Page 59 of Crimson Oath (The Firebird and the Wolf #2)

Warsaw, Poland

Six months later

T atyana closed the folder with printouts of the prospectus that the new chief financial officer of Sokolov Industries handed to her.

“I don’t see any reason to think they will not agree,” she said, “but of course, I will need to go over the details with my brother and sister.”

The middle-aged man nodded. “Of course, Miss Vorona. I would also add that structuring this trade complex outside Lublin this way is likely to bring outside investment that will benefit both parties. Since it will be a multiuse space, there has already been an inquiry from Wallace Enterprises about a longer-term hospitality complex.”

Wallace Enterprises becoming involved meant that Tatyana’s plan to build a vampire free-trade zone in cooperation with Oleg would have legs. Wallace was known for strict standards of neutrality, which would lend weight to promises by Oleg, the Poshani, and the Polish vampire court based in Krakow .

She stood and shook Bernard Lazareva’s hand before her guard Henrik saw the human out. Moments later, she was on-screen with Radu and Kezia.

“Did he agree to using Poshani labor contractors?” Kezia said. “I was on the phone with Polina about that last week.”

“Yes.” Tatyana held up a finger. “As long as at least half the management comes from Sokolov Industries.”

Radu nodded. “That’s standard for our contracts with them.”

Rebuilding the Poshani businesses without Vano was a little like reconstructing dinosaur bones. There were so many pieces missing, at times Tatyana felt like she was creating as much as she was recovering.

Add in a lot of dust and debris, and she had her work cut out for her.

Luckily, the bones of the organization were solid and the people left after Kezia and Radu’s purge of Vano loyalists were grateful to still be employed.

Reconstructing things with the help of modern technology and improved logistics had turned the somewhat dire business enterprises of the clan around significantly in the past five months.

“What do you think of the new CFO?” Kezia asked. “As good as Elene?”

“No, but no one was ever going to be, especially with only three months experience,” Tatyana said. “He’s quick and he’s the right age. Good experience in international shipping, and I think that was the priority for them.”

In fact, she knew that had been the priority.

“It was a bit of flattery for him to negotiate personally for this contract,” Radu said.

“Agreed,” Tatyana said. “If Elene were still alive, one of her deputies would have been in this meeting.”

Radu nodded. “Go ahead and approve it if you’re satisfied,” he said. “I trust you.”

“I’ll have the lawyers look over everything then?” She looked at Kezia, who was often a harder sell.

“Let me think about it for a couple of nights,” Kezia said. “I want to read through it one more time. There are some political implications with putting it in Lublin.”

“Fair enough,” Tatyana said. “Sokolov can wait. I’ll look over the numbers once more too. Shall we schedule something for Thursday night?”

“That sounds good to me. Radu?”

“I am free Thursday after two in the morning.”

“Good.” Tatyana quickly scheduled an online meeting. “You’re getting a link now in your email.”

Both of them groaned.

“No arguments,” Tatyana said. “We agreed about this.”

“I hate the email,” Kezia said. “It’s so impersonal.”

“But much faster than human messenger.” She waved at both of them. “My mother made dinner for me, so I’m done for the night.”

“Say hello to her from me,” Radu said. “And tell her I need more of those ginger cookies she sent me.”

“Enjoy dinner. Good night.” Kezia’s screen went blank.

Tatyana waited for the connections to cut out before she closed her insulated laptop and waved at her assistant outside the conference room.

Britta popped her head in the room. “Finished?”

“Finally. Can you ask Henrik to call the car?”

“Of course.”

Tatyana packed up her trusty old messenger bag, sliding her laptop inside as a memory slipped into her mind.

“I found the connection between ZOL Enterprises and SMO International, so I’m smarter than whoever tried to hide her company, don’t you think?”

“I’m the one who tried to hide her company. So you think you’re smarter than me? ”

“Maybe I’m just better at sorting through paperwork.”

“Don’t back away now, volchitsa. I like your teeth.”

She pulled out her phone and tapped a message.

Thinking of you.

Seconds later, a reply.

As you should be.

What did you think of Bernard?

He’s good. Easy to work with.

That means you’re making more money than us in this deal. I knew we agreed on numbers too quickly.

Tatyana smiled as she walked down the stairs, feeling a stir in her blood as she reached the foggy night air of the Polish capital.

Her amnis sat up, woke up, and her immortal nature stretched its legs after a full night of working in the human office.

Her phone buzzed just as a late-model black Mercedes pulled up to the side street where Henrik was waiting.

“Good night, Miss Vorona.” Henrik opened the door. “Say hello to your mother please.”

“Thank you, Henrik. And hello to Magda from me.”

“Thank you, Surati.”

The affectionate nickname had stuck, and Tatyana didn’t mind a bit.

When things got to be difficult or when she had a hard time reminding herself why she was living in freezing-cold Warsaw, it was good to remember who she was working for.

The Poshani were her family.

Her driver’s name was Essa, and she drove like a complete lunatic, but luckily there wasn’t much traffic at three in the morning, and Tatyana was back at the Poshani compound in twenty minutes.

The Hazar stationed at her house opened the car door as soon as she pulled up, and the minute Tatyana stepped outside, she could smell the scent of stroganoff coming from the kitchen.

“I am telling you, there is fresh tomato,” Rumi said.

“And I am telling you there is not,” Anna barked back. “Not in good stroganoff. I don’t know who taught you how to cook but?—”

Rumi let loose with a flood of Poshani curses.

Tatyana froze and took a few minutes to brace herself on the wall before she went in.

Rumi had been promoted to her house manager, and most of the time that was fine.

Except when her mother was visiting.

Everyone loved Anna, but Rumi wasn’t keen on an old Russian woman teaching her how to cook, and Anna was suspicious of everyone.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket.

Are you home yet?

She typed back.

Mama is cooking. She and Rumi are arguing.

What is it tonight?

Tomato in stroganoff.

I have no opinion on this.

She braced herself for battle and walked into the kitchen on the ground floor of the sprawling house within the Poshani compound in a residential neighborhood east of the Vistula River.

“Hello! I am home.” She set her messenger bag in the office that was just off the downstairs entryway, then walked back to the kitchen to see Rumi and Anna glaring at each other.

Rumi broke off eye contact and looked at Tatyana. “How was work?”

“Good. As expected. No surprises.”

“That’s excellent.”

Anna barked, “Dinner is almost ready.”

“Good,” Tatyana snapped back. “Because if you don’t feed me, I’m going to bite you.”

“Eh.” Anna waved a hand at her as Rumi held back a laugh.

Tatyana walked around and placed a kiss on her mother’s cheek, then put an arm around her waist. “Thank you for cooking.”

Anna grumbled. “These people hug each other constantly, and now it is rubbing off.”

“I know, what will you do?” She sat at the counter, watched her mother cook, while Rumi opened a bottle of blood-wine and poured her a glass.

If anyone had told her a year ago that she’d be settled in Warsaw, running a business and coming home to her mother complaining at night, with friends who kept gardens, an extended family living in the rambling compound around her, and kids running through her house when they were in trouble with their parents…

She would have thought that person was delusional.

But six months made all the difference. It was nearly time for the kamvasa to start again, though she wouldn’t be able to join it for the entire season like she had last time.

No, she was needed at the office to build the future of her people.

And though there was ever more rumbling on the borders near Oleg’s territory, for the first time in Tatyana’s immortal life, she didn’t just feel safe.

She knew she was home.

There were two hours left before dawn when the black Mercedes pulled up to a town house in the center of Warsaw. The streets were dead, so when she stepped outside, there was no one to greet her.

The car pulled away, and she walked around the corner to the wrought iron gate, used her key to open the lock, and slipped inside.

If she were a wind vampire, this would be so easy, but she was not.

She smiled as she passed the large fountain in the back garden.

Water could come in handy at times too.

He opened the door before she reached it, and his blood, which lived in her, surged the moment their eyes met.

He smiled. “Hello.”

Tatyana’s silent heart flipped in her chest. “I knew he wasn’t going to bring your plane here without you.”

“You know me too well.” He held out his hand. “Come inside. I’ve been waiting for you.”

Tatyana and Oleg’s story will conclude in Obsidian Empire.

Coming February 2026