Page 118 of Crimson Oath
Mate? That was a ridiculous thought.
“No, I’m not. I felt something from you.” She rolled her shoulders as if there was something crawling on her skin. “I do not like this.”
“You’re simply feeling the combination of our blood.” Oleg waved a hand and walked farther into the trailer. “You’ll get used to it.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Then don’t take my blood again!” Oleg snapped. He felt his fangs getting long in his mouth.
Hewantedher to take his blood again. He wanted to bind Tatyana to him so tightly that it would be like ripping herself in half to leave him.
“I’m not going to apologize for being uncomfortable.” Her voice was quiet. “Your amnis is much more powerful than mine, and…”
Oleg froze. “And what?”
“It’s hard to think clearly when you’re in front of me. My mind is completely focused on you. I want you close, and by close I mean that I would like to be sitting in your lap right now because my body does not feel like it is entirely my own.”
Some of his anger retreated. He hadn’t fully considered how much influence his amnis could have on a vampire so young.
“I understand,” he said. “It is never desirable to feel out of control.”
“The moment I felt you get nearby,” she continued, “my mind became overwhelmed with…” Her forehead wrinkled in confusion. “What is this?”
“We are linked now. Both of us.” Oleg walked to her and put his hands on her shoulders. He felt her amnis calm when it touched his own.
“My blood is not as strong as yours,” Tatyana said. “It’s not the same.”
“I know what I felt after I took your blood, volchitsa. You will become accustomed to it.”
Tatyana looked up with wide eyes. “Is this why you kept looking for me after I left?”
No.
“Yes.” He nodded. “That is why it was difficult for me to leave you alone. Your blood was in my body, and I felt very restless.”
Well,thatwasn’t a lie.
Tatyana sighed. “I’m still angry that you chased me, but I suppose I understand it a bit better now.”
I chased you because you’re mine.
And you should be my mate.
Fuck.
He’d had a mate, and she was highly unstable. The pain of having to kill her had devastated him, and Oleg was honest enough to admit it. He still felt the hollow pain of Luana’s loss in his blood.
The fact that he wanted another one might be proof that Luana’s instability had infected him after all.
Distract her.
Oleg saw she had replaced the chessboard with another game. “You ended our game?”
“Yes, I played ahead and saw that you would inevitably lose, so I had mercy on you.” She was staring at the door. “You’re welcome.”
Oleg smiled, pleased to hear the vinegar return to her voice. “Such a kind opponent.” He walked over to the coffee table. “What is this?”
She waved a hand, but she was still pacing. “Just a puzzle.”
