Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,25
like Clive. I don’t expect you to teach all the classes, but ideas for what sort of training would be good, what resources we’re not already delivering, that’s what I need to hear.”
He nodded, clearly pleased.
“Some of the more old school Hunters won’t want a valet and though I understand that perspective, I am still determined to attempt to convince them to take one on. It’s a way to continue the work we’re doing. Bringing in new voices, new perspectives. A lot of Hunters started as valets.”
His burst of laughter startled her and Star looked up, sneezed and went back to sleep. Rowan let him calm down a little before she arched her eyebrow and demanded he share whatever it was he found so hilarious.
“When Ms. Espy called me and offered me the position as your valet I have never in my life been so thrilled and terrified at the same time. You’re aware of your reputation,” he said, forestalling any argument on her part.
She’d learned very early on that reputation was a weapon. Fear and respect could resemble one another, especially in their world. Rowan had carved out space for herself where she could do her job as a Hunter and as a Vessel. She was not under the thumb of anyone. She made her own choices and sometimes those choices were vicious and violent because she had to remind beings far stronger than she was that she would always handle any threat to her or those she protected with pain and it was better to just leave her the fuck alone.
“When you showed up all squeaky clean and well mannered I was so pissed. Not at you.” She pointed at him to underline that. “But I’d told Susan to fuck off and leave me alone. I worked alone.” Rowan paused. “You wouldn’t leave. That’s when I figured I was keeping you. It was like telling a puppy to leave you alone, but I did. Then you ignored me with such fantastically polite deviousness.”
He smiled. The polite English boy who’d first shown up on her doorstep had been hardened over the years but there was still kindness and affection in his eyes.
“You needed me,” he said quietly. “And I needed you. Ms. Espy knew that. I know you feel like having close friends and family weakens you—”
She held a hand up. “Stop. It’s not that. It’s the opposite. It exposes you. Weakens you all. I used to believe I could protect everyone. It was the only way I could let you get close. Or Carey.” Rowan shook her head. “But I failed. And I failed Thena and Martin. People die when they live in our world and I’m a magnet for all sorts of beasties. I didn’t want any valet because I didn’t want to bring that into anyone’s life.”
“Ours is a wilder world than the one most humans see. And you go out there every day and fight off the worst of it to protect those who can’t protect themselves. That is a calling, Rowan. You are one against scores and you still keep going. Because you must. It’s who you are. Which is why I serve you and more importantly why I respect you. You are not perfect. You’re going to fail. But your chances of success are higher because you have us around you. Every one of us has chosen to ally ourselves with your cause. That is not making us weaker. That’s letting us all live up to our potential and help you take out the villains every time.”
Rowan blew out a breath and struggled through the waves of emotion. “It is unimaginable to me not to have you as my valet. You’ve taught me just as much as I’ve taught you and that’s why I’m going to keep pushing the holdouts that a valet would be a good thing.” She shifted away from the emotional place they’d just been in, back to business. “At the very least it helps the Motherhouse keep track of Hunters in the field so less will just go missing and no one knows.”
“I think that’s a very good idea. Still, some of these new changes are bound to cause at least a bit of discord. There will be Hunters who aren’t going to like the move to organize better here in the United States,” David said, letting her step back on less vulnerable ground.
“Most of those are the Hunters who act like they’re mercenaries. We’re not mercenaries. We’re not