Bed and Breakfast [Bloodkin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (14 page)

“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.”