Page 31 of Across the Sapphire Sea
Elias’s second thoughts were overrun by third thoughts and then fourth thoughts. He watched as the farmer turned, and suddenly it was too late to take everything back. Valeri would get caught. The farmer would overpower him. Elias would try to help, but he didn’t know how to fight. He would fail and—
The bulging sack of wood fell from the farmer’s shoulders, forgotten. He had eyes only for Valeri and stood transfixed as the vampire approached.
“Knees,” said Valeri, and the farmer knelt without question.
Elias’s mouth hung open. When Valeri beckoned for him to come closer, he couldn’t help but creep forward.
“Take off your scarf and loosen your shirt.” Valeri waited while the farmer complied.
“Is he all right?” asked Elias.
“Perfectly fine. He won’t remember a thing. You ready?”
This was it then. Valeri would bite this man, and Elias would watch. He nodded.
Valeri took the farmer by the jaw and tilted his head.
“Wait!” said Elias, a little too loudly. Valeri glowered at him, annoyed. “Sorry, just…don’t hurt him.”
The vampire turned back to his meal. Elias both regretted asking for this and was appalled by his own fascination. He couldn’t tear his eyes away as Valeri bent down and bit the farmer’s meaty neck.
The man let out a low moan that sounded all too much like he was enjoying himself. Elias supposed he was. Valeri’s bite felt amazing to him, so why should it be any different for the farmer? Would he come like Elias did? Suddenly Elias found himself battling jealousy, which was ridiculous, because Valeri belonged to him.
My demon.
As quick as it had started, the act was done. Valeri closed the punctures with his tongue, pulled back from the farmer, and licked his lips clean.
“Don’t forget your scarf,” Valeri said to the farmer, who noticed the abandoned garment at his side with a hint of confusion.
Elias remained frozen in thought. So that was how a vampire fed. Valeri had some sort of power over other people. Did he use that power on Elias?
Valeri took Elias’s arm and led him away, back in the direction they’d come from. “There. Now you’ve seen me feed. What do you think?”
I think you do that to me. What would stop you?“He won’t tell anyone?”
“He has nothing to tell. I’ve hazed the memory. He went out for wood and dropped his scarf.” Valeri shrugged.
With Valeri’s arm looped around his elbow, Elias felt the shrug more than he saw it. They were almost back to the horses by the time he’d collected his thoughts enough to answer.
“I think…it’s not so bad. To take only a little and leave them unaware. As long as you don’t hurt anyone.”
“Elias.” Valeri said his name slowly, emphasizing each syllable. “Don’t be daft. You must know sometimes I kill them.”
Elias did know that. Though he’d never let conversation between them stray too close to the uncomfortable fact. Valeri was a killer. Elias had always known that no matter how much he wished he didn’t. Sometimes life was easier lived in ignorance.
“Why?” Elias asked, though he didn’t really want that answer either.
“Because I enjoy killing.”
Elias tried to hide his shock. Unsuccessfully because Valeri’s response was laughter.
“Don’t pretend you didn’t know that, my sweet,” Valeri drawled, voice slow like molasses. “You knew.”
Elias hadn’t wanted to face the truth, but Valeri wasn’t wrong. “I did.”
That earned him a smile. The wicked one, wide enough to reveal fangs. “And now, I have a question for you.” Valeri tugged him past the horses, farther into the woods and under a dense canopy of evergreens. Their sharp, resinous scent permeated the crisp air.
Valeri stopped, put his hands on Elias’s chest and backed him up against a tree. “Do you want it?”
