Page 96 of Blood Mosaic

She nibbled on the croissants and the fruit provided by the unseen servants, wondering if she could get more and who she could talk to about eating a real meal.

The night before, she hadn’t had much of an appetite, but now she was ravenous. Pastries and fruit weren’t going to cut her hunger.

Her stomach growled, and Tatyana walked back inside to dress and go in search of food.

Armed with jeans, a T-shirt, and a perfectly appropriate business-casual jacket, she left her barricaded room and walked down the staircase that led to the main living area of the house.

There were fountains in the living area too and a massive fireplace that dominated a sunken conversation pit surrounded by windows that looked out over the sea.

“Hello?” Her voice echoed on the plaster walls and tiled floor. “Is anyone awake?”

In moments, a woman appeared from a hidden hallway under the stairs.

“Miss Vorona,” she said. “I am Leni, the house’s day manager. May I assist you?” Her appearance and accent told Tatyana she was a Crimean native, probably a Tatar woman.

“Yes, please.” She walked toward Leni. “The fruit and pastry on the balcony is delicious, but I am wondering if there is something more? Maybe some eggs or even a kasha?” Tatyana found herself missing something as simple and hearty as her grandmother’s buckwheat porridge.

Leni’s eyes brightened immediately. “Of course! The chef will enjoy having a human guest to cook for.”

“Vampires don’t eat much, do they?”

The woman smiled. “They don’t need to. But our chef cooks for the staff too, and Pavel makes wonderful pancakes. Wouldyou like blini with smoked salmon, perhaps? Or pancakes with fresh fruit? Both would be more filling than pastry.”

“Blini with salmon sounds amazing.” She looked around the room. “I was hoping to work today before we fly back. Is there a room with a large table where I can plug in my laptop and spread out some files?”

“Of course, Miss Vorona.” Leni nodded. “Perhaps the second dining room would suit you. There is a large table, but not as large as the banquet room. I can show you to it after I tell Pavel your breakfast order.”

“Perfect.” She walked back to her room and grabbed her computer and files before she returned to the main room where Leni was waiting.

“This way.” She led Tatyana down another beautifully decorated hallway where green-and-gold tile mosaics decorated the bottom of the walls.

“The artwork in the house is magnificent. All the fountains and the murals.”

Leni looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Yes, Mr. Sokolov has taken great care in their design. He employed some workmen for the outside, but the mosaic of the sirens over the fireplace is his own work.”

Tatyana nearly tripped over her feet. “He… You mean he made them? Himself?”

“Oh yes.” Leni nodded. “Mr. Sokolov is a very talented artist and creates work for most of his homes.”

A fuzzy memory tickled her mind.

“What do you do for fun?”

“I work on my art.”

“You’re an artist?”

“Mosaics. I make mosaics.”

She knew that. Or shehadknown that. Oleg had told her about his art—there was a verdant forest scene in her mind—but she had forgotten.

Or he had made her forget.

They were going to have a conversation about that when he woke.

“Here you are.” Leni opened a pair of double doors to reveal a gilt-edged room with oil paintings decorating the walls and an amber chandelier hanging from the ceiling. “Pavel is preparing your breakfast right now. Please make yourself comfortable and I’ll serve you shortly.”

She wasneck-deep in cryptocurrency transactions when she heard his voice.

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