Chapter 20 #3
Tatyana quickly sent a response back to Oksana through the house secretary and alerted her driver that she’d need a car to Oksana and Ludmila’s home on the outskirts of the city.
Half an hour later, she and Sándor were driving through the still-bustling streets of Saint Petersburg, heading south toward the small suburb of Pushkin where Oksana and Ludmila made their home.
“Who are these people?”
“Ludmila and Oksana.”
“Ludmila I know.”
“And Oksana is her mate.” She glanced at him. “She is a friend of mine. An old friend.”
“I see.”
“She gave me that beautiful axe that I carry at formal events.”
Sándor’s eyebrows went up. “The baltag?”
“Yes.” A year after her induction as terrin, Oksana sent her a custom-made axe in the style of the Carpathian Mountain shepherds. It had a narrow curved head with custom engraving and a long handle made of rosewood that was nearly as long as a walking stick.
With the leather blade guard in place, Tatyana could use it as such if she wanted, tucking the graceful axe-head near her elbow so that it appeared to be a very chic and eccentric accessory.
Just more lethal.
“That is an excellent axe,” Sándor muttered.
“It is.”
Clearly, knowing that they were going to the house of a vampire with exquisite taste in axes improved Sándor’s mood, because he seemed less cross.
“Sándor?”
“Yes, surati?”
“What do you think of Pavel and Rudov?”
“I think they’re very old.”
She glanced at him. “That is all?”
“I don’t know enough to form a true opinion. Pavel seems…”
“Awkward for a vampire.”
“Brilliant but troubled. He’s afraid of Oleg. Rudov is not.”
“Hmm.” Tatyana didn’t know if that made Pavel more or less of a threat.
“Animals that are scared can often be the most vicious,” Sándor said softly.
“True.”
Moments later, they pulled through the gates of a large country house in Pushkin, and Tatyana pushed thoughts of Oleg’s brothers to the back of her mind.
The estate felt secluded even though the city surrounded it. The drive was lined by a large allée of bare-branched trees dusted in a thin layer of snow.
“I heard a rumor that Ludmila is from this area,” Sándor said.
“That would explain why they keep a home here.”
He was silent as they passed the sentry of snowy birches. “Oksana is not Russian, nor is she part of Oleg’s clan.”
“No, I have not asked about her background,” Tatyana said. “She is a water vampire. And when I was newly turned, she was my first real teacher.”
“Ah.”
She smiled. Sándor liked classifying everyone in Tatyana’s orbit, and Oksana was a bit of an anomaly—under Oleg’s aegis but not related.
“Oleg trusts her,” Tatyana said. “And she is mated to one of his druzhina.”
“And you consider her a personal friend.”
“Yes.”
“I trust your judgment, surati.”
“Thank you.”
Oksana was waiting in front of the house when they pulled up, and Tatyana could see her bright smile in the darkness.
Sándor’s eyes were locked on her. “She is… tall.”
“She is.”
If the toy manufacturers had wanted to make a Powerlifting Barbie, they might have modeled her on Oksana.
She had grown her curly hair to her shoulders, and she had started to wear makeup more often, as if challenging anyone to question the femininity of a tall, broad-shouldered warrior who could likely toss them across a football field as easily as she might hug them.
“You’re here!” Oksana walked over and embraced Tatyana. “I am so glad.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Are you going to Rudov’s party later? We have to go. We can all ride together maybe?”
“I was thinking the same thing, so I brought my formal clothes.”
“Perfect!” Oksana quickly ushered them into the house. “Is this your security?” She turned to Sándor. “I’m Oksana. It is nice to meet you. I promise my wife will shoot anyone who even looks at Tatyana sideways.”
“Sándor.” He stood carefully, put a hand on his chest, and bowed slightly, the traditional greeting of Poshani men. “And I don’t think that will be necessary, but thank you.”
“Honestly, you’d have to convince her not to.” Oksana sighed. “She’s been away from the field for weeks now, and she’s getting very irritable.”
“I see.”
“You’ve met Ludmila,” Tatyana said. “The woman you often see with Mika.”
“Long beautiful braid?” Oksana offered. “Adorable frown. I used to work more closely with Mika, but I was transferred a few years ago, so now Ludmila has to put up with him.”
“I remember her.” Sándor looked distinctly uncomfortable with Oksana’s familiarity.
“Come, come.” She waved Tatyana into the foyer of the large mansion. “We built an axe-throwing range in the basement next to the firing range. You’ll love it.”
Tatyana asked, “You have a firing range in the basement?”
“Of course! But it is just for me really. Ludmila always practices in the forest because there’s no way we could build anything long enough for her rifle practice in the house.” Oksana glanced at Sándor over her shoulder. “We’d have to buy one of those tunneling machines, you know?”
“This should be fun,” Tatyana said. “I haven’t thrown axes in months.”
“Then you need the practice.”
“I’m looking forward to it.” She had a few targets she could imagine to work off some of her stress.