Page 30 of Crimson Oath (The Firebird and the Wolf #2)

Tatyana

“ T atyana Vorona.”

She turned when she heard her name coming from the red-painted tavern.

Kezia, terrin of the Poshani, was waving her over.

“Hello.” As months with the Poshani passed and Tatyana became accustomed to the rhythm of life in the kamvasa, she had also started noticing ripples. “How are you tonight?”

Not cracks. Not yet. But while the surface of life flowed smoothly—humans and vampires going about their daily duties in a steady rhythm—Tatyana was starting to feel other currents beneath the surface.

And in the heart of those, Kezia was a very large stone.

“Come and join me for a drink.” Kezia pointed to the chair across from her.

“Thank you.” Tatyana walked over and took a seat, facing the dark-haired woman.

Tatyana had met Radu’s sister, not at one of the lavish parties that were thrown for the paying guests but near the cooking tent when she’d been joking with Rumi and some of the other human women.

They had been teasing Tatyana about how she pronounced some Poshani words but complimenting her on how quickly she was picking up the language.

Kezia had quickly joined them, blending into their conversation like a visiting sister and keeping her eyes on Tatyana the entire time.

After Kezia’s arrival, Tatyana had been slow to speak, but she listened to everything the women and Kezia spoke about, filing it all away in her quickly growing mental file about the Poshani.

“How has your week been?” Kezia asked. “I hear there will be a new play tomorrow.”

“But will it compare to Baba Yaga and the Three Sisters ?”

“I heard!” Kezia put a hand on her chest. “I cannot believe I missed it.”

“It was so charming.”

“The children, no?” Kezia sipped her wine. “They are a delight.”

“Yes, they make the camp very lively.” And alive.

It was past midnight, so all the children were asleep in their tents and trailers, but she could hear a baby crying in the distance, and the sound comforted her.

“It’s been a quiet week, but I tried that restaurant you told me about. It was excellent.”

“The lamb ribs, yes?” Kezia kissed the tips of her fingers. “From the Floreas’ wagon? They are so tender.”

“And not too strong.” Tatyana had always enjoyed the taste of mutton, but it was a very pungent flavor for vampire tastes. Kezia had suggested a small wagon that sold ribs, and Tatyana was surprised at how much she enjoyed them.

“Yes, they only use the spring lambs for vampire guests.” Kezia waved a server over, and the young man poured a goblet of blood-wine and set it in front of Tatyana. “The ones who have only taken their mother’s milk. That’s why it is so delicious.”

Tatyana felt her stomach drop. Well, she would not be eating that meat 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 restaurants in 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.”

“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.