The Blood Boss by Davidson King

Chapter Thirty-One

Cain

“Idon’t understand,” I said to Lance who was beside me. We could hear Rogos’s story to Jayce. Sibell mentioned nothing about the power to affect the tide.

“Perhaps she didn’t know.”

“Which begs the question—how’d Rogos find out?” I could feel Jayce’s panic, and it left me unsettled. “Is Sibell blocking the tunnels yet?”

“Yes,” Petru nodded. “They wouldn’t be able to feel the change unless they tried to leave or call in for more reinforcements.”

“Good. I don’t want to wait any longer. First wave, go.”

From a distance, I watched as they dropped from the tall trees that canopied over the tunnels. It was a flurry of attacks, blue splatters hitting sodden ground, crimson splashing against rock.

“Second wave.” I stepped down closer as the second wave came in behind the soldiers who were too busy fighting the vampires in front of them to see.

Rogos grabbed Jayce, hugging him close to his body. He was shouting for more soldiers but when none arrived, he tried to slip through the tunnels himself…to no avail.

“Rogos!” Sable screamed as Emil came up behind her.

“Everybody stop, or I kill him!” Rogos held up a lethal-looking dagger.

“Weren’t you going to do that anyway? I mean, it’s what you just said.” At the sound of my voice, Rogos’s head whipped around.

“This setup was to ambush me.”

“You’re quick.” I wagged my finger at him, eyes roaming over my vampires who kept the soldiers at bay. Granted it took three vampires to each soldier, but I had anticipated that. “In your rampaging about town, fighting the good fight and all, you weren’t anticipating me, were you?” I waved my hand at my vampires. “Seems I had more than you thought.”

When he tried to slip through the tunnels again, he was rebuffed. “The witch!” he snarled.

Rogos never lowered the dagger, and Jayce’s worry pulsed through me. As much as we’d planned, the story Rogos told hadn’t been part of it, and I could feel the conflict raging inside Jayce’s mind.

“Yes, Sibell, she’s quite a force. And she’s pissed at you.”

“Rogos, kill!” Sable snarled, immobilized by Emil and two other vampires.

I nodded to Lance, and he moved closer to the Siren, nails extended.

“If he dies, so does Sable. You’re already hurting for support in your kingdom under the sea, Rogos. How will they feel if you take their leader?”

His gaze shifted between Sable and me. With Sable, he’d stand a chance of holding on to the Sirens, but if she were to fall under his watchful eye, they’d turn on him faster than anything. We had confirmation from the eldest Tritons; they would not interfere in this fight with Rogos for they’d loved Asherah and had never condoned the order of her death.

I could hear the Sirens on the other side of the tunnels, screeching, crying for their queen…unable to save her.

“Release him, Rogos, or I will let them tear you apart!” And the Sirens would. Because if any harm came to Jayce, Lance would end Sable.

“I am the king!” he yelled. His hand rose, Jayce’s eyes closed, and with all the speed I could muster, I ran toward Rogos as he plunged the dagger into Jayce with all his might.

“No!” Sibell shouted, the barrier breaking.

I reached Jayce before his body fell to the ground, but I was too late. His breathing was gurgled as I cradled him in my arms. The sounds of screams and cries blew around me, but not once did my eyes leave his. I felt him slipping away from me.

He lifted his bloody hand to my face and as he moved, it was as if all the energy was seeping out of him.

“Stop,” I cried. “Be still, my love.”

Sibell crouched beside us. I looked at her, feeling hope die when she sobbed into her hands. “I can’t; it is a power I do not have, Cain.”

I lifted my head to the sky and roared as tears I didn’t know I possessed poured from my eyes. The earth rumbled and I clutched Jayce to me…helpless.

“Cain!” Emil yelled. I turned, he was covered in blue blood, scratched to shit. “Turn him! You are the only one who can save him.”

Sibell gripped my arm and I gazed into her tearful eyes. “Save him, please, Cain.”

Jayce’s eyes were closed, and his pulse was weak. Would he hate me if I turned him? Would this be something he’d want? I thought about the story I told Jayce about the vampire who’d loved the man who’d chosen not to be changed.

“Ask him,” Sibell said.

I didn’t think he could hear me, but I leaned against his ear. “I don’t know what to do, Jayce. To save you, I will have to turn you. Make you like me. I couldn’t live if you hated me for an eternity. What do I do?”

Jayce’s eyes fluttered open, meeting mine. He opened his mouth, and I was desperate for any words he’d say. It was weak, one word.

“Forever.”

Sliding my hand behind his head, I arched his neck to expose his throat.

“I love you, Jayce.” And I bit down, drinking every ounce of blood in his body until I heard and felt his heart stop. With a battle raging behind me, I held the man I loved as he took his last breath…and then I gave him immortality.

* * *

To my surprise, the Sirens didn’t tear Rogos to shreds—Lance had killed Sable under my order—but as the Sirens went to attack Rogos, the Triton elders emerged from the now open tunnels.

“Retribution will be given,” Aecor, one of the Tritons, told the Sirens. He went over to the one clutching Rogos’s throat. “Morningstar, we need you to lead the Sirens to the sea. Sable would want you to be their leader now.”

Morningstar hissed at Rogos, slashed a lethal nail across his face, and called her Sirens to her.

“Rogos, your behavior and choices have killed a great many Tritons and Sirens. It is the order of the council that you face retribution.”

“I saved you all for years!” Rogos growled through bloody teeth.

“You gave us war! A war we never wanted.” Aecor gripped Rogos’s hair. “You are not a Triton of honor; you disappoint greatly.”

Jayce had drunk my blood but remained lifeless. I could only hope he’d wake, and while I felt he would, I’d never worried so much in my entire existence.

“We are done here,” Aecor announced. He turned to me, eyeing Jayce. “Will he live?”

“As I do.”

He nodded. “He looks so much like his mother.”

“Is it true?” Emil asked. “He has the power of the moon?”

Aecor glared at Emil as if a vampire speaking to him without permission was unheard of. “Of that I do not know, nor would I know where you heard such a thing. But do not mistake my mercy on you creatures as peace. I want not for war, but I also choose not to befriend. Your ships can pass, but we will discuss a trade.” He looked down at Jayce once more. “He is welcome as he will be one of us forever, regardless of the vampirism you’ve cursed him with.”

“Saved him,” I snapped.

“It is whatever you need to tell yourself.” Aecor pointed at Sibell. “You live because you were kind to Asherah, granting her the peace she pleaded for and protecting her son. But if your powers reach the sea ever again, my kindness will evaporate.”

“I will do—”

Emil cut her off by covering her mouth with his hand. “You got it. No magic in the water. Noted.”

All I wanted to do was take Jayce back to my estate and watch over him. He’d wake disoriented and thirsty, and he’d only drink from me or else he’d deal with a vicious hunger that could control him.

“We will speak in due time, Aecor, but until then, I trust my ships will encounter no problems, and I think it best you all stay in the water for the time being.” I put enough ice in my words for it to be known, that while Aecor might think himself the mightiest in Black Veil, he was, in fact, not. I’m the motherfucking Blood Boss, and my word is law!

He shot me a narrowed gaze but said no more. He and his Tritons trailed the Sirens through the tunnels. They carried their dead and, in the silence, I stared down at Jayce once more, hoping he’d be okay.