over.
“I’ll get my own way back,” Clive told the driver as he escorted his mother to the door. “You’re going to need to tell him about this before we come over tomorrow. I’m sure you didn’t inform him you were at my home, poking my wife with a stick.”
“I did no such thing!” She protested so fast he knew he’d been right.
“Good night, Mother.” He bowed his head to her and stepped back.
Her laughter danced on the breeze as he rose and headed back home.
Betchamp took his things as he entered. “She’s still in the mews house.”
Clive nodded his thanks as he walked past but Rowan wasn’t in the mews house as Betchamp had thought. She stood in the center of the garden, her face tipped up to the night sky. Her power—not Brigid’s power, but Rowan’s own, essential being—shone around her like a halo.
Tough as she was, it still took a toll. Meting out the sort of justice she routinely did came with edges and blood. Rowan faced that without flinching. She made no excuses for what she did, though she did nothing without reason, however ugly.
“I didn’t expect you to return so quickly,” she said quietly.
“They only live ten minutes from here. I flew back. I apologize for what she did. Her silly test. You need no such thing. I chose you and that’s what matters most.”
Her laugh was genuine enough for the short moment it existed. “She’s a total whackjob and I kind of love her even if she’s one of those clichéd Vampires who got imprinted on a Wham video.”
Clive shuddered. “Every fifty or so years she shifts to something else. Rest assured she doesn’t normally dress that way, though she does have a terrible fondness for the music of the time.”
“Not everyone’s favorite band was Beethoven.”
“Having been to many of his performances personally, I can attest most truly that he is better than Wham.” Clive sniffed just to hear her snort in reply. “I’m also sorry I assumed you’d wrangled her into something. She’s as stubborn as you are. I never should have forgotten that.”
“We’ve already agreed I’m a bad influence. Anyway it’s fine. It’s over, unless your father is also going to be weird?”
“He’s strange in his own way, but he won’t pantomime someone else to get a rise out of you. We’ll go to dinner there tomorrow night, if you can give me the time?”
If he’d told her they were going, she’d have seized up and rebelled for the sake of being contrary. So he asked, because he did respect her job and he knew she’d hear it better that way.
“It’s unavoidable I suppose.” She paused but he didn’t pursue it, waiting as patiently as he could for her to give him the rest. “Have you eaten?” she asked.
Clive knew that wasn’t what she’d been thinking.
“I’ve fed. When did you eat last?”
“Your mother showed up before I could even have my tea. I’ve spent the last day wondering just how the fuck you could have come from her. It was a relief to figure out she was just toying with me.”
“Do you need help with Chester? Did you get what you needed?”
She sighed. “Yes. I wish it wasn’t so cloudy tonight.”
He worried that they’d never get to the end point. Never reach a place where they were done and everyone was safe and they could live in peace.
Centuries of experience had only reinforced his tendency for concern. His entire lifetime there had been war.
One human war after the next, all the while the Vampires fought with the human precursors to Hunter Corporation and the magic wielders of all stripes carried on in the shadows, spilling into humanity from time to time.
Things had been simmering for some time and it looked like they’d only continue that way. That was a great deal of weight for his woman to bear.
But she would. So he’d protect her all he could.
“We should eat. Elisabeth was in the kitchen when I arrived so I’m sure she’s made you something good. You can fill me in on what
“I’ll get my own way back,” Clive told the driver as he escorted his mother to the door. “You’re going to need to tell him about this before we come over tomorrow. I’m sure you didn’t inform him you were at my home, poking my wife with a stick.”
“I did no such thing!” She protested so fast he knew he’d been right.
“Good night, Mother.” He bowed his head to her and stepped back.
Her laughter danced on the breeze as he rose and headed back home.
Betchamp took his things as he entered. “She’s still in the mews house.”
Clive nodded his thanks as he walked past but Rowan wasn’t in the mews house as Betchamp had thought. She stood in the center of the garden, her face tipped up to the night sky. Her power—not Brigid’s power, but Rowan’s own, essential being—shone around her like a halo.
Tough as she was, it still took a toll. Meting out the sort of justice she routinely did came with edges and blood. Rowan faced that without flinching. She made no excuses for what she did, though she did nothing without reason, however ugly.
“I didn’t expect you to return so quickly,” she said quietly.
“They only live ten minutes from here. I flew back. I apologize for what she did. Her silly test. You need no such thing. I chose you and that’s what matters most.”
Her laugh was genuine enough for the short moment it existed. “She’s a total whackjob and I kind of love her even if she’s one of those clichéd Vampires who got imprinted on a Wham video.”
Clive shuddered. “Every fifty or so years she shifts to something else. Rest assured she doesn’t normally dress that way, though she does have a terrible fondness for the music of the time.”
“Not everyone’s favorite band was Beethoven.”
“Having been to many of his performances personally, I can attest most truly that he is better than Wham.” Clive sniffed just to hear her snort in reply. “I’m also sorry I assumed you’d wrangled her into something. She’s as stubborn as you are. I never should have forgotten that.”
“We’ve already agreed I’m a bad influence. Anyway it’s fine. It’s over, unless your father is also going to be weird?”
“He’s strange in his own way, but he won’t pantomime someone else to get a rise out of you. We’ll go to dinner there tomorrow night, if you can give me the time?”
If he’d told her they were going, she’d have seized up and rebelled for the sake of being contrary. So he asked, because he did respect her job and he knew she’d hear it better that way.
“It’s unavoidable I suppose.” She paused but he didn’t pursue it, waiting as patiently as he could for her to give him the rest. “Have you eaten?” she asked.
Clive knew that wasn’t what she’d been thinking.
“I’ve fed. When did you eat last?”
“Your mother showed up before I could even have my tea. I’ve spent the last day wondering just how the fuck you could have come from her. It was a relief to figure out she was just toying with me.”
“Do you need help with Chester? Did you get what you needed?”
She sighed. “Yes. I wish it wasn’t so cloudy tonight.”
He worried that they’d never get to the end point. Never reach a place where they were done and everyone was safe and they could live in peace.
Centuries of experience had only reinforced his tendency for concern. His entire lifetime there had been war.
One human war after the next, all the while the Vampires fought with the human precursors to Hunter Corporation and the magic wielders of all stripes carried on in the shadows, spilling into humanity from time to time.
Things had been simmering for some time and it looked like they’d only continue that way. That was a great deal of weight for his woman to bear.
But she would. So he’d protect her all he could.
“We should eat. Elisabeth was in the kitchen when I arrived so I’m sure she’s made you something good. You can fill me in on what
Similar Books
