"No."

It was frustrating that he was being so d.a.m.ned coy. But he never did a thing without a reason so she just had to figure it out.

"She's from h.e.l.lenistic Greece, so she's about what, five or six hundred years younger than you are?"

"She became a Vampire in 160 BC."

And Rowan knew Theo was born roughly around 800 BC.

"She has some sort of magical knowledge."

He shrugged just barely. Enough that she knew she was on the right track.

"Victoriana is obviously part of Enyo's cadre." A cadre was a group of Vampires who had a loose affiliation. Usually based on geography or perhaps who their Maker was or what their core beliefs were.

"I'm given to understand that, yes."

"What's Marcilius's story? Is he just blinded by love or what?"

"Tut-tut, Petal. I can't give you all our secrets. We are on opposite sides of the table, after all. I am entrusted with millennia's worth of secrets and stories. I want you to succeed. I want you to be safe. But I cannot-and will not-reveal everything to you simply because you are curious. The Hunters have archives. I suggest you make use of them. You can't afford to be lazy."

Yes, but there was only so much time she had left before the vote, d.a.m.n it. But she knew when to back off and so she did.

"One more question. This one from Rowan to Tages."

"I indulge you far too much." But he spoiled it with a small smile. "Go on then."

"You and Enyo? I mean, you know." She waggled her brows at him.

He chuckled and the sound flowed over her like a caress. "Back when we were a lot younger, she was...singular. She still is. But dangerous. Too dangerous to be around for very long." He finished his tea. "And since you asked about my love life, I ask about yours. Things are good between you and my Scion?"

She took a deep breath. "Yes. Mostly. He's a Vampire, so he's arrogant and bossy and c.o.c.ky."

"But he nearly got into a fight over your honor in a meeting here. He has publicly claimed you. I like that. He's strong enough to keep your interest, and you're strong enough to not get run over. And I'm powerful enough to end him should he ever harm you. It's a good situation for a father to be in."

She choked as she tried not to laugh and finally gave in. She had no idea Clive had thrown down for her. Clearly she needed to get the full story from Clive when she had him alone. "I'm going to tell him he came up in our conversation. Just to keep him on his toes."

Theo took the teacup she'd just refilled for him. "I expect nothing less, Petal. Try not to put me in a place where I'll have to be angry with you or have to lodge a complaint over killing one of my people. All right?"

She shrugged. "I have a very strong feeling I will not be leaving here without some blood on my hands. You have my word any kill I make will be justified. But I cannot promise you that I won't have to execute a Vampire."

On her way out an hour or so later, he stopped her with a kiss to her forehead. "I want you to remember that in the time when I was young, the world was full of magic," he murmured as the doors opened to let her leave.

So, yes, Enyo was the source of this magic bulls.h.i.t. Great.

Chapter Sixteen.

Rowan and Celesse met with their a.s.sistants and the remaining members of the Hunter Corp. team. "I can accept this wording."

Rowan nodded at Celesse. "Yes. I wish for more, but we could get nothing at all and the problem will remain. If we can get this voted on at the session after dinner, we can get out of here tomorrow and get this presented to the Full Partners the following day."

"Anxious to get home to Las Vegas, are we?" Celesse smirked.

"I'm done with politics for a while after this. Still feeling all right after waking up?" Though the bundles seemed to have protected sleep, she wasn't sure how they'd work once people had woken up.

"Best night of sleep I've had since we arrived, and I'm feeling refreshed. Please do thank the kitchen staff for me. I've spoken to the rest of the HC staff and everyone feels better today."

"The Vampires I've spoken with so far also report deep, uninterrupted rest. I also called the Motherhouse in London and advised them to take a look at Roth and Valerie to see how they are. If this was some sort of magical interference, they'll need a cleanse of some sort. I hope it involves enemas."

Celesse laughed and then glared at Rowan. "If it was magic, Roth's going to claim he wasn't responsible for the physical a.s.saults on you."

Rowan sighed. "Yes, and he'd be right. Probably. He still needed to be ejected, and Valerie still needs to be fired as she was a twit before she arrived. But if we can prove this was magical interference, I'd be a jerk to hold Roth responsible for something out of his control."

"I doubt he'd be as understanding in your place."

Rowan shrugged. "Most likely. But I'm not a petty, power-hungry a.s.shole. All I can be is Rowan Summerwaite. So. Anyway, there was some big fight about it at the Motherhouse and now things have calmed because of my call. I can't bring the Hunter Corp. down because I don't like Roth Wesslyian. I mean, if I ever get a chance to punch him again? I totally would. But I can fight my own battles without burning s.h.i.t down at Hunter Corp."

"d.a.m.n it, Rowan. You've grown into a woman worth admiring. I haven't always been convinced you were ready for a full Partnership and you go and prove me wrong." Celesse stood. "Shall we go to dinner and get this over at last?"

"Yes, G.o.ddess, let's."

Only, when they got out to the hallway, Roth Wesslyian stood with Rex Espy. Rowan tried not to goggle at them both. Honest to G.o.ddess, how was she supposed to get her job done with all this interference and political side talking?

"I wish I could say this was a happy moment. I'm always happy to see you, Rex, but this is not the time for nonsense. We've had enough."

Rex held his hands up in entreaty. "Understood. Roth wanted to come here in person to apologize for his behavior, and as we did find magical tampering with his state of mind, I thought it would be wise if I allowed it, but escorted him. Should we encounter any problems."

"You must have run for the airfield like five minutes after I hung up the phone with the Motherhouse. He could have apologized when I returned to the Motherhouse in a few days."

"Don't be angry with him. I wanted to do this right away." Roth's tone bordered on civil but didn't quite make it.

"I'm not angry with him. I'm frustrated with this silly, petty nonsense. In case it's escaped your notice, this is a highly important meeting, and you've done nothing but be a distraction."

Rex's face told her this was beyond his control, but that he would have no problem taking Roth out if he pulled any s.h.i.t.

"I'm a Full Partner and I felt it necessary to come here."

"You seem to have problems with your self-control. This is not a matter of what you want." She shifted her attention to Rex. "I am not convinced of the wisdom of this move. Mr. Wesslyian lost his s.h.i.t in front of the most prestigious members of the Vampire Nation last night. Interference or not, they're not going to trust him-or me, for that matter-with this sudden reappearance. Which seems so very fortuitous for a man we all know doesn't want the amendment to pa.s.s."

"I am opposed to this amendment, Rowan, but I do not a.s.sault people I disagree with. I apologize for that."

She shook her head as she looked to Rex. "I'm not all right with this."

Celesse shifted with a sigh. "Admittedly, I, too, am troubled by Roth's appearance. We have business to attend to, and this is not what we need right now."

"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.