Blade to the Keep (2 page)

“Collateral damage is bound to happen. But in the end, humanity would thank us. As for those humans who betray their race by taking the side of the Vampires, that’s the price they have to pay.”

Rowan didn’t bother to hide her lip curl. “Who are you to decide humans who make their own choices to work with Vampires deserve to die? As for humanity being thankful? That’s a pretty bold assumption. Would they greet us in the streets as liberators and take our chocolate bars?”

Valerie’s face went blank at the reference to past wars—and past failures. Not really a surprise. People who were ignorant of history were usually the ones pushing an agenda they didn’t fully understand.

“Collateral damage is a nice word for killing innocent people. We don’t have to. We’re not Vampire Hunters in the sense that we travel around in our custom vans and stake them in their coffins. Stop watching late-night television. We exist to enforce the Treaty and keep them in line. That’s our job.”

“Maybe our job needs to change. Humans are dying right now. That’s why we’re having to amend the Treaty to begin with.”

This time Rowan didn’t hold her lip curl back. “Yes, I know, as I’m the one out in the field dealing with it. But since you’re the one tossing out terms like
collateral damage
, I’m sure you can understand the difference between four or five deaths and millions.”

“But it’s four or five here and two there, and what about the deaths we don’t know about? If we do this now, we save lives in the long run.” Clearly someone had been coaching her because Rowan didn’t believe she was smart enough for this stuff on her own.

“Really? And you’re going to get out there and get up close and personal with a Vampire? Close enough to kill one? Have you ever even fought one?”

“That’s what you’re for.”

Susan’s posture went rigid and her face darkened with the sort of fury Valerie was too dumb to understand the threat of.

“What
we’re
for? Are we to be collateral damage too, then?”

Valerie gave a casual wave. “Not you. You’re not in the field anymore. Naturally the Hunters who are in the field would be the best choice to do this. We can also bring on private soldiers. The other supernaturals might wish to join us as well.”

Celesse made a sound that Rowan knew all too well. Partners around the table shifted. Not all of them uncomfortably. Some of those faces were not entirely horrified by the stuff coming from Valerie’s mouth.

Celesse made a cutting motion with her hand. “We’re not hiring mercenaries and we’re not going to war. The cost is too high, and those of us who have regular contact with Vampires understand that for the most part they are
not
the monsters this serial killer was. The overwhelming majority are not law breakers. They go about their lives without misusing humans. It’s folly to imagine risking the peace that came at such a high cost to address an issue far more easily dealt with via diplomacy. And it’s far easier for those who’d never be asked to draw blood, or shed it, to toss out the sort of ignorant nonsense about the cost of war than those Hunters who are far too intimate with that violence and threat.” All of this was delivered with such deadly calm, the hair on Rowan’s arms rose.

Celesse paused to sip some water and turned her gaze back to the camera. “In any case, as a group, Hunter Corp. has made the decision to pursue an amendment to the Treaty and it’s a waste of valuable time to go over the same ground again.”

Rowan actually felt it was a good thing to spank Valerie so publicly. This bullshit about going to war bugged the shit out of her. She was a cranky bitch, but the casual way the opponents to the Treaty brought up war made her skin crawl. They never seemed to remember or even consider the actual costs in terms of lives and the overall stability of human culture and civilization.

“Rowan, if you please. Give us an overview of your expectations.”

“So, to cover
relevant
issues, we’ll meet that first day and then aim for a vote the second.”

“It’s a three-day meeting, why not wait for the third day? We might get more out of them.” Valerie continued to speak as if Rowan were a small child.

“We’re not buying a car. The quicker we can push this vote, the better.”

“I can’t see the point. If we’re hauling ourselves all the way to Germany for this meeting and they’re the ones who are on the ropes, why wouldn’t we be getting as much as we can? It seems to me that your relationship with them has affected your thinking.”

Rowan’s laugh was full of jagged glass and menace. The sound of it pleased her nearly as much as the way Valerie paled and drew back slightly.

“That you can’t see the point is why this is my job and not yours.” And then she went on to outline the chronology of the Joint Tribunal.

It was important, this amendment. She knew there were those within Hunter Corp. who wanted war. The stakes were high and Rowan would not fail. Too many lives were at stake to let ignorance win out.

She had the tools to do this right. She just needed to keep herself focused on the end goal and not allow herself to get sidetracked.

Which was easier said than done, of course. Everyone had an agenda. All those people with some measure of influence had to be dealt with, all while the process kept moving forward.

Politics sucked.

Chapter Two

Rowan leaned back and sipped her tea. After that interminable meeting, it was a relief to be there in Susan and Rex’s town house.

Susan sighed. “I have underlined my belief that your being made Liaison is crucial in our relations under the Treaty.”

They’d been discussing the events of the last months, from when the first body had been discovered in the desert right through to her apprehension and execution of the Vampire serial killer responsible.

“Politics, Susan. They’re getting in my way. I’m heading to Germany tomorrow, and I’ve got to play games over where we sit and all that nonsense. Who I tell what first. It’s a waste of my energy when I’ll need it to keep everyone on track.”

Susan snorted and waved a hand. “Darling, your job is incredibly political. Moreover, Vampires are more political than Hunters ever could be. You’ve been weaned on politics and hierarchy and are perfect for this position because of that. As annoying as it might be, you can’t pretend that away. I’m still concerned that you’re only taking along David. You need a retinue.”

Rowan groaned. “I
don’t
need a retinue. Hell, Valerie and Celesse will be there in their own, right along with however many valets they bring to butter their bread and wipe their asses.”

Rex, Susan’s husband, burst out laughing. “I’ve missed you so, my delicate flower.”

She laughed. “You know what I mean. Anyway, I tried to explain to them that the more people they bring, the weaker they’ll look. But you heard Valerie. She thinks she knows more about Vampires than I do. So what can I do?”

“When you told her you had grown up in their midst and you understood them better than a social climbing bitch? That seemed a nice touch.”

“I was sorry I had to be out on a phone call when that happened.” Rex winked at Rowan.

“She’s
totally
a social climbing bitch. But no one does social climbing like a Vampire. She’s outclassed, and she’s so self-centered she won’t even see it.”

“Will she be in your way? Be honest.”

Rowan put her teacup down on the low table and thought before she shook her head. “No. What Valerie doesn’t understand, because she can’t listen, is that she doesn’t matter to this process. She can hate me all she wants and pout because her little minion lost the job. Her weakness, not only in this case, but in her job in general, is that she cannot see that her ambitions won’t be realized with the Vampires.”

Part of Rowan’s biggest issue with Hunter Corp. was who rose to the top. Leadership and power positions were often filled by people who understood how to fuck each other over to get ahead. But that was a
human
strategy, and it didn’t work on Vampires. Vampires loved power and hierarchy, but how they gathered it was
not
something Hunters like Valerie understood at all.

In her opinion, only Hunters who’d done field work should be allowed to deal directly with Vampires.

So yes, while Vampires responded to power, what got overlooked by many in Hunter Corp. was what sorts of power they respected. To Vampires, how big an office was, or what shoes you wore, was a passing fancy. That wasn’t the power they cared about.

But who took what call and how fast? Where one sat at a table. Who got invited
not
to a cocktail party—which most humans used for what Vampires would see as cosmetic reasons—but to a meeting, that was what they cared about.

Rowan turned her attention back to Susan. “Celesse will be fine. She’s been dealing with the Vampires a long time. She can be a pain in my ass, but she’s not stupid. She’ll be a support when I need it, and I won’t have to worry about her every time my back is turned.”

“But that’s a concern you have with Valerie? This is the first time she’s attended a Joint Tribunal held at the Keep. If you think so, I can use my pull to get her removed from the trip.”

Rex gave his wife a look. “Stop that. I know you want to protect Rowan. But in case you can’t see it, she’s quite capable of handling this herself. And she should. Valerie isn’t very bright, despite whoever is pulling her strings. On the other hand, our Rowan is smart and vicious. She’ll be just fine. Showing the Vampire Nation that she’s capable of handling her own business will only make her stronger, and heaven knows there are a few Hunters who need that lesson too.”

Rowan loved them both so much she sort of stumbled across it sometimes, like an unexpected gift. That knowledge warmed her, filled her with happiness.

“Thank you both for that. She’s a problem for me and will continue to be until I underline who’s the superior between she and I.” Valerie had no idea who she was dealing with, and until Rowan showed her up close and personal, Valerie would continue to nurse this idea that she could outwit Rowan or take her power away.

“Clearly someone’s feeding her a party line about the Treaty, but she’s not clever enough to understand it very well. Which makes her a pain but not an effective challenge to my work. Theo will see that, and he’ll amuse himself by entangling Valerie in so much superfluous activity and endless, pointless meetings she won’t have the time to be in my way. She has no power there. None of the Vampires will listen to her or take her seriously because Theo doesn’t.”

Rowan would have been lying if she denied how amused she was just imagining Valerie’s face when she figured out she didn’t matter at all. Theo was firmly in charge. He wanted Rowan there, and that was how it would be.

Rowan had proven herself with him and, through him, to all his staff. All the Vampires around him had watched her never, ever break under his idea of discipline. There was nothing Valerie could ever do to diminish Rowan’s power with those Vampires in the Keep.

“I
will
send her home if she steps one toe over the line. And don’t worry, I don’t consider her being herself as being over that line. If being a bloated twat was a problem, half the people who’ll be at the Keep would be sent home. But if she’s a risk to my job, I will send her back. It’s my job, and despite her silly screeching otherwise, I am fit to do it and I will make sure it’s done right.”

Susan patted her hand. “Of course, darling. You know I have your back. And I know things can be tense between you and Celesse, but she’s on your side in this. Now that we’ve decided you’ll do just fine and amused ourselves imagining The First playing with Valerie and keeping her in circles, let’s move on to something enjoyable. Tell us about Clive.”

Rowan groaned, embarrassed but pleased they’d asked. “Do I have to?”

Rex laughed. “Yes, of course. We want to know if we should send a squad out to dispatch him or invite him for tea.”

“God, he’s...you’d probably enjoy it if he came for tea. He’ll know which oolong is smokier or whatever. He’s charming and has great manners, and he’s all British like you two. He’d know who painted the stuff on the walls and all that junk.”

Rex’s expression was pleased. “Is he officially your boyfriend, then?”

“We’re...dating, I guess. He’s all right.”

“Does he know what your favorite color is?”

Surprised, Rowan looked to Susan. “What?”

“Just answer the question.”

“Yes. He...he sends me peonies. Deep red ones.” He’d also sent her a ridiculous necklace of rubies and diamonds she’d had no idea where to wear. So she’d just worn it when he visited next.
And nothing else
. He’d liked that part. “He’s one of those men who remembers tiny details.”

Susan’s nod indicated she was leaning away from violence and toward tea and tiny sandwiches the next time Clive was in London. “So not only does he know red is your favorite color, but that peonies are your favorite flower. A man who pays attention. I approve.”

He probably had a little logbook to keep track of her personal details. He was that sort of fastidious. “Yes. He stocks his apartment with my favorite wine. He even goes with me to the shooting range. I...goddess, I like him even if he really does need to lighten up. But he comes with a lot of complications, including a passel of whiny Vampires who don’t like their new daddy dating that mean old whore who killed their old daddy.”

Susan burst out laughing. “There’s a lot of talk. About you and the Scion. I’ve seen pictures of him. He’s rather delightfully beautiful. I mean, they all tend to be. But this one knows how to wear a suit, and he did go after you to try to save your life. So that’s a plus.”

“The gossip is annoying.” She’d rather people talked about her skill with a blade than her love life. It was embarrassing.

Susan smiled serenely. “People like to talk about you. You’re mysterious and frightening. He’s powerful. You’re both charismatic, and together I’m sure it’s rather overwhelming.”

“I’m not marrying him or anything. He’s someone I like, and for whatever reason he likes me.” Rowan crossed her arms over her chest.

“Of course he likes you. As for not marrying, thank goodness. You don’t need to be making any rash choices about anyone or anything right now. But you seem...” Susan cocked her head and looked Rowan over. “Less prone to stabbing people.”

“A fine quality in a mate, that.” Rex patted his wife’s knee. “A good partner can tone down one’s homicidal tendencies.”

“Is he good in bed?”

Rowan blushed down to her toes and was torn between clapping her hands over her ears or wishing herself a million miles away.

“It’s important!” Susan said to Rex’s admonishing look.

“He takes care of business.” And that was all she wanted to share about that with people she thought of as sort of parents. “On this refreshingly honest note, I’m going to go back to the hotel. I have an early start in the morning.” She planned to leave hours before Valerie and her entourage. She wanted to get to the Keep ahead of the others. She needed time to get herself together and also, to establish her dominance with the Vampires before the other Hunters showed up acting like douchebags. If Rowan arrived first, she’d be able to blunt any excess or silliness the others might bring with them like fourteen suitcases and all manner of personal assistants whose jobs were nothing more than fetching pencils and putting chocolates on pillows.

Rowan wanted a tone of professionalism and a little fear to be set. Getting to the Keep first would allow for that.

She accepted kisses and hugs and hurried out after one last promise to keep Susan updated.

A black cab dropped off a fare, and she realized that while she could walk back to her hotel, it would be even better to just let someone else get her there. She had on heels anyway.

With a last wave over her shoulder, she slid into the cab and then realized her mistake as she looked up and realized it was no ordinary London cabbie behind the wheel, but Crazy Carl the taxi man.

“Lookie here! It’s Sally.”

Before she could say a word, he’d hit the locks and peeled away from the curb and into traffic.

Red light indicated the doors were secure, and she knew better than to fight it.

Despite his scary driving and tendency for showing up at random—usually to deliver some sort of ominous advice—Rowan had a soft spot for the handlebar-mustachioed amateur-taxidermist sage.

The quiet street suddenly clogged with traffic, and they coasted to a slow stop. Rowan took that time to look him over, noting that instead of his usual bright orange camo cowboy hat, he wore a jaunty black cap.

“Where’s your cowboy hat?” She didn’t bother to correct him with her name. He called her whatever he wanted, but he always knew exactly who and what she was.

He laughed and laughed, sliding a fingertip along the front edge of the cap. “My luggage got lost. Imagine that. Found this hat in the seat when I got into the cab. You like it?” He waggled excessively bushy eyebrows at her in the rearview mirror.

“Carl, did you steal this cab?”

He made a sound that could have been a denial. Or a scoff. Didn’t matter. He was a sage and he seemed to have his own set of rules and never got in any trouble for it.

“I’m staying at—”

“I know where you are, Penelope. Traffic that way is a mess, so I’m going to take you on a shortcut.”

A shortcut that appeared to head in the opposite direction. She sighed, leaning back in the seat. He’d get her to her hotel in ten minutes or ten hours so she might as well just accept it.

“What brings you to London? Can’t imagine there’s much hunting here for your taxidermy fun.”

“Ha! You’d be wrong. I went on an actual fox hunt here once. ‘’’Course that was a ways back. I’m here to see
The Lion King
in the West End.”

He took a corner at such a high rate of speed she had to grab the strap and hang on to keep herself from sliding and slamming into the door on the other side.

“You should have a seat belt on. It’s the law. Anyway, I’ve seen
Wicked
here four times. Love it. I’m a connoisseur of the theater. Bet you didn’t know that.”

“You’d be right.” She couldn’t help but grin as she hastily snapped her seat belt into place.

“You nervous about your trip?”

His tone had changed from his usual jocular teasing to something...else.

He knew, she had no doubt, what she was doing in London and where she was off to next. He just did and she had ceased to try to figure him out a long time ago. Since he’d picked her up that first time in his cab in Las Vegas several years ago, he’d given her a great deal of important information. Sometimes she didn’t know what he meant at the time he told her. Well, most of the time.

He’d show up out of nowhere and she’d be in his cab for an undetermined period of time as he gave her information and she tried not to let him see how disturbed she was by all the stuffed dead things he had on his dash and seat backs. The man did love his stuffed badgers, snakes, coyotes and whatever else he took a mind to.

But despite all the times she’d traveled to other places, he’d never picked her up in a cab anywhere but in Las Vegas. She didn’t know if she should be worried, but his sudden appearance caught her attention, that much was certain.

“I’m... It’s not my first time going to Germany.”

“Sure. But things have changed with those new predators out in the hills east of town killing them girls.”