Page 37 of Crimson Oath (The Firebird and the Wolf #2)

Oleg

H e dropped to the ground and rolled under her travel trailer a moment before a Hazar landed on the grass in front of the door.

There was a quiet knock. “Miss Vorona?”

Oleg froze, curious what she would do.

The door opened. “Yes?”

“Are you safe?”

“Quite safe, thank you.” Her voice held just a bit of arrogance. “A friend of mine just left. Is there a problem?”

No doubt the Hazar had noticed the explosion of elemental energy coming from Tatyana’s trailer—a blind human probably could have felt the power of their combined climax—but the wind vampires had no idea who or what was causing the explosion in Tatyana’s trailer, and they knew it wasn’t any of their business.

The feet stepped back. “Of course not, Miss Vorona.”

“Thank you for checking on me.” Her voice warmed a little bit. “I appreciate your concern.”

“Of course, surati. ”

“Good night.” She shut the door, and moments later the Hazar flew away.

Surati.

Interesting. The Poshani Hazar had used the word for elder sister, and Oleg wondered if Tatyana understood the significance.

Surati meant sister, but it was also a term of respect for any woman who exhibited wisdom or good sense. The Poshani had taken to his little bookkeeper.

This both relieved and irritated him.

“A friend of mine just left. Is there a problem?”

“Of course not, Miss Vorona.”

For some reason, Oleg felt his jaw ache when she referred to her “friend.”

You idiot, she’s talking about you.

No doubt the Hazar would assume Tatyana was entertaining another immortal in the kamvasa, and Oleg’s eye twitched at the thought.

Who else was in the kamvasa? Was there a rival to interfere in his pursuit of Tatyana? Had that damned silver-haired vampire followed her?

In his rush to find Tatyana, Oleg hadn’t spent any time investigating or watching who else might be taking shelter with the kamvasa this season.

She’d mentioned Radu and Kezia—was Vano still absent?

Oleg saw the sky starting to lighten, and he quickly darted out from the trailer, slipping from one shadow to another as he made his way from the center of the kamvasa to the edge of the meadow.

His amnis was jumping out of his skin, but his body was sated, which made keeping his power concealed slightly easier. The moment he hit the edge of the forest, he let some of his power loose and ran .

There had been no scent of another on her. That was good.

The cold night air fed his lungs and filled his chest. He could still smell her scent on his skin, and a primitive part of him reveled in the small marks she’d left in his neck.

If he could turn them into scars, he would, but vampires didn’t scar after they became immortal.

Even the most severe burns healed eventually.

He didn’t even breathe until he was a mile away from the kamvasa perimeter and nearing the cave that Lazlo had dug for them into the side of a small hill covered by stone pine.

Mika was sitting on a log just at the mouth of the cave, and he stood when Oleg came near. “Good. You’re not dead.”

“Did you think that was actually a possibility?” Oleg leaned against a tree. “Do you think they’d kill me? Or try to?”

“It’s the Poshani, Oleg. Anything is possible when you’ve violated the sanctity of the kamvasa.” Mika brushed his hands on his pants and turned to walk into the cave. “You’ll be happy to know Lazlo is still brilliant at cave construction. He was finished with your day chamber before dusk.”

“It’s nice, isn’t it?” Oleg looked up at the moon and the quickly lightening sky. “We haven’t done this in three centuries, Mika.”

“You mean you were missing cave life? Missing the lack of plumbing and burning food over the fire?”

“I missed spending quality time with my druzhina and watching their faces twist in annoyance when I take them away from their electronic toys and video entertainment.” Oleg smiled. “Oh wait, that was just you.”

Mika shook his head. “At least you fucked the woman. Feeling less stressed?”

Oleg spoke quietly and clearly so Mika didn’t miss his words. “Speak respectfully unless you want me to kill you.”

“I thought you’d be in a slightly more reasonable state of mind.” Mika stood and rolled his eyes. “Apparently not.”

That wasn’t likely. If anything, that very quick taste of Tatyana Vorona had only fed his hunger for the woman .

“We’ll be tracking the kamvasa for a time,” Oleg said. “Tell the others. I’m going to my chamber to rest.”

Whatever was happening between him and Tatyana, it was past time to sort it out.