Page 9 of Crimson Oath
“Still, he doesn’t need any more information about me. He’s already talking to my mother.”
The silver-haired wind vampire cocked his head and quickly signed,Is she in danger?
It was tempting. Samson was a zealot when it came to protecting women.
If she told him Anna was in danger, he would probably fly to her family farm, pluck her screaming mother from her kitchen, and fly her back.
And then she’d have to deal with her mother’s opinion on a nightly basis.
Tatyana didn’t want to lie to her only friend. “She’s not in danger. Oleg came to check on her. He says he posted guards at the farm even. If he wanted to hurt her, he already would have. I’m fairly sure she’s safe.”
Samson pursed his lips but signed nothing. He crossed his arms over his chest.
“Go ahead and say it,” she said. “I know you want to.”
Families are complicated,he signed.But your blood is connected to his. That means something in our world.
“My sire is dead,” Tatyana said. “And I still don’t even know how I feel about it, but I know Oleg isnotmy family.”
Some nights Tatyana woke up weeping, clutching her chest where there was a hollow ache. She hated Zara for putting it there. Hated her and loved her; then she hated herself for helping Oleg kill her.
“The last thing I need is Oleg putting his stamp on my eternity.” She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Samson’s cheek. “You’re lovely. But whatever path I find in this world, it needs to be on my own.”
“Aha!”Arosh smiled and stood when she entered the circle where he was holding court. He spread his arms in welcome. “It’s my clever little cat! Where have you been?”
“Flying with Samson, Lord Arosh.” Spring had broken in the mountains and flowers were blooming, but the air was still cold. “We just returned.” She pressed her hands together and gave him a nod, which was the most common greeting in the court. “Thank you for this invitation to join you.” She turned to the guests seated immediately to Arosh’s left in the place of honor and nodded at them. “Greetings to your guests.”
The chilly air didn’t bother Tatyana once she’d learned how to control her amnis, so she was wearing a long-sleeved floral dress she’d borrowed from Cora, who was one of Arosh’s mistresses and ran the harem.
Cora had taught Tatyana most of what she knew about court protocol, and she was quick to point out that every vampire court was different.
So much fun.
Arosh stood at the head of a low table that curved like a horseshoearound the room. A fire burned in a brazier in the center of the circle, and fountains trickled in the background.
Tatyana felt the low hum of energy from her element, and that hum was the only thing that kept her amnis in check while surrounded by so many humans and strange vampires.
Piles of intricately embroidered cushions were piled behind each guest. The music was low, played by three women on stringed instruments in the corner of the garden. Other human women floated about the room, offering wine, light dishes, and goblets of blood-wine flavored with honey.
“This is the young vampire I was telling you about.” Arosh sat and pointed at Tatyana. “She is brilliant with numbers and computers.” He lifted a finger. “It is sensible to turn the young in this age, my friends. They have an understanding of this new science that threatens us. It is wise to understand your enemy if you want to defeat him.”
The visiting male and female vampire next to Arosh turned cool brown eyes toward Tatyana, looking her up and down as if she were an interesting bug.
“This is Oleg’s bookkeeper?” the man asked. “The one his daughter turned?”
The one who killed her own sire?
Tatyana heard the unspoken question, but she didn’t react to it. Vampires were worse than old women when it came to gossip, and she’d learned that lying and exaggeration were expected.
“Her story is her own.” Arosh waved a careless hand. “But she would be an asset to any organization. I am sure of it.”
Wait, what was this? Was Arosh trying to get rid of her? Was this some kind of matchmaking situation? A job interview or something?
This was… not good.
Tatyana desperately wanted to leave the scrutiny of the court vampires, but Arosh had not dismissed her, so she stood there, free for all to examine with their cold, analytical stares.
Some were dressed in traditional local clothing, others wereshrouded from head to toe. One man she didn’t recognize appeared to be wearing military fatigues.
