Page 7 of Across the Sapphire Sea
No tears, not tonight, thought Elias.Save them for when you finally get the courage to leave him, because then there’ll be no stopping them.
* * *
Four Years Ago
“I’d have liked to have been your first,” the stranger whispered. He still held the whip intended for Elias’s back.
The words filtered through Elias’s panicked mind like the scythe had gone through the barley, slicing it clear in two. One half, the sane bit, was horrified at the implication, but the other half? A spark of arousal sent blood rushing to his groin. He shivered. Behind him, the stranger chuckled. His breath ruffled Elias’s hair.
Insanity.
Elias stared at the ground and willed himself under control. Five lashes, then back to the field. The bondslaves would work well into the night to protect the harvest from the threatening frost.
The stranger completed a slow circle, wrapping the leather whip loosely around Elias’s torso as he went. He stood directly in front, toe to toe with Elias, demanding his full attention. Maks spoke in the background, but Elias didn’t catch the words. He could do nothing but stare.
This close Elias could see every dark eyelash, the freckle on his upper lip, the flash of sharp incisors when he opened his mouth. The stranger was taller, even with Elias on his tiptoes, but only by a little. He was broad where Elias was slim. He tugged, and the whip pulled Elias even closer.
“I’ve been watching you.” The voice rumbled from ruby lips like distant thunder, ominous and full of promise.
“I know.” Elias dug deep and found courage. “I’ve seen you, for all the good that’s done me.” His eyes flitted to his bound wrists.
The stranger smirked. “Do you like what you see?”
“A lunatic with a whip?” The question flew out without thought. Elias didn’t know what had gotten into him. He courted the devil with those words.
The stranger’s smirk widened to a smile and a burst of laughter tumbled forth. Elias felt the gust of it on his face.
Maks approached. “Get on with it.”
Annoyance marred the stranger’s sharp features, but his attention never wavered. He ignored Maks and spoke only to Elias. “I can end this. Take you with me.” Subtly, he increased the tension on the whip, forcing Elias forward. “Would you come?”
Elias blinked. “Where?”
“Does the location matter if the alternative is here?” His gaze flicked to Maks then back to Elias. “Under that idiot’s lash?”
“Youhold the lash.”
“So I do.” He tugged. Their chests bumped. “Would you come?”
“I’ll come.”
The stranger gave a hum of approval. His tongue wet his bottom lip. “Ask me to kill him.”
Elias nearly lost his balance. He’d have stumbled save for his arms tied overhead, which were beginning to ache from the restraint.
Kill him? Elias hated Maks but didn’t wish him dead…did he? He considered. Would the stranger really kill his master? Surely not.
Tempted, Elias let curiosity overrule fear. He would always have fear but curiosity came in short supply. He wouldn’t waste it.
Elias glared defiantly at the stranger’s glittering brown eyes and deduced the curiosity to be mutual. The stranger’s gaze was pregnant with it. He didn’t know how his prisoner would respond.
Elias whispered, “Do it. Kill him for me. Take me with you.”
A pleased grin curled to reveal a row of white, sparkling teeth, two of which were sharp as razor blades.
Not teeth.
Fangs. A shiver rocked Elias where he hung.
