Building From Ashes

“What if there was something that could be added to human blood? Something that would affect us. It’s possible.”

Carwyn was baffled. It was a curious question, and he understood the inquisitive mind of his son, but how the question of tainted human blood affected them, or why it was important to Brigid, he could not fathom.

“Why does she want to know?”

“Brigid?”

“Yes, why was she asking?”

Ioan shrugged. “She’s very involved with this push that Murphy’s making in Dublin. I know it’s annoying to Murphy. All this is being shipped into Ireland somehow, and he’s had control of the shipping in and out of this country for a hundred and fifty years. I’m sure it’s bothering him that some human has—”

“Are we sure it’s a human? Whoever is trafficking the drugs? Do we know?”

Ioan leaned back. “Are we?”

“If it’s another immortal, someone infringing on territory under his nose…”

The implications of something like that were far more serious, Carwyn considered. “Something like that could lead to a war, Ioan.”

“I know. I’ve had my suspicions, but on certain matters, I’m sure you can understand why Patrick Murphy is hesitant to involve me.”

Carwyn shifted and sat up straighter. “But no problem involving Brigid, eh? No problem involving a defenseless human under your aegis?”

Ioan snorted. “I’d hardly call her defenseless. They’ve trained her—”

“If this enemy is immortal, no human defenses will suffice! Particularly for a woman.”

Ioan cocked an amused eyebrow at him. “Careful, Father. Don’t let Deirdre hear you. And don’t forget what century we’re in. I hardly think Brigid would appreciate your outrage, even if it is on her behalf.”

Carwyn sat back in his chair, still frustrated. “I have not forgotten what time we are in.” Still, he scowled. He could hear himself; he sounded old. And he realized that he had slipped into the language of his past halfway through the conversation with Ioan.

He cleared his throat and made an effort to relax his posture. “Is it wrong to want to protect those weaker than you?”

“Of course not, but I think she’s very well protected. If she wasn’t, I wouldn’t chance her working with him. Or the police. But I know she contributes. She’s extremely bright. If she ever…” Ioan trailed off, and he had no doubt his son was considering Brigid’s mortality and how much brighter the girl would be with an immortal mind.

He asked quietly, “Has she talked about it? Does she want to be like us?” Why was his heart beating? Was it because he could see the pain in his son’s eyes? He knew Ioan and Brigid were very close.

“She says she doesn’t want it,” Ioan finally said. “I asked, when she was going through withdrawals. I told her… it would cure her of the addiction. That her body would never crave it again. It was unfair of me, to ask her when she was in so much pain, but I cannot deny that I—” Ioan’s voice caught. “The idea of losing her is very difficult. It has been many years since I have loved a friend as I love Brigid.”

“She is your daughter.”

“No!” Ioan shook his head. “No, she isn’t. She’s never needed or wanted a father. But she is… like a sister, perhaps. I won’t deny she’s always reminded me of Angharad.”

“Your youngest sister?”

“Yes.”

Carwyn nodded.

Ioan asked, “You understand?”

“I changed you, didn’t I?” He chuckled. “Trust me, I understand sentiment. Your eyes… exactly like Efa’s. Exactly. And your grandfather’s.”

“We’re very lucky, Father. We have the comfort of family. We know we are loved.”

“Does she?” he murmured. He looked up to see Ioan staring at him with an inexplicable expression on his face. “What?”

His son only smiled and shook his head a little. “Nothing. Lost in my own mind, I suppose. I should get back to working on this research for Brigid. She has a reason for her questions, even though she hasn’t told me what it is. It might be something she’s not at liberty to talk about. She takes her job very seriously.”

“What does she do?” If it had anything to do with violence, Carwyn was putting a stop to it, no matter what Ioan or Murphy thought. Ioan was the most powerful vampire in Ireland, and Carwyn was his sire. His word would not be questioned. If they were too foolish to guard the young woman who had been through so much, then he would step in. It was the only responsible thing to do. After all, she was mortal.

“I know she does a lot of research, but she likes fieldwork as well.”

He scowled. “What kind of fieldwork?”

Ioan paused, then burst into laughter. “Am I under investigation, Father? Is there something you’re not telling me?” Ioan winked. “Some interest in young Brigid Connor that you haven’t told me about?”

Carwyn blinked. “I don’t… I am the leader of this clan, Ioan. And she is a human under our aegis. It’s my responsibility—”

“Actually,” Ioan said, “it’s mine. Except for your children, you’ve always avoided asserting authority over our people, since your vow is to the church. Are you… feeling differently these days?”

Carwyn shut his mouth, which was hanging open, much to his own chagrin. He pushed back the irrational desire to hit the smug-looking vampire across from him. Why was Ioan looking so smug?