience with that type of woman.”

“I prefer not to ruminate too deeply over the similarities. As Rowan would say, it’s creepy.”

“I hadn’t realized it until your mother pointed them out. Naturally, she believes Rowan is a wonderful addition to our house. I tend to agree because no one will ever sneak up on you from behind when she’s around.”

“She understands our world.”

His father sat, crossing one leg to rest his ankle on top of the other knee. “I’d expect nothing less. She’s bonded to a Scion.”

Clive far more often saw it as him being bonded to a Vessel, but that wasn’t something he had the words to parcel through. Not yet and he wasn’t in any hurry. “Naturally. It’s more than that. More than her connection to The First. She brings this house a great deal of power and influence.”

“Which is why your uncles are so envious.”

Clive sighed as he found a seat in one of the leather chairs near the drink cart. “Malcolm was too distracted when they were younger. They want to
be
in charge, but they don’t know how to gain that power to start with, much less be an effective leader and work constantly to stay in charge. They’re greedy and lazy.”

He loved his grandfather. The old man was nearly mythological to Vampires and for good reason. Still, he’d be the last one to pretend away his flaws.

“To be fair, male relatives of any family would be envious of your match.” The pleasure in the words came through his father’s voice easily.

Even as old as he was, Clive craved his father’s approval and respect. Found himself smiling a moment at the compliment.

“They’re going to push her so hard she pushes back,” Clive told his father.

“I’m quite looking forward to taking it all in when she does. They’re going to attend the reception at the Keep.”

His parents were products of harder, more honor-bound times. Both well trained and intelligent. Clive wasn’t concerned for them. But his uncles. They had no idea what it was like to be in the presence of The First. They were too soft. Their egos too big, even for Vampires.

This presentation and reception was important to The First because it was about his
child
. Rowan was the one thing he seemed to treasure above all others. If he got any notion Clive’s uncles were hostile to her in any way—especially given the frailty of his current mental state—they wouldn’t be executed. Not immediately. But they’d beg for death for a long time before they got it.

Clive exhaled sharply. “If they don’t have the sense to tread lightly around The First, they’ll end up dead. Or worse. Now isn’t the time for any nonsense.”

He couldn’t tell his father about how shaky The First was, though he wanted to unburden himself. Even the other Scions only knew as much as he and Warren had decided to share.

“I’ll attempt to pass that on without making it sound like a dare. I don’t care much that they’d be killed but I don’t want to break their mother’s heart. At least not without trying to rein them in.”

“Good luck with that.” He lifted his glass his father’s way before taking a sip.

“All that aside.” His father sat forward a bit. “How are you?”

Being chosen as Scion had been an incredible coup on his part. The power had been immense and nearly immediate, but so had the problems in far greater frequency.

He’d had to land in Las Vegas, spill a great deal of blood, burn some houses to the ground and then rebuild a territory that had been mistreated by the last Scion. Three years ago he’d have said that was his biggest challenge.

He’d met Rowan several months later.

“I find myself exhausted much of the time and yet quite happy.” He thought of the woman upstairs. “The financial mismanagement of the entire territory had hobbled it. Fools. It took the better part of a year to untangle it all.” To rule a territory as Scion meant thinking like a leader. A president, a king, a dictator, father, brother. He needed to be a great many things to take the Vampire Nation into the next century.