Page 59 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“Not against,” said Valeri, snatching the laces from Elias and backing out of his reach. “I’m not charging into battle, I’m gathering information.”
“By yourself.”
Valeri tied the laces off. “I’ll be fine.”
With a sigh, Elias capitulated. “Be careful. Please.”
“Of course.” Stepping in, Valeri dotted the tip of Elias’s nose with his finger. “And you, stay put.”
Elias turned his head to avoid the offending finger. “If I’m not here, I’ll be at the tavern.”
“No, not tonight. Don’t go out, stay—”
“What?” Anger rose. “That’s ridiculous. You intend to leave me alone all night and forbid me from walking down the street? I’m going to go and say goodbye to Jemma before we leave.”
Valeri set his jaw. “I said no, Elias.”
“She’s my friend. I’ll see her if I like.”
“You’re a vampire. Humans aren’t your friends, they’re your dinner. Stay put where I know you’re safe.”
“Or what?”
“Or I’ll feed from your precious Jemma.”
Elias balled his fists. Rage burned hot behind his eyes. “Don’t you dare.”
“Do not presume to tell me what I do and do not dare. One night in these rooms where you’re safe, and then we sail south. Don’t pretend it’s so much to ask.”
Elias had been beaten, for he would not risk Jemma’s safety to say farewell. And he could not trust Valeri to feed without killing. Inside, he fumed, but niggling worry for Valeri’s safety wouldn’t be quelled by anger alone. He took a breath.
“Fine. I’ll stay here. Take care and hurry back to me.”
“I will.” Valeri leaned in for a kiss, which Elias granted, then he left.
Elias stared at the closed door and the four walls that were to be his prison for the rest of the night. Would he ever be allowed to have friends that weren’t called Valeri? Was this why his first fledgling, Laurence, had left?
* * *
Valeri, One Year Ago
Alone, slinking up the stairs and out onto the dark village street, Valeri rolled his shoulders and attempted to shove thoughts of Elias from his mind. He must focus on the task at hand, not on his stubborn, ungrateful, fool of a fledgling who’d put himself at risk for the sake of a silly bar wench. Valeri scoffed as he passed the tavern on his way out of town.
If Elias would only listen the first time, they could avoid these petty arguments and enjoy peace. But no. Everything Valeri asked was met with resistance, bickering, and back talk as if they were equals and not sire and fledgling.
Perhaps it was his own fault. Valeri didn’t have the heart for the kind of punishments his own sire had doled out for this sort of infraction. The kind of punishments that had kept Valeri in line for decades. He couldn’t starve Elias, or withhold his blood. Couldn’t chain him up in the dark. Couldn’t imagine his beautiful, spirited lover imprisoned for his little rebellions.
And so the little rebellions had grown teeth. They’d morphed into fully fledged arguments and stubborn insolence. Yet still, Valeri couldn’t bring himself to mete out the proper discipline.
Fedor would call him soft. He’d have laughed when Valeri lost Laurence, and he’d be laughing now as Elias sassed him in his own home. But Valeri refused to turn into Fedor, even if it meant he’d lose Elias someday. The thought broke his heart, but he would not be cruel to Elias. He loved him too much to consider the betrayals that would ensure proper loyalty.
Valeri left the villages of Rovaniemi behind to head north through the woods toward the Arctic Circle. In his inane musings, he’d neglected to pay close attention to his progress as he tromped through the snowy midnight forest.
Close now, he could sense the lake ahead. A massive body of water, Norvajarvi sprawled across thousands of acres. Circling the perimeter would take most of the evening. Valeri estimated the distance at nearly twenty miles, but if he could pinpoint the location of the court of ancients before he left, he was sure The Dozen would send him back with a team.
Arriving at the bank of the lake revealed a stunning light show in the sky. Bright green and purple flares danced to the heavens and back. A pang of longing burst soul-deep. If only Elias was by his side, they could witness the beautiful display together. Elias always loved the night sky’s lights. Valeri closed his eyes and saw the awed expression on Elias’s face.
With a sigh, he let the silly reverie fade and focused on his mission. He chose a direction, northwest, and began his trek around the lake.
