Page 17 of Crimson Oath
Not even Kato knew she’d stolen—taken her rightful inheritance—from Oleg. It wasn’t something she had advertised, though some in Arosh’s court clearly had their suspicions.
She kept her voice soft. “I have my reasons.”
She wasn’t afraid of Oleg. Exactly.
She was afraid of how he might sway her will once she returned to his orbit.
And there was no way she could return to his territory and not be in his orbit. It was as if Oleg had his own magnetic field.
“He is your sire’s sire,” Kato continued. “He has a blood responsibility to you.”
And also the beginning of a blood bond because Oleg had taken her blood numerous times. Though she hadn’t questioned it at the time, now that Tatyana knew more about blood bonds, she wassecond-guessing her every interaction with the lethally attractive fire vampire.
“I don’t think Oleg has as much generosity as you give him credit for,” she said. “I don’t trust him.”
Liar,a little voice whispered in her mind.You don’t trustyourselfaround him.
Alexander’s voice was soft. “She did kill Oleg’s daughter. No matter what he says, he could be harboring a grudge.”
Tatyana knew not everyone believed her story about killing Zara. In fact, most of them didn’t. Rumors flew in the vampire world. Some said that Oleg had killed Zara long before Tatyana had been turned. Others said that Saba the earth vampire had killed Zara for her role in spreading a vampire poison. Still others claimed that Oleg had killed Zara in retaliation for Zara killing Oleg’s dead mate.
None of those rumors were true, but Tatyana kept her mouth shut and tried to ignore the whispers and curious eyes.
Most of Arosh’s court seemed to think that Tatyana fleeing from Oleg was all part of a lover’s spat, which could frequently be lethal when it came to vampire relationships.
“You’re frightening her,” Alexander said. “It is too much, my love.”
“She needs to be a bit frightened,” Kato said. “I want her to survive.”
Tatyana had woven a complicated web of lies during her time in Arosh’s court, but the more she learned about how vampires lied about their origin, the more she thought the double-talk and gossip only helped her reputation.
Alexander put a calming hand on her shoulder. “If Oleg threatens you for killing Zara, he’ll only be condemning himself. He can’t blame you for her death without admitting he lied to Saba.”
Kato added, “And threatening you would make him an outcast in civilized vampire society when he’s been working for decades to bring his territory into better relationships with other leaders after Truvor’s reign. Zara’s death has already damaged his image?—”
“Or elevated it,” Alexander muttered, “at least in certain circles.”
“But those are not the circles that Oleg wants to move in personally or financially,” Kato said. “I knew Truvor. Oleg is not like him. He’s stern and can be unforgiving, but he honors duty to his clan. He values loyalty above all else.”
Loyalty like… not stealing millions in gold and sentimental jewelry purchases from a man who’d already paid you millions for your work?
Shut up, conscience.
“I don’t want to return to Oleg’s territory,” Tatyana said firmly. “I understand that I have to think about my future, but Oleg is not going to be a part of it.”
The following night,Tatyana walked across the harem compound with a garment bag, headed past the kitchen gardens, the rose garden, and the water garden toward the most luxurious part of the mountaintop retreat where Cora lived.
Cora was the woman in charge of the entire harem, having recently risen to the role of headwoman after the most senior of Arosh’s women had retired to a luxury home on the Black Sea.
It was a profitable venture to be one of the Fire King’s favorite lovers.
Cora kept a massive closet of clothes in her house that ranged from casual outdoor gear appropriate for hiking or swimming to evening wear, all available to borrow for short or long term. Arosh sent Cora and some of the older women on luxury shopping trips to replenish the clothes a few times a year.
Tatyana had never been dressed so well in her life. It was like living with a team of stylists as her next-door neighbors, and all of them were fine with you borrowing their clothes.
It was also practical for the women in the harem. Many of them came to Arosh’s compound with little or nothing. Many were running from abusive homes or desperate situations.
Tatyana suspected that it stroked Arosh’s ego to be their savior, but at least he was doing something productive with his ego.
