Chapter Twenty-Seven
Clive took his wife in as she stalked down a hallway toward an interview room. She’d only found out minutes before, as they were flying back home to Las Vegas, that the missing human woman, Kerry, had been found. And it hadn’t been good news.
He knew Rowan was taking it personally. Full of guilt that she was unable to figure out this twisty, fucked-up conspiracy in time to save Kerry’s life.
The set of Genevieve’s mouth said she felt the same guilt as Rowan, and as much as Clive would shove someone in the way to take a hit that was not Rowan’s, it wasn’t Genevieve’s either.
The witches had a lot to account for. As did the Vampires.
Christ. The absolute shambolic shit show these Sanguis Principatus Vampires had created; the layers of discipline Clive had to administer as well as the scorched-earth way he would have to react to this would be a massive undertaking.
He had other things he’d prefer to deal with, which only made him angrier.
“Send Elmer next,” Rowan said to one of the Vampire guards. “I don’t need him for this part. Eduard first.”
The former guard physically recoiled when Rowan entered the room and she narrowed her gaze at him, the predator inside going sharp and still. Goddess she was magnificent.
“ Sanguis Principatus has been involved in a scheme with a bunch of witches to stalk, kidnap, and enslave adepts. You were so very high and mighty when you were questioned at first. Remember that? Oh woe, the Hunter found out my pervert best friend Elmer has been sniffing around teenagers. That might endanger my deal with Stephen Baker for all those sweet adepts, so I’ll pretend I’m morally outraged. You’re fucking pathetic.”
Starting strong.
Clive simply sat back and let his wife do what she did best. Whatever was left of Eduard when she was finished with him, Clive would crush under his boot.
Eduard jerked back with the end of each sentence, his mouth dropping open for a moment at the end.
“You see,” Rowan continued without waiting for a reply, “many Vampires like to think they’re smarter than everyone else because they’re older. Or because they have superpowers. It’s your weakest spot and goddess love you all, you just keep doing it. Over and over and over. I come in, things are hinky as fuck and I run you all to ground. And I do, because you’re stupid and think self-control is for other people. So here I am, Ed. Looking at a stupid motherfucker—yet again—who thought with his ego instead of his brain.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Eduard managed.
“Teresa says hi. She also said you were terrible in bed and never made her come unless you took her blood. I’m not surprised at all to hear you’re too lazy to find a clit and give it some attention.”
Eduard’s color rose and Rowan chuckled.
“I’m talking to Stephen after this. And Elmer. So you know the deal. First one to talk gets a better deal from Hunter Corp.”
Certainly not from the Nation. But she’d said it that way to keep Eduard’s mind off that fact.
“These crimes are judged by a panel. A panel we’ve already charged with examining all the evidence we’ve collected,” Clive said. “Being cooperative is imperative to your very existence.”
“Shall I tell you how I think it went down?” Rowan asked with deceptive calm. Clive felt the surge of her emotions, knew she would never lose control, but also understood she wanted to. “That night when I arrested Elmer, Stephen called to let you know I was about to arrest Elmer. And you both knew Elmer was a liability to your little trafficking ring because he’s a scumbag with zero concern about how whatever he did would bring you into the spotlight eventually, so you let him get caught and figured you’d handle him when he arrived here to be thrown into a cell.” Rowan waved a hand. “Anyhoodle, your little stunt by putting hands on me was you panicking, but also a signal to let Elmer know you saw him. You wanted him to think you were protecting him, but he also knew it was a warning to shut up since he was in a cell here and at your mercy. You saw that footage of the ambush and that I was using a cane and you assumed I was weak. You could have made your point and backed off, but you underestimated me, and I knocked you the fuck out. Taintweasel.”
Rowan tipped her head back and laughed. Brigid rose then and seemed to fill the room up as an amber halo of power radiated around Rowan’s body. The air was thick with magic. Rowan’s unique magic as a Vessel.
Eduard blinked fast and swallowed audibly.
Clive watched Rowan level her gaze on Eduard, freezing him there in terror for long moments.
Finally, he said to Clive, “For thirty-one years, Sanguis Principatus provided a service to our members. An introduction to the sweetest feeds possible. No Nation laws were broken, nor was the Treaty violated. Jacques was a real Scion who served his Vampires.”
“He’s not going to respond,” Rowan interrupted. “You and I are talking about your little club and all the years after the first thirty-one when oodles of laws, Nation, Treaty, and the Conclave, were being broken. Focus.”
Eduard licked his lips. “I wasn’t part of that. I have blood servants. Adepts who willingly serve me. I don’t need to force anyone. You can’t pin that on me.”
“Look, let’s not do this. You’re trying to quibble here; claim you didn’t use magic and violence to break an unwilling adept, so you’re not like the others who did. But if it’s not a deal breaker to you, you’re exactly the same. There were underage adepts. Your little introductions for Elmer.”
A guess, Clive knew. But when the words landed, Eduard’s change of expression said it was an accurate one. His wife’s intuition remained undefeated.
“Not in the years since Scion Stewart took over.”
Before that, the territory was lawless when it came to such rules and the Nation had been on the other side of the ocean, and as long as the profits rolled in and appearances were kept, they’d been left alone.
“He was fine for a few years, but he wanted more, and we didn’t want the possible problems, so we said no. Offered him adepts who were still young, but legal adults. He started hunting again to get his own. We have nothing to do with that. You can’t hold us responsible for it.” Eduard tried to fold his arms over his chest, but his wrists were shackled.
Rowan made a low sound in her throat. A growling snarl as she processed that information about Elmer.
“We know you’re the one who has been feeding Mardoc and his ridiculous lords information about Scion Stewart’s territory and my activities,” Rowan said, standing. “Armas, one of his little friends and the Vampire who was expecting delivery of Jaylin Prince, confessed.”
Mardoc had bragged about his deal with Sanguis Principatus and the various other services they provided members. Armas had only been an official member for a few months when Mardoc had convinced him and the others that Rowan and Hunter Corp. were weak, and it was time to cause them trouble and keep them hobbled and ineffective.
“Don’t judge them too harshly,” Clive said. “They’ve been guests of the First in his dungeons. Andros has been attending them all.”
“Theo came to visit Mardoc. That loosened his tongue, I’m told.” Rowan snorted.
Clive suppressed a shudder. At one time in what felt like another life, he’d had been subject to the First’s displeasure and discipline.
“Tell us everything or I’m walking out of here. No more games. I’m done with you,” Rowan said, her hand on the doorknob.
“Fine!”
Rowan knocked on the door and David came in, seating himself, reading for notes. Alice was doing the same.
“Start at the beginning. You and Teresa.”
An hour and a half later, an insulated mug of coffee at her left hand, Rowan and Clive sat across from Stephen Baker. They’d moved Elmer’s interrogation again, knowing they’d get more information from Baker to pile on Elmer’s head.
“So, chief of security for Elmer Marsc. Wooow.” Rowan drew out the last word, grating on him. “I’m sure your parents are super proud.”
Her chuckle was genuine, so she went with it.
Stephen opened his mouth, and she slapped her palm down on the tabletop. “No. It’s not your turn to talk. I’ll tell you before you start squawking, yes, we have every right to hold you. Yes, you absolutely understand why you’re here and no, we’re not letting you go. So, to continue. I hear you and Elmer share a love of questionably young humans. What a thing to have people know about you. I mean, I guess if you’re Elmer’s lackey you don’t have any shame left.”
Stephen’s face twisted in anger. If he was human, he’d be red-faced and panting. Goddess, she wished she could goad him into a heart attack. Sometimes things weren’t fair. Ah well, the least she could do was reduce him to tears.
Before she sent him off to prison.
“Everyone works for someone,” Stephen said. “Last I checked having a job wasn’t against the law.”
She clucked a little. Disappointed. “Really? I’m cringing just imagining taking the fall for a pervert like Elmer. Dude, he’s just so fucking stupid and led by his dick, which isn’t that unusual for those who have dicks, even when they’re Vampires. I guess that’s something you knew was a possibility when you linked up with him in this scheme of his.”
“I don’t need to manipulate boys who are barely over eighteen. Whatever his...predilections, they’ve been over eighteen, even if only by minutes, when he Made them. For the last four years.”
“He means after I separated Jacques’s head from his body and you took over as Scion and started making them obey the laws,” she said to Clive, who fought a smile for a moment. “You’re the one who follows Elmer around cleaning up his messes, licking his boots. He laughed about that.”
She was such a liar. Elmer hadn’t said anything like that. But Rowan could read Stephen like a book. And Stevie didn’t like Elmer and the idea that Elmer would mock him would uncork Steve’s truth.
“ Sanguis pays me. We mocked Elmer and his ridiculous life. The man is a degenerate, and he can face the sun for all I care.”
“He’s a massive asshole, for sure. But you served him for how long?”
“Seven years.”
“Like a fanboy? Just sniffing after Elmer, trying to steal his shine?” That might be laying it on a little thick, but she went with it.
Stephen’s curled lip cheered her. “Elmer was a direct connection to Jacques and then Eduard. Jacques used him for heavy jobs. So he had a lot of dirt on the old Scion. Enough to keep him alive. Plus, Elmer’s money, power, and connections have been of great use to Sanguis Principatus . And we built a nice little file on Elmer for when he outlived his usefulness. He can choke on his laughter.”
“Oh, you mean on one of the multiple data cards you had tucked in the safe at your nest?” Clive asked. “My staff has busily been unlocking and decrypting the information and compiling it. I’m pleased to know we’ll have more evidence against Marsc.”
“You entered my nest?” Oh, that tone wasn’t going to please her Scion.
Which he proved when he spoke, voice icy and full of power. “I am the Scion of this entire continent. You provide overwatch to a Vampire who lurks at sports bars to prey on impressionable humans. We are not the same. I go where I please. And it pleased me to have your nest searched from top to bottom. Like it pleased me to remove every last one of your staff and blood servants and get them the support and help they need.”
“Everything is unraveling, Stephen.” Rowan shrugged. “If Mardoc hadn’t played his little game and threatened Hunters I never would have looked twice at him. If the Procellas hadn’t gotten greedy and petitioned the Conclave to be allowed more power to coerce humans, the witches wouldn’t have taken note of their adept trafficking business. If you hadn’t abused Dorothy because she didn’t want you, she might not have run straight into my investigation. I knew there were some dark things going on, but I never would have put it all together if you all hadn’t let money and power go to your heads and got reckless. Entitlement makes people so lazy. Or maybe it’s lazy people are entitled. I don’t know. But what I do know is if I was involved in the process of kidnapping and selling adepts, I’d keep my shit locked down because it turns out that’s not legal. Even if it’s via a luxury concierge service. Especially one that has begun to resemble human organized crime, complete with public assassination attempts on enemies.”
He froze for a brief moment. Not so brief she missed it. I’ve got you, motherfucker.
“Fiona Clare is looking for you.” She smiled at him. “She thought you’d ghosted her after you went and damaged the whole-ass witch you attempted to buy like she was a new car. Dorothy. She’s amazing. Strong. Courageous. She remembers everything. Some witches, it turns out, have varying levels of immunity to coercion magic. You tortured her to break her, and that, Steve, makes me dislike you intensely.”
He opened his mouth to speak before thinking better of it and closing it again.
“Look at you. Learning like a big boy. I have a dozen other witnesses, all now free of the geas Fiona Clare had put on them, chatting like their lives depended on it. And they do. The First and Andros have had Mardoc and his ridiculous little lords in a dungeon and they’ve all seen the wisdom in telling the truth. You’re fucked. So if you want to help yourself, dispense with all the excuses and lies and tell the truth.”
Clive said, “This is your opportunity to help us understand your perspective. Because, as Rowan said, we have a dozen other perspectives, and as you might imagine, their portrayal of you isn’t the most flattering.”
“I can see from your expression that you’re considering continuing to deny the truth. So I’m going to stand up and leave this room if you don’t start telling us what we want to know. Then I’ll go next door where your buddy Elmer is waiting. I’m sure he has loads of helpful things to share.”
“In the decades Sanguis Principatus has worked with the witches to procure adepts, less than a handful has needed convincing ,” he finally said. “A handful! Less than a dozen who are all settled now serving their Vampires as they were meant to! In the end they all want it. Dorothy and modern women like her don’t know what they want at first. So we help them be what they’re born to.”
“Gonna be honest here, I’m having trouble finding something to say. Give me a moment.”
Rowan breathed carefully through her anger. All these machinations were about control and loss of control so the last thing she needed to do was emulate that.
But oh how she wanted to hurt these Vampires and witches who’d just decided a whole group of people didn’t deserve even the most basic rights of bodily autonomy because adepts have blood that tastes better.
“It has been Elmer from the start. He’s the problem! He was never satisfied. Caused issues to the point where the workgroup refused to let him use their services. He started hunting on his own again. Getting high off blood feeds with nineteen-year-old humans like an embarrassment. Calling attention to himself in ways that would have harmed the rest of us. So I stayed to keep him in line. Then Mardoc and that stupid fucking stunt he pulled put so much heat on us we couldn’t handle Elmer in the way we’d planned for the last year. Too much attention someone might have noticed him missing. Elmer and Mardoc both are to blame for this mess. Sanguis Principatus and her members have done nothing wrong.”
“Except for that whole kidnapping, false imprisonment, assault, and murder stuff, yeah.”