The Blood Boss by Davidson King

Chapter Fourteen

Cain

Iwas avoiding Jayce—there was no question of that. I’d dismissed him as if he were nothing, left him in the foyer with over fifty vampires, and shut him out. Was I an asshole? Yes, but there was far too much going on in my head right now to coherently convey any of it.

It had been two days since Jayce and I had killed the Triton soldier, and for two days Emil had been questioning me about exactly what had happened up there on Gibson Peak. I’d been vague in my explanation, but that was because I didn’t know what to say.

Jayce was right. Had he not come along, I’d surely have been thrust back into the depths of the Earth. Die? No. Stop existing on Earth? Yes.

Had there been more than the one soldier, it would have been over before it had begun. That didn’t mean I wouldn’t have fought with everything I had. Black Veil was mine, and I’d be damned if anyone took it from me.

I walked over to the window and gazed out toward the garden. From here I could see staff tending to the flowers and beyond that, slight and still, was Jayce. He was reading something and engrossed. Closing my eyes, I remembered how he’d stood in front of the Triton soldier, not touching the beast, yet defeating him with his song. Sure, I’d torn him apart, but I had no doubt Jayce could have killed him in a matter of minutes with his melody. And that was both powerful and dangerous.

“Sir?” Natalie’s voice surprised me as I hadn’t heard her enter my study.

“Yes.”

“We have news. A few scouts returned.”

“Very well, where are they?”

“Foyer, Sir.”

There were well over thirty scouts doing my bidding around Black Veil, and there was no way they would all fit in my study.

“Bring them into the ballroom.” When Natalie didn’t move, I quirked a brow. “Something else?”

“Yes, Sir. Reginald Bouvier is also here with nutrients for the household.”

“Very well, bring him to the library, and I will deal with him as soon as I’ve spoken with the scouts.”

“Very well.”

After one last look at Jayce in the garden, I left to join the scouts in the ballroom.

* * *

“The Hester family reported that a human came to their estate asking all sorts of questions regarding you and if anyone had ever seen Jayce. Of course Abigail was suspicious and asked to see a badge or anything indicating someone sent him. A moment after, the man…” The scout speaking appeared nervous, as if finishing his findings would cause the end of the world.

“The man what, Louis?”

“She said the man shot himself on her front steps.”

“Is he dead?”

“Yes, Sir.”

Rogos was recruiting humans. Smarter than vampires, since there was a better chance he’d be able to threaten a human and steer their loyalty over to his side.

“Steven, what about you?”

“Sibell is quiet. I spoke with her; she mentioned nothing, and no one has come there as of yet. But she is keeping an eye out and promised to report anything.”

“Jennifer?”

“The Harlows had a religious group try to recruit them, but other than that, nothing.”

I nodded. “Did they ask you why you were there?”

“I explained you were doing checks as there was a rogue vampire on the loose.” She smirked at the ridiculousness of her excuse.

“And they believed you?” Emil asked with a laugh.

“Humans,” was her response.

I listened to the rest of the scouts. While the man at the Hester residence was the only casualty, there were definitely sightings of humans talking with vampires, trying to gather information on myself and Jayce.

“Natalie, arrange a meeting with Abigail. I’d like to make sure she is all right.”

“Yes, Sir.”

“Thank you all for your hard work. I will ask you to remain at your assigned stations and report anything suspicious.”

I excused myself and went to meet Reginald in the library. He was sitting on the small sofa, staring at the fire.

“Reginald, you didn’t have to deliver the nutrients personally, usually you have—” My words halted when he turned completely to face me. “What happened?”

His head dipped and I could see the tremble of his chin. “I…I was summoned to the bay upon the arrival of the ships. All intact as promised. But…”

I went over to the vampire and sat beside him. As strict as I was, I truly valued my entire species, and seeing the state in which Reginald arrived angered me.

“Rogos?”

“He was waiting on the shore. Smiled and wanted to prove he was a Triton of his word. I watched as everything was unloaded as I always do. And when I thanked him and went to leave, he grabbed me.”

Nurturing wasn’t my strong suit, but I reached out and took his hand. “He did this?”

“He was so fast, Sir. Faster than I am with my speed. He held my throat, jabbed a dagger in my eye…he—”

“Be calm.” Reginald didn’t have to continue. He was less an eye, and Rogos was the reason.

“He said his promise was to keep the ships intact, not your vampires.”

Things had gone far beyond Jayce at this point. Even if I handed the man over to the merpeople, he had declared war on Black Veil. First trying to kill Jayce and me, and now maiming Reginald. No, this would not stand.

“I will handle the shipment deliveries next time.”

“He’ll kill you.” Reginald faced me, and the worry in his one eye warmed me.

“I don’t die; never forget that.”

The sound of the library doors opening had us both turning. Jayce came in, oblivious to us sitting here. Only when he placed the book he had been reading in the garden in its rightful place did he notice us.

“Oh, sorry, I was”—his eyes widened—“oh, my God, what happened to you?” Jayce rushed over to Reginald. “Who did this?” Then he fucking glared at me. “Branding him wasn’t enough?”

“I did not do this! And if I had, what business is it of yours?”

“I won’t sit idly by and watch you torture people.”

“No,” Reginald interrupted. “Rogos did it.”

Jayce’s glare softened, and he at least had the decency to appear embarrassed.

“I accept your apology.” There was some joy in knowing he was wrong, but I merely smirked.

“I didn’t apologize. It’s not too farfetched to think you’d do something like this, is it?”

“Actually, it is. I value every vampire.”

“So, only burning their flesh works for you. Uh-huh, ’kay, got it.”

“You are out of line.” Standing, I hovered over him as anger and intrigue flooded my veins.

“What are you going to do, kill me?” Jayce’s chuckle was humorless, and his face turned red. He was angry and probably dealing with a barrage of emotions. “Get in line, it forms to the left.”

“Don’t tempt me,” I growled and when Jayce stood up straighter, for a moment, an inkling of yearning wrapped itself around the pits of my stomach. I wanted to grab him, press my lips to his, and taste him.

“I dare you.” His voice was low, and there was no fear toward me anymore, and oddly, I was glad.

“You two act married,” Reginald joked, and Jayce and I both looked down at the man on the couch. “No insult, just, it’s funny.”

Jayce scoffed as if the idea were ridiculous. “He avoids me every chance he gets, is ungrateful even when I save his life, doesn’t share anything about his life, and is so repulsed by me, he wouldn’t even touch me to kill me.”

“Repulsed?” I jolted in surprise. Had I ever given him the impression he disgusted me? “Humans don’t disgust me!”

“Then it’s only me?”

“Sir?” Reginald cleared his throat. “I should go. I just wanted you to know the nutrients are here, and you should be sure to have yours.”

After taking a step to give him space, I let Reginald rise. “I would like it if you stayed at the estate. It’s not safe for you, as Rogos has proved.”

“Sir, I couldn’t. I—”

“I insist.”

“My things are all across town.”

“We will get it squared away. Have the nutrients brought to the ballroom, and I will meet you there.”

He nodded and slipped away. Jayce stood unmoving, eyes still on me. “That was kind of you.”

“You act like I’m some monster.”

“Aren’t you?” He shrugged.

“Again with your assumptions. You know nothing about me, Jayce.”

“Because you don’t share a damn thing. Did it ever occur to you that maybe I’d understand all this better if I had someone to relate to? I may know nothing about you, but I daresay that goes both ways.”

“You’re infuriating,” I growled and turned to leave.

“And you’re doing everything in your power to show me you’re as heartless as Rogos is.”

I couldn’t listen to his drivel any longer. I was nothing like Rogos. I stormed out, thrusting the doors open so hard, I heard something shatter inside the library. Why did this man get under my skin so much?