Like the original Amber Room, the walls had been layered in gold, but instead of a pure amber overlay, Oleg had envisioned an amber glass mosaic that danced in the candlelight, a garden of mosaic flowers illuminated by flame and mirror so that every part of the room appeared lit from behind by sunlight.
“Oh my God. It’s so beautiful.” She wiped tears from her eyes. “Why is it so beautiful?”
“Because you see more now than you ever could as a mortal.”
Oleg closed the door and latched it so they wouldn’t be disturbed. Then he went to the center of the room where Tatyana was turning in place, taking in every corner of the exquisitely decorated room.
He wanted to make her smile. He wanted to make her think of anything but ending her newly immortal life.
Oleg took her hand and lifted it over her head, then spun her around. “Do you still dance?”
She looked up at him, her eyes swimming a little from the unexpected spin. “What?”
“When you were a child, you studied dance. One does not simply stop being a dancer because their mother cannot afford classes.” He spun her again. “Do you still dance?”
She frowned. “No.”
“Why not?”
“Because I became a bookkeeper, not a ballerina.”
Oleg kept her fingers woven with his. “Take off your shoes.”
“What?”
“You’re wearing stockings, yes?”
“I’m wearing socks.”
“Take off your shoes.”
She toed them off, and Oleg kicked them to the edge of the room.
“Releve.”
Tatyana’s back stiffened, and she rose onto the ball of one foot, the other knee bent with her foot braced against her leg.
Holding her hand, Oleg pulled her arm gently away from her body and into second position. Her posture remained erect as Oleg walked her around, twirling her in the center of the glittering room like a tiny figurine in a jeweled box.
She lifted her eyes to the ceiling, watching the play of candlelight and shadow in the golden room, watching herself move in the mirrored panels that reflected the light.
She was wearing loose pants and an old T-shirt, but she was luminous. Exquisite.
“You don’t stop being human when you become immortal,” Oleg said. “If anything, it makes youmorehuman, not less.”
He didn’t stop turning her, and her body, newly fortified by amnis and elemental power, didn’t tire.
“Your senses are greater. Your desire is greater. Your appetite isgreater.” Oleg stopped and walked toward her, drawing her hand to his chest.
His heart wanted to thump. He could feel the cold organ warming at the feeling of her touch.What are you doing, you sentimental fool?
The enchanted expression on Tatyana’s face made him ignore the voice in his head telling him to keep his distance.
She relaxed her feet to standing and her blue eyes were glittering. “I haven’t done that in years.”
“This room took me over a hundred years to make. Icouldn’thave completed it exactly to my vision if I was human.”
Oleg kept his eyes on hers and saw her mouth form a small O.Do you understand now, little wolf?