Chapter 50

Chapter Fifty

T atyana flew over mountains so high that the wind cut her cheeks and her breath frosted in the air. She could see the beginning of dawn on the horizon, and she felt the pull of sleep and forced it back.

“We are not taking you to our sire’s main compound,” the dark one said. “There are humans there. But there is another castle high in the mountains where only immortals go. It is reserved for our sire’s dearest friends, but Samson told me he would vouch for you.”

Tatyana looked over her shoulder at the silent, silver-haired vampire who carried her. “Do you not speak?”

Samson shook his head, but he smiled.

“My brother does not speak with his mouth,” Daria said. “But do not mistake his silence for lack of an opinion.”

A few minutes later, they landed in a stone fortress high in the mountains where sharp cliffs rose around them, creating a natural courtyard where two men stood as if waiting for their arrival.

“Our sire will have felt your approach,” Daria said. “Let me introduce you.”

One vampire was a raven-haired man with light brown skin, a black beard, and swirling tattoos riding high on his arched cheekbones. Like Oleg, he was utterly beautiful and utterly terrifying. Also like Oleg, she could sense that his elemental energy was tied to fire.

Beside the dark-haired vampire stood a towering man with russet hair that flowed down his back. Tatyana looked at him instead of at the Fire King because, while this man was a giant, his blue eyes looked at her with kindness.

Tatyana, what have you done?

She could hear Oleg’s voice in her mind, as if the angry fire vampire had somehow become her conscience.

She knew she was taking a chance, but the moment she’d seen the two wind vampires flying toward her, she remembered what Oleg had told her.

“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.”

She was taking a chance. It was reckless, but she’d tried being cautious in her life and what had happened? She was a vampire now. If she was ever going to survive on her own in a world of predators, she was going to have to take chances.

Daria walked across the courtyard and bowed deeply. “Father, we bring you a newborn searching for sanctuary. She was sired against her will and… she killed her sire. I do not know the circumstances, but she has no aegis. She was running from the Varangian’s territory when we caught her. Samson has offered her sanctuary.”

The man called the Fire King stepped forward, and if Tatyana had thought Oleg was powerful, she nearly dropped to the ground when this vampire looked at her.

He was old. So old, so commanding, and so frightening.

Tears came to her eyes, and Tatyana bowed her head.

“I am Arosh, ancient king of this territory,” the immortal said. “What is your name?”

She forced the words from her mouth. “My name is Tatyana Otsana Vorona.”

“I also killed my sire, Tatyana Otsana Vorona,” Arosh said. “Or at least I think I did. There were burnt bones in the cave where I woke.”

“She killed me.” Tatyana kept her eyes on the ground. “She stole my human life, so I killed her.”

“And you survived,” the vampire next to Arosh said. “Unusual and rare.”

Arosh chuckled a little bit. “I am no modern, tame immortal who abides by laws and customs. Your life for her life. A fair trade.” He leaned forward and took a deep breath. “You carry the Varangian’s scent. You were his lover.”

“Yes.” Tatyana looked up cautiously. “But I do not want to be his property.”

Arosh’s eyebrows went up. “A sentiment I can respect.” He stepped back and swept his arm wide. “Very well, Tatyana Vorona. As my son has offered you sanctuary—and I trust Samson with my life—I will accept you on my mountain for now. Samson likes you, and he is my favorite child.”

The taller vampire chuckled a little bit, and Tatyana felt a pull that drew her eyes up and to the right to meet the brilliant gaze of the towering vampire to Arosh’s left.

“I know you,” the giant said in a soft voice. “I saw you when you were a human.”

Months ago. Tatyana blinked. “You were with Saba. In the tavern.”

His brilliant blue eyes looked sad. “And you did not want this.”

Tatyana felt tears come to her eyes at the power and the warmth behind the man’s voice. “I don’t know what I want anymore. Right now I just want to understand who I am. And I don’t want to be afraid.”

The giant smiled. “You are a water vampire of Ariana’s line. I know your blood, child.”

Tatyana had no idea who Ariana was, but she was drawn to the tall vampire. “Who are you?”

“This is Kato.” Arosh grabbed Tatyana’s chin and forced her eyes back to his. “Ancient king of the old sea and father of water vampires. Including you.”

Including her? Did that mean she was under this Kato’s aegis?

“Arosh.” The giant’s gentle voice was chastising. “Can’t you see she’s terrified?”

“She should be.” Arosh released her and stepped back. “You’re soft, brother.”

Tatyana needed darkness and sleep. She could feel the sun rising, and she was on the top of a mountain with no shelter in sight.

“And you are too hard.” Kato held out his hand to Tatyana. “I no longer have an empire to defend, nor do I want one. I enjoy teaching the young.”

Tatyana didn’t know what she was doing, but when she put her hand in Kato’s, all her worries fell away. He was strength and power, and something in his eyes reminded her of her grandfather.

“I’m going to sleep soon,” she whispered. “I won’t be able to…” Her words fell away. She was spent. She had nothing. If they wanted to kill her, she was at their mercy.

“Child.” Kato smiled. “Trust me.”

Tatyana was in a vampire castle on a high mountain, surrounded by icy wind as the sky lightened and the sun threatened the horizon.

Everything in her life was uncertain. She still didn’t know if her mother was secure. Oleg was waiting. He would be waiting for her, and she knew that one day a reckoning with him would have to come.

“Come with me.” Kato took her hand and led her into the darkness of a cave cut into the mountain. “Let me show you to shelter, Tatyana Vorona. The day is coming, and you need to rest.”

Moments later, Tatyana fell onto a soft bed, a door shut behind her, and darkness surrounded her like a soft and welcoming blanket.

The silence of the mountain wrapped around her mind like a shroud, and she had the curious feeling that for the first time in months…

She was truly safe.

Tatyana and Oleg’s story will continue in Crimson Oath

Coming Summer 2025