Rowan said, “In America, power is about money instead of lineage. It took the Nation way longer than it should have to understand that.”

  Clive nodded. “The First barely paid attention to the United States until World War Two. It wasn’t nuclear capability that got his focus. It was profit. Jacques had many faults. But the reason he was able to steal from the Nation for so long was due to how profitable this territory is.”

  “That expired gas station sushi wasn’t officially a creeper like Elmer, but he worked with Sanguis Principatus. That’s where the connection to Elmer came in. Right? Not over seventeen-year-olds, but money and influence. The Vampire all-purpose high. Okay, so what did SP call themselves then and why did they change their name?” Rowan asked, ever perceptive.

  “Jacques had been the Scion of North America for a few decades by that point. He set up his court originally in Montreal but moved it to Manhattan the year after that meeting. Back then they called themselves The Brotherhood.”

  “I mean, less douchey than Latin. But still creepy for myriad reasons. It’s always purity, violence, and master race crap.”

  He’d had that same thought. Even with the words she’d used. Rowan had changed his world in so many ways.

  “From what I could track down, it appears they changed their name in the 1960s. Vampires from other territories wanted to join but they didn’t like the original title.”

  “Nothing more American than marketing.”

  He shrugged. Not disagreeing. Perception was important and the first title scared off potential members who’d bring money and influence. “Everyone loves a Latin name. They’ve been active—more or less—since 1923 with the same goals. They run drugs for blood feeds. We’ve got more important problems than petty drug use or distribution. But getting humans involved in this drug trade is a recipe for exposure. And obviously, a violation of the Treaty.”

  Vampires couldn’t really get intoxicated from most substances directly so if they wanted to get drunk or high, they had to achieve it via blood additives. Bloodwine was popular, as was the blood-casked whiskey his father preferred. Those were legal and highly regulated.

  Or, humans used one of only a handful of drugs that were effective, and a Vampire fed directly after—a blood feed. Clive had gotten to know Rowan as she investigated a Vampire who’d been using crystal meth via humans he’d been killing. Near immortals and crystal meth did not mix well. Human law enforcement had nearly stumbled into the truth of the existence of Vampires when bodies had begun to drop from the sky.

  “I’m wondering if Elmer’s little addiction plays into that on some level,” Rowan said. “I told him I’d look into missing humans with any connection to his favorite bars earlier and he freaked out. Is he helping connect these Brotherhood dudes with humans to use the drugs for the feeds? When profit is the only motivator, the field of possibilities is infinity big.”

  Clive pinched the bridge of his nose. “When I woke this evening, the biggest problem was witches we’d already captured. But this sort of trouble is on a totally different level.”

  “Iceberg trouble. What you see above water is only a small part of the issue.”

  “They’ve had spies in my court since the start, Eduard confirmed it. We knew this was a possibility after the way the last Scion was removed.”

  She laughed, genuinely amused. “Yeah, removed his head from his body.”

  “Just so, darling. I think profit and power are their motivating factors as you say. From what I know at this point, they don’t have a history of xenophobia like the Blood Front has. They’ve never been of the step on a soap box and yell about some foreign other to blame for all the world’s ills. But oversight from a Scion? That gets in the way of power and profit unless the Scion is Jacques.”

  “And the new guy doesn’t care so much about drugs and whatever, but does care about disappearing humans that attract notice. But why haven’t they even approached you to see if you’d be willing to look the other way for some cash or whatever? Me probably, right?”

  Clive could have been offended that she didn’t automatically jump to the conclusion that these Vampires saw his rule as inherently just and knew he’d never overlook wrongdoing. But generally, he didn’t care about ninety percent of things as long as they kept their behavior discreet.

  “That was my conclusion. It’s been nearly four years since I arrived. I’ve tidied a great deal of mess, and the profits are up. But as we learned recently, there’s lawbreaking of all sorts in North America. Consorting with sorcerers and this ridiculous black-market nonsense. These Brotherhood Vampires have continued to quietly make money under my radar. And now because of Elmer and Eduard, I know about them. I expect they’ll either come to me to propose a deal even though my wife is a Hunter, or they’ll make a move.”

  “It’ll be interesting to see which they choose,” Rowan said. “If it’s the latter, I’ll kill them all true without a second thought.”

  He sent her a raised brow.

  “What? You don’t already know that? I’ll burn the world if any of them harms you in any way.”

  He took her hand, threading their fingers and holding on tight. “I believe that is the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me. I’m... I do not jest.” Clive paused, searching for words. “I know what your path means. I know what your position at Hunter Corp. means. That you would put me above that moves me beyond explanation.”

  She smiled, a little shy at the edges.

  “And in that vein. The Nation and the Scion are very grateful Hunter Corp. has worked with us so closely on these important matters. Especially leaving these prisoners in our custody. That enables me to make the process public enough that Vampires like the one who tipped you off—instead of the Nation—can see we’re not ignoring the crimes against them. And I want these Sanguis Vampires to see I will punish them if they step a toe over the line. I’m certain news of the arrests have already circulated through the region. We’ll see what they do next.”

  “If they were smart, they’d lay low for a few years. But their greed is going to overcome their wits. Goddess, I’d love to watch you look down your aristocratic Scion nose at them,” she said with a grin.

  “I’m buoyed by your confidence.” Absolute truth. “As for Elmer and his underaged Making; if you’d like to submit a statement, I’ll have it added to the evidence. Elmer will not go unpunished for what he did to your new employee or that poor, wounded boy he Made far too young. They’re my Vampires, even the rogue ones. It’s my duty to protect them and I promise you I will,” he said.

  “Maybe I believe that, Scion. I’ll speak to my new fanged employee to see if he’d like to submit something. Your Vampires should know the personal toll this takes, even if they’ll pretend it’s just a few here and there, oops no big deal!” Rowan said.

  * * *

  “You said you’re in for the rest of the night?” Clive said, and Rowan had to give him credit for how casual he made it sound.

  “I have a little more work. Vanessa has been working on a list of properties owned by or somehow connected to the Procellas. I just got a text that it’s ready, so I want to look it over. Chances are, I’ll put it aside for after I wake, but one never knows what might be found. Otherwise, yes, I’m off the clock until I meet up with Genevieve in the morning to head over to search the Procella mansion.”

  If Genevieve hadn’t been there the last few times there’d been run-ins with witches and magic, Rowan very well could have died. But she left that unsaid as Clive worried about her all the time as it was.

  “I endorse plans that include powerful allies,” Clive said.

  “As the point of bringing in witches and Vampires for special Hunter teams was exactly this type of situation, I’m glad we have the resource when we really need it.”

  He frowned, probably thinking about her injuries or danger or whatever.

  Rowan leaned over and slid the pad of her thumb down the space between his eyebrows. “What have I said about all the frowning you do? You’re going to get a wrinkle right here.”

  “It displeases me that you’re the target in some elaborate conspiracy.”

  She allowed a smile. “You’re very grumpy. I’m the grumpy one. That’s my job. My thing. You do haughty English nobility.”

  “I have an idea of how I can work through my grumpiness,” he murmured, his eyelids dropping to sex-mast.

  “You’ve got me intrigued enough to hear your pitch,” she teased.

  He laughed and then his mouth was on hers.

  It had been days since the last time they’d been together like this as she’d healed from the ambush. And still, he touched her with reined-in greed. Gentle, insistent.

  Rowan arched into his arms and he flowed to his feet, bringing her along with him, sweeping her up and into his hold as he took them both into his bedchamber, closing the door at his back.

  “I want to fuck you in here so I can smell you on the sheets when I wake each evening,” he said as he set her on the mattress.

  He was just so good at saying the exact perfectly dirty thing that was also heartwarming. Centuries of getting women into bed had honed him into a killing machine when it came to sex.

  “I’m so very lucky sometimes,” she told him as he tossed her blouse and bra to the side.

  “As you say, you’re about to get even luckier.”

  His hands roved over her skin in long, firm strokes, but when he reached her pants, he paused, gaze flicking to her face.

  “Are you well enough for this?”

  She managed to sit up so she could take the brace off her leg. “I’m absolutely fine. I’ll let you do all the work.”

  He frowned and that line formed between his eyes, making her snort.

  “An orgasm will help my healing. Think of this as physical therapy as well as improving your mood.”

  His spine lost its tension, and he gave her a smile. “I’m happy to do all the work, as you say.”

  His clothes fell away quickly to join hers as he slid back beside her, body to body, skin to skin. Everything felt exactly right, and she wrapped her arms around him, breathing him in.

  “I love you,” she told him. The words were important. That he heard them from her as well as saw them in her behavior was necessary for them both.

  “What a joy that is to me. I love you. Beyond measure.”

  * * *

  Her soft sigh and the way she seemed to melt into him settled everything within before that fire, low and banked heat, erupted into blinding need.

  Forcing himself to be gentle to the body that had been broken just a few days earlier, he kissed over every part of her. Down the smooth column of her throat, across her collarbone and the curve of her shoulders. Each taste a mystery, a homecoming, and a secret only the two of them shared.

  He loved the way she held her breath as he kissed down her belly and settled between her thighs, growling her pleasure as he took a long, leisurely lick, circling her clit.

  Driving her up, higher and higher until she broke, coming all over his lips.

  “Now that the edge has been eased a bit, lie back and enjoy,” he said as he settled above her. “I’ll let you move your legs wherever they feel best.”

  “I told you I’m fine,” she said, shifting, bringing the liquid heat of her pussy to brush against the line of his cock. “Even better now,” she wheezed out as he slid inside her.

  He took his time, careful not to rest any of his weight on her. Letting himself remember she was his. This vibrant flame who owned his heart and soul.

  There was nothing but the two of them tucked away in the quiet and when he came he stayed pressed deep inside her for some time afterward. Always home when he was with her.

  Chapter Eleven

  There was nothing Rowan loved more about her job than the ability to absolutely lay waste to the lives of the fucking dicks she had to deal with.

  They didn’t make any advance contact at the Procella mansion, not even with the guards watching the place. No, they just rolled straight up to the front steps, and when the soles of Rowan’s boots hit the pavement, utter certainty seemed echoed out from her middle as the connection she shared with Brigid flared to life so much faster and easier than it ever had. It took Rowan’s breath away at the sheer power of it, at the quickness of the transition.

  If the sun had been down, Clive would have felt that sonic boom of her energy. As it was, Darius looked over at her and then dropped his gaze. Rowan knew Brigid shone from her eyes at that moment and he gave that respect.

  Genevieve stopped just next to the vehicle and spat on the pavement three times and then sang something that sounded like stones grinding and then clicking into place. Rowan wasn’t sure how she’d even made that sound, much less sang it.

  But even Rowan could tell a spell had dropped over the entire area.

  “All magic but ours has been disabled,” Genevieve said.

  “Cool.”

  Marco appeared, walking from a shadow Rowan hadn’t noticed moments before. He and David exchanged a look that had Rowan raising her internal eyebrows.

  They were on the third step to the massive front porch when the doors swung open, Lotte stood there, outrage all over her body, hands fisted at her sides. “What are you doing here? What have you done?”

  Genevieve took a slow look at Lotte from the tips of her shined work shoes to her perfect, pale-blond chignon. Rowan secretly admired the suit and wondered if Elisabeth would be interested in something that smart and classy or if it would just get in the way of her work.

  “The Conclave and Hunter Corp. had further queries as well as an updated physical inventory to take. We’ll need to ask you some questions as part of that.” Genevieve turned her attention to Rowan. “I’ll let you take the lead on this.”

  “Delighted.” Rowan stepped closer. Lotte was confident in her physical ability, and she thought Rowan was human, so she’d be lazy. Her gaze flicked down to the cane and Rowan snorted. Of course she’d underestimate Rowan.

  “You can step aside, or I can move you,” Rowan said. “Either works for me.” Frankly, she was hoping Lotte gave her a reason. “But if you choose the latter, it won’t be gentle.”

  Rowan caught the shift in Lotte’s stance and the way she dropped her right shoulder. She stepped back and to the side quickly as Lotte moved forward. Rowan choked her grasp up higher on her cane, lifted it before Lotte even knew what was happening, and brought it down brutally hard against the back of the witch’s leg.

  Lotte cried out, stumbling back. She tried to use magic but that fizzled because Genevieve had pulled the plug. Rowan used her free hand to punch Lotte’s face in two short jabs as she stepped into the front foyer fully.

  The others followed as one of the beefy guards from the day Rowan and Genevieve had come for the first meeting with the Procella family stormed into the room. He raised a weapon, but Rowan spun on her good leg and brought the cane down full force on the arm lifting to aim. The crack of bone made her wince and filled her with victory at the same time.

  He screamed, high and shrill, full of pain and the energy of a person about to pass out, which he then did in a heap at Rowan’s feet.

  “That was very impressive,” Genevieve said.

  “It’s all in the nerves. Know where to strike and boom. Beefy there should up his calcium intake though. Shouldn’t have been so easy to break that bone. Ah well.” Rowan shrugged. “He’ll heal. Eventually. Plus, I practiced that spin while using the cane to hit the target a few times since yesterday.” She smiled, showing her teeth at Lotte, who limped over, smeared blood on her lip from where Rowan’s punch had landed.

  David took all the weapons and then unloaded them all, pocketing the magazines.

  “You broke his arm,” Lotte said, falling into a heap in a nearby chair. Her outrage had begun to drain away, replaced with a growing realization she was in over her head. Good. The sooner Perfect Suit accepted reality, the easier things would go for everyone.

  “Probably in two places given the angle I used. Like I said, he’ll heal. At least I didn’t shoot him fourteen times.” Because it was rude, Rowan snapped her fingers at Lotte. “Stand up. I didn’t break your leg. I can hit you in exactly the right place to shatter a bone. You understand I’ll do it if you push me again. You know I will. Understanding is a beautiful thing. Isn’t it? So, since we understand one another, we can skip any further attempts to attack me. They’ll fail and I will hurt you to gain your compliance. You’ll comply in the end, they all do.”

  Lotte was in good shape. She’d been quick and had moved with strength. She was likely quite formidable with humans and other witches when it came to hand-to-hand. But she was a kitten compared with what Rowan was. She couldn’t even dream up the types of things Rowan had done and was willing to do. Even if Lotte didn’t realize it, Rowan did. And being the more powerful being came with a bunch of rules about not abusing it. Annoying, but whatever. They’d get Lotte subdued enough to handle the rest of the search and that was what counted.

  Rowan looked around. “You can take a seat over there and one of us will speak to you shortly. You’re not to move unless there’s a fire or whatever, as we conduct the search.”

  Genevieve said three words and made a hand movement.

  “She’s secured,” Genevieve told Rowan.

  “Okay, let’s get that one handled.” She pointed at the guard, still on the ground but coming to consciousness. “Then we begin. I’ll start in the kitchen. I’ve been dying to see it after Lotte attempted to corral me in there when I was here last on official business.” Rowan sent a sunny smile Lotte’s way at the reference to the way she’d been expected to wait in the kitchen while real witch business was conducted elsewhere.

  Genevieve came through with them. “Though I’m certain my working would have deactivated all spell traps when I took down everything else, I’ll accompany you just in case I’m needed to handle something.”