“An elf?” Lam squealed in delight. “Really?”
Eli nodded, tilting his head to show the tips of his pointed ears. “Really. Do you want to hear a story about my country? Come on.”
Jo and Lam immediately perked up at the promise of the magical tale. “About the elves? Yay!”
Lam did a little happy dance. “Do you have a magical bow?”
Eli laughed. “I do, indeed. Show me your room, and I’ll show you the bow in exchange.”
He shared a look with Moss, and Moss smiled at the elf in gratitude. The last thing he needed was to have his younger siblings around for a fight with his parents.
Duncan looked like he wanted to protest, but Eli stopped him. “Don’t worry. They’re perfectly safe with me.”
Neither of Moss’s parents looked convinced, but Vane piped in and said, “He’s not bloodkin.”
Moss didn’t know if the argument convinced them, but either way, they didn’t comment further. Eli and the children disappeared in the next room, supposedly for a session of fairy tales and show-and-tell.
“Perhaps we should go sit down,” Olivia offered. “And Moss can tell us all about this.”
Moss nodded and followed her to the kitchen. He didn’t sit down, however, for the first time uncomfortable in his own house. With his father still standing only a few feet away, Moss didn’t want to have the man looming over him. He felt odd, wondering what he’d missed while he’d been away, or if he hadn’t known everything to begin with.
Shaking himself, Moss began to explain, “You see, when I reached Clavar, I intended to board the ship to take me to Uncle Douglas. But I got robbed in the harbor. I was penniless, and I needed a job.”
“And you agreed to be a bloodkin’s whore?” his father boomed.
“Keep your voice down, Duncan,” Olivia said, her voice trembling. “We don’t want the children to hear.”
Duncan threw his arms in the air in a gesture of exasperation. “I can’t stay calm, not when I find out what our son has become.”
“You don’t understand,” Moss protested. “I worked as a secretary.”
“Yeah, right, a secretary. That’s what they call it these days. You are a slut, the slut of a monster.”
Moss clenched his fists, the disappointment and disgust in his father’s voice too much for him to bear. If it had only been directed at him, Moss wouldn’t have been able to answer, but insulting Vane was a whole different issue. “I’m no slut, and Vane is not a monster. He is good man who helped me when I needed it most.”
“I can’t believe you’re talking back at me.” Duncan crossed the space between them and lifted his hand to strike him. The blow never fell, Duncan’s palm stopping in midair.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Vane snapped at the human. He wasn’t holding Duncan physically, but somehow, he’d stopped Duncan from hitting Moss.
Duncan gave Vane a wide-eyed look. “What in the world? Let me go.”
“Join me outside, will you? We’ll have a little chat, just between the two of us.” He smiled at Moss’s mother. “Don’t worry about a thing, Lady Olivia. Everything is going to be just fine.”
This time, Vane didn’t use his powers, something that made Moss grateful. Even if his mother looked uneasy, seeing her melt under Vane’s gaze would’ve been a bit disturbing. “We’ll be right back.”
With those parting words, Vane opened the door and pulled Duncan outside.
* * * *
Vane dragged Duncan away from the house and into the courtyard. When they were far enough away, he stopped and pinned Duncan against a nearby tree using his mental abilities. “I will say this once, and only once. Don’t ever shout at Moss again. And don’t you dare lift a hand against him.”
Duncan glared back at him, and Vane could smell the hatred and fear on the human. “He betrayed me. He’s become a whore.”
“Oh? You mean like you are?” Vane sneered at Duncan. It might’ve been a low blow, but Vane didn’t mind using all the information he had for his benefit. He mentally thanked Thomson for being so thorough in his queries.
Back when he’d first asked the wraith to inquire into the situation of the Haydens, the result had revealed some disturbing facts regarding the family head. Duncan Hayden might be claiming to have just lost their home and fortune, but in fact, he’d given the bloodkin much more. Upon asking a few questions on Vane’s behalf, Thomson had found out Duncan had submitted sexually to at least three of the Kin in Elmya, two of whom were men. He’d fallen for the glamour and even agreed to give away his children, if only the bloodkin continued to touch him.
All the blood drained out of Duncan’s face. Vane took advantage of the opportunity to twist the knife a little more. “That’s right. I know all about how you spread your legs for the bloodkin here.”
“I did it for the children,” Duncan replied weakly. “I had a choice. Either they took me, or I had to give Moss and Jo to them.”
That was a big fat lie, and Vane laughed, although in reality, he wanted to kill Duncan. “Why were you there in the first place? You sold your body and your children, and you have the guts to call me a monster. Pathetic.”
“It’s all your fault,” Duncan shouted. “I never would have done it if not for your kind.”
Vane agreed with that, and he didn’t hide it. “Indeed, you wouldn’t have. But your love for your family should’ve been stronger than anything my kind can throw at you. It’s possible. I’ve seen others resist the glamour, but you couldn’t. For crying out loud, your child saw through it.” He didn’t say children sometimes developed an immunity to bloodkin glamour. Perhaps their innocence and sweetness countered the falseness and illusion.
“And what bothers you the most is that you enjoyed it,” Vane continued. “You begged for more, and you were willing to give away your family for it. Does your wife know you imagine being fucked in the ass when you’re bedding her? I’m betting she doesn’t. And I would hate to tell her.”
“Y–you wouldn’t,” Duncan stammered. He looked like he was going to hurl, fear and self-loathing mixing in his gaze.
“I most certainly would.” And he would enjoy doing so, too, after the horrible things Duncan had just told Moss. But the goal of this little chat wasn’t tearing apart Moss’s family, but getting Duncan to shut his mouth and cooperate. They didn’t have much time before Aran came to get them, and they still had to make their way back to the portal that would lead them back to Manturanael. Vane had no doubt the humans would be well received there.
Duncan’s shoulders slumped. “All right. What do I have to do?”
The human gave Vane a telling look, and Vane surmised the man assumed he’d end up fucked again. Vane released the man from his hold and hastened to clarify the confusion. “First off, you leave Moss be and don’t give him trouble for associating with me. Second, due to certain circumstances, it has become dangerous for you to stay here. You and your family have to come with us.”
“What? No!” Duncan shook his head vigorously. “We’re not going anywhere with you.”
“Stop panicking. We’ll be taking you to Manturanael, the land of the elves. You’ll be safe there.”
Duncan snorted and crossed his arms over his chest. “As if I could trust a bloodkin.”
“No, you can’t. But you don’t have much choice.”
Duncan glared at Vane. “I’d rather have them hate me than see them hurt, or worse.”
For some reason, the reply pleased Vane. At least the human wasn’t a complete idiot. “Your dedication is very admirable, but quite unnecessary. We bloodkin aren’t even allowed there. I myself have no interest in you, personally. I’m just doing this for Moss.”
The human clenched his hands and looked like he wanted to punch Vane. “Don’t you mention my son’s name. I want you to stay away from him.”
Vane hadn’t yet made a choice about Moss, but he’d hardly allow this man to decide for him. “Shut up. That’s none of your business. All
you have to know is if you don’t come with us you, Olivia and your two children will die.”
Duncan leaned against the tree stump, Vane’s words obviously shocking him. “You must have heard about the increasing restlessness of the bloodkin.” When Duncan nodded, Vane explained the seriousness of the situation further. “It will reach Elmya. It will target you. Do you want Jo and Lam to suffer for your stupidity?”
“I’ve only ever wanted what’s best for them,” Duncan replied weakly. For some reason, Vane believed him. In his own way, Duncan did love his children. He was just not strong enough to resist the bloodkin. Vane could exploit that to make him cooperate.
“And they will have the best of care. The elves will make sure of it. You saw Eli in there, right? Did he look horrible to you?”
“For all I know, he’s just another lie,” Duncan answered, but the strength of his conviction seemed to be fading.
“Think about it. If I wanted food, I’d be able to get it anywhere. I wouldn’t even have to bother with lies to convince you, as you already know.” Duncan winced, and Vane suppressed a smirk of satisfaction.
This time, Duncan didn’t reply, and Vane took his silence as agreement. Still, the devastation in the other man’s stance and the sorrow in his eyes gave Vane pause. He had the same deep green eyes Moss did, and Vane found himself adding something else. “If it helps, the elves will be able to make you forget about your experience. You’ll be safe there.”
Duncan seemed shocked, and Vane regretted having said anything. To fix his little lapse, he roughly continued, “Come on. We’re wasting time.”
They walked back to the house in silence. In the background of his mind, Vane could sense Moss’s nervousness. He wished he could spend some time alone with Moss, tell him everything he’d wanted to say ever since that night in Clavar. But the right moment had never come up. Even during their trip toward Elmya, the elf had been there. Beyond that, a doubt niggled at Vane’s brain, ever since he’d seen his brother with Kier. What if Moss was better off without him? What if he’d one day lose control even more than he already had?
At this point, he’d pretty much figured out their bond went beyond anything he’d ever expected. He wanted to have Moss by his side forever. This was a very bad idea. Moss deserved better than to be tied down to a bloodkin for eternity.
As they reentered the house, Vane found himself facing a very anxious Moss. He smiled at his human, then turned toward Olivia. “Go ahead and pack, Lady Hayden. We’re leaving.”
Olivia gaped at him and glanced at her husband. Duncan nodded. “Do what he says.”
“But, Duncan…”
Duncan went to hug her. “It’s no longer safe for us here. We’re going to have a new home, in a place where our children can play outside without fear, laugh and learn with others.”
Moss smiled at her, obviously trying to comfort Olivia as well. “Go on, Mom. Pack. It’ll be great. You’ll see.”
“It can wait until tomorrow,” Olivia replied, a sort of desperation in her voice.
“It’s best we leave under the cover of darkness.” And as soon as possible, he thought, but didn’t say out loud. There was no point in stressing their urgency and alarming the human woman.
“But the children are already asleep,” she protested.
That could actually be useful since keeping children quiet during a stealthy journey would’ve been a problem. “We can work without them waking.” He’d cast a slight glamour over them, just enough to keep them lost in their happy dreams until they were safe.
As Vane watched the play of emotions on Olivia’s face, Eli walked in. “Are we in agreement then? If so, we should go.”
Duncan and Olivia nodded, and together, they proceeded to make the preparations for the trip.
An hour later, the Hayden family left Elmya. This time, no one heard or saw them. The guards at the gates forgot all about the three visiting travelers, and Vane breathed a sigh of relief once he left the human city behind.
* * * *
The trip back to Manturanael was hard and ripe with tension. They needed to stop and purchase new horses since the two they’d brought couldn’t carry all of them. Olivia had been terrified upon realizing the beasts were carnivores and refused to allow either of her younger children next to them.
Truth be told, Moss still couldn’t understand why his father had agreed so readily to go with them. He had a feeling Duncan was hiding something, and Vane knew about it. But he couldn’t go ahead and ask, not in these circumstances.
In the end, they managed to reach the portal in one piece, whereupon Eli transported them to his lands. Eli insisted his people would take them in without a problem, but Moss felt skeptical. As much as he admired elves, he couldn’t help but think they weren’t a strict race and wouldn’t take well to outsiders. Why would they take a bunch of humans in?
The answer came very soon, and in an unpleasant fashion. If a few days back, Eli had transported them to a portal in the middle of nowhere, now, they were taken close to Hashiraden.
As soon as the usual dizziness vanished, Moss realized a group of elves now surrounded them, their stances all-out threatening. Moss gulped, wondering what he’d gotten his family into.
Eli took a few steps forward, positioning himself between Moss, his family, and the other elves. Another light elf who looked like the sterner, older version of Eli met him halfway. His age didn’t show physically, but rather, in his posture and the power he exuded. Eli knelt and bowed his head, saying something in elven.
The other elf seemed angry and glared down at Eli as he replied in a cool voice. Moss didn’t understand anything they were saying, but it didn’t seem like good news for them, or Eli.
“What are they talking about?” Olivia asked in a murmur.
Moss would have very much liked to know that as well. “Eli is requesting sanctuary for you and explaining your situation,” Vane said.
Duncan’s eyes widened. “You mean you didn’t do this ahead of time? I’m such a fool. How could I have trusted a bloodkin?”
“How, indeed.” The older elf interrupted their whispered conversation. “You needn’t fear a thing, Mister Hayden. I am Sorr Starburst, High Lord of Manturanael, and you are welcome here, just like Eli promised.” His eyes fell on Vane. “The bloodkin, however, is not.”
Vane smiled. “I did not expect to be. I merely accompanied Moss and his family here.”
“You should have never set a foot in Hashiraden, creature,” the elf snapped at Vane. “But we are civilized beings. We will allow you to leave, unharmed, in the next ten seconds.”
The violence of the exchange took Moss by surprise. Judging by Sorr’s name and appearance, he was obviously related in some way to Eli. Would they hurt Vane? Moss couldn’t bear the thought.
Sorr nodded toward a couple of his men, and the elves took a few steps forward. “Right this way,” one of them told Duncan. “Follow me if you please.”
They gave Moss a look, indicating he should do the same, but Moss knew that if he left, he’d never see Vane again. His feet remained rooted on the spot. “Moss?” his mother asked.
“You go on ahead,” Moss replied absently. “I’ll be fine.”
The elves guided his family away, leaving Moss, Eli, and Vane with just Sorr and a few others in the portal grove. Moss had so many questions, but he didn’t get a chance to ask.
Sorr began to speak. “First things first. Eli Starburst, you are henceforth banished from Manturanael for your transgression of consorting with bloodkin.”
Eli gritted his teeth, but nodded. “I understand. I will go.”
“Hand over your bow,” Sorr ordered.
Without a word, Eli obeyed, giving the older elf his weapon. Moss couldn’t believe what he was seeing. “But…He didn’t do anything,” he argued. “He only helped us save—”
Eli cut him off before he could finish the phrase. “Marlais, please remain silent. There’s nothing you can say to improve the situation.”
A look from Eli told Moss he could only make things worse.
Sorr laughed. “We know who the human is referring to, and it is almost as bad as your contact with the bloodkin. Kier Darksun rejected our people a long time ago, and he is dead to us. He should have received the same treatment from you.”
“Kier is my friend, Father,” Eli replied. “You know this.”
Sorr shook his head. “If only he were just that—”
“You are the one who turned him away first!” Eli shouted. “It is not his fault.”
“Regardless of where I’d sent him, he should’ve kept true to his beliefs,” Sorr replied. His eyes turned sad, sorrow turning the blue depths into a deep aquamarine. “You need to go now.”
His voice sounded stern, yet torn, and Moss couldn’t understand anything anymore. Why were the elves willing to take in complete strangers—and humans at that—and they turned their own away for helping friends? It made no sense.
Sorr turned to Moss. “And you…Marlais Hayden. You have to make a choice. It’s either your family, or your bloodkin. You cannot have both.”
Moss’s eyes widened. He couldn’t possibly be asked to make such a decision. The Sky Lord couldn’t be so cruel. He hadn’t even been able to get a moment alone with Vane so that they could clear things up.
He wanted to say so, but Vane stopped him. “He’s going to stay,” the bloodkin told Sorr.
Moss turned toward his master, shocked. “But, Vane…”
Vane shook his head. “No protests, my beauty. You know it’s for the best. You are safe here, and with me, you’ll only get hurt further.”
Pain froze Moss on the spot, and he found himself unable to say anything else. So this was Vane’s answer. In the end, the bloodkin really didn’t want him.
A light elf pulled Moss away from the portal, with Eli taking his place. “Farewell, my beauty,” Vane said, his eyes holding Moss’s gaze.
A soft whisper of an elven spell filled Moss’s ears as Eli summoned the Mother Earth’s power. The portal began to glow, energies swirling around it. Hypnotized, Moss just stared at the amazing sight, not even understanding what was going on. And then, the light died out, and Moss realized Vane had vanished.
Bed and Breakfast [Bloodkin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) Page 18