Page 163 of Blood Mosaic

She swallowed hard, trying to keep from vomiting up the blood she’d drank from the men who invaded her room.

Oksana walked over and sank down. “What do you need? Do you want a robe? A bath?”

Tatyana shook her head and stayed in a crouch, clutching her axe.

Oksana patted her shoulder. “You did well. I saw you fighting one of the humans. You have good instincts with the axe.”

“I’ve never used a sword.” But she’d used an axe plenty of times at the farm. Chopping firewood. Cutting branches off trees.

Oksana nodded at the small garden axe in her hand. “Then you may have your weapon. Oleg prefers an axe too. He and Lazlo are experts; they will teach you.”

She didn’t want to be taught. She didn’t want this life. She didn’t want to be afraid. She wanted peace and quiet and a computer. She wanted a serene farmhouse and a cozy library. She didn’t want to be covered in blood and gore.

She wanted Oleg. And she wanted Zara too.

Emotions rocketed through her, her heart battling with her mind.

“Wait here.” Oksana rose. “Just keep to this corner and protect yourself. It’s almost over.”

It’s almost over.

Zara had told her the same thing before she sent her out into the garden to find the axe. The axe had been Zara’s idea, but it had served Tatyana well. She’d slashed two humans and had seen their guts spill out in front of her. Then she’d taken off a vampire’s head when he fell at her feet.

It had been similar to killing a chicken, but the scream had been louder and she knew she would never forget the blood.

So much blood.

“Come now, daughter. We have things to discuss.” Oleg’s voice echoed down the hallway, and Tatyana rose to her feet.

The fearsome fire vampire backed into the room, his army at his back while Zara swung a sword wildly.

Tatyana’s breath caught at the sight of him. He was ferocity and beauty. His chest and arms glistened with a shimmering fire that clung to him like a second skin. He wore nothing but a pairof black pants that hung low on his hips, exposing musculature that looked like a classical statue she might see in a museum.

He was a god of fire and blood, and the punch of longing that struck Tatyana’s chest almost brought her to her knees.

Zara’s eyes scanned the room in a panic. She knew she was surrounded. There was no escape when her borrowed army lay in pieces at Oleg’s feet. She was alone, outnumbered, and all she had was a sword to defend herself.

Tatyana wanted to run to her, protect her, but she was frozen in fear.

“Is this how you will kill me?” Zara sneered. “With your servants and lackeys watching?” She lifted her voice and shouted into the ballroom. “You cowards! You all bend to him and pray as if he’s a god.” She swung the sword at Oleg’s neck. “He’s a murderer, and he’ll kill any of you the moment you fall down. The moment you are weak, he will leave you to die if he doesn’t kill you himself.”

There was a low murmur of voices around the room.

Mika strolled into the ballroom, his hands in his pockets and his eyes fixed on Zara. “Do you pretend to know your sire better than those who have fought alongside him for centuries?”

“I know him.” Zara hissed. She raised the sword and pointed it at Oleg. “Iknowhim.”

“Leave us,” Oleg murmured. “My loyal druzhina, I am proud of you this night. You have protected our territory and destroyed our enemies. Now leave me with my daughter.”

There was more murmuring around the room and more than one expletive, but Oleg’s people did not protest.

Oleg kept his eyes on Zara even as Oksana, Ludmila, and the rest of Mika’s soldiers moved toward the doors, leaving at least a dozen bodies still on the floor.

Tatyana remained frozen in the corner. No one gestured for her to follow them. No one seemed to remember that she wasthere. She watched while Mika lingered in the doorway, shutting the double doors as the rest of Oleg’s people left, leaving Oleg, Zara, Mika, and Tatyana in the ballroom alone.

And Mika’s eyes weren’t on Zara and Oleg anymore. They were fixed on Tatyana.

Oleg stretched his arms out and stared at Zara. “Get on your knees now. Beg for my forgiveness and I might grant it. I might give you your inheritance. I might allow you your freedom.”

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