Page 83 of Crimson Oath
Tatyana felt her stomach drop. Well, she would not be eatingthatmeat again.
She’d grown up on a farm, so she had no illusions about where meat came from, but her grandfather had never taken spring lambs or young calves.
We give them a good life, and they give us meat. But we must give them a good life first.
She could hear her grandfather’s voice in her mind, but she didn’t want to be rude to one of the Poshani leaders. Not only was it undiplomatic, she was not in her own culture, and she was keenly aware of that.
While Radu seemed to be the favorite uncle, joking with everyone from the old men to the youngest children, Kezia focused on the women of the kamvasa, checking in with them, asking about the night-to-night needs, picking their brains about what the gossip was around the camp.
Tatyana also saw the Hazars—the immortal guards who patrolled the air around the caravan—reporting to Kezia and Radu regularly.
“Has your brother Vano joined the kamvasa yet?” Tatyana asked. “I feel like I’ve met everyone else.”
“Even Fynn?”
“Yes, even Fynn. Briefly, but I did meet him.” The nearly silent vampire sounded German, but he kept to himself. The only thing he seemed to be interested in were the dancing nights where he enjoyed the attention of young Poshani men and women who performed for him.
And Tatyana had no opinion about that.
“Vano is coming next week,” Kezia said. “He’s helping to transport a new guest from France who will be staying with us through the end of the season like you. So a few months.”
The prospect of new company was welcome. Even though she’d been spending more time with the humans of the kamvasa than the vampires, it would be pleasant to have new possibilities for conversation. “It will be nice to see a new face in the evenings.”
“Oh yes.” Kezia’s lips curled into a smile. “I think you will enjoy the French vampire’s face, and maybe more than his face if you’re looking for some light fun.”
Tatyana’s smile froze. “I see.”
Kezia laughed. “Don’t need a lover yet? Or are you still enjoying the afterglow from Arosh’s skills?”
“I’m not looking for a lover.” The immediate image of Oleg jumped into her mind.
No. He was not her lover despite the tender words and teasing they’d shared the other night.
She had no idea why she’d called him.
Liar.
She knew. Obviously she knew.
I miss you.
The damned man had said that in the tender voice she heard in her dreams, and then the line had gone dead. She’d even tried calling back, and it went straight to a voicemail that had not been set up.
What was Oleg about?
Tatyana’s irritation must have shown on her face because Kezia laughed.
“Whoever you are angry with, sleeping with René would be a brilliant way to get revenge. He’s very good, and the two of you would be gorgeous together. But I recommend him only if you aren’t looking for anything serious.”
“I appreciate the advice.” And she’d file that away with any new restaurant recommendations Kezia gave her. She sipped the sweet blend of blood and port in the blood-wine the server refilled. “I’m not looking for anything like that right now.”
Of course not, because you’re mine.
She mentally told Oleg to shut the hell up, then turned her attention to the women who were delivering trays of food to the tavern wagons. “You know, the chefs for our vampire dinners cook like they come from the finest restaurantsin the world.”
Kezia nodded. “They do. The current chef de cuisine we stole from a Wallace hotel in Australia. I lured her here myself.”
“She is exceptional,” Tatyana said. “But I think I appreciate the family cooking more. It reminds me of home.”
