The Blood Boss #1
Summary:Vampires, mermaids, and witches…oh, my! Black Veil is full of them all, but at the end of the day, it’s The Blood Boss who has the last word. Ever since The Final War, Vampires rule Black Veil, and with The Blood Boss in charge, peace reigns.
Keeping the vampires under control is a task Cain takes seriously. Humans have accepted his rule, and anyone who seeks to destroy his territory is given swift punishment. His promise to keep Black Veil safe comes with great sacrifice and selflessness; never does he dare hope for more in life. Until one day, a man walks through his front door and changes everything.
Jayce has a happy life. His adopted parents love him, he wants for very little, and he lives every day to the fullest. But when a normal evening turns into a nightmare, and Jayce is forced to come face-to-face with The Blood Boss, the world as he knows it feels like a lie.
Then a great secret is revealed, and nothing is what it seems. Cain and Jayce must work together to stop the forces uniting against the vampires. Life and love are in jeopardy as they fight those who seek to destroy them. Can Cain and Jayce keep Black Veil from crumbling into the sea when every attempt to do so seems impossible?
Peace has descended on Black Veil once more, and hope is on the horizon.
Until a new threat arises…
Emil is the head of security, first line of defense for Cain and Black Veil. He takes great pride in his job, is fully prepared to sacrifice everything in order to keep everyone he cares about safe and the world from crumbling. But the Tritons and Sirens have approved a treaty, and the dragons will most likely agree to allow vampires to use their blood for sustenance and protection once again, so all is as it should be. Then Emil meets the emperor of dragons, and his life goes from calm to chaotic in the blink of an eye—loyalty and love now battle for dominance in his head.
Aldrich is the emperor of dragons, and he cannot afford to make mistakes. He and his clans enter Black Veil in the hopes that The Blood Boss will join them in the fight to save his family. Aldrich is ready to lay down his life and for anything else thrown his way—except the crystal-eyed vampire who immediately captures his interest. Emil is everything he has always wanted and would never dare dream of, and when all he holds dear is threatened, it’s Emil who keeps his dragon grounded.
When unimaginable dangers swarm into Black Veil, the vampires and dragons join forces and call upon every living creature in Black Veil to defeat the enemy. While love blooms, lives perish, all to fight a war against the darkness threatening to consume the world. Will Emil and Aldrich claim victory and have their happily ever after, or are they doomed to an eternity apart?
Summary:
Learning he’s the last seer should make Bashiri feel special, unique. In this case, it’s the most terrifying and heartbreaking realization ever.
Bashiri spends his days loving his animals, running his own meditation studio, and knowing his kind are hunted while hiding in plain sight. He also spends a lot of time avoiding a certain grumpy vampire who rejected him one too many times. When his life begins to change and enemies become bolder, the Blood Boss sends his vampires as protection. Including the sullen Petru.
Petru’s focus is on keeping Black Veil safe. He has no time for foolish fortune tellers. Bashiri is a distraction he has pushed aside so often, the seer finally stayed away. Until Bashiri’s life is threatened and Petru must keep him alive. As he protects the seer, it becomes harder to ignore the love he feels until he finally realizes he no longer wants to.
The journey to keep Bashiri alive becomes harder as his centennial birthday approaches, especially when the shield that secretly conceals him turns to shreds. Great secrets are revealed as new and magical creatures appear to help Bashiri in a fight where failure is not an option. Petru and Bashiri want eternity, but will their determined, powerful enemies destroy their future and their love instead?
The Last Seer is book 3 in the Black Veil Series and should be read in order. The Blood Boss is book one followed by Emperor of Dragons. There is no cliffhanger.
The Blood Boss #1
Original Review August Book of the Month 2021:
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!! Once again Davidson King has proven that the Force is strong within her because . . . WOW! The talent for storytelling that runs through her veins is so strong, if it really was the force she could singlehandedly blow up the Death Star. Her gift of words is so powerful you can't help but get sucked in once you start.
I won't say she had "fears" about venturing into the paranormal genre but I'm sure there were inner hesitancies but she needn't have worried because the world King has created in her new series, Black Veil, really is the complete package. The Blood Boss, or as those closest to him call him, Cain may be a vampire of few words but you know he's the boss by his presence. "Presence" may seem like an odd word to use in literature since you aren't seeing the character on a screen or stage but the world building that Davidson King has created is so vivid and descriptive, I felt like I was witnessing it right outside my window. You really lose yourself in the book and become part of the environment that is Black Veil and the desire to discover all it's little nooks and crannies, rumors and truths, and how the lines of good and evil can sometimes blur.
As for the main characters, Cain and Jayce? Well, I mentioned the power Cain gives off but he also has heart(and yes I realize that's an odd thing to say about a vampire but its no less true), he cares for others more than he wants the world to know. We meet Jayce as he steps in to receive punishment for a debt his father hasn't been able to pay back and he doesn't do this on a whim, this is the kind of man he is. Put these two together and you have a recipe for what could be complete and utter chaos or the grand champion winning pie at the fair that you want to eat even though its been sitting on the judging table for days. Which is it? Trick question really, on one hand I won't give particulars to spoil anything but truth be told Cain and Jayce are a little bit of both, chaos and champion.
Cain and Jayce and the supporting cast of characters who I'm sure we'll get to see more of in future installments makes The Blood Boss an absolutely delicious read sure to satisfy any and all your fiction hungers.
Original Audiobook Review February 2022:
Last summer when I first read The Blood Boss it really helped boost be up as my mother was 3 months into what would be 108 days in the hospital and I was in a hotel across the street the whole time. I can still remember sitting in the hospital cafeteria being completely blown away by Davidson King's newest series. As timing went I needed a similar morale boost the last 10 days, my mother is home but was completely wore down as she dealt with an infection, I knew this was the audio I needed.
I wasn't wrong.
I knew what was coming so the adrenaline rush one gets for a first time read may not have been as high but I was still completely hooked. The combination of King's words and the dual narration of Tim Paige and Declan Winters that brought said words to life made everything pop. More than once, I looked up expecting the visuals in my head to be playing on the television.
This is the first time I've listened to a book by either narrator, which just like a new-to-me author can be iffy going in but Davidson King has once again chosen wisely. Everything was just spot on and left me even hungrier for the next Black Veil journey.
Emperor of Dragons #2
Original Review May Book of the Month 2021:
She's done it again!
From the very first page, Davidson King pulls you in to this paranormal world she has created. You find yourself so hooked that if you looked up you expect to see vampires, dragons, witches, oh my! Each character has burrowed in and won't let go until they are done telling you their journey.
I don't want to spoil anything, even the minutest detail because experiencing this journey is pure magic and not just in a paranormal way but in a "Holy Crap! Where did that come from?" kind of way. So this review won't be touching on any specifics plot-wise but more on an overall emotion grabber. When reading paranormal/fantasy, there is obviously a level of reality that doesn't even begin to enter one's mind but at the same time, when that fantasy world does begin to spark a flash of realism into one's soul, you know that you have found a winning gem.
And simply put, that is exactly what Davidson King's Emperor of Dragons has done: feels real.
As for the characters? Once again we see Cain and Jayce navigate and rule over Black Veil(so Cain is the one in charge of the territory but come on! We all know Jayce has a level of control where Cain is involved). This time around, the threat at large is not openly directed at their vampires but at the dragons which is where Aldrich enters the picture. Emil, one of Cain's top security vamps finds himself drawn to Aldrich and Aldrich is vice versa. Will they get the opportunity to become what it meant for them? You know my answer to that one: read for yourself.
Oh but the fun you will have finding out. I just finished reading this minutes ago but I know I wish I could experience it for the first time again.
Back to characters. There are new ones, there are returning ones, there are ones you will love with every fiber of your being, there are ones you will absolutely hate with a passion, and then there are those that will probably be a blend of each. I already have a couple of them that I think will be front and center of future entries and even though I just finished Emperor of Dragons, I'm already on tender hooks waiting for the next Black Veil adventure.
I know that Davidson King is all about the HEAs, the romance, and the heart but she is Queen of mayhem and danger too. I've read and watched plenty of fiction that involve world building universes, character driven drama, emotional battered heart and some are poorly done, some are well written, and then there are those that are exceptionally crafted. It is the exceptionally crafted ones that are storytelling at it's finest and Davidson King's Black Veil universe belongs in that category. To create something that can't possibly be real, that not only entertains but leaves the reader feeling lost when the final page is closed because they are no longer living in that world, well that's a whole other level of talent very few reach.
A final note: Some might say The Blood Boss and Emperor of Dragons can be read as standalones because they feature different couples, tackle different dangers, I honestly can't say that. For me, they have to be read in order. Not only are there characters from Blood that play a huge part in Emperor but I can't help but feel there is a larger picture at play here and each entry has a part in the complete adventure(hopefully there will be many layers to the complete picture because I am in no way ready to say goodbye to Black Veil). The author lets you in on things from book 1 so you wouldn't exactly be lost but I truly believe you'd be saying "huh, I wonder what happened there?" more than once. Not too mention, The Blood Boss is brilliant and was my personal choice for Best Paranormal Read of 2021.
Original Audiobook Review October 2024:
How can it possibly be 2+ years since I read Emperor of Dragons and an even bigger HOW has it been over a year and a half since the audio originally released and I didn't listen? Well, I remedied that!
I can't really think of anything new to add to my original review to express my love for Emperor and the whole intriguing paranormal world that Davidson King has created in Black Veil so I'll let my original words below speak for the story. As for the narrators, Tim Paige & Declan Winters, they sure nail Emil and Aldrich spot on. I can't say who narrates who but whichever way it is, balanced with King's words, they bring to life every minute detail. I've often said in my audio reviews that my love of the old radio shows of the 30s, 40s, and 50s is a bench mark I factor into my expectation and there's something extra about dual narration that brings OTR even more into a checkpoint. Paige & Winters leaves me not only expecting to hear the sponsor's message but I swear I can hear the sound effects man creating the creaking doors, howling winds, and flapping wings painting the whole picture of the magic and mayhem fueling King's storytelling.
Yep, Davidson King, Tim Paige, & Declan Winters are a triad of story presentation . . . well I'd say "made in Heaven" but considering the genre and world being explored I'll just say "not to be missed".😉😉
The Last Seer #3
Original July Book of the Month 2023:
HOLY HANNAH BATMAN!!!! Davidson King has done it once again! By now I shouldn't be surprised . . . well I'm not surprised at the brilliance of her storytelling but I still get surprised at just how invested I get into it.
Okay, so "surprised" isn't exactly the right word but time just stood still while I was reading The Last Seer. For family reasons I wasn't able to read Seer without unwanted interruptions but while I had my Kindle open between daily demands, nothing else existed. I'd say I felt like a fly on the wall of Cain's mansion or Bashiri's meditation studio but it was more than that, it was a symbiotic connection to the characters. King has a way with the written word that I felt like I could feel whatever Bashiri or Petru was feeling, I was seeing it from their angle. Many times it's as if the story is unfolding in my front yard but rarely do I feel part of the story, see actions through the characters' eyes. I suppose in a way perhaps that's down to Bashiri's visions and how he taps into his power, he connects to the possible vision. I can't go as far as to say Seer is my favorite so far in the author's Black Veil series but wow it's pretty darn close.
Let's talk about our MCs, Bashiri and Petru. They hit our radar in book 2, Emperor of Dragons, you just knew that they were getting a journey of their own because if they didn't the villagers were going to rise up😉. Bashiri conjures up all kinds of Mama Bear feels, it's been a long time since I read a character I wanted to protect more. On the surface he seems fragile and, well not weak by any definition of the word, but perhaps isolated which can leave a person feeling weak or defenseless. Bashiri is not defenseless even though he is unaware of just how powerful he is and will become. You could say he is a bit clueless in the world of attraction and what that can bring out, especially when it comes to Petru. These are all qualities that strengthen his endearing side and kick my Mama Bear senses into high gear.
Petru. What can I say about Petru? I would never want to anger a vampire or get on their wrong side but I certainly wanted to take an iron skillet to the back of his noggin a few times and scream "OPEN YOUR EYES TO SEE WHAT EVERYONE ELSE SEES!!!" Some might say, talk about clueless but he's not clueless, just inexperienced in the ways of emotions. Don't get me wrong, yes the iron skillet would make an appearance if I showed up at Cain's mansion but so would a stern look ending with a Mama Bear hug.
Sometimes we just can't see our own garden because we're tending to everyone else's yard. Watching the pair finally water their own gardens is fun, exciting, and packed to the rafters with plenty of thistles and blossoms.
I've talked mostly about the MCs as individuals and a couple, leaving the plot untouched. It's going to remain untouched so not to spoil anything, just know that it too is jam packed with equal parts dangerous mayhem and intriguing mystery as well as a beautiful blending of paranormal and mythology. There may not be an overall story arc in Black Veil but characters carry over as do a few plot mentions which generally are in reference to said characters and the author writes those points in a way so you won't be lost if you haven't been reading from the beginning. HOWEVER, I highly recommend reading in order simply because I felt more connected to the characters, main, secondary, and cameo because any friendships/relationships were experienced as they grew and strengthened. But that's just me, after all I am a series-read-in-order kind of gal😉.
Original Audiobook Review October 2024:
Well I didn't let The Last Seer go as long as the previous entry, Emperor of Dragons, but it still went unlistened to for 4 months. Shameful😉😉.
I honestly can't think of anything to add to my original review so I'll just talk about the narration. For the longest time I didn't think I'd like dual narration, which is odd in itself as I love radio shows of the 30s, 40, and 50s with full casts and they are the original audio entertainment. Tim Paige and Declan Winters once again bring such rich life to Davidson King's words. Again I don't know who narrarates which character but they are perfectly fitted.
Such a dangerously delicious delight in book and audio format, but be sure you have a few hours open because you won't want to stop once you start.
The Blood Boss #1
Chapter One
Jayce
“Good night, Jayce.” Sibell, the old lady who owned the bookstore where I worked, squeezed my shoulder when she passed.
“Stay safe, Sibell, I’ll see you Monday morning.”
She smiled softly, her dark eyes twinkling as if they held a million secrets. Nodding quickly, she shut the front door.
I had worked here from the time I was eighteen and loved it. Now that I was twenty-three, Sibell was able to hand over a great many important tasks to me, such as counting the drawers, locking up, and ordering inventory. She’d told me the day she promoted me that she was grateful to finally have someone she trusted to watch over the store when she couldn’t. I took the responsibility seriously and was equally as grateful.
After I flipped the sign on the door to closed and locked the cash drawers in the safe, I did a sweep of the rows to be sure they were all tidy and nothing was out of place before leaving and locking the door.
“Late night?” the baker across the way, Burt, shouted as he shut down his own place.
“Fridays always are. Have a good night, Burt.”
He waved and got into his truck. I didn’t drive; the desire to learn how never intrigued me. If it rained I took the bus, but on clear days like today, I used my legs to get me home. I always traveled along the sidewalk that paralleled the ocean. In the morning, the sunrise would be my cup of coffee, and in the evening, when the moon made the sea glitter, it was a nightcap of delicious Chardonnay.
I was raised in foster care, though I didn’t have horrible and traumatizing memories like many in the system do. I was one of the lucky ones. My foster parents loved me from the second they found me on their doorstep at only a few days old, and I’d always felt like I was their son. At the age of five, I went from a foster kid to an adopted one, and Michael and Anne Harlow became my legal parents, and Black Veil City my home.
While not perfect and constantly humming with magic in the air, I wouldn’t live anywhere else. I heard the chimes from the church bells, indicating it was nine in the evening, and I hurried my steps. See, I loved this city, but when the sun was fully tucked away, it was safer to be home.
As I passed the police station, one of the officers stopped me.
“You shouldn’t be walking around at night, son. Do you need a ride?”
“No thanks, I’m just around this corner.”
“Okay, be safe.” I could feel the officer’s eyes on me until I turned down my street; everyone was vigilant at night.
I wasn’t born when it happened, but as the story goes, the world was falling apart, and humanity was responsible for it. In school, I was taught that due to humans killing the planet and each other, a balance no one knew existed had been upset.
The textbooks referred to it as The Final War because there hadn’t been one since. Mom would tell the story so dramatically, it was almost humorous. The first time I’d heard it, I was ten:
“From the Earth’s core the demons climbed, and from the stars the angels fell. The sea came alive, and the waves brought magical creatures ashore. The trees trembled with life as winged magicians swept through the forest. Humanity was not destroyed in this war; it was set to order.”
That was how she always started the story. Vampires, fairies, angels—all of them had come to Earth’s aid and saved it. When the dust settled, a new hierarchy was created and humans were not at the top. I was okay with that because, first of all, I’d known no differently, and also I’d learned that the oceans became cleaner, the air was safer, and there was zero pollution. But the fact that humans weren’t number one meant something else was, and here in Black Veil City, that was vampires. Namely, The Blood Boss.
I had never met him—hell, he didn’t show his face anywhere that I’d ever seen, and I knew very little about him. But he controlled all vampires, and while the streets weren’t running red with blood at night, it was the time they tended to roam, and crime was rare but it did happen.
I could see the porch light shining at the house and was just about to climb the steps when I realized there was a sleek black Cadillac in the driveway that didn’t belong to anyone I knew. Who could be here at this hour?
Something crashed inside and I rushed through the door, worried Mom, Dad, or the foster kids inside were in trouble.
“Jayce!” Mom shouted from the couch. Her hands were on her lap, and tears streaked down her cheeks. Dad was on the ground, his nose bleeding. But what had me frozen in place were the two hulking vampires in the living room. One stood beside Mom, and the other hovered over Dad.
“What’s going on here?” There were laws in place that vampires couldn’t enter someone’s home and dominate them for anything unless they had proper documentation from The Blood Boss.
“Who are you?” The one who was beside Mom narrowed his eyes.
“I’m Jayce Harlow, and I live here. Who are you?”
“Jayce, don’t…” A sharp look from the vampire above my dad shut him up.
“I’m Emil, this is Petru, and we’re here under orders from The Blood Boss.” Emil was the one guarding my mother, and he slipped a piece of paper from the pocket of his expensive suit.
He walked over to me, and I had to crane my neck to meet his gaze. He had to be over six five or something. His blond hair was styled in a short cut, his eyes an eerie shade of blue—a cross between white and baby blue. I’d noticed all vampires had odd-colored eyes; it was one way of identifying them.
“Take a gander.” He held the paper out to me, and I took it, reading every word carefully, hoping I’d find a reason to tell them they had no right to be here. But there was none and…
“You borrowed money from The Blood Boss, Dad?”
Petru stepped back when my father tried to stand, but he stayed close.
“I had to, Jayce, I had no other choice.”
I read the line that scared me the most. “Failure to pay the agreed-upon amount will result in your punishment being ruled on in front of The Blood Boss and a fair judgment dealt.” I looked up, and tendrils of fear licked at my skin. “Dad, this is serious! It says you borrowed over fifty-thousand dollars.”
“I know and—”
“Do you even have it?” I knew he didn’t; money was tight even with what we were given from the government to care for the foster kids. I’d told my parents not to take any more kids in, that we couldn’t afford it, but they hated turning away a child in need.
“No.” His voice was a whisper, and he flinched when Petru grunted.
“Emil, is it?” The vampire nodded. “Can I ask what punishment my father will get?”
He shrugged. “I’m not The Blood Boss; you’d have to ask him, but the reason there is order in Black Veil is because no one gets to slide by without repercussions for their actions.”
“But from your experience, what would you say he’d get for it?”
Emil spared a glance at Petru before answering. “The reason Michael Harlow borrowed money had to do with the fact that the bank was about to foreclose on his house. It’s a noble reason. My guess is he’d likely make him work it off.”
The bank was going to foreclose on the house? Why didn’t anyone tell me?
“He already works two jobs. If you take him away, the bank will surely take the house. Isn’t there another way?”
Emil shook his head. “Anne Harlow could take his place as payment.”
My mom was a schoolteacher during the week, and on the weekends she worked at the community center to help children who were struggling in school. She couldn’t be away either.
“If you take Mom or Dad, they will be even deeper in debt with the bank, the foster kids will have to leave, and I don’t have a lot of hope for them in the system, and they’d lose their other jobs. Please, is there any other way?”
Emil looked over at my mom, then at my dad. When he met Petru’s gaze, it was as if they were having some sort of telepathic conversation, and maybe they were; I didn’t know a lot about vampires’ abilities.
“Are you their son?” Emil turned toward me again.
“No!” My dad made to run over to me, but Petru stopped him easily.
“I am, why?”
“It’s not typical, and I’ve never seen it done, but you could go in your father’s place.”
“Jayce, please.” My mom was sobbing, and I heard the pitter-patter of footsteps above me. No doubt the kids were listening and frightened. Michael and Anne were amazing foster parents. If it weren’t for them, I’d likely be in a shit situation, and if they left here now it would be a disaster.
I, on the other hand, only worked at the bookstore and while Sibell needed my help, she wasn’t completely lost without me. Mom and Dad would take a little hit financially, seeing as my paycheck went to help out around here. It was the sole reason I stilled lived at home. However, without me here it would also be one less mouth to feed, so things might balance themselves out.
“I’ll do it.”
My mom cried harder, and my dad tried to break free of Petru’s grasp. They loved me and didn’t want to see me handed to The Blood Boss, especially for something I had no control over.
Emil held a small square device in his hand. “I need your finger.”
Reflexively I clenched my fists. “It will be hard to work off my father’s debt if I’m down one finger.”
Emil and Petru chuckled. “You can keep your fingers, just slide one in here.” The square device opened and there was a tiny needle sticking up inside. “I need a drop of your blood.”
I glanced over at my parents, Mom’s cries were softer, but my father looked as if he were about to come apart.
Slowly, I stuck my finger inside the device, feeling the brush of the needle. Emil gave me no time to react; he shut it and I felt the quick, piercing pain.
“Repeat after me,” Emil said. “I, Jayce Harlow, agree to take punishment for Michael Harlow’s debt to The Blood Boss for the allotted time agreed upon by him.”
I repeated what he said, and he went on.
“This is a blood oath you are making at your own free will and without coercion?”
“Yes.”
“I hereby stand witness to this pact and agree to the substitution of Jayce Harlow in place of Michael Harlow.”
Emil released my finger and I immediately stuck it in my mouth, earning a chuckle from both vampires.
“I bet you’re delicious.” Emil winked but quickly walked to my dad.
“I don’t allow you to take my son!”
“Michael Harlow, you are hereby excused of your obligation to The Blood Boss—”
“No! I refuse.” He tried and failed to break away from Petru as he raged and cried.
“Dad, please. Let me do this. Conner, Lisa, the twins, they need you and Mom here.”
“What if he hurts you?” My mom spoke through her sobs.
“A debt is not punishable by death or physical harm,” Emil answered, his voice laced with boredom. “Petru, I will get Jayce to the car, and then you may release Michael and join us.”
“Can I say good-bye?”
Emil’s expression hardened. “I’ve been as kind as I’m going to be, Jayce. Let’s go.”
Even if I wanted to, I wasn’t going to argue. I followed Emil out of the house, hearing my mother’s loud cries all the way to the car.
Emperor of Dragons #2
CHAPTER ONE
Emil
The storm currently raging outside the estate wasn’t the only indication the emperor of dragons was arriving today. There was a tornado named Jayce rushing about, making sure everything appeared as perfect as it could. I watched from the top of the stairs as he tutted over the choice of floral arrangements that Cain, The Blood Boss, had chosen.
My job was to guarantee all security was in place and the estate was secure. Oh, and that I wore the ridiculous five-piece suit Jayce had asked me to wear.
When Jayce’s life had been in danger a little over a year ago, Cain made the ultimate choice to change him into a vampire. Add into play that Jayce was the son of the deceased Queen of the Sea, Asherah; and a star god, Rigil; and he had a lot going on in his DNA. The power he held inside his tiny body wasn’t fully known, and there were days I found myself hoping that when it all reached its peak, it would be to our benefit.
“Emil, are you going to stand there all day? They’ll be here in minutes, and you’re daydreaming. Why are you staring?” Jayce smacked Cain on the arm. “Why is he not answering me?”
“Jayce, my love, please. It will be fine. All is in order, and Emil is staring because he is old and wise and knows there is no answer that will be suitable.”
Jayce looked at me with raised brows, and I simply nodded. Cain was right; silence was best.
“Fine…okay. I’m sorry, I’m nervous. I mean, this guy is the emperor of dragons. That’s huge, right? That’s a big deal?” Again, his frantic gaze flitted from Cain to me and back to the vampire he loved.
“Aldrich is very powerful; he holds more magic than any of us would know what to do with. I have met him only the once, but he was kind and respectful. I think he will find you quite endearing.” Cain pressed a kiss to Jayce’s forehead. “How about we go sit in the library and await news of his arrival?”
“I can let you know.” I took the rest of the steps down to the foyer. “And, Jayce, I haven’t met Aldrich ever, either. We’re in the same boat.” I leaned closer to him and lowered my voice. “Just let Cain do all the talking, and smile and nod a lot.”
That earned me a chuckle. “I can do that…I think.”
Once the two of them were out of sight, I went in search of Petru. He and I always oversaw all security and safety procedures. We dealt with humans and other creatures who broke laws in Black Veil and would be the ones torn apart if this very important meeting went south.
I found Petru outside, under the large awning, speaking with the guards. I held back and waited until he was done and once they all dispersed, I approached.
“Everything in order out here?”
“Yes.”
“Inside is good as well. You will be outside when the emperor and his entourage arrive; I will be in the foyer with Cain and Jayce.”
“Understood.”
“Due to the weather Cain wants the meeting to take place in the library, but they are to be shown to their rooms to relax and settle in.”
Cain needed this visit to go well. We were all surprised—not only when the dragons accepted the invitation to talk, but that the emperor himself would be in attendance.
“Is the staff not doing that?” Petru asked.
“They are. I’m just telling you the order of things, big guy.” I patted his arm. “Nervous?”
“No. I do not like dragons.” Petru wasn’t a talker. His Russian accent sometimes made it hard for others to understand him, but I’d known him for a ridiculously long time and had no issues.
“I’ll admit, I wish this whole thing was over already. But it should only be for a week. We listen, watch, and let the boss do the talking—at least we’re not him.” Petru nodded in agreement.
I didn’t envy Cain in this endeavor. Getting the dragons to come back on board with sending some of their own over twice a year, so we could all feed from them, was going to be tricky. Since the merfolk had started attacking anyone or anything in the seas trying to get to Black Veil, the dragons had broken their agreement to assist. Now that a treaty was in place with the new king of the sea, we were hoping Aldrich would revert to our original agreement.
Honey, Cain’s newly acquired assistant, approached Petru and me. “I received word the dragons have entered Black Veil. It shouldn’t be long now.”
“Thanks, Honey.” I faced Petru. “Would you update Cain?”
“Yes.” He stalked off toward the library while I did one more sweep of the bottom floor.
I wasn’t nervous like Jayce, nor was I irritated like Petru. I didn’t have an opinion of the dragons. They’d gotten the call hundreds of years ago like the rest of us that this world needed our help. They’d answered it, and without them it would have crumbled. We all had jobs to do and needed to work with each other. I could understand that.
What I wasn’t happy about was how pretentious they were. I’d held congress with quite a few dragons in my life, and each thought they were the best of all creatures. They sneered at anyone not born of dragon blood and never had a good word for humans. This visit would be very interesting; I could only hope Aldrich was as kind and respectful as Cain said he was.
The kitchen was bustling when I went to check on the staff. The dragons’ appetites were plentiful and specific, keeping the cooks on their toes and causing a lot of chaos. I left them to it and went to double-check the rooms the dragons would be using.
“I gave the largest guest room to the emperor.” Mancy opened the first door. “I was told his sister, Aubrianna, would be in attendance as well; her room is beside his.”
“Very good, Mancy. And the others?”
“Directly across the hall. I figured they’d like to be close to each other. It also gives them the feel that they have a whole wing.”
“Well done. Let Honey know if you need any extra help up here during their stay. It can be arranged.”
“Thanks, Emil.” Mancy hurried off, likely to complete last-minute duties.
“Emil, they’re ten minutes out,” Honey said when I reached the foyer.
I went to the library to inform Cain and retrieve Petru. “Sir, they’ll be here soon. Petru, take position.”
“Jayce, would you like to stay in here and be introduced when we come into the library?” Cain gathered Jayce’s hand in his. There was no hiding Jayce’s nervousness.
“No…no, I can do this.” He stood and, hand in hand, Cain and Jayce left the library.
Petru took a few vampires with him outside and I waited with Cain and Jayce. Honey was by the door, and we were ready for our guests.
As stoic as ever, The Blood Boss waited for the emperor of dragons, and I remained vigilant for any outcome that would present itself when those doors opened.
The Last Seer #3
PROLOGUE
NINETY-NINE YEARS AGO
HORATIA
“I love you, sweet boy. More than the stars in the sky, more than the air in my lungs, more than the—” Another blast shook our cave, and my words were cut off. Quickly, I wiped my tears, humming to my baby boy, trying to calm him. “Everything is going to be fine. Mommy will keep you safe.”
“Horatia!” The deep timbre of Caspar’s voice had me clutching my son to my chest and turning.
“Caspar. Oh, thank the stars. What’s going on? Where do we go?”
“My love, we must flee and get to the temple.”
“Why?”
He gripped my hand, his smile shaky. “We must protect Bashiri.”
Like the sun’s burst revealing dawn, the realization of his words rattled me.
“Caspar, who will care for him after…”
“It’s been handled. We’ve all known this day might come, and the Tutelary have been waiting. Bashiri will be cared for; he will be hidden and loved. We have to give him the tools to survive and hope—” Another explosion and Caspar pulled me up. “Horatia, we must run.”
Bashiri pressed close to my chest, my hand in Caspar’s, we raced along the narrow paths through the cave. Rocks shattered above us, and dust covered our skin. My legs felt as though they were on fire but the temple was close, and as soon as it was in my sight, a surge of energy overcame me.
“We don’t have much time.” Caspar opened the temple doors, and I was halfway to the altar when I froze.
Twelve of the most powerful seers stood in a circle surrounding the moon table. I knew this was for the best, that it was the only way to keep our kind alive… to keep Bashiri alive.
“My love…” Caspar’s voice cracked. His gaze flickered between me and our son. We wanted years with him, lifetimes. We spoke of how we’d teach him his gifts and hone them into powers that would save the world.
Now, someone else would do that, and I could only hope I’d be able to witness his triumphs from the stars.
“Horatia, please. We are out of time. I’m sorry.” Neoma, the oldest of the seers, smiled through her tears. “Because we will perish this day does not mean our kind will.”
I pulled Bashiri from my wrap and lifted his tiny head to my lips. I pressed a kiss to his soft skin, inhaling his aroma. At that moment, I wished to never need another breath and to be able to lock his scent in my heart forever.
“I love you, Bashiri. You will save the world.” I placed him on the moon table as more blasts shook the temple.
“We are out of time!” a seer shouted.
We all surrounded Bashiri, hands locked. I never took my eyes off him as he stared up at the glow that bathed him. He was kicking his tiny legs, gurgling, blinking against the moon’s light.
“In the years to come, many of us will die— but through our power, Bashiri’s will grow. On this night, we sacrifice our lives, our gifts, our knowledge and power to Bashiri.” Neoma lifted her head, and everyone followed.
“With every fallen seer, may their magic flow into Bashiri. May it protect him at that time in the future when he must face the enemy, those who seek our destruction.”
I closed my eyes as I felt my soul drain from my body. Silent tears wet my cheeks, and I begged the powers that be to protect my son and to shroud him until he had enough strength to fight back.
“One hundred years,” Neoma whispered.
My head jerked slightly at her words. Her gaze met mine.
“We cannot ask for eternity, Horatia. The powers that be will never grant it.” Neoma winced; as we weakened, the pain was unimaginable. “One hundred years. We must hope they will shield him, and when the clock strikes midnight on his one-hundredth birthday, let us hope he will be ready.”
A whimper escaped me. How could that be long enough? What if our enemies find him on his birthday? Please, please let him live forever.
“One hundred years,” every seer chanted over and over again.
Dust and rocks began to rain over us as our words became louder, and we were brought to our knees. Bashiri’s cries echoed throughout the temple, and the last thought before my life was drained was, I hope someone out there will protect him when evil comes for him. Please, let his protector find him.
Bashiri’s cries silenced, and with my last breath, I heard a voice.
“With their lives, you will live, Bashiri.”
Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.
She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.
If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.
EMAIL: davidsonkingauthor@yahoo.com
The Blood Boss #1
Emperor of Dragons #2
The Last Seer #3
Black Veil Series
