Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,49
like Clive or his father. Silly boys playing at being grown. And the rest? You are not failing. You’re one person up against something so much older and larger than you and you’re holding it back. Sometimes things will fall through the cracks because you can’t be everywhere at once. This is we do all we can territory, sweetheart. This is a long battle and a big picture game. You can’t be so hard on yourself that you burn out. There’s work to be done.”
That was two excellent pep talks from two very strong women in one day. Rowan figured she should maybe try to take what they were saying to heart.
On the way out she said, “Just by way of FYI, there’ll be more killing coming so be ready to report to the Vampire Nation. They’ll all be legally sanctioned.”
“What about Arthur and Thomas Stewart?” Susan asked.
“Clive and his father did that. They’ll report it to the proper parties in the proper way. Roderick was all me, but the other two, that’s not mine to report.”
Understanding lit Susan’s eyes and she nodded. “Keep me updated and do call if you need backup.”
“Thanks, I will. I think we’ll be headed back to Las Vegas soon. Tonight or tomorrow at the latest.”
Susan took another hug and then waved, watching Rowan leave the Motherhouse.
Rowan arrived home about ten minutes before the sun set. Clive was most likely already stirring, surfacing from his daylight rest, so she transferred the evidence she’d gathered that day inside and set up in her office, knowing he’d come in when he’d fed and was ready to talk.
She sought her own dinner and naturally there was tea waiting, along with a slice of cake and a promise for some sort of fish thing coming up in time for Clive’s arrival. It did not suck having a cook. Not one bit.
* * *
Clive came back into the house to be greeted by a happy dog. As much as he’d been horrified by the idea of a dog originally, he had to admit Star was a wonderful addition to their odd little family.
“And where is she then?” he asked, bending to scratch her belly after she’d flopped onto her back.
After she was satisfied with his attention, Star wriggled to her feet and set off toward the back of the home.
Elisabeth pointed her spoon in the direction of Rowan’s home office when he ended up in the kitchen.
“Are you well, Scion?” Elisabeth asked.
Clive thought about that. “I am more well today than I was when I went to rest. Dark days lay ahead. But for this moment I am well, thank you.”
“Good. Dinner will be ready shortly,” Elisabeth told him.
“Thank you again, Elisabeth.” He and Star headed toward Rowan’s office where he found his wife engrossed, all her attention on a screen as her fingers flew over the keyboard.
She wore her hair in one long braid that lay over her shoulder like a river of molten light and the sight of her was a kick to his gut. His own personal goddess.
He leaned there until she looked up at him with that smile of hers.
“Good evening, Hunter.”
“Hi, Scion. What’s good?” She got up and walked into his embrace. He’d never get over the way it made him feel that this skittish, wary, slightly feral creature could so easily seek affection from him the way she did.
And he needed that embrace very much after last night.
“I went over to Arthur’s and Thomas’s houses today. I’ll fill you in on what we found but why don’t you tell me what you need to tell me first. Now, while we’re alone. Then we’ll get it out of the way and go on with our night. You can tell me anything and so that’s what I expect. Don’t make me cross so early in the day by hiding things you think I’m too fragile to hear.” She pulled him over to the couch at the end of the room and sat at his side.
“You saw the results, I’m sure. It’s not like you don’t understand what happened.”
She had the American audacity to roll her eyes at him and made a move along roll of her fingers.
He sighed as quietly as possible but she heard anyway, and smirked. “Arthur was a fool. He started blaming Thomas the moment we walked in. He admitted it all, which wasn’t much. He was a glorified errand boy. His woman was more involved and also having an affair with Thomas.