“Not Pavel.”
Mika did not ask. “Very well.”
“Plant seeds in Central Asia,” Oleg said. “We have connections in the Fire King’s court. I want Ivan surrounded. Nothing from Kyiv though. Our silence will lend credence to the rumors.”
“A whisper campaign against Ivan. Why?”
“Because if Ivan says something about my wife and I immediately kill him, it will paint whatever my brother says as the truth.”
Mika nodded. “But if he’s already out of favor, he becomes a resentful gossip.”
“My brother is not quick.” Oleg turned. “If he knows anything for certain, he’s had less than twenty-four hours to create a story that he likes. By the time he’s ready to speak, I want everyone around him already questioning his motives.”
“Brilliant.” Mika smiled.
Oleg rolled his eyes. “I do have my moments, Mika. Even when you’re not feeding me your schemes.”
Mika sat back in his chair and put his feet up on a low table. “Because I’ve trained you well.”
“Fuck off.” Oleg snapped his fingers, gathered fire in his palm, and aimed it at Mika’s boots. “And get your feet off my table.”
Oleg waiteduntil the house was silent before he pulled out his phone with only one number programmed into it.
He tapped her name, unsure if she would even pick up.
She answered on the fourth ring, just long enough to let Oleg know she’d considered ignoring it.
“You missed the concert you said you were planning to attend.”
“I did. I hope you received my note.”
“And the flowers.” There was a short silence. “Then you also missed Rudov’s party.”
Oleg smiled at the vinegar in her voice. “But you did not. Someone told me that you attended with Oksana and Ludmila.”
“I had a lovely time throwing axes at their new range.”
Oleg frowned. “They haven’t invited me to throw axes.”
“I suppose it was a bit of a… girls’ night.”
He smiled. “What are you doing right now?”
She said nothing for a long moment. “I’m sitting down and rubbing my feet on the edge of the coffee table because something about high heels makes my feet twitch.”
“Hurt?”
“No, just twitch. It’s quite annoying.”
He was so glad he was not female. “Did you dance without me tonight?”
Tatyana muttered, “I would have danced with you if you were here.”
She didn’t ask him where he was.
“I’m at the citadel,” Oleg offered.
There was another long silence. “How is everything at your castle?”
