each other, preferring to keep it to no more than one Vampire per several hundred miles. They liked their life. Liked their secret and did nothing to rock the boat. If Paola had opposed Rowan, it would have made the Treaty discussions much more difficult.
Rowan raised her glass slightly. “I’m not sure yet just exactly what her issue is. I didn’t know who she was yesterday. But I can take a guess.”
“It’s not that mysterious. My Vampires have no patience for such games in any case. Nor do they want to be policed by the Hunters.”
“We share that in common. I have no desire to go adding more things to my to-do list when it comes to Vampires. Believe it or not, I don’t like having to police your behavior. It cuts into my sleep time. It makes me cranky and the paperwork when I have to stake one of you is a huge pain in my ass. Nearly a year it took when I staked the last Scion in Vegas. And he was stealing from you.”
“Good riddance to bad rubbish in that case. Fool. Why don’t you tell me why we’re not fit to handle this particular issue ourselves, then?”
Rowan finished the rather delightful truffle and let the sweet smoke of the port chase it before she spoke. “In most cases I’d wager you can. And frankly I hope you do because as I said, it’s a pain in my ass to have to do it. But in those situations where it doesn’t happen, like the one we just had, it took extra time, time that resulted in more deaths, just to get all the ducks in a row. If I’d known, or if the Nation had been organized to handle it, I wouldn’t be here now.
“The sad fact is, you all knew the blood barrier had been broken for crystal meth. You knew it as these women turned up dead. All addicts or recovering addicts. Targeted because of that. If I’d have known about the barrier being broken, it would have helped me sooner. But you knew. The Nation knew and still this rogue killed. I’d far prefer it if you had taken care of it. But in the times you don’t someone has to, and if it’s not in the Treaty it takes all my time playing these games to get basic cooperation, and let’s be honest, The First is my father and if I get caught up in red tape, how long would it take a run-of-the-mill Hunter?”
Paola nodded, clearly thinking it over.
“The changes we’re proposing for the Treaty only put into place a failsafe in the situation where the Nation does not do its job. I’m not out to control you all any more than you already have submitted to.”
“But in point of fact, Rowan, you will receive more control with this change. It’s one more area where the Hunters can interfere in our internal governance.”
“Because in the past you proved you were not willing to share the information you should have to protect not only humans, which Hunter Corp. are bound to protect, but the secrecy of your existence. I’m the one who had to protect you. At great personal expense, I should add.”
Valerie sidled up to them, and Rowan restrained an eye roll.
“I’m Valerie Portman from Hunter Corp. A Junior Partner. He didn’t introduce all of us by name.” She held a hand out to Paola, who stared at her for long moments before taking it. A Vampire as old as Paola would have expected a hand offered wrist up, open, on the way to a handshake. For Rowan, it would have shown her mark, said who she was, if she was protected. It was an old-school way of introduction, and there more than most places, it should have been honored.
Rowan tipped her chin in deference to Paola before she introduced her to Valerie. Hoping to smooth over the faux pas. “This is Paola Castel, Scion of South America.”
“Is this your assistant, Rowan?”
Valerie actually sputtered, and Rowan had to rein in her desire to backhand the other woman across the room.
“I’m no one’s assistant!”
Paola’s eyes widened for a brief moment, and then they narrowed. Offense had been taken quite clearly.
“Paola, I appreciate your time and your
Rowan raised her glass slightly. “I’m not sure yet just exactly what her issue is. I didn’t know who she was yesterday. But I can take a guess.”
“It’s not that mysterious. My Vampires have no patience for such games in any case. Nor do they want to be policed by the Hunters.”
“We share that in common. I have no desire to go adding more things to my to-do list when it comes to Vampires. Believe it or not, I don’t like having to police your behavior. It cuts into my sleep time. It makes me cranky and the paperwork when I have to stake one of you is a huge pain in my ass. Nearly a year it took when I staked the last Scion in Vegas. And he was stealing from you.”
“Good riddance to bad rubbish in that case. Fool. Why don’t you tell me why we’re not fit to handle this particular issue ourselves, then?”
Rowan finished the rather delightful truffle and let the sweet smoke of the port chase it before she spoke. “In most cases I’d wager you can. And frankly I hope you do because as I said, it’s a pain in my ass to have to do it. But in those situations where it doesn’t happen, like the one we just had, it took extra time, time that resulted in more deaths, just to get all the ducks in a row. If I’d known, or if the Nation had been organized to handle it, I wouldn’t be here now.
“The sad fact is, you all knew the blood barrier had been broken for crystal meth. You knew it as these women turned up dead. All addicts or recovering addicts. Targeted because of that. If I’d have known about the barrier being broken, it would have helped me sooner. But you knew. The Nation knew and still this rogue killed. I’d far prefer it if you had taken care of it. But in the times you don’t someone has to, and if it’s not in the Treaty it takes all my time playing these games to get basic cooperation, and let’s be honest, The First is my father and if I get caught up in red tape, how long would it take a run-of-the-mill Hunter?”
Paola nodded, clearly thinking it over.
“The changes we’re proposing for the Treaty only put into place a failsafe in the situation where the Nation does not do its job. I’m not out to control you all any more than you already have submitted to.”
“But in point of fact, Rowan, you will receive more control with this change. It’s one more area where the Hunters can interfere in our internal governance.”
“Because in the past you proved you were not willing to share the information you should have to protect not only humans, which Hunter Corp. are bound to protect, but the secrecy of your existence. I’m the one who had to protect you. At great personal expense, I should add.”
Valerie sidled up to them, and Rowan restrained an eye roll.
“I’m Valerie Portman from Hunter Corp. A Junior Partner. He didn’t introduce all of us by name.” She held a hand out to Paola, who stared at her for long moments before taking it. A Vampire as old as Paola would have expected a hand offered wrist up, open, on the way to a handshake. For Rowan, it would have shown her mark, said who she was, if she was protected. It was an old-school way of introduction, and there more than most places, it should have been honored.
Rowan tipped her chin in deference to Paola before she introduced her to Valerie. Hoping to smooth over the faux pas. “This is Paola Castel, Scion of South America.”
“Is this your assistant, Rowan?”
Valerie actually sputtered, and Rowan had to rein in her desire to backhand the other woman across the room.
“I’m no one’s assistant!”
Paola’s eyes widened for a brief moment, and then they narrowed. Offense had been taken quite clearly.
“Paola, I appreciate your time and your
Similar Books
