Page 75 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“No, I’m not. Why would I be? They can have it. I want my life to mean something again. If I can save aging vampires from going mad, then I want to. And I’ll start with Mahu.”
“But what if not every group is like The Dozen? What if they are like Valeri? The Dozen would never agree to kidnap you and use your blood against your will, but Valeri was obviously willing to stoop to it. What if others are like him?”
Sachi’s gaze turned to the horizon. On one side of their boat, the water seemed endless. On the other, the shore grew closer and closer. The current was pulling them back to The Vartija one ripple at a time.
She held her chin high. “No one can steal what I offer willingly.”
Elias’s caution wouldn’t budge. “But there is only one of you, Sachi. How many vampires are there in the world?”
Sachi shrugged. The motion looked incongruous on her, like she was too elegant for a casual shrug. “I have no idea.”
“Me either, but you see the problem?”
“I see the problem.”
“Maybe we should try to keep the secret. For your own good,” Elias suggested. “Right now, besides your people, only The Dozen know. The knowledge should end with them. You cannot save the world’s vampires.” He said the words, but he didn’t really know what they meant.The world’s vampires.How many was that? A thousand? Ten thousand? Elias had no idea.
“You’re wise for your twenty-three years, Elias. And already you seek to protect your new friend. But let’s leave that problem for later and concentrate on the one we have now. The Vartija will never allow me to go. We must have a plan.”
Elias’s shoulders slumped. “I’m no good at plans.”
“I am,” said Sachi, her eyes twinkling brighter than any of the stars.
19
Valeri, Present, 1432 Common Era
Hours had passed. Hours! And Elias had not been returned to him. This worthless group seemed content to stew in this pit of a waiting room while the ancients toyed with them, deciding their futures as if they had no say in it themselves.
When pacing failed to calm Valeri’s nerves, he’d argued to break the locks and storm the complex until Elias was recovered. Met with a united front from the others to simply wait until closer to dawn before they did anything rash, Valeri was forced to fume in silence. Or act alone.
Without their magic, Valeri’s efforts would be useless. But doing nothing while Elias could be in danger was taking its toll. He’d been stupid to bring Elias. Valeri vowed then and there to never put him at risk again. When he got Elias back, he’d protect him at all costs. If they had to disappear to be safe, they’d do it. He no longer cared for The Dozen’s opinion. For a place at their court. For the respect of his peers. Only Elias mattered.
“Valeri, he’s all right,” said Laurence, the most unlikely source of comfort to ever exist. “You’d know if he weren’t, your bond would alert you.”
Valeri bit back the urge to tell him to mind his own business, though he did have a point. Valeri would know if his fledgling were hurt or afraid. Wherever Elias was, he wasn’t upset. But the thought gave little comfort when Elias wasn’t by Valeri’s side where he belonged.
“We won’t leave without him,” said Remy.
What did they want? His thanks for pointing out the obvious? They would get nothing from Valeri but a glower.
The click of the lock sounded, and Valeri’s gaze darted to the door. Hope surged in his chest. He leapt to his feet.
The door swung open.
Elias walked in. Whole, safe, and from his expression as their eyes met, possibly quite cross with Valeri.
The world righted itself. Valeri lunged for him.
Sidestepping his reach, Elias glared. “Don’t.”
Sachi stood at the threshold, watching the exchange without comment. Valeri’s blood boiled at the sight of her, that she had the audacity to take Elias from him. To turn Elias against him. But no…he’d done that himself, hadn’t he? Valeri seethed and made another attempt to collect Elias into his arms, if only to be certain Elias was unharmed.
Elias dodged and made for Remy. “I said don’t.”
Valeri followed. He’d apologize, beg if he had to, admit his solution had been terrible, but Laurence stepped between them, all bulky and barrel-chested and immovable, and if Valeri could go back in time and unmake him a vampire he absolutely would.
Thwarted, Valeri turned his hurt on Sachi. “What have you done to him?”
