Page 113 of Crimson Oath
And after she’d met Vano—and realized he was a bully—she considered asking Kezia or Radu if they needed someone with her skills.
She didn’t need the money right away, but she wanted a job. She hated being bored, and she was hoping to stay in touch with her new friends.
“I’ve been wondering if the guests this year think they might be chosen.” Desiree smiled. “Wouldn’t that be a surprise?”
“Would anyone outside the Poshani clan actually be chosen as a leader?” Tatyana asked. “That seems like it would disqualify you.”
“It’s never happened before,” Rumi said. “But it’s not a rule. Who knows? It could be a good thing to have an outside perspective on things.”
Desiree nodded. “I agree. A breath of fresh air.”
“Kind of like having someone outside your industry on a corporate board.” Tatyana nodded. “That makes a lot of sense.”
Desiree smirked. “I heard Radu say he’d invited your old boss for the Vashana Zata this season.”
Her stomach dropped. “Oleg?”
Rumi nodded. “Now Oleg Sokolov is an outsider that I can see the Poshani choosing. He’s very well-known. People like him, and he’s richer than a czar.” She dropped her voice. “It seems like the clan might need an infusion of money.”
“You’re right,” Desiree said. “Oleg is the kind Poshani might vote for if they needed someone new. Very popular.”
Tatyana was frozen.
What was this?
What was he doing?
Was Oleg hunting her down in the kamvasa and making this proposal to “court” her simply a ploy to get closer and spy?—
No.
That was ridiculous. If Oleg wanted to spy on the Poshani to maneuver himself into a position of power, he would have sent Mika, not come himself. He wouldn’t have given Tatyana his blood.
Unless he wanted to make it harder for you to leave him.
“The Vashana sounds like an interesting party.” She tried to cover the turbulent boil of emotions in her gut. “And even more cooking for the rest of us.”
“You don’t have to help us.” Rumi smiled.
“I know you don’t trust me to chop onions, but at least I can stir a pot.” Tatyana smiled a little. “What else would I do? Drink wine and watch the dancers every night with the old people?”
Desiree said, “Our plan worked, Rumi. We finally recruited a minion for the kitchen, and we don’t even have to pay her.”
“Bwahahahaha!” Rumi pretended to let out an evil laugh, but she winked at Tatyana. “Who says vampires are the only ones who can scheme?”
“Hello!”A tall vampire with curly black hair waved at her as he walked over and started speaking in English. “I’m Ben. I heard you’re from Russia.”
What an absolutely American thing to say. She examined the new vampire with careful eyes. His energy was hot and bright. If she didn’t know better, she’d think he was a fire vampire.
Tatyana narrowed her eyes. “Did Oleg send you?”
The man frowned. “All I said was ‘hello, I’m Ben. I heard you’re from Russia.’”
She hadn’t realized she’d said that out loud. “You didn’t answer the question.”
She was stirring a large pot of goulash over the fire. She’d added the spices, but they needed low heat for some time before Rumi added the fish, which would cook quickly.
The caravan had moved during the day, and there had been no word from Oleg in three nights. She had that stupid vampire stuck in her mind and his blood in her veins.
