Page 56 of Blood Mosaic

Vampire unions could take many shapes, and while his and Luana’s mating had once been highly passionate, Oleg had been supportive of her desire to have some distance after several hundred years. They remained close, but their sexual relationship ended so their blood bond could wane.

Seban drove through the city as it grew quiet and cold. The tourists had returned to their hotels. All but the hardiest clubs were shutting down. It was three in the morning, and Oleg spotted a blue moon hanging low in the sky as his car turned on familiar streets toward the oceanfront villa Luana had loved.

She was a water vampire and had always reveled in her element. She wanted waterfalls flowing through the house and massive fountains in the garden. Oleg had spared no expense creating the perfect getaway for his mate and delighted when she was pleased.

He’d created a mosaic fountain in the entryway that was one of his finest works, but he hadn’t crossed the threshold of Luana’s house in over a decade.

When Zara had secured Luana’s affections, Oleg had been relieved.

His mate was happy. In time, their blood bond would recede and Oleg would finally be free of the woman who had been his dream, his nightmare, and his obsession for centuries.

Fate, of course, had other plans.

They pulled up to a white mansion with classical Greek columns and arches that surrounded the three-story building. The whitewashed walls glowed in the moonlight, and the scent of the Black Sea surround him.

Seban opened the door, and Oleg stepped onto land he’d bid farewell to centuries before.

Mika was standing in the doorway of the house, his arms crossed over his chest. “This night didn’t go the way I expected.”

Oleg patted him on the shoulder as he walked inside. “Wouldn’t it be worse to be bored?”

“Seban toldme to let her and the mother go.” Mika was sitting on an immaculately kept lounge chair on a veranda that overlooked waves crashing over rocks. “Why?”

Just because the house had been empty for a year didn’t mean it wasn’t well-kept. Perhaps someday he might want to visit this place again. It was isolated enough for his liking, and the upper stories were completely light safe. There were extensive rooms built into the bedrock as well as passagesleading back to sea caverns where Luana and Zara had enjoyed their private swims.

He also suspected they’d lured humans there at times, but that was none of his business as long as they cleaned up after themselves.

“She saw me kill the humans.”

“Yes, I sensed a bit of pent-up tension at work there from the pictures Seban sent.” Mika leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Feeling better?”

Slightly.

He had been tense, but it had nothing to do with Zara this time. It was the tidy little human with her facts, her figures, and her stubborn determination to lodge herself in his mind that was throwing Oleg off.

“I’m fine.” He’d prefer to be fucking the woman and sinking his teeth into her neck, but that could come later when she wasn’t afraid of him. “Do you have concerns, Mika?”

“I have concerns that you let her run off like a scared rabbit. Why on earth didn’t you wipe her memory?”

It wouldn’t have worked.

He didn’t tell Mika that. “I’ve decided that I want to take her as a mistress, so I’d prefer she know my true nature.”

It wasn’tuntrue. But Oleg also didn’t want any other vampires to know that Tatyana’s mind was becoming resistant to vampire manipulation. If immortals thought she couldn’t be fooled, she would become a danger to them.

“You want her as amistress?” Mika gaped. “We’re using her as bait.”

“We can continue using her as bait. I’ll just depend on you to protect her so she’s not damaged.”

Mika shook his head. “We’re talking about Zara. I can’t guarantee anything.”

“I think you can if you want to keep me happy.” Oleg leaned forward and took the glass of wine that a silent servant set down. “She’s going to be working intimately with us. I decided it was more convenient for her to know my true nature.”

“That was definitely one way to show her,” Mika said. “You ripped off several limbs in front of the woman and killed nine men.”

“Who were trying to rob us,” Oleg said. “And they were not interested in just her purse.”

Now Mika looked amused. “She still might see that as an overreaction, but maybe I’m misreading her. No doubt young accountants are accustomed to violent and deadly retribution for common street crimes.”

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