* * * *
Vane was furious. That stubborn, self-righteous little human. How dare he go against Vane’s commands? He was an employee here, nothing else. How did he have the audacity to stand up to Vane and refuse to leave?
Pacing in his office, Vane struggled to find a solution. He’d allowed Moss to stay in an outburst of temper, but he could still take it back. But Moss would just grow even more obstinate if Vane tried that. The little fool didn’t even realize what he was risking by staying here. Once more, Vane cursed himself for going on his first impulse and allowing a pretty face and a set of beautiful eyes to sway him from his natural course. He never should have hired Moss in the first place, especially knowing the conflict of interest existing in Moss’s heart. Now, he was stuck with a human who wouldn’t leave.
Kier peeked into the office, and Vane immediately waved him to come in. “What happened?” Kier asked.
“I fired Moss,” Vane explained. “He refuses to go.”
“I’m sorry, what?” Kier’s eyes widened. “I think I misheard you.”
“Don’t look so shocked,” Vane mumbled. “You knew that I would attempt to get Moss out of here.”
“Yes, but…I didn’t expect him to fight you on it. Does he know why you’re sending him away?”
“I mentioned that it would be dangerous for him to remain here.” Kind of. “I suppose I didn’t explain as well as I could have, but still, I’m his employer. Shouldn’t he have to obey my orders?”
Kier almost looked bemused now, his dark eyes sparkling with mirth. “Well, pardon me for saying this, Vane, but you can make him conform. You have authority and power over him. It’s not like he can push you into accepting him in your house if you truly don’t want him here.”
Vane glowered at his friend. “And what do you suggest? Throwing him out into the street? Forcibly boarding him on a ship? It will never work, and I wouldn’t do that to him.”
Moss was simply too stubborn. Yes, Vane could grab him and take him to a ship, but for all he knew, the human would just come back. By that time, the situation might grow even more dangerous. If Vane didn’t have at least a promise of cooperation from Moss, he couldn’t take any steps to pursue Moss’s safety.
“Why do you even care?” Kier inquired. “Do you think it’ll hurt his feelings or what?”
Hurt his feelings. That was the reason why Moss refused to leave, because of the strange emotions always bubbling between him and Vane. But if that obstacle disappeared…
No, Vane didn’t want to think about that option just yet. As much as he tried to deny it, Moss was precious to him. He’d just have to find another way to coax Moss into safety. The human was intelligent. Once he truly understood what he risked, he’d agree.
Taking a deep breath, Vane struggled to calm down. Ignoring Kier’s questions, he said, “For now, I’ll give it a little time and see how the situation progresses. Moss will eventually listen to me. You’ll see.”
Kier didn’t look convinced, not that Vane blamed him. However, right now, the only thing they could do was to go with it and monitor the unsettling developments in bloodkin society further. After all, Vane had a duty to his Imperator. He had to make sure the rest of his people were controlled.
Perhaps if he’d been someone else, he’d have reached out to Moss, tried to figure out things between them in a better way. But he was a bloodkin, and Kin Lord at that. His life was not his own. It belonged to his duty toward the Imperator and was strictly dependent on his instincts.
And yet, for some reason, Vane found himself turning toward Kier again and saying, “Whatever happens, take care of him, all right?”
He didn’t even know why he said that. Kier looked taken aback as well. “Sure, but…Why are you saying this? What do you think will occur?”
Vane wasn’t sure, but he had a very strange feeling, one he couldn’t for the life of him interpret. “I don’t know. Just do this for me, okay?”
Kier just nodded. Satisfied with the elf’s promise, Vane went to the window and stole a look outside. Moss was still in the garden, looking shaken, cold, and alone. Everything inside Vane screamed to go to him, but he didn’t.
Instead, he pulled the curtain and left the office without looking back. As much as it pained him, he’d find a way to convince Moss to leave. It would be for the best, and the human would soon realize it as well.
* * * *
The next day
Vane sipped the horrible wine in the cup and listened to his informer’s report. The atrocious smell inside the tavern assaulted his senses, and the laughter of the tavern customers screeched around him. He couldn’t expect anything else from such a place, and he didn’t let it bother him. The seriousness of the topic gave Vane focus, as Thomson never insisted on a meeting with no reason.
“The situation is beginning to worsen, Your Lordship,” the man whispered. “The bloodkin are more and more unmanageable. So far, we’ve managed to keep casualties to the minimum, but we don’t have enough manpower for this.”
Vane frowned. When Moss had told him about his family situation, he’d begun to suspect things were deteriorating further. Apparently, he’d been correct.
“What’s the situation up north?” he asked. The Haydens lived there, and for whatever reason, Vane didn’t want any harm to come to Moss’s relatives.
“I looked into the family you spoke of. It turns out that the father had a slightly unpleasant meeting with the Kin.” Thomson handed Vane an envelope. “All the information is in there.”
Vane opened the envelope and scanned through it. He arched a brow at the contents. Interesting. He wondered if Moss knew about everything that had happened in Elmya. Perhaps Vane should keep it a secret, just in case.
Closing the envelope, Vane returned to the more urgent issue. “What about the bloodkin? How are they acting?”
“The situation is a bit more stable there, although there’s no telling when it will change. You know how the Kin are.”
Of course he knew. He was one of them. Thomson didn’t have to remind him of that.
The whole thing frustrated him beyond belief. He couldn’t leave Clavar since the harbor town held the largest concentration of bloodkin in the immediate area. He managed to keep them under control, but the leash wouldn’t hold for long without him there. However, he needed to get a message to Tachaka. They had to find a permanent solution for this. No one could hold the instincts of several hundred bloodkin in check for long, not Vane, and certainly not the other Kin Lords.
“Thomson, when are you going to Tachaka?”
“In three days,” Thomson replied. “I have to report to the head of my order.”
With a wave of his hand, Vane told Kier to come closer. The elf didn’t usually come with Vane during his troublesome job, but Thomson’s visit spoke of worse things to come. Kier’s input would be invaluable.
Behind them, Kier approached, still in his guise as Benson. He retrieved a piece of paper, an inkwell, and a quill and offered them to Vane. Vane took that as agreement to what he himself had in mind.
He scribbled the message on the parchment and handed it to Thomson. “Take this to the Imperator. Do not let it fall into the wrong hands. Leave tonight.”
Thomson hid the letter in his black coat and nodded. “Yes, Your Lordship.”
No other words were said. Thomson dissipated into thin air, departing to fulfill the command. A few seconds later, Kier sat in the spot the wraith had been. “This isn’t good,” he said. “At this rate, the elves will become involved and turn everything into an all-out war.”
Vane nodded. The Kin leaders feared this when they’d set the laws in place. Their civilization was falling apart. The elves loathed the bloodkin. They would never allow for a full-fledged assault on humanity from Tachaka.
For Vane’s part, he’d never truly believed the laws would keep their people in check. He’d inherited his position, and he was good at it. But he’d long ago lost hope anything he could do would
change the situation. He seriously considered taking Kier and Moss and getting out of here while he still could. For now, though, he needed to remain here. He had a discussion pending with the Imperator.
“Let’s go,” he told Kier. If Thomson took the message to Tachaka, Vane would probably be summoned there. He had to make preparations to ensure the safety of his home and smooth running of his affairs in his absence.
He dropped a few coins on the table and made his way out of the tavern. Situated in one of the busiest sectors of Clavar, the tavern might’ve seemed a peculiar choice for a meeting spot. However, Vane played the game with the best of them. One never met an informer away from public eyes. Vane’s powers could keep the humans oblivious easily enough, but should a conflict emerge, they’d be alerted, a fact which all bloodkin sought to avoid as a rule. And in the end, Thomson answered to the Thieves’ guild, not to him.
“If I leave for Tachaka, you’ll have to stay here,” he told Kier as they began to navigate through the crowd. “I want Moss safe.”
Kier chuckled. “I thought you might say that. You’ve grown quite attached to the little human, haven’t you?”
“Like you haven’t,” Vane shot back. Of course he realized Kier had befriended Moss. He only accepted it because he trusted Kier to know better than to try and steal Moss from him.
Kier ignored his threatening tone. “So what’s the plan? How are you going to prevent the Kin in Clavar from instigating trouble? You know they’re just dying for you to leave so they can return to their old behavior.”
Vane didn’t doubt that, but neither would he allow it. “Not on my watch, they won’t.”
“Do you intend to leave without them knowing?”
“That’s hardly possible. No. Kier, I need you to spread a rumor around. Whisper in the right ears I’ve been summoned to Tachaka and I’ll be away for at least a week.”
His friend arched a brow. “Let me guess. You’ll make a sudden comeback and punish the idiots for going against the law. But what if it doesn’t work?”
“It’ll work,” Vane replied. “Go. Wait until you note unrest, and then, drop a word here and there. We don’t have any time to lose.”
Kier silently took off, his glamour changing as they split up. Benson disappeared, replaced by an elegant young bloodkin. Kier would definitely get the message of Vane’s departure to the right people.
Now, Vane just needed to wait. He’d have liked to see Moss, but he couldn’t go back to the mansion. Their conversation the night before still lingered in his memory. Moss was clearly getting more and more attached to him, a fact Vane could not allow. He needed to find a more serious and permanent solution for this predicament. The contract he’d signed did indeed bind him, as he couldn’t break it without going against his word and honor. If push came to shove, though, Vane would do it, if only to keep Moss safe.
Perhaps Moss would reconsider if given some time to think about Vane’s suggestion. At any rate, Vane would have to lie low for at least a few days. The bloodkin weren’t stupid, so Vane would not have to leave with great pomp. His absence would be conspicuous enough to cause doubt.
After this, he needed to do one more thing. The Courtesans’ Guild had been both a necessity and a thorn in his side for quite a while now. It was high time he dealt with the foolish Annette, once and for all. After Moss left, Vane would require their services once more, so he’d have to consider things carefully.
With his plan in motion and a heavy heart, Vane headed toward the Courtesan’s Guild. He might as well get this over with, because after that, his duties would require his full attention.
* * * *
“Please, don’t misunderstand, my lord. I realize your chosen bed and breakfast provides you with sustenance. I’m merely pointing out that he is clearly not a professional at this, and couldn’t possibly give you the satisfaction the Courtesan Guild always provides.”
Vane listened to Annette in silence, having of course, expected a protest from her. No matter what she thought about him, she was clearly not willing to lose him as a customer.
Vane waited for her to finish her rant and then asked, “Annette, how many years have we known each other?”
It was a tricky question, since she didn’t like being reminded of her age. “Quite a lot,” she replied, not showing any discomfort at the inquiry.
“Then you must understand better than anyone the nature of bloodkin. Our long existences guarantee that we need variety. I’m not arguing against the quality of the services of the Courtesan Guild. I have no doubt that I’ll be visiting you again. Just, not right now.”
Out of all his carefully chosen words, she somehow managed to pick the only one that was weak. “Variety,” she repeated. “So you’re bored.”
Her bland expression clearly managed to point out how pissed off she truly was. Oh, for fuck’s sake. Vane didn’t have the patience for this. He knew he should be more diplomatic, but he ended up arching a brow at her and nodding. “I suppose you could put it that way.”
He and Annette had never had a sexual relationship of any kind. However, as the leader of the Courtesan Guild here, she would undoubtedly be insulted by his words. But Vane had too many concerns to worry about Annette’s hurt ego, and right now, neither she nor any of her employees managed to stir any interest.
He was well aware that, if Moss finally agreed to leave as Vane wanted, a poor relationship with Annette would put him in a bad position. But he’d worry about it when the time came. In the end, Annette was a savvy woman and would undoubtedly open her doors to him once more. After all, money talked.
Right now, though, she was clearly more than pissed, although she tried not to let it show. Smiling tightly, she answered, “Of course. The customer is always right, and you are, as always, a most valued customer.”
“Thank you. And now, I truly must go,” Vane said. “My duties summon me away even from your lovely presence.”
She led him to the door of the establishment. Vane murmured a good-bye and stepped out. No sooner had he left the Guild than all thought of Annette vanished from his mind. What he truly wanted was to go home and see Moss, bury his fangs in the human’s neck and his dick in Moss’s ass. But that wasn’t possible. So instead, Vane allowed his steps to lead him to a reclusive inn, resigned to a night of loneliness and starvation. No matter how much he desired Moss, the chemistry between them was far too dangerous for the human, so Vane had to keep his distance.
* * * *
A few days later
Vane watched through the windows of the mansion as one the bloodkin drank from yet another human. They had not killed anyone so far, but a couple of the unwilling donors were a step away from being drained.
Vane would have loved to burst into their little party, but he needed to get enough evidence to ensure they stayed out of commission for a little while. He couldn’t kill them, as not even he had the influence to go on a rampage and take everyone out. But with what they were doing, he could do enough damage so they’d be too busy licking their wounds to cause trouble in his absence.
The idiots had actually organized a party, blood and wine flowing and mingling together in a red river. They deserved to die just for their stupidity.
As one of the nobles grabbed an unconscious human female, Vane gave the signal to attack. He couldn’t allow the humans to be killed either, because he himself would be accused of complicity to the illegal hunts. He’d lose his influence, and everything would descend into chaos. He hated to think what would happen to Moss if such a thing came to pass.
Followed by his guards, Vane burst into the mansion of his fellow bloodkin. The noble he’d spotted from the outside, a young bloodkin named Fangrift, dropped the woman and gaped at him. “Bloodmoor? What? What are you doing here?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Vane sneered at the idiot. “And it’s Kin Lord Bloodmoor to you.”
“We’ve done nothing against the law,” another bloodkin piped in. “They are alive. You can go ahea
d and check.”
Vane knew they were alive. The scent of death hadn’t yet descended over the mansion. Even so, Vane had enough evidence to keep them locked up and under watch for a little while. As long as he made sure they didn’t cause mayhem, he’d be happy. “They might not be dead,” he said, “but they would’ve been had I gotten here a few seconds later.”
“It’s your word against ours,” Fangrift protested once again.
That it was, but it would keep them off the streets. “My guards and the humans can attest to what went on here. Should there be a misunderstanding, I’m sure we can demand for a blood test from the Imperator.”
As he’d expected, Fangrift and his cronies lost their courage at that. If the Imperator’s Inquisitors analyzed their blood, they’d see into the memories hidden in life essence, just like Vane did with Moss.
“That won’t be necessary,” Fangrift said. “We’ll come with you.”
Vane smirked in satisfaction. Sure, he’d have to release the idiots eventually, but by then, he’d have come back to Clavar.
He directed his men to gather the unconscious humans and round up the partying bloodkin. It took longer than he’d have liked, but finally, he finished his dreary task.
After three days of staying in hiding and watching his kin’s every move, it was refreshing to take a break. At last, he could go back home.
He wondered if Moss had taken his advice and left. Kier could have easily paid him his dues. Vane half wished Moss had ignored him, because he really needed a taste of Moss’s delicious blood right about now.
So many days he’d spent away from Moss, so many days obsessing over the human, tortured by never-ending dreams. In some of them, he saw Deathgrove returning to take vengeance and bleeding Moss dry. In others, Vane himself hurt Moss while taking his pleasure. He needed to deal with this situation somehow.
Bed and Breakfast [Bloodkin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Page 11