“Of course, but Tanya?—”
“How much time will I actually have to spend with him?” She couldn’t seem too agreeable to the arrangement, or Radu would start to be suspicious. “I’m not familiar with vampire political marriages, but it would be more ceremonial than anything personal, correct?”
“Yes,” Radu said. “But it would still be a serious time commitment.”
It also wasn’t lost on her that in addition to her personal life being far less complicated, being Oleg’s wife publicly would give her far greater access to Ivan. Arranging his death could be much easier once she had a formal role in Oleg’s empire.
“I can work remotely,” Tatyana said. “And doesn’t he have a plane? Would I be able to use his plane?”
Radu glanced at the letter he’d carried from his office. “If you are sure about this, all the details will be subject to contractual negotiations,” he said. “That is always the way these things are done. He knows you have responsibilities here, and you know he has a massive empire to oversee. I cannot imagine he would not be reasonable. This will likely be… a week here or there. Formal events that can be planned ahead.”
Tatyana felt a bubble of happiness, but she ruthlessly pushed it down and forced herself to think of this like a business proposal. Which was technically what it was.
She crossed her arms over her chest. “Would I have access to his homes and his jet?”
“Subject to negotiation, but I suspect that would be standard.”
She nodded thoughtfully. “As much as I travel within his territory for work, the clan could probably save money by using Sokolov’s houses and private transport.”
Radu snorted. “Trust you to find a financial reason to justify this massive imposition into your life.” He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “A century, Tatyana. Before I open formal negotiations, you need to think about it carefully. You are young.”
“I committed a century to the Poshani people.” She leaned forward and looked into Radu’s eyes. “This is the least I can do after the faith you have put in me.”
“You don’t owe our people?—”
“I do,” she said bluntly. “Of course I do. The Poshani have given me a family and a home. They have taken care of my mother and watched over me during the day. You have fed me. Clothed me. Taken me in.”
Radu’s voice was hoarse. “You are our sister.”
“I was no one before I came to the kamvasa.” Tatyana spoke nothing but the truth. “I had money, yes, but I was a newvampire with no particular elemental power, no protection, no connections, no living sire or powerful mate. Who would I be without you?”
“You have repaid our people’s faith in you a hundred times over.”
“Let me do this,” Tatyana said. “It is not only marriage to a powerful ally, it is a service to my people. We are friends with the Kievan Rus. This marriage will make us family.”
Radu nodded. “And family is protected.”
“Exactly.”
Tatyana staredat Oleg from across the room. They were sitting at opposite ends of the conference room in Odesa, and neither one of them was speaking. It was the same table where she’d first struck a bargain with the fire vampire now staring at her.
“Don’t back away now, volchitsa. I like your teeth.”
Tatyana was striking another bargain with Oleg Sokolov, but now she was not alone.
Radu was negotiating for Tatyana, and Mika was negotiating for Oleg.
Multiple lawyers accompanied both of them along with two witnesses for each party—Kezia and Sándor for Tatyana, while Oleg’s daughter Polina was joined by a thin, pale woman who smelled of ice and only called herself Lidik.
Tatyana stared dispassionately at Oleg while he looked on, a smug smile spread across his face.
The fire lord and the ice princess.
Though no formal announcements would be made until negotiations were completed, rumors were already leaching out into the greater immortal world.
No doubt exactly as her husband had planned.
Kezia watched the proceedings with a glare so intense it looked as if sparks might fly out of her eyes and incinerate the vampire at the far end of the polished conference table right along with the papers covering it.
