Bed and Breakfast [Bloodkin 1] (Siren Publishing Classic ManLove) (20 page)

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.”