Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,39

to realize Genevieve, though pretty on the outside, had the potential to harm him even worse than Rowan and Clive had, so he answered with two names Rowan wasn’t familiar with but clearly Genevieve was because her expression locked down the immediate surprise and then went very hard.

“Are there any more objects?” Genevieve asked.

He revealed a hiding spot outside the house and the meeting place he’d received the magical objects at.

Rowan wanted to ask Clive privately what he wanted to do about his uncles but they weren’t done yet. If Clive killed this Vampire, he’d have to deal with Warren. So she’d handle that part because Warren would have to be suicidal to come at her over a very obvious Treaty violation.

And because if he tried, Rowan would flay him alive for letting this mess happen in his territory, which she’d be totally within her rights as a Hunter to do. If she executed a Scion—another one—it would only serve her. Make her reputation scarier. She would choose Clive over any of these people without a second thought. She’d be sure Warren could see that in her demeanor if he came at her. But she didn’t think he would because he had some major shit to clean up in his territory. She’d be doing him a fucking favor.

“Genevieve, I need you to go over this entire house from top to bottom to be sure we’re not missing anything,” Rowan said. “Then we’re going to handle the rest.”

Clive gave her a sideways glance but said nothing else.

Rowan bent to speak to her dog. “Star, stay in here with David and watch Rod. Bite him if he tries anything.”

Star licked her nose, which Rowan took as agreement. Also David would make plenty of noise.

She jerked her head to have Clive join her outside and the two of them went into the kitchen at the back of the first floor to speak privately.

“Wait,” she said before he opened his mouth. “You’re constrained here as Scion. I’m not. You’re going to have enough things to deal with shortly. He’s broken the Treaty. He needs to be executed. His family will suffer greatly if he’s not. They’ve been loyal. He shouldn’t be able to drag them down. Not if I step in now. And look, even if he hadn’t so egregiously broken the laws, he’s too dangerous to leave alive. No matter how you plan to deal with the other matter.”

Clive scrubbed his hands over his face. “I want to rip him apart.” She wasn’t sure if he meant Roderick or his uncles. Most likely all of them.

“I know. Let me do it for you.” Normally she would have simply repeated her intention to do whatever it was she was going to do because he couldn’t be allowed to boss her around or he’d get used to it. But this was different. She needed to be softer for him right then.

“Let’s pick this place apart, top to bottom. I want every scrap of evidence we can find,” he said, bringing her hand to his lips before holding it in his a moment.

Rowan nodded when he let go. “I’ll have Susan come by once the sun is up and I’ll be here as well. If there’s a piece of evidence to be found, we’ll find it. Magic stuff wise, Genevieve can have a witch go through the place with her. After you’ve gone to daylight rest I’ll handle it.” She put a palm on his chest, letting herself draw comfort from the solid strength beneath the suit. She didn’t say the please out loud, but let it echo through her.

His ragged sigh and the very slight crack in his Scion demeanor brought tears but she choked them back. He needed laser focus and she’d do everything possible to help.

“I need to see my parents first.”

“Okay. That’s fair. Don’t do anything rash. They haven’t... They’re not part of this.”

Clive snorted. “Darling, you’re getting rather soft in your waning years. Worried I’ll execute them?”

He tried for a light, teasing tone but failed.

“No. I’m not. You’re many things but you know your mother and father are not guilty of any of this. But your house doesn’t need to suffer either.”

“I could lose everything because of this.”

Rowan took both his hands to stay the pacing he’d started. “You will not. We’re smarter than these dicks, Clive. You know it. I know it. Together we will figure out just what path will be best. Your parents will be safe. You will