Page 157 of Blood Mosaic

“I am leaning toward… no. I will keep her in the citadel. Don’t you remember what you told me once? It would be crueler to her—harsher—to keep her alive for a century or two. I can confine her?—”

“She needs to die!”

Something in his chest roared in defiance.Nothingcould happen to Zara that might hurt Tatyana. It was unacceptable. He would not stand for it. His fire had tasted her amnis, and it wanted more. It was protective. Possessive.

Oleg watched Tatyana carefully. “When I knew she killed Elene and robbed you of your mortal life, I admit I wanted to kill her. But death is swift and merciful, volchitsa. Wouldn’t it be better to let Zara suffer?”

“How can you be so cold?” Tatyana shook her head. “Zara has to die.”

“So you’d have me give her mercy with a swift death? What lesson would that teach those who challenge me?”

“The whole world already thinks she’s dead!”

“Still, it would be far better to let her scrape the walls and bloody her fists against stone while I keep her in prison for a century.” Oleg shrugged. “Let her think about Elene’s death and regret it. Maybe when she understands remorse, I will kill her.”

“I don’t want her to control me!” Tatyana pounded a fist on her chest. “Don’t you see that?”

He did see it, and she wasn’t wrong.

But Tatyana didn’t know that Zara’s death could kill her too.

“It’s not your decision.” Oleg walked out from behind his desk and toward the door. “You’re irrational right now. You need blood. Let me get you something to?—”

“I’m not being irrational! I’m beingveryrational and very clear. I want Zara dead.” She ran and put a hand on his chest. “Are you going to do it?”

He covered her hand with his and held it there. “I will deal with Zara. You are her child; it’s not your decision.”

She curled her hand into a fist and drew back. “I cannot believe you.”

“I don’t know why you’re shocked, Tatyana.” He cocked his head. “Zara is my child, under my aegis. You’re not my peer in any way.”

“You want to keep a monster alive.”

“And you think of only of yourself,” Oleg murmured. “While I have to think…”Of you.“I must think of the hundreds of vampires and humans whoneedmy power. And sometimes my cruelty.”

She stepped back, shaking her head. “No one needs cruelty.”

“You’re still thinking like a human. Other vampires need to fear me if my people are going to be safe. My druzhina calls me lord because I am strong, not because I am merciful.” He leaned down and murmured, “Just as you will call me lord when your sire is under my thumb.”

“What?” Tatyana’s head jerked back. “Call youlord? Is that what this is about for you?”

“Once Zara is captured, you will be alone, volchitsa. You will have no sire, no clan. You will be fair game to any vampire who wants to prey on you.”

“And tell me how that is different from every other point in my life.” Tatyana lifted her chin, her lip curling. “I’vealwaysfended for myself.”

“But you don’t have to anymore.” Placing a hand on her cheek, he stroked his thumb over her silken skin.

Oleg leaned down and gently pressed his lips against hers. He flooded his amnis over her skin, spreading the pleasure of the kiss from his body to hers.

And he felt it. He felt the nascent bond in his blood, the pleasure in her blood answering his. He felt the aching want and the simmering passion that lived in her, the banked purity of her desire for him.

Oleg stepped closer and opened his mouth, waiting for her kiss to meet his.

After a moment of hesitation, she opened her mouth, kissing him back, lifting her hand to the nape of his neck and pushing her tongue into his mouth to stroke against his fangs.

A low growl in his throat when he tasted it. His arms slid around her waist and he drew her body to his, pressing them together so he felt her heart beat against his chest.

Her blood in his mouth, swallowed and captured in his own body. Her amnis threading with his. The bond grew and deepened, elevating her pleasure until he could feel it ringing through his own body like a plucked string.

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