Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,54

and my apartment. They are behind the leaks within the Vampire Nation.” There. She’d established just why Hunter Corp. was acting rather than her just turning shit over to Clive to let the Vampire Nation handle things.

This was an attack on her personally. On her and Hunter Corp. Once she’d thought it was all about the Treaty and overriding it and the protections and laws that kept Vampires from harming humans and others. But now she knew it was partly about her as well. Weakening her was a step to their own end goals.

Power obviously, but to who?

“And just who provided all this information?” Theo’s voice had gone cold again. Full of razor sharp edges and bludgeon pauses.

“For this next part, I’d like Clive to be present.”

Theo looked her over carefully for long moments before he ordered Recht to bring Clive to them.

She’d gone over things with Clive several times. Enough that he’d been agitated by her, which had its own joys, but she knew he’d listened and she’d made her point. If they were to be free of any killing energy from Theo, Clive had to let her take the lead. Which was difficult for a powerful being like the Scion of North America.

But he was powerful because he was smart.

When he arrived, there was a version of what Rowan had done. Some obeisance and general butt kissing and stuff before they all settled. Rowan made sure Theo’s cup was full before she served Clive his tea.

“Is he treating you well, Petal?” Theo asked. “I can have him left exposed to the sun if he’s not being a good husband.”

Some fathers might make jokes like that. But Theo wasn’t joking so she took Clive’s hand and squeezed briefly.

“He treats me very well, thank you.”

“Good. Now tell me the rest. Cook is preparing a feast for your visit and she’ll be upset if we run late.”

“Arthur and Thomas Stewart of House Stewart were active within the Blood Front’s ranks. Thomas Stewart was the source of the leak. We’re looking into how exactly he received some of his intel about me, but I’m satisfied that he’s the source who made it possible for assassins to enter my apartment and murder Carey.”

Rowan continued. “Both Arthur and Thomas Stewart have been removed, along with their entire households as of sunrise today. There is nothing left of either of them. A financial restitution has been made to the Scion of Europe as this happened in his city.”

Theo turned to Clive. “Who removed these traitors?”

Rowan hated how intolerably ridiculous Vampires could be. Erased. Disciplined. Removed. Whatever. Beings that ripped the heads off their enemies and beat them with their own spines were suddenly fucking delicate about just saying they killed a motherfucker that needed killing.

“My father, Charles Stewart, and I, as the two heads of House Stewart.” Clive emphasized his connection to his family and his House with Theo. Rowan knew her father would judge the Scion far more harshly than the Vampire defending House and line.

Thank the Goddess Clive had taken her advice on how best to present the information to Theo. So far his anger had remained constant but not severe. A very good sign.

“We are not unaware of the damage this has done to our House and its position within the Vampire Nation. Since my grandfather fought in his first battle on your orders at the age of fourteen, through the years and battles to follow, three generations of Stewarts have served you loyally and bravely. House Stewart is, as ever, an unwavering ally at your command. We took this action not only to punish them for bringing this shame onto our House, but for harming my wife and your child. House Stewart has been part of the Nation from its aegis and will continue to fly the banner if we are allowed to do so.”

Rowan got a little tingly as he delivered his words, every inch the badass Vampire prince that he was. Despite the seriousness of the situation she really wanted to lick him right then.

Theo made a sound as he let what Clive had said settle a little. Then he demanded, “This happened in London?”

Theo picked up on the threads Rowan had hoped he would. They might just make it out of there alive after all.

Clive nodded. “Yes. And in my territory in the city of Los Angeles. From what we learned last night, also in Tokyo and what is now Qatar. I have notified Tahar and Takahiro about