Page 160 of Blood Mosaic

The scent of his adrenaline was as fragrant as his blood.

She thrilled in his struggle as he tried to shove her off, but though he was twice her size, his efforts felt as helpless as a bird battering a window.

She was so powerful, and the intoxicating rush of it only made her drink faster.

The heated blood slid down her throat and left her amnis flush. The water in the air drew to her skin, and she could feel the silk clinging to her.

“My, my.”

A familiar voice at the door sent Tatyana to her feet, spinning around in search of its source. Her heart leaped in her chest when she saw her.

Her sire’s hair, a wild cacophony of dark brown curls in a halo around her head. Her voice soft and soothing like a mother comforting a child.

“Zara?”

“Look at you.” The pride in Zara’s voice nearly sent Tatyana to her knees. “You’re even more gorgeous than I thought you’d be.”

Tatyana dropped the body of the man she’d been feeding from. “You came.”

She longed to run to Zara’s arms. She wanted her to hold her. Please her. She wanted…

Zara held out her arms. “My daughter.” Pink-red tears rose in her eyes. “I didn’t know. I didn’t know how I would feel, but I missed you so much.”

“I missed you too!”

Tatyana ran to her, and Zara’s embrace was fierce as Tatyana fell into her arms.

She sobbed, the cleansing tears wiping away her fear and uncertainty. This was her family. This was her blood. Everything else meant nothing. Her pathetic human mother? She was nothing compared to Zara. The humans she’d killed? They were only food for this living, pulsing bond.

Zara nuzzled Tatyana’s temple. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

“Why did you leave me?” Tatyana sobbed. “Why?”

“Shhhh.” Zara pulled back and brushed Tatyana’s hair away from her face. “Look at you. I don’t know why I didn’t think of it when you were working for me before. I was blind.” She kissed Tatyana’s forehead. “Forgive me, Tanya. I couldn’t imagine how valuable you could be.”

“What do you want?” Tatyana was desperate to make Zara happy. “What should I do?”

“You know.” Zara smiled. “Of course you know. I can smell him on you.” She leaned into Tatyana’s neck, inhaling the scent of her skin before she drew her into a gentle embrace. “My lovely girl, you’re going to help me kill Oleg.”

Chapter Forty-Five

Oleg smelled them before he opened his eyes, and without a word, he rose from bed, swiftly dressed in heavy black canvas pants and nothing else. He walked barefoot to the door and searched for any scent that resembled a familiar human, but none of the men outside the door were his or Mika’s.

Without waiting a second, he wrenched open the heavy walnut door, snapped his fingers, and brought the fire to his palm, throwing a swirling ball of flame into the silly, navy-clad soldiers who had gathered in his sitting room.

“What the?—”

It was the only utterance that escaped them before the screaming started.

The ball of fire exploded in the center of the men, who immediately lifted their weapons and commenced firing at him even though his upper body was already engulfed in flames.

Oleg’s fire wasn’t hot enough to melt the bullets, but the heat warped their trajectory, sending them far over his head. Only one shot hit, glancing along his thigh, and that came from a man who had already fallen to the ground to escape the fire that filled the room.

Oleg lifted his arm and sent a wave of flames across the room, lighting up every man who wore a black fabric mask.

The scent of melting polyester brought a smile to his lips.

The bravest of them rushed him with a hunting knife, but Oleg reached out, twisting his wrist and plucking the knife from his hand.

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