Oleg, standing in front of Rudov and facing his wife, whose cheeks were flushed with fresh blood and whose eyes were dancing, felt inexplicably grateful for this one night of camaraderie and teamwork.
Ivan was at his back, arm in arm with Oksana. Lazlo was drinking blood-wine with the two Poshani players who were facing good-natured ribbing from their own people in the crowd for being part of the team that beat their terrin.
And Tatyana had her eyebrows raised, holding out her left hand, palm down. “Lord Oleg, as the losing captain, I offer my hand.”
The crowd gave a groan, and multiple vampires shouted at him.
“Mercy, Oleg!”
“Don’t make the cut!”
“Boo! Not fair, it’s her first match.”
Mika rushed over, bending at the knee and holding out his hand. “The fault is with me for allowing the last goal. If you’re going to take a finger, take mine.”
Oleg muttered, “Don’t tempt me.”
The spectators erupted in more laughter, all of them confident that Oleg Sokolov wouldnottake a finger from his bride-to-be or his chief boyar.
Then Oleg pulled out a silver dagger, and the crowd gasped.
Tatyana narrowed her eyes, but he felt the calm in her blood. She wasn’t worried, merely curious.
“Are you serious right now?” Rudov muttered. “You complete asshole.”
“Tatyana le Tala.” Oleg ignored his brother and bent slightly over Tatyana’s hand. “In one week, I will take your hand.” The gathered vampires were utterly silent. “Metaphorically speaking, of course.”
Nervous, scattered laughter.
“But in deference to tradition and as winner of this very important chaugan match, I will take as my prize… a lock of your hair.”
There was a collective sigh all around him.
The corner of Tatyana’s mouth turned up in a rueful smile. “I offer this prize to the winner of the match,” she said. “In deference to tradition.” She glanced over her shoulder at her team. “But I believe Lord Oleg should start growing out his hair going forward, should he not?”
Eruptions of cheers, laughter, and good-natured ribbing.
Oleg leaned over to his mate, snipping off a lock of her hair as he whispered in her ear so softly that none but she could hear. “They love you nearly as much as I do.”
He stood up straight, held the beautiful slip of gold hair high over his head, and shouted, “To the victor!”
The whole of the Kievan Rus erupted in applause as Tatyana stood motionless, her eyes wide and her mouth frozen in a silentO.
Chapter 26
Tatyana
“Do you know why he wants to meet with us?” Kezia asked. “He didn’t tell you?”
Tatyana shook her head. Sándor had left a note for her only an hour after dusk, asking her to contact Kezia and meet him in her personal office at midnight.
“It must be something to do with the boys in Moscow,” Kezia murmured. “That’s all I can think of.”
“Agreed,” Tatyana said. “But it’s only been three or four nights, hasn’t it?”
“I don’t know. Knowing Sándor, he already had men in place, waiting for the approval from us.”
“True.” Her chief Hazar didn’t like wasting time, and frankly, with so many in Muscovite leadership in Saint Petersburg for the wedding, this was the ideal time to infiltrate Ivan’s organization.
