Page 37 of Across the Sapphire Sea
Those subjects were all pointless. He’d never gotten a straight answer from Valeri about any of it. Remy might tell him, but asking his friend for his lover’s secrets was unfair. Valeri ought to tell him himself.
Elias focused on their journey. The vampires could maintain a fast pace, even trekking on narrow paths through the slush of the remaining snow, but Elias didn’t know how Aella was keeping up. He suspected she used her magic, though she wasn’t chanting or holding her hand aloft the way Remy and Laurence did when they performed spells.
“Elias.” Valeri’s call interrupted his runaway thoughts. “I smell reindeer.”
Elias stopped and sniffed the air. “You’re right.”
They would all need to feed. Valeri, Ash, and Laurence had mostly gone without, leaving the donors for Elias and Remy. A herd of reindeer would be ideal, and at this hour, probably sleeping. Easy targets. And much preferable to arguing over another human.
“I’ll go. You tell the others,” said Valeri before slinking off like a mountain cat to secure their meal.
Waiting for the rest to catch up, Elias leaned against a tree and enjoyed the solid ground beneath his feet. If he never experienced another sea voyage, it would be too soon. Above him, the arctic lights danced green and purple in the sky.
Remy and Laurence approached. They looked as if they’d been laughing. Their eyes glowed bright in the dim light. Elias admired them, for they made such a handsome couple and looked so happy together. So in love.
Remy saw him first. “Is everything all right?”
Laurence’s gaze turned suspicious. “Where is Valeri?”
“He’s gone for reindeer,” Elias explained. “He’s very good with compulsion, there’s no need for worry.” Then he thought, well, Laurence would know that already, wouldn’t he? Valeri had probably taught him compulsion as he’d taught Elias in those early nights.
Laurence relaxed, but Remy didn’t; he scanned the area, found they were alone, then wrapped Elias in an unexpected embrace.
Elias didn’t know what to do, but he returned the hug meanwhile looking to Laurence for clues. Laurence watched with an unreadable expression, which was no help at all.
Remy pulled back enough to catch Elias’s gaze. “Are you all right? Valeri keeps you isolated. Neither of you look happy.”
Neither of us is happy.“I’m fine. We’re fine. He’s just…like that. I don’t know why.”
Remy’s assessment didn’t let up. His hands held Elias’s upper arms and squeezed. “We can help you. When this is over. You don’t have to stay with him. You can come with us.”
Elias’s mouth hung open. He didn’t know what to say. His first thought was to defend Valeri, to proclaim his love for his sire, to tell them he didn’t want to leave, but was that true? Had he not been thinking it would come to this himself? Would Valeri let him go? Elias didn’t know, and somehow the thought made him sad either way.
Laurence stepped in. “There are laws among our kind, Elias. He isn’t allowed to control you the way he does. We can protect you.”
This information only added to his confusion. His answer came slow and quiet. “I don’t need protection from Valeri. He wouldn’t hurt me.”
Remy’s palm cupped his cheek. “There are a lot of ways to hurt someone.”
Wasn’t that the truth.
Remy continued, “We’re your friends, and if you need us, we want to help.”
Too stunned to reply, Elias stood there gaping. He grew nervous. Valeri would be back soon, and if he saw Remy touching him, he’d be angry.
As if sensing his distress, Remy released him and went back to Laurence.
Elias was surprised to see Aella and Ash had already joined them and were watching. How much had they heard? Did they think he needed to be protected from Valeri too? All of this made him terribly uncomfortable, and doubly so because Valeri was who he’d always turned to for comfort.
“You’ll be safe with Laurence and Remy,” said Aella, confirming they’d heard everything. “Or at Bran Vigny if you prefer. We’ll keep you safe from him.”
Elias mumbled a soft, “Thank you,” but he didn’t need their protection. Did he?
The sound of snow crunching signaled Valeri’s return.
Relief flooded Elias’s veins at the sight of him approaching with two dazed and docile reindeer following along in a trance. He had to suppress the urge to throw himself into Valeri’s arms because, even though he knew Remy and the others had a point, the thought of leaving Valeri behind terrified him.
“I’ve eaten. These are for you,” said Valeri.
