Chapter 12 #2
It also wasn’t lost on her that in addition to her personal life being far less complicated, being Oleg’s wife publicly would give her far greater access to Ivan. Arranging his death could be much easier once she had a formal role in Oleg’s empire.
“I can work remotely,” Tatyana said. “And doesn’t he have a plane? Would I be able to use his plane?”
Radu glanced at the letter he’d carried from his office.
“If you are sure about this, all the details will be subject to contractual negotiations,” he said.
“That is always the way these things are done. He knows you have responsibilities here, and you know he has a massive empire to oversee. I cannot imagine he would not be reasonable. This will likely be… a week here or there. Formal events that can be planned ahead.”
Tatyana felt a bubble of happiness, but she ruthlessly pushed it down and forced herself to think of this like a business proposal. Which was technically what it was.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Would I have access to his homes and his jet?”
“Subject to negotiation, but I suspect that would be standard.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “As much as I travel within his territory for work, the clan could probably save money by using Sokolov’s houses and private transport.”
Radu snorted. “Trust you to find a financial reason to justify this massive imposition into your life.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “A century, Tatyana. Before I open formal negotiations, you need to think about it carefully. You are young.”
“I committed a century to the Poshani people.” She leaned forward and looked into Radu’s eyes. “This is the least I can do after the faith you have put in me.”
“You don’t owe our people—”
“I do,” she said bluntly. “Of course I do. The Poshani have given me a family and a home. They have taken care of my mother and watched over me during the day. You have fed me. Clothed me. Taken me in.”
Radu’s voice was hoarse. “You are our sister.”
“I was no one before I came to the kamvasa.” Tatyana spoke nothing but the truth. “I had money, yes, but I was a new vampire with no particular elemental power, no protection, no connections, no living sire or powerful mate. Who would I be without you?”
“You have repaid our people’s faith in you a hundred times over.”
“Let me do this,” Tatyana said. “It is not only marriage to a powerful ally, it is a service to my people. We are friends with the Kievan Rus. This marriage will make us family.”
Radu nodded. “And family is protected.”
“Exactly.”
Tatyana stared at Oleg from across the room. They were sitting at opposite ends of the conference room in Odesa, and neither one of them was speaking. It was the same table where she’d first struck a bargain with the fire vampire now staring at her.
“Don’t back away now, volchitsa. I like your teeth.”
Tatyana was striking another bargain with Oleg Sokolov, but now she was not alone.
Radu was negotiating for Tatyana, and Mika was negotiating for Oleg.
Multiple lawyers accompanied both of them along with two witnesses for each party—Kezia and Sándor for Tatyana, while Oleg’s daughter Polina was joined by a thin, pale woman who smelled of ice and only called herself Lidik.
Tatyana stared dispassionately at Oleg while he looked on, a smug smile spread across his face.
The fire lord and the ice princess.
Though no formal announcements would be made until negotiations were completed, rumors were already leaching out into the greater immortal world.
No doubt exactly as her husband had planned.
Kezia watched the proceedings with a glare so intense it looked as if sparks might fly out of her eyes and incinerate the vampire at the far end of the polished conference table right along with the papers covering it.
Lawyers scribbled notes as Mika and Radu went back and forth, both holding yellow legal pads in front of them.
“So we are agreed that one month during kamvasa is reserved for Tatyana le Tala to join her people for their roaming ceremonies no matter what events may rise.” Mika added, “And to attend… what is it called?”
“Vashana,” Radu said. “Most particularly Vashana Zata, but that is not for another ninety-five years, so there is plenty of time to plan.”
“Of course,” Mika replied, jotting something on his pad. “And which of these events will Lord Oleg be required to join as her husband?”
“He is welcome to any of them.” Radu glanced at Tatyana, who nodded. “He will be given his own quarters among the kamvasa for his private use.”
“Of course.” Mika checked something off.
“The Grand Palace of the Kievan Rus in Saint Petersburg will begin making preparations for the wedding as soon as contracts are formally signed, and upon the signing, the Empress Wing of the palace will be opened and redecorated to Lady Tatyana’s wishes.
” Mika glanced at her, then at Radu. “If she has personal decorators she would prefer, please give me their names and I will see that they have full access.”
Radu nodded. “As soon as contracts are signed.”
“Of course.” Mika looked back at his notes.
“The Southern Empress Palace in Sevastopol is unfortunately inaccessible due to the current political situation, but we trust that Lord Oleg’s new mansion here in Odesa, the town house in Bucharest, and an upgraded wing of his castle in the Carpathian Mountains will be sufficient for Lady Tatyana’s needs. ”
“Please, it is simply Tatyana,” she said quietly.
“Indeed it will not be,” Oleg said firmly. “Not after our wedding.”
Their wedding, which would be on January 27.
For the second time.
Their first wedding had been a modest, private affair with only Mika and Anna in attendance and officiated by the discreet priest who served at Oleg’s castle in the Carpathian Mountains. This one, however…
“After your wedding to Lord Oleg,” Mika said, “you will retain your terrin’s seat and all of your own titles of course, but you will also be given the title of Knyaginya of the Kievan Rus, Queen Mother of Truvor’s Blood, and of course less formally, Lady Tatyana.”
Tatyana could actually smell the smug satisfaction wafting from her husband’s pores. Forget a cat eating cream. This cat had butchered an entire dovecote and was picking his teeth with the feathers.
She looked away from Oleg to glance at Kezia.
Tatyana and her sister had already come to an agreement. Radu knew nothing, but they were already planning how best to assassinate Ivan quietly. From the glare on Kezia’s face, she would be just as—if not more—willing to commit murder than she had been before.
Tatyana didn’t need Ivan to die in a showy or spectacular way. She just wanted him gone.
“Terrin Tatyana’s primary residence in Warsaw will be expanded to include a suitable residence for Lord Oleg,” Radu said. “There is a town house within our primary compound adjacent to her house, which can be enlarged and joined to his specifications.”
Tatyana raised a finger. “Brother.”
Radu immediately turned to her. “Tatyana.”
“The families living in the adjacent town house you mentioned are settled,” she said. “I will happily build a new residence for Lord Oleg at my expense so that we do not have to displace Poshani families.”
Radu looked at Mika, then Oleg. “Our terrin’s priority is her people’s well-being. Is this acceptable?”
Mika glanced at Oleg, who nodded. “It is acceptable. Lord Oleg also owns property in Warsaw and Krakow, but he will be most happy to spend time with his wife and her people. Until the new residence is finished, I’m sure there are suitable rooms in Lady Tatyana’s home where he may stay.”
“Of course,” Tatyana said.
Oleg’s eyes danced in amusement.
“As for the issue of security,” Radu continued, “declaring mutual trust and confidence in each other’s defenses, the Poshani must insist that anytime our terrin is residing outside our immediate security structures, she will retain her personal Hazar and a guard of no less than forty humans.”
Mika glanced at Oleg and said something in a quiet language that Tatyana didn’t even recognize. She was betting it wasn’t one that was even living anymore. Oleg responded in the same language and gave a nod.
Tatyana had known Radu was going to ask for this level of security, and while she had initially objected, Kezia had convinced her that for their future endeavors, having that many day people among the Hazar might be beneficial.
Mika turned back to Radu. “As chief boyar of Lord Oleg’s druzhina and head of his personal guard, I would reassure the Poshani that we will take the security of our knyaginya as seriously as we take the security of our knyaz, but as Lord Oleg has no objection to your request, it will be written into the contract. ”
“And for Lord Oleg’s security when he is in our region?” Radu sat with his pen poised.
Oleg himself spoke. “As fully seventy percent of your roaming routes fall within my territory, I will bring the security I usually bring when I am among my Poshani friends.” Oleg offered Radu a convivial smile. “Nothing else is necessary for me.”
Unspoken: Because I am the biggest badass at this table, and could incinerate you all if I wanted to.
Oleg turned to Tatyana again and fixed his eyes on her with a slight smirk on his face.
By all the saints, he was insufferable at times. She hated that she loved him so much.
Kezia spoke. “And when you are outside your territory? Tatyana must attend to Poshani business across Eastern Europe. You don’t control everything, Oleg.”
Oleg turned his eyes to the woman who would be his sister-in-law. “When I am outside my territory or accompanying my wife on her various business endeavors, I will take what security I agree to with the authorities of that region. It is nothing that the Poshani need supply.”
“I think that is sufficient then.” Radu handed his yellow legal pad to the lawyer on his left and turned to Tatyana. “Sister, is there anything else you would like to add?”
Tatyana had thought about this for a long time. “Only this: Every agreement that I sign my name to, every contract that I commit myself to, is intended for the good and the benefit of the Poshani people, the family who has taken me in, sheltered my blood, and given me a home.”
Oleg lifted his chin. “I have nothing but respect and admiration for your sentiments, Tatyana le Tala.” His eyes turned fierce. “No one could ever doubt the lengths you would go to in order to protect those you love.”
My husband. My love. You do not know the lengths that I will go to protect you, do you?
But you will.
Tatyana allowed herself a slight smile. “Then, Lord Oleg, we are engaged.”