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“He was a whole ass vampire,” she says, matching my energy. “There wasn’t a little boy left anywhere inside of him. You’re a fool if you think otherwise.”
I wipe the tears flowing down my cheek. “He was the only thing I had left.”
“I’m sorry about that, but I wasn’t willing to risk Thorne’s life.”
Looking between the two of them, I see a connection that I was stupid to not see earlier. Something passes between them, and I know without asking, they’re lovers. “How can I have been so blind?”
Thorne closes his eyes, looking at the wooden deck below. “It’s not what it seems, Elsie.”
“You’re going to stand there, next to my dead brother’s body, and tell me that the two of you are not lovers?”
He sighs. “That’s not important right now.”
“It seemed important enough for her to kill my brother.”
“Well done, my dear,” Kragen says from behind me.
Samirah smiles, moving from behind Thorne and to Kragen’s side. “Thank you, my love.” She reaches up, kissing him on the lips. What the ever-living hell just happened?
“Samirah?” Thorne asks, looking just as confused as I feel.
“Why do you look so shocked?” she asks. “Kragen and I found each other years ago. We’ve been lovers ever since. You were just a stop along the way.”
Facing Kragen, I let every bit of rage and anger flow. “I’m ready to kill you now.”
Kragen laughs, pulling Samirah close. “Maybe later.”
“Am I the only one that’s confused?” I ask whoever is listening.
“You were right. That was fun,” Samirah says from his side.
“I told you, my dear.” He reaches down, kissing her again. “Wreaking havoc is what life’s all about.” He turns toward me. “I’m always one step ahead, my dear. It’s all part of the game. Shall we take our leave?”
“We shall,” she answers as the two of them lift into the sky, leaving Thorne and me alone on the deck.
TWENTY-THREE
ships, poems, and death
“What just happened?”Elias asks, landing on the main deck. “Did Kragen take Samirah?”
“I don’t think there was anytakingto it. She went willingly,” I answer.
“What the hell?” Abram adds. “Why would she do that?”
“Because they’re lovers,” I answer, glaring in Thorne’s direction.
Micah climbs over the side of the railing with Francis thrown over his shoulder, followed by Luna and Connor. He sets her down carefully. “Did he take Samirah?” she asks, propping her hands on her hips.
I repeat the story for the small audience, ending with Kragen taking off the deck with Samirah in his arms.
“What’s next?” Francis asks as the group standsaround, absorbing the overload of information. “Do we go after him?”
“Aye,” Thorne answers.
I kneel next to what’s left of my younger brother. Bertram’s body is already starting to disintegrate, returning to the dust from which it came. “I’m so sorry, sweet Bert. I wish I could’ve helped you.”
“You did everything you could,” Thorne says, coming to my side.
