Page 83 of Across the Sapphire Sea
“She’s coming,” said Laurence as he and Remy climbed to their feet.
Elias’s chest clenched with worry. Valeri slumped against his side, breathing shallow.
Everyone stared at the shimmering purple tear in space. Anticipation hung in the air, thick with tension. Behind them, Bran Vigny’s witches’ chanting rose louder and louder. Their rhythm beat a pulse in the ether Elias could feel against his skin.
What would The Vartija do to her if she was stranded under their roof? After she’d made Sachi’s escape possible? Their fury would know no limit.
Elias shuddered at the thought.
The portal crackled. Wind began to pick up, though they were indoors. Aella burst through the spasming whirlpool just before the edges slammed shut with a loud, snapping bang.
Relief rushed over Elias like the welcome tide of a full moon. He took a deep breath and held it, clutching Valeri’s hand in his.
Aella had landed on hands and knees with a grunt. Her eyes swept the room, panic in her gaze. “Ash?”
“He’s being seen to,” said Corrine, her tone ambiguous.
Where the portal had been, there stood only the castle wall.
Elias exhaled.
Was it really over?
21
Mahu, Present, 1432 Common Era
Dakarai hovered by Mahu’s bedside, eyes flooded with concern. He reached for Mahu’s hand, but there was no substance with which to touch. Only Daka’s astral spirit could make this journey. His body lay somewhere in Egypt. Still, Mahu felt a pleasant flutter of cool air on his fingers at the sweet gesture.
A weak smile tugged at Mahu’s lips. “I’m glad you came.”
“You aren’t an easy man to forget.”
“Neither are you.”
Daka lifted a dark brow. “I’m not a man.”
Mahu waved that away. “Demon then.”
Daka coiled his tail around his waist as if to emphasize the point.
Mahu’s body hosted a great many pains. His lungs twinged with each labored breath. His chest ached. Fingers and toes tingled with a thousand tiny needles yet failed to turn numb. Perhaps the greatest agony of all was to see Daka without being able to touch him. To run his fingers along the familiar ridges of the incubus’s tail. To tease his nipples to hardness and watch him writhe for more.
Daka’s expression changed. His head tilted, black hair falling across his forehead.
Mahu longed to brush the silken strands behind his ear.
“Do you hear that? Vampires approach.”
Mahu listened but heard nothing. His senses weren’t what they used to be, dulled with sickness. Half the time, he didn’t know if he was awake or dreaming.
“I must go.”
“No, don’t.” Mahu struggled to sit.
Daka leaned in. “Shh, they’re coming to help. Lie back”
“Don’t leave,” Mahu begged, but Daka’s handsome form shimmered, threatening to vanish. “Please.”
