Page 2 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“I wish I didn’t have to,” Valeri griped.
“—the wind blows in our favor,” Laurence finished, ignoring the interruption. “Magic isn’t needed.”
Remy sidestepped the pair and approached Elias while their sires continued arguing.
“So that’s for you to decide then?” Valeri continued. “The rest of us don’t get a say?”
A flutter of unease coiled in Elias’s stomach. This would be a dreadful time to gag. He caught Remy’s gaze as the young vampire joined him at the boat’s rail. He was shorter than Elias, and slighter too, but there was a fierceness in his eyes that radiated power.
“No,” Laurence growled. “And why would we risk the crew becoming suspicious for nothing?”
Remy opened his mouth to speak—
“Fuck the crew!” shouted Valeri, entirely too loud.
Elias cringed.
Remy shut his mouth, whatever he was going to say lost to Valeri’s outburst.
Elias gave an apologetic shrug.
“Charming,” said Remy instead.
“Indeed,” said Elias. Remy didn’t know the half of it. Valeri could be quite loving when he wanted, but his possessive streak always spoiled it eventually. Remy was lucky to have a sire like Laurence, who appeared kind, gentle, and protective. Watching Remy and Laurence together made Elias jealous. Could he ever find companionship like that with the hot-headed Valeri? He’d begun to doubt it.
“Are you all right?” Remy’s concern sounded genuine.
Elias nodded. “Just getting used to the ship.”
“However did you meet such a charmer?” asked Remy, his golden-brown eyes glowing in the dim light of late evening.
Elias sighed. That was an interesting story, wasn’t it? Difficult to answer in pleasant conversation with a vampire he’d only recently met. “I was a farmer working the field when he noticed me.”
“A farmer?” Remy gave a polite smile.
Nodding, Elias explained. “Slash and burn farming, yes.”
Remy’s expression turned curious.
Elias continued, “Cut away the brush, burn the debris, then next season the soil is primed for growth. The barley needed to be harvested before the frost, but Valeri found me first.” Elias paused. He didn’t want to tell the next part. Instead, he changed the subject. “How did you meet Laurence? He seems nice.”
Remy’s polite smile broadened to a real grin, puffing his pink cheeks and revealing a gleaming row of white teeth. “He’s very nice. Laurence saved my life.”
Elias already knew some of their story. The tale was fast becoming legend. But he was curious to hear it from Remy’s own mouth.
“He saw me cast the arc. Afterward, I collapsed. There was a werewolf who would have slaughtered me, but Laurence dove in to thwart him.”
Elias imagined the scene. “How daring.”
“And that was just the first time he saved my life. Apparently I have a habit of finding myself in harm’s way,” Remy said with a hint of a chuckle.
Elias envied him. “How very lucky for you that you have a protector.”
“Very.” Remy leaned back against the rail, yellow hair blowing in the wind.
Elias admired the tawny waves. He’d have liked to have long locks. But his own dark hair had been sheared rather short, and Valeri turned him into a vampire before it could grow, so short it would stay.
Remy scanned the people on deck. Elias followed his gaze. Valeri and Laurence continued their heated discussion, albeit quietly, thank the gods. The last thing they needed was for the crew to overhear.
