Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,52
been easy to do.”
She had no idea. Because he didn’t feel bad about having to slaughter nearly fifteen Vampires. He hadn’t felt bad about it the night before and he didn’t feel bad about it just then. Because they had threatened his wife. His life. His household and the world they all lived in. Thomas and Arthur would not draw another breath because of that and Clive felt nothing about that but relief.
He worried for his parents. He worried for his house. But he did not worry about killing what needed killing.
“We’re not sketchy,” he felt the need to say as they left her office.
“You’re all totally sketchy. Some of you manage to make that into something that launches you into a successful life. Some of you are assholes to the very end as you eat a sword. But Vampires are inherently sketchy.”
He frowned but she snickered. Things had eased back to a sort of normal state, he supposed.
Chapter Fourteen
Just three hours later they approached the front doors of the Keep where Cataline, the house manager, waited to pull Rowan into a hug and a kiss on the cheek once they’d reached her. Genevieve and David had decided to avoid the Keep and were happily ensconced on the plane until Rowan and Clive returned whenever this business was concluded.
Star had been with them until the bridge leading up to the first wall of the Keep where she’d yipped a few times and then scampered off. Rowan knew enough to understand her dog would be wherever Rowan needed her when she needed to be.
“Come in. Your father is waiting for you up in his rooms,” Cataline told Rowan. “You first. Attend him for some tea. Then Scion Stewart may join you.”
“Is he all right?” Rowan asked. The question was simple. Just four words. But within it were a hundred words and feelings. If Theo wanted her alone first and then Clive, he’d probably heard something of the situation.
She just needed to know what exactly Theo had learned in advance so she could tailor her own telling accordingly.
“Nadir spoke with him upon his waking to let him know you were coming and that there’d been trouble you’d addressed in London.”
If Nadir, her father’s chief lieutenant, had spoken with him, what he’d been told was generic and meant to assuage any harsh feelings at not knowing until Rowan showed up. That was fine. She could handle that part.
“I’m aware you won’t be staying the day but if you’d like to work or rest while Ms. Rowan is with her father, your suite of rooms has been readied,” Cataline told Clive. Underlining that it was Rowan who would be attending The First before anyone else.
“He ordered your things be kept in your childhood rooms,” Cataline told Rowan. “But your adult things have been moved to the Scion’s personal suite.”
Rowan left Clive and Cataline headed up the north stairs toward Theo’s rooms.
Recht, one of The Five, The First’s personal lieutenants and boogeymen and women, stood at the double doors at attention. When Rowan caught his gaze, he smiled slightly and relaxed a little.
Which made Rowan relax a little as well. If things were bad with Theo, Recht would not look so mellow and the household would also be far more tense.
Though he never spoke in public, or even in the presence of all but a very few people, he’d been the one to train Rowan as she grew up. He’d protected her when possible and given her the skills to defend herself from most threats.
“Little goddess, you’re here. What an unexpected treat. Your father is pleased that you made your way to see him.”
Okay, so Theo was in a good mood. Excellent.
She hugged Recht and then headed into the antechamber and up the steps to Theo’s salon.
He waited for her there. His long, silvery hair caught in a queue at the back of his neck. He wore jeans, slippers and a cashmere sweater. Summer or not, it was cool inside the big, stone castle keep and Theo quite often wore sweaters to stay warm.
He looked like one of those silver fox ads in GQ magazine but she knew better. Knew that underneath his good looks and modern clothing he was a king, used to utter obedience, accustomed to getting everything he wanted exactly when he wanted it.
And after thousands of years of existence, he wasn’t entirely sane. If he’d ever been. Sometimes he got very close to an edge that would spell damnation for