Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,53

pretty much the entire planet. Sometimes being just recently, in addition to a few times as she was growing up.

And it had been Rowan’s responsibility from a very early age to keep Theo on an even keel to protect those around him who weren’t nearly as able to deal with his mercurial and violent nature.

Her love for him was complicated and full of conflicting emotions and experiences. But it was there.

“Petal, I hear there’s been trouble. Come have tea with me and tell me everything.” He stood and waited for her to come to him. Rowan turned her wrist out, showing him the mark of service she bore, and then went to one knee.

His pleasure at the sight was palpable. He helped her up and kissed her cheeks before he indicated she sit.

“Vater, I’m glad to see you, though I have a heavy heart.”

His attention had been on the tea she’d poured out while she spoke but then it landed on her like a physical thing. She dug down deep to find the courage to continue her work on his tea without shaking.

“Tell me.”

“You know there were those who killed my Protected, Carey, back in Las Vegas while I was here for my nuptial announcement.”

“Yes. Terrible thing, Petal.” Darkness passed over his features.

“The investigation back in the United States led us to Lyr.” She’d already briefed him via Nadir about Lyr’s involvement and death at Clive’s hands so she glossed over most of it, not wanting to agitate him any more than she had to. “And then it led us to London and the magical black market. Being run by a Vampire. Roderick Haigh.”

Recognition lit his gaze so she continued.

“I do not believe his parents had any idea of what he was up to. I believe them to still be loyal to you,” Rowan added quickly. The Haighs had been nothing but supportive of The First and she wanted him to understand that and spare them.

“What happened to this Roderick?” he asked, the sharp edge to his words nearly brought tears to her eyes.

“I executed him for Treaty violations. I also executed his manservant, who was aware of his activities and never reported them. His house has been cleaned and will be forfeited to you, along with its contents.” Minus the shit she’d broken or ruined and the spells and magical objects but he didn’t need those details.

“You killed one of my Vampires?” he demanded. Here was tricky, dangerous ground and she needed to be strong and very careful. If he scented any weakness he’d use it against her but if he felt she was being disrespectful Clive might have to pay for that.

Rowan went by instinct and switched to the old Vampire language, wanting to remind him who she was and what she endured to get her to where she was at that point.

“I killed two of your Vampires. As is my right and responsibility as a Hunter. There will be more by the end of this, as you know.”

“You are also my daughter and the wife of one of my Scions. Both much more important than your being a Hunter.”

“Both are why I’m here reporting to you in person rather than via written communication with your Five.” She wasn’t going to argue semantics with him.

“You executed several Vampires in the United States recently as well.”

She nodded. “I did.”

“That is a great deal of lax discipline.”

It totally was, but as the person responsible for that discipline was her husband, she wanted Theo’s attention off that and where she needed it.

“The Blood Front is still in operation and it has been footing the bill for unusual and powerful spells. The ones Lyr had been using all over the United States. He was gathering power. And part of a conspiracy to kidnap and drain witches and other Vampires, as well as several humans. That power is going somewhere, Vater.”

He nodded, thinking about that as she’d hoped he would.

“I believed this Blood Front business to be over when I eradicated so many traitors after Enyo attempted to kill you. It seems I was wrong. How powerful is this new iteration of the Blood Front?”

“Enough that they’d been working with the sorcerers who were behind the murder of my Protected and another one of my dear friends. Enough that they had a dossier on me with all the details that enabled them to get into my old penthouse. Enough that they had my bank information and all the security codes to my office