Page 79 of Crimson Oath
“I like the way you say my name.” He closed his eyes. Ridiculous. He sounded like a schoolboy. “There’s always a slight hint of scorn. I was talking with my daughter earlier. She was being very deferential. It was annoying.”
“How terrible for you.”
The corner of his mouth turned up. “The sarcasm transmits surprisingly well.”
“Why was she being deferential? Were you being terrifying?”
“I am never terrifying.” He sat back in his chair and stretched his legs out. He couldn’t smell her scent, but it was always amusing toparry with his favorite bookkeeper. “I’m a very modern immortal leader. I don’t hang any of them by their toes anymore. I haven’t disemboweled anyone in years.”
Or had he? He’d have to ask Mika.
“Oh yes, not terrifying at all. Tell that to one of the vampires or humans you’ve killed.”
“Obviously that’s not possible because they’re dead.”
“Fine, tell it to Marta then. I’m assuming she’s still alive.”
“Who is Marta?” Did he know a vampire named Marta? Did one work for him?
“Elene’s secretary. She’s still working for you, isn’t she?” Tatyana sounded alarmed.
“Oh, that one. Yes, she’s quite well.”
“Good.”
Oleg shrugged, then questioned why he was shrugging when Tatyana could only hear his voice. “In fact, she probably deserves a raise because she’s taking on much more than she was doing when Elene was alive.”
“I’m sure she is. Also, she’s terrified of you.”
“No, that’s not possible,” Oleg said. “She’s attracted to me. I can smell it.”
Tatyana sighed. “Please don’t ever tell that poor woman you can smell that she’s attracted to you. It may surprise you, but being terrified of someone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re also not attracted to them.”
Oleg frowned. “That seems very unhealthy.”
“I was both terrified and attracted to you when I was human,” Tatyana said. “Was I unhealthy?”
“But you’re not terrified of me now,” he said. “And that is the important thing.”
Tatyana didn’t say anything.
“Volchitsa.” He softened his voice. “Tell me you do not fear me.”
“Not…”
He leaned closer to the phone, wishing he could smell her blood.The scent of her hair. Wishing he could touch the vibrant energy that ran through her veins. “I do not want you to fear me, Tatyana. Not ever.”
She let out a soft sigh. “Why was your daughter being deferential earlier?”
Fine, change the subject.
The hair on the back of his neck prickled, and there was an aching twist in his chest that he tried to ignore. “I was asking her to do something she didn’t want to do.”
“Ah.”
“She will do it.”
“I’m sure she will.”
