The Treasure

go to sleep.”

“Nasim?”

“Dead.” She grimaced. “According to Vaden, they’ll all be dead before he’s through.”

“It’s safer,” Tarik said.

“I know.” But she didn’t want to think about it. She was exhausted. Her legs felt unsteady as she moved toward her tent.

Kadar was there, his hand beneath her elbow.

“I don’t need-”

“Hush. Yes, you do. It’s all right to need someone. God knows, I need you.”

He was right, she did need him. It was time she accepted that need. She let herself lean against him as he helped her to the tent.

It was dark when she woke, and Kadar was sitting cross-legged on the ground beside her pallet. It was like the night after she had come to Tarik’s villa, she thought drowsily. No, not really. Kadar had been strange and forbidding then, and there was nothing threatening about him tonight.

He smiled down at her. “You slept deeply. It’s almost dawn. Do you feel better?”

“I think so. I had dreams.”

“Nightmares?”

She nodded. “Nasim. He was a terrible man. He deserved to die. Why should he plague my sleep?”

“He shouldn’t. The dreams will go away.”

She shivered. “I hope so.” She sat up and brushed her hair back from her face. “Has Vaden returned?”

“Over an hour ago.”

“And?”

“There will be no one returning to Maysef.”

“What about the Dark Star?”

“It’s docked near Rome. It seems we have a ship to take us home to Montdhu. Of course, we’ll have to get a new crew.”

“Home.”

“You do want to go home?”

“Yes.” Montdhu. She longed to see it again with aching intensity. She wanted to leave these foreign shores and go back to all that was familiar and beloved. “Don’t you?”

He nodded. “But I have a decision to make.”

“The grail? Why should you have to care for it? Let Tarik and Layla do it.”

“Perhaps.” He smiled. “But I’m feeling a small tugging of responsibility.”

And he might still choose to do it. “Why should you? You had no choice about taking Eshe.”

He became still. “What did Layla tell you?”

“Everything you should have told me.” She tossed aside the cover. “Now, go get me some food. I need to wash and eat before I talk of such matters.”

He stood up and pulled her to her feet. “We don’t have to talk at all. There’s time.”

“More time for you than for me.” She turned away. “That’s why we must talk. Later we will go for a walk and discuss this.”

The sky was a glory of pink-scarlet as the dawn broke over the ruins of Pompeii. It seemed impossible that it had only been a day since they had stood on this same spot, Selene thought.

“I was going to tell you,” Kadar said.

“When it suited you.”

“It seemed better to wait.”

She shrugged. “I’m not sure I believe any of this, you know.”

“I know.”

“But you do?”

“As much as I can with no proof.”

She looked away from him. “Then I want you to give me the potion.”

He stiffened. “Why?”

“What difference does it make? Just give it to me.”

“It makes a considerable difference. I’ve been struggling to keep myself from persuading you since I was told about Eshe.”

“Then stop struggling. The battle’s won. Go to Tarik and tell him to give it to me.”

He shook his head. “Not because I want it.”

“Very well, then do it because I want it.”

“But you don’t. You told me you’d never choose it.”

“I was afraid.”

“And you’re not afraid any longer?”

“Maybe,” she whispered.

He looked at her.

“All right, I’m still afraid. But I’m more afraid of not taking it. I won’t leave you alone. You need me.”

“That’s a poor reason.”

“I’m not reasonable about this. The entire idea is mad. Why should I be sane?”

“Because I won’t let you do this for me. It has to be because you want it for yourself.”

“Maybe I do.” She moistened her lips. “I was terribly afraid when I was running away from Nasim. I thought every minute I was going to die. I didn’t want to die. I wanted to live with you and have your children. I wanted to see Thea again. I wanted to live.”

“Nothing is sweeter than life when you’re close to losing it. You could change your mind.”

“I won’t change it. Why are you arguing with me?”

“Because it means too much. It’s too important.”

“You’re just being selfish.” She tried to smile. “You want me to grow old, ugly, and wrinkled and then you can laugh at me.”

“How did you guess?”

She launched herself into his arms and buried her face in his chest. “Give me the potion,” she whispered. “Please, Kadar.”

His arms closed tightly around her. “I can’t,” he said hoarsely. “It’s killing me, but I can’t.”

“I’ll do it anyway. I’ll go to Tarik or Layla and ask them myself.”

“And I’ll tell Tarik that if he gives it to you, I won’t act as guardian for the grail.”

“You told me once we had to be together. You said it was meant to be.”

“Not like this. I can’t force you to-”

“You’re not forcing me.” She pushed away and glared up at him. “Stop being noble. I won’t lose you. Not by your death. Not by mine. We’re going to be together. Yes, I’m frightened. Yes, I can see a mountain of problems. But I won’t let any of them keep me from having you.”

His face was pale and taut. “And I won’t let you hate me later for rushing you into doing this.”

“Rushing? When I can’t even convince you to-” She drew an uneven breath. He wasn’t going to yield. She would have to handle this differently. “Very well, we won’t rush. I’d rather take Eshe now and put the decision behind me, but I can wait. I’m not going to age overnight. You’ll probably find me just as desirable a wife in a fortnight.”

“Possibly.” He smiled faintly. “But a fortnight is still not enough time to make such a choice.”

“The choice is made. I just have to persuade you to forget your scruples. I think we’ll go away by ourselves for a little while. I don’t want you around Tarik. He has far too many scruples of his own.”

“You wanted to return to Montdhu.”

“Not before I take the potion.”

“You’re afraid you’ll change your mind.”

“I won’t change my mind. You’ll change yours. We’ll couple and talk and I’ll be so winsome and captivating that you’ll not be able to resist me.” She took his arm and started back toward camp. “So you might as well forget this stubbornness now and do as I wish.”