Page 155 of Crimson Oath
“She probably wants to keep it.”
Mika let out a dry laugh. “But then she’d be Poshani terrin for a century. You think she wants that?”
Oh no. Tatyana’s heart sank. She looked for Rumi and Desiree in the crowd. This was going to throw everything into chaos, wasn’t it? Yes, they were getting rid of a cruel terrin who was probably stealing from them, but Tatyana knew from experience that the devil you knew was often better than the devil you didn’t.
“She’s lying!” Vano screamed out. “They are thieves! I would never?—”
“Why would she lie?” Radu lifted his goblet. “Our goblets have been returned to us. Only yours is withheld. Would thieves do that?” Radu spoke to the Hazar. “Take him.”
A fight erupted in the air, and once again, everyone in the stands rose, watching the violence.
Swords clashed, Poshani screamed and ran, and punches of wind battered the assembly.
There was chaos on the ground as many tried to flee, and even some of the vampires in the stands seemed to disappear, melting into the woods around the meadow.
Benjamin Vecchio was the one to capture Vano, and the two wind vampires moved so quickly that Tatyana almost felt ill trying to watch them.
The fight did not last long. A few moments later Vano fell to the stage with a hard thump, and the waiting Hazar overwhelmed him.
Vecchio landed next to his mate, and a few words passed betweenVecchio, Tenzin, and Radu, but Tatyana couldn’t hear anything until Kezia stepped forward again.
“Tenzin, you possess the ruby goblet of the Poshani terrin! You are an old friend, known to the kamvasa.” Kezia addressed the Poshani crowd. “Tenzin of Penglai, commander of the Altan Wind, daughter of the Kali, protector and bearer of the ruby dishana!”
“Huh,” Mika said. “I didn’t think she’d take it.”
Tatyana looked at Oleg again, but she could read no expression from him, and the bond between their amnis was deadly quiet.
This wasn’t over.
“He’s hiding his feelings,” Tatyana said. Why was he hiding his feelings?
“Oleg?” Mika shrugged. “He has no say in this. To interfere with the election of the terrin in any way would create distrust within the Poshani. If you interfere in the internal matters of an ally, are you truly an ally?”
Tatyana kept her eyes on Oleg, wondering what was going through his mind as he leaned farther forward, his harsh gaze intent on the stage.
The vampires on the stage seemed to be arguing in whispers as the Hazar led Vano kicking and screaming away, but a few moments later, Tenzin—the new Poshani terrin—stepped forward.
“Poshaniya,” she said. “You are kind and hospitable. You honor your guests and your history, and I would travel with you for a century if I could. But I am not suited for the honor of serving on the terrin.”
Mika muttered, “So they’ll have an election after all. Well, that’s not a bad?—”
“But there is among the kamvasa guests a woman of honor and cunning!” Tenzin continued.
“Madina?” Tatyana whispered to Mika. “Is she handing the goblet to Madina?”
“No.” Mika’s expression went carefully blank. “I don’t think she’s talking about Madina.”
“—a vampire who respects your traditions and has learned your language and your history.”
Wait… what?
Tenzin turned and looked straight at her. “Tatyana Vorona.”
Oh no.
Oh no no no no no.
Hot fear flooded her chest.
