Page 60 of Crimson Oath
“Kezia.” Oleg greeted her with a nod. “You’re even more stunning than I remember.”
It was true. The Poshani leader’s skin was pale, and her full lips were red. A crown of nearly black curls surrounded her face, highlighting the delicate features that lured her prey.
“Oleg Sokolov.” She smiled and motioned him closer. “So muchpower coming to visit me. Sit. You seem tense. Can I help you with that?”
“You don’t want sex with me.” He stretched his arm across the back of the booth and let a ripple of blue flame dance over the back of his hand. “I would burn you.”
“Perhaps I would enjoy it.” Kezia’s kohl-lined eyes watched his hand. “You’re looking for Radu.”
“I am.”
“He’s already gone.” She turned back to look at him and let her fingers dance in the air. “Off to the kamvasa, darling. There are guests to be greeted, and he’s the most congenial.”
“You’re running late?”
She smiled coyly. “I like to make an entrance.”
“So where is your roaming summer camp starting this year?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Kezia pulled out a slim cigar. “Do you mind?”
“It would be my pleasure.” Oleg snapped his fingers and pulled a flame from the dry air, holding it out to Kezia so she could light her cigarette. “I need to get a message to your brother.”
“I can carry a message for you, or you could buy passage in the kamvasa.” The corner of her mouth turned up. “I think it’s going to be a very interesting year.”
“The Vashana Zata is this year, yes?”
“Radu said he invited you to the party.”
“So if he trusts me enough to invite me?—”
“Ah, ah.” She wagged a finger at Oleg. “That location will be sent much later. Until then, you’ll have to remain in the dark like everyone else.”
“It’s important.” Oleg leaned forward. “I would not press the issue if it was not very, very important, Kezia.”
She narrowed her eyes and blew a thin stream of smoke across the table. “Tell me what this is about,” she said softly. “And I’ll decide if it’s important enough to bother Radu.”
Chapter 12
Tatyana
Samson flew Tatyana to a squat parking garage in the Georgian city of Zugdidi two nights later. She carried only one large backpack with two changes of clothing, the coat her mother had given her, and nothing else.
Kato was sending her computer and the rest of her belongings to her mother at the farm. She had no idea when she would see any of it again. She’d messaged Grimace about the job she had to cancel, but she hadn’t heard back.
She was heading into the wilderness with no computer. No mobile phone. Nothing.
Tatyana felt naked.
They landed in pitch-darkness, the cloudy sky overhead giving them cover in the middle of the night, and Samson’s face was grim as he took the backpack from her and started walking down to the second level where the instructions had told her to meet her Poshani transport.
“Can you please be kind?” Tatyana said softly. “I had very limited options at this point.”
Samson spun and pounded his chest before he signed angrily.Me. You had me.
“We both agreed that me staying with you because I was desperate for shelter was a bad idea.”
Samson shook his head and started walking again.
