Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,43

He had a look on his face—what she could see through the blood that seemed to coat every part of him—that signaled he was a badass and was not to be fucked with. No suit that night. Instead he’d worn dark cargo pants and a long sleeved shirt. His close shorn hair hadn’t needed to be tied back from his face, but it hadn’t been spared the blood spatter the rest of him had received and still he looked every inch the ancient warrior he’d been for centuries.

But when Clive came up, his gait bringing him to his father’s side, all her heartbeats belonged to him.

Grief and rage still churned through their bond. They were done here, and would go to the next place and repeat what she was sure had been a terrible and necessary act.

He gave Star a pointed look when he opened the passenger side door so she jumped out until he’d gotten settled and then hopped back up and into his lap.

“Um, so?” Rowan asked.

“It’s done. Tomorrow, House Stewart will come clean the empty town house of all the ash and blood. This property is owned by the House so we’ll either rent it or sell it.” Clive shrugged. “When did Star show up?”

Rowan pulled away from the curb and headed for Thomas’s place. “Star, meet your grandpa. Charles, this is Star. My dog. Familiar. Whatever. She’s a magic dog who has a habit of popping in and out at will. She’s obviously the most gorgeous and smart dog in the world so I’m sure you’ll love her.”

Clive sighed, putting his head back against the seat. Star licked his chin and Rowan knew she hadn’t imagined the ghost of a smile on his mouth.

Star looked around Clive to Charles in the back seat. She gave a happy sort of greeting bark and Rowan’s father-in-law chuckled. Not a sound she heard much from him as he was a very serious and classy guy who didn’t snort or chuckle much.

Rowan wanted to ask for an update but knew it wasn’t the time. Knew from Clive’s demeanor that he was still processing it himself. And knew, too, that Charles just had to kill one of his brothers. It wasn’t easy, even when the person you had to kill was a total fuckhead.

Thomas’s house was far more opulent than Arthur’s town house flat. The stone mansion was surrounded by a tall wall in matching stone. Iron gates barred entry to the drive leading up to the front door.

None of that would stop them. Especially as Clive had the codes and they had a witch with them who could toss some sort of obfuscation spells around their entry.

Rowan wanted so badly to invite herself inside to help. Wanted to be part of the interrogation before the execution. She was hands on with that sort of thing. But she knew this was House Stewart business. Vampire Nation business. If she was with them it would only complicate matters and all the other stuff Clive had said, blah, blah, blah. So she kept her mouth shut while Clive and his father tapped into the security system and shut it down.

Genevieve texted that she’d done some sort of magical whatsit that would cloak their approach and keep any calls or signals from leaving the house.

With a nod of thanks, Clive and his father got out and went off to do their rather unpleasant but necessary task.

* * *

He came out alone just as she’d been talking herself out of going inside to get Clive to pay attention to the impending sunrise.

She waited, watched in the blue gray pre-dawn light as he appeared to shoulder the whole world.

“I’m going to get home on my own. I’ll be there by sunrise. Please go. I’ll see you shortly.”

He kept his distance and though it frightened her a little, she let him.

“Okay.” There was more she wanted to tell him but it wasn’t the time. So much more, but she figured he knew it anyway.

He nodded and turned, walking away until she called out, “Clive?”

He paused, turned to look over his shoulder at her. “Yes?”

“Come home to me.”

“Always.”

He was gone in two steps, melding into the shadows, manipulating light to hide his ascent.

Rowan gave Star a look as she started the car. “Let’s go home.”

He wasn’t there when she arrived so she headed from the back door to his bedchamber.

“He’s done this a few times before. I’m being stupid,” she muttered to herself. He had, of course. He