Page 86 of Beyond the Ruby River
Niya huffed. The corners of her lips began to curl. She turned them to a scowl instead. “Daka gave you a gift most mortal men would kill for. In return, you shunned him. Broke his heart and left without a word.”
“That was a long time ago,” Mahu countered. “And I had my reasons.”
Niya remained unimpressed. “What he did to you was over and done in under one night’s moon. What you did to him has lasted an eternity. Daka has never gotten over you. He’s moved on because he had no other choice, but he’s grieved for you for centuries. Alone.” Niya emphasized the last word and narrowed her gaze.
Sachi stayed quiet, listening. Mahu had told her the entire story of his mortal life and his lost love. She knew what to expect in Niyarai.
“I’m sorry,” said Mahu, hands spread, palms up. “I regret the years we lost. I’ve been lonely without him too, but it was more than my mortality stolen from me. My connection to my family was severed with Temaj’s bite—my wife and children, who I believed waited in the afterlife. I saw them as the vampire yanked me from the arms of death back to the realm of the living. They were reaching for me.”
“The desperate fantasy of a dying man,” Niya threw back at him. “Do you still believe that nonsense, Mahu? Where is your precious Osiris now? Dakarai is real and has suffered each day for centuries.”
“And I have had no days, thanks to Daka’s interference—only eternal night.” Mahu forced a calm he didn’t feel. “This isn’t your fight, Niyarai. It’s between me and Daka to sort our past wrongs. He’s asked me to come, and I’m here. Will you really stand in our way?”
Niya blinked. When she spoke, her voice rang low and menacing. “I know how to kill a vampire.”
Sachi broke her silence, stepping forward. “And I know how to kill an incubus.”
Niya’s glower flashed to Sachi. “Who are you?”
Mahu took over, his hand coming to rest on Sachi’s slim shoulder. “Niya won’t really kill me.” Rethinking that, he added, “Yet. She’s only protecting her brother.”
Sachi looked as if she weren’t so certain, but she extended a hand to Niya nonetheless. “I’m Sachi, Mahu’s travel companion. I prefer him alive, thank you.”
The smile Niya had fought back earlier made a brief appearance as she took Sachi’s hand. “Niya. And there is no way to kill an incubus.”
Sachi gave a half-shrug. “Hmm. If you say so.”
“Please, Niya,” said Mahu. “He is expecting me, only tell me where to find him?”
With a sigh, she reluctantly stepped back into her house, clearing the way for them to enter. “Come inside and wash up. You can’t greet my brother for the first time after two millennia looking like you got into a fight with a pile of dirt and let the pile of dirt win.”
Mahu glanced down at himself. She wasn’t wrong. He inclined his head and followed Sachi into the house. “Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me yet.” Niya peered down her nose at him. “I’m still thinking your fangs would make nice earrings after I stake you.” Her brows lifted. “Shiny.”
Tempted to let his fangs drop and hiss at her, Mahu chose to ignore the threat. He passed her by to enter a wide foyer. Though her residence was constructed from the same mudbrick Mahu remembered from ancient times, the inside was modern. White-washed walls and pastel woven tapestries made the space airy and light.
Niya led them through an elegant parlor that reminded him of Meditarai’s home in Rhakotis, down a hallway and to an empty bedroom with its own wash basin and tub.
“The water is fresh, but cold. I could arrange to heat it?” asked Niya.
Mahu glanced at Sachi. When she shook her head, he said, “No, thank you. This will do perfectly.”
Niya looked from one to the other. “Perhaps two rooms?”
“If it’s no trouble?” Sachi answered for them both.
“None at all, this way.” Niya led Sachi away, shutting the door behind them.
Mahu stripped out of his clothes to wash. Before sullying the pristine water with the dirt of his travels, he soaked a rag and began to drag it over his skin. Ridding his body of the worst of the grime, Mahu gave a pleased sigh.
He was so close to Daka now. The real Daka, not his astral spirit, but a flesh and blood person he could take within his arms and embrace as he’d longed to do for ages. He owed Daka the apology of a lifetime. Of hundreds of lifetimes. As they’d walked he’d composed his speech in his mind, but it never felt quite right. How do you tell the other half of your soul that you’re sorry? Words weren’t enough.
Discarding the soiled rag, Mahu turned to the tub. Naked, one leg raised to heft over the side, he startled as the bedroom door flew wide open to reveal Niya holding an armful of linens.
Mahu rushed to cover himself, slipping into the tub and sloshing water wildly over the side.
Niya’s laughter danced between them, cutting the edge off Mahu’s embarrassment. “For a vampire, you still act awfully human. You don’t have anything I haven’t seen millions of times, Mahu.”
