The dandelions made her smile.
She looked up, caught his eye, and a smile spread across her face.
There you are, my wife. My blood. The better half of my soul.
She was his peace and the reward he did not deserve.
“Oleg.” She spoke his name like a blessing, holding out her hands. He took them, raised them to his mouth, and kissed her knuckles before she greeted his family.
“Polina and Alexi.” Tatyana smiled. “You are so welcome. Are the girls?—”
“Already playing.” Oleg pointed to the meadow and tucked her hand under his arm. “I’m sure they will have a dozen new friends by midnight.”
“I’m sure they will,” Tatyana said. “New children will be the talk of the entire camp.”
“Thank you for inviting us,” Alexi said. “This place seems very special.”
“I’m glad you were able to come.” She pointed to the blankets. “There will be a concert as soon as everything is set up. Please make yourselves at home and let me know if you need anything at all.”
Rumi stepped forward. “I’m Rumi, Terrin Tatyana’s personal assistant, and if you cannot find her for any reason, simply ask for me and one of the darigan will always be able to assist you.”
Polina was still a little stiff, but she nodded at Rumi with a tight smile. “Thank you.”
“Ten minutes.” Tatyana stood on her toes and whispered, “Ten minutes and I will be free.” She kissed his cheek and then started off again, responding to someone else who was calling her name.
“She’s busy here,” Polina said.
“Yes.” He watched her go. “But we have time.”
He sat backon a tufted sofa covered in blankets and furs, his arm stretched across the back as Tatyana leaned into his side.
“What a long night,” she whispered.
He kissed the top of her head. “Nearly over, and then I do not have to share you.”
“Do you miss when you could simply hide in my caravan and steal all my time?”
He smiled. “Perhaps. But that was before you were terrin.”
They watched the musicians and dancers perform on the wooden stage that had been set up at the base of a small, sloping hill. Just outside the stage lights, he saw young girls mimicking the dancers on the stage, practicing the traditional steps they would likely perform on their own someday.
Hanna and Natalya ran over to their sofa, climbed onto their laps, and watched the music for what must have been three whole minutes before the little girls grew impatient and ran off again.
“They’re delightful,” Tatyana whispered. “And terrible.”
“Yes. Both.” He glanced at her in the darkness. “Do you want children?”
She was young. She’d never had a chance for human children. But like Polina and Alexi, they could adopt.
She blew out a gust of breath. “What are you talking about? Wehavechildren.” She gestured to the crowd. “So many of them.”
Oleg smiled and leaned his cheek on her head. “Perhaps in another century.”
“Or two.”
A singer took to the stage to the sound of applause and cheers of encouragement. Oleg glanced at Polina, watching his daughter take it all in.
The groups of human and vampire families sitting on blankets around the stage.
