Blood and Blade (Goddess with a Blade #6) - Lauren Dane Page 0,80
didn’t know if she should be thrilled or concerned.
“There’s much to discuss, Genevieve. Will you give me your time?” he asked, the bass of his voice rumbling through her body.
“Not without me she isn’t,” Rowan said.
“You’re not necessary to this,” Darius told her.
Rowan, Goddess bless her, snorted. “Says you. It’s what Genevieve says that matters.”
“Your friend is very loyal as well as brave,” Darius told Genevieve.
“That’s what a friend does,” Genevieve said. “I’m going to have a meal with her and then we’re going back to Las Vegas. I know you’re aware of where I’m living currently. You may come see me tomorrow after eleven. I’ll be sleeping until then.”
Normally she would have jumped right on getting to hear all sorts of new information but her gut told her it should wait and Genevieve had learned long ago that it was imperative to listen to her intuition.
He didn’t look satisfied with being brushed off, but he stepped back and inclined his chin slightly. “I will see you then.” He nodded at Rowan and then to Star before he and the others got back on their bikes and set off into the night, leaving them behind.
“That was interesting,” Genevieve said as they headed back to the car.
“Interesting is one of those words that can mean bad stuff too. Why did you put him off until tomorrow? If you’d asked me to, I would have left. I just didn’t want him thinking he got to make decisions about you without your input.”
Her friend was indeed loyal as well as brave.
“I thank you for that. It just felt right to have him tell me tomorrow in a different place.”
Rowan looked around at the night all around them. “Like you’re worried about something overhearing?”
Genevieve realized it was exactly that.
“Yes. My house is warded and safe from prying eyes and ears. And daylight is better.”
Rowan shrugged, clearly not knowing what to make of that part, so they took off.
Genevieve smoked a bowl and leaned back against the seat closing her eyes. “I don’t feel much up to a meal right now. Can you please just take me home?” The thought of being in public just then wasn’t a very happy one. She wanted to go home, get in her bed and see if she could sleep. Maybe when she awoke she’d have some answers. Because right then all she had was a lot of questions and a headache.
“Of course.” Rowan hesitated. “Can I do anything to help? There are some high protein bars in the center console. I just put them in before we left.”
* * *
After dropping Genevieve off at the hotel she was living in until her house was ready, Rowan headed back home once she was assured Lorraine, Genevieve’s cook and keeper, would take care of her friend. Genevieve seemed more tired than sick, which was heartening. Even if she was dying to know what was up between her and Darius.
But then she came around that last curve in the road and there it was. Her—their—house was lit up and seemed to greet her as she cruised up the drive, the gates sliding closed at her back.
Now that she thought about it, she realized they were iron gates and wondered if they provided any protection against the Fae. Or even if she needed to be protected.
She shook it off, tucking it away on her never ending to do list, as she parked and headed back out to the front of the house.
Something made a lot easier when Clive was there, opening the front door to greet her. Star sniffled around his legs and then the front entry until she scampered off, in search of food most likely.
Handsome as usual but clearly out of sorts and pissy that she’d been out and about dealing with dodgy characters like rogue witches and Dust Devils without him.
“I’m starving. Yell at me in the kitchen,” she told Clive after she tiptoed up to kiss his cheek.
“You can’t just come in like that,” he said, following her.
“I can. I did. Don’t poke at me tonight, Clive. Don’t you have a job to be at right now?” Rowan called back over her shoulder.
“You texted me that you were having some sort of confrontation with Dust Devils out in the middle of the desert and I’m not supposed to poke at you?” He was in full Scion mode at that point. She heard the fear under his angry delivery and didn’t punch him in the sac.