“Apparently, my plan backfired. If Thomson is to be believed, the Imperator is thinking of changing the Covenant.”
Kier gave him a look of disbelief. “That’s not possible. Perhaps Thomson is mistaken.”
“Perhaps, but he might be right.” When he noticed Pena paying an inordinate amount of attention to their conversation, he paused and pulled Kier out of the room. “Kier, I need a favor,” he said once they were farther enough away. “If something happens to me, take Moss and leave. Destroy all the documents, everything. Take one copy of Moss’s contract with you, just in case. Burn the house and send the brownies home.”
Kier’s eyes widened. “Vane…Isn’t that a bit much?”
“Think about it, Kier. If my possessions are confiscated, Moss’s contract would go with them. I’ve already hurt him enough. Who knows what others might do? And if the contract is needed to prove he wasn’t my whore, you’ll have a copy.”
Kier seemed to process this, then nodded. “You can count on me, Vane, as always. But…maybe you should consider not going.”
“I have to go. It’s the last chance I have to fix things, change the Imperator’s mind.” He didn’t say such a thing would be next to impossible. “For your people, for mine, and everyone else, I have to try.”
Kier nodded, obviously expecting his response. “I’ll take care of him, Vane. I promise.” He squeezed Vane’s shoulder and whispered, “You can go inside now to see him. He’s sleeping.”
Vane didn’t think he deserved that, not after what he’d done. Still, with the current situation, it might not be a bad idea to touch him, one last time. “Thank you.”
Pena discreetly made her way out, and Kier went with her.
Vane knelt next to Kier’s bed, where Moss rested. The human’s skin felt feverish, and he moaned lightly when Vane touched him. “Vane…Don’t leave me.”
Vane’s heart constricted. How could the human still want him after everything he’d done? But the evidence was right there, in front of him, his name on Moss’s lips.
Vane knew he shouldn’t do this, but he couldn’t stop himself. He pressed his mouth to Moss’s in a butterfly-light kiss. Moss must’ve sensed it, because he let out a sigh of relief and quieted down. “It’s all right, my beauty,” Vane murmured. “Everything is going to be all right. I promise.”
Vane left the room with renewed determination. He’d done what he had to do to keep Moss safe. But if he got out of this alive, he’d try to fix things with the human. Perhaps, in time, they’d get used to each other’s needs and wants.
He’d wanted to scare Moss and committed a horrible mistake in the process, but maybe not all was lost. Taking a permanent decision regarding this seemed ridiculous. He would try to figure things out again once he returned from seeing the Imperator—if he returned.
Nodding to himself, Vane went to his room and packed his bags. A few hours later, his carriage left Clavar, carrying him toward Tachaka.
Chapter Seven
Shielded from above by the blue dome that protected bloodkin during the day, Tachaka was the residence of the Imperator and the political center of their nation. In this very same city, their ancestors had created the Covenant and had set the basis of modern political order.
Tachaka acted as a city-state, focusing all the authority of the bloodkin into one geographical spot. Once, the bloodkin had lived exclusively there, but, in time, they had become too numerous for the area to support. At that point, the bloodkin spread around in the neighboring human countries. In the beginning, it caused mayhem and chaos, but the Imperator intervened, creating the Covenant and the institution of the Kin Lords. Now, the human nations—for example, Moss’s homeland, Kannat—went along with it, as many depended on the trade income and supplies coming from the wealthy bloodkin.
The Tachakan palace held many wonders and secrets, some of which Vane was privy to, others he’d have liked to know. Everything here struck him with memories he’d have preferred to forget. Once, he wouldn’t come here fearing Aran Bloodclaw. Then again, once, before Vane had begun his time as a Kin Lord, the dome above had shined red, not blue. But change could destroy the strongest of magicks, even the powerful ones that created the dome. And Vane was all too familiar with destruction and change.
As he entered the throne room, Vane wondered how many of these secrets would be revealed today. Thomson had been correct. The atmosphere in Tachaka teemed with a sense of anxiety and anticipation. Vane could only hope the rumors were just that, and wouldn’t amount to anything real.
Vane knelt in front of the Imperator, acutely aware of all the eyes on him. Coming to Tachaka had been necessary, but it also made him very uncomfortable. The Imperator was the one man who held control over Vane’s destiny, a fact which he’d always hated.
As if that weren’t enough, Aran changed a lot since Vane had last seen him. Physically, he seemed the same, the striking features of the imperial line built into an androgynous look, making him desirable for both males and females. He played with an ornate braid of long blond hair as he gazed at Vane from under eyelashes that could be the envy of any woman. And yet, in spite of his beauty, his black eyes were cool and his voice frigid.
Once, those same eyes held Vane’s own conviction and desire for order, but no longer. Vane hadn’t been to Tachaka in quite a while, but even so, he couldn’t understand how a bloodkin could change so much.
“I understand you requested an audience with Us, Lord Bloodmoor.” The Imperator sipped a bit of blood from his gold goblet as he spoke. A donor approached when the cup emptied and immediately carefully punctured the vein in his wrist to refill the cup. Servants of all types rushed around the bloodkin sovereign to cater to his every whim.
“Yes, Sire,” Vane replied, ignoring the blatant decadence surrounding him. “Things are getting more and more volatile in Clavar and the surrounding regions. I require some reinforcements and additional authority to control the situation.”
The Imperator didn’t offer Vane any refreshments, nor did he tell him to get up. “Petition denied.”
“But, Sire, it is for enforcing the Covenant. Preserving the order is necessary.”
With a wave of his hand, the Imperator sent the servants scurrying away. Only the imperial guards were left in the room, watching the conversation. Vane surmised his sovereign would say something the help didn’t need to know.
“It has been in the past, but not so much now. The Covenant itself is an obsolete absurdity.” The Imperator paused. “We’ve decided to take over control of the human lands. Too long have we killed our own for merely taking what is ours. It is time to make some changes.”
“But, Your Majesty,” Vane protested again, “it is very risky.”
Aran abandoned his goblet and stared down at Vane in a sort of arrogant disbelief. “Are you questioning Our decisions?
“No, of course not, Your Majesty, but—”
Aran lifted a hand and Vane closed his mouth, knowing anything he said now would just make things worse. He had to judge his words carefully if he had any hope of getting out of here. The Imperator wasn’t known for being merciful with his adversaries. Thankfully, Vane had taken precautions.
“You, Lord Bloodmoor, are not appropriate for serving us. You surround yourself in human whores and give them the confidence you should reserve for your kin. Isn’t that so? Tell Us about this Marlais Hayden. I’ve heard you take him on walks and give him great honors.”
The very mentioning of Moss’s name froze Vane’s blood in his veins. This couldn’t be happening. Vane had expected that he himself be targeted, but not Moss. “He is only my secretary and blood donor,” he replied. “I don’t see how he has anything to do with the Covenant.”
He sounded far too defensive even to his own ears, and he hated it. Aran obviously knew it was a lie and predictably ignored his explanation. “At any rate, it doesn’t matter. We have decided someone else will be taking over management of Clavar and dealing with your human. Your brother
, Cole, in case you’re wondering.”
To a certain extent, Vane didn’t feel surprised the Imperator meant to replace him. He’d seen enough while here to realize Thomson’s assessment of the situation had been correct. The mentioning of his brother, however, shocked Vane beyond measure. He hadn’t seen Cole in almost five decades. His brother had been banished after he’d committed a severe crime against the bloodkin state, or rather the magic protecting it. Cole was also largely the reason Kier had been hiding under the appearance of an innocuous butler in Vane’s house.
Aran had no reason to give Vane this little piece of information, other than the fact he obviously enjoyed Vane’s shock.
As if on Aran’s cue, the door opened and Cole walked in. He bowed lowly in front of the Imperator, and Aran ushered him in with a regal gesture. “Come, Cole. I have a surprise for you.”
“My lord, you are, as always, too generous.” His eyes went to the still-kneeling Vane, and he smirked.
Vane gaped in surprise at the exchange. The undercurrent behind the words spoke of something beyond mere obedience and subservience between the two. Was his brother sleeping with Aran? Could this be the reason why the Imperator had become so keen on destroying the Covenant?
“Take a moment to enjoy your gift,” Aran said. He got up and headed toward Cole. “I will see you in my chambers later.”
Cole took Aran’s hand and kissed it. “Of course, Your Highness.”
With another smile directed at Cole, the Imperator left the room, followed by his guards. Apparently, he trusted Cole to deal with Vane if needed. Besides, Vane couldn’t do much on his own, in the Imperator’s castle, surrounded by hostiles. Not to mention that Cole and he had always been evenly matched. He doubted that had changed in the past few decades.
“Such a pleasure to see you, brother,” Cole began.
“I wish I could say the same thing.” Vane got up and glared at his brother. “What are you doing here, Cole? Why are you messing around with the Imperator?”
“Jealous?” Cole shot back.
Vane snorted and crossed his hands over his chest. “Hardly. I just thought you’d have more dignity than to spread your legs for money and power.”
“It’s the other way around, if you must know, and he’s a good fuck.” Cole’s eyes glittered menacingly as he spoke. “And it’s not about the money, brother. It’s about revenge.”
The resentment in Cole’s voice didn’t surprise Vane. Many things had happened between them before Cole had disappeared. It all added up to Kier. Vane didn’t know what went on between his brother and Kier, but it had ended badly.
Of course, it was to be expected since elves and bloodkin didn’t mix. Kier had been foolish to even try. To this day, Vane didn’t understand Kier’s self-destructive love for Cole. Like Kier had said, elves loved with all-consuming passion, and never fell for another once they found their true heart’s desire. But a bloodkin? Bloodkin didn’t believe in anything anymore, not in mates, not in love, not even in their own Covenant.
“I’ve waited a long time for this,” Cole said. “Fifty years, steaming away from the continent, buried in those forsaken islands. I couldn’t do anything to pay you back for taking what was mine.”
“Does the Imperator know you’re still pining over another?” Vane laughed, then decided to stop provoking Cole. “You’re right about one thing. It’s been fifty years. Let it go.”
“Never,” Cole shouted. “You will tell me where Kier is, and if you refuse, I’ll just drag it out of your little human servants.”
Vane carefully kept a blank face. He’d hidden Kier in plain sight, but Kier’s glamour would never hold if Cole went there. And Cole was entirely capable of hurting Moss if he knew how much Vane cared about the human.
“Kier has gone back to his own kind,” he replied. “I could not tell you his whereabouts if I wanted to.”
In a flash of motion, Cole pounced on him. “You lie. I know you. And for that, you will pay. I will take away your precious order, the control you hold so dear, and make Aran break the Covenant. Then, we’ll see who has the last laugh.”
Vane pushed his brother aside. Clearly, the man had lost his mind at one point. Of course, fifty years was a long time to be away, but the punishment had been justified. No way would Vane betray Kier’s trust. He’d just have to have faith that his friend would take care of Moss and secure a safe way out for the brownies.
As much as he feared for Moss and Kier, the Covenant also remained a priority. In fact, the two couldn’t even be separated. The humans would suffer most if the bloodkin breached the Covenant. Vane wouldn’t have particularly minded before. He cared about the humans only because of his position as a Kin Lord. Now, however, he had Moss to worry about, and through extension, Moss’s family and friends. Kier’s people would also be in danger if the dark elves decided to wage war against the raging bloodkin.
So Vane ended up stuck between a proverbial rock and a hard place. “Cole, reconsider. How many will you kill for the sake of a lost love?”
“As many as I have to,” Cole replied coolly. “And you can’t do anything to stop it.”
Before Vane could make any further protest, Cole turned his back on him and left the room. A dozen or so guards entered in his stead. Vane allowed them to secure him. Resisting now would only get him hurt and knocked out. If he saved his strength, he might be able to escape later on.
His rank hadn’t been disregarded, and his bloodline remained a respected one. The guards didn’t take him to the lower-level dungeons, reserved for the most dangerous prisoners. Instead, they led him to a spacious room, high up into one of the towers of the castle. It even held some small commodities, a bed, and a washing area. Bars blocked the tiny window, and Vane knew on sight he’d have to find some other way out. But first, he needed to notify Kier of Cole’s arrival. He couldn’t afford the delay of the normal messenger he’d hired. He’d just have to try it the one way he could, and hope for the best.
* * * *
“Moss…Wake up, Moss.”
Moss’s eyes shot open when he heard Vane’s voice. His heart began to beat faster. Where was his master now? Had he left? Could there really be no chance for them? Lord, he hoped not.
Flashes of Vane hurting him swept through his mind. He still couldn’t process exactly what happened between them. For some reason, Vane had snapped and whipped him, punished him. It made no sense, and it didn’t fit with his knowledge and idea of Vane.
He recalled Benson coming into the dungeon and putting him in a soft, warm bed. Then, the butler and Pena had taken care of his injured back. Moss had fallen asleep and dreamt of Vane. At least if the other man had come to see him, they could clarify things.
Moss looked around the room, only to realize no one was there. Sure, he didn’t doubt Vane could hide his presence if he so desired, but it made no sense he’d choose to do so. Moss had clearly heard Vane tell him to awaken, right?
“Moss,” the voice said again.
Moss yelped in surprise at the disembodied sound. “What? Where? Where are you?”
“Shh, calm down. I’m speaking to you in your mind.”
“In my mind?” Moss repeated, shocked. What other powers did bloodkin have, exactly?
“It is because of me repeatedly feeding from you,” Vane replied. “We have a bond of blood. I will explain another time. Now, I need you to go call K…Benson.”
Moss caught the hesitation, but he felt too tired and dizzy to identify what it meant. “Call Benson. Okay. What for?”
“Just go on and do it. He shouldn’t be too far. I’ll tell you what to say.”
Moss felt odd to just shout Benson’s name to an empty room. With his age, the butler might not even hear. So he decided to go look for him instead.
As he climbed out of the bed, the room swirled. He heard Vane’s panicked voice in his mind. “Moss, I told you to call out his name.”
Moss nodded, even if Vane couldn’t see him. He leaned against the
bed and struggled to clear his head. As he did so, he realized his back didn’t hurt any longer, and fatigue remained the one evidence of what had happened.
“Moss, what are you doing out of bed?” Benson fussed. “Lie back at once.”
Moss shook his head. “It’s Vane.”
“Vane isn’t here, Moss,” Benson replied. “I know you want to see him, but…”
“No, you don’t understand.” Moss shook his head. “I can hear him in my head. He wants me to tell you something.”
Benson paled, something so unlike the butler it startled Moss. “What is it?”
Inside Moss’s mind, Vane spoke again. “Excellent, my beauty. Tell him Cole is back. The Covenant will soon be breached. Proceed with the established plan.”
Moss repeated the words and watched as Benson processed them. “Very well. I will do my utmost to fulfill your command.” His tone changed, and he pushed Moss back on the bed, covering him with the quilt. “Moss, stay here and wait for me. Get some rest.”
As Benson rushed off without any further explanation, Moss turned to his mental conversation with his master. “Where are you? What’s going on?”
“I can’t tell you that,” Vane replied. “Go with Benson. He’ll keep you safe.”
“But, Vane…”
“Farewell, my beauty,” Vane cut him off.
The finality and regret in those words drove a dagger into Moss’s heart. Vane’s presence disappeared from his mind, and Moss felt it like a physical blow. What was going on? Why were they being so secretive?
Perhaps it would’ve been better if he obeyed Benson and stayed in bed, but Moss couldn’t bring himself to do so. The Covenant will be breached, Vane had said. Moss recalled reading a small mentioning of it, and he wondered what it was about. It sounded important, and he needed to know. He slipped from under the covers and followed Benson outside.
He considered going downstairs, but decided to stop by his room first. He needed a change of clothes since he was basically walking around in a shirt that must’ve belonged to Benson once. Socks and shoes would help as well. It didn’t take him long to reach his destination. Even if he hadn’t explored the house much, the corridors seemed to guide him, as if he’d absorbed some sort of knowledge from someone else.
Bed and Breakfast [Bloodkin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Page 13