Page 76 of Tin God

“So you’re sending us to Juneau?” Brigid asked.

Mika shrugged. “Zasha seems to attack where there is isolation and secrecy.”

“And they have a base somewhere central in Alaska to be attacking both you and Katya,” Brigid said. “We need to explore the islands across Prince William Sound and?—”

“They’re on a boat,” Mika muttered. “You know they’re on a boat, Brigid. It’s the only thing that makes sense.”

Tenzindidn’tknow they were on a boat. Zasha’s sire was an earth vampire and they were sired to fire, which meant that water was basically the opposite of everything that made them comfortable. If Zasha was basing themself on a boat, Tenzin would eat her sword.

“If you go south from Juneau,” Oleg said, “you’ll be in the heart of the Inside Passage. There are countless places to disappear there if one wants to. It is more protected from the weather. You’ve flown over it, Tenzin.”

She looked at Brigid and nodded. “It’s huge, cold, and damp. Take the airplane. I’ll even go with you just to avoid the windchill.”

Oleg knew something. Sending them to Juneau was too specific to be a coincidence, but once again, he was rationalizing and performing for an audience that was neither Brigid nor Tenzin.

Yes, Oleg knew something, but he wasn’t going to share it, at least not in front of the others.

“Brigid, we should take the plane,” Tenzin said quietly.

“Really?”

“Or I can fly you over Prince William Sound and drop you,” Tenzin said. “Maybe.”

Brigid huffed out a breath and crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes going back to Mika Arakas, who said not a word.

“According to my men,” Oleg said, “a wind vampire can probably make the passage in four or five hours depending on the wind, but as I said, I will make my plane available to you.” He spread his hands graciously. “As a gift.”

“So we can go killyourinsane sibling.” Tenzin wasn’t fooled by Oleg’s magnanimity.

“What happens when you find Zasha is between you and Zasha,” Mika said. “Oleg and the Sokholov family have no knowledge of your plans, nor do we want any.”

Brigid looked toward Mika. “And Lev and Olaf?”

“Lev and Olaf are there to see you safely to Katya’s territory. After that, they will return with the plane.”

Translation: we’ll get you to Juneau; then you’re on your own.

Tenzin looked at Brigid. “You tried to avoid bystanders by tracking Zasha to an isolated location, but Zasha is now using isolation as an advantage. This is the right decision.”

“At least it’s a sparsely populated wilderness instead of downtown Las Vegas this time.” Brigid stood and gave Oleg a nod. “I appreciate your… insight. And your plane.”

“If I could have found Zasha and kept this away from others, I would have,” the fire vampire said. “Don’t forget what we talked about. Now leave before we start fighting.”

Brigid couldn’t stop the smile. “Excellent idea.”

Tenzin cocked her head and watched them interact.

Air vampires didn’t care who they shared space with. Water vampires and earth vampires glommed on to each other like sticky tape.

But it was highly unusual for two fire vampires to share space as peacefully as Oleg and Brigid had been. Collaboration was not their element’s strong suit, and their instincts warned them away from others of their kind.

Fire vampires in the same vicinity?

Like two sparks competing for the same kindling. Inevitably, one of them was going to devour the other.

“Thanks for your help,” Brigid continued. “I’ll be sure to say hello to Anne and Murphy from you the next time I call Dublin.”

Oleg rolled his eyes. “I appreciate the thought, but you only need to say hello to Anne.”

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