The door opened, allowing a blast of cold air in. The flames rolling over the logs in the fireplace flared into bright, hot tongues of fury. A sudden hush fell over the bar as the newcomers came inside, stomping the snow from their boots and removing their scarves, gloves and hats.
Sorina leaned across the table. “I can’t take the chance of being seen. They’re certain to come over to talk to you.”
Vasilisa knew it was true. She wasn’t going to get out of the inn without a conversation with at least one of the government agents. They were looking for members of the monarchy, and she was sitting right there.
“Thanks for coming, Sorina.”
“I’ll try to help you when you need it,” Sorina promised. The lights in the inn flickered and dimmed—just for a moment. Even the flames in the fireplace settled low. Sorina simply vanished. As she did, the tea service in front of Vasilisa became for one, not two. There was no evidence that she had been sitting with anyone, enjoying an evening out.
Vasilisa had gotten used to Sorina’s comings and goings over the years. When she didn’t want to be seen, she simply faded away. The Carpathian race had their secrets, just as she had her own. She sat back in her seat, rubbing at the painful spot in her head, breathing deep and doing her best to touch the man she was connected to through her mind.
The bridge between them was extremely strong. She had no idea what he looked like or where he was. She knew nothing about him—only that he was hers. She had to work at clearing her mind, something she could usually do very quickly, but the throbbing pain in her head was very distracting—and worrisome. She also kept an eye on the government agents. So far, they hadn’t spotted her in the corner of the room. Some of the villagers had deliberately stood in front of her little table, further obscuring her from the view of the outsiders.
She had to hurry and take advantage of the opportunity they were giving her. What could she read about him personally? And what could she see of his surroundings? She knew her land intimately. She’d walked every inch of it, mapped it out in her head, and she never got turned around or lost. That was another gift from her heritage.
He was a vicious fighter. A brilliant strategist. She was, too. They would mesh well there. She liked that they had that in common. She needed to hold on to anything they might share. As a rule, he didn’t mingle with human society, avoiding people other than to feed. He was highly intelligent and well versed in magic, capable of outthinking or outsmarting most master vampires, but often he preferred to engage in battle with them. Why?
His brilliant mind alone should have prevented him from making the decision to fight with an enemy when he didn’t have to. What was he doing? Why would he put himself in harm’s way if he didn’t have to? She tried to get an impression of where he was.
“Vasilisa Sidkorolyavolkva?” One of the four strangers stood at the side of her table, staring down at her with hawklike eyes. “I have a few questions to ask you. Do you mind if I join you?”
She didn’t care for the way he was looking at her. There was just a little too much male interest. She forced a smile. “I was just leaving, but perhaps I could stay for a few minutes. Not long, though.” She glanced toward the bar, where she knew Odessa would be waiting for any kind of signal from her. She indicated the tea set with a small lift of her chin. Odessa hurried through the crowd to retrieve the tea server, never saying a word that part of it was missing.
Around the table, several of the villagers crowded close, cutting off the stranger from his companions as he slipped into the seat Sorina had vacated.
“My name is Nikolay Sokolov and I served with your brother Andros. We were good friends for many years and then lost touch. He told me he lived in a remote village, but honestly, I never considered it was this remote.” He gave her a quick grin that was mostly teeth. The smile didn’t reach his eyes. He waited several heartbeats, but she didn’t reply. What was there to say?
So far, she couldn’t detect a lie. Nikolay Sokolov had probably served with Andros in the military. They certainly could have been friends. Once Andros was home, it was more than likely they had lost touch.
“There’s a rumor that Andros is royalty, that these people follow his rule rather than the government’s.”
It wasn’t a question, but Vasilisa first stared at him with shock on her face and then burst out laughing. “Surely a man as intelligent as you appear to be hasn’t fallen for that persistent rumor. Our home, which is on the old palatial grounds, keeps those rumors alive. I must tell my brothers we should burn down the existing house rather than modernize it. Renovations are very costly, so we can only do a little at a time. How utterly ridiculous that you would think they would turn against the government when my brothers served our country with distinction and were honored to do so.” She kept her tone light but with just a touch of contempt. She’d perfected that touch over the years.
Nikolay’s eyes were sharp. Shrewd. A chill slid down her spine. This man was an adversary worth watching. He was most likely an interrogator. The worst of it was, she could smell treachery. The stink of betrayal. Someone in her village was talking to this man. That meant she would have to ferret out who they were being betrayed by and why.
She didn’t like the way his gaze moved over her face and down her body. “I’ll let Andros know you’re staying here at the inn and would like to visit with him.”
“Forgive me for asking a personal question, but I don’t see any evidence that you have been claimed by a man as of yet.”
Her stomach clenched hard. They were on very dangerous ground. She forced a pleasant smile. “I do have a man,” she said simply. “I really must go.” Vasilisa stood up decisively, dragging on her gloves and fitting her hat on her head. She pulled her white fur coat more closely around her, making certain the buttons were in place.
“You have no escort?”
“This is my home, Nikolay Sokolov.” She inclined her head to show respect to him. He was older, the same age as her brother. “I have no need of an escort, but thank you for your concern.” She turned to leave.
“You truly are a beautiful woman.” The compliment slipped out almost as if he couldn’t help himself and hadn’t been expecting it. “Your brother has hidden you away from the world.”
She smiled at him. “My brother knows I do not do well away from the forest and mountains. I can’t breathe in the cities. Here, he protects me.”
“And this man of yours?”
“He is the same.” She hoped she spoke the truth. She had no way of knowing whether she did or not. She knew nothing of the man whose soul had been handed down from mother to daughter and guarded so carefully for centuries. Only that he was close now and that he was in trouble.
She lifted a hand, gave Nikolay Sokolov an enigmatic smile and moved into the crowd. They parted to allow her through so she could get to the door. Behind her, they closed ranks, making it nearly impossible for Nikolay Sokolov or his three companions to follow her quickly. By the time they made it outside, she was gone. They couldn’t even find her tracks in the snow.