Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,75

into speaking and incriminating themselves it was Rowan.

“Roderick was a pawn too. They all were. Let’s go. We have important places to be and important people to deal with,” Rowan said.

Patrizia laughed, brittle and bitter. “Of course Haigh was a pawn. Thought he could get around all the things his family had done by making a profit off the revolution. Typical. He’ll be the first to die when we finally take over.”

Rowan laughed and laughed. “Please. We? Honey, there’s no we here. You actually think a Vampire of any kind is going to install you at the top of some new ruling class? Have you met a Vampire before?”

Genevieve tended to agree with that.

“They don’t think they’re better than you, Patty. They know it. And they’ll suck you dry and cast you aside like garbage when they don’t need you anymore. All you have to do is look around you to see the truth of that.”

“What do you know about it?” Patrizia demanded as she attempted to send another round of spells Rowan’s way.

“I’m Rowan Summerwaite. If you don’t know who I am, let me go on and give you the quick, pertinent details. I was raised at the knee of The First. You know, the leader of the Vampire Nation and the oldest of their kind. So, yeah, kind of a harsh childhood. He wasn’t much on hugs and stuffed animals. I’m also the human Vessel to the Goddess Brigid. She really isn’t pleased with you. Oh and I’m representing Hunter Corp. Just a day ending in Y I guess. All that adds up to bad news for you because if anyone out here knows how Vampires work, it’s me.”

“She’s also married to the Scion of North America,” Genevieve added.

“That too. Yes. He’s all right. He likes hugs but not so much stuffed animals. And he’s still a self-righteous prick who will always put a Vampire before a human or a witch. That’s how it is. If you’ve been around a Vampire for five minutes you’d know that. And this whatever it is you’re serving? For real isn’t going to invite you to the ceremony where it takes over. No medals of valor for you, Patsy. No seats on the dais. No fanfare. Once you cease to be of any use to them, you’re dead.”

Genevieve heard the truth in Rowan’s words. Felt sad for the reality behind them and the life Rowan had led that brought such a reality to bear. But if Genevieve heard it, so did Patrizia, even if she didn’t have the context Genevieve did.

“She’s not even that good a witch. Can’t even land a blow on little old me. No magic Rowan.” Star barked once as if agreeing with her owner.

But that wasn’t true. Rowan had magic. Unique magic. Not the same as a magic practitioner had, but it was there.

“Go on then, Patrizia, tell me the truth of this so that I might judge your actions.” Genevieve drew all the power and importance of her position with the Conclave all around herself. Flexed it so the other witch would see it and understand she had no chance at winning against the odds she faced.

“Or I could just shoot her in the head and we can go have dinner. I’m hungry and angry and we know what that ends up with.”

Patrizia attempted to run at Genevieve, throwing offensive magics one after the next as she did. None landed because Genevieve’s shields, like the one she had around Rowan, were strong. And powered by the magic that hit them. The more Patrizia threw at Genevieve, the more protected Genevieve would be.

More, Genevieve could feel the unique magic in the area swirling around her, protecting and aiding her.

“What are you?” Patrizia demanded once she realized her efforts had gotten her nowhere.

“I’m an Aubert. And you can’t beat me. Not in a thousand years could you come close to how much power and knowledge I have.” To underline that, she used her magic to wrap around Patrizia’s body over and over again until she was helpless and fell over to the dirt with an exhalation of breath.

“Why didn’t you do that first?” Rowan asked.

“I wanted to give Patrizia a chance to speak for herself. Everyone should have that opportunity.” And she wasn’t even aware she could do it until she’d actually made it happen.

“If you say so. This dumb twat isn’t going to tell us anything because she doesn’t know anything. She’s some low-level drone they used to