Blade to the Keep (5 page)

Her father’s lieutenants, utterly feared and for good reason. Only one of them ever spoke in public, Nadir. She knew they all had voices, of course. They’d all trained her and even had protected her when they could. But outside the walls and to anyone but the immediate members of Theo’s retinue, they spoke not a word.

She didn’t envy Victoriana and Marcilius. Neither did she know who they were. They clearly thought they had enough juice to disobey Theo. In and of itself that was enough to make sure she knew who they were before she sat down to dinner later.

Anyone who’d flout The First so openly and on his ground was insane, powerful, spoiling for a fight or all three. Stupid of them to think they could get away with anything of this type. It might be the Joint Tribunal, but Theo wouldn’t hesitate to cull their numbers to what he’d said they could bring originally and that culling would be bloody. He did nothing idly. He’d be teaching these Vampires a lesson and one they wouldn’t soon forget.

Chapter Five

Clive woke as the sun slipped down below the horizon. He got cleaned up and dressed. Carefully chose the suit and tie he’d wear to dinner. But that wasn’t for another few hours.

In the meantime he’d wear the modern equivalent of court clothes. Business casual, he supposed the humans called it now.

By the time he’d finished and had entered the main room adjoining his sleeping chamber, Alice, his assistant, had entered the room.

“Before I send in your donor, I thought I’d let you know Rowan has safely arrived. She’s been here a few hours already. Took tea with the First. She’s in the library just now.”

He’d already been thinking of her, of course, as he often did upon waking. In all his years—and he had more than a few centuries under his belt—there had never been anyone like Rowan Summerwaite.

He’d fought it when the first sight of her had been a shot to his solar plexus. There were plenty of women out there who spoke without a snarl. Women who didn’t view him with suspicion and at times outright hostility. Easy, sweet-natured women who received his attentions with gracious gratitude.

Rowan was
not
easy or sweet natured. Not gracious. Rowan was magnificent in ways none could ever be. Each time she let him in just a little was a moment of triumph. She was fire. Dangerous, sharp-edged at times. But she called him on his bullshit, and they had more chemistry than he’d ever imagined possible. She excited him. Fascinated him, as well.

No doubt she was a challenge in every way. But he was far too old to deny to himself that he was in love with the Hunter who carried a goddess inside her.

He’d been alive centuries, so the passage of time was different for him. Two weeks was the blink an eye. But without Rowan’s voice, the smell of her magic, that flash of red hair and the spark of chemistry they ignited each time they were near, it had felt like a year. He’d missed her. They both had incredibly busy lives and demanding positions. They would be apart often enough. But for the first time since they’d started seeing one another, he felt her absence acutely.

He knew, too, that coming back to the Keep would have her off balance. He smiled inwardly, knowing she’d be extra prickly and that he’d have some scratches down his back because of it.

Not that he minded.

Still, he turned his attention away from Rowan in his bed, naked and writhing, to his assistant, who gave him a knowing smirk.

“Thank you for the update.”

“He’s put her in his personal wing.” Alice slid a folder in front of him and he began to sign where she’d indicated on several sheets.

Though Clive was surprised, he said nothing about that. He wondered how the rest of the Hunters would feel. Those Vampires here would most likely be used to her, but the visiting Vampires might not be so accepting.

He nearly felt sorry for those who would feel compelled to come at her in some way. She had learned, from the most brutal being walking the earth, how to make a point.

Alice spoke again, interrupting his thoughts. “I also may have seen the seating chart for this evening’s dinner. She’s at his right hand.”

He kept his sigh internal. That would likely be a silly, feather-fluffing nightmare. Vampires were so tied up in hierarchy and rank, and if the First put her at a higher position than other Scions, he had no doubt there’d be pouts and fits of pique.

Then again, the First may have done it just to see if anyone would dare act out in front of him about something like that. It was common knowledge, after all, that he considered Rowan his daughter and she had Protected status.

She’d most likely find it amusing, and in that case, Clive would have her back and settle in to watch. He knew this amendment to the Treaty was incredibly important to her, and he looked forward to seeing her in action.

“Thank you. Please do come to me with anything else of the like. Send my donor in and then can you check in with China to be sure there’s nothing pressing?”

Alice nodded and left the room.

He fed well from a donor, took care of some paperwork and headed to the library to find Rowan, but of course was waylaid three times on his way through the Keep.

By the time he arrived at the library, there was far more activity, as it was full dark and all the Vampires had awakened and were moving around the Keep to ready for the first meetings and the dinner to be held in several hours.

There were others in the elegant, two-story space, working at various computer terminals, but her energy tugged at him immediately and he headed to where she sat, a notepad on her lap while she peered at a computer screen.

Her hair seemed to glitter with magic, deep red, held back away from her face to expose features he’d been enchanted by from the first time he laid eyes on her.

Compelling. Not precisely pretty, but unique. Beautiful in a way he’d rarely ever seen before. There was no one else like Rowan. And she was his. Prickly, defensive, infuriating, loyal, fierce and possessing a sense of duty and honor that rendered her utterly irresistible to him.

“Ms. Summerwaite.”

She looked up, her happiness at the sight of him clear on her face. A gift for her to be unguarded in that moment with him.

“Scion. You’re looking well.”

Satisfied by her attentions, he bent to kiss her right there in front of everyone. He called on his control to keep it short and sweet, though he wanted to feast on lips he hadn’t tasted in weeks.

When he drew away, she nipped his bottom lip, hard, but he liked it and she knew it.

“You know,” she said as he pulled a chair out to settle next to her, “why don’t you guys ever have normal names like Fred or Sarah Jane? Why is it always stupid crap like Victoriana? It’s like they read every horrible vampire novel ever and then live the pages.”

His attention sharpened. “Where did you hear that name?”

“Why?”

Of course it could never be easy with her. Other people simply answered when he asked them questions.

He sighed. “Why must you make everything so difficult? Answer the question. Where did you hear that name?”

She narrowed her gaze at him, her energy rising between them hot against his skin. He didn’t stop the upward cant of his mouth into a smile and she snarled. This shot straight to his cock and reminded him how she would snarl at him in bed sometimes.

She got very close to him, her voice low. “Oh my God, you’re thinking about sex right now, aren’t you?” She socked his arm. “Stop that.”

“Never. I’ve long since given up questioning why your crude and testy behavior makes my body react the way it does.” To underline that, he stole another kiss and she let him. “You’re becoming easy for me, Hunter. The name?”

She snorted. “She’s here. With some dingus named Marcilius. I bet he has a frilly lace cravat and wears velvet.”

Despite his best intentions, he laughed before getting serious again. “Don’t make light of her or of Marcilius.”

“Tell me about them. I looked around here, but I’m locked out of the Nation archives. I’ve got my own sources working on it, but I have instant gratification issues.”

“Fancy that. The big, bad Hunter locked out of the Vampire archives. Walk with me and I’ll consider it.” He stood and held an arm out. She looked him over warily. “I promise to make it worth your while.”

She stood and rolled her eyes. “You will anyway if this is a sexual reference. As for information, I can get that on my own, you know.”

“It’s
always
a sexual reference. In any case, I do know you’re a resourceful woman who can get her own information. But
my
information is available right now. I’ll tell you what I can.” Though he had very strong feelings for Rowan, he wouldn’t tell her anything that would endanger the Vampires’ position for the upcoming Treaty discussion. But he sure as hell had no plans to let her lack of knowledge about Victoriana end up harming her.

Rowan considered his offer, knowing there’d be a price for his cooperation. Payment would be rendered while she was naked, that much was certain. He smiled at her, letting that show in his gaze, and she rolled her eyes, but he caught her blush anyway.

“I’m rather more handsome and charming than any of your underlings.” He led her from the library and out to the main hallway.

“I need a drink,” she muttered.

“Already? I haven’t even tried to get on your nerves yet.”

“Don’t let it go to your head. You’re merely one of a host.”

“Let’s go to your rooms to get your coat and I’ll take you on a stroll through the gardens.”

“Where we can’t be overheard?”

Of course she’d know that was his aim. It was refreshing to be with someone who was as politic as he was. “My. Aren’t you clever?”

“It’s one of my many, many talents. Also, it’s pretty obvious.”

They headed down and across the huge entry to the stairs leading to the First’s private wing. Clive wanted to ask her how she felt about being in this part of the Keep, but there were too many ears about.

“Rowan, there you are.”

Her body tightened and she let out a barely uttered growl, which naturally put him on alert as they turned. He’d have let go of her arm if she’d made a move away, but she didn’t.

Even when the sharp-eyed human who approached them made it a point to stare at her arm in his and then up at them both. Valerie Portman. Though he hadn’t been to any Joint Tribunal meetings with her in the past, he’d seen her file. The Nation didn’t think too very highly of her, though there was no arguing that she was a voice for a certain element within the Hunter Corp. The one that appeared to be in favor of breaking the Treaty and eradicating what they considered the “Vampire Threat.”

It was also fairly clear as they stood there that Rowan disliked the woman intensely. Having been on the receiving end of Rowan’s dislike, Clive could sympathize. Though it was more than dislike. Rowan didn’t have even the most basic respect for Valerie, which spoke volumes. Clive filed that away—both as Scion and as Rowan’s...whatever he was to her.

“Yes?” Rowan’s smile was window dressing and didn’t reach her eyes.

“We arrived.”

Rowan remained silent for long moments until she finally nodded. “Okay then. See you later.” Rowan tried to turn and keep on her way to the stairs but the woman hailed them again.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m going to my room to get my coat. I’ll see you and Celesse in a few hours for dinner.”

Valerie’s gaze moved to Clive, taking an assessing tour over his features in a frankly sexual way. It was deliberately provocative and though Rowan’s expression didn’t change, her nails dug into Clive’s arm for a moment.

“I’m Valerie Portman. You’re Clive Stewart.”

Rowan took a deep breath and sniffed. “Clive Stewart, Scion of North America, this is Valerie Portman. She works for Hunter Corp. in London.”

This earned a smirk. “Don’t be coy, Rowan, it’s not a secret that Clive is your paramour.”

Rowan’s voice was dangerously even. “I could never be coy. I’m also not fourteen or a person who uses the term
paramour
. Now, if there’s nothing else, you met him, he met you, I need to get my coat.”

“There’ll be a meeting before dinner. I’ve been asked to represent Hunter Corp. The Nation requested me personally. I just figured you’d want to know. I’ll apprise you of any new information afterward.”

“Okay then.” Rowan shifted her body, shutting the other woman out of her attentions and they went up the stairs.

* * *

Rowan wanted to punch Valerie’s face when she gave Clive the look. It wasn’t as if she had a chance with him. Clive might be dodgy and a Vampire, but he was Rowan’s. Whatever else they bickered over, struggled through, she never doubted that connection they had.

Also, she was better than Valerie with her fox-like face and fake kindness. A man like Clive would burn through a thousand Valeries because they weren’t what he would stay for.

“Whatever can you be thinking, Hunter?” Clive’s murmured words brought her out of her violent imaginings.

“Work.” And how confusing it was that she...well, she liked him. It flustered her, which amused him, she knew. And it wasn’t that she was worried, or jealous. But he was—damn it—he was hers.

She hated sinking to the level of dingbats like Valerie.

“I’m work, am I?”

Of course he’d know why she was agitated. Men were bad enough. Give one immortality, a few centuries with a face like a fashion model and a keen fashion sense and they were unstoppable.

They were also really good in bed.

“You’re total work,” she muttered as they approached the wing where her apartments were.

“I do try to be worth it.”

The guards saw Rowan and lowered their chins appropriately. Their submission to Clive was slightly different and it amused her to see she got a deeper nod than he did.

“Quite a bit of security up here.” Clive gave her a raised brow after they passed through one more security checkpoint before she entered the sitting room.

“I’m a weapon of mass destruction, don’t you know? I need to check on David. I’ll be right back.”

She disappeared through the side door to find David tucked into a large chair, his laptop open, his fingers flying over the keys, taking care of all the details that made her life easier. He’d come to her in the library to let her know Celesse and the rest of the Hunter Corp. people had shown up. She’d urged him to take some time off and catch a nap, but she’d known better.

She paused, tenderness coming sharp and unbidden as she watched him.

He looked up. “Déesse, is all well? Can I assist?”

“I just wanted to stop in to check on you.”

“Have you eaten?”

She smiled. “There’ll be a big dinner in a few hours. I ate cookies when I had tea with Theo. I’m going to take a walk in the gardens with Clive so I may leave via the kitchens and grab something.” And see some of the people she’d missed most since she’d left.

“Shall I lay out a few outfits for the dinner?” He looked her over carefully, she knew, taking her measure. Was she pale? Tired? Always anticipating what she needed and how to make sure she got it.