Author: Scarlet Hyacinth
Date: 2011-08-02 04:00:00+00:00
Keywords: M M Romance; Vampires; Paranormal; Fantasy; Romance; Bdsm; Magic; Historical; Elves; M M Paranormal
Description: [Siren Classic ManLove: Erotic Alternative Fantasy Romance, M/M, vampires, light consensual BDSM, spanking, whipping, HEA] Marlais "Moss" Hayden is a young man struggling to survive after being sent away by his impoverished family. A want ad falls into his hands, advertising a position for "bed and breakfast." When he looks into it, Moss realizes the job is to provide sex and blood to kin lord Vane Bloodmoor. In his capacity as a kin lord, Vane works to control the bloodkin from killing humans during feeding. His life's motto is to always keep control and not lose himself to his instincts. But
Publisher: Siren-Bookstrand, Inc.

Bloodkin 1

Bed and Breakfast

Marlais "Moss" Hayden is a young man struggling to survive after being sent away by his impoverished family. A want ad falls into his hands, advertising a position for "bed and breakfast." When he looks into it, Moss realizes the job is to provide sex and blood to kin lord Vane Bloodmoor.

In his capacity as a kin lord, Vane works to control the bloodkin from killing humans during feeding. His life's motto is to always keep control and not lose himself to his instincts. But Moss awakens unfamiliar feelings inside Vane. Intrigued, he offers Moss a job as a secretary and blood donor. Moss is unable to refuse or the resist the bloodkin's allure.

But there are more powerful forces at work. Vane and Moss soon find themselves thrust in a political plot that threatens to destabilize the world order as they know it. Faced with impossible odds, can the fragile bond survive?

Note: This book was previously published with another publisher and has been extensively revised and expanded.

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), BDSM, Vampires/Werewolves

Length: 61,738 words

BED AND BREAKFAST

Bloodkin 1

Scarlet Hyacinth

EROTIC ROMANCE

MANLOVE

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000.

If you find a Siren-BookStrand e-book being sold or shared illegally, please let us know at
legal@sirenbookstrand.com

A SIREN PUBLISHING BOOK

IMPRINT: Erotic Romance ManLove

BED AND BREAKFAST

Copyright © 2013 by Scarlet Hyacinth

E-book ISBN: 978-1-62242-423-8

First E-book Publication: February 2013

Cover design by Harris Channing

All cover art and logo copyright © 2013 by Siren Publishing, Inc.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

PUBLISHER

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

Letter to Readers

Dear Readers,

If you have purchased this copy of Bed and Breakfast by Scarlet Hyacinth from BookStrand.com or its official distributors, thank you. Also, thank you for not sharing your copy of this book.

Regarding E-book Piracy

This book is copyrighted intellectual property. No other individual or group has resale rights, auction rights, membership rights, sharing rights, or any kind of rights to sell or to give away a copy of this book.

The author and the publisher work very hard to bring our paying readers high-quality reading entertainment.

This is Scarlet Hyacinth’s livelihood. It’s fair and simple. Please respect Ms. Hyacinth’s right to earn a living from her work.

Amanda Hilton, Publisher
www.SirenPublishing.com
www.BookStrand.com

DEDICATION

For all my old readers who enjoyed Bed and Breakfast the first time I published it, and for all my new ones.

BED AND BREAKFAST

Bloodkin 1

SCARLET HYACINTH

Copyright © 2013

Prologue

Bloodkin. A race of mystery and paradoxes, spawning that empire that engulfed everything it touched, out of the pure primal need to feed. Some called them monsters. Others were fascinated by them. But as a general rule, everyone agreed that they were dangerous, predators who just looked like people.

From their capital city of Tachaka, the bloodkin spread out, invading every corner of the main continent. The only ones who could have stopped them were the elves. But there was too much history between the two species, too much conflict and potential for war.

With no real protection in front of the seduction of the bloodkin, the humans became trapped, the perfect prey. Other species fought back, holding their own against the gradual invasion of the bloodkin, but the hearts of men were too easily seduced by the power, wealth, and beauty of the kin.

Doubtlessly, they might have all been turned into blood slaves, perhaps even wiped out completely after a few generations. To prevent needless killing, the Kin Lords appeared, highly respected bloodkin nobles who were tasked with making sure everyone from their race respected the most important law of all, the Bloodkin Covenant.

A tenuous balance was created, with the humans starting to get more and more accustomed with the bloodkin’s presence in their world. Entire industries spawned for the pure purpose of providing certain services to the Kin Lords. In the meantime, the elves became more and more isolated, hiding in their secret homeland of Manturanael, anticipating and fearing the inevitable.

Unfortunately, they were proven to be correct. In spite of the efforts of the Kin Lords, no one could control the instincts of a species forever.

But unbeknownst to anyone, bloodkin weren’t simply a race of predators. They had hearts and souls, although many times, they didn’t even acknowledge it.

In the wake of increasingly chaotic political developments, the select few who opened up to these emotions became victims of their own feelings. Were they going to be able to protect themselves and their chosen life partners? Only time would tell.

Chapter One

“But, Duncan, are you sure there is no other way?”

“We can’t afford another mouth to feed, Olivia. The boy will be fine with my brother.”

Moss listened to his parents talk and tears welled up in his eyes. He blinked them away hastily, forcing himself to look calm and cheerful. His two siblings were already giving him concerned looks. He didn’t need to add another burden to their young lives. “Moss, what’s wrong?” his sister, Josephine, asked. By her side, their youngest brother, Lamar, gave Moss a wide-eyed look.

“Nothing at all,” Moss answered. He ruffled Jo’s blonde hair, smiling down at his siblings. If his leaving meant they would get a good life and education, he’d gladly do it.

Of course, he had his doubts about the truth of his own words. Once, his parents had once been well-off. His mother’s family had provided her with a generous dowry, and his father had always worked to improve their status in society and have them live good lives. But their happiness ended one day, when the strangers began popping up all over the place, taking over everything in their little town, Elmya.

At first, his family had resisted the assault, but in the end, they’d fallen as well. Somehow, his father had ended up gambling their home and most of their fortune away. Now, their financial situation had become poor at best, and Moss had known he’d be the first one to go. By miracle, they’d managed to keep a property where they now lived, a small cabin once belonging to Moss’s late grandparents. Still, they were in deep debt, and the situation only grew worse with each passing day.

He supposed he should feel thankful. His uncle owned a prosperous business at the other side of the Great Waters, and Moss had always wanted to travel and see the world. It’d work out just fine.

Still, hearing his mother cry in the other room broke his heart, just like the thought of leaving his family behind.

“Are you really going to leave?” Lamar asked in a small voice. They must’ve heard the conversation as well, not that it had been very hard, given the volume of his parents’ voices and the size of the cabin.

Moss hated the pain in his brother’s voice. Lam and Jo were too young for this. They should be playing and enjoying their childhood, not worrying about their daily bread. As their little arms wrapped around him, Moss whispered, “It’s okay. Uncle will take care of me, and I’ll come back to visit.”

Quiet sniffles sounded in his ears. “I don’t want you to go,” Jo sobbed.

Moss didn’t want to go either, but he didn’t say it. Instead, he just held his crying siblings, comforting them the only way he could.

He didn’t know how long they just sat there. Behind him, the door opened, and Moss at last broke the embrace. He got up and faced his father. Duncan’s stern gaze ironically gave him hope. Perhaps his father had learned his lesson and he would take care of Jo and Lam once Moss left.

“I take it you heard,” Duncan said.

Moss just nodded, but his siblings shot forward. “Papa,” Jo said, “we want Moss to stay. Please let him stay.”

Duncan’s eyes went to his younger children, and in his tense stance, Moss saw sheer heartbreak. “Jo, it’s for the best,” he piped in. “This way, I’ll get to travel, just like I always wanted, and learn more things.”

He didn’t say his apprenticeship with his uncle Douglas would most likely take away all his chances of becoming what he’d always wanted. He dreamed of becoming a scholar, maybe a secretary of an important lord, or even better, a librarian. He loved books and paradoxically, both numbers and sweet stories of fantasy entertained his childhood. He lost all that once his parents fell into ruin, taking away with them his carefree dreams and laughter.

At most, his uncle could give him a position as a worker or a clerk. Merchants like Douglas didn’t need bookish folk, as they rarely, if ever, trusted their accounting to someone else. From what little Moss remembered of Douglas, the man held no love for scholars.

But Jo and Lam seemed a bit encouraged by Moss’s words, and for that, Moss felt thankful.

He caught a grateful look from his father and nodded in acknowledgement. Truth be told, he didn’t blame Duncan for what happened. Many had fallen prey to the strangers. Dark and powerful, they took hold of hearts and minds. Respectable men abandoned their families, seduced by the alluring silhouettes of the women. Some even fell into the embrace of their own gender. Not even the young people had been spared. Many of Moss’s friends now spent their days in sexual frenzy.

Moss had met one of the strangers once. Foolishly, he’d followed a friend into one of the newly acquired homes. What he’d seen there had both shocked and frightened him. Orgies of men and women together, whips falling over flesh, blood splattering all over the place. Moss had fled, but the memories still haunted him.

He’d have told his family to leave the town at once, but they didn’t have any place to go, and somehow, Moss knew the strangers would find them. Besides, these days, every town had its own batch of seducers hanging around. They’d even reached the distant cities beyond the Great Waters.

His mother stepped inside the room, her eyes red. Moss guessed she must have taken a few moments to compose herself. Moss wanted to reassure her, but unlike his siblings, she would not believe him.

Her eyes filled with tears once again when she saw him, but she hastily wiped them away. “Come,” she said to Jo and Lam, “let’s have some pie.”

The children perked up at the mentioning of the delicious treat. But as they followed behind Olivia, Lam hesitated. “Isn’t Moss coming?”

“Of course he is,” Olivia answered. “He just needs a word with Papa. Now be obedient and come along.”

This time, the children did leave the room, and Moss couldn’t suppress a small sigh of relief. At least without them around, he could afford to show his pain at leaving his home behind.

His father pulled him to the very edge of the room, next to an old desk. He ushered Moss to the couch. “Sit.”

Moss obeyed. As he sat down, his father rummaged through the desk drawers. He retrieved a piece of paper, ink, and a quill and he began to write. Moss waited in silence, knowing the missive would be very important. He wondered what his father said about him.

At last, Duncan put the quill back in the inkwell and blew on the paper. “I suppose you realize what this is.” Moss nodded, but his father explained anyway. “I’ve explained our circumstances to Douglas and asked him to take you under his wing. I did mention your abilities with bookkeeping, but I doubt that will convince him. Nevertheless, you will have a place to eat and sleep with no problem.” Duncan rolled the paper, bound it, and offered it to Moss.

“Thank you, Father,” Moss said as he received the item sealing his fate.

Duncan didn’t reply. Instead, he opened another drawer, one Moss hadn’t originally seen. To Moss’s surprise, his father took out a pouch and offered it to him. “These are the last of our savings. I wish I could give you more, but you know how the situation is.”

In a daze, Moss took the pouch. It felt heavy in his hand, and Moss couldn’t help but open it. He gaped as he took in its contents. It was too much. His family would eat for two weeks out of the money. “Father, I—”

Duncan lifted a hand and stopped him. “You will need it. The ship fare is expensive enough, but the trip to the harbor even more so.” He frowned as if something particularly disturbing passed through his mind.

“You be careful, boy. Sleep in inns, but don’t talk to anyone suspicious. Avoid them.”

This time, Moss couldn’t hold his tears back. As his father held him, he let go, unleashing all the sorrow he’d kept in check. Would he ever see his family again?

* * * *

A few weeks later

The harbor bustled with activity, dirty sailors cramming supplies onto various ships, shouting imprecations at each other. Farther away, gentlemen helped their ladies on passenger boats.

Moss scanned the busy crowd, trying to figure out which way to go. According to the directions he’d been given, the ship he was supposed to board should be someplace around here.

With luck and some help from the Sky Lord, he’d managed to reach the harbor city of Clavar, following his father’s advice to the letter. Duncan’s purse was beginning to get a little light, though, so Moss had to hurry before he ran out of money. Thankfully, he’d heard about a ship that would get him to the other side of the Great Waters. Now, if only he could find it.

Moss spotted a sailor taking a break. He seemed a bit more educated and calm than the other ones, and Moss surmised asking him would be his best bet to find the ship. “Excuse me,” he began, “could you help me find a ship called The Lagoon?”

At first, the sailor ignored him, but Moss didn’t give up. After repeating the same question for a few times, Moss got the man’s attention. “I can make it worth your while.”

He reached into his pocket and retrieved a coin.

“The Lagoon is that way,” the sailor said as he snatched the gold from Moss’s hand. He pointed to a small ship lost between two mammoth vessels. Its sails were green, but Moss would have never seen it if not for the sailor’s help.

“Thank you,” he told the man.

The sailor returned to ignoring him and Moss shrugged to himself. He’d found out what he needed.

As he headed in the indicated direction, a small boy ran into him. “Apologies, my lord,” the boy said.

With a small nod, the boy took off running. A shiver of fear passed through Moss at the lad’s haste. Sure, the boy could have been just a servant running an errand for his master, but Moss doubted it. He checked the pocket of his coat. Gone. The purse of coin was gone.

“Hey, come back,” he shouted after the boy. He rushed to follow, but navigating through the crowd made it very difficult for him to do so. “Stop!” he shouted again. “Thief!”

Unsurprisingly, the little bandit ignored him, and so did everyone else around him. A greenhorn having his purse lifted didn’t impress or surprise anyone. He did receive a few amused glances and some irritated curse words when he accidentally ran into people, but other than that, no one paid him any heed.

In spite of his effort, Moss soon lost sight of the thief in the crowd. Panting hard, helpless, Moss leaned against a wall and screamed. He couldn’t even hear his own shout with the noise around him. Perhaps it signaled the way Moss’s life would end up from now on, lost among people who didn’t care.

Chapter Two

Moss studied the innocuous piece of green paper in his hands. Wanted: Bed and Breakfast. Generous pay. Previous experience constitutes an advantage. Position open to men and women between the ages of 20-30. For more details, visit The Inn of the Dancing Sword.

He looked up to the sign hanging from the door in front of him. A moving wooden plate, depicting a sharp blade, shone in the moonlight. He sighed. He didn’t know if the position he read about even existed, or if it wasn’t some sort of dubious offer for prostitutes. The generous pay part seemed to hint at it, but Moss couldn’t help but wonder what kind of brothel would hire people up to the age of thirty. Usually, brothels hired youths, teenagers, and even children whom they educated into the “art of lovemaking.”

Ever since the fateful encounter with the thief, Moss had received numerous offers from such establishments, but he refused to sell his ass, his mouth, or his dick to survive.

Alas, people weren’t inclined to offer decent work to a young man like himself. Well, he wasn’t quite so young. He’d reached twenty summers just a few weeks back. He probably looked five years younger, and it didn’t help his constitution seemed frail and not built for withstanding harsh conditions.

He’d managed to get by through daily jobs in the harbor. But the money he earned barely covered his expenses, and he needed a real workplace if he wanted to find a way out of this city and onto the next departing ship. Hopefully, he still had a future waiting for him with his uncle.

This job offer had fallen in his hands completely by chance. He’d spotted the paper while on one of his errands and taken it, hoping it would help him find better employment. Now that he’d gotten here, he couldn’t go back.

With that in mind, he stepped through the door of the inn. If this job was genuine, maybe the promised pay would give him something to start on.

The Inn of the Dancing Sword seemed nothing like the establishments Moss lived in while here in Clavar. In fact, the word “inn” couldn’t even begin to describe it. It looked quite luxurious, more like one of the lounges he used to frequent before the strangers took over. Moss wished he’d have come better dressed, but he’d sold his most expensive possessions to gather enough money for a little excuse of a room. Taking a deep breath, Moss walked inside and headed directly toward the bar.

Every eye seemed to be on him, but Moss kept his gaze forward and ignored everything else. Once he reached his destination, he sat on a stool. A woman appeared to take his order. “What will it be?” she asked.

Moss retrieved the piece of paper and set it on the counter. “Actually, I came to ask about this.”

The woman gave him a critical look. “I’ll get the innkeeper,” she said, although she seemed doubtful. Moss looked dirty and grimy after a hard day’s work, so he didn’t blame her.

When the innkeeper appeared, he analyzed Moss from head to toe. “You sure you up to that sort of thing, boy?”

Moss nodded. He needed to try, at least. “Very well,” the innkeeper said. “Go and ask at the mansion on the hill. They’ll tell you more there.”

* * * *

Moss gaped at the huge house that loomed ahead. The innkeeper had given him directions toward where he needed to go to, but Moss hadn’t expected something like this. It almost looked like a prince’s castle, something along the line of the beautiful citadels he read about in books as a child. Moss felt drawn to the building like a moth to the flame. Something about it seemed magical.

At the same time, Moss couldn’t help but feel a little apprehensive. He told himself it was just the late hour making him jumpy. Then again, why would someone take job applications late in the evening? The innkeeper at The Dancing Sword instructed Moss to come at night. It was a weird demand, but hey, he couldn’t afford to ask questions or be picky. Now, he wished he had asked.

Swallowing nervously, he walked through the huge wrought-iron gates. He guessed they had been left open for possible applicants. The path toward the black doors ahead seemed endless, and more than once, Moss turned to go back, only to change his mind and continue walking toward the mansion. He needed to go there, to see this through. Even if he didn’t get the job, he would still get to see the house, maybe steal a peak in one of the palaces of his dreams.

Strangely enough, Moss didn’t see any guards or servants as he approached. In fact, he didn’t see anyone at all. Light flowed from the windows and he could vaguely distinguish shadows of people moving around the rooms. He bit his lips, half-relieved he wouldn’t be alone in the majestic, yet eerie mansion, half-frustrated at the knowledge he would be facing a lot of competitors for the position.

In the end, the frustration gave him the strength to cover the distance between him and the silent, black doors faster. He could do this, damn it. He didn’t have anything to lose. At most, they could reject his application. But now that he’d seen the house, Moss intended to fight tooth and nail to convince the employer to accept him.

The large doors were even more intimidating up close than when he’d seen them from the distance. Berating himself for his cowardice, Moss took hold of the gold knocker and used it to hit the door with more force than necessary. He winced as the rough sound echoed through the silent courtyard. Calm down, Moss! First impressions are important. Calm down!

Moss heard footsteps approach in the house. The person on the other side cracked the door open and Moss focused to appear calm, collected, and as professional as possible. He’d cleaned up and donned his best—and only remaining suit—for this purpose. He needed to follow up with the same attitude.

After what seemed like an eternity, an elderly gentleman appeared in the entrance, giving him an inquisitive and slightly annoyed look. Moss suppressed the urge to wipe his sweaty palms against his trousers and offered the man a tremulous smile. “Hello. My name is Marlais Hayden. I’m here for the free position?”

He hated the fact that he sounded hesitant and almost childish, but he couldn’t help it. Luckily, the man didn’t question him further. Instead, he chose to analyze Moss with piercing blue eyes that seemed clearer and more astute than an old man should have. Moss struggled not to squirm in front of the sharp gaze and felt amazingly thankful when the man completed his analysis. Moss must’ve passed the examination, as the elderly gentleman gestured him inside. “Right this way, if you please.”

Moss followed behind the strange old man, almost jumping when the door snapped shut with a loud noise behind them. He shook his head, fighting to calm his racing heart. What was it about this place that made him so nervous? It was only a house, a huge one, a majestic one, but just a house nevertheless.

Finding comfort in reason, Moss took a closer look around as he walked behind the elderly gentleman. His eyes widened at the sight of antique tables and wardrobes, lavish armchairs decorated with covers that seemed to be woven from golden and silver thread, jeweled candelabras, and expensive rugs. He almost gasped at the sight of the paintings on the walls, erotic images in various shades of red depicting handsome young men and women kissing or…doing other things. He then realized the black marble floors he tread upon bore engravings in certain spots with similar images. God! This really was a brothel. He had to find a way to get out, and fast.

Alas, before Moss could find a solution, the elderly gentleman stopped and nodded toward a tall wooden door. Beyond, Moss could hear the chatter of various voices. “Here you are.” The old gentleman—who Moss now identified as a butler—opened the door, revealing what looked like a huge receiving room.

There were dozens of men and women sitting on comfortable-looking settees, laughing or chatting with each other. To Moss, it almost looked as if he’d stepped into one of those amazing parties he always heard about, but would never be received in. The women wore beautiful dresses that swept against the floor in a swish of decadent silk. Embroidered with threads of gold, the material hugged each curve to perfection. Fine jewelry complemented every attire, from pearl necklaces to diamond earrings. The men were just as handsomely clothed, impeccable white shirts peeking from under velvet tunics and tight breeches slipping into long leather boots.

In his common garments, Moss felt shabby and inadequate. But when he looked just a bit closer, he realized the women’s cleavages were just a bit too deep and the men’s breeches showed off every asset. The realization confirmed his previous guess, and he looked away from the scene. In the process, he met the butler’s cool gaze and wondered how he must look to this man. Definitely foolish and out of place.

“This is where the other applicants are waiting for a response,” the butler explained. “Applicants have time until midnight and then a final decision will be communicated.”

Moss nodded, even though, at this point, he couldn’t care less about the scheduled time of decision making. He just wanted to get out of here, as soon as possible. He opened his mouth to ask the butler to direct him to the exit, but he didn’t get the chance. “Please wait here,” the man said, giving Moss that impenetrable, unreadable look. Moss gulped and found himself nodding. The old man left before Moss could say anything. He looked back the way they’d come, wondering if he could find his way out of the house. He didn’t think so. He’d been too busy being awed, fascinated, and horrified by his environment to register the path to the exit.

He hesitated between heading back and just waiting for the butler to appear once again. Oddly, as he looked back the way they’d come, a weird, ominous feeling washed over him. It was as if he’d seen all of this before. He couldn’t exactly place it, but the luxurious decadence reminded him of something.

Before Moss could figure out his thoughts, a voice drew him out of his musings. “Well, hello there,” a handsome young man said. “It looks like we have another competitor.”

Moss had never intended to join the elegant people inside the receiving room, but somehow he’d still been spotted. He cursed to himself as the man approached, followed by a few others.

“And who might you be?” he asked. His blue eyes appraised Moss’s common clothing and he arched a brow in apparent amusement.

“I haven’t seen you around,” a blonde woman added. Her lips twisted into a sneer. “I probably shouldn’t be surprised about that.”

Moss bit back a scathing reply. He didn’t want to make enemies here, and he’d more than once heard about the power of luxury prostitutes. “I’m new in town,” he replied simply.

“Indeed,” the man answered. “It shows.”

In three words, he managed to convey so much disdain Moss almost recoiled. He managed to keep himself from doing so, but Moss’s face heated at the contempt he sensed. It didn’t help that more people had arrived at some point, obviously drawn to the commotion.

“Don’t scare the boy,” a beautiful brunette woman said. She offered Moss a smile and took his arm, pulling him away from the rest of the crowd. “Well, if you want to join us, you’re always free to do so, but this is a more complicated job. You’re probably better off trying at the guild.”

Moss pulled free from the woman’s hold. He was no fool, and he knew better than to trust polite platitudes. If the first two had been wolves, this woman was a fox. They were just waiting for the right moment to prey on him. “It’s not like that,” Moss answered. “I thought it would be a different kind of job. I’m going to leave as soon as I explain and apologize.”

The brunette looked surprised, but then she let out a small laugh. “How amusing. And what kind of job could it possibly be?”

Moss admitted coming here had indeed been a very stupid idea. Even so, having it thrown in his face bothered him. Thankfully, the butler chose this exact moment to arrive. “Mister Hayden,” he said, “The master will see you now.”

Moss nodded at the brunette and at the other two who’d addressed him and rushed out after the butler. Relief mixed with apprehension as they left the receiving room behind. Moss tried to come up with something to say, something that would allow him to make his escape, but didn’t succeed. The feeling of familiarity returned with a vengeance, choking him.

All too soon, the butler stopped in front of a door. He knocked, and a man’s voice replied from the inside, “Yes?”

The butler cracked the door open. “My lord, Marlais Hayden to see you.”

“Let him in,” the man answered, sending shivers through Moss. It took him aback so much he almost missed the butler gesturing him forward. He remembered to walk just as the old man gave him a slightly reproachful look.

As he entered the room, he caught sight of the shadowed silhouette of a male sitting at the desk. The only lighting came from two candle-holders situated next to the bookshelves. The room had a lived-in, but archaic look, at the same time managing to be stylish. After the carvings in the hallway, this study represented a pleasant and relaxing surprise.

But all that lost its importance and the relaxation evaporated when the man spoke again. “Marlais Hayden, is it?”

Moss nodded, the voice sweeping over him like a sensual wave. His knees wobbled and he didn’t know how he managed to remain standing. Get a grip, Moss, he told himself. Remember what you wanted to say.

“Yes, m–my lord,” he stammered. “I…”

He wanted to apologize and explain the situation, but the words got stuck in his throat. “You...?” the man prodded.

“This is a mistake. I didn’t realize the position was for a…for a…” He couldn’t say it. What if he misjudged the entire thing? He’d just insult the master of the house and maybe get in trouble in the process.

Stuck in this room, with this mysterious man, Moss wondered what the hell he’d gotten himself into.

* * * *

Shrouded by the darkness of the room, Vane smiled. This young man was very interesting, or at least, more interesting than everyone he’d seen throughout the rest of the night. They all came knowing exactly what Vane wanted and what he offered. Each of the beautiful young men and women showed willingness and excitement, but in the end, the chosen person always ran away. Vane’s demands seemed to be too much for anyone.

But this new visitor intrigued him. Vane didn’t have much contact with honest, straightforward people, and sweet Marlais was a breath of fresh air. Unlike the whores outside, he wore simple, but clean clothing. Buttoned up, his tunic covered his chest and lower region completely. But no discreet clothing could hide a beautiful body, and Vane took advantage of his position to admire the human. He imagined those long legs wrapped around his waist, Marlais’s deep green eyes shining in passion, full lips swollen with Vane’s kisses. It was a very tantalizing image indeed.

“For a what?” he insisted, secretly enjoying the way the young man fidgeted.

His amusement vanished when Marlais licked his lips. Vane’s gaze immediately went to that little pink tongue, and he found himself wondering how it would feel against his cock. Thankful for the darkness of his office, he adjusted himself in his trousers. “Well, aren’t you going to answer?”

“A–a prostitute,” Marlais stammered.

Vane arched a brow. How much did the young man realize? Did he even understand where he’d come? “That’s not exactly the case,” he answered. Sure, it implied prostitution, but a job with him didn’t just mean selling sex.

Marlais paled. “I…I’m sorry. I saw the people in the lounge and I assumed…”

“You assumed correctly,” Vane cut him off. “But let me explain for a bit. The position is for a ‘bed and breakfast.’ Have you heard of the bloodkin?”

Marlais just gave him a blank look, and Vane barely managed to suppress his shock. He hadn’t expected the young man not to know about his kind. “I see,” he continued after a brief pause. “Well, to be short, the bloodkin—my kind—are a race that has certain abilities and certain needs. We are more powerful than humans, but at the same time, we need blood to sustain ourselves.” They also had vulnerabilities, but Vane wouldn’t go into that.

Marlais’s eyes widened and he shot to his feet. “You! I remember now. Your kind, the bloodkin…You fooled my father. You destroyed my family!”

So the young man had run into Vane’s people after all. Most likely, he just didn’t know details about them. “Sit down, Marlais,” Vane said neutrally. As a rule, he disliked shouting in his house, and more so from a guest. As much as this human drew him, he would not allow Marlais to disrespect him.

At Vane’s tone, Marlais shut his mouth. Even so, he didn’t take Vane’s not-so-gentle offer of sitting down again. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I think it would be best if I left.”

“Oh? And where will you go?” Vane inquired. “You wouldn’t have come here in the first place if you weren’t desperate.”

This boy intrigued him more and more and Vane disliked the thought he might have to let him go. Of course, if push came to shove, Vane could just force the human to stay, but he hated using his abilities in such a manner. He refused to sink to the level of most bloodkin, who forgot every rule of propriety in order to fulfill their basic needs. Still, he wanted the boy. Damn it, he wanted him so much he ached.

Marlais looked down, and his lip trembled as if he were about to burst into tears. Vane could smell his fear and shame, and he hated it. He sighed to himself. What was he doing? This boy clearly didn’t have the qualifications needed for a “bed and breakfast.” The thought made Vane wonder what qualifications Marlais did have. Perhaps they could work something out.

“What did you think the position was for?” he asked.

“I figured it might a servant position or something along that line,” Marlais replied, humiliation thick in his voice.

For some reason, Vane wanted to cast away the young man’s pain. He squashed the urge. He was bloodkin, and a noble breed. He didn’t provide charity.

Still, Vane did need someone to help out with the official part of his businesses. His friend and replacement butler ran the whole house, and had his hands full with keeping the servants in line. The human accountants Vane used until now always seemed to think they could cheat him out of his money. Vane couldn’t handle these tasks himself, since dealing with his foolish kin had become a full-time job that sometimes took far too much time and patience. He required someone he could trust.

“As I was saying,” he began, “my kind has certain needs, among which the most important one is blood. The bloodkin you’ve met take it by seducing people. I dislike this method, so I hire them instead.

“Typically, a bed-and-breakfast job means you would provide me with companionship in every way I desire—sexual and for feeding.” He carefully watched Marlais’s face as he spoke. He smiled as he sensed arousal begin to overpower fear. “However, I could make an exception. If you are willing to work as my secretary, I will forgo the ‘bed’ part of it, and only require your blood.” It would be quite taxing on his libido, but Vane had gone without for extended periods of time. He could do it.

“Of course, you would be appropriately compensated for your services.” He named a more than generous payment, and Marlais’s eyes widened.

“But, it’s far too much. I couldn’t possibly…”

“Remember you’d have to provide me with blood,” Vane explained. “That sort of thing doesn’t come cheap.” Indeed, human blood was an expensive convenience. Magic users could create all sorts of dangerous spells with it, making donors particularly hard to find. The only ones who ever applied for Vane’s offers were prostitutes looking for a patron. He had his butler to weed most of them out, but at the end of the day, Vane still needed to pick an unpleasant person to share his next few months with.

He could tell Marlais was tempted. “I don’t know,” he said. “I really shouldn’t.”

Vane couldn’t back down now. Even knowing he was corrupting an innocent young man, he coaxed further. “It wouldn’t hurt at all. In fact, it can be quite pleasurable. We would sign a contract and if you at any time desire to leave, you will be entitled to do so.”

For some reason, Vane’s explanation seemed to impassion the human. “Why me?” he almost shouted. “Why not someone from outside? They’re all much more beautiful, much more appropriate for this than me.”

Marlais’s words woke something inside Vane. He got up and went around the desk, exposing his face to the young man for the first time. He only did so for the chosen applicant, but it had become clear to him he would not take “no” for an answer.

He wanted to say no one could ever be more beautiful than Marlais, but it sounded ridiculous and corny even to his own ears. Instead, he offered, “I decide who is appropriate and who isn’t. Now tell me, yes or no?”

* * * *

The man’s commanding tone almost made Moss melt right then and there. The situation shouldn’t have aroused him. He clearly remembered how his friends had lost themselves to the power of the strangers, the bloodkin, as this man called them.

And yet, he could not help himself. He wanted to say “yes” so badly, but he didn’t even know if he could speak. The master of the house looked handsome, powerful, and commanding, dark hair carefully bound back, dark eyes scanning Moss’s face. He reminded Moss of a wolf, a predator like the ones he used to see in the forests next to his hometown. He should run, run while he still had the chance, but his body seemed frozen. In fact, Moss’s dick very much agreed with the idea of staying, and perhaps even taking the original position.

Even as the thought flashed through his mind, Moss gasped in outrage at his own shamelessness. For crying out loud, he didn’t even know the man’s name. “Is everything all right?” the master of the house asked, arching a brow at him.

Moss somehow managed to nod. The position intimidated him, with Moss seated and a much taller man looming over him. When the other man switched positions and leaned against the desk, Moss ended up facing a very impressive erection.

Moss gulped and averted his gaze. Arousal from the part of a future employer—especially in these dubious circumstances—couldn’t be a good sign. “Well?” the man asked. “What will it be?”

Moss swallowed around the knot in his throat. He looked up at the bloodkin and found himself nodding. “Y–yes.”

The smile that appeared on his employer’s face made Moss feel even hotter. “Excellent. Now that we’ve reached an agreement, I’ll introduce myself. I’m Vane Bloodmoor.”

“Marlais Hayden, pleased to make your acquaintance,” Moss replied automatically.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Vane answered. He retrieved a bell from the desk and rang it. Almost instantly, a knock sounded at the door and the butler reappeared. “Yes, Your Lordship?”

“Benson, tell everyone to leave and compensate them for their time. I’ve made my choice. Then bring me the contract.”

The butler—apparently named Benson—nodded and stepped out. “Just a few more formalities to deal with,” Vane explained. “In the meantime, let’s talk a bit about your job will entail.”

Moss nodded. He shouldn’t be worried. This might be the best job he could ever find in this damn city. He could just stay here for a little while, until he received his first paychecks and gathered enough money for his trip.

“You’ll live here, but you’ll have your own quarters,” Vane said. “We will dine together, but occasionally, depending on my needs, I will require your blood. Also, you will have to check my accounts and visit with several merchants and lawyers in the city.”

As Vane continued to list Moss’s attributions as a secretary, Moss couldn’t help but feel just a bit excited. He’d have a job, a real job that would allow him to use his skill for numbers and letters. He quieted the small voice in his head saying his glee had nothing to do with employment.

In just a few minutes, Benson returned to the study, carrying several documents. “Ah, here we are.” Vane took the papers from Benson and sat down at the desk. Moss could no longer see him clearly, but he did realize Vane scanned the contracts. The other man dipped a quill in an inkwell and began to cross out things and write on the paper. At last, he finished, and put the quill back.

“I made a few amendments, due to our arrangement. You will be handed a copy. Read it carefully tonight. If everything is according to your wishes, tomorrow you can begin.” He nodded toward Benson. “This is my manservant, Benson, and dear friend. You’ve met already. He will help you with anything you might need during your stay.”

Apparently, Vane thought the decision had been already made. At this point, Moss didn’t doubt the man was right.

“Thank you, my lord,” he replied a bit numbly. “I’m sure everything will be fine.”

Vane clapped his hands together. “Well then, Benson will see you out. I expect you here tomorrow, Marlais.”

The abrupt change in mood surprised Moss. He could’ve sworn Vane also wanted him, but now, he sounded so formal and so coolly polite. Had the tent in Vane’s pants been just a play of shadows? Now, Vane just seemed eager to put distance between them.

Almost as a side thought, Vane added, “Oh, and, Benson, have the coachman take Marlais home. It’s late.”

“Understood, Your Lordship,” Benson replied.

Coachman? Moss hadn’t seen any servants, other than the ever-stoic butler. Perhaps they weren’t privy to the selection process of their master’s companions.

These thoughts evaporated when Moss processed Vane’s last order. Take him home with the coach? No way! That would be a disaster. Whoever accompanied him would see the poor state of his lodgings. How could he ever show his face here again after such a shameful experience?

“That’s quite all right. You don’t need to bother,” he hastily said.

“I insist,” Vane replied. “I wouldn’t want to have any trouble on the way back.”

His tone eliminated the chance for further protest, so Moss quietly thanked his employer, resigned to the situation. What else could he do?

After a brief good-bye, Moss followed after the butler. He registered very little on the way out of the house, except for the fact that the lounge no longer hosted a merry party. Moss couldn’t make himself care. He just wondered why Vane had seemed so cold.

Benson directed him to the wait in the foyer, yet another thing striking Moss as odd. He’d have thought the common courtesy would be to have the guest wait in the study, with the master of the house, while the butler readied the coach. He didn’t intend to complain, of course, but it did make him even more confused. Vane had insisted on Moss being his employee. Was this the man’s way to make sure Moss understood his position?

He didn’t know how long he stood there, lost in his thoughts. Finally, Benson returned. He directed Moss toward the exit. “Let us be off.”

The carriage already waited in the pathway when they left the house. From the coach box, a bleary-eyed man gave Moss a half-bored, half-inquiring look. Moss felt uncomfortable with the scrutiny, and he mentally thanked Benson when the butler ushered him inside the carriage.

He wasn’t so thankful when Benson joined him. Bad enough the coachman would see Moss’s living conditions, did Benson have to witness it as well? The butler would surely tell Vane.

“Where to?” the coachman asked from the front.

Reluctantly, Moss began to give the man directions. He looked outside as he spoke, hating himself for even feeling like this. Sure, he’d been forced to live in what was basically a rat-infested hovel, but circumstances ruled over the best of men. He’d been stupid for losing his father’s money, but from there, he’d done his best.

Neither Benson nor the coachman commented upon their destination. The carriage rolled off, the sound of the cobblestone under the wheels strangely eerie in the silence of the night.

Soon, the carriage left the bloodkin’s courtyard and took off onto the road to the harbor district. At the very edge lay a small community of workers who struggled to earn their daily bread. There, through sheer luck, a nice smile, and a couple of coins, Moss had managed to find a place to stay.

The sounds of the town sounded strangely muted, or maybe it just seemed like that to Moss. Who’d have thought he’d be coming back to his little excuse for a living space in a luxurious carriage?

But as much as Moss wanted to enjoy it, he remained very much aware of their progress through the city. The beautiful streets morphed into unpaved alleys, and all too soon, they reached their destination.

The carriage stopped and the coachman said from the front, “We can’t go farther, or the coach will get stuck in the mud.”

“That’s fine,” Moss said. He opened the door and jumped out, wincing when his boots made a squishy sound upon hitting the so-called ground.

Before he could make his escape, the butler joined him. “I have to see you to the door,” Benson explained.

This time, Moss gave up. He had no escape. Nodding wordlessly, he started walking in the direction of his temporary home. At this point, there was not much else he could do.

Chapter Three

Seated on the couch in his study, Vane swirled his drink in his glass. Marlais had left maybe a half hour ago, but it already seemed like a lifetime. Vane had tried to put some distance between them, but it didn’t help at all to quench the fire and the need. What would happen when this desire turned into bloodlust? Could he truly keep the feeding platonic and clinical?

Vane remembered the youth’s beautiful mouth, the way his dark-blond hair framed his face, and wondered if Marlais had a lover. Such a handsome young man couldn’t have reached maturity without knowing the pleasures of the flesh.

The thought made Vane’s shaft throb. Vane abandoned the drink on the coffee table, deciding to take the matter into his own hands—literally. He undid his breeches, sighing in relief when his fist enclosed around his hard cock.

Throughout his long years, Vane had often been alone, so his hand had long ago become his best friend. With the ease of experience, he massaged his dick, rubbing his thumb across the leaking tip.

The abundant pre-cum made the glide easy and he imagined his tight fist to be Marlais’s wet mouth. The study began to melt around him, and the fantasy came to life. Marlais sat there, in front of him, his green eyes wide with wonder. Vane took hold of Marlais’s curls and pulled him closer.

Obediently, the human lowered his lips over Vane’s dick, enclosing them around the head of Vane’s shaft. At first, Marlais seemed hesitant, his little tongue flicking over Vane’s slit in slow motions. The teasing, shy motions drove Vane wild. “Open your mouth, damn it.”

Marlais did, and Vane pushed his cock inside the wet cavern. He forced himself to stop when he realized he’d choke the obviously inexperienced human. “Breathe through your nose. Take it slow.”

He released his hold on the human, allowing Marlais to set the pace. The human seemed a natural at this. The first time he tried to take Vane deep, he gagged, not surprising given Vane’s size. But Marlais persisted, and he soon set a rapid pace, engulfing Vane in an inferno of heat.

Vane tried to keep hold of his control, but in the end, he let go. He began to thrust in earnest, taking what he wanted. This time, Marlais didn’t have any problem with it, and Vane found himself encouraging him, “Yes, just like that…Suck my dick.”

“Fuck, you’re so good at this. You’re mine. You belong to me. My little whore.”

The human didn’t answer, not that he could have with a mouthful of cock. But it didn’t matter. Marlais had, at some point, freed his own dick and was now pleasuring himself. The knowledge awoke a dark instinct inside Vane and he ached to take possession of Marlais in every way. Just the thought made pleasure swept over him like a tidal wave. He exploded, sending his seed down Marlais’s throat.

He heard a choked cry and smelled Marlais’s cum as the other man came as well. Vane’s body filled with an almost unbearable flame, everything turning into pure and absolute pleasure. For a few seconds, he could barely breathe, let alone move, and he just lay there, taken aback by the intensity of his climax.

When he began to recover, he had the overwhelming urge to kiss his lover. But when he looked down, he realized Marlais was gone.

The world came crashing down around him and Vane cursed. Everything had been just a very vivid fantasy. Masturbating didn’t shame him, but doing so over a human he’d just met and losing himself so much to it meant surrendering to his base instincts.

By some miracle, he’d managed to avoid soiling his clothes, but he did have to wash up. Vane headed to the adjoining bathroom and eliminated all traces of his little episode of weakness. Just as he returned to the study, he sensed someone closing in fast.

Vane sat back at the desk, doing his best to keep a straight face. Seconds later, Benson burst in the room. In a few seconds, his butler façade faded, and he turned into his true self.

A dark elf, Kier Darksun always kept to himself. His people were reclusive and hidden, and to this day, Vane didn’t know everything about what Kier had left behind. He did know why the man had abandoned his home in the first place and why he’d become Benson, but that secret wasn’t his to tell. For his part, he’d always be thankful for meeting the elf. In front of everyone, Kier seemed Vane’s efficient butler, Benson, but in reality, he’d become so much more, the only friend and family Vane had.

“You’ll never believe it, Vane,” Kier ranted. “He lives in this horrible dump, and I thought he was going to cry when I saw it.”

Vane gritted his teeth, trying to force himself to be calm and nonchalant. He still hadn’t fully recovered from the mind-numbing orgasm, and his friend pointing out yet another problem regarding Marlais didn’t help one bit. “Well, he’ll be living here from now on. Problem solved.”

Kier chuckled. “You’re not fooling me, you know. I can see you’re dying to go there now and bring him here.”

“Mind your own business, Darksun,” Vane replied. He hated having his own weakness thrust in his face almost as much as Kier loathed being reminded of his ancestry. Besides, his friend had pegged him quite correctly. Vane ached to bring Marlais back. In fact, he’d never wanted to let him go. He wanted to explore Marlais’s body for real, not just in fantasy.

Kier ignored him. “Stop being so moody,” he said. “You shouldn’t have let him go back in the first place.”

Kier had a point, but Vane didn’t want to scare Marlais by pressing him into moving this very same night. It would’ve been strange, and humans, especially young ones like Marlais, weren’t used to the oddities of living with a bloodkin.

“It can wait until tomorrow,” he said.

“If he shows up,” Kier added, a warning in his voice.

Dark amusement filled Vane at Kier’s words. He didn’t doubt Marlais would regret ever agreeing to Vane’s proposal come morning. But Vane had a way of getting what he wanted. “He may not realize it now,” he told his friend, “but he doesn’t have a choice.”

Kier chuckled and sniffed the air theatrically. “Indeed, my friend. Indeed.”

This time, it was Vane who ignored his friend. He thought back to that moment of his fantasy when he’d desired Marlais so much. This young human might be more of a problem than Vane originally thought.

* * * *

Moss knelt in front of Vane, his mouth watering at the sight of the shaft just within his reach. Vane pulled him close, and Moss complied with the silent demand. He lowered his mouth over the hard cock. At first, he didn’t know what to do. He experimentally tasted the liquid pooling at the head, finding the taste addicting. He lapped across the glans and even dared to explore around the slit. But he went too slow, causing Vane to release a frustrated growl. “Open your mouth, damn it,” the bloodkin said.

On instinct, Moss obeyed, only to have his mouth invaded by Vane’s cock. He choked at the sudden sensation, finding it hard to breathe. Thankfully, Vane soon let go, allowing him to take the lead.

Moss bobbed his head up and down Vane’s cock, loving the feel of the heavy shaft on his tongue. He’d never done this before, his few lovers having been women. Only now did he realize what he’d been missing.

Then again, he doubted any other male lover would’ve made him feel like this. Moss’s entire body buzzed with need, his own shaft throbbing, begging for release. He moaned, the sound muffled by the cock in his mouth.

Moss couldn’t take it any longer. He struggled with the bindings of his breeches and released his own cock from its confines. It was hard to focus both on pleasuring Vane and on finding his own peak, but somehow Moss did it.

It went on and on, with Vane fucking his face and Moss fucking his own fist. He absently heard Vane growling obscenities, but a weird buzzing filled his ears and he could make out very little from the words. And then hot cum hit his taste buds as his lover climaxed. The sensation pushed Moss over the edge, and he came as well.

He rode the orgasm for the longest time, the sensations unlike anything he’d ever experienced. He heard his own voice cry out Vane’s name and distantly wondered how that was even possible if he still had Vane’s cock in his mouth.

The thought made his mind clear up a bit, and he opened his eyes to his empty, pathetic room. The only living beings in the area other than him were the rats, scampering around the corners. Moss could have sobbed in loss, and his remaining arousal dissipated as if it had never been.

Unwilling to let a stupid dream get the best of him, he got up from his little cot and walked to the pot serving as a cleaning space. As he dipped a rag in the water, he recalled the dream, and the entire night before. This was such a surreal situation, and he felt strangely empty and abandoned. He swore he still tasted Vane’s cum in his mouth, but that couldn’t be. Or could it?

After returning from his peculiar interview, he’d fallen asleep almost instantly. Then he’d had the disturbing dream that seemed so vivid. Had he really accepted to be the secretary of a bloodkin? The bloodkin had separated him from his family to begin with. This was a terrible idea, and one he would have never agreed to had he been in his right mind.

He could only find one explanation for his poor reasoning and the dream. Vane must have seduced him just like the strangers in his town had done with so many others. But he didn’t have to work there. He hadn’t signed the contract. Normally, he operated with the motto “my word is my bond” always in mind, but this time, he needed to make an exception.

Nodding to himself, Moss finished cleaning up and returned to bed. He grimaced in distaste as he realized he’d soiled the one blanket he owned, but he didn’t have any choice but to use it. Nights could get very chilly here.

Bundling back up in the cot and carefully avoiding the wet spot, Moss closed his eyes and forced himself to sleep. Tomorrow would be another day, and perhaps he’d be able to find a better job. For all his efforts, that night, he dreamed of dark eyes and sensual lips on his own.

* * * *

The next morning, Moss headed out toward the harbor, hoping to find another daily job so he could at least eat today. He ran into some of his former employers and ended up spending a few good hours carrying heavy boxes around. A part of him screamed he’d had a chance for an excellent job with Vane Bloodmoor, but then, he remembered his father’s advice and everything that had happened in Elmya. As much as he liked Vane, he couldn’t let the other man take over his life. He didn’t want to lose himself like his friends had.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t slept well the night before, tormented by dreams of Vane, and his distracted musings didn’t help his performance. Several times, he was reprimanded, and the money he received at the end of the job hardly covered his eating needs for the following day.

Disheartened, Moss headed toward his poor home. At least it was close to the harbor and he didn’t have to drag his tired body too far. But as he reached his little hovel, he noticed a familiar-looking carriage.

He considered running away, but he did have to advise his former employer of his decision. He spotted Benson waiting, and figured talking to the butler would suffice.

He’d have preferred to wear something different while doing so, since his appearance echoed his day spent working in the harbor. But at this point, it didn’t matter since after this evening, Moss would most likely never see Benson ever again.

Taking a deep breath, Moss headed toward Benson. “Mister Hayden,” the butler greeted him. “Do you have a response for us?”

Moss nodded. “I changed my mind. This is a bad idea. I don’t think I can take such a job.”

“I thought you might say that.” The carriage door opened and Vane stepped out.

Moss froze. He could have resisted Benson, but with Vane himself here, he found his previous decision melting away like butter left in the sun.

“Vane…I mean, Lord Bloodmoor…”

Vane glowered at him. “Shut up and get in the carriage.”

The tone reminded Moss of his dream, and his cock stirred in his linen work pants. No, this was a very bad moment to be aroused. And then, Vane stepped closer, and Moss’s body responded to the other man’s close proximity. “Go on,” he whispered huskily. “You’ve made me wait enough.”

Moss wanted to obey. In fact, his entire body screamed to do so. He could no longer remember why he’d even thought he needed to resist. But his legs refused to move, and his knees yielded. He almost fell on his face right in front of Vane, but the other man caught him just in time.

Vane’s arm went around Moss’s waist, and he whimpered as Vane’s body came into close contact with his own. Flashes of the dream passed through his mind’s eye, and he had the sudden urge to reenact it, right then and there. Judging by the feel of Vane’s hard shaft against him, the other man would have very much liked something similar.

But Vane showed more caution and control than Moss. He pulled Moss along and basically tossed him into the luxurious carriage. To Moss’s surprise, Benson didn’t get in. The carriage rolled off, leaving the butler behind.

“W–what’s going on?” he asked. “Where is he going?”

Vane ignored his question. “Did you read through the contract?” he asked instead of offering a reply.

Moss shook his head. He hadn’t read through it. He’d left at dawn for his harbor job, convinced he would refuse the weird secretary position. “I fell asleep shortly after I got back, and in the morning—”

Vane cut him off before he could finish the phrase. “Well, you’re coming with me now so you can read it. You may not be my employee yet, but you did promise to give me an actual answer. I don’t appreciate being ignored.”

Moss’s face heated at the reprimand. “Yes, my lord,” he muttered. He should have known better. He’d been taught manners by a very educated lady, and here he was, ignoring his mother’s every lesson. “I understand.”

Vane nodded. “Excellent. Never disobey me again. I don’t like it.”

“Yes, my lord,” Moss repeated. He could swear he saw Vane adjust himself in his pants, but the motion was so fast it could have very well been his imagination.

He tried to distract himself and looked away from his employer. Outside, the city looked as busy as ever, with carts surrounding the carriage, errand boys running to and fro. Merchants advertised their wares, and ragged-looking housewives occasionally engaged in not-so-polite debates with them, intent on decreasing the prices.

It occurred to Moss none of the people seemed to pay any heed to the passing vehicle. In fact, they went about their business as if expensive carriages were the norm in their city and the district, when in fact, Moss could count the times he’d seen them on the fingers of one hand. Only the wealthiest folk benefited from such comforts, and not even rich human families, like Moss’s had been, could afford one. The magicks and technologies needed to fashion such items went beyond anything Moss could ever hope to see.

“You are wondering why they can’t see the carriage,” Vane said. “Like I said, my kind has certain abilities, and I can make the humans avoid our vehicle without them even noticing.”

Moss gaped at Vane. “But didn’t you say you dislike manipulating humans? That you don’t use your powers for such things?” He closed his mouth when he realized he’d insulted his employer. “I–I’m sorry,” he stammered.

Strangely, Vane didn’t look upset. In fact, he looked amused. “Don’t apologize. I am pleased you asked since you will be seeing me use my powers in the future. And to answer your question, there is a difference between the two cases.” He paused, as if taking a moment to assess his words. “In this situation, I use my abilities for my comfort and convenience. It would be very annoying to have the humans take notice of the carriage and either take off screaming or beg for money.”

Moss nodded. He agreed with that, but he still didn’t grasp the difference Vane was talking about. “But isn’t the ‘bed and breakfast’ thing convenience as well?” He couldn’t make himself say “sex and blood.”

Vane shook his head. “That is need and base instinct. Using my power for obtaining it would render me close to an animal, like many of my kin have become.” Vane’s gaze seemed to turn heated, more intense. “My education and position help me conquer it. Others are not so lucky, or simply do not bother.”

Moss was beginning to understand. “It’s not so different with humans,” he replied, proud when his voice didn’t tremble. “Following instinct and need blindly leads to disastrous results.”

“Precisely.” Vane’s expression turned predatory. “With the exception that my instinct is to possess, feed, and hurt, and much more extreme. I have other abilities, such as telekinesis, for example, but I won’t get into that right now.”

Moss didn’t know what to say to that. He’d somehow ended up in a very dangerous situation, but he didn’t even feel frightened.

“Ah, we’re here,” Vane said suddenly.

Startled, Moss looked outside once more. Indeed, at some point during the conversation, they’d left the harbor district and were now in front of Vane’s home. When had so much time passed?

The carriage slowed down and stopped, and Moss’s nervousness doubled. Vane opened the door and jumped outside, then gestured him out. Taken aback, Moss tripped and caught himself before falling. He realized then his messy clothing had dirtied the expensive seating of the carriage.

What a disaster. He’d been so lost in Vane’s presence he’d even forgotten to feel self-conscious about his clothing. He wished now he’d have fulfilled his promise. At least that way, Vane wouldn’t have seen him like this.

“Come on,” Vane said, and Moss’s body moved as if of its own accord.

He joined Vane out of the carriage, the same feeling of wonder filling him as he took in the house. When Vane headed toward the front entrance, Moss followed. His shamelessness returned with a vengeance and he took advantage of his position to admire Vane’s ass and broad back. His hands itched to touch, to see if those muscles were as hard as they seemed, to feel and explore everything.

He struggled to keep a modicum of composure, even if he suspected Vane could see straight through him. Vane led him inside, and just when Moss thought he’d had enough surprises for the day, an army of servants met them. Liveried men and women in maid outfits popped up from every direction, fussing around Vane and giving Moss curious looks. Moss could only guess what they thought of him and wanted the ground to swallow him whole.

“Everyone, this is my future companion, Mister Marlais Hayden. As usual, you are to help him with everything he needs.”

There were yeses all around, and then silence fell. Moss had to say something to introduce himself. “Hi. It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m Marlais, but you can call me Moss.”

Another chorus of agreements followed, but this time, they sounded less practiced and a bit more intrigued.

“Well, then, Pena, prepare a bath for our new guest.” A tiny woman nodded and did a small curtsy. “Go with her,” Vane told Moss. “After you wash up and get a change of clothes, I expect you in my study.” He clapped his hands together. “Everyone, back to your duties.”

The servants scattered, obeying Vane’s orders to the letter. Vane left as well, and Moss was left with the tiny maid. “I’m Pena. I usually help out the master’s companions with daily issues like wardrobe, washing, things like that.”

“It’s nice to meet you, Pena,” Moss replied automatically. “Okay, then. Lead the way.”

* * * *

Yet again, Vane retreated to his study, seeking to get rid of his need and arousal before he saw Marlais again. He considered touching himself again, but knowing his luck, either Kier or Marlais himself would burst in on him, and that would be very embarrassing.

Vane sat at the desk, absently looking over the papers he’d set out the night before. Everything represented a task he intended to appoint to his new human secretary. He admitted he’d been disappointed when the human had not shown up, but it truly hadn’t surprised him. He even knew where Marlais had gone, of course. He’d have chased him down into the harbor, but he disliked sunlight, more so since he’d spent quite a long time without blood now. His kind usually built up resistance to the sun through a heavier consumption of blood. Vane couldn’t wait to test it with his new companion.

Vane’s fangs emerged at the thought of drinking Marlais’s blood, and he cursed. His nature seemed to be emerging more and more with each second he spent in the human’s presence. The young man had been right about this being a bad idea, but Vane couldn’t make himself let go now. It felt too right. Having Marlais—or rather, Moss—by his side had quickly become essential.

Even their small conversation in the carriage convinced Vane of this. Articulate, educated, and intelligent, Moss showed genuine interest in the bloodkin and arousal at Vane’s touch. He was perfect, too perfect.

He was also alone now, alone with Pena. A growl emerged in Vane’s throat at the thought of anyone else but him seeing Moss naked. He’d done it out of habit, since it never bothered him before when servants took care of his “bed and breakfasts.” But Moss couldn’t be compared to those past whores. Vane should never have told Pena to help him with settling in, or at least, he should’ve kept watch over them.

In a blur of motion, Vane left his study and rushed out. The room he’d assigned for Moss held a luxurious adjoining bathroom and he crossed the distance from his study there in a few seconds.

Even before entering the room, he heard a conversation taking place. He stopped, deciding to see if Moss intended to make a move on Pena. “Thank you for all your help,” Moss said. “Sorry about the clothes.”

“You don’t need to apologize, my lord,” Pena replied. “It’s my job.”

“Yes, but…I’m really confused about this. So I hoped maybe you could help out, tell me how I should act.”

Vane didn’t want Moss to need anyone else but him. Shocked at his own thoughts, he began to back off, only to realize he couldn’t make himself leave. First, he had to mark Moss as his.

Without allowing himself a moment to change his mind, Vane sauntered inside the room. The bathroom door was cracked open and Vane noticed Moss half-naked with Pena. Jealousy swelled hot inside Vane, and his vision turned dark and red. He growled low in his throat. How dare she touch what belonged to him?

He didn’t know what prevented him from just shooting into the bathroom and pulling Moss away from Pena, perhaps the very realization that the first time in centuries, he’d fallen prey to his instincts. Up until that moment, he hadn’t truly acknowledged the extent of his peculiar attachment to Moss. Moss had been in his house for maybe an hour total, and Vane was already going berserk. He couldn’t understand it.

Someone else might have rushed out to lick his wounds in private or surrendered to the emotions. Vane did neither. Instead, he filtered everything through the reason that governed his every moment. In a flash, he had his control back. Just in time, too, because Pena had heard the noise. For a bunch of household spirits, brownies really did have acute senses.

Pena slipped out of the bathroom, with Moss behind her. Both gaped when they saw him. “My lord?” Moss asked hesitantly. “I thought I was supposed to join you in the study?”

“I changed my mind.” He turned to a wide-eyed Pena. “You’re dismissed, Pena. Thank you.”

The maid nodded, curtsied, and hastened out. Like all the people here, she was used to living in a bloodkin’s house. Her kind generally accepted all the peculiarities of their current master, and neither Pena nor the rest of her kind had ever shown any surprise or distress regarding Vane’s habits. Besides, Kier did a good job of keeping the servants in line and pacifying them with honey cakes, so Vane didn’t worry too much about what they thought.

“You were very comfortable with her,” Vane noted, carefully keeping his voice neutral.

Moss fidgeted. “She’s nice, and I’m used to having servants around, so I kind of fell into the routine.”

“Did you?” So Moss had grown up in a rich family, then, and had his fortune spent because of bloodkin. Vane made a mental note to inquire into their current situation. Knowing more about his human’s past could always be helpful. “Well, I’m glad you’re getting along with the staff.”

He remembered he’d intended to ask something which had pissed him off. “Why didn’t you tell me to call you Moss?” Finding out his human’s nickname during a conversation with the help frustrated him beyond belief.

Moss gave him a confused look. “It just never occurred to me it would be important.”

“Of course it’s important,” Vane answered. “I need to know the person who I received into my home.”

He didn’t say he typically didn’t ask any questions of his companions, and he’d almost forced Moss to come here. To soften up the conversation a bit, he said, “It suits you.” The human’s eyes were green, just like the beautiful moss native to the Tachakan plains, but that would’ve been too corny to say.

Moss didn’t answer this time, but he did go red, and Vane noted the charming blush went over the human’s chest, too. He cleared his throat and looked away. “Very well, then. Go wash up. Don’t take long.”

If he did, Vane might lose control again. Thankfully, Moss obeyed and rushed into the bathroom. Vane remained alone in the bedroom, wondering how he’d ever manage to stick to the terms he himself had set for this contract.

* * * *

Moss tried to calm his racing heart and knelt on the cool, marble floor. Every moment spent with Vane seemed charged with a tension he couldn’t really understand. Moss surmised Vane must feel the same intense attraction Moss did, but that didn’t help Moss figure out what to do.

Forcing himself to calm down, Moss got up and advanced toward the large washing area. Yet another incredibly lavish convenience, the pool boasted some of the latest advances in technology, including plumbing. Moss’s parents had planned to save and try to make the addition to their home, but that dream had faded after the bloodkin’s appearance.

The thought sobered him, at the same time bringing back his doubts. In Vane’s presence, he forgot about anything but pleasing the other man. One thing was certain, he needed to be more careful with his thoughts and feelings. He’d just met Vane the day before and the man already dominated his every desire.

In fact, Vane had given him an order, not to delay too much with washing up, and Moss was already taking ages with it. He quickly discarded his shoes and breeches and stepped into the pool. He used the liquid soaps Pena left him to clean his skin and his hair. They smelled sweet, like lavender honey, and the scent reminded him of home. He’d have lingered more in the water, but already he’d made Vane wait for too long.

Moss rinsed the foam off and left the water. He snatched a clean, white towel and dried himself off, then covered his nakedness with a robe. It was hardly an appropriate attire to meet one’s boss, but Vane would surely understand. After all, the man had come to his quarters. What did that even mean? Moss didn’t know.

His legs unsteady, Moss opened the door to the bathing chamber and reentered the bedroom. As luxurious as the rest of the house, his quarters held an air of decadent exuberance, although Moss registered very little of the ornaments. A huge canopied bed dominated the room. Next to it, Vane waited, tapping his foot impatiently. Moss gulped, shameless thoughts invading his mind yet again.

“You took a long time,” he told Moss.

“Apologies, my lord,” Moss answered. “It’s just—”

Vane lifted his hand, and Moss forgot what he wanted to say. “How many times have you done this now? You didn’t come here as established, you didn’t tell me your pet name, and now this.”

Moss would have tried to protest, but all of a sudden, Vane was next to him, having crossed the room in the blink of an eye. He backed Moss against the wall, trapping him between his body and the solid stone. “You’re sorry for lying, aren’t you, Moss?”

The sound of his name on Vane’s lips made Moss shudder. He hadn’t lied, just broken a promise, and he did regret it, to a certain extent at least. If it caused Vane to treat him like this, Moss would break promises more often. “Yes, my lord.”

“You don’t look sorry,” Vane pointed out. One hand lifted Moss’s arms and trapped them in an ironlike vise. The other slipped into Moss’s robe to tweak a pert nipple. All the while, Vane licked the shell of Moss’s ear, then down to Moss’s neck. Moss moaned when he felt a hint of fang scratch at the skin. Would Vane do it? Would he drink his blood?

He was so lost in the pleasure he didn’t register the exact moment when Vane pulled away. The heat of Vane’s body vanished, and the delicious pressure against Moss’s wrists evaporated as well. Unsupported, Moss almost fell to the floor, but he somehow managed to muster enough control to maintain some degree of propriety.

“I promised I would keep this platonic, and I shall,” Vane said. “You are just too tempting for your own good.” Vane shook his head and his expression turned neutral once more. “Have you eaten?”

The change in demeanor didn’t really take Moss by surprise, as he was beginning to understand the pattern in Vane’s behavior. Even so, he couldn’t make himself speak and just shook his head.

“Well, then, put something on. We’ll discuss the rest of the issues over dinner.”

Moss had the time to nod before Vane took off, leaving him aroused and frustrated. Once Vane vanished out the door, Moss took a few moments to calm down and then focused on the practical. It always helped him in moments of confusion.

He did indeed need to go to dinner with Vane, so he dried his hair then scanned the room for clothing. A suit had been already laid out for him, most likely by the efficient Pena. Perhaps she had returned during his bath. As he picked it up, he judged it to be his size and of impressive quality.

It was odd to dress into something like this once again, but just like with Pena, he easily fell into habit. In the past, he’d many times had servants dress him, but after they’d fallen into ruin, the staff in his home had been fired. The fancy clothing had been the last to go, so Moss had plenty of experience with dressing up.

He finished dressing up just in time, as a knock sounded at the door. Moss opened it, and a servant—this time, male—bowed at him. “If you would please follow me, His Lordship is waiting.”

Moss nodded and murmured an absent thank-you. The man led him through the strange corridors of the house and back into the main foyer. At one point, they veered right and after a few more twists and turns, reached a dining room. Vane already waited there, at the head of the table, nursing a drink.

“Ah, excellent. Please, sit.” He nodded toward the seat next to him, where flatware had already been placed.

Moss wordlessly obeyed Vane’s command. At this point, his body instinctively followed everything Vane ordered, and Moss ceased to fight it. “Do you have any preference? Fish? Veal? Venison?”

So mundane and bland. One would think the little episode in Moss’s quarters had just been his imagination. “Venison, please.”

“Very well.” Vane nodded. With a look over Moss’s shoulders, he told the waiting staff, “You can begin to serve.”

Maybe a minute later, dishes were rolled in, and Moss’s senses were assaulted by delicious aromas. His stomach growled, and his face heated when Vane gave him an amused look. “Go on. Dig in.”

They ate in silence, but it didn’t feel awkward. Throughout the dinner, Moss allowed himself to study Vane. The bloodkin was a mystery. Moss never knew what the other man thought or intended to do. Vane, it seemed, ran hot and cold. Moss recalled their talk in the carriage and wondered if Vane’s control over his needs meant so much.

Occasionally, Moss caught sight of the bloodkin watching him, studying him back. What did Vane see when he looked at Moss? Why had the man even chosen Moss for this job?

At last, the dinner ended with a delicious dessert. As much as Moss enjoyed the meal, he looked forward to having his questions answered.

As soon as they finished, the servants came and efficiently cleaned up. Benson reemerged, the familiar-looking documents in his grip. When had the butler returned?

Before Moss could ask any questions, Benson handed him the papers. “Read,” Vane urged him. “It’s basically the same thing I gave you yesterday, with a few modifications.”

Moss took the contract and began to examine it. He wanted to know exactly what he was signing up for. The contract stated pretty much what Vane had said, with the sexual part of it crossed out and Vane’s signature next to the modification. Another addition had been made, however. It said he’d be compelled to stay in this position at least one month in order to receive his pay.

“Due to your little runaway episode, I felt the need to add a little caveat,” Vane explained, apparently sensing his shock. “I also raised your pay, in case you feel the previous sum did not suffice.”

Indeed, the money promised had increased, not that it mattered much. It had been astronomical to begin with. As he reached the last page, Vane cleared his throat to draw Moss’s attention. “If everything is clear, I will have your answer now.”

What could Moss do? He agreed and signed the document.

Chapter Four

It was his first official day as Vane Bloodmoor’s secretary, and so far, it held promise. Pena had woken him with a delicious breakfast and helped him prepare for the day. After his repast, Benson had led him to the study, where Moss’s job waited.

The sight of the neat stacks of paper on the desk made Moss giddy. Clearly, it would be a lot of work, but Moss loved things that challenged his intellect. Even so, he wondered why Vane trusted him with such important tasks from the very beginning.

“What you see there,” Benson explained, “is the rough basics of His Lordship’s assets. As his secretary, you will be required to read and know them. After that, you can start with the actual job.”

“Thank you, Benson,” he replied. “You are very helpful.” He recalled last night and couldn’t help but say, “Pardon me for asking this, but why did you not come back to the house yesterday night?”

“I went to retrieve your possessions first,” Benson replied.

Moss gaped in disbelief. Apparently, Vane wasn’t taking any chances, not this time. “How did you ever get inside?”

“I have my ways,” Benson answered mysteriously. For a few seconds, his eyes sparkled with a peculiar light, but the glow soon vanished. Moss would have thought it to be just a trick of light, but he’d begun to get used to the peculiarities of this household. “And your items have already been put into storage in your wardrobe.”

Moss had not noticed this, but then again, he did not notice many things these days. “Oh, all right,” he said lamely. “Thank you.”

The butler nodded, a faint smirk on his lips. “Have a good day, sir.”

Without further ado, Benson took off, leaving Moss alone with the mountains of manuscripts. Moss sat at Vane’s desk, feeling strangely gleeful at the knowledge this very same chair had been used by Vane. Shaking his head at his own musing, he took the first document and began to read.

The day passed in a flurry of paperwork. Benson brought him lunch in the study, so Moss didn’t even have to bother with going to eat. He only got up to stretch his bones a bit and empty his bladder. By the end of the day, he’d grasped the intricacies of Vane Bloodmoor’s official image and assets.

Even so, in spite of the number of documents he’d read through, he wasn’t any closer in deciphering the other man. Of course, it couldn’t be that easy, but Moss burned to know more about Vane.

He was beginning to sort the piles back in order when he heard the door open. Benson must have come to spy on him again. “Benson, thank you, but I don’t need a snack before dinner.”

“I might,” Vane’s voice replied.

Moss shot to his feet, and his body instantly responded as he observed the master of the house saunter in. “How are you doing?” Vane asked.

“Very well,” Moss replied. “Thank you for this chance, my lord.”

Vane let out a thoughtful hum. “I’m told you have barely left the room today. You shouldn’t tire yourself. There’s plenty of time to get acquainted with everything. You weren’t actually meant to read all the documents today.”

Vane sounded concerned, and Moss felt warm on the inside. Then Vane’s first words slipped into his consciousness. “I’m perfectly fine if you want to…You know, the snack.”

Vane arched a brow. “Do you enjoy tempting me that much?” He sat down on the comfortable couch and beckoned Moss toward him. For some reason, Moss had a feeling of déjà vu. His face heated as he recalled the dream from two nights back. Why did it feel so familiar now?

Knowing he couldn’t hide a thing from Vane, Moss abandoned the desk and joined Vane on the couch. He sat at the very edge, carefully keeping their bodies apart and hoping that at least this way, he’d be able to keep a modicum of calm.

However, Vane seemed intent on torturing him. The bloodkin pulled Moss in his lap, and Moss ended up with his ass against Vane’s hard dick. With Vane’s hot breath tickling his neck, Moss wondered what his master would do. Vane’s tongue licked a line from Moss’s collarbone his ear, making him shiver in anticipation.

“Tell me about your day,” Vane whispered. “Do you have any questions regarding what you read?”

Vane expected him to be calm and articulate in such circumstances? How could he, when he felt a hard cock against his ass and fangs scraping his neck? “Y–yes,” he replied. “I mean, no. Ohhh…”

“It seems you can’t decide on anything, my beauty,” Vane purred. “That’s fine. I’ll teach you everything in time.”

Sharp fangs penetrated his skin, and for one single instant, excruciating pain swept through Moss. The second passed, and Moss sensed Vane invade his every pore, the bloodkin’s power surrounding him with carnal intensity. The suction against his neck seemed to send shockwaves of pleasure through his body. Vane’s pleasure and need echoed in his mind, making everything ten times better.

Just a little more, just a little longer, and he’d come. He could already feel the climax coming.

All of a sudden, Vane pulled away. Moss cried out in loss. “Please,” he croaked, “more.”

Vane looked pained, but shook his head. “You haven’t eaten enough today. It’s not safe.”

Moss could have sobbed when Vane pushed him aside. His cock demanded release, and he couldn’t help but cling to Vane. “Please.”

“Don’t push it,” Vane said. His voice sounded strained, and his cock throbbed against Moss’s ass, but the decision in his tone couldn’t be denied. “Later, my beauty.”

Moss resigned himself to the situation, knowing if Vane said so, he needed to obey. As Vane pushed him off and got up from the couch, Moss began to realize how alarmingly slutty he’d been.

Vane had been right last night. They’d agreed to keep this platonic. It said so in the contract, signed by both him and Vane. But the attraction between the two of them felt so very genuine. He saw it in Vane and in himself.

Perhaps it was be better this way. Moss would always be a human, and Vane a bloodkin. Some things could not be forgotten, no matter how much time went by, and some relationships simply weren’t meant to be, as much as one wanted them to work. Feeling disheartened, Moss followed his master to dinner.

And yet, when he went to bed that night, Vane slipped into his dreams, dark, beautiful dreams of sensual promise. At first, the dream seemed but a memory. Moss following his friend, Corey, through the streets of his hometown.

“I don’t know about this, C. What if your friends get upset you’ve invited me to come along?”

Corey waved a hand as if to cast Moss’s concern away. “Nonsense. The more the merrier. Besides, it’s a party. We’re going to have fun.”

“I guess,” Moss answered hesitantly. He allowed Corey to lead him until they reached the lavish residence of James Terk. Moss frowned. He somehow doubted the old stuck-up man would hold interesting parties or befriend Corey.

“I thought this belonged to Lord James.”

“It did, but he sold it.” Corey shrugged. “It doesn’t matter. That has nothing to do with us.”

Moss wanted to return to his little home, but he’d already distanced himself from his friends. This would be his last chance to connect with them again, to get back at least something he’d lost with his family fortune.

There were new guards stationed in front of the entrance. They gave Moss the creeps, and he regretted ever agreeing to come. With a cursory glance in Moss’s direction, the guards let them pass.

As they went inside, Moss registered a dark air of decadence looming over them. “Corey? What is this place?”

“You’ll see,” his friend replied. “We’ll have fun here. Don’t worry about it.”

Moss was worried, very worried. Corey pulled him into a lounge, and Moss gaped as he saw the assortments of sexual paraphernalia littering the room, some idle on tables, others being used on very horny subjects. Naked men and women lay spread-eagle. Cocks moved in and out of willing holes.

And then, the dream shifted. Corey vanished, and Moss found himself holding Vane’s hand. “What do you think, my beauty? Would you like us to play here as well? Or would you prefer someplace more private?”

Suddenly, the bloodkin’s orgy didn’t seem quite so scary. This time, Moss didn’t run away. In fact, he nodded at Vane, his body aching to feel Vane deep inside. All the eyes on him did make him uncomfortable. As if guessing his thoughts, Vane waved a hand, and the scene melted.

They ended up in a dormitory. It held the same air of dignified masculinity as the study, but here, it had been stripped to its very core. A huge, four-poster bed dominated the room. Moss trembled as Vane led him there. Vane’s hand felt warm on the small of Moss’s back, and Moss realized he was naked. When had Vane undressed him? He didn’t know.

Obediently, he lay back on the bed, shuddering as the cool silk of the sheets caressed his sensitive skin. Above him, Vane removed his cravat, his eyes raking Moss’s body in clear lust. It aroused Moss to be naked in front of a man still clothed. The way Vane looked at him made his body turn to flame, and he squirmed, his shaft so hard it hurt. “Vane…Please.”

“Don’t worry, my beauty. I have you.”

Vane slowly stripped off his tunic and shirt, revealing a muscled torso and an abdomen that could’ve been sculpted in marble. His hard shaft tented his breeches, and Moss swallowed, desire and nervousness swirling in his stomach.

Now shirtless, Vane wrapped his cravat around his fist, then reached for Moss’s arms. Moss allowed his master to lift his arms and tie them to the headboard with the silk binding.

“Spread your legs, Moss. Come on.” Once more, Moss obeyed, even if he felt self-conscious at being so exposed in front of Vane. His body didn’t care about ridiculous things like propriety, and his hole twitched under Vane’s gaze. Moss clung to the cravat around his wrists in an effort to keep himself from pleading. Vane would decide when to give him the pleasure and when to take it.

It made no sense he should think like this, but it seemed so natural and so normal to surrender to Vane. When Vane caressed his cheek and smiled, the desire to love and be loved swelled inside Moss, so powerful it took over everything. He wanted Vane to mark him, to hold him, to brand him, to kiss him, to take and give and share everything they could ever be together.

At last, Vane joined Moss on the bed. His lips met Moss’s, but the kiss was short, more like a brush of mouths, reassuring rather than passionate. Still, it fueled the flame inside Moss even further, offering just a slight taste of Vane. He wanted more, to really taste Vane’s unleashed passion, to feel it like he did when Vane bit him.

Vane had told him during their first meeting that with bloodkin, sex and feeding often came entwined. Would Vane take his blood now? The thought had intimidated in the beginning, but Moss wanted it now.

Vane’s tongue traveled from Moss’s mouth to his neck. He licked a particularly sensitive spot, the same spot he’d once used to feed. When a slight scrape of fangs scratched his skin, Moss moaned and arched against his master. “Please…”

“Be patient, my beauty. All in due time.”

Lower and lower Vane went, lingering over Moss’s nipples for an inordinate amount of time. The tiny nubs peaked and responded at Vane’s touch, and shocks of pleasures swept through him straight into his cock. The hint of fang provided a delicious hint of pain, and Vane’s tongue soothed the slight ache with sensuous motions.

The slow, seductive sensations worked like drug, and soon, Vane had Moss straining against the bonds. He wanted more, so much more.

Vane gave him exactly that. He lowered his mouth over Moss’s dick, and Moss cried out, the feeling of being engulfed in the wet cavern too much for him to bear. The overwhelming urge to touch Vane swelled inside him, and he pulled on the silk cravat. The material yielded, and Moss lowered his hands into Vane’s hair.

Almost instantly, Vane looked up, his expression dark and foreboding. Moss didn’t even have time to figure out what to do next, because his master flipped him on his stomach and tied him up again. Moss couldn’t even tell what Vane had used. The item didn’t seem to have any real consistency. “You’re so disobedient, my beauty. Not to worry. I’ll teach you your place.”

A harsh slap fell on Moss’s exposed ass, and Moss gasped in pain. The burn sent a peculiar, unfamiliar pleasure through him and pooled straight into his throbbing cock. Another slap fell, this time on the other ass cheek, even harder than the first. At first, Moss took it and wanted more. But when the third slap fell, his enthusiasm started to dwindle. The pain began to overwhelm the pleasure this time, and tears welled in Moss’s eyes.

A few more hits made him whimper in actual pain. And yet, his cock was still hard as nails, his arousal as powerful as ever, or perhaps even more so than before. How could this be?

The slaps stopped, much to Moss’s relief and, shockingly, his dismay. Vane’s tongue licked his ass cheeks, soothing the burn. It felt so good Moss couldn’t help but thrust his ass up in a wordless demand for more. He didn’t make the rules here, but he could only hope his master would give him what he craved.

To his shock, Vane parted his cheeks and licked his crease. Forbidden pleasure exploded through Moss, and this time, he really did moan. “Oh, please, Vane…Master!”

Vane didn’t answer. He just took his time licking in Moss’s most intimate spot, driving him crazy with lust. Just when Moss thought he wouldn’t be able to take it anymore, Vane thrust his tongue into his anus.

Just like that, Moss came all over Vane’s immaculate sheets. With his hands immobilized, he couldn’t even support himself. He’d have collapsed if not for Vane’s arm around his waist.

Behind him, Vane shifted position, although Moss couldn’t have said what his lover was doing. Vane leaned over him, strong hand still holding Moss tight. With their bodies flush together, Vane whispered in Moss’s ear, “Do you want me to fuck you, my beauty?”

Vane’s cock nudged at Moss’s hole, and the thought of being so intimately connected to Vane made Moss harden once more. “Yes! Vane…Please, yes!”

Vane didn’t wait to be told twice and thrust inside Moss. Vane’s big dick spread him open, splitting him into two. Vane’s tongue had provided the only preparation, and the spanking from before didn’t help. It hurt, it hurt so badly, and yet so beautifully. When Vane’s cock hit something inside Moss, Moss cried out, the sensations swamping his body. Pain and pleasure tore through him, casting away everything he’d ever thought was real.

As Vane began to move in and out of him, Moss forgot everything outside this bed. He curled his fingers around the headboard, nails scraping uselessly against the wood. Vane fucked him hard, relentless in his passion, and Moss took it all. With every thrust, he was propelled into a new world, a place where he didn’t have to be the big brother, the responsible son, or respectable young gentleman. He could just be free, relinquish everything into Vane’s irrefutable hold, and surrender his will with no fear.

It went on and on, the orgasm so close, and yet so far away. Moss thought he’d surely lose his mind with the onslaught of sensation. And then, Vane embedded his fangs in Moss’s throat, and the ecstasy of feeding flooded Moss’s every pore. Moss heard a voice whisper in his head. “Come for me.”

Moss exploded, screaming Vane’s name. He rode his orgasm like a wave, pleasure blending with pain and his bliss echoing Vane’s. For the longest time, he just lay there, exhausted and boneless. He felt his hands being released, and he curled his body, wanting to feel Vane’s warmth once more. For some reason, the sheets were cold.

When he opened his eyes, he realized the same thing had happened as the other time. He’d dreamed the whole thing. Sighing, he cleaned up and went to bed, wondering why he still felt the pressure of invisible bindings biting into his wrists.

* * * *

The next morning, Moss woke up still confused and frustrated from his dream. He had no idea what to make of it, especially since it contained a flashback of the horrible episode with his friend. What could have caused it?

By rights, he shouldn’t have been aroused by being tied up and fucked into the wall by a man—and a bloodkin, at that. His body didn’t seem to care. Even now, Moss’s shaft throbbed, aching for release. Moss groaned, willing it to go away and knowing he had little chances of prevailing over his suddenly lustful body.

He reached for his cock under the covers and massaged it slowly, rubbing his thumb across the leaking tip. The motion didn’t satisfy him, as he imagined a rougher caress, a more violent, raw passion. In his mind, he relived the dream and sped up the strokes of his hand. His wrists ached once more, as if he were bound and at Vane’s mercy.

It didn’t take long for him to come. Vane’s scent and taste seemed to surround him, and he found his peak, crying out Vane’s name. As he came down from the high of the orgasm, though, the disappointment and loneliness returned with a vengeance. Shaking himself, Moss got out of bed and walked to the bathroom. He had a job to do, and he couldn’t linger in his bed forever and dream about his boss.

A different thought flashed through him as he scanned through the bathing room. He’d left the cleaning cloth somewhere around here, too exhausted and spent to figure out a better place to put it. He needed to get rid of the evidence of his spent passion. He’d die of shame if Pena or the others saw it.

Growing up, he’d experienced wet dreams many times, but he’d known the people in his family’s household for years before they’d been laid off. Having strangers wash sheets he’d dirtied with semen wasn’t his idea of a good first impression.

Moss cleaned up and considered his dilemma. He didn’t have much time since more work awaited on the desk, and Pena or Benson would show up with breakfast soon. Confirming his guess, a knock sounded at the door, drawing him out of his musings. Moss wiped himself dry and put on a robe. When he was decent, he called out. “Yes?”

As it turned out, he’d been half-right. Benson did, indeed, come in, and bowed shortly. “Good morning, Mister Hayden.”

Moss shook his head and laughed. “Good morning, Benson. Please, call me Moss.”

An almost invisible smile graced the butler’s lips. “Very well…Moss. His Lordship summons you for breakfast.”

Moss’s heart began to beat faster. “He takes his breakfast at this hour?”

“Very rarely,” Benson replied, “but I believe he has a short routine break today.”

The thought Vane might’ve made an exception, just for him, nearly melted Moss right then and there. He tried to preserve his composure, but judging by Benson’s twinkling eyes, he didn’t do a very good job. In the end, Moss gave up on attempting to hide his enthusiasm. “Okay,” he said. “I’ll be right there.”

“I take my leave then,” Benson answered.

Benson did exactly that, and as soon as the butler was out the door, Moss rushed to his closet. Benson had, indeed, put all of Moss’s belongings in their proper place, but he’d also provided an additional wardrobe, a fact for which Moss felt very thankful.

He chose an outfit and hastily dressed. It took far longer than he’d have liked since he couldn’t quite get his cravat to be impeccably tied, nor could he arrange his hair to perfection. He found himself forced to forgo these details and headed out.

Just as he closed the door behind him, Moss remembered about the still-dirty cloth in the bathroom. He briefly hesitated before deciding it wouldn’t do to make Vane wait any longer. With luck, Pena wouldn’t arrive to change the sheets until they finished breakfast.

* * * *

Breakfast was the exact opposite dinner had been. They talked about nothing in particular, and Moss allowed himself to just listen to the sound of Vane’s voice and enjoy a moment of calm. When they finished eating, Moss fully expected Vane to leave after it, but instead, the bloodkin said, “Let me show around a bit. It occurred to me you’ve put so much work into acquainting yourself with my issues, and the least I could do is help out.”

Moss couldn’t agree with such a generous assessment of his performance, more so if they took into account the astronomical pay he received for his services. Even so, Moss didn’t intend to complain. He looked forward to any time spent in Vane’s company. Vane led him out, and Moss noted the carriage already waited for them.

“Could we maybe walk today?” he dared to ask. He ached to unveil the mysteries that hid behind those dark eyes and find out why he felt so drawn to Vane, so he wanted to draw out the experience as much as possible.

“Certainly,” Vane replied after looking at the sky.

It was cloudy outside, Moss noted. He recalled the way the bloodkin in Elmya chose to go out mostly at night. “Does the sun hurt you?” he inquired, concerned.

“It doesn’t hurt me, per se,” Vane answered, “but it does weaken me. I fed last night, so I’ll be just fine.”

Vane gave Moss a heated look that held so much sensual promise it almost made him lose it right then and there. He averted his gaze, lest he give himself away. Vane made no further comment on that line and instead said, “Come on. Let’s go.”

Walking toward the city briefly reminded Moss of his own trip from his harbor hovel to the mansion, the night of the interview. During daylight, everything seemed so different, no longer scary and intimidating. Or perhaps Vane’s presence by his side made him feel so safe.

They left the mansion grounds and headed out into Clavar. People avoided them, but didn’t look in any way startled out of their daily business, so Moss surmised Vane must be shielding them with a glamour, just like he’d done before. He admitted he understood why Vane did so. They couldn’t possibly have a stroll in downtown Clavar without being gaped at or interrupted.

As they advanced through the city, Vane showed Moss the most important sights, things Moss had always wanted to see but didn’t have time to find. Since he’d come to Clavar, his only foray into the rich sector of the city was his interview at Vane’s. He’d spent most of his time in the harbor district among grimy sailors, barrels of rum, and sacks of provisions. Taking in the complex realities of Clavar, from both perspectives, made him acknowledge the balance of poor and rich, fortunate and unlucky.

“I’ve lived and worked here for a few decades now,” Vane said as they walked. “You could say I know the city as the palm of my hand.”

Moss waited for Vane to add more information about his workplace, but the bloodkin never did. Instead, he stopped and nodded toward a lavish building. “Ah…here is the main Courtesans’ Guild.”

Moss recalled the people he’d met in Vane’s waiting room. “In such a central area?”

Vane smiled. “You’d be surprised as to how important courtesans can be, especially for bloodkin. I take it you did not have something like this in Elmya.”

When Moss shook his head, Vane continued, “In a sense, the Guild represents an idea of balance, or rather order. For us, they should provide willing donors, people who do not have to be seduced to give their blood. Of course, we’re not the only ones who make use of their services. In time, they’ve become quite influential.”

They’d been arrogant for a reason, then. Moss would have to remember to avoid them. A flash of their dismissive words and glances passed through Moss, and he wondered if he could even compare to their skills. His contract with Vane even excluded sexual contact. How could he possibly please Vane in these circumstances?

Vane’s voice drew him out of his musings. “Moss?” Moss gave his employer a startled look. “Everything all right?” When Moss just stared at him, Vane frowned and continued, “You’ve been quiet. You haven’t heard a thing I’ve said in the past few minutes, have you?”

Moss’s face heated, but he couldn’t find it in himself to lie. “I’m just a bit distracted, I suppose. This is all so new.”

“I know.” Vane took Moss’s hand and kissed it. “No worries. We have plenty of time to know each other. We should go back. It’s getting late.”

They headed back, with Vane still pointing out the occasional interesting thing. This time, Moss didn’t allow himself to fall into glumness. He just enjoyed his time with Vane, and hated the very moment they entered the mansion.

“There’s one more thing I want to show you,” Vane said as he abandoned his coat and hat in the hands of a servant. “Follow me.”

Moss did, wondering what other surprises Vane had in store for him. They left the foyer and went up the stairs. Vane continued speaking as they walked. “Perhaps I acted a bit…oddly yesterday. I’m afraid our arrangement will take some getting used to, for both of us.”

So this was why Vane had offered to take Moss to see the city. In a sense, Moss felt warm inside at the thoughtfulness. Truth be told, he could see why blood and sex came together for Vane’s people and realized it would be difficult for them to keep to the original thought. He cursed himself for being hasty that first night. Then again, perhaps if he hadn’t pointed out his position on the “bed and breakfast,” Vane would have never hired him.

“It might,” he replied, “but we’ll find a way to work with it.”

Vane stopped in front of a door and turned to smile at Moss as he opened it. “I’m sure we will. Here we are.”

Moss’s eyes widened at the sight before him. Thousands and thousands of books lay waiting on dark wood shelves. Scrolls and parchments filled other bookcases, some shielded by protective glass. There were also wide tables and comfortable chairs, obviously meant for study. Moss could barely believe the beauty of it.

* * * *

Vane smiled at the open excitement on Moss’s face. He’d been certain the young human would appreciate the wealth of knowledge here. The mansion had many previous owners, and each of them added various shelves to the library, until it had become incredibly extensive and contained books suitable for all tastes. One could find anything from philosophy to religious psalms there. He also owned material needed for his work as a Kin Lord, a copy of the original bloodkin Covenant, as well as many other amendments to the bloodkin legal system. Of course, Vane didn’t keep those within view of prying eyes.

When he had time, Vane enjoyed coming here. It held a sense of peace and quiet he couldn’t find anywhere else. He’d seen in Moss’s mind the young human also enjoyed reading. It followed as natural that Vane had wanted to show the library to him.

“This is unbelievable,” Moss said.

“Take a look around. You might need some of these books in the future.” And indeed, Moss’s work required a better understanding of the world around them. Even if Moss so obviously enjoyed reading, he hadn’t known any details about the bloodkin. It stood to reason that, to survive and thrive in Vane’s world, he needed to learn more.

“Thank you,” Moss said, sounding awed. He began to browse and Vane just leaned against the wall, watching the human scan the titles. Moss stopped in front of certain shelves and retrieved volumes, mostly on bloodkin and their history. At one point, he paused at another section. Vane knew it well. Those particular additions had come from Kier, and they were the only thing the elf still kept from his life in his lands. The titles he kept in the library were available to all, however, and Vane knew his friend wouldn’t mind if Moss borrowed one of them. “Those are elven books,” he told Moss. “They’re very rare.”

Moss put the books he’d chosen so far on a nearby table and retrieved an elven tome. He flipped through the pages almost reverently. “It’s beautiful.”

Vane nodded, agreeing to the assessment. The elven alphabet was beautiful, difficult to grasp for a human. Bloodkin used the same one, with slight modifications, and Vane had no trouble reading such books, but that wouldn’t be the case for Moss.

“Maybe one of these days, I’ll teach you.”

Moss looked up from the tome and met Vane’s gaze. “Would you?”

Vane’s shaft hardened at the sight of Moss’s beautiful green eyes shining with excitement. “Of course,” he said, voice husky.

Moss must’ve sensed the change in mood as he placed the elven book back. He continued to search the library, advancing through the shelves. Occasionally, Vane lost sight of him and when he heard Moss’s footsteps stop, he left the door and followed his human.

“Moss?”

Moss didn’t reply, and Vane’s curiosity peaked. He knew nothing could have happened to Moss, not here in Vane’s house and in his presence. At last, he saw Moss standing in front of a certain bookcase, holding another tome in his hand. Vane smirked, knowing exactly why Moss had not replied.

An addition from a more eccentric owner of the house, the shelf in question held many interesting books, all surrounding one single topic, sex. Sex with women, with men, with objects or even animals, hundreds of positions—some restricted to bloodkin use—recipes for improving the taste of blood, and Vane’s secret pleasure, an extensive collection of encyclopedias on bondage.

He surreptitiously made his way to Moss’s side. The human was so absorbed in his contemplation of the volume he didn’t even look his way. “Find anything you like?” he whispered in Moss’s ear.

Over Moss’s shoulder, Vane caught sight of the cover of the book. It showed a male tied down by his wrists, while another fucked him hard. Vane had a strange sensation of déjà vu. He’d dreamed this exact sequence the night before, with Moss being the star of the show. He’d read this particular tome many times. Perhaps he’d for some reason combined its images with his desires for Moss.

Moss yelped, turned around, and hid the book behind his back. “My lord…You startled me.”

That had been Vane’s intention. For some reason, he scented something more behind Moss’s gesture. “That’s not exactly true,” he told Moss. “And like I said on your first day here, I don’t want you to ever lie to me. Am I being clear?”

Moss gulped and nodded. “The cover…It shocked me.”

Vane had a feeling Moss skirted around the truth a lot. He briefly considered biting Moss, just to find out, but he decided he could wait. After all, Moss couldn’t be expected to trust him outright. Vane would have to earn it, although it was a mystery why he even wanted to.

Besides, as much as he’d have liked to spend the whole day with the human, he did need to get some work done. Bloodkin didn’t take holidays. “Very well, then. Take it to your room. You’ll find it’s an interesting read.”

Moss flushed to the very tips of his hair. “I wouldn’t…I don’t—”

“It’s quite all right,” Vane interrupted him. “Or if you’d rather, you can stay. I’m afraid I have to be off. Work awaits. But I’ll see you at dinner, all right?”

Moss nodded, and Vane took off, his mind still on the man he left behind.

* * * *

That evening, as he wrapped up a series of formalities in his office in the city, Vane experience a weird feeling of anxiety niggling at the back of his brain. He didn’t know why it could be, but decided to make his way home earlier. The carriage took him back to the mansion and he headed inside, but as he walked into the foyer, he immediately noted the conspicuous absence of all his servants.

Vane frowned. That was very odd. The brownies were typically shy creatures, but his most loyal servants always met him at the door, having been with him for decades now.

Vane sensed motion at the superior level and walked up the stairs. Strikingly, the source seemed to be the library. “Oh no. This is such a disaster. What are we going to do?” he heard Pena say. “This is all my fault.”

“It’s not anyone’s fault,” Moss replied. “Calm down. We’ll clean up and everything will be as good as new. Come on, we needed to take care of this before His Lordship comes home.”

“Oh, Mister Hayden. There’s no way we can possibly do that.”

“Indeed.” Vane took a step forward and walked into the library. Pena paled, and Moss winced guiltily. Vane looked around and spotted the reason for all the commotion. A display case lay in pieces on the floor, glass scattered all over the place. A torn document pathetically demanded Vane’s attention.

A vein twitched in Vane’s temple. The document in question noted Vane’s nomination as Kin Lord here in Clavar. As much as he hated the actual position, Vane could not do his job without its authority. Thankfully, the destroyed item had been only a copy and the original was still in his office.

“What happened here?” he asked. When Moss opened his mouth to reply, Vane shook his head. “No, don’t answer that. Where’s Benson?”

“He left,” Pena replied in a small voice. “He said Your Lordship knew about it and if we needed anything, we should ask Mister Hayden.”

Damn Kier. It was just like him to play a sudden prank like this. Then again, the elf did deserve some time off. He worked too much.

Behind Pena, a small boy cowered, and Vane knew what had happened. As adept as brownies were at housework, their children were terribly clumsy. Vane mentally sighed. “Next time, Pena, don’t send your spawn to do your work. Now, run along.”

Pena curtsied and ran off, her small son right behind her. Vane directed his attention to Moss. “I can understand Pena’s concern, but I find myself particularly annoyed with your tendency of hiding things from me. Could you please explain why and how you intended to keep this a secret?”

Moss winced again and didn’t reply. Vane crooked his finger, beckoning the human forward. This time, Moss obeyed and came to him. Vane encased Moss in his arms, his cock hardening when Moss’s sweet scent surrounded him. “We’re pending a little discussion from this morning, too,” he whispered in Moss’s ear. “Now, would you answer the question?”

“It was just an accident,” Moss answered. “Pena’s son snuck here, I startled him, and the display case ended up suffering because of it.”

Vane noted Moss never said who actually broke the case and smiled. “And the book?” he prodded further. He didn’t even know how he managed to keep a cool head with Moss so close.

“T–the book…surprised me.”

So he’d said in the morning. Vane tilted Moss’s head to get better access to his throat. Hunger swelled inside him, raw and possessive. He wanted to know what Moss was stubbornly hiding.

He licked a line on Moss’s neck, growling when Moss pressed closer to him. In a flash, he embedded his fangs in Moss’s flesh. Blood flooded his mouth, warm and delicious. It fed two parts of him, one who demanded being fed, and the other who just yearned for closeness with Moss.

And then, memories exploded in his mind, and he saw his exact dream, but from Moss’s point of view. It was the weirdest sensation, as if he lived the experience through Moss. He felt as if his own hands were bound, and his own cock thrust in and out of him. Further back, he caught a flash of memory of his own voice whispering dirty words while he fucked Moss’s mouth.

He’d have liked to press further, but he stopped, knowing he could hurt the human if he continued. He withdrew his fangs and licked the wound, his head spinning with what he’d just experienced. Even if, technically speaking, he should’ve felt the same whenever he drank from his “bed and breakfasts,” it had never happened before. How could this be?

It unsettled him a bit. Why would they share dreams like that? He made a mental note to inquire into it. Perhaps he could ask Kier. The elf had more knowledge in this area than Vane, since Vane never had much interest in anything remotely connected to the emotion. As a matter of fact, he’d never even heard any bloodkin talk about this.

For now, he’d let Moss rest for a while. The past few days had been a whirlwind for the human, and his mind simply overflowed with confusion.

Vane lifted Moss in his arms. As he carried Moss out, the young man cuddled against him sleepily. In the hallway, he ran into Pena. She seemed to be passing by, although Vane would’ve bet money she’d intended to eavesdrop on them. “Pena, would you bring some dinner in Moss’s quarters?” he said.

The brownie nodded and took off once again. Vane headed to Moss’s quarters. They reached the room in silence, but once they entered, Moss finally spoke. “I’m sorry for lying,” he whispered.

“It’s all right, my beauty. Just don’t do it again.” Vane would have said more, but Pena came inside, carrying a tray full of steaming dishes. It was a mystery for Vane how the brownies always managed to keep his house so well stocked. “Eat and rest,” he told Moss. “We’ll talk in the morning.”

After Moss nodded in acquiescence, Vane left the room. As he headed to his office, he sensed Kier’s presence close by. Excellent. Now he could ask his friend about the dream thing, before he convinced himself not to.

Kier waited for him in the foyer, and when he saw Vane, he smiled knowingly. “You’re home early.”

“And you’re running off and ignoring your duty…Benson.”

Kier’s eyes sparkled with mirth. Vane never took Kier’s service as Benson for granted, and the elf knew it. At this point, it had almost become like a private joke between them. If Vane could ask anyone about his dilemma, that person would be Kier.

“I want to talk to you about something.”

The elf arched a brow. “Sure. What’s the matter?”

Vane gestured Kier toward the office. Once they reached the room, Vane closed the door behind them and said, “I tasted Moss’s blood today. I didn’t realize it the day before since I didn’t indulge too much, but I think we share dreams.”

Kier froze in his tracks. His glamour faded, and he gave Vane a shocked look. “You’re kidding.”

Vane shook his head. “I saw it in his memories. What could it mean? You’re better at this sort of thing than me.”

“There’s only one situation when I’ve known of something like that happening.” Kier hesitated, then continued, “in my case, at least.”

“You’ve shared dreams with someone?” Vane couldn’t help but inquire. “No, never mind. It’s none of my business. What does it mean?”

“For elves, it would mean the person is your chosen mate,” Kier answered. “I’m not sure it works the same for bloodkin.”

“But Moss is human,” Vane pointed out. He briefly wondered why Kier would’ve left behind a mate if he had shared dreams with someone. An unpleasant thought slipped into his brain, but he cast it away, choosing to focus on Moss instead.

Kier shrugged. “So what? You know it’s not uncommon for my kind to take human mates.”

Kier had a point. Elven immortality came at a price. Many were sterile or had great difficulty giving birth. In the past few centuries, choosing human mates had become a way to perpetuate the species. Since human blood wasn’t powerful enough to dilute the elven one, the few characteristics that passed on to offspring were advantageous. More often than not, these children registered an increase in fertility, all the while keeping all their elven features.

For his part, Vane had never believed in the myth of mates, for bloodkin, at least. Elves could even die if their mates fell out of love or rejected them. On the other hand, if the love was strong enough, the couple could bind their life threads together, making the human live as long as his companion did. It was both convenient and risky, with humans being more vulnerable to disease, poison, and injuries from weapons.

Vane knew he should be concerned. Being so close to a human after merely a few days could bring about unpleasant consequences. He briefly considered cancelling the contract, but he couldn’t make himself do so. Moss had done nothing to warrant such an extreme measures. Besides, Vane enjoyed Moss’s presence far too much. He’d take his chances.

“What are you going to do?” Kier asked.

Vane just smiled at his friend. “Nothing. Absolutely nothing.”

Chapter Five

A few days passed, and Moss settled into a routine, if not a fully comfortable one. It was hard to accept that he was now working for a bloodkin. His mind still whirled around the concept that he’d accepted employment with Vane, a leader in the species of those who’d hurt his family so much.

But he understood too well that one couldn’t blame a single individual for the actions of the members of his race. It was actually a little crazy to do so. If someone said all humans were evil because they’d run into a killer, wouldn’t Moss feel slighted and insulted? Vane wasn’t like those people in Elmya. He had integrity and control over his impulses. It would be unfair of Moss to judge him.

Or that what he told himself, at least. It was better to rationalize this and give himself a reason for his decision to stay. No, not a reason. An excuse. Because no matter how much he told himself that it would be all right, that it made sense for him to accept this employment, he didn’t dare to dwell on the heat he felt within him when Vane simply looked at him.

The truly insane thing was that Vane didn’t even try to seduce him. He followed the contract to the letter and had never tried to get Moss in his bed. Oh, he got aroused when he drank Moss’s blood, but he never tried to pursue him. At night, when he was alone in his room, Moss secretly admitted to himself that he’d have liked the bloodkin to reach out to him. Much to his shame, he’d sometimes found himself regretting that he hadn’t accepted the original terms of the “bed and breakfast” contract.

As maddening as the whole issue had become, Moss still liked his job. He liked being around Vane, even if the unavoidable feelings of arousal often flustered him. Vane was so cultured and intelligent that Moss found himself learning all sorts of interesting things from him. The other occupants of the house were very nice, especially Benson. For whatever reason, it seemed to Moss that Benson had a very strong friendship with Vane. It actually pleased Moss because he hated the thought of Vane having to bear a lonely existence before he’d come along.

In the end, though, Moss always told himself he needed to remember the truth about Vane’s nature. Even if Moss might have wanted to touch and caress the bloodkin, it was a horrible idea. No matter what his libido demanded, the fact remained that they were too different.

Three days after Moss’s fateful decision to work with Vane, though, Moss had a sort of revelation. He’d been acquainting himself with the state of Vane’s affair, which was taking up more time than he’d have liked. He wanted to do a good job and point out to Vane that he hadn’t made a mistake in hiring him.

He ate and slept because it was also a part of his duty, to remain in top physical shape so that he could feed Vane. But beyond that, the work kept him so busy that he didn’t interact with the rest of the staff as much as he’d have preferred.

All that changed one evening when Benson stalked into the office, looking just as mysterious as always. “I believe your presence is required in the living room,” he said.

“Is something the matter?” Moss asked, looking up from the papers he’d been studying.

“Not at all,” Benson replied. “We’re merely hosting a small celebration in honor of Lord Bloodmoor.”

A party? “What’s the occasion?”

Was it Vane’s birthday? Did bloodkin even celebrate birthdays? Moss didn’t know, and he made a mental note to look up bloodkin traditions. It seemed that many things which he’d taken for granted regarding my boss were false.

“It’s not strictly for your employer,” Benson said, “but for the old Lord Bloodmoor, the former Kin Lord. Both he and his wife were killed many years ago, but Vane still remembers them fondly.”

Vane’s father and mother. Moss had wondered what had happened to Vane’s family since Vane never really mentioned them too much. It also didn’t escape Moss’s notice that Benson had called his employer by his first name. Even so, he didn’t make any comment. The old butler actually looked quite saddened as well, and Moss guessed Benson must have known Vane’s parents.

“I’m honored for the invite,” Moss replied, “but I’m not sure I should attend. Would my presence even be appropriate?”

Benson gave him a penetrating look with those eerily alert eyes. “Vane would want you there,” he said. “Or rather, he’s going to need you.”

Moss couldn’t resist that argument, so he nodded. “Should I go change?” he asked.

“You’re fine as you are,” Benson answered. “Come. Follow me.”

As they left the office, they headed downstairs, toward the living room. When he and Benson reached their destination, Moss found that the servants had already set out snacks, although the word was probably a little insulting when referring to the prepared meal. Moss suspected the dishes must have been something specifically bloodkin, perhaps with reference to the commemoration of someone’s death, since he didn’t recognize any of them. Then again, bloodkin didn’t have any cuisine of their own, for obvious reasons.

He got an answer to that dilemma when Vane entered the room through a different door. The bloodkin almost seemed to guess what Moss had been thinking and said, “They’re elven dishes. Thank you for your consideration, Benson.”

“It is, as always, my pleasure,” Benson replied smoothly.

Vane threw a look Moss’s way, and for all of Benson’s words, he didn’t seem very enthusiastic about Moss’s presence in the room. In fact, even if he’d expressed his gratitude toward Benson, he appeared to be displeased that the butler had organized this. “Thank you, Moss. Your presence isn’t required tonight.”

“I think it is,” Benson said. It was odd to see him outright contradicting Vane, especially since, under normal circumstances, he was the consummate professional. Perhaps, this time around, their friendship mattered more.

But Moss didn’t want to disturb Vane, especially on a day of mourning. Vane hadn’t mentioned it to him and hadn’t asked him for support of any kind. Maybe it would be better if he removed himself from the room.

He never had any idea what to say when something like this happened. The fact that Vane was bloodkin made it all even more awkward. Still, Moss felt that, at the very least, he should express his condolences.

“I’m very sorry about your loss,” he said lamely.

Vane shrugged. “It was a long time ago. It doesn’t matter anymore.”

Didn’t it? Moss wasn’t so sure. He wanted to inquire about it, but that would be more indiscreet than helpful. Torn, he looked between Vane and Benson, seeking an answer. He almost wished Benson had never sought him out. Paperwork, he could handle, but a recalcitrant Vane was a whole different matter.

What bothered Moss the most, though, was the idea that Vane might be suffering and Moss couldn’t do anything about it. It wasn’t even necessarily because of Moss’s strange attraction toward the bloodkin. He just didn’t like to see anyone suffering from pain and loss. Or so he told himself. He suspected that again, he might be trying to fool himself in that regard, but his own confused emotions didn’t matter so much right now. Vane was the one in pain.

“If there’s anything I can do to help…” he said slowly. “I know we’ve only just met, but I—”

He didn’t get to finish the phrase, as Vane released a heavy sigh and made his way to Moss’s side. The bloodkin took Moss’s hand and sat down on the couch, pulling Moss with him. Moss landed in Vane’s lap, which would have been a very interesting place to be, if not for the glum circumstances.

“Contrary to what Benson might think, I don’t need to talk about it,” Vane argued. His hand tangled in Moss’s hair, kneading Moss’s scalp. “Bloodkin don’t linger on that type of pain.”

“Well, maybe not on the pain,” Moss said carefully, “but the loss is still there. Surely you must miss them.” Moss would have suggested describing them, but Vane had already said he didn’t want to do that, so that would be prodding.

As it turned out, Vane showed far more openness than Moss had expected. His arms came around Moss, embracing him tightly. “You’re right,” he said. “I do miss them. I miss the way things used to be.”

Vane didn’t say anything more, and Moss chose to keep his mouth shut. He did notice that Benson had disappeared while Moss had been distracted, but that was really irrelevant. What mattered was the way Vane held Moss, like he was precious to him, something to be valued.

They didn’t speak, but they did hold on to each other. And that night, when Vane fed from him again, Moss could no longer deny what he’d instinctively felt in his heart. Bloodkin or not, Vane was a man he could easily fall for.

* * * *

“What in the world were you thinking, Kier?” Vane glared at his longtime friend furiously. “A commemoration of my father’s death? Did you like him so much and I accidentally missed it?”

Kier grimaced. “I didn’t dislike him. He and your mother were the ones who hated me. But that doesn’t matter anymore. I know you, Vane, and I respect your pain. And don’t forget, I lost something, too, back then.”

Vane couldn’t really bring himself to remain angry with Kier when he was reminded that Kier always did his own private mourning, and not only around this date. “I just wish you hadn’t involved Moss,” he mumbled.

“He’s good for you, Vane, and he likes you. Stop hiding behind your ridiculous notions and open your eyes. You dream together.”

Kier’s continuous involvement in Vane’s love life irritated him. “And what would you know of it? You’re not exactly a model for perfect relationships.”

Kier recoiled as if he’d been slapped. Vane cursed himself for even mentioning it, but it was too late to take the words back. For a few moments, they just stared at each other. “It looks like you’re in quite a mood today,” Kier finally said. “Do everyone a favor and talk to Moss. He’s probably worried about you.”

Without further ado, Kier turned on his heel and left. Vane plopped down on his chair and groaned. He really was on the edge. The reminder of his parents’ death hurt, but it wasn’t the only factor contributing to his temper. In fact, the most important issue in his life right now was a lovely human with deep-green eyes. Moss haunted his every waking moment. Vane was used to being in control, no matter what happened, but something about Moss shattered his every defense. Never in his life would he have imagined that he’d end up hugging a human he’d known for less than a week while seeking emotional comfort.

It was unlike him. All right, so Moss had many qualities. He seemed strikingly pure hearted, especially for someone who’d already suffered such disappointment in his life. But he was also so painfully gorgeous and so very eager to please it made Vane’s cock ache.

Vane had told himself over and over that this need for Moss must strictly be connected to the fact that he’d never had a “bed and breakfast” who didn’t provide “bed” services. It was the novelty of being denied. But Vane had never been good at fooling himself. He was a realist. His urgency and increasing desperation obviously had something to do with not being able to bed Moss, but that didn’t explain why he’d found it so interesting to simply hold the human.

He had to be strong. He’d committed himself to keeping a platonic relationship between them, and he had to stick to that.

Vane was still musing over the likelihood of that happening when a knock sounded at the door. It was shy and discreet, and even without his advanced senses, Vane would have easily guessed who was his visitor.

“Come in,” he called out.

The door opened, and Moss slid inside, his expression guarded and earnest. “I’m sorry to bother you, Lord Bloodmoor, but I had some questions regarding the documents you provided.”

Vane looked at him, barely managing to rein in his nearly irrational desire. “You’re not bothering me,” he said. “Please sit. I wanted to speak to you about something anyway.”

Moss hesitantly sat down on the seat in front of Vane’s desk. “Is there a problem?”

“About yesterday,” Vane began. “I apologize if I made you in any way uncomfortable. I didn’t mean to burden you with my problems or my past.”

Moss’s eyes widened. “Oh, you didn’t discomfit me. In fact, I’m flattered you chose to trust me.”

Great. How could Vane tell him now that he had no plans to repeat the event? It would be terrible of him, but he had no choice. “Yes, well, I assure you it won’t happen again. You’re my secretary, and your main job isn’t to coddle or comfort me.”

Moss stared at him with those wide green eyes. “I understand,” he finally said. “Again, it was no bother, but I would never want to presume anything.”

His voice trembled a little, and Vane found himself getting up and going around the desk. He knelt in front of the chair and gripped Moss’s chin, forcing the human to face him. What was he doing? He had no clue.

He desperately wanted to kiss Moss, to feast on his blood, but also on his pleasure. Their gazes locked and held, and Vane found himself leaning closer. What would it be like to take Moss into his bed? He could do it. Moss wouldn’t refuse him. Moss wanted him. He could tell.

But a few days earlier, Moss hadn’t even known him. He’d come here seeking for employment and had almost refused Vane’s offer due to his understandable anxious attitude toward bloodkin.

In truth, very little had changed since that day. Moss and Vane still had a contract, one binding both of them to a certain type of behavior. For Moss’s own good, Vane wouldn’t break it.

Releasing the human, Vane pulled away. “You said you had a question about the documents,” he said. “What can I help you with?”

Moss blinked, as if snapping out of a daze, but then found his voice. “Indeed. I’ve found that certain individuals seem to be taking advantage of your trust in them. If I’m right in regard to this, they’re manipulating your finances.”

The human’s outrage amused Vane a little. He couldn’t say Moss wasn’t right to be angered by the deception, but usually, Vane was far too busy dealing with matters of life and death to handle minor squabbles like that.

Nevertheless, he didn’t appreciate being taken for a fool. “When you feel safe enough that you are correct in your assessments, feel free to address the people in question directly. You have my permission to handle the situation as you see fit.”

Moss opened his mouth, as if to say something, but seemed to change his mind at the last minute. “Is there anything else?” Vane prodded.

The human shook his head. “Not at the moment.” As he got up, he offered Vane a shy smile. “Thank you again for your trust in me. I won’t fail you.”

As Moss finally left Vane’s office, Vane immediately felt his absence. He wondered what in the world he’d gotten himself into. Then, he pushed the thought out of his mind and tried to focus on work. If wherever he turned, he still saw those bright-green eyes staring at him, no one but him knew it. He’d just have to cling to his carefully cultivated discipline and make sure the things stayed that way.

* * * *

After his strange exchange with his employer, Moss struggled to obey Vane’s words and focus on his job. It didn’t work out as well as he’d have liked. In the back of his mind, he kept thinking of what had happened and what it meant.

Perhaps he shouldn’t have been dwelling on one night and one embrace, but he couldn’t help it. He recalled the heat of Vane’s embrace, and a whole different type of warmth invaded him, one that had nothing to do with comfort.

But it was very hard to remain objective and keep his mind on the job when, every day, Moss had to feed Vane. It was a very erotic experience, more than Moss had ever expected. In fact, whenever Vane’s fangs pierced his skin, he could imagine far too easily what it would be like if he’d agreed to Vane’s original suggestion.

Still, the entanglements of Vane’s finances kept him busy for a few hours. But as the hour grew late, it was soon time for dinner, both for Vane and for Moss.

Frustratingly, Vane didn’t join Moss in the dining room. Moss ate alone, with only Benson hovering about. Once he finished his meal, he couldn’t keep his mouth shut and eventually asked the butler, “Is everything all right with His Lordship?”

“Quite all right,” Benson replied placidly. “He’s just a little moody today. If you’ll take my advice, you’ll ignore his occasional snappishness.”

Moss couldn’t help a small smile. “Why? It’s charming.”

Benson’s eyes widened. “Is it? Don’t tell him that, or he’ll just get worse.”

“What are you telling Moss about me?” a familiar voice sounded behind Moss. Moss turned and predictably saw Vane walking into the living room.

“Nothing that isn’t the truth,” Benson replied. Moss had the strangest feeling, as if there was a strange, hidden tension between the two.

Vane walked to his butler’s side and squeezed his shoulder. He didn’t say anything, but it seemed Benson understood what the bloodkin was trying to convey. The tension seemed to drain from his body, and he nodded. “I’ll leave you to your privacy. Goodnight.”

As the butler left the dining room, Moss’s dilemmas over his strange behavior vanished as Moss realized the moment had come for him to feed Vane. He clutched the armrest of his seat, hoping he would not disgrace himself by asking for something Vane wasn’t willing to give.

Damn it, he couldn’t even understand himself anymore. What did he truly want? To be with Vane? No, no, that was foolish and irrational. He needed to get a grip, just like Vane had said.

With that in mind, he got up and faced Vane. “Would you like to have your meal now?”

It was surreal to make the offer, especially in such a formal way, yet another thing he’d never even dreamed could happen to him. It seemed almost as if Vane was a guest here, and Moss was offering him a snack or a drink.

“Yes,” Vane said, “if you’ve eaten well.”

“I have,” Moss replied. The food provided by the servants was always delicious and nourishing. Moss made it his business to remain in top health so that he’d be able to provide the service he’d been hired for.

With striking gentleness, Vane took Moss’s hand and led him out of the dining room. Moss felt even more aware of the bloodkin’s touch than ever before. He had so many questions, for himself, for Vane, even for Benson. But he didn’t dare speak, lest the spell of their togetherness be broken.

Vane took him in a smaller receiving room, one no one really used. It was quiet and dark, and Moss had the strangest feeling, like he and Vane were alone in the world. It wasn’t the first time Vane would bite him, but it didn’t really matter. For a brief moment, Moss actually wished only the two of them existed, so that they wouldn’t have to worry about different species and other people’s opinions. He shook that thought off, discarding it as foolish and irrational. That would never happen, and Moss didn’t even want it to. He still loved his family, especially his younger siblings. And yet, for some reason, in only a couple of days, Vane had come to mean a lot to him.

In the end, dwelling on it wouldn’t help. It was all too sudden, which was why he felt confused and puzzled. He needed to give it a little time, to get accustomed to Vane and his new life at the bloodkin’s side. Perhaps in time, he’d figure out the reality behind this strange chemistry both of them were trying to deny.

Until then, Moss would do his job and his duty, as per his contract. He sat down on the couch, and Vane took position next to him. Moss’s heart thundered as Vane took his hand and slowly tilted his head.

For some reason, Moss found himself closing his eyes. Perhaps he was expecting a kiss. It didn’t come, not in a human way in any case. Instead, Vane buried his fangs in Moss’s throat, and sharp pleasure-pain burst through Moss.

Gasping, he leaned against Vane, gripping the bloodkin’s shoulders blindly. He was burning, screaming, dying, flying, the suction against his neck deliciously agonizing. Before Moss could even figure out what he was doing, he climbed into Vane’s lap and started to grind his ass against Vane’s dick.

It wasn’t exactly something easy to do, what with Vane holding on to his neck like that, but Moss could be very resourceful when he wanted to, and he managed. He was rewarded when Vane released a little growl of desire, his hand tightening around Moss’s waist as he rubbed his hard cock into the crease of Moss’s ass.

The barriers of clothing were frustrating, yet irrelevant. Even through the material, Vane’s hand sent shivers down Moss’s spine. He heard himself crying out, but he couldn’t quite tell what he was saying.

He was so close, so very close to achieving something, something he hadn’t even known he’d needed. And then, out of the blue, the mind-numbing sensations stopped. Vane released his hold on Moss’s neck and licked the wound. Moss opened his eyes and blinked, his head still whirling. “Vane?” he asked, his voice husky, rough like sandpaper.

Vane’s eyes were filled with inscrutable shadows as he pushed Moss off his lap. He did so gently, almost excruciatingly so. “Thank you, Moss,” Vane said. “That will be all for tonight.”

Moss’s face burned with embarrassment. “Yes, Your Lordship,” he said. “Good evening.”

And with that, Moss fled. If he wanted to get accustomed to living with Vane, he certainly wasn’t doing a very good job at it.

* * * *

The next day

Soft, but insistent lips pressed against his own, claiming him, devouring him. Moss leaned in closer, inhaling the wild, familiar scent of the man he craved. No, not the man. The bloodkin. At last, Vane was there, in his embrace, branding Moss with his passion. There were no more doubts now. Moss was completely lost in Vane’s caresses, in their shared desire and lust.

As Vane swept his hands over Moss’s naked skin, Moss writhed under him, begging for more. Vane’s wicked fingers trailed over his sides, lingered over his nipples, tweaking and pinching. He reached between their bodies and gripped Moss’s hard cock, rubbing his thumb over the leaking tip.

It was too good, so good it should have scared Moss. It didn’t. He couldn’t remember how to be frightened, and he wanted this. He’d wanted it from the very first moment they’d met. Even the knowledge that they were so different hadn’t changed Moss’s mind.

Vane, however, seemed to disagree. At the last moment, just as Moss was about to reach climax, Vane broke their kiss and pulled away. “What?” Moss asked, dazed. “Vane, what’s wrong?”

“You’re human. You’ll never be what I need.”

Moss tried to reach for his lover, but Vane shied away. “You’re wrong. I don’t know a lot about bloodkin, or about sexuality, but I can learn.”

Vane could have been a statue for all the effect Moss’s words had on him. “You’re human. You’ll never be what I need.”

Moss opened his mouth to say something else, to insist and convince his lover that everything would be all right. It was futile. Vane didn’t give him the chance. Instead, before Moss could even speak, the bloodkin once more said that previous, damnable phrase. “You’re human. You’ll never be what I need.”

Over and over, he parroted the words, until Moss’s head whirled, not with pleasure, but with self-disgust. He wanted so badly to be what Vane needed, but he was a failure, an absolute and utter failure.

The ache of it got so horrible, so intense that Moss snapped his eyes shut and screamed. He half expected Vane to keep speaking those awful phrases, to forever sentence him to a life of inadequacy. But all of a sudden, Vane stopped. Moss looked up, only to realize Vane was nowhere to be seen.

Moss groaned. Another dream, although this one had been very different. Usually, when Moss dreamt about Vane, he fell into an erotic wonderland. To this day, Moss didn’t understand it. Some of the peculiar things Vane did to him in those fantasies were unlike anything Moss had seen before, even in books. He had no clue how he could have come up with them.

Tonight’s nightmare, though, was easy to explain. His subconscious was telling him what Moss had known all along, that he and Vane were a terrible match. And yet…Moss couldn’t quite bring himself to let go of that small part of him, the part that desperately desired for Vane to touch him.

With a sigh, Moss pushed off the blanket and left the bed. Back home, he’d have gone for a walk to clear his head, but here, he was reluctant to bother the other occupants of the house. Home. Did he even have one now? Elmya could no longer qualify, and his current lodgings were provided merely as a payment for his services and convenience of his employer.

As he stole a look out the window, Moss released a soft, bitter chuckle. A convenience, that was his role in Vane’s life. Not a lover, let alone an equal. Just the idea was laughable.

Perhaps he’d have fallen into hysteria altogether had a sudden voice not sounded behind him. “Are you all right?”

Moss turned toward the door and almost yelped when he saw Vane standing there, looking as mysterious as ever. “You look upset.”

That was the understatement of the century. Of course Moss was upset. Nothing made sense anymore, except this strange ache in his chest whenever he was around Vane. But he had to respect the contract and Vane’s desires. He had to stay professional. He’d committed to this, and he couldn’t fall apart every time he had a bad dream.

“I’m fine. I’m just having trouble sleeping.”

Vane arched a brow. He obviously didn’t believe Moss, but for once, he didn’t argue. “Would you like to have a drink with me?” he asked.

The offer surprised Moss. “I’d be honored, Your Lordship.”

He was dressed only in his nightclothes, so it was a little awkward to leave his room like that. Vane didn’t seem to mind, though. The bloodkin led Moss downstairs and into his office. Moss could have sworn he saw a shadow move from the corner of his eye and surmised it must have been Benson.

When they reached the office, Moss sat on the couch, feeling awkward and out of place. Vane poured him a drink and offered it to him. Moss eyed the glass warily and at last took it. He wasn’t much of a drinker. He never had been. Still, perhaps it would be worth a try.

Moss gently took a sip from the glass. To his surprise, it had quite a pleasant kick, burning his throat as he swallowed. “Good?” Vane inquired with a small smile.

It was an unexpected expression on Vane’s face. Moss liked it. The strange fist clenching around his heart started to loosen. What had he been so worried about? Nightmares came and went. They were irrelevant.

“Thank you, yes,” he replied. “I apologize for taking you away from your important tasks with my foolishness.”

“It’s not foolishness,” Vane countered. “You’re uncertain, and I can understand that.”

Moss winced. “I admit I haven’t adapted to the circumstances as well as I should have.”

“You’re doing an excellent job,” Vane encouraged him. “You just have to stop worrying about things you can’t control.”

Moss wondered what that meant, what Vane knew, how much he’d been able to grasp out of Moss’s sometimes erratic behavior. “I’ll try,” he promised. “I’m sure I’ll do better once I get a better grip on your financial situation.”

He was doing his best to remain professional, even if what he truly wanted was something else entirely.

Vane couldn’t have been fooled by this clumsy attempt. “I’m sure you will,” the bloodkin said. “Just know that I…You always have my full support.”

His own uncertainty was so apparent that Moss decided to give him a break. “You’ve helped a lot,” Moss assured him. Placing the glass on the coffee table, Moss got up. “I should get back to bed. You have my thanks again, Your Lordship.”

“Good night, Moss,” Vane murmured. “May Mother Earth guard your dreams.”

Moss was surprised at the mentioning of the elven deity, but he tried not to let it show. “Good night,” he replied simply.

When he left the office, he had more questions than answers, but he felt a little more at ease. At the very least, Vane seemed to have faith in his professional abilities. They might not be able to become lovers, but Moss hoped they might be able to start a friendship. It would hardly be enough, but it would have to do.

* * * *

Vane watched Moss go with a heavy heart and a mind filled with confusion. While he hadn’t told Moss about it, he knew exactly why the human couldn’t sleep. It was the dreams, always the dreams. In truth, Vane rarely, if ever, slept at night, but for some reason, he’d been drawn into bed tonight. As it turned out, he’d succumbed to slumber only to have a nightmare about himself and Moss being separated.

Clearly, Moss had dreamt exactly the same thing, which was why Vane hadn’t inquired into it. Vane would have liked to speak to Kier about it, but that would just bring up issues that were better left forgotten.

Kier, however, seemed to guess what Vane was going through. A few moments after Moss’s departure, the elf slipped into Vane’s office. He allowed his glamour to fade and gave Vane an inquiring look. “Is there any reason why our resident human is walking around the house in his nightclothes?”

“He had a bad dream,” Vane answered brusquely. Had he wanted to talk to Kier? What in the world had he been thinking?

“A dream you shared,” Kier correctly guessed. “Still think it must be all a coincidence?”

“I’m not an elf, Kier,” Vane told his friend. “I told you time and time again that bloodkin don’t have soul mates.”

Kier shrugged. “Believe what you want. You’re too stubborn to listen to me anyway. But know this. Denying won’t make it any less true.”

Once again, Vane had the urge to point out Kier’s less than successful love life record, but he refrained from doing so. The past didn’t matter anymore, no matter how much Kier mourned it. Vane had to focus on solving the problem in the present.

“In any case, Moss is off-limits,” he explained to Kier. “No matter how attracted I might be to him, the fact remains that I am bloodkin and he is human. There’s no way a relationship between the two of us would work.”

Kier hummed thoughtfully, obviously on the edge of saying something else. Vane shook his head, stopping him before he could speak. “It’s for the best, Kier. Surely you realize that.”

The elf grimaced, but didn’t comment further. “It’s your choice in the end. I just want you to be happy, Vane.”

“I know,” Vane replied with a sigh. “I know that.”

But like a soul mate, happiness was off-limits to bloodkin. Vane had to accept that, and make sure that Moss understood it as well.

Chapter Six

Vane had intended to put a little distance between him and Moss, to stop allowing the human to get so close. Sadly, things didn’t exactly go as expected. Something about Moss simply got under Vane’s skin, and he found himself needing to spend more time with his frustratingly sexy secretary.

He tried to keep their interactions in friendly terms, but it was quite difficult when both of them responded erotically to their feeding sessions. Still, so far, Moss had proven to be a far better employee than Vane had expected and easily a man Vane could have considered a friend.

There were no more nightmares, something which Vane found promising. However, they did go out into the city again. Vane didn’t have a lot of time since his duties kept him occupied, but he felt it was important for Moss to get accustomed to Clavar. Moss jumped at the chance, seemingly very eager to learn more about his new home.

A few days after their conversation in the office, Vane left the house with Moss using the carriage. It was a little sunny, and while the rays wouldn’t have caused Vane significant discomfort, Vane decided on this method so that he could chat with Moss without being overheard.

As they passed by the harbor, Moss smiled slightly. “You know,” he commented, “the first day I got here, I was robbed. I had no idea what I was doing. I still don’t. If I hadn’t run into you, the Sky Lord only knows what would have happened to me.”

The simple trust contained in those words shook Vane. “I’m sure you would’ve been fine,” he said. “You’re a very resourceful young man.”

A light blush tinted Moss’s cheeks a delightful pink. “You flatter me. Thank you, Your Lordship. But nevertheless, I must say I remain grateful for your assistance. You’ve been exceedingly patient with me.”

Vane had never been known for his patient nature, and he didn’t particularly want that to change. However, he was strangely pleased at Moss’s praise. He didn’t feel that he’d done enough to warrant it. In the end, it was normal for a secretary and his employer to have some sort of rapport. But clearly, it made Moss happy, and Vane couldn’t bring himself to dismiss his behavior as nothing special.

“It’s been my absolute pleasure,” he said.

“I never thought that coming here would teach me so much, about bloodkin, about humans,” Moss commented, glancing out the window again. It almost seemed like he was talking to himself, not to Vane.

“And what have you learned?” Vane asked softly. He could see Moss’s memories when he drank the human’s blood, and a connection was already beginning to form between them. However, Moss’s emotions remained, to a certain extent, a mystery to Vane. He wanted to hear Moss speak, to figure out what had truly made this human put so much faith in Vane.

“I think people are people everywhere. Some will be bad, and some will be good. That doesn’t mean we should brand a whole species as terrible monsters because of what a handful of individuals do.”

Moss clearly saw a sharp difference between Vane and other bloodkin he’d known before. To a certain extent, it pleased Vane, but he also felt the need to emphasize a very important point. “Just remember that, prejudice aside, bloodkin are very dangerous. That’s why people like me exist, to make sure they don’t harm anyone.”

“I understand that. I understand all about bloodkin instincts, and I know that not everyone is going to be like you.” Moss turned toward Vane once again, his bright-green orbs fixed on him. “But that doesn’t change how I feel.”

In that moment, Vane realized he should have known better. Being in close quarters in a small carriage with his secretary had not been among his best ideas. Maybe Kier was right. He was knowingly taking bad decisions, and only because he wanted to spend time with Moss.

A dark fire blazed inside him already, ignited by Moss’s words and his presence. Vane forced himself to quench it, and when it didn’t work, he did his best to at least hide it. This was too private. They needed a distraction, something that would engage Moss’s attention even more than the city.

They hadn’t been headed in a particular direction, so, on a whim, he decided on it now. Hoping he was doing the right thing, Vane shouted to the coachman, “Take us to the city outskirts.”

Moss looked a little puzzled. “Why are we going there?”

Vane just smiled. “I just want to talk to you.”

As the carriage advanced through the streets, Vane started having doubts about this, but he didn’t want to show indecisiveness and retract the command. He was glad that Moss seemed to understand the ways of the bloodkin, but for some reason, he needed to make sure.

He had no idea why it was so important to him, why he felt his urge to teach and explain. Perhaps he just wanted an excuse to spend time with Moss. Or maybe he thought that if he discussed it with Moss, he’d be able to figure out his own emotions.

Either way, they kept going, until they left Clavar and enter the countryside. Further inland lay Elmya, but also the Tachakan plains, the home of the bloodkin.

When the carriage rolled to a halt, Vane pushed open the door and gestured Moss outside. “Walk with me, would you?”

Moss still seemed confused, but he obeyed. As they left the carriage, the sunlight struck Vane with almost dizzying force. If he hadn’t been as old as he was, he would have real problems walking through the heat, especially since there were very few trees in the area.

The human must have guessed this, as he threw a concerned glance Vane’s way. He didn’t ask any questions, but he didn’t have to. Vane arched a brow at him. “You should know better than to worry about me by now.”

Moss shrugged, looking a little embarrassed. “I can’t help it. But what did you want to tell me?”

Vane stopped in the shade of a nearby tree and sat down. He pulled Moss with him, although he was careful to maintain at least a measure of distance. Moss respected that and waited patiently.

Satisfied, Vane pointed into the distance. “See that road? It leads to Tachaka, the capital city of the bloodkin.”

Moss blinked, obviously taken aback by the random comment. “It’s not my home, but it is the place where my parents are buried. I want you to understand something, Moss. This place, Clavar…It was always supposed to be a human settlement. But my people showed up, and it’s never going to be the same. The situation is similar all over the world, ever since the bloodkin expansion. You must be wary.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Moss asked, now sounding troubled.

There were many reasons why Vane had decided to approach Moss with this. Mostly, he had a feeling. Tensions seemed to be gathering in Clavar, and he wouldn’t be surprised if they erupted soon. “Just keep it in mind. The world we live in is dangerous.”

“I’m not afraid,” Moss said, his emerald gaze glittering with stubbornness and courage. “I’ve seen what bloodkin can do in Elmya. But I have faith that, among your people, there are good men and women who will keep the situation under control.”

“That’s my role, yes.” Vane sighed and gazed out into the distance. His role, the one he’d inherited from his father. He wondered what his sire would think if he saw Vane now. “It’s just good to always keep things into perspective.”

“Well, for my part, I believe Clavar is in good hands.” Moss grinned playfully. “Although I must say, Your Lordship, I hope you handle your people better than you do your finances.”

Vane couldn’t help it. He burst into laughter. “I have you for that,” he managed to say between chuckles. “Don’t I?”

“For whatever you need,” Moss whispered.

The human’s words banished Vane’s mirth. They weighed on him long after they returned to the mansion. All throughout the day, and the night, they kept repeating themselves in his mind. “Whatever you need.” It would be easy, so easy to take what Moss freely offered. But Vane wouldn’t do it. No matter what Moss said, the human wasn’t mentally or physically prepared for a relationship with a bloodkin, and that was something that would never change.

* * * *

The home and office of Gary Bertrand lay in the very heart of the Clavar. Built in the latest architectural style, it screamed money and status. Most thought Bertrand earned them by his own honest work. Moss knew better.

Gary Bertrand was one of the most reputed lawyers and accountants in the city. His office dealt with the finances of half of the preeminent nobles in the area. He’d also been chosen for the task of taking care of Vane’s finances, a task at which, in Moss’s humble opinion, he failed abysmally.

At first, Moss hadn’t truly believed Vane needed a secretary, but as he’d gotten more accustomed to Vane’s life, he realized Vane did indeed delegate a lot of his tasks to outside individuals. These people, like Gary Bertrand, tended to take advantage of Vane’s busy schedule in order to try and steal his money. A foolish thing, given Vane’s influence and power, but perhaps they thought Vane wouldn’t notice or mind.

Truth be told, Vane had indeed ignored the problem for quite a while. From now on, though, it would be Moss’s task to make sure all of Vane’s associates did as they were bid.

Moss had been working for a week with Vane now. In spite of all his confusion and frustrated emotions, he’d become acquainted with the details of each account and affair. It was far more complicated than he originally thought, but Moss still loved it.

Today, he’d gone to introduce himself and request the revision of the documents not in order. Unsurprisingly, Bertrand did not look happy to see him there.

“I did not know His Lordship had a secretary,” he said.

“It is a new position,” Moss replied. He took a sip of the cordially offered tea, enough to be polite and at the same time point out he wouldn’t take nonsense, then put the cup down. “Now, if we could get to the matter at hand. I’ve found some mistakes in the documents handed to me by His Lordship.”

Bertrand didn’t seem impressed. “I’m sure it must’ve been a misinterpretation. We take great pride in the service we offer here.”

“I’m sure you do,” Moss replied, ignoring the jab, “but that changes nothing.” He retrieved his papers from his case and began to point out the inconsistencies. By the end, Bertrand was visibly agitated and starting to sweat. “Ah, yes,” he said at one point. “I have an apprentice here now, and he must have made these awful mistakes.”

“I hate to think you would delegate His Lordship’s affairs to a novice.” Moss frowned. “A man of your experience would have been able to spot such glaring errors.”

The other man seemed torn between anger and frustration, his pudgy face red. “If you gave me a week or so, I’m sure I could set everything in order.”

Moss didn’t doubt that. He’d have preferred to change lawyers altogether and have someone else deal with Vane’s investments, but he didn’t have any better suggestions. Until he figured out a solution, he’d just have to watch Bertrand like a hawk. “Two days,” he said. “His Lordship has already waited enough.”

After exchanging a few more words, Moss readied himself to leave. Bertrand led him out of the office, a courtesy that surprised Moss. But as they walked toward the exit, a woman and a man met them halfway. The woman smiled at Bertrand while the man lingered behind her in a distinctively protective stance. Moss instantly recognized her as the brunette he’d met the night of the fateful interview, the one who’d told him to visit the Courtesan’s Guild for a job.

Oblivious to Moss’s shock, Bertrand took a step forward to greet his new visitors. “Lady Annette, what a pleasure to see you here.”

“Thank you, Gary. I hope you don’t mind I convinced your butler to let me in.”

Bertrand kissed the woman’s hand. “Not at all. I always enjoy your visits.”

She looked like she wanted to say something else, but then, her gaze fell on Moss. “Oh, hello. We meet again.”

Moss’s heart fell. So she remembered him, too. “Hello, miss. I trust you’ve been well.”

“Not as well as you if you’re already visiting Gary. I knew His Lordship is generous with his whores, but I didn’t think he’d shower you with gifts already.”

Moss had expected having to face the stigma of working in his position sooner or later. He just hadn’t thought it would be too soon, or in such a way. He hid behind a practiced mask of politeness, something his mother had taught him once he’d grown old enough to be introduced in society. “I’m afraid you are mistaken. My position with His Lordship is different.” He paused and offered her a bland smile. “My abilities do not lie in your area of business.”

Turning away from her, he directed his attention toward the lawyer once more. “Mister Bertrand, expect a visit from me the day after tomorrow. His Lordship is not a patient man, so do have the documents clear and in order by then, and preferably, an explanation for the mistake.”

He felt a certain satisfaction when the two new visitors gaped at the exchange. Even if their conversation hurt his standing in front of the lawyer, he refused to show shame.

“My Lady, good sirs, I bid you an excellent day.” He tipped his hat and made his way out.

He kept a carefully blank face while he left Bertrand’s office and headed toward his waiting carriage. Once inside, he leaned against the comfortable cushions and closed his eyes. “Home,” he told the coachman.

It seemed odd he considered the Bloodmoor residence his home after only a week. But the longer he stayed there, the more attached he became to everyone, and to Vane in particular. The man drove him crazy with his occasional lustful moments. Moss had begun to look forward to the blood-drinking episodes. His feelings for Vane were increasing to nearly dangerous proportions.

Of course, Moss had fucked up more than once in his tricky relationship with the bloodkin. He’d been far too clingy in some regards, not knowing which way was up in the whirlwind of emotions that made very little sense. It could have been argued that Vane ran hot and cold as well, but Moss had been the one to insist on a platonic relationship in the first place. Vane was enforcing it, just like he should, but it was frustrating to pretend to be calm and polite three-quarters of the day, while in certain moments, during the feeding session, their attitudes were completely different.

Just the other day, he’d practically thrown himself at Vane, blurting out that he was willing to give the bloodkin anything he wanted. Vane hadn’t taken him up on the offer, not that Moss expected him to. But the passion between them remained, simmering under the surface, bursting out when their facades fell. In that regard, there could be no mistake.

Beyond the conundrum that now haunted Moss’s days and nights, he was also well aware that there were many things he still didn’t know about these people. Benson, for example, was clearly hiding something, although Moss hadn’t been able to figure out what. Vane himself had many secrets, but Moss couldn’t expect to be privy to everything in the other man’s life after so little time. The servants appeared and disappeared within the expanse of a moment. One minute they were there, and the other they’d vanished into thin air. Even so, they’d been very friendly to Moss, in their unique manner. In spite of the eerie things happening in the Bloodmoor household, Moss felt safe there.

Even so, he did have his dark moments. Vane did not act like other bloodkin, but Moss still had trouble defining their ambiguous relationship. He’d also become increasingly concerned about his family. By now, he should have reached his uncle’s home, and he knew his parents would wonder what happened to him. He couldn’t help but think of what Vane had told him during their conversation in the city outskirts. His family didn’t have anything of interest left, and to a certain extent, that comforted Moss, but he still felt unsettled at the not knowing.

In the past few weeks, before reaching Clavar, he’d sent them letters, but since he’d begun working for Vane, he’d avoided doing so. They wouldn’t understand, not with the way things were. He himself didn’t understand it too well, beyond the fact that Vane had grown to mean so much to him. He had to try to contact them soon, though, because it was starting to weigh on him a lot.

Lost in his musings, he only realized they’d reached the house when the carriage slowed down and stopped. He jumped out and, after thanking the coachman, went inside. Several servants greeted him in the foyer, taking his coat and hat.

He’d have liked to see Vane, but predictably, the man was not home. Moss didn’t know what Vane actually did, but during the day, he didn’t stay inside. He had no idea when the man slept because Vane always seemed to be running around with various errands.

Still dwelling over Annette’s words, Moss headed toward the study. Perhaps if he got some more work done, he could distract himself.

* * * *

Delcas Deathgrove hit the wall of the lavish lounge, the stone cracking at the intensity of the contact. Vane watched him with disgust, hating the thought of even touching the other bloodkin again. Why did they always have to fight back and question him?

Delcas gathered himself and got up. “My lord,” he said, “there must be some sort of misunderstanding.”

“No misunderstanding. You’ve disobeyed the Imperator’s Absolute Law of our Blood Covenant. You need to be punished.”

Vane knew many of his kind used humans for their pleasure. He couldn’t do anything about that since by bloodkin law, humans were only considered valuable as food. But this same law prohibited killing humans indiscriminately and in the process of feeding. His job was to punish these criminals. It annoyed him since he needed to face the decay of his race on a daily basis.

The other bloodkin in the lounge were quickly backing away. With a wave of Vane’s hand, his guards blocked the door. “Not so fast. You shall witness justice being made.”

He repeated the practiced speech with the ease of experience and saw Delcas go pale with each of Vane’s words.

“My lord, I do not hunt for sport,” he cried. “It was an accident. I needed to feed.”

“A bloodkin requires half the blood from a fully grown human to ensure his abilities work at their maximum potency, but only if you do not feed on a regular basis. Your victim was completely drained, and you also use many other humans. You have been judged, and you will die for your transgression.”

Without further delay, Vane began to walk toward Delcas. The man looked left and right, trying to find an exit, a useless endeavor, since Vane’s troops surrounded the entire building. It was rare for a high-up noble like Delcas to receive punishment, so excitement filled the air, mingling with the fear. The animals smelled the more powerful predator and the imminent kill.

Delcas fled toward the back of the lounge, and Vane followed after him. In a heartbeat, he reached the other man and pounced on him, pinning him to the floor with his weight. Delcas tried to fight back, but he couldn’t do anything against Vane’s greater power. His mind created invisible bindings around Delcas. Vane got up, and using his telekinesis, he forced the other bloodkin to kneel as he retrieved his blade. It was more ceremonial than anything else, since a Kin Lord could easily kill an opponent like Delcas just through the use of their superior abilities.

Vane separated Delcas’s head from his body, feeling a certain satisfaction when the man instantly turned into dust. Delcas had been old, then, since as soon as his life force vanished, the body disintegrated. Yet another reason why this killing had been necessary. Delcas had shadowed the world long enough with his foolishness and decadence.

“Justice has been served,” he said, more out of habit than anything else.

Wiping the sword clean, he sheathed it once again. “Clean this up,” he told a guard while gesturing to the pile of dust and clothing that had once been Delcas.

The man nodded, and Vane left the lounge, relieved to get the damn thing over with. He wanted to go home and enjoy dinner with Moss. As torturous as Moss’s presence seemed these days, Vane found he looked forward to it more and more. Sometimes, only the memory of Moss’s taste in his mouth and the anticipation of the next feeding session could get him through a workday. He wanted to fuck the human so badly it seeped into his very dreams.

Another soldier approached, and the moment Vane saw the man’s expression, he knew he wouldn’t be seeing Moss anytime soon. “What now?” he growled.

“We’ve received a message from Thomson, Your Lordship. He requests a meeting tomorrow, at noon. And there’s been another killing in sector D.”

A headache began to throb at the base of Vane’s skull. A visit from Thomson didn’t bode well. More killings combined with Thomson’s arrival heralded a grim future.

Grumbling under his breath, Vane followed his subordinate. Sector D wasn’t far from their current location, and even on foot, they reached the area in maybe fifteen minutes. There were several soldiers stationed around the scene. Vane grimaced as he caught them sniffing the air. His guards had been chosen to be loyal to the Imperator, but oftentimes, Vane caught one of them falling into temptation. Suffice to say it didn’t end well for the person in question.

He gave the guilty parties an ugly look, and the guards immediately bowed their heads in silent apology. Of course, once he came closer, Vane understood their weakness. The smell of blood hit him with an intensity that rivaled Vane’s desire for Moss.

And then Vane spotted the victim, and for a few moments, he panicked. From behind, the body looked exactly like Moss, with the same chin-length hair and slim constitution. His senses cleared, and he realized the blood smelled entirely different. Besides, it couldn’t be Moss. His human was busy with secretarial tasks now, and at the hour the victim had been killed, he must’ve still been at the house.

“Do we know who did it?” Vane asked.

The guard shook his head. “They left no traces. Really clean this time.”

From the corpse’s appearance, Vane had guessed that would be the case. The kill had been clean, the only part savaged the neck. It would seem as much as Vane tried to keep these bastards in line, he’d always have to work overtime in this city.

As he left the area, Vane wondered if he’d perhaps made a mistake in hiring Moss. His human might’ve been better off over the Great Waters. The unrest hadn’t escalated so much there. He needed to consider his options really well from now on.

* * * *

Vane was late. Again. Vane’s schedule made no sense to Moss, but it put him in an even worse mood. Working didn’t help since he just saw Vane’s name everywhere. And as if that didn’t suffice, he noticed payments to one Annette Trevoir. It couldn’t be a name coincidence. He wondered if Vane had gone to see her at the Courtesans’ Guild and silently fumed at the thought.

He didn’t know how much time he wasted just sitting there in Vane’s seat when at last the bloodkin appeared. “Hello, Moss. Working still?”

“Not really, my lord,” Moss answered. Immediately, he caught himself, realizing his frustration showed in his pouty tone. “I’m more or less done,” he rushed to add.

In spite of his effort, Vane caught on. “You are upset. What happened?”

“Nothing,” Moss replied automatically. He’d gotten used to dealing with things on his own, and he realized the mistake only when Vane spoke again.

“I told you not to lie. Now I shall repeat my question. What happened?”

When Vane talked like that, Moss always melted and went into obeying mode. He didn’t know what it was about the other man that made him react like this, but he could never go against Vane. “I had an unpleasant meeting at Bertrand’s.”

“Did the old fool give you trouble?”

Moss shook his head. “I just saw an old acquaintance there.”

He was deliberately vague since he didn’t want to start a problem with the luxury prostitutes of the Courtesans’ Guild. He could still remember what Vane told him during their walk through Clavar. Not that Vane couldn’t handle it. In fact, a part of Moss wanted to tell Vane about it so the other man would teach those whores a lesson. But at the same time, his fight couldn’t be won by Vane’s hand. He had to prove himself, and rushing to his employer when he needed help would just cancel out his very usefulness.

“The full truth, Moss,” Vane insisted.

This time, Moss couldn’t have opposed his master if he tried. “I saw Lady Annette there. We’d met the night you hired me. She was…unpleasant.”

“I see,” Vane said. “Not to worry. I will deal with Annette when the time is right.” He sounded calm, but Moss knew better than to believe his lord would forget about this.

“Now come…I have need of you.”

It was Moss’s turn to realize Vane seemed upset. “Is anything wrong?”

Vane sighed. “Just the usual. I’ll tell you about it sometime, but not now. Have you eaten?”

Moss’s heart began to beat faster at the question. He knew what it meant. If Vane asked him about eating, blood drinking would soon follow. “I had something earlier,” he replied. He’d gotten used to doing so when Vane didn’t arrive in time for their normal dinners.

“Come then. Let’s go for a walk.”

Moss allowed Vane to lead him out of the study. He didn’t wander too much around the house, not without Vane around, so just walking with him side by side was refreshing. Truth be told, they didn’t get to spend too much time together. Moss hoped to remedy that, or at least, take advantage of the time they did have.

Vane led him outside into the garden behind the house. “Have you had the time to explore this place?” he asked. When Moss shook his head, he continued, “Let me show you around.”

The wind ruffled Moss’s hair as they walked into the gardens. Beautiful hedges lined with rose bushes filled the whole area.

Vane shrugged. “I don’t care about it much. It’s all Benson’s work.”

So Vane didn’t intend this to be some sort of romantic moment. Moss’s little bubble of relaxation burst. “Something bad happened, didn’t it?”

“Bad things happen all the time,” Vane answered mysteriously. “But never mind that. About Annette…You’re upset, I understand that, but this is going to keep happening, and not just with people like Annette. Others will look down on you, and you might have trouble finding employment after you leave here. Humans do not like bloodkin or those who associate with them.”

Moss blinked in confusion. “Where exactly are you going with this?”

“I believe it would be best if we ended our arrangement.”

The reply sounded cool and formal, and for a few seconds, Moss couldn’t even speak. He’d thought he’d begun to find a home here, someplace where he could be himself without fear. His relationship with Vane still needed work, of course, but every day, they became closer and closer.

Memories of the past week flashed through his mind, their walk through Clavar, Vane showing him the library, embracing him, offering him a drink, the two of them talking, laughing together at the clumsiness of Pena’s children, and of course, Vane dining on him. It had been going so well. Yes, Vane often ran hot and cold, his obvious lust for Moss at odds with his actual behavior. Still, Moss had begun to adapt even to this awkwardness. And now, Vane suddenly wanted him out? Why?

But Vane sounded serious, and Moss couldn’t help but cry out, “Why don’t you want me here anymore?”

Vane sighed. “I will be honest with you, Moss. The situation is getting increasingly dangerous.”

Moss’s heart fell at the glum announcement. “M–my family?” Perhaps by not letting them know of his location, he’d missed something really important. Perhaps they’d fallen prey to the bloodkin’s charms completely, or worse.

“I’ve inquired into the happenings around Elmya. I should be receiving an answer tomorrow. I will tell you when I find out something. But until then, it would better if you followed your original plan and left for your uncle’s residence.”

A part of Moss wasn’t surprised Vane knew about his hypothetical future over the Great Waters. He hadn’t told the bloodkin what he intended after leaving Clavar, but with Vane’s power and influence, it couldn’t be hard to find out. Nevertheless, Moss wanted to know for certain. “How do you know about that?”

Vane actually smiled. “I can see into your memories when I drink your blood.”

Moss remembered all the thoughts he’d had about Vane and his face heated in embarrassment. Vane must’ve seen everything Moss felt about him. “Y–you shouldn’t do that.”

“I couldn’t stop if I wanted to,” Vane replied sharply. “If you don’t want me to do it any longer, the solution is easy.”

Yes, Moss knew the solution, but he didn’t want to leave. He’d never been particularly enthusiastic about traveling over the Great Waters. Now, he hated the thought of losing this place where he felt so wanted, so at home. He couldn’t believe Vane truly wanted him gone.

Moss clung to the one idea that could save him. “But the contract—”

“It can be fixed easily enough,” Vane cut him off. “I will pay you for your time here, of course.”

“I was supposed to be here one month at least before I could be paid,” Moss insisted.

“We can go around the clause if we both agree,” Vane offered.

Moss shook his head. “Well, I don’t agree. I want to stay.”

Vane sighed in obvious irritation. “Well, you can’t stay. You’re fired.”

Moss scrambled for something to say. Clearly, Vane had intended to give him a smooth way out, but Moss refused to leave. “I haven’t done anything against the job description, so you can’t fire me.”

Moss could barely believe he was talking back at Vane, but the idea of losing his master gave him courage. Vane seemed as shocked as Moss. “Moss, don’t be stubborn. I told you I’ll pay you.”

“I want to stay,” Moss repeated.

Vane threw his hands up in exasperation. “Fine. Do as you will. Stay.”

Moss would have thought he’d won the battle, but in the blink of an eye, Vane vanished. Moss called out to him, but he received no response. Thankfully, he managed to make his way back to the house with ease, but that night, both the dinner and the blood drinking session were canceled. It would seem he might’ve won the battle, but Vane would win the war.

* * * *

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 ahead 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.

Vane shook himself. He could control his instincts, and he’d deal with the blood lust. And now that he’d arranged for the bloodkin nobles to be under lock and key, he’d deal with sending Moss away, for his own safety, and for Vane’s sanity.

He knew better than to believe that by weeding out the bloodkin who’d been killing humans, the problem was over. As he had explained to Moss, time and time again, the bloodkin instinct would always return to haunt them. Vane could handle it. He’d been handling it for decades. But if the problem grew worse, Moss would be a weak point, and one easily exploited.

In the end, there was only one way out of this, one path Vane could walk. And he’d do so, because he had no other choice.

* * * *

Vane had been gone three days now, and Moss was slowly going mad. Benson refused to answer his questions, and he’d been prohibited from going outside as well. The servants had even begun to avoid him when Moss tried to push Pena for information. He could not do his job, and he did not know where his master had gone. Instead of deciphering secrets, he seemed to be running into more.

He’d tried to figure out what Vane did and who he worked for. By now, he figured this peculiar absence must have something to do with that. But no one would tell him anything, and he knew so little of the bloodkin.

Frustrated, he continued to scan through the papers all over the desk, hoping to find something he’d missed. Nothing. He couldn’t find anything to give him a clue about Vane’s whereabouts. Some of them looked like lists of names, but most were written in a weird alphabet Moss didn’t understand. The books were no help either since the information provided in the human tongue pretty much spoke of what Moss knew already. In one section, one of the tomes mentioned something along the line of a Covenant, but never expanded or it. The translation seemed to get messy and unclear.

It didn’t help that Moss had been having all sorts of weird dreams as of late. Most were sexual, like the first ones, but several had been dark, bloody. Sometimes, he saw himself, dead in Vane’s grasp. He didn’t know what to make of it. He felt so confused and lost and no one told him anything.

He swept his hands over the desk in fury. The papers flew everywhere, covering the floor of the study like a thin layer of inky snow.

He didn’t know who he was angrier with, himself or Vane. When had he become so addicted to the bloodkin’s presence? For all he knew, Vane had gone on some sort of business trip. But Moss couldn’t help but remember the beautiful Annette, and Vane’s payments to her. When he’d last spoken to Vane, the man had tried to fire him. How could he not be scared? How could he not be jealous?

Moss blinked away the angry tears suddenly clouding his vision. He needed to focus on something else, lest he lose his mind completely. Leaving the desk, he knelt and started gathering the scattered papers. Halfway through, Annette’s name popped up on one of the documents again, and Moss cracked. “Fuck it! Fuck you!” He tore the paper in question, ignoring the way his mind screamed at him he endangered his already tenuous job situation even further through his irrational behavior.

Only one thing could’ve stopped him from his rampage and, strikingly, that thing—or rather, person—appeared. “Who upset you now, Moss?”

Vane’s voice made Moss freeze. He looked up to meet Vane’s dark gaze. Had Vane really come back? Where had he been?

So many questions swirled through his mind, but he didn’t have the courage to ask. If Vane had wanted him to know, Benson would’ve told him. “Uh…Nothing,” he replied. “No one. Just the usual. Annette and the work.”

“You’re lying,” Vane said, just like three nights back. “The truth, now.”

Moss didn’t speak, too afraid his jealousy would get him thrown out of his job. But Vane would not be deterred. He made his way to Moss’s side and picked him up with one hand. In one simple motion, he threw Moss to the couch and pinned him under his weight.

“You are being stubborn again, my beauty,” he growled while immobilizing Moss’s arms. “Don’t make me cross. You wouldn’t like me when I’m cross.”

Moss trembled under Vane, aware the bloodkin could kill him at any time if he so wanted to and strangely aroused by the fact. Was it odd he wanted Vane to lose control like this, to touch him in the intense way only Vane knew how? Perhaps, but Moss couldn’t bring himself to care.

He moaned, arching into Vane’s touch. “My lord, please…I want you.”

Vane cursed under his breath and held him down. “You drive me crazy,” he snarled. But for all Vane’s apparent anger, Moss could feel his lord’s dick throb against him.

“Please,” he tried again. They’d been in this position before. Moss did something that pissed Vane off, and Vane ended up ordering him to be a good little secretary and obey. This naturally aroused a deep instinct inside Moss, and Vane responded in turn with his own passion. But Vane refused to do anything about it, leaving them at a deadlock. And things had only grown worse after their argument.

Now Vane had left his side, with no explanation, driving Moss so jealous he couldn’t think straight. Moss couldn’t accept it anymore, not when they fit so together so well.

“Touch me,” he begged. “Bite me.”

He must have pushed too hard, too fast, as Vane got off him and sat at the other edge of the couch. Feeling abandoned, Moss tried to reach out again, only to be rebuked. “Don’t. Stay there.”

More than powerful, Vane sounded at the edge now, almost animalistic. Instead of being frightened, Moss wanted Vane even more. He had to do something now, or he’d lose his chance again. Vane would leave once more, and perhaps, this time, he wouldn’t return.

“Vane, you can’t hurt me. This isn’t wrong,” Moss dared. “What you said in the carriage would be true here if you forced your needs on someone by using your abilities. But if that someone wants you to touch him, then there’s no problem.”

“You are a fool,” Vane shot back. “You have no idea what I want to do to you.”

“I do know,” Moss said. He clearly remembered what he’d seen that day, when he’d followed his friend to the bloodkin’s lair. But he didn’t care anymore, not when Vane was so close, when his touch felt so good.

“Vane…My lord…Please.” He crawled close to Vane and pressed a kiss to the bloodkin’s neck. It was the first time he’d initiated such contact between them, and he didn’t know how it would be taken.

The air crackled with energy between them, and something seemed to snap inside Vane. “Fine! You want this, you’ll have this. Don’t complain afterward.”

Vane shot to his feet, and with no warning, grabbed Moss and draped him over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. He moved so fast Moss’s head went dizzy, and for a few seconds, he lost track of his reality. When the world stopped spinning, he found himself in an odd, dark room, standing with Vane holding him upright.

Moss had never been in his master’s dormitory, but he noticed in slight dismay it reminded him a lot of his unpleasant experience back in Elmya. There were chains and all sorts of devices that looked like torture equipment. Even the bed had shackles attached, and a hook hung from the ceiling. “Change your mind yet?” Vane asked.

Moss shook his head. He wanted this. Even if it seemed the same, with Vane here, everything would be all right. He had no doubt of it. If Vane had wanted to hurt him, he’d have done so already, without giving him the choice. “I’m not scared of you.”

“You’re such a naughty human, aren’t you, my beauty? We’ll see what you think in a few minutes.”

Vane dragged him to the center of the room and ripped his clothes off, leaving him naked and exposed. Some invisible power dragged the hook from the ceiling. Shackles encased Moss’s wrists in a tight, almost unbearable hold. It all happened so fast Moss didn’t even realize what was going on until the hook began to climb back up, lifting him off the floor. Moss cried out, the pressure on his arms shocking and painful.

And yet, in spite of the slight pain, Moss didn’t want this to stop. All his dreams had led to this single moment, the instant when Vane would, at last, concede the battle and accept they fit together. Above all else, Moss yearned to know and fulfill each and every desire of Vane’s.

With his body immobilized by the hook, he couldn’t do much, but Vane didn’t hesitate in taking what he wanted. The bloodkin’s hand went around Moss’s shaft, squeezing it tightly, giving it just the right combination of pleasure and pain.

Vane’s other hand went to tweak at Moss’s nipple, and Moss arched his back, the onslaught of sensation too much for him to withstand. His fangs scratched against the skin of Moss’s chest, a slight scrape, drawing blood, but not causing any real pain.

Moss knew he should keep quiet. He needed to wait for Vane to take his pleasure, to do what he wanted. But the words slipped out of him before he could stop them. “Please…More. I want you.”

In that moment, he saw something change in Vane’s stance. Vane lifted his head, and Moss realized a new emotion burned in Vane’s gaze, a touch of anger mixed with something else, something Moss couldn’t quite define.

“You don’t know what you want,” Vane replied, his voice strikingly cold. The bloodkin moved so fast Moss almost didn’t realize his absence. But when a blindfold went around his eyes, Moss’s arousal began to turn into something else. He couldn’t see Vane anymore, and that made all the difference in the world. “What? What are you doing?”

“Who do you think you are to question me?”

Vane didn’t wait for an answer. Instead, he pulled Moss’s hair, and when Moss gasped, forced a hard gag in his mouth.

A swish of leather was his only warning before something hit his thighs, sending raw agony through him. “So disobedient,” Vane said.

The second hit fell, and it hurt even more this time. “So deceitful.”

The third one, and Vane continued to list Moss’s faults. “So arrogant.”

Four. “So foolish.”

Five. “So human.”

It was the last one that broke Moss’s heart. It had all been an illusion. Every kiss and every kind word had been a mere fantasy. Bloodkin could not mix with humans, and taking Moss in had just been a whim of Vane’s. He’d been so wrong. How could he have been so wrong?

Moss prayed to the Sky Lord to help him understand, to give him a way out of this horrible situation. His wish must’ve been heard, as the whip stopped falling. The hook released his arms and Moss found himself lowered on the floor. The gag and blindfold were next to go. Finally, the shackles around his wrists vanished as well. Even released from his bindings, Moss could not move, too shaken by what had just happened.

Seeming as unruffled as always, Vane gave him a cool look. “Do you still think you can want me now?”

Moss would have said “no,” but something in his heart forbade him from doing so. And then, belying the sharpness of his words, Vane knelt next to Moss and wiped away his tears. “It is as it must be,” he whispered.

With that, Vane took off, leaving Moss cold and alone in the dungeon.

* * * *

“What did you do?” Kier screamed at him. “What in the world did you do?”

Vane passed an agitated hand through his hair. “Shut up!” he shouted back at his friend. He didn’t need to be told he’d fucked up. He already knew. “Shut the fuck up.”

He’d intended to make Moss see how incompatible they really were. The human got under his skin, so much so that being away from him had been physically painful. When Moss claimed he wanted Vane no matter what, Vane realized things had gone out of hand, beyond the realm of employer and employee, of friendship, or even casual sex.

He’d wanted to scare Moss, but he’d lost control and ended up hurting him instead. He’d wanted to wipe out those feelings that kept Moss from leaving, just like he’d considered a few days back. But the physical damage he’d done to Moss as a consequence was unforgivable. When had things gone so wrong? Fuck. How would Moss even bear to look at him now?

Vane was bloodkin. As a rule, he didn’t feel remorse or regret. But this time, the bitter taste of self-hatred and shame filled him. He couldn’t even see Kier in front of him. His eyes were filled with the sight of Moss’s tears of pain and loss. He wanted to tear his hands off, just because they had been the tool that had enacted such agony on the beautiful human.

“Stop feeling sorry for yourself and go fix this.” Kier gripped his shoulders and physically shook him.

Vane pushed away from his friend. “How badly is he injured?” he asked, somehow managing to keep his voice from trembling.

“You didn’t break the skin,” Kier replied, “but he’s hurting, inside more than out. He trusted you.”

Everything inside Vane screamed to go to Moss and ask for forgiveness, something he hadn’t done in his entire lifetime, not even from the Imperator. But the thought of that bloody body in the alley still tormented him. Moss would not leave if he thought there could be something more between them, and Moss’s safety was more important than momentary comfort and happiness.

Or so he’d thought. Then again, he’d thought many things. He’d considered himself immune to the impulses and instincts of his kind. He used professionals to exorcise his desires and fuel his abilities and never lost control. But this time, the blood lust, the frustration, and the knowledge of the peril had gotten the best of him. What could he do now?

Before he could figure out the answer to his question, Vane sensed an agitated presence approach. Pena burst into the room. “Your Lordship, a messenger has arrived. He says he needs to see you at once.”

So, he’d been right. The Imperator had agreed to his plea and summoned him to Tachaka. Only now, he’d leave Moss behind in these horrible circumstances. Moss would never forgive him.

But hadn’t that been the very goal of him hurting Moss? Hadn’t he intended to drive Moss away? Why did he now hesitate so much? The timing of the messenger couldn’t have been more perfect. Vane would leave and therefore eliminate the temptation of apologizing and confessing something as horrible as feelings to Moss. He’d have Kier make the rest of the arrangements, and by the time he returned, Moss would be gone, safe and sound beyond the Great Waters.

“Thank you, Pena,” he told the brownie. “I will receive him now.”

As Pena took off to notify the messenger, Kier gave him a knowing look. “You’re going to go to Tachaka, aren’t you?”

Vane didn’t answer since Kier knew him far too well for the question to actually require a reply. “Suit yourself, Vane,” his friend continued, “but for what it’s worth, I think you’re making a huge mistake.”

In Vane’s opinion, the huge mistake had already been made, when Vane had begun to care about a human. It was high time he fixed his mistake. He knew far too well what happened when bloodkin lost control, and so did Kier.

“You were in this situation once, Kier. Surely you remember.”

It was a low blow since Kier hated to be reminded of that particular time of his life. Usually, Vane tried to avoid the topic, but as of late, he’d brought it up more than once. He realized he shouldn’t be using his friend’s pain as an excuse for his own behavior, but he’d never claimed he was a good man.

“It’s not the same,” the elf said, glowering. “Moss is not a dark elf, and you’re not your brother.”

Both statements were true. Even if they looked alike physically, Vane couldn’t have been more different to his brother Cole if he tried. But in the end, both were bloodkin and had the same instincts.

When Vane didn’t reply, Kier stalked out angrily. It seemed that he’d finally lost all patience where Vane was concerned. Vane didn’t have much time to muse over their conversation. A knock at the door announced the messenger had come. Casting aside his personal problems, Vane ushered Thomson in. “What news do you bring for me?”

“Greetings, my lord.” Thomson bowed lowly. “The Imperator has agreed to see you. He requests your presence at Tachaka in two days’ time.”

The wraith paused, and Vane could sense there was something else on his mind. “What is it? What is the matter?”

“I overheard something while there. It is nothing official, but should it be true…”

“What is it? Speak, man!”

“The Imperator seems to be dabbling with the legislation. The nobles in question were even saying the law banning the illegal hunts would be repealed.”

Vane cursed under his breath. The previous rulers of their nation had set into place the Blood Covenant specifically to prevent their race from running amok. But any Imperator had absolute authority over the law and could change it as he or she pleased.

It was odd to say the least. Vane knew the current leader, Aran Bloodclaw, well. In fact, their clans were distantly related. Aran always respected the Covenant in the past. The man had begun to rule a little over a hundred years back, and he’d been a good ruler. What could have possibly determined him to change his mind?

If only Vane had known about this before sending the missive. Too late for regrets now. He’d have to go through with the original plan and make a backup one, just in case. “Are you certain?” he asked the wraith.

“I know what I heard. I cannot be sure of the accuracy of the information.”

But gossip always had a source, and no one would talk about something so serious without having some sort of reason. “Thank you, Thomson. I appreciate your help.”

And he did, indeed. The wraith didn’t have to warn him about Aran’s new policies. He’d always helped Vane in the past. “You’re dismissed.”

Thomson nodded and, with another bow, disappeared in the eerie way of his people. Vane had the feeling he wouldn’t see the wraith again. Even Thomson’s kind disliked war and did their best to avoid it. Thomson would probably seek cover in his own realm.

Vane got up and headed for Kier’s room. He heard voices, and his heart fell as he realized Moss must be inside. Even so, he knocked. There was no time to lose. He needed to answer the summons of the Imperator and be prepared if his worst suspicions came true.

“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.

He noticed the door was cracked open. Through the tiny gap, Moss noticed a tall, slender man rummaging through the drawers. Long silver hair flowed over light-blue skin, curling around one pointed ear. An elf, then?

The man turned around and blinked at him in surprise. “Moss? What are you doing out of bed?”

Moss knew that voice. He knew it well. The tonality was a bit different, more melodious and soft, but other than those differences, it sounded exactly the same. “Benson? What in the world? Why are you an elf?”

He’d known Benson was hiding something, but he hadn’t expected such a surprise. Benson gave him a serious look. “I truly regret lying, but it can’t be helped.”

“Is your name even Benson?” Moss hated the hurt in his voice. What would he find out next?

The elf shook his head. “No, my name is Kier. Pleased to meet you.”

When Moss just stared blankly at him, the elf breathed a sigh of irritation. His form blurred, turning into Benson’s butler looks once again. “There. Better now?”

Moss gaped at Kier. “But how?”

“I use a glamour to disguise my appearance,” the elf replied as he once again changed into his true form. Moss felt thankful for that since he didn’t want to perpetuate a useless lie. “I’ll explain more later. Do you feel up to helping me with the preparations?”

Moss remembered Vane’s words and didn’t insist further on the issue of Kier’s identity. He’d be on his guard, just in case, but for now, he had to focus on finding out what happened to Vane. “Preparations for what?” he asked instead. “Where’s Vane? And who is Cole?”

“Cole is someone you really don’t want to meet.” His eyes misted over as if he were remembering something. Shaking his head, he finished, “And Vane is trying to save the Covenant. Judging by what you told me, I’d say he has failed.”

Moss had so many questions, but a serious look from Kier—he had to remember to call the man by his real name from now on—stopped him. “Okay. What do I have to do?”

“Finish packing your things. I’ll release the staff and take care of the rest. Hurry.”

When Moss nodded, Kier rushed out of the room, his silver hair swishing around him surreally. In a daze, Moss put some clothes on, then resumed Kier’s previous task of wrapping up his bags. From what he gathered, they wouldn’t be able to take too many things along, so he kept them light, the bare necessities he couldn’t do without.

He finished far sooner than he’d have liked. With nothing to do, he was left to muse and worry about Vane and what the current situation would cause. He still didn’t know what the Covenant meant, but judging by the current commotion, breaking it could only bring trouble. Otherwise, Kier would have never acted this way.

Anguish swept through Moss. His family, his friends…Would they even survive this? Jo and Lam were so very young. Would his parents be able to protect them?

He sat on the bed and buried his face in his hands. What could he do? He was powerless in front of the forces haunting his life. Vane had told him he’d looked into his family’s safety, but Moss never got the chance to find out what Vane dug up. Horrifying images popped up in his mind, pictures of Vane, Jo, Lam, and his parents, all dead, all rotting, together, haunting him for eternity. He could only hope the Sky Lord would protect them.

Kier reappeared soon, interrupting his daytime nightmare. “Are you done?” the elf inquired as he came in. Moss almost yelped in surprise at the sudden voice. “Take everything you can’t be separated from,” Kier advised. “You won’t get anything back if you leave it behind.”

When Moss didn’t reply, Kier asked, “Are you okay?”

Moss couldn’t quite keep his voice from trembling. “It’s just…My family, Vane…I’m scared.”

“I know.” Kier sighed. “If it helps, Vane found out hostilities haven’t yet started in your area. At this point, there’s nothing left to do but hope.”

“Are we really that helpless?” Moss cried.

“Moss, if we try to go there, we’ll just bring trouble upon them. Cole, the person Vane mentioned, will do anything to get us.”

“But why? Who is he?”

“I’ll explain more later,” Kier replied. “Now come. Are you ready?”

Moss just nodded. Kier shouldered Moss’s pack and pulled him out of the room. There were some more bags in the foyer. The house seemed empty now, each and every servant gone or, at least, out of sight. “Where is everyone?” Moss asked.

“Back to their kin. Don’t worry about them. Brownies are resilient.”

Brownies? Moss would’ve gaped at Kier, but at this point, he didn’t think he had it in him to be shocked. Even the folk in Elmya knew about them, but most thought they were just legends. Then again, he lived in a bloodkin’s house, where an elf worked as a butler. It made sense the servants would be brownies.

They left the mansion through the side exit leading into the garden. Outside, night had fallen over Clavar. It was so quiet Moss felt reluctant to speak again. He just followed Kier, confused as to where they were actually headed.

They reached the very end of the garden when suddenly, a loud explosion sounded. Moss turned, only to see the mansion go up in flames.

“Don’t look back, Moss,” Kier said. “It will only hurt that way.”

“But the house…”

“It’s just a house. The important thing is for us to be safe.” Kier gestured to a small gazebo Moss hadn’t originally seen. “Go on.”

Moss gave Kier a confused look. How would a gazebo help them? Nevertheless, he followed the elf’s advice. He felt so out of depth, not knowing if he should trust Kier, but not having much choice, either. He headed toward the gazebo and stepped inside. Kier went inside behind him, and suddenly, the world began to swirl. The gazebo vanished, replace by a bright, wide void. Moss screamed, certain now he’d been deceived.

And then, the light dimmed, and the confusing motion turned into a light swaying. A light, woodsy breeze caressed his face. The next thing he knew, he was opening his eyes in something that looked like a grove of sorts.

Above him, a tall elf loomed. “Welcome, Marlais Hayden, to Manturanael.”

The elven lands turned out to be like nothing Moss had expected, beautiful and green, but also dark and dangerous. The elf who’d met them upon their arrival identified himself as Eli Starburst. Unlike Kier, he belonged to the light elves, and his blond hair complimented an almost marble-white skin perfectly. He gave Kier an ugly look Moss didn’t know how to interpret, but didn’t seem hostile toward Moss. Odd.

Eli took them out of the grove and into a busy, yet silent city, presenting it as Hashiraden, the capital city of the elves. Hashiraden was unlike anything Moss had ever seen. The architecture represented a combination between swirling, sinuous curves and sharp lines. Moss glanced at the buildings in awe. Built around thick waves of greenery, they went up on various levels. Beyond the actual city, a lone temple lay, dedicated to the deity elves worshipped, the Mother Earth. To his surprise, Moss also noticed a smaller temple, dedicated to the Sky Lord. Typically, humans and some avian races followed the cult of the Sky Lord. Moss wondered why He would have a temple here.

Perhaps elves worshipped all deities equally. Moss wouldn’t be surprised. Everyone went around their business in perfect harmony, and the occasional tone of lyrical musical tingled over Moss’s senses. Moss wished the beauty of it all could heal his heavy heart.

At last, they reached Eli’s home. “This is where you’ll be living, Marlais. We elves welcome you in our home.”

“Thank you, Sir. You are too kind.” He paused, uncertain as to how to phrase this question. “But I thought we’d be staying at Kier’s.”

He was thankful for Eli’s hospitality, of course, but Kier’s presence represented the only connection he had with his world in this strange, new place. Even not knowing what to believe about Kier, the dark elf remained the same person who’d received him in Vane’s house and soothed his hurts when Vane left.

Eli arched a brow at him, then threw a gaze Kier’s way. “Haven’t you explained things to him?”

“I’ve been banished from here, a long time ago, but I asked for sanctuary for you.”

Moss gripped Kier’s arm. “You can’t be serious. You’re planning to leave?”

“It’s me Cole wants,” Kier answered. “If I go to him, he’ll let Vane go. And besides, I’m not welcome here. I don’t have much choice.”

Nothing that happened in the past few hours made any sense. Eli scoffed in disgust. He looked like he wanted to slap Kier, but refrained from doing so. “I don’t want to hear anything about bloodkin. Marlais, you are welcome to stay as long as you want and if you contribute to our community. Kier, on the other hand, has to leave.”

“But why?”

“This is my fault. If I hadn’t…” Kier shook his head. “It is an old tale. You needn’t worry about it. I’ll fix things. I promise.”

“You’d better do so,” Eli replied, the chill in his voice staggering.

“Wait just a minute,” Moss piped in. “You’re not leaving anywhere without me. I want to help Vane as much as you do.”

Strikingly, it was Eli who replied to Moss’s heartfelt words. “Humans…” He sighed in exasperation. “Whatever you think you feel for the bloodkin is false, Marlais. They have a way of seducing people. Even some elves who should have known better have fallen for their charms.”

Kier winced, but didn’t say anything back. For his part, Moss was tired of veiled insults and threats. He wouldn’t let anyone get in his path. He wanted to help Vane, and hiding behind a shield of arrogant elves simply didn’t fit with his idea of doing so.

“You’ll be safe here, Marlais, away from their influence,” Eli finished.

“Not all of them are the same,” Moss cried. “I don’t know about this Cole person, but Vane has always been nice to me.”

Even as he spoke, he remembered the beating, and he struggled to keep a straight face. Thankfully, Eli didn’t seem to know about it, and Kier looked unmoved by Moss’s lie. “That may well be,” Eli said, “but he would have turned on you sooner or later. They always do.”

Doubt reemerged inside him at Eli’s words. The pain he’d experienced at Vane’s hands swept through him once more. He bit his lip, warring emotions swirling inside him. Perhaps Eli was right. Perhaps he really couldn’t be with Vane, but that didn’t mean he’d abandon the other man in his dark time. “Maybe, but I won’t turn on him. I want to go with you, Kier.”

Kier shook his head. “I’m afraid I’m going to have to agree with Eli on this one. I promised Vane I would keep you safe, and so I shall, even against your own will.”

Before Moss could do anything else, a sharp, sudden pain struck him, and everything went black.

* * * *

Unconsciousness took far too much time on Moss’s schedule lately. That was the first thought he had as he cracked his eyes open, experiencing a weird sensation of déjà vu. This time, however, Vane’s voice didn’t sound in his head. Neither did he see anything familiar around him. The bed he lay in felt soft and smelled like freshly cut grass. The headboard bore peculiar markings, curling engravings Moss didn’t know the meaning of. He easily identified it as an elven encryption. He’d seen the style before in his studies, although he couldn’t quite grasp the meaning of it. Not that it mattered. He knew where he was. He’d been left behind by Kier in Hashiraden.

All those stories about elven advanced senses seemed correct, as Eli appeared in the room before Moss could even get out of bed. “Ah…You’re awake. Excellent.”

“Where’s Kier?” Moss asked without preamble.

“Gone, thank goodness,” Eli replied, without even skipping a beat. “He’d already outstayed his welcome.”

Moss took a deep breath and struggled for composure. “Why do you loathe him so? Is it because he is a dark elf and you are a light one?”

Eli shook his head. “Kier himself made this choice. No elf, light or dark, is allowed to consort with bloodkin. He chose them over us, his people. He cannot expect to be welcome here.”

Moss noted the sadness hidden behind the resentment and surmised Eli must still care about Kier. Perhaps they’d been close once. It certainly explained why Eli had been willing to take Moss in, despite him being just another seduced human.

“Why do you hate bloodkin so much?” Moss asked. It seemed to him something else lay beneath all the scorn, something more than just disgust at the bloodkin’s habits. Moss didn’t know anything about Kier’s past here, but if the two elves had indeed been friends, something worse than the mere dislike for a race must separate them.

Eli gave Moss a dark look. “You shouldn’t ask questions you don’t want to know the answer to.”

Moss got off the bed, returning Eli’s glare with one of his own. He was sick and tired of everybody telling him what he should or should not do.

“Fine. Keep your secrets. I don’t care. Just let me out of here. I don’t need you, or this place.”

Eli’s frown deepened. “Do not forget, Mister Hayden, that you are a guest in my house. Please refrain from acting rashly or spouting accusation.”

Moss’s face flamed. Eli was right. He needed to remember his manners, especially here, in the elven lands. But as much as he tried to care about that, he couldn’t make himself do so. Somehow, from a guest in this place, he’d clearly become some kind of glorified prisoner.

He focused on sounding coolly polite and keeping his temper in check. “I apologize, but you must understand my situation. You can’t honestly expect me to stay here and do nothing.”

“No, I don’t expect that.” Eli sighed. “Humans are far too foolish to think about what’s good for them.”

Moss would have taken offense, but decided Eli’s opinion regarding Moss’s rashness didn’t matter. Perhaps Moss could convince him to show him the way to Tachaka. Vane was supposed to be there. Somehow, Moss doubted Kier’s sacrifice would help save Vane.

There were so many things left unsaid between them, so much Moss would have liked to ask. The connection Moss knew to be there didn’t spark to life once more, and Moss refused to just let this go. He didn’t know why. Was it lust, love, fascination, or obsession? Perhaps a little bit of all. Clarifying his emotions would have to wait. He needed to save Vane first.

“Please,” he told Eli. “Help me. I only want what’s best.” Remembering Eli’s expression from before, he tried, “For Kier, too. Surely you don’t want him hurt.”

Eli looked startled, insofar as an elf could do that. “You’re perceptive,” he admitted. “And no, I don’t want him hurt. But he has chosen his own path, one I can do very little about.”

“We can save them, Eli. Please. Do you really want Kier to die?”

Eli’s hesitation began to dissipate. “No, I don’t want him to die. Fine, Marlais. I will help you. For Kier’s sake.”

Chapter Eight

Vane had been locked in his cell for a few days. By now, he surmised Cole reached Clavar. But not even the fastest horses could get him there earlier than three days, and at this point, Kier must’ve taken Moss someplace safe. In fact, he was certain of it.

Since initiating their first conversation, Vane had been unable to fully close down their connection. He still sensed Moss’s emotions, not all the time, but enough as to realize the human had not come to any harm. With this reassurance, Vane’s concern now went toward Kier and the humans left behind with little defense in Clavar.

He didn’t doubt Kier would ignore his order, especially now when he knew Cole had come back and instigated all this disaster. Vane would’ve kept his brother’s arrival from Kier, but the elf needed—no, he deserved to know.

It frustrated Vane beyond belief he could not help the people he cared about. How could Cole go so far as to risk the Covenant for vengeance?

But Vane did have a plan. He was beginning to register the pattern in the motions his guards made. The door also had a magical shield on it. Once, Vane would have been unable to touch that shield. But cultivating his control had its perks, and he could make use of his magical abilities better than most of his kind.

He’d been working on wearing down the shield since his first day of imprisonment. It worried him someone might check and realize his plan before he could make his escape.

He could only try to work in the brief gap between the shifts, so the process ended up very slow and strenuous. By that evening, however, Vane managed to finish his task. The next gap between shifts would be at dawn, when many bloodkin were forced to retreat into slumber. However, Vane himself was in danger of submitting to the same force. He hadn’t fed on blood for almost a week now, and the use of magic drained him.

He needed to hurry.

Morning came, and with it, the lethargy that could even kill a bloodkin if he didn’t feed. Vane counted on his Bloodmoor line to help him out of this pickle. He carefully listened to the motions at the other side of the door, waiting for the precise moment when he’d be able to make his move.

At last, the distinctive sound of rattling weapons and muttered greetings notified him the new guards had arrived. It might’ve seemed foolish to attack now, when the number of his foes would be double, but in fact, it would be best for him in the long run. The guards assigned to watch him would all be taken out, and he’d have a few hours to slip out of the palace grounds, unseen. At this point, they were also tired and moody, so they wouldn’t be as alert as at midnight, for example.

In his mind’s eye, Vane mapped his opponents’ positions. A few of them were young, so they’d pose less of a problem. Vane had watched them come and go as they’d brought him dinner. But he would bet there were others with greater powers. Together, their abilities might defeat his own. The key was the element of surprise.

He took a deep breath, preparing himself for attack. Strikingly, Moss’s image popped in his mind. For some reason, it gave Vane strength, and he lunged at the door. The heavy wood splintered upon his assault, and the suddenness of it was enough to disorient the guards. Vane moved quickly. Against some, he used his mental abilities, and he took out the others with his physical strength. With no hesitation, he brought down his opponents, aiming for blows that would incapacitate without killing. He disliked killing for his job, and he hated it even more the rest of the time.

The older bloodkin did manage to get their act together, and Vane found himself attacked by three very powerful guards. Pain rushed through his body as a dagger pierced the flesh of his shoulder. He only managed to avoid it hitting a more delicate area because of his advanced senses. Still, Vane’s age and experience made all the difference in the world. When left without an opening, he used the splinters from the door as stakes and threw them at his enemies.

Since he could not afford to be merciful this time, he aimed for main arteries and organs. Several of the projectiles were dodged or caught before they reached their target, but a couple did strike true. They gave Vane the chance to attack, and, using as much magic and strength as he could spare, he descended upon the men.

The three were left unconscious, next to the two younger ones he’d taken out more easily. He dragged them into his former cell and left them there. The bleeding would keep them inoffensive for the time being, and with luck, by the time their wounds closed, he’d be long gone.

Knowing he couldn’t delay for much longer, he began his descent. Daytime wearied him, and the wound in his shoulder—a wound that normally wouldn’t have bothered him at all—weakened him. He needed to find someone to feed on, fast.

Of course, such a thing would be hard to accomplish in his current circumstances. He couldn’t feed from other bloodkin since another kin’s blood would not satisfy his hunger or fuel his abilities. Animal blood worked in some cases, but only a human could help him now.

Nausea swamped him at the very thought of feeding from someone except Moss. He really needed to get over his dependence on Moss, or else he’d never be able to find another donor. If he’d only fed during the days he’d been away…But he’d missed Moss, and the memories and remorse had haunted him still. Even now, he couldn’t let go of them. How could he make himself return to hunting for human blood?

Vane shook himself and focused on navigating through the labyrinthine building. He knew his way around the palace, but he had to avoid the most guarded sections. In his weakened state, he couldn’t face yet another set of soldiers.

He managed to make his way through the tower with reasonable ease, but getting out of the palace proved to be more of a challenge. The only door led into a large courtyard. If Vane went out that way, he’d be exposed to anyone who came past. But the windows weren’t big enough, and digging himself another way out didn’t count as an option. He hoped his glamour would hold for enough time.

It spoke volumes of the extent of his weakness that he didn’t feel the approaching presence until it was too late. He identified it when it had already become too late to back off. Dante, youngest son of the Imperator, stepped into the tower and arched a brow at him. “You’re resourceful.”

“I try.” Vane did his best to keep his voice both respectful and haughty. “What are you doing here, my prince?”

“Visiting you, of course.” Out of Aran’s three children, Dante looked most like his father, having inherited the same beauty. In fact, he reminded Vane a lot of Aran, the way he’d been fifty years back, when Vane last visited Tachaka.

“Follow me,” Dante said.

Vane didn’t have much choice but to do as the prince commanded. Dante may have been young, but his bloodline held power, and he wouldn’t have too much trouble in defeating Vane at this point. “Don’t bother with a glamour. I’ll shield us.”

Dante led him across the courtyard and into the main castle. He veered off a corridor that looked strangely empty of people. Vane wondered about the reasons behind this, but before he could figure it out, he sensed it, the beautiful heat, the familiar warmth he couldn’t forget if he wanted to. Moss.

He wanted to rush toward the area he felt Moss in, but he didn’t know if he could get there without Dante’s help. Thankfully, their little trip didn’t take much longer, as Dante showed him into a small room. There, Moss paced, looking anxious and so beautiful it made Vane’s heart hurt. His eyes shot up when the door opened and met Vane’s. The affection Vane still saw in that gaze humbled him.

“Moss?” he asked hesitantly. “What are you doing here?”

“We came to bust you out,” Moss replied. He rushed to Vane and pressed a hand to his cheek. “Oh, Vane…You’re so pale.”

Moss’s touch startled Vane so much he nearly took a step back. This couldn’t be happening. Moss couldn’t still want him, in spite of everything.

A tall elf appeared from behind Moss. “So, you are Vane Bloodmoor. I’d love to say I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.”

The elf confirmed this couldn’t be a figment of Vane’s imagination and hunger-hazed mind. He’d never have willed an elf to be here. Moss’s presence strikingly began to push back the weakness, and Vane didn’t even blink at the elf’s disdainful greeting. He expected it from a member of his kind. “And you are?”

“Eli Starburst,” the elf replied simply.

Vane distantly remembered Kier once mentioning the Starburst clan, and a friend of his named Eli. Vane could think of only one reason for an elf to be in Tachaka. Just like he’d guess, Kier must’ve come here, intent on convincing Cole of the absurdity of his plan. “I take it you’re here for our common friend?” As much as he hated perpetuating a charade in this moment, he didn’t know if Kier had told Moss about his past. All evidence seemed to indicate to that, but he couldn’t be certain.

Moss arched a brow at him, but gave him an out regardless. “Do you know where Kier is?”

So Moss did, indeed, know. That made things easier, and to a certain extent, relieved him. “I’ve just managed to burst free of my imprisonment,” he replied. “I’ve been hoping to find Kier myself.”

“Not in this state you don’t.” Moss managed to sound both reprimanding and concerned at the same time.

“The human is right,” Dante said from behind him. Vane almost jumped in surprise, having completely forgotten about the presence of the bloodkin prince. “When is the last time you’ve fed?”

“A week ago, more or less,” Vane reluctantly replied.

Moss gasped. “No wonder you look pale. And you’re injured as well. You have to take my blood.”

Moss pressed his body against Vane’s and tilted his head. “Go on.”

Vane’s fangs descended, and hunger swelled, powerful and hot, inside him. In the background, he heard Eli ask, “Do we really have to do this now?” Eli asked.

“It would be best if we did,” Dante replied. “There’s no telling how the situation will progress from now on. But we should find a better place for you to do this. Come. I will lead you to my chambers.”

The prince’s hand on his shoulder drew Vane out of his daze. He nodded and stepped away from Moss. He shouldn’t even be considering taking Moss up on his offer, not after what happened between them last time.

“Thank you,” he told Dante. “It might be best.”

He watched as Dante moved to a bookcase and pulled a volume out. The shelves parted, revealing a secret passage. Taking into account the lack of cobwebs, Vane surmised Dante must be using it a lot, perhaps even on a daily basis.

“Follow behind me and step exactly where I do,” the prince instructed. “And don’t lean against the walls. There are traps in this place, and I wouldn’t want you to get maimed or worse.” He paused and gave Moss a thoughtful look. “Perhaps one of you should hold the human.”

Vane immediately grabbed Moss and lifted him up. He might be weak, but he could still protect Moss from something like this. Nodding, Dante walked inside the passage. The corridor was narrow, a cobbled, crumbling pathway crisscrossing in confusing patterns. The prince went slowly, intent on showing them the right bricks to step on. Still, Vane was relieved when Dante somehow opened a door and they emerged in the prince’s chamber. The area lacked the decadence of the throne room, and instead had a lived-in, almost homey feel. Vane even spotted an altar dedicated to Mother Earth.

Vane placed Moss down on a comfortable-looking armchair. “Thank you for helping us,” he said.

Dante retrieved a few glasses and a bottle of wine. “Don’t worry. I’m not doing it for free. Besides, I couldn’t exactly refuse a member of the Starburst clan.”

Eli looked uncomfortable, and Vane didn’t blame him. Elves hated the very mentioning of bloodkin in conversation, and he couldn’t imagine how hard it must be for Eli to be here in Tachaka. It was literally the past coming back to life in front of Eli’s eyes. But the way Dante spoke made Vane think the Starburst had some connection to the imperial bloodkin line. And if Eli had, indeed, asked Dante for help, his relationship with Kier must have been very close.

Moss seemed confused by this turn of the conversation. “If I may be so bold, my prince…What do you mean? And why do you worship Mother Earth?”

Dante poured wine into the glasses as he answered, “Many bloodkin do, although the majority of us have forgotten about the old ways. It’s something we’ve inherited from the elves.”

Moss stared at the prince blankly, and Vane cursed himself for not explaining these things to his human earlier. It would have saved them an unpleasant conversation now.

“You mean Lord Bloodmoor didn’t tell you?” Dante let out a small laugh. “Bloodkin originate from a cross between light elves and dark elves.”

“Can we not talk about this now, please?” Eli shouted, visibly annoyed.

“Don’t get so fussy, sweetheart.” When Eli’s face flushed, Dante laughed. “You have a point, though. Now is not the time for such things.” Dante sipped his wine and nodded toward Vane. “Go ahead and feed.”

Vane blinked at the teasing undertone of the exchange between Eli and Dante, but waved it off. He was too hungry to focus on it now. He understood the purpose of the wine. If Vane preferred to keep things more impersonal, he could mix Moss’s blood with the alcohol and simply drink it. It would keep the blood frenzy from manifesting with too much intensity and offer him the nutrients in the blood in a gradual degree.

Dante pulled Eli away while Vane knelt next to Moss. “We shouldn’t be doing this,” he whispered.

“Yes, we should,” Moss shot back. “Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t understand what you did or why.” He hesitated, a flash of hurt making his green eyes deepen to a shade Vane had never seen before. “But even so, I don’t want you weak or hurt.”

“You’re too kind for your own good.”

Even as he spoke, Vane realized Moss had a point. In these circumstances, Vane would need his strength if he wanted to keep himself and the others safe.

He took the glass of wine and reached for Moss’s wrist. “We’ll do it like this now.”

Moss nodded, and Vane could swear his human felt relieved, to a certain extent. It hurt him, but he couldn’t blame Moss. The last time Moss offered himself, Vane had taken his gift and twisted it into something horrible.

Vane bit down on Moss’s wrist, and the taste of delicious blood immediately exploded in his mouth. After so many days of abstinence, the flavor made his head spin. Only because of their more platonic position did he manage to pull away from the wound. When he looked up at Moss’s face, he saw the human looked flushed, green eyes dazed with arousal.

Vane averted his gaze, knowing they couldn’t start something here, not now with so much between them and in such a dangerous situation. He grabbed Moss’s wrist and held it over the wineglass, squeezing lightly. Drops of blood slipped into the glass, mixing with the red liquid in a perfect symphony of color. When Vane deemed the combination appropriate, he licked the wound and stopped the blood flow.

Realizing he needed more, he poured himself another glass of wine and repeated the process with Moss’s other wrist. This time, the liquid took the edge off his hunger, and he felt strength flow through him again.

When he finished, he kissed both of Moss’s wrists. “Thank you, my beauty.”

“No problem,” Moss replied, still sounding a bit breathless.

Vane got up and looked around to find Dante and Eli. The two were nowhere to be seen. Surprised, Vane headed toward the adjoining chamber. When he reached the doorway, he spotted the couple, surprisingly all over each other on Dante’s bed. He gaped in shock. So the slight sexual undertone he’d caught earlier had not been his imagination.

The two broke apart, panting hard. At last, Dante got off Eli and turned toward Vane. “Are you done?” he asked. He’d have seemed unmoved, but underneath his mask, Vane could sense lingering arousal.

“I’m done,” Vane answered.

Eli hastily slipped off the bed and arranged his clothes and hair with trembling hands. “Can we get moving, please? We still have to find Kier.”

Vane caught a flash of something familiar and dangerous in Dante’s eyes, but then, the prince nodded. “It’s like this. My father has Cole Bloodmoor and your friend, Kier, in the dungeons.”

“What?” Vane gaped at the prince. “That’s not right. Cole is his lover.”

He realized what he’d said a second too late, but Dante didn’t look shocked. “He is, indeed. But how could he not have realized Cole still wanted the elf? Give your Imperator a little more credit. He hasn’t lasted for so long on the throne by allowing his underlings to lead him around by his cock.”

“But then why is he breaking the Covenant?” It didn’t make any sense. After his meeting with Cole, Vane had been convinced his brother manipulated the Imperator into this disastrous political maneuver. Had it all been a lie?

Dante confirmed his suspicions. “He’s been planning to do it for years now. The Covenant binds him to a certain extent, and he needed to wait until the nobles found it just as restricting. This is a perfect opportunity, and he just used your brother for his own amusement.”

A feeling of dread swamped Vane. “Then there’s no way we can stop him from unleashing war upon our nations.”

“That would be true, if he remains on the throne.” Dante gave Vane a look full of meaning.

Realization dawned on Vane. “You’re planning a coup? You can’t be serious. With what army? Everyone obeys the Imperator and would give their lives for him.”

Dante shook his head. “Not everyone agrees with him, and even he cannot know everything. He is always watching my older siblings, but he does not suspect me, for example.”

“Because you would not have anything to gain if he lost the throne.” Moss spoke for the first time. “Your older brother would become Imperator.”

“Exactly. But I do need a force to take him out. That’s where you come in. Assassins are often more effective than a large army.”

Assassins? Vane couldn’t believe his ears. He’d never have expected Dante out of all people to say this about his own sire. “Dante, you’re talking about patricide and treason. Are you certain?”

“I assure you, I’ve considered every other option. This must be done, for everyone’s sake.”

Dante didn’t sound hesitant, and Vane remembered the imperial line had a history of assassinating Imperators. In fact, Aran had inherited the throne after his own father had been assassinated. Ironically, the guilty party, Aran’s older brother, had been caught red-handed. Aran’s first action as Imperator had been to execute his own sibling. Vane still remembered the pained, yet cool look on Aran’s face as he did so. Where had that man gone? Had Aran’s heart been completely corrupted by the power?

Vane suppressed a sigh. Taking into account the circumstances, he agreed with Dante, but he wished he could find some other way out. “I assume you have a plan, then.”

“Originally, I intended to use hired mercenaries, but this is better. I need someone who can cast a better glamour than me. You and the elf are powerful enough, especially together. My father won’t sense you.” Dante poured himself more wine, sipping some of the liquid nonchalantly, as if he weren’t speaking about murdering his own father. “Tonight, he is dining in his quarters. I heard through the grapevine your friends will attend. I’m sure they’ll provide the entertainment in some sick way.”

Vane could easily imagine the picture Dante painted. But how would they be able to kill the Imperator, even if they did go there?

“At any rate, I will visit him, with the human in tow,” Dante continued. “The excuse will be bringing him an extra treat for dinner.” He gave Eli and Vane a sly look. “You know what I’m getting at, don’t you?”

“No! No way.” Vane glared at Dante, anger flowing through his every pore. He refused to risk Moss with such a foolhardy plan.

Unfortunately, the human chose this exact moment to show up. “Wait a second. Don’t decide for me. What is he talking about?”

Eli hesitated a few seconds before replying, “There is a potion…We elves crafted it, to prevent bloodkin from feeding on our blood. It is ancient, and also tasteless and odorless. Few even know about its existence, now that our two races have little contact. Basically, the person who drinks it will have his blood poisoned for a short amount of time. It doesn’t hurt the carrier. However, if a bloodkin attempts to feed, the lethal substance attacks him.”

“That’s a brilliant plan,” Moss said, excited. “Let’s do it.”

Vane moved to his human’s side and physically shook him. “Moss, you’re not an elf. You don’t know how the potion will affect you.”

“But there is no other way,” Moss shot back. “Is there?”

Dante shook his head. “Not if you want to save your friends.”

In that moment, Vane hated Dante. Moss would never refuse helping Kier. It wasn’t in his nature. Dante clearly intended to use them, and Vane made a mental note to keep a close eye on the prince. If Aran was deceitful, his son could be just like him.

“Don’t you dare double-cross us, Dante,” he said, forgoing all formality. “If anything happens to Moss, you’ll die before your father.”

Dante just smiled. “Noted.”

“One more question,” Moss piped in. “If things do go well, how will we get out of there?”

“Leave our escape to me,” Dante answered. “I’ll arrange for certain guards to be on watch tonight. Now, should we get this show on the road?”

* * * *

That evening, Moss walked by Dante’s side, doing his best to look like a mind-controlled slave. So far, things were progressing nicely. Dante provided the items needed for the potion, and Eli brewed it. Against Vane’s will, Moss drank it, and he could feel no side effects, no dizziness or shortness of breath. But the hard part would just start now. They were entering the proverbial den of the wolf, and he didn’t know if they’d get out of here alive.

Several times, he noted the guards they passed nodding at Dante. He guessed the prince had, indeed, made arrangements for their safety. Moss didn’t know what to think about this plan, but they didn’t have much choice. Without Dante’s help, they’d never manage to get Kier out, or save Vane’s brother.

The Imperator’s quarters were in the same wing as Dante’s, but the distance between the two chambers remained staggering. The walk there seemed to take forever, and every second, Moss thought they would be discovered. Surely with the number of servants running around, someone would realize two men walked behind them, hidden by a heavy glamour.

But no one stopped them. No one even blinked an eye at the sight of the prince bringing his father a pretty gift. Of course, Moss didn’t exactly enjoy being the gift in question, or being the weapon that would kill someone. But there were lives at stake here, and the potential stability of an entire realm.

Half of him hoped he wouldn’t have to go through with this after all. The other only worried about getting himself and his loved ones out of this predicament.

All too soon, they reached the Imperator’s chambers. “A present for my sire,” Dante said to the stationed guards.

The men chuckled. “I would keep the human for myself, my lord, if I were you.”

Dante shook his head and smiled. “I like to think I have a little more control than that.”

The men smirked and let them through. It would seem Dante was on good terms with the army members, a good thing if he intended a coup.

As they entered the quarters of the bloodkin ruler, Moss heard a heated discussion taking place. “Aran, what are you doing?” a man asked. “We’ve talked about this.”

“Have we?” another replied in a theatrically surprised tone. “Very well, my dear Cole. If you love me so much, prove it. Kill this elf for me. It shouldn’t be too hard. You hate him, don’t you?”

“Go ahead, Cole,” Kier’s voice said. “You know you want to.”

Urgency filled Moss. It seemed Dante had been right about one thing. The only way to save their friends would be to kill the Imperator.

They got to the Imperator’s lounge just in time to see a very bruised-looking Kier kneeling in front of a handsome man who had the same striking looks as Vane. Sitting on a divan, a beautiful bloodkin watched them with obvious amusement—the Imperator, if Moss guessed by his resemblance to Dante. In the background, several men waited, like statues, seeming completely unmoved by the unfolding drama.

“Go on,” the Imperator—Aran—said. “It’s easy. Snap his neck.”

Cole hesitated, then shook his head. “I can’t.”

Aran’s expression instantly changed. He got up, his stance screaming dangerous, predatory intent. With the Imperator so angry and his imperial guards watching every motion in the room, the situation seemed very glum indeed. Dante cleared his throat, interrupting the scene before it could escalate into violence.

“Greetings, Father. Am I interrupting something important?”

Aran turned toward them and smiled. “Not really, although I taught you better manners than to just burst in like this.”

There was an underlining reprimand, and Moss wondered if the Imperator had missed their approach. “Apologies, Sire. I didn’t think it would bother you.”

“It doesn’t.” Aran laughed. “If anything, I should be thankful. Lately, I need to watch my back all the time.”

Terror filled Moss at the Imperator’s words. Had Aran realized their plan with such ease? How?

Strikingly, Dante didn’t seem fazed by his father’s answer. “That’s why we are here, my lord,” he replied without missing a beat, “so you wouldn’t have to worry.”

Aran sat down on the divan once more. “Indeed. So to what do I owe this visit?”

Dante pushed Moss forward. “I bring a gift. Since His Majesty did not enjoy my present a fortnight ago, I decided to try again.”

“Oh, Dante. Always so thoughtful. I wish your brothers were a little more like you.”

To Moss, those words sounded genuinely affectionate, and he sensed Dante hesitate as well. So the prince did have doubts about killing his father. They couldn’t turn back now. It was too late.

Aran gestured them closer, having apparently forgotten all about Kier and Cole. Moss would’ve been pleased, but Aran’s attention now focused on him, and that made him very uncomfortable. “He is, indeed, quite a beauty,” the Imperator said. “Have you sampled him?”

Dante shook his head. “No, Sire. I did scent his blood. I believe you will find him delicious.”

In a flash, Aran pulled Moss on the divan next to him. Moss gasped, unprepared at the sudden motion. “Let’s taste him then, shall we?”

A hint of fang scraped against Moss’s neck and he shuddered in revulsion. Vane had done this so many times, and yet, with the Imperator, it felt so very different. Moss closed his eyes and forced himself to be still and not fight. It is the only way, he told himself.

Just when he thought Aran would bite him, the Imperator pushed him away. “Do you take me for a fool, Dante? I know how treason smells, and I know a wolf in sheep’s clothing when I see one.”

Confused and dazed, Moss didn’t process Aran’s words for a few seconds. When he at last did, he began to scamper away, only to be grabbed in an ironlike vise. “And this, my dear son, is one beautiful trap.”

“Father, I don’t understand what you mean,” Dante attempted.

“This toy…” Aran’s hold on Moss’s arm tightened as he spoke. “This plaything you’ve brought me is infected with that disgusting potion of the elves. Blood Freedom, I think they call it, or something equally as ridiculous. I can smell it on him.”

How? Eli had said the potion was odorless. How had Aran smelled it? “My lord, there must be some mistake. I would never…”

Aran stopped Dante’s lies with just a glance. “Then you drink his blood,” he snarled. The affection from before had completely vanished. “Prove to me he is as delicious as you say. But first, we’ll split him open, just to make sure he doesn’t carry any other surprises inside.”

Aran didn’t get to say anything else. A growl sounded from behind Dante, and then Aran flew off Moss, cast aside by an invisible force. As the glamour faded, Moss saw Vane in front of him, baring his fangs at Aran.

Immediately, the imperial guards spurred into motion, ready to take Vane on. Aran shook his head as he got up, stopping them in their tracks. “Vane Bloodmoor. What an interesting surprise. Seems you have allies still, my dear Cole. Or perhaps your brother has come for the elf?”

Nobody spoke. In these circumstances, they no longer had a chance to defeat Aran. The plan had been foolhardy to begin with.

Aran waved a hand, and a soldier immediately provided him with a goblet filled with liquid. “Tell you what,” he said. “I’m feeling merciful today. Take the elf and the human and go. It seems I have more important matters in my own house to attend to.”

This had to be a trick. Even Moss, who had very little experience with bloodkin, realized that. The reason for Aran’s sudden compassion appeared mere seconds later. “Oh, and Vane…I would say good-bye to your brother if I were you.”

* * * *

Vane felt as if he’d somehow fallen into a nightmare. He’d never agreed to Dante’s plan, especially given the risk to Moss’s safety. But Moss would not be deterred, no matter how hard Vane tried to change his mind. Orders didn’t work and the circumstances didn’t allow them too much alone time.

Vane had been faced with a choice, to risk his human’s welfare over his brother’s and best friend’s lives. He’d have chosen Moss, even with the knowledge that guilt over Kier’s death would always plague them. Moss’s stubbornness and his caring nature had stopped him from having his way.

It turned out now he’d been at least half-right. The plan had failed abysmally. Aran might be saying he’d let them go now, but Vane had no doubt the Imperator would send people to hunt them down and kill them.

And then there was Cole. In spite of the enmity between Vane and his brother, Vane never wished for Cole to die. In fact, he’d secretly wanted for them to mend their relationship, perhaps find some way to bridge the abyss between them.

Judging by Cole’s expression, the man might’ve wanted the same thing, at least to a certain extent. Cole pulled Kier up and ushered him in Vane’s direction. His dark gaze held a silent apology when he said, “Get out of here, Vane. Go on.”

Vane couldn’t do anything to save his brother. The Imperator retrieved his knife, the one weapon passed down from generation to generation in the imperial family. If Vane used blades for ceremonial purposes, Imperators did so both because of tradition and out of a certain necessity. The Imperial Blade could kill any bloodkin, regardless of their power and age.

Vane took a step forward and tried, “Your Majesty, please reconsider. It doesn’t have to be this way.”

Aran didn’t even grace him with a look. He shifted the knife in his hands, smirking. “I do love a beautiful target. Go on, Cole. Try to escape.”

Vane knew for a fact Aran was wickedly skilled with throwing knives. But Cole didn’t even attempt to move, and Aran’s expression once again twisted into disgust. “Coward.”

Aran flipped the blade in his palm, his eye on Cole’s chest. As the Imperator balanced the knife and threw it straight at Cole, several things happened at the same time. Kier reached out for Cole helplessly, crying out in pain and sorrow. Moss tried to rush forward, but Vane held both his friend and his human back. And Dante lunged toward his father and landed right between Aran and Cole. “No, don’t!”

Aran’s eyes widened, having not expected his son to try and take Cole’s defense. “Dante!” he called out.

Not even Aran could now stop the course of the events. The blade flew so fast Vane could barely even see it and stuck straight into Dante’s chest. Dante’s eyes widened, and he stared at the knife embedded in his flesh in disbelief. Seconds seemed to turn into ages, a stupor of disbelief settling over Vane and everyone else in the room. No one moved a muscle, no one even breathed. It was only when Dante crumbled into a heap to the ground that Aran broke out of his daze and rushed to his son.

He flipped Dante on his back with a gentleness that seemed out of character for the bloodkin tyrant. Dante’s embroidered shirt already bore a dark tint of red teeming from over his heart. “Father, I…”

“I know, child. I know. Don’t speak.” Aran looked at his guards and shouted, “What are you doing, standing there for? Get some help!”

Dante took his father’s hand and squeezed it. “Don’t. We both know nothing is going to help me now.” His voice sounded weak now, and Vane could barely even hear it. “Promise me. Promise me you won’t break the Covenant, and you won’t ever let anyone do so.”

Aran clung to his son’s palm and nodded. “I promise.”

“And that…you won’t h–hurt…I want El…”

His eyes fixed on something beyond Aran’s shoulders, and he reached out in a clear gesture of desperation. A slight shift in the air alerted Vane to what was going on. Realization dawned on him. Eli had intelligently stood cloaked all this time, without revealing his presence, but with Dante dying there, in front of him, the elf would give himself away.

Following his instincts, Vane reached out into thin air and caught Eli’s arm. “Don’t. You can’t help him. You’ll just get caught.”

Eli released himself from Vane’s grip, but then Vane saw Dante mouth something that seemed like, “Go…Live…I…”

The words became unintelligible as the light dimmed in Dante’s eyes, then faded altogether. Vane surmised Dante intended to tell his father not to hurt them, but never had the chance. This was a very bad thing for them. For all his faults, Aran seemed to love his now deceased son, and he’d choose to take revenge on them.

Eli had frozen on the spot, and the glamour around the elf was fading. Vane swiftly shielded them both, as well as Moss and Kier.

Chaos erupted around them as the Imperator screamed, “No! Dante…No!” Guards rushed around, not knowing what to do, obviously startled at the Imperator’s show of emotion. Vane needed to find a way out for them, before it was too late. “Come, we need to go,” he whispered.

Kier shook his head and threw a look Cole’s way. “I can’t. Not without him.”

Thankfully, Cole must’ve heard or felt Kier’s desires, as he made his way toward them. To Vane’s surprise, his brother took Kier’s hand and kissed it. “Let’s get out of here.”

The whole exchange lasted maybe a minute, during which Aran focused on Dante, holding him close and weeping openly. Before they could make their escape, however, Aran recovered, and his eyes snapped open. “What are you doing, fools? Cover all exits. I want them caught.”

Mobilized by their lord’s order, the Imperial guards posted themselves around the doors. But sheer luck or some sort of divine intervention made the people from outside burst in upon hearing the commotion. Vane wondered what they thought upon seeing Dante on the ground, in the arms of a bloody Imperator, the Imperial Blade stuck in his chest. He got his reply when Dante’s men advanced on Aran’s. What did they intend to do? Avenging Dante made no sense now, and Vane very much doubted Dante would have wanted them to die for him.

A soft voice drew Vane’s attention. “This way.”

Vane jumped, having almost forgotten about the elf’s presence with how silent the man had been. But Eli’s voice, in spite of its weakness, drew Cole’s attention. “What’s he doing here?” he whispered.

“Not now,” Eli answered. “Keep your temper in check until we actually get out of here alive.”

So Cole and Eli knew and hated each other. To Vane, it seemed their chances of escape were getting slimmer and slimmer by the second. By some miracle, Cole did keep his mouth shut. Vane followed the elf and noticed an opening behind Dante’s men. With the Imperial guards distracted, they managed to flee the lounge.

But the corridors would be flooded with guards by now. Getting out of the palace and the capital wouldn’t be so easy. This time, Cole came to their aid. “There is a passageway from Aran’s bedroom. We can escape through there, until he figures out where we’ve gone. But it won’t hold them back for long.”

“A few miles from Tachaka there is a gateway to Manturanael,” Eli said. “If we reach that point, we’ll be out of their reach.”

The exchange seemed polite enough, but Vane caught the undercurrent of tension. Cole glared daggers at Eli as he spoke. For Eli’s part, the man sounded absent, as if his mind weren’t quite there. He kept glancing back to the lounge, his white complexion almost pasty. All the while, Kier looked at them, shoulders slumped as if in defeat.

In the end, Cole nodded and led them to the bedroom. The room smelled like sex, and Kier tensed up upon seeing the mess of sheets. Cole must have slept with Aran just before the entire dinner debacle. A conflict could have started right then and there, but Kier had too much dignity to cause a scene. They heard voices just outside and Cole rushed to open a passage behind a bookcase, much like Dante had done in his own quarters. “Follow my exact steps and—”

“Don’t touch the walls,” Vane interrupted him. “Yes, we know. Now lead the way.”

Cole wordlessly obeyed, and Vane lifted Moss in his arms once again. This time, they didn’t have time to go slow, and the speed with which they moved gave Vane the impression the corridor would crumble on top of them any moment now. He shut down his emotions in a distant part of himself and focused on his abilities. There could be no failure if he wanted to get himself and his loved ones out.

At last, Cole stopped, hesitated briefly, then opened a door in front of them. They left the corridor and emerged into an armory. “We should be able to go out to the kitchens from here and from there outside the palace and into the city.”

They did just that, although Vane did stop to grab a few weapons for them. Better equipped, they ran out of the armory and into a storage area. Foodstuffs surrounded them, emanating enticing smells, but Vane didn’t bother with such things. A hearty meal wouldn’t help them if Aran caught them.

The kitchens were empty, the servants having obviously run off to see what was going on. Outside, however, they ran into a group of veteran guards. Vane hoped their glamour would help them get away unseen, but it must’ve faded during their insane trek here. Too much strain could do that to any elf or bloodkin. The soldiers spotted them. “In the name of the Imperator, stop this instant.”

Vane ignored the guard and scanned the area for a way out. “The stables, quick,” Cole said.

“What kind of horses can possibly help us now?” Moss asked, still in Vane’s arms. The human couldn’t have kept up with their pace, but luckily, he weighed very little, so Vane didn’t have any trouble carrying him.

Cole grinned. “Bloodkin horses.”

A special breed of horses, the bloodkin horses were reserved strictly for the Imperator’s use. The strongest stallions were chosen for the task of insemination, as well as beautiful, pure mares. Once the seed took root, the breeders added blood essence to the mare’s feed. The process had been perfected in time, and the resulting animals were among the fastest and fiercest beasts in existence.

Vane hoped his brother knew what he was doing, because such horses could be very dangerous. But so far, Cole had not led them astray. They followed Cole to the stables. Yet again, they ran into a number of guards, but they didn’t bother with stealth. Cole and Eli took them out in a few swift and agile motions.

At last, they reached the corral holding the horses. The animals reared and bucked, neighing agitatedly and baring sharp fangs at them. “Are you sure about this, Cole?” Vane asked.

“We don’t have much choice, I’m afraid.”

Eli nodded. “I hate to agree with him, but the gateway is too far for us to reach before they catch us, and there’d be over three dozen guards between us and that area.”

Vane had no idea how Eli would know that, but it was, indeed, the case. Still, the horses looked like they were going to eat them alive. When Cole jumped inside the corral, one of the beasts lunged at him, missing Cole’s throat only because he backed away at the last moment.

“This is hopeless,” Kier said. “We’re wasting time.”

Eli sighed. “Let me. I’ve always been good with animals.”

“Yeah, I bet, since you’re not so good with people,” Cole answered, voice dripping with poison.

“Cole, drop it, please,” Kier said with a sigh.

Vane felt like he’d ended up in a weird triangle of emotions. This was a terrible time for Cole to be jealous. Thankfully, Eli didn’t take the bait. Instead, the elf slipped inside the corral, and the beasts immediately began to quiet down. As Eli murmured to them, Vane felt a weird emotion stir in his heart. It was as if Eli’s words held a silent sorrow. A flash of memory passed through Vane—Dante dying on the floor of his father’s lounge—and he swallowed against the knot in his throat. He shouldn’t care about it, but he did. Dante had died to protect Cole, and he’d been so young. Vane wished things could have been different. Why did ideals always have to kill?

Miraculously, Eli pacified the horses and led them out of the corral. There were three animals, so Vane and Moss took one, Cole and Kier the second, and Eli the third. Cole rode out of the stables, with Vane and Eli following.

They went so fast it even surprised Vane. Moss cuddled against his chest, obviously frightened, but not saying anything that would give him away. Moss’s heat felt good against him, and in spite of the entire situation, Vane’s dick hardened. Not that Vane intended to do anything about it, not anytime soon at least.

Cole led them out of the palace grounds, passing by confused guards and dodging flying arrows. In the distance, Vane thought he could hear Aran shouting, but he ignored it. The busy Tachaka streets were even more difficult to navigate through. At this hour, bloodkin of all ages filled the pathways, and it took all of Vane’s expertise in horse riding to avoid trampling the people in his way.

City guards tried to stop them, but failed. Then, Vane spotted the city gates straight ahead. They were closing. It would be a close call. Cole sped up, and so did Vane and Eli. They managed to jump over the guards blocking their way and slip outside seconds before the heavy gates shut.

Even so, they weren’t out of the woods yet. From the barricades, archers shot at them and the gates would reopen any moment now. They needed to make haste toward Manturanael.

As the only one who knew their current destination, Eli rode ahead. Behind them, a cloud of dust rose, visible even through the darkness of the Tachakan plains. Their horses bravely kept on racing, but they would begin to tire soon. Not even bloodkin-bred animals were immune to fatigue.

The miles seemed to stretch on and on, until at last, Eli began to slow down. “It’s here,” he said.

Vane couldn’t see anything, but then again, he was bloodkin, not an elf. Bloodkin had lost many of their original elf abilities, including the one allowing them to use the natural elven portals leading to Manturanael and back to the main continent. In a sense, Vane couldn’t be more thankful for it. Had bloodkin been able to use these portals, a war between them and the elves would have erupted a long time ago.

Eli ushered them into a small grove and gestured for them to gather around next to a tree stump. The portals were always in a seemingly innocuous place, but in a very specific spot. In Vane’s former residence, it had been marked by a gazebo. Ironically, Vane himself had built it, somehow feeling the special energies around it, but only after Kier discovered it did they realize a portal was there.

As they dismounted, Vane gave Eli an inquiring look. “Are we taking the horses as well?”

Eli nodded. “They deserve better treatment, especially after saving our lives.”

“Besides, if we just vanished into thin air, without the horses, it would be even clearer than it already is that we used a portal,” Kier added, entwining his fingers through the fine hairs of his horse’s mane.

No one asked any more questions. With Kier still weak, Eli did the honors of summoning the energies of the portal. Vane had been through this several times before, so the sensation of swirling didn’t take him by surprise. Animals coped with the transition well, but he didn’t know if Cole and Moss had ever been to Manturanael. His human might’ve visited since he knew Eli, but the process would still be difficult on him.

Still, when the dizzying void melted into the elven lands, Vane felt relieved. They’d gotten out of their predicament unscathed. That, in and of itself, was a miracle.

Vane had the distant thought Moss’s skin now matched the color of his eyes. Cole looked similarly affected, but he recovered faster. The horses, completely unfazed, ran off to hunt some dinner.

“So now what?” Kier asked, sitting on a tree stump positioned in an exact corresponding position as the one in the Tachakan plains.

Good question. They couldn’t stay here and risk the elves finding them. They’d be better off in Aran’s dungeons. Out of all things, he didn’t expect Moss to reply, and yet, his human did. “I have a suggestion, or rather, a request. Would you help me go back to Elmya? My parents and siblings might be in danger.”

Moss had a point. If Aran couldn’t find them, he might try to hurt Moss’s family instead. Moss didn’t seem to realize this, as Vane could sense no panic, only concern. Vane made a mental note to be careful what he said around his human.

Cole hummed thoughtfully. “You have a point. Given the prince’s death, Aran might want to take revenge on them.”

Moss’s eyes widened. “But they don’t have anything to do with this,” he cried.

“No, they don’t, but sometimes, that doesn’t matter,” Vane answered. He held Moss tightly, trying to be as comforting as possible in the circumstances. “We’ll go, Moss, if you want to.”

“You can count on me,” Kier offered. “What about your uncle? Would he be in danger, too?”

Moss trembled in Vane’s arms. “I–I don’t know. I haven’t seen him in many years.”

“We’ll split up,” Cole said. “Kier and I will go see your uncle. You and Vane can go to Elmya.”

The tone didn’t leave any room for comment, and Vane arched a brow at his brother. Cole’s sudden agreement to Moss’s plea had nothing to do with generosity or helpfulness. It was clearly sheer jealousy, him not wanting Kier with Vane.

How long had his brother stewed in his own poison? Did he believe Vane slept with Kier? Vane would have never done something like that. Kier was beautiful, yes, but Vane cared about him like he would, well, a brother.

“Cole, they need an elf to help them travel to the portals,” Kier said weakly.

“Eli can go with them,” Cole shot back. As he did so, he directed an ugly look at Eli. Jealousy toward both Vane and Eli, then.

“My, aren’t you presumptuous?” Vane couldn’t help but say. “Perhaps Eli doesn’t even want to come, now that Kier is safe.”

Eli shrugged. “It doesn’t matter if I do or don’t come. I have nowhere else to be.”

Cole crossed his arms over his chest and smirked in satisfaction. “There you have it. Kier and I will travel over the Great Waters, and the rest of you can go to Elmya.”

Vane would have been annoyed, but he sensed something else under the smugness. Relief, perhaps? Vane imagined how he’d feel if he were separated from Moss for fifty years. He didn’t think he would be sane, either.

So he remained quiet and went along with it. Perhaps, in the end, his brother and Kier would manage to solve their personal issues as they should have from the very beginning, on their own. And perhaps Kier, with his love and affection, could quiet Cole’s demons. Vane could only hope so.

“But where will we meet up?” Moss asked. “Where will we take them?”

Eli smiled sadly. “Where else? Here.”

Chapter Nine

A few days later

The houses of Elmya rose in the distance, beckoning Moss home. The familiar sight should have been comforting, and to a certain extent, it was. But shadows loomed over Moss’s heart. He had yet to figure out things with Vane, and he didn’t know how they would be received in the mostly human town. He feared what he would find in Elmya. Would his family be all right? And if so, how would they treat him once they found out he’d somehow become entangled with the same people who’d taken their home and fortune?

After the departure from Manturanael, Moss and his companions settled in a peculiar and awkward routine. Vane seemed to want to say something, but every time, he stopped himself and made random conversation instead. Vane had fed from him a couple of times, but always the way he’d done back in Dante’s quarters. The clinical efficiency bothered Moss. The closer they got to Elmya, the further apart he and Vane grew.

The elf’s presence made things even worse. True, Eli had been quiet. He hadn’t spoken a word unless addressed directly, and Moss wondered what thoughts passed through Eli’s head. The elf hadn’t been particularly talkative before, but this seemed a bit too much. He’d pretty much declared they’d use a gateway to transport themselves closer to Elmya, and from there, ride on to Moss’s hometown. After that, he focused on doing his part, keeping watch when he was due, hunting when he needed to, but avoiding any other interaction. Sometimes, Vane caught Eli muttering under his breath, talking to himself. It was creepy, and he didn’t know what to believe.

They were very close to Elmya now, and deep into human lands. Still, Moss knew the bloodkin presence to be powerful in the area, so Vane’s decision to enter the town under glamour didn’t surprise him. “We’ll have to use my powers to bypass the guards without being seen,” Vane said.

Moss nodded wordlessly, his eyes on the city gates. Originally a farming town, Elmya had grown in time, becoming a very prosperous establishment. The walls and gates had been built to prevent invaders from stealing the newly acquired wealth. But it hadn’t prevented the bloodkin from bursting inside, nor would they stop Vane. Technically speaking, Vane could have just jumped over, but Moss insisted in keeping things as ordinary as possible. He preferred to arrive on a horse, and at least hold a pretense of normality. Not that things could be in any way normal around bloodkin. Moss was learning everything he’d thought as a generally applied rule didn’t matter in the world of the bloodkin.

But with Vane’s arm holding his waist, Moss couldn’t quite bring himself to care. He wished Vane would just say something. He wanted his master to explain, to tell him what to do and what would happen. Sometimes, the memories of his whipping still came back, but they were fading now, the fear of losing Vane altogether taking their place.

At last, they reached the strong gates of Elmya. It was well after nightfall, a good thing since the cover of darkness made the bloodkin horses less jumpy. They’d taken two of the beasts—the same ones who’d previously saved their lives—and the speed of the animals ensured they reached Elmya in record time. However, bloodkin horses turned out to be quite restless in human establishments.

“Who goes there?” a guardsman asked from the top of the parapet.

“We’re travelers heading north,” Vane replied smoothly. “We seek to rest at your inn.”

Moss could feel the slight sway of power in Vane’s voice, and the guard’s watchfulness melted. “I see. Open the gates,” he shouted to someone else.

Moss heard the heavy barrier lift, and then the gates opened, revealing several more guards who gave them suspicious looks. “Thank you,” Vane said with fake honesty. “We’re very weary and who knows what beasts are out there in the wild.”

This time, the power was even more seductive, and the guards let them pass with well-wishes and direction toward the best inn. Naturally, Vane ignored them and headed in the direction of Moss’s home. Moss didn’t even ask how Vane knew where to go. The bloodkin must’ve seen it in Moss’s memories.

At last, they reached the outskirts of the city. The sight of their little cabin made Moss’s heart constrict, but relief flowed through him when he noticed the silhouettes moving around the house. Judging by the motions of the figures and the voices he heard coming from inside, his family was all right.

Moss bit his lip, anxiety and affection swirling inside him. He wanted to see them so much, but he’d tell them they needed to leave everything they knew and loved behind. He’d have to confess his affection for a bloodkin. Moss didn’t feel ashamed of it, but his father would never understand.

Without allowing himself to muse over the great number of ways this could go wrong, Moss dismounted. Behind him, his companions followed his example. Vane squeezed Moss’s shoulder and walked with him toward the house door. “It will be okay.”

Moss offered Vane a smile he did not feel and nodded. At last, Kier tied the horses’ reins to a nearby tree and joined them. “Here goes nothing.”

Taking a deep breath, he knocked at the door. The noise inside dwindled, and heavy steps approached. “Yeah? Who is it?” a rough voice asked.

Moss immediately recognized it as belonging to his father. “It’s me, Dad. Moss.”

The door burst open in a flash, and Moss found himself pulled into a strong embrace. “Where have you been, boy? What happened to you? I sent your uncle a letter and just got a reply saying you never got there. We were so worried.”

Moss broke away from his father and tried to figure out a way to explain. “I’m sorry. It’s just that…”

He trailed off, unsure of what to say. I met a bloodkin and fell in love with him? No. He didn’t even know if he truly loved Vane, or if his relationship with the man had any future.

Before he could find a way to explain, his mother approached. “Duncan? Who is it?”

She held a mug of steamy liquid in her hand, and when she saw him, she gasped and dropped the cup. It shattered against the floor, milk spilling out in a marble-white pool. Moss registered all this almost as through a dream. His mother had deep circles under her eyes, and her hair had more threads of gray than before. Had she aged since he’d last seen her? That was impossible, right? He’d only left home a month back, although it seemed like at least a year now.

“Mom?” he asked hesitantly.

Olivia rushed to him and engulfed him in a tight hug. “Moss, oh, Moss…” His mother sobbed, clinging to his shirt. “I thought you were gone. I thought you were dead. I’m sorry, so sorry. We never should’ve sent you away.”

Guilt showered Moss at her words. Why had he never written to tell them about his new job? True, they’d have been concerned if they knew the truth about his new employer, but he could’ve made up some lie instead of delaying it indefinitely. He was such a coward.

All the noise drew the children’s attention and Moss heard the thud of little feet approaching. “Moss?” Jo’s voice asked.

Olivia released him and Moss’s gaze fell on his siblings. “Hi there, squirt.”

Lam and Jo ran toward him, hugging his knees clumsily. “Moss, Moss! You’re back.”

Moss picked Lam up and smiled. “Indeed, I am.”

And then, Lam tilted his head inquiringly and looked over Moss’s shoulder. “Who are they?”

All this time, during Moss’s reunion with his parents, Moss and Eli had remained cloaked. Apparently, Lam had somehow seen through the glamour. Duncan cursed and took a few steps back. “Bloodkin.” From behind a shelf, he retrieved a bat. “Get out. Get out of here, you monsters.”

Apparently, Eli’s outlandish looks were enough to classify him as bloodkin. “There’s no need for that,” Moss rushed to say. “They’re friends of mine.” Distantly, he registered the fact that his father knew about the identity of the bloodkin now.

“Friends?” Duncan repeated in disbelief. “You’re not serious.”

Vane chose this exact moment to introduce himself. “Greetings, Lord Hayden, Lady Hayden. I’m Vane Bloodmoor and this is Eli Starburst.”

Olivia looked very pale now. “This isn’t happening.”

Everything was moving too fast, and his parents were already drawing the wrong conclusions. “Don’t be afraid, Mom. They’re good people.”

Instead of helping, the words seemed to inflame Duncan further. “Good people? How could you do this, Moss? How could you consort with a bloodkin?”

“Father, I…”

“What did I tell you when you left home? Are you so daft you cannot listen to one word of advice?”

Moss winced. His father had never once spoken like this to him. He’d also never let on he might have known more about the strangers in their time than Moss had originally realized.

“Daddy, what’s wrong?” Jo asked in a small voice. “What’s the matter? Did Moss do something bad?”

To Moss’s surprise, Eli answered in Duncan’s stead. “Not at all. Your daddy just didn’t expect extra visitors.” He took a few steps forward and knelt next to the children. “I’ll tell you a little secret. I’m an elf.”

“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.

As the elf began to pull him away, though, Moss finally understood. It wasn’t about want. No matter what Vane had said about himself, the truth was that the bloodkin had selflessly given Moss his freedom. All of Moss’s doubts aside, he could now say that he’d been granted a whole new perspective on life.

He didn’t know if he was ready to find Vane right now. He didn’t know if Vane himself would accept Moss reaching out for him. But Moss was sure of one thing. One day, he would find the bloodkin and make him see the truth. That thought gave him hope and faith in the future.

Epilogue

A few months later

Vane watched the sun set over the sea, the rays making the blue waves eerily bloody. Soon, Vane would be able to leave his home and go out to hunt. He’d delayed it for far too long.

Eli and he had not stayed together for long after leaving Hashiraden. The elf reminded Vane of what he’d lost, and Eli himself seemed resentful of Vane for some reason. In fact, beyond resentful, his weird behavior and mood swings had increased alarmingly. Vane suspected it all amounted to Dante’s death, but he didn’t know how close the two of them had really been. He felt bad for Eli, but they could no longer help each other. They’d split up while still on the continent. Shortly after, Vane had left Kannat and the Tachakan plains behind and taken a ship toward the Outbred Islands.

Living in the Islands had its perks. For one, it was the closest he would ever get to Moss. Manturanael was located somewhere around the area, and elven ships sometimes moored in the harbors. Naturally, no one but the elves could get there by sea, or in any other way for that matter, but something inside Vane refused to give up the thought of seeing Moss. Every time he heard an elf speak in the bazaar, he followed the man, hoping perhaps, by some miracle, Moss had come with him. Moss never did.

Even without his position as a Kin Lord, he was a well-off man and had gold stashed in safe places all over the world. It certainly helped, although Vane knew he’d never be truly safe from Aran. But without an occupation and something to occupy his mind, Vane was left stewing in his desire to see Moss. To a certain extent, he could still sense Moss in his mind, but the feeling stirred the wound in his heart.

The dreams continued, so powerful, vivid, and intense it tore Vane apart every time to realize everything had been just a fantasy. He’d once wondered why Kier still mourned Cole’s loss, even after fifty years of being separated. He’d asked himself who Kier had shared dreams with. Now, he thought maybe all those stories about elven mates had been correct from the very beginning, and Kier had been right all along. And perhaps bloodkin were not so different from elves, after all. They just needed to find the right person to show them that.

Unfortunately, since they were bloodkin, they’d always end up wanting to possess and hurt the person they cared about the most. So Vane’s heart was torn. He wanted to see Moss so badly it hurt, but at the same time, he didn’t know if his human could ever accept Vane’s wicked desires.

But the fact remained that he ended up hiring spies to visit the continent in his stead. News came to him the Covenant remained in place and the Kin Lords were stronger than ever. To his credit, Aran had respected his son’s wishes to the letter. Too bad he decided to do so now, when Vane could not return to his former position.

Unfortunately, he hadn’t been able to contact Cole and Kier after their separation. He had no idea what had happened to his brother, or if they’d manage to find Douglas Hayden. But Kier wouldn’t allow any harm to come to Cole.

Darkness began to fall, and Vane swiftly made his preparations for his feeding expedition. He didn’t need much, just his purse of gold. He’d returned to his habits from before, although the thought of hiring a new “bed and breakfast” bothered him. Perhaps later, when the solitude became too much to bear, he’d do so. For now, he satisfied his blood-feeding urges with discreet whores and relied on a few human servants for most everything else. Sometimes, they tried to persuade him into sexual intercourse, but he never agreed.

After he adequately attired himself, Vane headed out. Even if this house was much smaller than the one he’d owned in Clavar, it felt so much emptier. Ironically, Vane had hated the Clavar mansion. It had been built by a previous Kin Lord, and the decorations always bothered Vane with their vulgarity. How odd that he’d yearn for it now.

As he reached the door, his new human butler handed him his gloves and hat. Vane had a flashback of Kier doing the same thing, a smirk playing on his lips. Acting like Benson had always amused Kier. It had been like a private joke between them. Then Moss had joined in, and they’d been almost like a family. Too bad it had lasted so little.

Vane didn’t even remember the man’s name, so he just nodded in silent thanks. “I won’t be long.”

“Yes, Master,” the human said. “Have a good night.”

The heat of the night air hit him as he left the house. It was always hot in the Islands, a fact which annoyed Vane and caused him to stay indoors when he didn’t have elves to spy on. Vane sighed. Sometimes, he missed the carriage he’d left behind. Perhaps with it, he wouldn’t have to withstand this awful heat.

He did own a horse, but he decided not to torture the poor beast and went on foot instead. His glamour helped him go pretty much unnoticed as he walked down the street and headed toward the Twin Lotus District. Basically a concentration of brothels, the Twin Lotus District represented the establishment of the Courtesans’ Guild in the Islands. Vane avoided the largest ones since he had a feeling they might keep in contact with the guild on the continent. Aran would doubtlessly run into Annette during his search, and if she knew anything through her sources, she’d tell him, out of sheer spite if not fear.

This time, Vane chose a small brothel of tactful women who kept a small home at the outskirts of the district. They welcomed him with warm smiles. “Would you like a drink before your service?”

“No, thank you,” Vane replied. He just wanted to get this over with and return back to his lair.

The woman in charge nodded and gestured him to one of the rooms. “Someone will be with you in a minute,” she said. She bowed and retreated, leaving him alone in the bedroom.

Vane sighed and took a seat on a comfortable armchair. He had no intention to stay too long, or even have sex with the woman. It would just frustrate him further since nothing he ever did could get him to forget Moss.

He closed his eyes and imagined Moss’s beautiful green eyes, the warmth of his lips on Vane’s, the taste of his blood in Vane’s mouth. He could almost feel Moss’s presence now, the same beautiful light he sensed every time Moss was close.

“Hello, Vane.”

Vane’s eyes snapped open, and he gaped when he saw Moss standing in the open doorway. “What are you doing here?” he asked. For some reason, his voice sounded gruff, perhaps even threatening.

Moss fidgeted on his feet, looking extremely nervous. “I had to come. I wanted to see you.”

Vane had yearned for the same thing, but he’d not imagined their next meeting would be in a brothel, with Vane aching to feed. He’d have been able to control it with a prostitute, but Moss…Moss was different.

To distract himself, Vane asked, “How is your family adapting?”

Moss’s expression turned weird and distant. “They’re happy. The elves are very welcoming. My father is getting calmer.” Moss paused and gave Vane a scrutinizing look. “The bloodkin in Elmya…They did something to him, didn’t they?”

Moss’s perceptiveness startled Vane, although it probably shouldn’t have. He nodded. “That’s why he hates me and my kind.”

Moss sighed. “The elves are very helpful at least,” he said. “My mother tells me he sleeps better now. For my part, Sorr even encouraged me to court one of his nieces.”

Jealousy swelled through Vane, hot and savage. Sorr had made his move faster than Vane expected. Sure enough, Vane didn’t feel surprised at the news. “Human blood is always welcome in the elf lands,” he said neutrally.

“You knew about it, didn’t you? You knew about all this and you left me there anyway? Why?”

The outrage and need in Moss’s voice made Vane’s fangs lower. He wanted to taste and subdue that emotion. He wanted to feel Moss under him again.

Oblivious to the danger, Moss continued, “You shouldn’t have left, not with the way things were between us.”

Vane summoned all the remnants of his control. “I did what I had to do, and you know it.”

This time, Moss stopped his nervous squirming and actually entered the room. He sat on the armchair opposite to Vane’s and gave Vane a serious look. “That may have been the case at the time, but you can’t expect me to accept such an unreasonable decision.”

Moss’s words tore apart the walls keeping Vane’s desires at bay. He lunged toward Moss and pinned him against the armchair. “Yes, I can, my beauty. Don’t you know what’s good for you? Don’t you remember what happened in Clavar?”

“I remember.” Moss trembled under Vane, but didn’t avert his eyes. “And I still want to know why.”

Vane licked the shell of Moss’s ear and nibbled on the lobe. “Why? You still haven’t realized?” When Moss whimpered, Vane pressed closer to his human. “Because I want to own you. Forever.”

Realizing what he was doing, Vane pulled away. “I hurt you, Moss. Badly. That’s what bloodkin do. We hurt people.” Sighing, he turned his back on Moss. “You have no idea how sorry I am for doing that. But it’s in my nature, and you need to go, before I do it again.”

There was a slight shuffling behind him as Moss left the armchair, and then, a gentle hand landed on his shoulder. “I understand, Vane. I do. Believe me, I’ve heard all the arguments and have been doing a lot of thinking. But I think that we can figure something out. I…”

As Moss paused, seemingly struggling for words, Vane turned toward the human. “You what, Moss?”

“I want you,” Moss blurted out. “I want what you’re offering, to be owned by you.”

Vane’s nostrils flared as he took in Moss’s words. “Do you have any idea what you’re saying?”

Moss nodded, his bright green gaze clear of any shadow of doubt. “You’re a good man, Vane. A bloodkin you might be, but that doesn’t change this thing that’s between us.” Softer, he added, “I trust you.”

Vane hadn’t trusted himself, not with Moss’s welfare, but the knowledge that his human was giving him such a precious gift empowered him. It made him hope that things truly could work out. And all right, it made his dick hard as a rock. He’d have liked to confess all of it, but the words didn’t come. Instead, he said, “I tried to be nice, and you wouldn’t have it.”

Vane lifted Moss in his arms, and the human wrapped his legs around Vane’s waist. “Please, Vane…”

“Silence,” Vane growled. He dumped Moss on the bed and tore at his clothes, needing to see Moss’s beautiful body exposed. He’d only seen Moss naked once, and it hadn’t ended well. This time, he wanted to do things right.

He’d have liked their first time to be someplace other than a whorehouse, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. At this point, Vane was out of his mind with lust. Romancing would have to wait. Vane needed to mark Moss, and now. He’d have to make up for the poor location through actions.

Moss didn’t seem to mind the plan. He made no protest when Vane disrobed him, rather the opposite, in fact. His hard dick bobbed in front of him, demanding Vane’s attention. Vane smirked and wrapped his fist around the shaft. Even Moss’s cock was a thing of beauty, long and slender like the man himself.

Moss let out a choked noise and slumped on the bed. “That’s it, my beauty,” Vane purred as he jacked Moss’s dick. “Surrender to it.”

He didn’t have any chains or elaborate tools here. All his equipment had gone up in flames with the house in Clavar. A pity really, since Vane had taken great pains to amass a collection of sexual toys suiting his appetites. But no matter. He could do without them. Moss was not ready for such things, anyway.

He would have liked to have some shackles, but he didn’t actually need them. Already planning his seduction, he ripped off Moss’s clothes in a few swift motions.

Moss gave him a wide-eyed look. “Vane, what?”

A flash of fear in those beautiful green depths nearly made Vane falter, but he shook himself. If they were going to get over what had happened before, they needed to get everything out in the open.

“Don’t be afraid, my beauty. It will be okay. This time, I’ll show you the truth.”

The apprehension turned into decision, and Moss nodded. Vane caressed the side of Moss’s face and whispered, “Choose a word.”

“A–a word?” Moss repeated, obviously not understanding.

“Yes. If I do something you don’t like, if I go too far, you are to say it and I will release you.”

Moss mused over his explanation for a few seconds, then said, “Elf.”

Vane arched a brow at Moss’s choice, and Moss shrugged. “I’m sick and tired of elves right about now.”

Vane couldn’t help himself. Moss was just too sweet, and for some reason, he’d chosen Vane over the elves. He crushed his lips against Moss’s, licking at the seam and demanding entrance. Moss eagerly complied, and Vane devoured Moss’s mouth, loving the slight coppery taste of their kiss.

As the kiss broke, Vane lapped at the small injury on Moss’s lip. “You really shouldn’t tempt me so. Now, scoot up.”

Moss obeyed, his eyes full of heat and anticipation. Without even being told, he lifted his hands up against the headboard. With a thought, Vane used his power to immobilize Moss. When he felt satisfied he’d made the appropriate preparations, he moved off the bed. “Vane?” Moss asked, obviously confused.

Vane held his human’s gaze and began to strip. “From this moment out, human, you don’t speak unless I tell you to,” he said as he took off his shoes. “You don’t move unless I tell you to. And you most definitely don’t come unless I want you to.”

He heard Moss’s heart start to beat even faster, but it was out of excitement not fear. “Nod if you understand.”

Moss nodded, and Vane took care of the rest of his clothes. Moss’s eyes swept over him in an almost palpable caress, and Vane’s shaft throbbed at the lust in that green gaze. He joined the human once more on the bed.

He started slow. At first, he just pressed light kisses on Moss’s skin, nibbling on the juncture between neck and shoulder. As he went farther down, he applied a hint of fang, never quite drawing blood. Moss’s skin seemed to beg for his touch, so hot and silky it amazed him.

Moss’s nipples perked up, and Vane was immediately drawn to the pebbled nubs. He dragged his lips and fangs over them. Moss’s flesh tasted so delicious Vane would have liked to linger more on it, but a sense of urgency filled him, and he needed to be inside Moss as soon as possible.

Clinging to the remnants of his control, Vane went lower down, licking across Moss’s taut abdomen, until finally, he reached his prize. Moss’s cock twitched in front of him, as if begging to be touched. Vane didn’t delay in doing so. Unlike before, he didn’t bother jacking Moss.

Instead, Vane lowered his mouth over Moss’s shaft, holding the human down when he’d have thrust up. He applied a bit of pressure to Moss’s hip, wordlessly reminding him of the rules. Moss quieted down, although Vane could still feel his need in the back of his mind.

With his other hand, he rolled Moss’s testicles in his palm, playing with the wrinkled sack. He bobbed his head up and down Moss’s cock, from time to time stopping to tease at the slit with his fangs. Soon, he sensed Moss’s orgasm approach. He lifted his mouth and abandoned his previous toy. Giving Moss a dark look, he wrapped a strong hand around the base of Moss’s cock. “You are not allowed to come, human. How many times do I have to tell you?”

Moss didn’t question, but his eyes pleaded with Vane, silently begging for completion. Vane released Moss’s dick. Obedience had no meaning if forced, and he wanted Moss to understand that. Besides, Vane could no longer deny them both.

In one flash of motion, he retrieved the complimentary bottle of oil from the nightstand. The liquid smelled like flowers, and Vane resented it, preferring the raw scent of sex and man, the aroma of Moss’s skin and blood. Nevertheless, he did need the lubricant.

Vane poured oil on his fingers and flicked a thumb over Moss’s nipple to draw the human’s attention. “Spread your legs, human. Come on. I want to see your pretty ass.”

Moss followed his instructions to the letter, even if holding his legs upright without the use of his hands should have been next to impossible. Not willing to hurt Moss in any way, Vane supported his human’s legs on his shoulders.

He prodded at Moss’s nether opening and slowly slipped a finger inside. Moss’s body swallowed the first digit greedily, and Vane had to stop to take a deep breath in order to prevent himself from passing to the main event right away.

He added another finger, then another. By the third, Moss looked a bit uncomfortable and his body had tensed up a bit. But Vane took his time, loosening Moss up. The penetration would hurt either way, and Vane had to lessen the extent of the pain.

Finally, Vane decided Moss was as ready as he’d ever be. He positioned himself at Moss’s hole and pushed inside. Moss gasped in pain, but underneath the hurt, Vane could sense pure pleasure.

He continued his slow movement until he fully embedded his cock inside Moss’s body. The tightness around his dick almost drove him out of his mind. Sure, he’d known Moss was a virgin, at least in sex with a man. He’d seen it in the human’s memories. But he’d never expected the way being inside the human would feel. It seemed as if a firm velvet fist squeezed him, massaging his dick, holding him so deep Vane didn’t ever want to leave.

But the need for friction prevailed, and Vane began to thrust in and out of his lover. Faster and faster he went, somehow finding the presence of mind to aim for Moss’s sweet spot. Judging by Moss’s gasps and whimpers, he succeeded.

The pleasure soared so high Vane didn’t know how he found the control to stop at the first “harder” that came out of Moss’s lips. Stilling inside Moss, he glared down at his lover’s flushed face. “What did I tell you, Moss? You are allowed to reply.”

“I–I couldn’t speak,” Moss replied almost incoherently. “Please, Master…Vane…I need.”

“What you need doesn’t matter. It’s what I want that counts.”

Vane pulled his dick out Moss’s body. Moss’s passage squeezed him, as if trying to keep him inside, but Vane refused to be seduced. “Be silent,” he told his human.

Abandoning the bed, Vane stalked to the bookcase and retrieved a random tome. Still naked, he padded to the armchair and sat down. It seemed to be an erotic encyclopedia of sorts. Vane leafed through the pages. He didn’t really understand anything he read, the painful need emanating from Moss so powerful it overwhelmed his senses. Occasionally, the drawings drew his interest, and he imagined using some of the positions on Moss, once his human learned how to behave.

When he felt Moss’s desire escalate to almost unbearable proportions, Vane abandoned the book and returned to the bed. Moss’s muscles strained against the bindings as he struggled to be still, and Vane smirked to himself. “Have you learned your lesson, my beauty? Nod if you understand.”

Moss nodded hastily, far too rushed for Vane’s taste. “Look at me, Moss. Do you now realize what I want?”

The question went beyond this night, and Moss’s eyes filled with tears. Nevertheless, he nodded, determination chasing some of the lust away. A weight lifted off Vane’s chest. Perhaps Moss truly did want him.

Emotions mixed with desires, and Vane could no longer keep his instincts at bay. Once more, he lifted Moss’s legs and thrust back in his human’s welcoming heat. He began a punishing rhythm, the motions so fast and powerful the bed creaked and hit the wall. Vane couldn’t have cared less. He’d pay for the damages if needed.

Harder and faster, he fucked Moss, taking what he’d wanted for so long. In his mind, the memory of a young human fidgeting on his study chair at Clavar reemerged. From that very moment, Vane had instinctively known he’d never be able to let go of Moss. Even when they’d been physically parted, Vane’s heart had always been with the human.

Vane’s fangs lowered, the need to feed taking hold of him, bloodlust burning hot and bright inside him. He sped up even more, wanting to get as close to Moss as possible, to possess the human so utterly Moss would never forget who he belonged to.

When the need could no longer be contained, Vane struck, the white column of Moss’s neck his sweet target. The moment Moss’s delicious blood hit his taste buds, Vane’s orgasm erupted out of him. Sex and blood—bed and breakfast—or rather, a new lover, a new companion. Lust and instinct blended with genuine emotion, all because of Moss, Vane’s human, addiction, and obsession. The climax went on and on, draining him, exorcising every fear he’d once had. All the barriers between him and Moss collapsed, and Vane could see exactly how the human felt. There were no more doubts, just certainty and complete acceptance, the understanding of Vane’s nature as clear as the emotions in Moss’s heart. Liquid heat splashed against his stomach, and a new wave of pleasure swept over Vane with Moss’s orgasm.

The urge came to him so naturally and so beautifully Vane accepted it at once. In his mind, he saw their life threads, his red, bloody, and eternal, and Moss’s pure, golden, but ephemeral. Perhaps he should have asked. Perhaps he shouldn’t risk it. But the thought of ever being parted from Moss was unbearable. He’d been granted a chance to unite their destinies, and he wouldn’t refuse it. With just a thought, Vane entwined the two threads, binding them together for all time. Moss came to him openly, absorbing the knowledge and accepting it.

In that moment, it finally dawned to Vane how foolish he had been. Nothing could break such a bond. Had he accepted it from the very beginning, had he not tried to deny himself, he and Moss would have never been separated in the first place. Because now, he would sooner cut his own arm off that truly hurt the human. They were one, in every sense of the word.

He didn’t know how long it lasted, how long they were lost together in the haze of ecstasy. When it was finally over and Vane began to recover, he realized with alarm he might’ve fed too much from Moss. He licked the wound, stopping the blood flow. Thankfully, Moss’s heartbeat still sounded hard and steady, or as steady at it could be after a session of mind-numbing sex.

Vane removed his spent cock from Moss’s body and looked at his lover’s face. Moss gave him a sleepy smile, but his eyes were clear and calm. “I understand now,” he whispered.

Vane couldn’t help but smile back. “I don’t remember saying you could speak,” he teased.

Moss’s eyes widened, but his shaft twitched against Vane’s thigh. Vane laughed and released Moss from the bindings created through his own power. “Later, my beauty. Remember your transgression when I next fuck your mouth.”

“I can’t wait,” Moss said as he cuddled against Vane. “That was amazing.”

Vane couldn’t agree more, although he didn’t say it. Instead he pulled his now-lover close and, on impulse, pressed a kiss to Moss’s sweaty forehead. They remained like for a few seconds before Moss stirred once more. Vane felt his human’s restlessness and asked, “What is it, Moss?”

Moss shifted against Vane, his naked body rubbing against Vane’s own. “Vane. Back then…I felt something in my mind. What happened?”

“I tied our life threads together,” Vane replied. “For as long as I live, you shall as well.”

Vane waited for Moss to be overwhelmed by the enormity of the change, but instead, Moss bit his lip and asked, “So you’ll never leave me again?”

Vane shook his head and grinned, even if Moss’s uncertainty made his heart constrict. They still had so much to get past, and so much to find out about each other. “I wouldn’t dream of it, Moss. I wouldn’t dream of it.”

They didn’t spend too much time on the brothel bed. With the edge off, Vane could think more clearly, and he wanted to take Moss to his house and make a mess out of him in a more appropriate environment.

Of course, it took far too long for them to dress since some of Moss’s clothing had ended up torn and destroyed. With Moss naked and so tempting, it stood to reason they ended up in bed again.

But when at last they managed to clean up and be decent, a question emerged in Vane’s mind. “How did you find me anyway?”

“I had help.” Moss paused, as if uncertain. “I got a letter from Kier, suggesting you might be here.”

Vane couldn’t believe his ears. Moss had been contacted by Kier? Why? Where was Kier now? “Seriously? When?”

“A little over a month ago,” Moss answered. “My uncle brought it with him.”

So they had indeed found Douglas Hayden. Why hadn’t they contacted him? Was Aran closing in on their trail?

It concerned Vane that Kier knew of his location in the first place. Sure enough, his friend could’ve simply guessed his desire to be as close as possible to Moss, but Vane suspected there was more to it than that. And if Kier could find out, so could Aran.

Perhaps he’d been correct about his assessment of the Courtesans’ Guild. No matter how careful he’d been, someone would make the connection sooner or later. Vane had lingered in the Outbred Islands too long.

With renewed determination, Vane began to form a plan in his head. Grinning at his lover, he asked, “How do you feel about a little quest?”

At first, Moss looked surprised, but then excitement swelled in his eyes. “I can’t wait.”

That night, Vane and Moss left the Outbred Islands into the unknown. They’d have quite a difficult time in finding their friends with so little to go on, but as long as he had Moss by his side, he’d do it. Perhaps, one day, they could begin a new life together, safe from everything and away from all their enemies. For now, he would be thankful and never allow anyone to part them again.

THE END

WWW.SCARLETHYACINTH.WEBS.COM

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

A native Romanian, Scarlet was born in 1986 and grew up an avid fan of Karl May and Jules Verne, reading fantasy stories and adventure. Later, when she was out of fantasy stories to read, she delved into her mother's collection of book and of course, stumbled onto romance.

As a writer though, Scarlet Hyacinth was born one sunny summer day, when a dear friend of hers - the same friend who introduced her to GLBT fiction - proposed they start writing a story of their own. As it turns out, the two friends never did finish that particular story, but Scarlet discovered she had a knack for writing and ended up starting to write individually. And so, between working on her dissertation, studying for exams and reading yaoi manga, she started writing the Kaldor Saga. Along the way, Scarlet met a lot of wonderful people who supported her, and in the end she found her story a home and in the process, fulfilled a beautiful dream.

For all titles by Scarlet Hyacinth, please visit
www.bookstrand.com/scarlet-hyacinth

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

Table of Contents

- Title Page
- Copyright Page
- Dedication
- Prologue
- Chapter One
- Chapter Two
- Chapter Three
- Chapter Four
- Chapter Five
- Chapter Six
- Chapter Seven
- Chapter Eight
- Chapter Nine
- Epilogue
- About the Author