“Lucien,” Hirut called, “do you build your house with water? No more can she build with earth. Makeda cannot learn this from any of us. Let me call my friend, agoti.”

Hirut had a trusted friend in who lived in Djibouti, but Lucien was reluctant to expose Makeda to anyone not under his or Saba’s aegis. If only Baojia had been able to accompany them…

“Please,” Makeda said. “I have to learn more than the basics. Besides, it will give me something more to focus on. If I can discipline myself learning my element, I know it will help the bloodlust.”

He pursed his lips and saw—with some satisfaction—Makeda’s attention was drawn to his mouth. “I don’t know this vampire.”

“You said yourself that Hirut is one of the most cautious vampires you’ve met. If she trusts him—”

“But do I trust him with you, yene konjo?” He stepped closer and brushed a hand over Makeda’s hair, which had grown damp and wild as she experimented with the lake water.

She let out a shaky breath. “Lucien…”

“Four weeks,” he said under his breath. “You think that will be enough to convince you?”

“I told you I hadn’t agreed to any…” She blinked and looked down at her feet sunk in the mud at the edge of the lake.

“Makeda?”

“Something is coming,” she whispered. “I can feel it in the water.”

Lucien whipped around, snapping at Gedeyon and Hirut, who had stood as soon as he felt Makeda’s alarm. His friends flanked Makeda as Lucien stood on the edge of the water. His shoes were off and his feet drew energy from the earth he stood on. He sank his energy down into the soil, past the rock and into the lake bed. He felt the foreign energy vibrate in the murky water, felt the massive surge of power.

Who would dare?

This was Saba’s land. No one was foolish enough to come at her people. Not unless they wanted to be wiped from the earth.

“Lucien?”

“I feel it.”

It was in the air. A sucking vortex of water appeared in the distance. It looked like a waterspout, but Lucien knew this was no air vampire. The column moved across the water at ferocious speed, heading straight for them. Makeda vibrated behind him, and he could sense her control about to snap.

“Gedeyon.”

“I have her.”

This was no time for Makeda to lose it. Newborn vampires could be fierce in combat, but only against an unskilled opponent. Any water vampire able to construct and travel in that column was more than skilled.

He was a master.

Lucien caught a scent on the breeze. It was familiar… and it wasn’t. Something about it didn’t make sense. Gedeyon and Hirut must have noticed it at the same time. They both frowned in confusion.

“Mother?” Hirut said. “But how could she create—?”

“She can’t.” Lucien stepped farther into the lake, wading up to his knees as the stunning column of muddy water came closer. As it did, the water column shrank, grew shorter and wider until its maker was visible through the swirling water.

His beard was trimmed and his bronze hair tamed into a barely savage mane, but the olive skin was the same. The piercing blue eyes and fearsome visage. Lucien stepped toward Kato, and the ancient vampire’s face broke into a wide smile even as the vortex calmed and fell around him to settle back into the lake. And still Kato walked upon the surface, a creature of such enormous strength that ancient peoples had seen him and named him a god.

“Theio.” Lucien bowed from the waist, his heart surging with fond memories. Behind Kato, Saba emerged, holding Kato’s hand as the two walked toward him. “Mother.”

“Lucien.” Kato’s voice boomed. “Son of my heart.” Kato stopped in front of Lucien, his feet sinking into the water as he brought his arms around Lucien in a tight embrace. “It is so good to finally see your face.”

Lucien felt tears come to his eyes when Kato kissed his forehead. He wrapped his arms around his uncle and offered a silent prayer of thanks.

Lucien had not seen Kato in centuries. Not since Ziri and Arosh had concocted the fiction of their battle with the old king—a battle widely believed to have caused the death of both Kato and the legendary fire king. Lucien had mourned bitterly at the loss of them both, but especially of Kato. He’d discovered Kato and Arosh were alive only when they revealed themselves in Rome, but he had not seen his favorite uncle since then. They had both been recovering from Elixir poisoning. Both had been in seclusion. Kato was still believed dead by many in the immortal world.

“I have missed you, Theio,” Lucien said.

“I was so pleased when your mother told me you had recovered.”

“And you… how?”

Kato’s amnis had been broken by the Elixir virus for centuries. His sire was dead. From everything they knew about Elixir infection, his uncle should not have recovered.

“We will tell our stories,” Kato said, patting the back of Lucien’s head, “after we greet new friends, yes?”

“Of course.” Just then, Lucien realized Kato’s arrival could not have come at a better time. “I am so glad you’re here.”

Saba grinned at Kato’s side, then she grabbed Lucien’s face and kissed his cheeks. “You look so much healthier, yene Luka. Who have you brought to me now? Is it the doctor you spoke of in your letters? Did we surprise you?”