Page 141 of Blood Mosaic

“Yes. Every time.”

“He’s an annoying shit. But we pay attention to it because…” He shrugged. “Who knows? Because we do.”

“At least I know he doesn’t only do it to me.” Tatyana angled herself toward Lazlo as she took the carafe of blood. She was too hungry to be polite, so she simply twisted off the top and drank straight from the pitcher.

It wasn’t delicate, but she was too thirsty to care.

“You have an appetite.” Lazlo grunted. “That’s good. Sometimes the young ones? They are too busy mourning their old life to care for themselves. They pine and complain. It’s very annoying.”

“Is it common? To pine like that?”

He sat next to her, leaving his feet outside the fountain. “Not so much anymore. Now the world is more civilized. It’s not typical for a vampire to be turned against their will like you were.” He lifted a finger. “I’m sorry I didn’t find you before you killed Gregor. Oleg says you feel guilty about that.”

“Yes.” She wished he hadn’t brought it up, but maybe it was a good reminder. “I’m going to have to live for eternity knowing that I’m a murderer.”

“I mean, eternity is optimistic.” Lazlo shrugged. “Aim for twenty years of this and see how you feel then. You canalways walk into the sun. Or ask someone to behead you—that’s probably less painful than burning.”

“Right.” Tatyana felt strangely comforted by the older man’s morbid ruminations. It felt more honest than people painting a rosy picture of living life in darkness. “How about you? What made you decide to live?”

“My brothers.” Lazlo curled his lip. “Mostly the one you’re having sex with.”

“Oh God.” She put the carafe to her lips again and gulped the blood, which had cooled and coagulated a little bit. “You really have to drink blood fresh, don’t you?”

“It’s much better when you do.” His bushy mustache twitched. “Everyone knows about you and Oleg. Don’t feel embarrassed about it.”

“Okay.” She finished the carafe of blood and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. “Did he say something?”

“No, everyone can smell him on you.”

“Right.” And now she wanted to bury herself in the garden and remain there for around twenty years. “Good to know.”

He pointed at the door. “Half of Mika’s crew are having sex with each other. Oksana and Ludmila are the only ones mated. Most vampires view it as an amusing way to pass the time when you’re bored. Don’t be too human about it.”

Oh right. Well, that probably shouldn’t be surprising. And it left her with a fresh perspective on Oleg. “Good to know.”

“My brother though?” Lazlo squinted. “He’s odd.”

What did that mean?

Tatyana turned toward the rough man. “You really don’t need to tell me… anything. About Oleg. I know…”

Lazlo looked amused. “What do you know? Or think you know?”

Honestly, not much.

“He kept me from dying,” Tatyana said softly. “I guess right now that’s all I need from him.”

Lazlo nodded. “He does that.”

“Keeps people from dying?”

“He puts things back together,” the old vampire said. “Broken things.” He narrowed his eyes. “Are you broken?”

None of your business.

Tatyana forced a smile. “Isn’t everyone?”

Lazlo picked up the empty carafe and stood. “Probably yes.” He lifted it and gave Tatyana a small salute. “You’re alive, Tatyana Vorona. You should stay that way for a while. No need to make any rash decisions.”

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