Page 147 of Blood Mosaic

She looked up and met his eyes as she reached out with a single finger and ran it over the hard length covered in merino wool. “Do you know what I really want?”

Oleg’s fangs were down when he answered her. “I might be able to guess.”

She put her hands on his hips and firmly pushed him back. “A proper tour of the house. This place is as big as a palace, and I’m constantly getting lost.”

Oleg’s rueful chuckle reassured Tatyana that he was in a playful mood. “I see your teeth are as sharp as ever, little wolf.”

“Out, you turnip.” She shooed him toward the door. “Let me get dressed and I’ll meet you in the hall.”

Oleg heldher hand as he led Tatyana around the house, showing her the ground floor first, which she had almost memorized. There was the ballroom, the formal dining room, and other large meeting rooms. Wide, window-filled spaces that allowed the garden into the house, and walls decorated with art and tapestries.

“The first floor was made for private quarters.” He waved a hand as they headed up from the ground floor. “The grandbedrooms, suites, and sitting rooms for the master of the house and his lady.”

“But I think Oksana said that now they’re mostly offices.”

“Correct,” Oleg said. “And some storage rooms. Sitting rooms. Private spaces, but no day chambers. Only the wind vampires like sleeping this high up.”

“And everyone else sleeps in the basement?”

“Yes. I expanded it when I bought the house. It’s the safest place for our kind.” He pointed down a hallway and kept her hand in his as they walked. “I’ll show you the main bedroom. It’s quite beautiful.”

She watched him as he led her around the house, acting as the tour guide for the curious newcomer. When he pushed open a large set of double doors, her eyes immediately went to the ceiling, which was decorated in the baroque style with a colorful and bright scene full of angels and cherubs.

Oleg pointed up. “See? Wind vampires were parading in front of you your entire life, and you just didn’t know it.”

Tatyana smiled. “You said the wind vampires like to sleep high up.”

“They do. And they love a good balcony.”

“You have a few wind vampires living with you, but not many.”

Oleg grunted. “You’re perceptive.”

She didn’t say anything, curious if he would explain more.

“Most wind vampires in this part of the world owe their allegiance to the Fire King.” Oleg continued after a few moments of silence. “Arosh. He’s an ancient vampire who lives in the Caucasus Mountains not far from here.”

“And he’s also a fire vampire?”

“Yes, but he is far older than me.” Oleg squeezed her hand. “Let’s keep walking.” He led her out of the bedroom and towardanother set of gilt-edged stairs. “Were I to challenge Arosh, I would likely lose, and I would not say that about many.”

“But if he’s a fire vampire, why do most of the wind vampires— Oh. Oh.” She blinked. “Was his sire a wind vampire? So his children are wind vampires?”

“Exactly. Most of the wind vampires in this area are under his aegis.”

“And you two are… enemies?”

“Not enemies. But not friends.” He glanced down as they started up the stairs. “Arosh is an honorable vampire—he takes care of his people and is known for having a soft heart toward human women in particular—but he has his own moral code.”

“It seems like the two of you would agree on that.”

Oleg raised an eyebrow. “Perhaps. But fire vampires are not friends with other fire vampires. We provoke an automatic aggression instinctively. Arosh and I coexist and try to avoid each other. He stays on his side of the Mzymta River and I stay on mine.”

Tatyana pulled up a mental map. “Wait, the Mzymta is close to here.”

Oleg nodded and led her toward a third flight of stairs. “Yes. This house is my most eastern residence on the Black Sea. Obviously my territory stretches across Siberia, but…” He shuddered. “Cold.”

She couldn’t stop her smile. “You’re a fire vampire.”

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