Chapter 30
Boaz
Boaz half listened to Manlius and Blade murmuring to each other about inducing another vision. They needed to check the veil and see how far the demons had gotten in opening it. Every passing second felt like precious time slipping away.
But Boaz could not focus on any of it.
His mind was stuck on what Alexander had said before he left.
The words kept replaying, over and over, and the more he thought about them, the angrier he became. Alexander had not even let him respond. He had just walked away.
Boaz took a deep breath, his heart pounding hard in his chest.
Just then, a sharp knock sounded at the door.
“Who the hell is that?” Manlius asked. “Give me a second.”
He rushed out of the room, leaving Boaz alone with Blade.
“We haven’t been properly introduced,” Blade said, stepping closer. “I’m Blade.”
“I know,” Boaz said. “We met earlier at the monastery.”
“Yes, but Alexander was too busy sticking his tongue down your throat to introduce me,” Blade said.
Boaz looked away, his neck warming.
Great. Did he really have to bring that up?
Blade chuckled and moved a little closer, arms folded as he circled Boaz as if inspecting him.
“Don’t be embarrassed. I thought you two looked hot. And the sexual energy you gave off was intense. I see why he couldn’t resist you, why he chose you over his bride.”
“He did what?” Boaz asked.
“Uhh…” Blade stopped abruptly, as if realizing what he had just said. His eyes widened and he glanced around the room like he was suddenly looking for an escape route. “Where did Manlius go?”
He turned to leave, but Boaz grabbed his arm and stopped him.
“You said he chose me over his bride. What do you mean by that?” Boaz asked, his grip tightening without him noticing.
Blade winced.
“Sorry,” Boaz said immediately, letting go. “I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“It’s fine,” Blade said, rubbing his arm. He looked at Boaz with a more serious expression now. “No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. It just slipped out. Alexander should have been the one to tell you.”
“She really is his bride?” Boaz asked, feeling as though he had been gutted. “He’s supposed to be with her.”
“I didn’t say that,” Blade replied quickly.
“You didn’t have to. I can see it in your eyes,” Boaz said. “He told me there was a prophecy. You’re the one who saw his future?”
“Yes,” Blade said.
“There’s something that makes you believe Lyla is his bride,” Boaz said. “What is it?”
“You really don’t want to know this,” Blade said, turning away.
Boaz exhaled slowly. “No. I do.”
Blade turned back to face him. “My prophecies aren’t always true. I didn’t see Drago getting trapped in the underworld. Or Alexander being infected. This could also be wrong.”
“Just tell me,” Boaz said softly.
Blade hesitated, then lifted his hands in surrender. “Okay. In my vision, he had a child. And vampires can only reproduce with their fated one.”
Boaz clenched his jaw as pain sliced through him.
“Okay,” he said, staring down at the floor for a moment.
“Are you okay?” Blade asked, reaching out to touch his arm.
“I’m fine,” Boaz said, even though he felt like he might be sick. He should have known it would end this way, that there was no future between them. He had had his doubts, but he had still wanted it. He had wanted to belong to Alexander, to be with him, to stay in his arms for the rest of his life.
“I guess Lyla would have eventually come around,” he murmured to himself.
“What?” Blade asked.
“Nothing,” Boaz said, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I should go.”
“Boaz, I really didn’t mean to say anything. You and Alexander seem so happy. Fate can change,” Blade said, the sincerity in his eyes making something twist painfully in Boaz’s chest.
“The funny thing is, I wish that were true. But I had my doubts, and I pushed them away because I wanted him. Even when he did the most ridiculous things, I went along with them because I wanted him.” Boaz pressed a hand to his chest.
“You’re in love with him.”
Boaz was silent for a beat. “Yes.”
He took a deep breath, then walked out of the room. He found Manlius speaking with Killan in the foyer.
“We’re setting up right now,” Killan was saying. “I spoke to the high priestess. The witches will be here tomorrow to help us create a magical barrier around the veil. Last time we were too late. Hopefully this time we can minimize casualties.”
“You’re not going to try and save your loved ones?” Manlius asked. “I thought you believed we should open the veil and try to save them.”
Killan sighed. “I would love to have my son back, but it’s too risky. Perhaps if you had your powers back, we could figure something out. At least now we know how the demons operate, unlike last time when they took us by surprise.”
“You can get your powers back?” Boaz asked, cutting into their conversation.
“Boaz,” Manlius said, turning to face him, surprise flickering in his eyes. “Killan and his people are setting up camp at the monastery. You should go and help them while Blade and I are busy.”
Boaz looked between Manlius and Killan. It was clear the sorcerer did not want to talk about his powers. Boaz wanted to push, but something told him Manlius would not allow it. He nodded and walked out of the house toward his truck.
When he had arrived that morning, he never imagined things would end up like this. He had still been in his love bubble and now it had shattered completely.
He had thought Alexander ignoring him after accusing him of using him as a distraction was painful, but this…
Boaz pressed a hand to his chest again. The ache there felt like a stab straight to the heart.
He opened the door to his truck just as a delivery van came careening down the road.
Hansel, Boaz thought as he closed the door again. The van screeched to a stop, and Hansel jumped out.
“Is it really happening again?” Hansel asked as he came to a stop in front of him.
Boaz nodded. “Yes.”
“How? How did this happen?”
Boaz quickly explained what Blade had seen in his vision. “It’s already starting. Three young witches got infected from the blood Brett took from Alexander.”
“Fuck,” Hansel said. He went quiet for a moment, then looked at Boaz. “Are you alright? You’re not blaming yourself for all of this, right?”
“I’m fine,” Boaz said quickly, turning back toward his truck. “I need to go help set up camp at the monastery. Are you coming?”
“Later. I want to talk to Manlius, find out what he needs help with,” Hansel said.
“Okay, I’ll see you later,” Boaz said.
He got into the truck and drove toward the monastery. His hands tightened around the steering wheel as he tried to hold back the guilt and heartbreak that was slowly eating away at him.
“Fuck,” he muttered, tears burning in his eyes.