Part 17 (2/2)
”What would make you all right with it? Short of his leaving, that is,” Rex asked of Rowan.
”It doesn't matter what she wants.” Roth sneered, and instead of rolling her eyes, Rowan simply went very cold and remote.
”It does. As the Liaison, I have every right to choose who says what and how. That's part of the job.” She turned to Rex. ”So, we just voted to accept the new language, and that is what we will act on. Mr. Wesslyian will not speak in any official capacity in any meeting, or I will be pursuing his dismissal, affected by magic or not.”
”I can't believe you'd be so petty.”
She held up a hand in Roth's face. ”You don't know me very well then.”
Rowan turned her back to walk away, but heard Rex say, ”She's the one who saved your a.s.s with that call about the magic to start with. You need to connect with your grat.i.tude.”
”And if you don't, you'd better hope Rex or I get to you first, before she can,” Celesse said quietly before she moved to catch up with Rowan.
Roth was going to be trouble and, when he was, she would take care of him. This amendment was going to pa.s.s, and she was going to go home and not deal with any of these petty a.s.sholes for the next six months.
Clive caught sight of her as she came into the c.o.c.ktail hour. She was annoyed; he saw it in the set of her eyes. He'd heard Roth Wesslyian had returned with Rex Espy holding his leash, and he figured that was the reason for her expression.
He'd have to give her a thorough workout later on that night to relax her.
She turned right as he smiled, and she started and then rolled her eyes at him, knowing he was thinking about s.e.x. But she looked less annoyed than she had earlier, so that much was a win.
Rowan made a circuit of the room, touching base with the Scions she knew supported her. She was in her element here. She might complain about the politics of this Joint Tribunal business, but when the vote came in later to adopt the amendment, it would largely be because of her efforts.
He couldn't recall the last Hunter who had so much sway or who was held in such high esteem by the Vampire Nation. Despite the chaos, she did what needed to be done, even going so far as to procure the sleep protections for the attendees. She didn't let anything get in her way for very long. She simply worked out how to burn it down, climb over it or work it to her advantage.
”She's done an excellent job.” The First appeared at Clive's side, and Clive worked not to jump. He hadn't even heard the Vampire approach.
”You raised her well, Ovilius.”
The First nodded. ”I wish I could take credit for all of it. Her father was exceptional, and from what I understand of her mother, she was, too. The G.o.ddess's humans made her strong as did the Hunters. Though they don't deserve one such as our Rowan.”
”You'd have her here then?”
”And why not? Do you not think she'd make an excellent Scion?”
”She's not Vampire. She doesn't want to be.”
”You're so sure of that?”
”Yes. Rowan is what she is. She cannot be anything but that. She is a better Vampire than most of us, this is true. But she does not want to be made. She doesn't want to lose the sunlight.”
”She's too vicious to be tamed by the lackeys at Hunter Corp.” The First sniffed, offended. ”They do not appreciate her.”
Clive tended to agree with the latter, but that was Rowan's business.
”Her G.o.ddess will be sure she's as vicious as she needs to be.”
”You understand her. This pleases me. If you make her unhappy, I will hurt you. Badly. For a very long time.” At this, The First smiled and headed toward Rowan.
Rowan Summerwaite was royalty. And like royalty, p.i.s.sing off her daddy, the king, meant the knight got separated from his head.
Lucky for him, she was worth the risk.
Alice entered the room, and he moved in her direction, needing to take care of some last-minute business before dinner got started.
Rowan took note of the little discussion Theo had with Clive before he glided over to where she'd just finished a conversation with Warren.
”I see your human weasel has returned. Are you regretting my offer to turn a blind eye to killing and leaving him for the small mammals to eat?”
She snorted. ”Yes. Definitely. Though there's always tomorrow.”
”You are aware that he's deeply offended several members of the team.”
”I am. He's been advised to keep his lips together. If he doesn't, I'll handle him myself. Immediately.”
Roth stood on the other side of the room with Rex, who raised his gla.s.s to her when he caught her eye. She smiled and raised hers back.
”This man is good to you? The one with the weasel?”
”He's the husband of my trainer at Hunter Corp. Rex Espy.”
”Ah. I know him well. Or his writings, in any case. He's brilliant.” Theo didn't even add for a human, so he truly did admire Rex.
”Definitely brilliant. His military strategy blows me away. He's also an ace bridge player.”
Theo's gaze lit. ”He is? You should be my partner and we can play him and someone else. Does Clive play?”
”Probably. I've never asked.” And she had no intention of playing bridge as Theo's partner. He was great at it, and 70 percent of the time he'd be fun. But that other 30 percent he could pout or go into a rage. He was a terrible loser.
”I promise to be on my best behavior.”
She kept her gaze down on her gla.s.s so as not to give her misgivings away, so she felt, rather than saw, the old Vampires enter the room.
The Scions were already in attendance, so when she did look up, she knew it would be the Blood Front Vamps coming their way.
Theo sighed heavily.
”I cast aside my status and call a challenge.” Victoriana wore a smirk when she said this.
Stunned, Rowan placed her gla.s.s on a tray and gave her attention to the Vampire before her.
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