“I realize that.” Oleg turned and batted Mika’s boots off the low table in front of the chaise. “But some of Ivan’s people are not going to make the connection until it is spelled out. They are directly losing money because Ivan isn’t reliable. Tell our spies to make it clear.”
“Fine,” Mika muttered. “Consider it done.”
“And find out where my wife flew.”
“Easy,” Mika said. “I already know. She’s going to her mother’s house.”
Oleg curled his lip. “Shit.”
If there was anyone more protective of Tatyana than Oleg, it was Anna Asanova. His mother-in-law could be absolutely feral, and she was unmoved by charm, fear, and bribery.
Anna and Oleg had an uneasy truce, but if Tatyana was upset with him for some reason…
“Why would she be angry with me?”
Mika shrugged. “She was talking with the Fire King’s son after she danced with you and Ivan.”
Oleg curled his lip. “So she was.”
Could that silver-haired bastard be the problem? Probably. He was in love with Tatyana whether his wife would admit it or not.
What had he been doing when Tatyana and Arosh’s son had been speaking? He cast his mind back to his mental catalog of dance partners.
The Austrian princess.
The Tajik heiress.
Various daughters of important vampires who wanted face time with him.
The youngest daughter of that Latvian shipping magnate.
And Alina.
He had danced with Alina twice.
Oleg frowned. “Do you think she suspects something between me and Alina?”
Mika shrugged.
But he didn’t say anything, which was very unlike Mika.
Oleg spun around. “What do you know?”
His closest friend sat up. “What is this? Am I your chief boyar? Or am I your schoolmate who passes notes to the girl in class?”
“Both,” Oleg growled. “I’ll ask you one more time—what do you know?”
Mika sighed. “There are rumors.”
“About?”
He rolled his eyes. “You were dancing with Sophia Jansdatter, were you not?”
“Yes.”
“Who is engaged to be married to her sire’s shipping partner.”
“Yes, we were speaking of it. It’s a political marriage, and she seemed perfectly content with it. She doesn’t mind him, and shewill be taking her current partner to Wilhelmshaven when she moves.”
