Page 57 of Blood Mosaic

“The human world would be far safer if thieves had to fear death if they assaulted a woman.” Oleg shrugged. “Their deaths will not sit on my conscience, semu.”

The old nickname seemed to cut the tension between them. Mika sighed and sat back in the lounge chair. “This is a great house.”

“It really is.” Oleg looked around. “And without Zara here, it’s quite peaceful.”

“I’m hearing whispers from Istanbul.”

“What kind of whispers?”

“Zara hasn’t been seen in two nights.”

Oleg’s eyebrow went up. “That coincides with your putting the word out that Tatyana was working with us, correct?”

“Correct. Are you sure we shouldn’t be chasing the woman right now?”

“Relax.” Oleg snapped his fingers, and the servant appeared at his side. “They took their car, correct?”

“Yes, and headed northeast toward Simferopol.”

“Then they’re going to her grandparents’ old farm, I imagine.” He kicked his feet up on the edge of the stone table as his wineglass was refilled. “It’s in the Feodosia region, correct?”

“Yes. We already have people in the area. I’ll call them and tell them to keep an eye on the place until we get there.”

“Good. Let my little wolf catch her breath and try to convince herself she didn’t see what she saw tonight.” Oleg looked out toward the low-slung moon on the edge of the horizon. “I’ll find her soon enough.”

Two nights later,Oleg sat in the back of an old Land Cruiser as Seban drove it up a narrow dirt track that wound between bare almond groves and trimmed lavender fields. The land was cool and quiet, but the rolling fields that rose up from the Black Sea coast were green even as winter approached.

“It’s no wonder that they went into debt to pay the taxes on this place,” Oleg said.

“It’s beautiful country.”

“Human inheritance laws are cruel.” He didn’t know the details, but it irritated him that Tatyana had been forced to use her money to pay the taxes on land that her grandparents had farmed for decades.

“Human governments are corrupt,” Seban said. “That’s why I prefer working for vampires.”

“Even when I create messy situations for you?” The corner of his mouth turned up.

“But I never have to worry that you’ll fire me.” Seban glanced in the rearview mirror. “If you’re not happy with me, you’ll just kill me. All my worries will be over.”

“And your grandchildren would receive excellent educations.” Oleg nodded. “Remind me to update the employee benefit handbook when we get back to the citadel.”

Seban chuckled. “I have a feeling that kind of benefit isn’t going to appeal to a woman like her.”

“It might. She’s a practical one.” He saw a yellow light at the top of the barn as they crested a hill. “No mirrors hanging from the trees?”

“No, but all the lights are on in the house.”

“And thorns in the windows, no doubt,” Oleg murmured.Come now, volchitsa, do you think you can rid yourself of me so easily?

Seban pulled into the yard between the house and the barn and brought the car to a stop. “Cross on the door.”

“Maybe they’re just religious.”

Seban chuckled. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“No. Stay in the car, but you don’t have to keep it running. Call Mika. Tell him I’m here.”

Oleg had dressed himself in a sweater the color of birchwood and a pair of brown wool pants. Lighter colors made him appear more human, and he needed to set Tatyana at ease.

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