Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,13
she’d ever make so it never ceased to humble him.
“I will think on it for you and your Vampire too. Maybe something all your field Hunters could use as well,” Genevieve said. “I admit I’m a little excited by the prospect. I love to create new magic. I just need to figure out how that trigger worked,” Genevieve said.
“These layers you talked about,” Rowan said, “we know there’s someone at the top orchestrating this whole thing that most likely isn’t a Vampire or a witch so it’s a few different types working their own magic together. Wouldn’t that account for what you’re sensing?”
Genevieve nodded. “Certainly there’s an element to it that’s evidence of multiple types of magical energies used to create a single spell. And of course we know Lyr was a sorcerer himself and was Made by a Vampire who was also a witch. All these things play into it. The taste of it was familiar but not quite. I’ll be investigating that spell because the Conclave should know what’s happening.”
Genevieve was a very powerful force within the Conclave Senate, which was the witches’ version of governance. As this particular situation was rife with bloody fuck all magic from all corners, Clive wasn’t surprised she’d want to keep the Conclave apprised of the magical elements.
The Vampire in him was definitely uncomfortable about any outsider knowing Vampire Nation business. But that same Vampire also knew her knowledge made his position stronger and was willing to share because it benefited them all.
“Okay, so she shared her stuff. What do you know at this point?” Rowan finally said and it pleased him that she sounded a little impatient. It meant she was feeling much less worried about him.
“There’s a rather large magical black market in London. Lyr made purchases. How many I don’t know. Most recent memories are the clearest.”
“How long can you go back to access memories?” Genevieve asked, curiosity in her tone.
* * *
Rowan snorted and spoke to Genevieve. “Goddess. I thought I was the blunt one. You have no filters. You can’t just ask a Vampire all the secrets of his gifts.”
Genevieve’s expression before she flattened her mouth out told Rowan she thought that was bullshit. “Why not? I’m curious. I like to know things. How can you know if you don’t ask?”
“Vampires love secrets. They’re coin of the realm. You earn access to secrets. And telling secrets about gifts and powers can aid an enemy. You know that.” Rowan turned to Clive. “She gathers knowledge like Vampires gather secrets and fascinating people. Mainly it’s harmless.”
He smirked but it was a quick smirk, before he spoke. “Suffice it to say very powerful and impactful memories can be years and years old. Most memories, though, aren’t going to be around for longer than a few months. The ones I’m most likely going to recall in detail will be fresh or very important.
“His black market contacts I’m going to assume are part of whatever big picture plan he had. I don’t have faces I recognize yet. But I do have some information about location and who he met with last time.”
Rowan figured he’d probably need to look through the photos of the sorcerers that’d been placed in a file for precisely that reason. A gallery of rogues—only gross ones and not hot dukes you’d want to read about in a romance.
As he didn’t mention that to Genevieve though, Rowan kept it to herself. She probably wasn’t supposed to know about it either but you got to know stuff when your dad was the boss and your husband ran a continent. Also, she’d set stuff on fire the last several times they tried to hide important things from her so while Theo didn’t care so much, Clive had learned his lesson.
“I’ll have my people get to work on the information I do possess and I’ll pass it on to you,” Clive told Genevieve. “I’m satisfied with the Conclave handling all this black market business. I have my own wrongdoers to run to ground and punish.”
They finished up their dessert and Genevieve stood. “I’m sure you two want some time alone before the sun comes up. I’m running on very little sleep and I have several phone meetings to deal with later so I’m off. Rowan, call me when you wake up.”
Clive stood as well, giving Genevieve a small bow of thanks. Elisabeth handed a bag holding several slices of lemon cake to her before Rowan walked her out.