Page 102 of Tin God

Tenzin looked up at Ben. “This was the longest we’ve been apart since we mated.”

“Trust me, I know.”

“I missed you.”

His eyebrow went up. “Were you surprised?”

“A little bit.” She stared into the darkness of the light-secure room. “I do understand why Zasha hates me.”

“I do too. That doesn’t mean you were wrong to kill their mate.” His arm tightened around her. “Did you kill humans for food when you were young?”

“Rarely. I wasn’t allowed to hunt when I was newly turned. Sometimes they gave me humans to feed on. Or animals. Mostly they didn’t let me have fresh blood. They wanted to keep me weak.”

His arm tightened. “Tenzin.”

“I’m not going to tell you things if you’re going to react emotionally.”

He let out a frustrated huff. “How can I not react emotionally? I love you and I hate that you were hurt.”

She turned her face to his. “I survived. That’s the part you should remember.”

“I know.” He bent down and kissed her forehead. He set his questions and reactions about Tenzin’s past to the side. “We have hours before nightfall. Tell me what you discovered at Oleg’s.”

“Well.” She took a long breath. “He’s more attractive than I realized. And he has a very dry sense of humor. His personal chef is excellent, but his men almost all smell like pickled eggs. Is that a Russian delicacy? If it is?—”

“I’m talking about Zasha.” Ben closed his eyes. “I don’t— You think Oleg is attractive?”

“Aesthetically yes, but we would probably kill each other if we spent much time together, so he would make a terrible lover.” She patted his shoulder. “And of course I am loyal to you, and you desire monogamy.”

“I appreciate your consideration,” Ben muttered. “About Zasha?”

“Ah.” She nodded. “It has the appearance of chaos, but I think it is just the opposite. This was all carefully planned.”

“What was carefully planned? The raids?”

“Yes. And the missing ships you mentioned.” She squeezed his hand. “I do not think it is a coincidence that Zasha’s violence in Alaska coincides with Oleg’s aggression.”

“Oleg’saggression?” Ben frowned. “Are you saying that you think Katya’s right? That Oleg and Zasha are working together?”

“No, but maybe Zasha wants Katya tobelievethat they’re working with Oleg and?—”

“Then Oleg might think that Zasha is working with Katya.” Ben nodded. “Why take on your enemies when you could simply turn them on each other?”

“But why?” Tenzin shrugged. “You think Zasha wants this territory? They have never given an indication that they want an empire.”

“No,” Ben muttered, “but maybe Zasha heard about global warming.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Global warming?”

“It’s this thing that’s happening because modern humans burn a ton of?—”

“I know what global warming is,” she snapped. “Why would Zasha care about it? They have plenty of money. Global warming is going to affect poor humans, not wealthy vampires.”

“If enough sea ice melts, there’ll be new shipping channels through the Arctic Ocean.”

Tenzin said, “Oleg controls half the Arctic shipping lanes from his territory in Russia.”

“And Zasha could control the rest if they take Alaska. Theyarestealing ships.”

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