"Deesse." He paused for long moments. "Rowan, you have many people fooled by your exterior. But I've been with you a very long time. I know who you are. I trust you with my very life. I also know you're...off balance with this return to your former home. I worry for you, but have every confidence you'll succeed as you mean to."

She held her breath a moment, not commenting because...well, she didn't really know how to say what she needed to say without either sounding stupid or messing things up.

"Thank you."

He said nothing else and neither did she as she went through the next security check and then approached the huge gates-cold iron to repel the Fae-which slowly swung open to admit them.

She pulled into the lot at the base of the footbridge as two humans in uniform approached and opened their doors. "We will bring your belongings, Ms. Summerwaite."

Enzo, her cousin and the person who took over her position with Theo, pulled up in a modified golf cart and hopped out, speaking to her in German a mile a minute as he pulled her into his embrace.

He kissed both her cheeks and set her back from him. "Come up to the house now. The First would like you to take tea with him once you're settled."

Nothing like jumping into the icy cold creek the first ten minutes you arrive.

"I love how you refer to this as the house." She indicated the huge stone walls surrounding the Keep, and the deep, rocky ravine the bridge spanned. Ahead, on the other side of yet another gate, loomed the main building of the Keep. It was a castle plain and simple. Old-school and scary-looking, complete with ramparts and arrow slots.

"It is a house. Just a large one." Enzo smiled as he drove them over the pedestrian bridge-a medieval way of keeping traffic to a minimum so siege engines and attacking armies couldn't get close to the walls. He went the scenic route and Rowan had no complaints. It gave her time to get herself together again, and to humanize the place for David, she played a sort of tour guide, pointing out the gardens and other places she remembered fondly.

Dotting the land around the main building-which held twenty-three bedrooms, a ballroom, three dining rooms that fit fifteen to five hundred, an indoor pool and a racquetball court-were several other buildings. Houses for the human staff who were needed at all hours who had families. Stables. Guesthouses, work buildings, machine shops and all manner of things you might need.

It struck her that it smelled exactly the same as she remembered it. Clean and crisp. Water from the river that cut through the ravine around the Keep, from the waterfall, lent itself to the overall scent. There were gardens meticulously tended to by staff and sometimes by Theo himself. That green spice wended around her and made memory a pleasant sort of ache.

At last, Enzo pulled the cart to a stop near the back entry to the wing where The First's residence was. It was also where her old suite of rooms was located. "Come on up. We'll get David settled in. I had them start on some tea for you, and there's already a fire. We put the other Hunters in the guest wing. I hope that won't cause a problem."

She snorted. "Really?" As if Theo cared what was a problem. He did what he wanted, and who really had the power to make him do anything about it?

"Well, I hope so. Your father isn't as concerned. This is your home after all. He doesn't care what anyone else might think."

Enzo paused as she looked out over the land below them. He reached out, took her hand and squeezed it. "I'm very glad you're back, Rowan."

Part of her was too. Another part was busily trying not to think of the horrors she'd experienced within the walls. And still another part was kicking her own a.s.s, telling her to buck up.

They climbed the curved staircase and she made every effort to wrestle her emotions back into place. Most Vampires would still be in their rooms until twilight. But Theo would be awake and working. He'd start his day by catching up on his stories. The soap operas he'd been watching for years and years. Enzo would read him any important mail or messages. Then his tea before twilight arrived.

Usually. Sometimes he would wake up in a rage and everyone would cower or make themselves scarce if they were fortunate enough to not have to serve him directly.

She needed to get her s.h.i.t together before she went to him. He was, for all intents and purposes, her father, yes, but he was unpredictable at best and psychotic at worst. He could pat her head and give her candy or whip her until she bled for not being in control.

Though she wasn't that child anymore and she didn't doubt The G.o.ddess would unleash fresh h.e.l.l all over him if he tried to teach Rowan any more of his lessons. But part of her job was to stand toe-to-toe with him, and she needed to own her s.h.i.t and do it herself.

David paused in his room, which adjoined Rowan's. "What do you require of me?"

He was concerned, clearly, but he gave her enough emotional s.p.a.ce not to get caught up in it and she appreciated that very much. "I'm all right. Valerie and Celesse should be here in an hour or two. Relax until then. You'll need your strength to deal with all that." She lowered her voice as Enzo slipped next door to do whatever he did. "Politics starts now. Just keep your game face on. If you need anything, hit two-three-three on the phone. That's directly to Enzo. He'll take care of you. This wing is highly guarded, so no one from Hunter Corp. will be wandering through. I need you to ping me when they arrive. Don't go to them. Not without me."

He nodded. "You'll be..."

She took a deep breath and pushed the past away. It was touching that he cared, but she was a bada.s.s b.i.t.c.h and she needed to remember that if she expected anyone else to do the same. She squared her shoulders.

"I am the Vessel. I am a Hunter. I am the foster daughter of the First. I will survive."

He bent to one knee, making her smile. "Deesse, I am yours to command. Always."

She touched the top of his head, energy flowing between them. Calming him. Filling him with a.s.surance she also had needed and received in turn. And things were all right by the time he stood.

"I'm going to get changed and have some tea with the First. You know where I am if you need me. I'll have my phone, and Enzo will also be available. Rest while you can. I'm sure there's p.o.r.n on the televisions. Probably Vampire p.o.r.n, though."

The look of horror on his face made her laugh as she headed through to her rooms.

"They have such a thing?"

"Yes. Weird, huh?"

"I think I'll read instead," he murmured faintly, and she kept laughing until she came in to find her things being unpacked and placed in drawers and the closet. The room had not changed. Not even a tiny bit.

Drawings she'd done of the various household staff still sat in frames on the shelves. Her books remained in the floor-to-ceiling cases. A throw she'd used when she'd read near the fire on cold evenings lay folded neatly on the back of the wing chair she'd favored.

"He ordered it left exactly as you'd had it," Enzo murmured from her left. So many contradictions, had Theo.

She picked up a leather-bound book of poetry. Pablo Neruda. She'd been reading it right before she'd left. It still had her bookmarks here and there.

"Would you like help changing from your road clothing, vasallus?"

Rowan blinked hard as she put the book back on the table in the sitting room. Enzo had opened the heavy draperies, and snow fell gently just on the other side of the gla.s.s. Calm and quiet. Cataline stood after she'd finished putting Rowan's underpants away and looked her over critically.

It wasn't so much the being examined, that was normal. Or that Rowan doubted she looked a little bit like a woman who'd been traveling that day. But the t.i.tle, which she'd not heard in a long time.

"No one has called me that in many years. Rowan will do fine now, Cataline. You look well. I'm glad to see you."

Vasallus was the Latin word for va.s.sal. It had been her t.i.tle from birth. Enzo's t.i.tle now. She had been that once but she was no longer. And that did not make her sad.

She'd serve him tea, because she loved him in her own way. And because it was part of their relationship. But he did not own her, or her future. She was not his va.s.sal.

The G.o.ddess burned bright within Rowan's belly, strengthening her.

Cataline, who'd been one of the servants on this wing since before Rowan had been born, nodded once. "As you wish. He did send some things for you to wear. If you would like."

The look on her face told Rowan Cataline felt very strongly that one of the gowns should indeed be worn. And as she moved to the closet and saw them, Rowan agreed.

"The blue please."

Enzo made a satisfied sound in the background. "I'll wait for you in the sitting room."

Rowan disrobed, not even thinking about the other woman in the room. Cataline had given her baths as a child. Had cleaned and bandaged up whatever needed tending to after Theo's lessons.

"He'll like this. I'm glad you're wearing it." Cataline helped her into the dress, doing the laces up the back. The sleeves were fitted but cut so her service mark on her wrist would show. "He's been in a state this last week."

Rowan froze, and Cataline smoothed her hands down the skirts. "No, not like that. He wants everything to be perfect. For you. Might I do your hair?"

In for a penny and all that. She nodded and Cataline steered her to sit in front of the vanity mirror near the windows. She ran the brush through Rowan's hair and then began to fasten it back.

It was a quick job. Nothing too ornate. "The training rooms will be open for the visitors, but The First wanted me to inform you your old s.p.a.ce is ready should you desire it. His lieutenants are all eager to work with you."

Rowan laughed. "I bet. I hope you have plenty of soaking salts around." They'd kick her a.s.s for leaving just as much as they would to judge how much her skills had improved. "Thank you. For unpacking my things and for helping me get dressed." She tipped her chin and Cataline waved it away.

"No thanks needed. It's my job. Just because you ran off doesn't mean you're not still my job, young lady. You scared me half to death. We thought something bad had happened to you. It wasn't right the way you left."

Rowan let the woman speak. "I'm sorry to have worried you. But you know why I left. Everyone knew except me." When she'd found out Theo had had her parents killed for breaking their law and being together, that he'd raised her as his own all those years and had let her think they'd died in an accident, it had been too much to bear. The betrayal of it had crashed into her life and she had nothing to do but leave.

"What difference would it have made to have told you? They loved you. But they broke the laws. He loves you so much. For years after you left-"

"Enough!" Enzo came in, anger on his features.

"No, it's not enough. The girl should know."

"I should have known lots of things. But that's all past now. Theo and I-well, we're trying. He was wrong. And everyone who knew and didn't tell me was wrong. I was wrong for scaring you when I left. That's a lot of wrong. But it's also a long time ago."

Cataline kissed her forehead. "If you need help when you finish, ring for me. The Scion of North America is here and asked to be told of your status when he awakens. He's very handsome."

And meddlesome.

"Let's go. You know The First hates to be kept waiting when he wants his tea."

Chapter Four.

Enzo ushered her from the room, and they headed down the hall and up three steps to Theo's apartments.

Recht, one of Theo's lieutenants, stood at the doors. He smiled, lowering his chin in deference, and she repeated the gesture. She'd seen him three months before when he'd accompanied The First to Las Vegas, but seeing him here in his full House regalia was something else. He was regal and beautifully dangerous.

His deep black hair was captured back in a queue at the back of his neck, exposing features so breathtaking it nearly hurt to look on them too long. His lips, arrestingly lush, curved. His smile could be fetching, as it was just then. Sardonic at times. Cruel. Recht had been one of Theo's guards for well over nine centuries. A master swordsman, he'd been the one to teach her how to use blades.

"We have an appointment on the practice floor. I hear tales of your prowess with your blessed blade, little G.o.ddess. I'll want to see how well you've taken my training for myself." Recht raised a brow, and she snorted an undignified laugh.

"I've had to agree to keep my blade sheathed unless I'm threatened here. But I can make do with one of your blades. You heal fast enough."

He gave her a full-throated laugh. Something she knew very few others ever heard, as Theo's guards were nearly totally silent around anyone else. Only one, Nadir, the sole female of the Five, spoke aloud in public. "Bold words for a little girl. I can't wait to see proof of such a statement."

She patted his arm.

"He's in a good mood," Recht said so quietly Rowan could have dreamed the words.

"I'll leave you here. I'll be around if you need me." Enzo bowed and Rowan squared her shoulders and opened the doors to the antechamber, pushing the tea tray to the seating area near the fireplace.

The dim of the room reminded her that while Theo could be awake this early, he was still a Vampire and couldn't be in direct sunlight. The heavy draperies were open, but the gauzy panels were closed. Light enough to see, but not enough to harm.

She thought about the temperature and stoked the fire a bit, knowing he preferred the room warmer. It only took moments to adjust to moving in a dress instead of her usual pants. She supposed some things you never really forgot.

Almonds. His scent always came into a room before he did. A warning of sorts, as well as the calling card of a very old Vampire.

She turned to see her foster father come into the room, his long, pale hair loose as he walked. If Recht had been beautiful and regal, Theo was ethereal. Otherworldly. So exquisite to behold, the mere sight of him was enough to ensnare a human even without his trying.

Rowan loved to look at him, but only when he wasn't aware of it. She'd often felt like Theo was a work of art. In some light he was so alien and feral it was hard to look at him. Other times he was achingly beautiful.

But when he focused on you, it was...difficult to think straight.

Allowing her gaze to skim over his face, she held her wrist in her other hand, turned out so her mark showed to him. Muscle memory. "Vater."

He touched her head with so much gentleness she had to stifle a gasp. But tenderness rushed through her anyway.

"You look well, Petal. I'm pleased to see you in blue. Come and make me some tea. I'm chilled by the sudden snowfall. Did you bring it with you?"

"I bring tea, but the snow was here when I arrived. Please, sit, I'll pour out."

He took her hand and drew her along with him to where she'd pushed the tea cart.

His gaze went to the fireplace and a satisfied smile marked his mouth as she laid some cookies on a small plate and placed them before him on the table. She poured out exactly how she knew he liked it, placing the cup, handle perfectly positioned, next to the plate with the cookies and tended to her own tea.

"I will be displeased if you do not have cookies, Petal. Cook made them just for you."

She smiled as she sipped her tea. They were indeed her favorites. Once he'd taken a sip she allowed herself three cookies. The delicate shortbread was rich and b.u.t.tery with a slight hint of lemon.

"I'll be sure to go to the kitchens to deliver my thanks in person."

He nodded. "Cook will like that. The staff is more excited about your return than anyone else being here." He drank his tea for a while before turning a gaze that missed nothing in her direction. "You're healed from your ordeal with the rogue?"

"Ordeal" was a nice way of saying that time you nearly got killed by a crazed, tweaker serial killer ancient Vampire.

"Yes, thank you." Between physical therapy and being the human Vessel for a G.o.ddess, she'd healed up the rather severe damage well. Then again, Theo had given her his blood to speed the healing.

"I can still smell my mark on you. It pleases me."

Taking in so much of his blood had altered her. Already strong and fast, she was stronger and faster. Her night vision had sharpened. Three months had pa.s.sed, and it showed no signs of wearing off or weakening. Rowan really wasn't sure if it ever would.

But for the time being, she'd certainly take the plusses and use them to the fullest in this negotiation.

"Thank you for that, too."

"You are precious to me. There's nothing I wouldn't have done to save your life."

She looked at him over the rim of her cup. Fine, eggsh.e.l.l china older than any human alive. h.e.l.l, older than most Vampires. She knew the set they were using was one of his favorites. Russian. A gift from Pyotr Alexeyvich Romanov's court, otherwise known as Peter the Great. Of course Theo hadn't much liked Peter, declaring him too liberal, but he did love fine things so he'd kept the tea set.