42. Piper
Chapter forty-two
Piper
For several seconds, nobody speaks. Somewhere beneath the tea table, Murphy gives a low, uncertain huff.
I look at Duncan. Then at the thick leather folder he’s dropped on the table.
“Eight?” I repeat.
Duncan remains standing.
“Yes.”
“There are eight other Houses. Nine when you include Glenhaven. And you’re telling me every one of them is involved,” Tristan says.
“Not necessarily in arranging the sale. But involved.”
Tristan stands beside me, one hand resting against the back of my chair. He hasn’t touched me since Duncan entered. But I can feel him there, solid and alert and protective.
“Sit down, Duncan,” Tristan says.
Duncan shakes his head. “I would rather finish.”
“That bad?”
“Yes.”
I’m apparently the center of eight separate vampire conspiracies. Homeownership is exhausting.
Duncan opens the folder and removes a bundle of papers tied with black ribbon.
“I have contacts within several of the Houses,” he says.
“Spies?” I ask. “People you pay to tell you secrets?”
“Yes. Occasionally.”
He places the first page on the table.
“At the moment, I can find no proof that all eight Houses knew Glenhaven would be sold. At least three did. House Ashcroft, of course. House Stewart and House Bruce. But they all know now. And they have all formed intentions toward Piper.”
The way he says it makes the back of my neck prickle.
Tristan’s hand closes around the chair. “Begin.”
“House Gordon has made inquiries concerning Lady Piper’s blood.”
My stomach drops. “What does that mean?”
“They want a sample.”
“No.” Tristan’s answer is immediate, cold and final.
Duncan continues as if he expected nothing else. “Gordon physicians believe the blood of a human who lawfully holds the Ninth Seat may possess unusual properties.”
“Based on what?” I ask.
“Based on ancient texts. Fragments of ritual law. Several badly translated prophecies. Could be nothing, just old myths. There are references in the oldest documents. Fragmentary ones. I always thought it was ceremonial language. Metaphor.”
“So House Gordon wants to turn me into a laboratory experiment,” I mumble.
“Not publicly.”
Tristan moves around the chair and stands beside me. Duncan’s expression suggests refusal may not be the end of the matter. He sets down another paper.
“House MacLean intends to propose a marriage alliance.”
“A what?”
“A marriage alliance.”
“I heard the words. I was hoping they meant something else in vampire.”
“They do not.”
I turn to Tristan. His face has gone perfectly still. That is worse than anger.
“Who?” he asks.
“Hamish MacLean’s eldest son.”
“Callum?”
“Yes.”
Something dangerous enters Tristan’s eyes.
“Callum MacLean is a spoiled child.”
“He is one hundred and fourteen. By our standards, a spoiled child.”
I lift a hand.
“Before we evaluate my potential groom’s emotional maturity, may I object to the entire concept?”
“You may,” Duncan says.
“I do.”
“Noted.”
Tristan looks at Duncan. “House MacLean believes marriage would transfer control of her vote.”
“Influence, at minimum.”
“My vote does not come with a husband.”
“No,” Duncan says. “But a husband would be expected to advise.”
“I have plenty of unsolicited advice already.”
Duncan places another sheet beside the first.
“House Ashcroft has reached the same conclusion.”
“Sebastian wants to marry me too?”
“Not personally. Sebastian has an unmarried nephew. Edward Ashcroft.”
“I assume he smiles pleasantly while arranging bankruptcies.”
“I’ve never met him.”
“House Ashcroft believes a marriage would bring Glenhaven into a stable alliance.”
Tristan’s voice is quiet. “Sebastian is not foolish enough to believe Piper would agree.”
“No,” Duncan says. “But he may believe agreement can be manufactured.”
“What does that mean?” I ask.
“Pressure,” Tristan says. “Isolation. Reputation. Legal challenges. Threats to the estate. Protection offered in exchange for cooperation and marriage.”
Tristan is staring at Ashcroft’s page as though he would like to set it on fire with his mind.
“Two marriage proposals,” I say. “One blood experiment. We’re off to a charming start.”
Duncan reaches for the next document. “House Bruce believes you should be removed before the Convocation.”
Tristan’s gaze snaps up. “Removed?”
Duncan does not soften it. “Killed.”
The word lands without drama. That makes it worse. Murphy stands beneath the table. His body presses against my leg. I put one hand on his head.
“How certain are you?” Tristan asks.
“Certain enough that I would not allow Lady Piper beyond the estate unguarded.”
“She will not be unguarded.”
“Why does House Bruce want me dead?”
“They believe succession can still be prevented if the new Keeper dies before formal recognition.”
“So they’re willing to murder me on the chance it might solve their constitutional problem? That feels excessive.” I feel a shiver up my spine. I’ve never been the target of murder.
“House Bruce has always preferred direct solutions,” Tristan says.
Duncan turns another page.
“House MacGregor intends to control your vote, according to my spies. They appear divided between diplomacy, financial leverage and coercion.”
“Marriage?”
“No.”
“Finally, a House with boundaries.”
The next paper is older than the others. The edges are worn. A seal has been copied in dark ink near the bottom.
“House Stewart believes a human Keeper is blasphemy.”
I huff once though there’s no humor in it.
“Blasphemy against what?”
“The Accord.”
“House Stewart clerics are preparing a formal declaration that no human may hold blood authority over vampire Houses.”
“Blood authority,” I repeat. “That sounds unpleasant. What do they want?”
“For you to surrender Glenhaven.”
“To whom?”
“Unclear.”
“Let me guess. To House Stewart.”
“Eventually. Probably.”
I lean my head back against the chair.
Duncan places another paper on the table.
“House MacGowan believes Lady Piper is the fulfillment of an old prophecy.”
I sit forward. “No prophecies,” I say.
Duncan continues. “The prophecy is obscure. MacGowan texts refer to a mortal hand taking the ninth key. And a living heart standing where the dead have ruled.”
The room becomes very quiet.
“What happens after that?”
“The surviving text is incomplete.”
“Of course it is.”
“There’s a reference to blood awakening law.”
My fingers still against Murphy’s fur. Tristan looks at Duncan.
“Which manuscript?”
“The Dunbrae fragment.”
“I’ve never seen it.”
“Few have.”
“Why does MacGowan possess it?”
“They collect prophetic texts.”
“Everyone needs a hobby,” I mutter.
“House MacGowan does not appear hostile.”
“That’s encouraging.”
“They may attempt to protect you. They may also attempt to force you into fulfilling whatever interpretation they believe correct.”
“There it is.”
Tristan rests his hand on my shoulder. The gesture is quiet, protective and a reminder that we’re a team.
“House Campbell wants to protect you.”
“That’s all?”
“As far as I can determine.”
“No marriage? No blood sampling? No ritual sacrifice?”
“Not at present.”
“House Campbell is now my favorite.”
Tristan’s hand tightens slightly.
“You have not met Angus Campbell.”
“I’m willing to overlook personality flaws in anyone not actively planning my death.”
Duncan gathers the papers. The Houses he has information on are:
Gordon.
MacLean.
Ashcroft.
Bruce.
MacGregor.
Stewart.
MacGowan.
Campbell.
Each page represents a House. Each House represents a danger. Different shape. Same target.
Me.
Suddenly the sound of a bell echoes throughout the castle. It should not be possible.
Glenhaven Castle has no bell.
And yet I heard it. We all heard it.
“That bell tolling means all the Houses received notice of the transfer,” Tristan says. “And now … the bell confirms Council envoys are on the way here to address the issue.”