“I have too much interaction with human law enforcement. If I got pulled over it’d be a whole thing. It’s easier to do it right and avoid drama.” She allowed a quick hug. “But I do love that you pulled this off in such a short period of time. It’s very sexy.”

  He gave her a wary look, which only seemed to amuse her.

  “I really do appreciate you. And the way you want me protected,” she said quietly.

  “There’s a voice-activated control system as well. So you can make a call for backup or what have you, whenever you need that. And the windows are your magic windows. Darius made it work on a much expedited schedule.”

  The Dust Devils had created a proprietary and partly magical process that created spy-proof windows. She’d discovered this fact and had been obsessed with getting it for her own vehicles ever since.

  She brightened considerably. “Ooh! You really get me.”

  It was easy to think Rowan’s blunt nature meant she was simple. Nothing about her was simple. Complicated. Layered. Beautifully flawed. No one in all the centuries of his existence had held such fascination for him. Each new aspect of her only brought a deeper craving.

  “I aim to get some more of you at day’s end,” he said, lips pressed to her ear.

  “Looking forward to it.”

  David called out, and they both turned to watch his approach.

  “Update?” she asked.

  “I have information regarding Elmer Marsc.”

  Marsc’s name had come up in the interview process when one of the Hunter Corp. candidates had revealed Marsc had been his Maker and had abused him and several other Vampires in his line.

  From everything they’d uncovered, Rowan’s new hire had been telling the truth and once Rowan had her day with Marsc, Clive would most assuredly handle him from a Vampire Nation perspective.

  He hated it that this was yet another thing on her plate to be saddled with. But, given the gleam in her eyes, perhaps a little bit of therapeutic energy she would expend on this predator Vampire would be of use to her general mood.

  Whatever the case, it wasn’t as if Clive would tell her to stand down or that she’d taken on too much. This was her job. Her path.

  So he’d do what he could to provide assistance, especially as this Vampire Rowan was hunting was a problem he would be pleased to solve.

  Rowan nodded at David. “Appreciate it.”

  David gave his report efficiently. “Unsurprisingly, he’s got a massive house at Red Rock.”

  “Lots of gates out there to protect those million-dollar estates. I get that. I like privacy too. However, why’s he there? Instead of on the Strip in some luxury condo like the rest of the predators he knows? He can’t play day golf, and he doesn’t seem to like men over twenty-two or so and that place is awash with middle-aged human men. Elmer’s like that one actor guy. The one who was a kid star but now he’s well into his forties. He gets older but his girlfriends stay young. I bet he’s one of those men who likes to believe he’s teaching his younger lovers. Taking them under his wing to educate them on the finer things in life.” She rolled her eyes.

  David snickered. “Certainly, as they call it, he’s a walking red flag but he’s got a lot of money, so he gets away with it like other rich walking red flags.” After a cheeky grin, David got back to his report. “We’ve managed to get into place to keep an eye on his home—I do know how much you love a good home invasion—but he’s out a lot more. He likes a certain type of bar. The dual named dudebro type with games, vastly overpriced cocktails, and mid chicken wings.”

  Rowan shuddered. “I know the type.”

  “There are four different ones he frequents in a circle around Las Vegas. Henderson, Summerlin, North Vegas, and Spring Valley.”

  That was a hunting pattern. His attention homed in, and Rowan gave him a sideways glance. “That’s a feed loop. There’s no fucking way he’s there for any other reason.” She curled her lip. “Why would a Vampire who can’t get drunk from anything served at Bob and Chad’s or whatever the name be hanging out there? Does he crave skee ball at all hours? That racing simulator? An addiction to deep-fried onions to go with his diet of the blood of barely legal humans?”

  Clive blew out a frustrated breath. They were nearly immortal with myriad gifts and Vampires took risks like this. It threatened them all.

  David said, “At least at a bar you know they’re all legal adults of drinking age. A change of pace for him.”

  Rowan made a sound of derision. “They’re almost all spaces that include minors too, though. You need an ID to buy liquor, but the rest of the place is full of nineteen-year-olds playing at being legal and being ripe for weirdos like Elmer. You know he chooses those for a reason. He’ll avoid the places near UNLV. Too many authority figures sniffing around along with the human predators. They’ll have marked that territory for themselves.”

  Rowan gagged and David curled his lip.

  Vampires like Elmer had gotten away with centuries of entitled behavior. Rule breaking that may have started off as minor began to worsen because they grew accustomed to the idea the law did not apply to them.

  But in the end, they ended up like Clive’s predecessor. Dead. Because eventually, someone who had enough power and will—like Rowan—would pay attention. His wife cared very little about rules, but what was right was paramount to her existence.

  Rowan looked his way. “I just have a feeling about this.”

  Because Rowan was an entirely unique power, she had come into new gifts over the years. One of those gifts she’d been attempting to hone and understand better had been prophecy. Via dreams and what she termed knowings. Once he’d gotten to know her, Clive had always trusted her feelings. She was intuitive as a base setting, but these prophecies had come from Brigid, and had bound with whatever made Rowan an excellent Hunter. The end result was magnificent.

  Rowan gave him a sideways glance and a wash of her amusement came through their shared bond. His wife knew him very well.

  “As ever, your feelings are my command,” Clive said, bowing low and kissing her knuckles.

  She snorted. “I want to go to Marsc’s house. I need to...there’s something or someone I’m supposed to see or say or whatever.” Rowan shrugged. “It’s not quite nine, so I want to go and mess with Marsc’s life before I eat obscene amounts of linguine.”

  Two of his favorite things about her was watching her wreck lives and enjoy food. The latter allowed him to spoil her without interference. The former just made him hotter for her. “Only if I am allowed to accompany you on this mission. This is my Vampire. His crimes are happening in my city.” And whether she wanted to admit it or not, she was still healing from multiple attempts on her life. Having a Scion at her side would annoy her, but she’d know it was a good thing.

  “I need to go to the motherhouse to change into more suitable clothing and to do a little bit of planning with my notes first.”

  “I will meet you there in fifteen minutes. I have some things to handle here first as well.” Clive tossed the keys to David. “See you both shortly.”

  Chapter Six

  When they arrived, David shoved an insulated mug of hot coffee and a little plate of cookies her way as they stood in front of the map of the area hung up in their operations room. “We’ve only been here like five minutes. How the hell do you produce this stuff so instantly?”

  “It’s my job,” he said. “I have a feeling you’ll need the sustenance before this is over and as you’ve shifted your dinner later in your schedule, this will give you fuel in the meantime.”

  She snorted. “My life is full of people who shove food at me every ten minutes. It nearly makes up for the reason I’m burning through all those calories constantly healing from assholes trying to kill me. Not complaining about cookies. Thank you.” To underline that, she took a bite. “Oh, lemon? Yum.” She ate another because it would be rude not to. “No need to delay this. I’ve wanted to rile up this Vampire since Aron told me about him.”

  Rowan’s—Hunter Corp.’s—new Vampire employee had told her the story of how and why he’d left his Maker. And of the way he’d been still a teenager when Elmer had first brought him over. Elmer was a fucking creep who liked young humans because they were easy to manipulate.

  “He’s hunting. In my city. I don’t like it and I want to be assured he’s not violating any laws. Which we know I won’t be. This guy is wrong in a dozen ways.”

  Her gut told her he was up to something far worse than cruising for young white men with popped collars, cargo shorts, and boat shoes.

  Vanessa came in. “We’ve been able to tap into multiple traffic cameras and the security cams for the subdivision, as well as the outside of his house. Do you want to knock on the front door or break and enter? Vihan has managed to secure the code for the door leading into the house from the garage. Take the bay furthest to the west. It’s empty and I’ve got control of that entrance to the house. I’m working on the interior cameras. I’ll have it for you by the time you roll up to his place either way.”

  Rowan realized just how quickly and ably the other woman had become part of their team. “I’ll let you know if I want to kick a door down or just show up in their sitting room when I get a look at the place when we approach.”

  “Roger that.” Vanessa indicated a black case she’d opened on a nearby table. “I’ll be on overwatch here through David’s earpiece. I brought these body cams. They clip onto your button here.” She indicated Rowan’s chest just below the hollow of her throat. “Vihan will be with me at the controls.”

  Good. David’s new assistant was smart and a very fast learner, but the more experience he got, the better he’d be prepared. Rowan liked that her new employees were creating relationships with the rest of the team. That sense of unity would keep them all safer.

  Rowan snapped the nifty little camera into place and David did the same before seating his earpiece.

  “I’ll have a Scion with me, FYI. You might see Patience or Seth because they’re not going to let him travel without a guard either. Any other Vamps and I want to know. He can’t be doing this alone and I don’t want to be ambushed again.” Clive would never let her leave the house if that happened.

  Malin called up to say Clive had arrived. Rowan polished off the last three cookies before she told David, “I’m going to kit up. You do the same. Bring weapons.”

  After David left, Rowan slid the custom back sheath for her blade on first and then loaded knives into their slots on each boot. Should be enough, though she had handguns in a weapons locker in the back of her new car.

  As they reached the first floor, she said quietly to David, “I’m sandbagging the news that Aron was hired until the perfect opportunity. I want to pop him in the nuts with it. He might already know given the way the information was disseminated within the Nation. But if he doesn’t, it’ll be fun. And people make mistakes when they’re caught off guard.”

  There was a leak—most likely more than one—within the Nation that was feeding her enemies sensitive information that left her vulnerable. She’d figure that out too.

  “Do you think the Nation will ever accept Vampires on our mixed teams?” David asked. All this drama and extra work for Rowan was because Hunter Corp. had wanted other paranormals on their teams when the case they were investigating needed the eyes of someone from that group. The Vampire Nation actually benefited from these special teams but they were so dramatic and petty more than one group of them had caused trouble over the choice.

  “They already have. They’ll act aghast and play the victim because that’s what they do. No matter what we do they’re going to complain so we may as well do what we want and let them die mad. It’s done and they can’t change it.”

  Clive approached looking suave and dangerous. He gave an approving glance toward the tactical gear she wore, the style mirroring his. Sexypants.

  “Let’s go to his house first. Then we try the other places if he’s not around. That way, we can perform a search before he gets a tip-off that we’re looking for him and starts trying to dump evidence. If he’s not there, he won’t be under my feet. If he is there, I can fuck with him. Win/win.”

  “And for those who get to watch you in action,” Clive said.

  David took the wheel and Rowan frowned, annoyed her leg was still keeping her from the driver’s seat, but satisfied herself, screen on her lap as she worked with Vanessa remotely and they were able to get through two layers of guards and gates.

  “Drive past and turn around,” she told David.

  Elmer’s house was gigantic with a big, circular driveway. Angled to shield the front door from the street. It was bright enough from the rising moon and she could see there were no guards stationed anywhere at the front of the place.

  Though she did love some breaking and entering, Rowan decided subtlety wasn’t the angle she wanted right then. “Yeah, I say we ring that doorbell. Park right in front of the steps to the door,” she told David.

  “One moment,” David said before murmuring something to Vanessa via his mic and earpiece. He drove them in a big circle, taking time as Vanessa did whatever it was back at the office. Finally, he headed back and pulled up into the drive, turning to back in so they could make a quicker exit. “We’re good to go. All external cameras are on a loop for the next three minutes.”

  Clive slid out and opened Rowan’s door before she could do it herself. Then he put himself between her and the house while David caught up on her other side.

  The front of the house was...fine. There were cameras and the overall security of the neighborhood was excellent. Her home had been landscaped to interrupt sightlines and foil anyone with a rifle and a hate boner for a Hunter or a Scion. This place wasn’t nearly as secure. For a Vampire as powerful as Marsc, it seemed lazy. The cost of inattention to such important details could result in someone you don’t want about to pound on your front door.

  Clive took it all in and shook his head. Clearly disappointed in this Vampire. He’d had his power signature muted in the car, but in the space of a breath, he let it free. The heavy, delicious weight of a Scion rolled from him.

  Brilliant. Fierce. Clive Stewart was one of the most powerful beings on the planet and right then, she bet his power was visible from miles away.

  “I think the Scion should knock,” she told him.

  “I think that’s a fine idea,” he said as they climbed to the shiny black lacquer double front doors.

  * * *

  He knocked twice and then adjusted his cuffs as he waited. The night all around them seemed to hold Clive in its arms. This was his ground and he would occupy it, drowning anyone who dared oppose him with his power.

  The human who answered the door started and then bowed low. He swept an arm out, indicating Clive enter. “Scion, it is our honor. Please, come inside.”

  Rowan followed him with David at her back and the servant who’d answered the door paled. “You aren’t alone.”

  “Why would I be? Please let Mr. Marsc know I’m to be attended to—by him—immediately.” Clive didn’t bother with any sort of compulsion or glamor because it was unnecessary.

  The human looked from side to side. “He’s unavailable. What can I do instead?”

  Rowan made a sound in her throat. Horror and dismay, if Clive knew his wife. And he did.

  She said, icy and disapproving, “You can go to your employer and let him know a Scion is standing in his foyer and hasn’t yet even been offered a seat or refreshments. Because, as I’m utterly certain you know, unavailable isn’t an option when a Scion visits. Unless one is looking to be offensive. In which case, I’d wonder why that was.”

  Rowan turned her attention from the human to a spot just above a china cabinet on a nearby wall.

  The human blushed and then went stiff as no doubt, Marsc was using the blood bond to inform him of his unhappiness.

  The servant bent very low. “Apologies, Scion. Please, come through to the sitting room. I’ll ring for tea and refreshments for you to enjoy while I let Mr. Marsc know you’re here. He’s been in meetings, that is all I meant. I was clumsy in my explanation.”

  Clive watched the interplay closely. Rowan usually went out of her way to be patient and kind with any human servants. This time though, she narrowed her gaze at the man until he left quickly.

  Rowan didn’t bother to sit. She ranged around the room picking things up, turning books out, shaking to see if anything was between the pages.

  David examined things closely, but made no move to touch anything. He remained on point should he need to protect Rowan. Clive approved of the rhythm that had developed between Rowan and her valet.

  She got a text. Frowned and then smiled before tucking her phone away once more. In a few steps, she’d pressed her mouth to his ear. “He’s here. Vanessa tapped into the in-house cameras and there’s a suite beneath the main house. Probably where he goes to daytime rest. Possible panic room. But he doesn’t appear panicked. He’s watching an action movie. She says he’s dressed like he sells something for a living.”

  It was certainly easier than trying to deal with him in a public place surrounded by humans.

  He hummed his agreement and breathed her magic in for long moments before she stepped away and slipped back into public mode.

  “I’m giving him one more minute to present himself with the appropriate grace. Then I’m going to look for him and he won’t like that. I’ve not only got a warrant, I’ve got cause to search without it. I can promise anyone watching this video feed they won’t like the result of making me find Elmer myself,” she said loud enough for anyone watching to have heard.