House Rules - Chloe Neill Page 0,60

us, Rogue,” said the woman.

Ethan’s eyes flashed silver. And so it begins, he silently said.

So it does, I silently agreed.

“I have more than enough to say,” Ethan said. “Words that have built over centuries. Words that you wouldn’t hear then. Perhaps you won’t hear them now, but I would be remiss not to try.” He slid his hands into his pockets, the movement of a man calm and relaxed. But anyone who knew Ethan—and I’d bet Darius did—would have known his calm was only feigned.

“Peter Cadogan was a good man,” Ethan said. “A good man and a good vampire. The GP, in the intervening years since its creation, has forgotten how to respect both attributes. It prizes that which is ‘vampire’ over that which is good or moral. You have lost your compass, and you perpetuate your own ignorance. Your own members cause strife for the Houses you are sworn to protect, and you ignore their actions and blame the Houses when they must defend themselves. You are an anachronism that has no place in this modern world.

“Our exit is not an aberration, Darius. It is a harbinger. Celina predicted war would come. If you ignore the rising tides, you do so at your own peril.”

The speech was moving, Ethan’s passion clear. But the only thought on my mind? That if he felt that way about the GP, maybe he wouldn’t kill me after all.

“Hyperbole doesn’t suit you,” Darius said, little swayed by Ethan’s words. “And moreover, it’s irrelevant, because there are two facts you’ve handily ignored. First, I believe you’ll find it a challenge to move forward in light of the fact that any progress you’ve made since this House was founded is because of the GP’s largesse.”

“Malik,” Ethan said, and Malik handed Ethan a slip of paper. Ethan immediately extended it to Darius.

“This is a check accounting for the increase in the value of the House’s assets to which we assumed you would be claiming title. I believe you’ll find the settlement to be very reasonable.”

Ethan smiled smugly . . . but so did Darius. He handed the check back to the woman, whose eyes had grown wide with Ethan’s revelation.

“That is only the first fact, Ethan. Much, much more important is the second.”

One of the GP members whistled loudly. A shock of nervous energy blew through the Cadogan crowd at the sound, all of us looking around for whatever threat the GP had called or signaled.

Ethan’s safety in mind, I put a hand on the pommel of my sword and moved forward through the crowd, closer to him. I didn’t know what Darius had in mind, but there seemed little doubt it would be treacherous.

We didn’t have to wait long. Only a second later, there was a thunder of sound and movement as a brigade of mercenary fairies burst into the backyard, swords bared. Each of them wore military black and fearsome grins . . . and their katanas were unsheathed and pointing at us. Other than Claudia, fairies looked nearly identical, so there was no way to tell whether these were the fairies at the gate or a new crew who’d been called in for the meeting. But it hardly seemed to matter—one way or the other, fairies had breached the peace between us.

Cadogan swords were drawn, and we moved closer together for protection even as they attempted to surround us, the hypocritical bastards. So much for the progress we’d made, for the help we’d offered and the friendship I’d thought we were beginning to forge.

In front of us, smiling calmly and cruelly, stood the members of the Greenwich Presidium.

Gloating.

Anger drifted forward in waves from the betrayed Cadogan Novitiates and their Master, and I imagined more than a few eyes had silvered with anger.

But business first. I’m here, I silently told Ethan, checking the crowd for Luc and Malik. They stood nearby, and we formed a protective arc around our Master.

Hold your position, Sentinel, Ethan said, his voice tight.

“What is this?” Lacey asked. Her voice was calm, but there was a thread of irritation in it. She might be a GP-affiliated Master, but she was still one of Ethan’s vampires. And for once, that might actually do us some good.

“This,” Darius said, “is our second point. The Greenwich Presidium hereby reclaims ownership of Cadogan House.”

Ethan laughed with such gusto that Darius’s eyes narrowed with anger.

“This House and its remaining assets belong to the vampires within it,” Ethan said. “I think you well know that.”

“I know your