Building From Ashes

“True.”

Hugh’s eyes danced. “Is there someone who may have caused you to think differently?”

Carwyn had the urge to squirm like a schoolboy. Awkward, considering he’d known the old man across from him when he was a schoolboy. “I don’t need to go to confession, Hugh. Not yet, anyway. But there may be… someone.”

“She would be a fortunate woman to find a mate as devoted as you, Carwyn.”

Tears almost came to his eyes. He felt unexpectedly absolved by the approval of his old friend. “I believe I would be the lucky one. And I need to speak to Rome if I’m serious about things.”

“Arturo?”

Carwyn nodded, thinking about the cardinal based in Rome who oversaw the more… unusual members of the priesthood. “He won’t like it.”

“Does it matter?”

He grinned. “Not really.”

“What are they going to do? You serve a higher power than Rome.”

Carwyn lifted his glass to Hugh. “Spoken like a true Welshman.”

“Exactly. Now, as for your church, I think I shall ask Samuel to consider you ‘on sabbatical’ until further notice. I’ll send him a letter shortly letting him know that the care of the church is his until further notice.”

Carwyn thought about the small village he had called home for so many hundreds of years. The quiet strength and faithfulness of its people. “He’s good?” he asked in a rough voice. “This Samuel. He’s cares about the village?”

“He does. And his energy, enthusiasm, and ability to go out in sunlight may be just what the town needs.”

“Ha! I think you may be right.” Carwyn sat back, and an unexpected peace stole over him. “Thank you, Hugh.”

“You’re welcome. But don’t think in a million years I’m going to be the one to write to Sister Maggie. I don’t like you that much.”

“Coward.”

Dublin, Ireland

May 2011

The very proper secretary smiled at him and lifted a hand to her earpiece. Then she looked up at Carwyn, who waited in the small sitting area of Murphy’s Dublin office. He had not been waiting long.

“Murphy will see you now.” She rose and showed him to the door.

Carwyn stood and followed her. “Are you Angie?”

Her eyes smiled. “I am.”

“Brigid speaks very highly of you.”

“Oh!” Angie’s face glowed. “Have you seen her? I wasn’t sure. Is she doing well? Those boys don’t tell me anything.”

‘Those boys’ were—Carwyn suspected—at least a hundred years older than the human secretary, judging from the level of energy he’d detected when they’d met him in the hall. His visit to Murphy’s office had not been expected and the vampire’s security had reacted predictably.

“She’s doing very well, last I saw her. And I’ll see her again soon. Shall I pass along a greeting?”

“Yes, please do. I understand she’s planning to come back to work in January. God knows I’m grateful.” She waved a hand around the office and opened Murphy’s door. “Pains in the arse, every last one of them.”

Murphy met them at the door and leaned down to brush a kiss along Angie’s cheek. “You know you love us, Ange.”

“You’re the worst one.”

Murphy’s eyes danced looking at her. He allowed his amusement to drift over to Carwyn. “The adoring respect my staff offers me is its own reward for my labor.” He stuck his hand out and Carwyn shook it as he was ushered into the room. “Carwyn, it’s good to see you. I understand you’ve been traveling.”

“I have.” He sat across from the water vampire in the luxurious modern office building. Shutters had been drawn back and the black span of the river, lit by the twinkling lights of the new Docklands developments, spread out behind the vampire’s desk. Murphy’s empire. Ships. Real estate. Business and trade. He suspected the old gambler reveled in playing the humans of Dublin as he had his marks in mortal life.

“So, what brings you to Dublin?”

“Just wanted to check in on the investigation.” Tension immediately descended on the office. Neither vampire had forgotten that it was immortals in Murphy’s city, unmonitored and hostile, who had taken and killed Carwyn’s son. And Brigid seemed to think that Murphy and his people were overlooking a local connection. Carwyn hated to be suspicious, but a thousand years had honed his instincts. And his instincts told him that Brigid was seeing something no one else did. Speaking of Brigid… “Brigid also asked me to keep her updated when we spoke last.”

Brigid’s name and smug satisfaction chased the tension from Murphy’s face. “No need for that. I saw her last week. I’ve kept her informed about our progress.”

Carwyn smothered the growl that threatened his throat. “Oh?”

“I was in Edinburgh for some business and ran into Cathy. I called on Brigid the next night. She’s looking phenomenal. I’m looking forward to having her back.”

Don’t kill the water vampire, Carwyn. You don’t want to run Dublin. Besides, technically, Murphy is an ally.

“I don’t find that surprising in the least. She’s a very attractive asset. Did you see her work with fire at all?”

“Sadly, no.”

Carwyn smiled. “Unfortunate. She’s breathtaking when she’s training. All that tightly coiled control released. Careful you don’t get too close, though.” Carwyn rubbed his chest. “She stings.” And I crush.