Page 105 of Crimson Oath
“That is ridiculous; the Poshani are not suffering financially.” Unless there was something Vano was hiding, the Poshani businesses that Oleg interacted with were thriving. “Our organization works with them regularly, and their finances have no appearance of being in distress.”
“I think it was a control and power thing.” Tatyana frowned. “The financial argument is only a cover. I know how much I paid for my season here, and I have a feeling I got the family rate judging by how Radu and Kezia talk.”
“To be fair, Radu would make you feel like you got the family rate even if he had gouged you.” He reached over and took her hand, sliding her fingers between his own.
“That doesn’t surprise me.” Tatyana rubbed her thumb over his knuckles absently. “But I still think they charge others even more.”
Her thumb stroking over his knuckles was intensely satisfying. “Did Vano know you saw him threatening those women?”
“He thinks they told me about it, and I didn’t correct him. But Rumi already said she was going to talk to Radu about Vano’sthreats and disrespect, so I don’t understand why he threatened me.”
“He probably sees it as an internal matter. The Poshani try to always present a united front to outsiders, but like any clan, they have internal power struggles.”
“That makes sense.” She stared at the books, but she wasn’t really looking. “There is more tension than I sensed at first.”
“Be cautious around Vano.” Oleg wanted to steal her away, but her words kept reverberating in his mind.
You want to own me. You want me like a trophy sitting in your dead mate’s house, fucking you when you happen to remember that I exist.
He could not take her away from the kamvasa when she already thought the worst of him.
“I will be careful.” She looked at him and raised an eyebrow. “And you?”
“I will not kill Vano for threatening you. Tonight.”
She sighed. “I suppose I can live with that.”
“Good.” He nodded. “This has been a productive encounter.”
She smirked. “No seducing me tonight?”
“No, I have decided that I am going to court you.”
“What?” She blinked. “What are you talking about?”
“I am planning to court you, Tatyana Vorona.” He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “Because apparently you think I only want you for a trophy, and that is not the case.”
“Listen, I am sure in your own mind?—”
“No.” He leaned down and pressed a fast kiss to her mouth. “There will be no more arguing— Well, not about this. You asked me what I wanted from you? I will court you, and you will see what I want.”
“Courting me.” She leaned away and looked at him. “Who talks like that?”
“Someone who is significantly older than you,” he muttered. “But this will be good. While you are still in the kamvasa, I will court you.”
She shook her head. “What does that even mean?”
“We will spend time together, talk about many things, and share experiences that are not sex. So you will understand my character and I will understand yours.”
She grimaced. “So… no sex? Just talking for another six weeks?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said. “We can have sex and talk at the same time.”
Oleg lefther shortly after their discussion but took his time returning to the encampment with his druzhina. He waited on the edge of the kamvasa for nearly an hour, tracking the movements of the Hazar and second-guessing his decision to leave Tatyana in a place where other vampires might see her as vulnerable.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust the Hazar, but if Oleg could sneak into the camp, it was possible that others could too. He wasn’t the only one who could mask his amnis.
After an hour, he started back to the cave Lazlo had dug, enjoying the fresh night air as he walked.
