Tatyana met his stare, not flinching for even a second when she saw him. “Lord Oleg.”
He was keenly aware that this was a test, and he was irrationally angry that she hadn’t prepared him for it. Did she think he would enjoy this surprise? Enjoy seeing her in public, visibly attached to Arosh’s son?
“Kezia le Almásy.” He bowed. “Tatyana le Tala.” He used both their formal names and addresses. “What a pleasure to see the two most beautiful terrin of the Poshani here in Budapest.”
The room around them seemed to unfreeze when Oleg spoke, and he heard someone giggle in the crowd. Tatyana looked at the nervous laughter, and then her eyes met his.
She seemed to forget she was still touching the silver-haired wind vampire on her left, because her blue eyes were dancing.Surprise.
“I hope that you are coming to the art exhibition we’re hosting tomorrow evening,” Kezia continued. “I know you are a keen collector.”
“I would not miss it.” Oleg suspected that his mate thought this was supposed to be fun. He felt a bubble of joy in his blood and knew that it was coming from her.
Then… confusion. Her energy changed, and her body leaned away from the wind vampire ever so slightly.
“Oleg?”
He felt a hand slip under his arm and smelled Karoline the Austrian princess at his side.
“Oh, who have you found?” She looked across the gap in the crowd. “Kezia!” She blew an air-kiss. “And her new sister. I love your dresses. They’re so… colorful.”
“Thank you,” Tatyana said.
A hot spike of fury ran through his blood, and Oleg caught his mate’s eye.
She was jealous. She was ridiculously, irately jealous.
Good.
Oleg smiled and cocked his head toward her. “Such a beautiful reception tonight, is it not?” He kept his words smooth and even, betraying nothing. “I should keep circulating.” He tightened his arm against Karoline’s hand and looked down. “I still have not found my boyar, Karoline. Would you join me in searching for him?”
Karoline batted her painted eyelashes. “Of course.”
He stepped away from the crowd gathered around Kezia and Tatyana, who were doubtless the most stunning women in the room, light and dark beauties with an air of mystery they both carried like a familiar cloak.
He felt the phone he carried buzz in his kaftan and released Karoline’s arm to reach for it. “I believe that is Mika calling me.”
It wasn’t Mika. Mika didn’t have his number.
“Oh.” The blond woman pouted.
Second floor. The billiard room.
“Yes, I must apologize.” He shook his head. “I am needed elsewhere, but we shall meet again.”
“Of course.” She fluttered as Oleg walked away. “I’ll see you, Lord Oleg. Soon.”
Oleg enteredthe billiard room on the second floor to see Tatyana standing in her ice-blue column dress, staring at the door. She let out a breath when she saw him.
“It’s you.”
He hung back, crossing his arms over his chest. “What would you have done if it was not me?”
She reached over toward a long blue drape and pulled out a long-handled throwing axe. “I found it hanging on a wall. I’m honestly not sure how to put it back up now that I’ve taken it down.”
The corner of his mouth curled up. “Good girl.”
“Also, Sándor is behind that door.” She pointed to the connecting door in the corner of the room.
