Page 49 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“Make yourselves at home.” Valeri set about lighting a fire.
Laurence and Remy took the chairs by the table.
“Gladly,” said Aella, flopping onto the lounge with her bag in her lap. She dug through the contents and retrieved a hunk of jerky wrapped in paper. “I’m starving.”
Ash sat next to her. “You should have said something. We would have stopped for you to eat.”
“No, we were cutting the timing too close as it was.” She held up the dried meat. “I’ll enjoy this more knowing we have a safe place to sleep for the day. I’m exhausted.”
Aella had used her magic throughout their trek to keep pace with a group of vampires. She’d also needed her powers to stay warm while underground during daylight. In addition to that, she’d gotten less sleep than the rest of them throughout the journey overseas because of her duty to be their eyes and ears when the vampires were forced to take cover from the sun.
“We should rest here until Aella has recovered,” said Ash. “Perhaps a few nights before we reestablish contact with your sources.”
Elias chimed in before Valeri could argue. He’d hoped to avoid more arguments. He was sick of bickering. “Of course. That’s a good idea. Tomorrow night I could take you to the tavern down the street. They have card tables and sometimes a targeting game of arrows.”
“That sounds fun,” said Remy. Elias had no doubt Remy was also heading off potential arguments from Valeri. Their gazes locked in a moment of understanding. “A rest would do us all good. Leave us fresh for what’s to come.”
Valeri had a scowl on his face but remained quiet. Thank the demons for small favors.
“There are three other rooms.” Elias gestured to the hall. “A small study and two bedrooms.”
“Laurence and I will take the study. We don’t mind sleeping on the floor.” Remy looked to Laurence, who nodded his confirmation. “That will leave the bedrooms for the rest of you.”
“If you’re certain. I’ll fetch the extra bedding.” Elias headed to the room he’d shared with Valeri to gather extra blankets and pillows.
Rolling his shoulders to ease the tension, Elias opened the door. The charming bedroom looked untouched since last he’d seen it, everything in its place. Emerald coverlet, four poster bed, a thick, white rug, and lush tapestries on the walls. A small room, but richly decorated in Valeri’s taste and homey in a way that made Elias’s chest ache for better times.
He opened the great wooden chest at the foot of the bed and dug out the spare wool quilts.
Behind him, Valeri cleared his throat. “Would you like some help?”
Elias dropped the blankets back into the chest and spun around. Replies went through his mind, but the house was small and the others had excellent hearing, so saying something to the effect ofyes, please take me to bed and remind me of how it used to be between us, was out of the question. Instead, he lunged at Valeri and climbed him like a squirrel up a tree. An eager squirrel, but a silent one.
To his credit, Valeri didn’t drop him, and kissed like he’d had the same idea as Elias. This room brought back fond memories for them both.
When they broke apart, Elias forced his voice to remain even. “Yes, please. I’d welcome your help.”
Valeri set him down, laughter in his eyes. He bent to pick up the abandoned bedding. “Come, let’s prepare these for our guests, then get some sleep.”
“Ah, yes, sleep.” Elias winked then grabbed the pillows and followed Valeri down the hall.
In that moment, he could pretend everything was well between them, and that disaster did not loom large after they procured help for Mahu.
13
Valeri, Present, 1432 Common Era
Valeri couldn’t stand by idly while Aella recovered her strength, not when he was so close to his goal. Let the others waste time at the tavern. Meanwhile, he’d set the cogs turning on acquiring an audience with the court of the ancients, and for that, he’d need to speak with that silver-tongued liar, Lajos.
The Dozen had underestimated him in the past, but if Valeri brought them the secrets of the ancients—if he provided a cure for the aging sickness whether they approved of the means or not—they would be forced to respect him. He and Elias could have a place at Bran Vigny. Valeri would be honored a hero rather than ridiculed as nothing more than an abusive sire. Finally, he would be appreciated.
Valeri would succeed no matter the cost. He had to trust that the others would see things his way in the end.
Lajos was an artist, though Valeri suspected he played a greater role than that. He’d misled Valeri, stalled him, and ultimately thrown him off the ancient’s trail. Valeri owed the vampire a piece of his mind, and Lajos owed him answers. Though he’d rather feed on the blood of a rabid opossum than have another conversation with the swine, Lajos was his best chance at securing an audience quickly.
Valeri would normally go through a solicitor to request a meeting with Lajos, but he didn’t have time for the official route, and he knew where Lajos painted. He would risk being rude and simply show up.
A moment’s doubt had him wishing he’d left Elias behind at Bran Vigny, out of harm’s way, but he couldn’t bring himself to be parted from his fledgling. What would he have returned to, if he’d let Elias remain? The vampires at Bran Vigny would have cautioned Elias against him. Elias might leave Valeri for someone new. He wouldn’t take that risk, so he’d dragged Elias along, and now whatever danger lay ahead, Elias faced it too. If Valeri regretted anything, it was that.
