Page 84 of Crimson Oath
“You are very kind.” Kezia’s gaze softened to something that was slightly less scheming. “Most immortals see the kamvasa as a kind of relic. Almost like a moving museum.”
“Oh no. It’s far more than that.” Tatyana shook her head. “It is a journey that keeps your culture alive. A road from the past to the future.” She looked at her wine. “I’m sorry. You know this, of course.”
“No need to apologize.” Kezia narrowed her eyes. “Thank you. I’m glad you feel that way about our family. For that is what we are. A family.” Her face slipped back into a diplomatic mask. “You must tell me about where you’d like to travel now that you’re an immortal. Have you visited Asia yet? I have some wonderful recommendations if you’re looking for ideas.”
“Thank you.”
Despite Kezia’s pretty words about her people, in the back of Tatyana’s mind, she wondered if the vampire’s attitude toward the humans in the kamvasa was as detached as her attitude to livestock.
Because if there was one thing Tatyana had learned about vampires, it was that some of them definitely saw humans the same way they did livestock.
Pamper them, take care of them, but they are there for your convenience.
We give them a good life, and they give us blood.
But we must give them a good life first.
Chapter 17
Oleg
Ludmila, Oleg’s most silent sniper, was as close to cheery as he had seen her since the Second World War when Oleg had set her loose on the Nazis invading Russia. She was whistling as she threw two large duffel bags into the back of one of the old Land Cruisers parked outside Oleg’s castle in the Eastern Carpathian Mountains.
Her mate, Oksana, on the other hand, was less than pleased. “Why are we doing this?”
“To find his girlfriend,” Ludmila said. “You know, the pretty little blond one.” She smirked at Lazlo. “Your brother, he has a type, doesn’t he?”
“Yes.” Lazlo sounded as cheery as Ludmila. “He likes them pretty, blond, unhinged, and hostile.”
Oksana said, “I thought Tatyana was in the Fire King’s court.”
“Not anymore,” Lazlo said. “She booked passage in the kamvasa for the season.”
The three knew Oleg was there, but they didn’t care, which was part of the reason he had chosen them for his druzhina. He didn’tneed people who would kiss his ass—he needed smart warriors who could think for themselves.
Even if that made them annoying as shit sometimes.
“This should be fun.” Ludmila smiled. “The Poshani are very good at covering their tracks, and they will become violent if they discover us.”
Lazlo narrowed his eyes. “There is something wrong with you.”
“I don’t like boredom, old man.”
“Shut up,” Oleg barked. “All of you. Keep packing.”
Oksana glanced at Oleg. “You know, I want to clarify that pretty, blond, and hostile is not a bad type. That’s basically my mate if she were blond.”
“True.” Lazlo nodded. “And brother, you’ve had sex with far worse.”
“The supermodels,” Ludmila muttered.
“The heiresses were worse,” Lazlo said. “At least the models had jobs.”
Oleg walked over and lifted an ice chest into the back of one truck. “Enough.”
“I heard she did not kill any humans her first year.” Ludmila patted Oleg’s shoulder. “So that’s good.”
“I heard that Kato the Ancient became her teacher,” Lazlo said. “A lucky turn. She has Dzbog’s favor.”
