“Eastern Poshani financial assets have fully doubled in the time that she’s been terrin,” Rudov added. “It’s quite impressive.” Oleg’s brother Rudov was always the numbers man.
“Yes, she’s all business now.” Mika pretended to be bored. “I’ve tried to have conversations with her—we used to work in Elene’s office together—but she’s like a robot. I swear the Poshani have sucked all her personality away.”
“Why are we still talking about Father’s old accountant?” Polina asked.
“Because she’s the one making Ivan constipated?” Rudov offered. “Either way, I agree with Lidik. Forget making a deal with the Poshani right now, Ivan. Leave it and let them cool off. Eventually Radu will get tired of following her rules. We all know she’s the junior partner of that trio even if she does get results.”
Oleg usually allowed his governors to run these meetings, but he cleared his throat and everyone shut up.
“I don’t like Ivan’s territory being an island,” he said. “It’s not convenient or efficient. Perhaps I can meet with Kezia and get things back on track.”
There were general murmurs of approval, which Oleg took as a message that everyone was ready to move on.
“Black Sea ports,” Ivan said. “For now I’ll focus on moving my trucks south.”
“Licensed,” Rudov said. “I don’t need headaches with the human authorities over your smuggling. Your trucks need to at least appear to be licensed, and your drivers better carry their own bribe money.”
Ivan nodded. “Yes, yes. I’ll take care of it. Brother, speaking of the Black Sea ports, I heard some interesting rumors at the summit.”
Polina muttered, “There is no gossip like vampire gossip.”
“Yes, rumors are flying that your sire will be striking a marriage deal with Alina Machabeli,” Ivan said.
Every vampire on the chat fell silent; Luana’s memory still haunted all of them.
Oleg’s dead wife had been a political marriage of sorts, though deeply passionate at first. But Luana had been erratic and highly unstable. And she had threatened nearly all of them at one point or another.
Which was why Oleg had finally killed her.
“I do not have any plans to marry Alina Machabeli,” Oleg said simply. “That is a rumor without basis. We spoke, and she didn’t even allude to it. It’s pure fiction.”
“But a rumor nonetheless,” Juliya said. “Do you think Alina has spread it?”
“It’s possible,” Mika chimed in. “She could be using you as a stalking horse.”
“How so?”
Mika shrugged. “She’s surrounded by threats. Arosh in the north. You on her eastern flank, and now with Saba and her people taking over the Southern Black Sea since they killed Laskaris, she probably feels besieged. Alina might be negotiating for marriage with someone else while spreading rumors about you in order to strike better terms for an eventual contract.”
“Hmm.” Oleg pretended to be nonchalant, but he was seething at the idea in truth. “Say nothing to counter it right now. Alina knows I’m not interested in a marriage contract. I do not care about the chatterers.”
Not when he was married in truth to his blood mate.
“But it will be interesting to watch what happens.” Oleg closed his file. “Is there anything else before we conclude? I expect all your feedback on the cybersecurity proposal next month.”
“Yes, Knyaz.”
“Yes, Father.”
“Of course.”
A chorus of agreement, then one by one, the screens on his wall went blank.
Mika walked in from the other room. “So is Ivan spreading the rumor?”
“He is at least participating in the gossip,” Oleg said. “But why?”
Ludmila and Oksanahad flown down to meet him at the citadel the moment the Báthory Summit ended and were waiting in the library after Oleg finished the conference call.
