Blood Mosaic now available in ebook, paperback, and hardcover!
Crimson Oath Coming July 29, 2025.
Part One
The vampire walked up the hill, bathing in the full moonlight and enjoying the crisp ocean breeze that whipped off the Black Sea.
It was spring in the small village on the Crimea, and while war had touched many of the larger towns and cities, in this isolated hamlet, fruit trees were in bloom, bright yellow mustard bloomed along the roadside, and lavender fields filled the air with their unmistakable scent.
The vampire carried a gift for his quarry. He wasn’t a barbarian, after all. She would give him the information he was after, and she likely wouldn’t remember a thing afterward.
And if she did…
Well, he would deal with that eventuality when it occurred.
Oleg Sokolov hadn’t become the vampire lord of the Kievan Rus by accident. He didn’t take chances, but he didn’t borrow trouble either. One middle aged human was not a threat to him, which was why his chief boyar and the rest of his security was waiting at the paved road.
He walked past the old wooden barn and up to the old farm house with a fresh coat of paint. The shutters were painted with bright red flowers, and the wood trim was repaired. The garden was planted, and bright green heads of lettuce were already springing up in the raised beds.
A newly built dove cote sat next to the house, sheltered by the high fence and protected from the foxes and martens by a dense screen.
Before Oleg could put his hand on the gate, a low, rumbling growl alerted him to the presence of a dog.
A massive shepherd dog of indeterminate heritage crawled out from under the porch and slowly walked toward him. He was three foot at the shoulder, with a black face and smoke-grey fur.
“Hmm.” Oleg lifted his chin. “No one ever accused the Vorona women of being careless.” He met the dog’s eyes. “Nice to meet you, sobaka.”
The dog curled his black lip before a thunderous bark broke the shadowy stillness and quieted the burbling coos of the pigeons in the cote.
Oleg raised an eyebrow at the barking dog. “Good. You have alerted your mistress.” He stepped back and lowered his hand from the gate. “Very well, I will wait here.”
It only took moments for the door to open and the familiar sound of a shotgun being cocked met his ears.
The dog walked to the porch steps and sat, quieting when his mistress shushed him.
“I expected one of you weeks ago,” a voice called from the dark house. “You’re slow.”
Oleg lifted his eyes to the shining barrel of the shotgun and nodded. “We wanted to give you time to settle in.”
Anna Asanova stepped out from the shadow of the doorway and onto the porch, the shotgun pointed at Oleg’s chest. “I’m settled. What do you want?”
Part 2 coming next week!