Be Still My Vampire Heart(25)

 

She lifted her chin. "How come you're awake? Has the sun not risen where you and Casimir are hiding?"

 

His eyes narrowed. "Casimir's location is none of your concern. As for me, I teleported from Paris. I cannot stay long."

 

"What a shame."

 

"Your arrogance is not becoming." He stepped toward the desk. "Make no mistake.

 

Casimir has allowed you to remain in power. He could remove you at any moment."

 

Katya tried hard to show no reaction, but she could feel the blood draining from her face. When Casimir removed someone, it was permanent. Was that why Jedrek had come? Did he mean to kill her tonight? "There is no reason to be displeased with me. This coven was poor until I took over. Now we're rich."

 

"There has never been a female coven master before."

 

She stood. "You think I'm not tough enough for this job?" She motioned to the floor behind Jedrek. "Say hello to Boris."

 

Jedrek glanced at Boris without comment, then returned his gaze to her. "You dress like a slut."

 

"These are my hunting clothes. I'm guaranteed several quarts within five minutes. I like to call it fast food."

 

"You took over by murdering Ivan Petrovsky."

 

She shrugged. "An ancient and time-honored method for career advancement."

 

"Petrovsky was the one who saved Casimir's life at the end of the Great War."

 

She was screwed. "I didn't know that. Everyone thought Casimir was dead."

 

"According to my sources, Ivan admitted Casimir was alive before you killed him."

 

She swallowed hard. One of her coven members was snitching on her. "Galina and I are doing an excellent job as co-masters. Perhaps you would like to meet her?"

 

"She is a whore."

 

"But such a good one. The men are very happy."

 

Jedrek slammed a beefy fist on the desk. "You fool. Casimir doesn't want happy followers. Why do you think the enemy calls us the Malcontents?"

 

Katya planted her hands on the desk and leaned toward him. "My coven follows all the traditions of the True Ones. We feed off mortals. We manipulate them for money. We detest the weak vampires who drink from bottles like babies. And when Casimir is ready to slaughter them, we will be there."

 

Jedrek snorted. "How can you fight for Casimir when you cannot defend your own coven? How many of your members have been slain in the last year?"

 

Crap. The little snitch was doing a thorough job. "There were three murders last summer. And one last week. But I have taken care of it."

 

"How? Did you capture the slayer?" Jedrek glanced back at Boris. "Is this the slayer?"

 

She was tempted to say yes. "He is… involved in the matter. As I said, I have the situation under control."

 

"Casimir wants proof of your commitment."

 

"Proof? That's easy enough. Say good-bye to Boris." Katya grabbed the wooden letter opener off her desk, marched over to Boris, and stabbed him through the heart. He turned to a pile of dust on her carpet. "Shall I pack you a to-go box for Casimir?"

 

Jedrek's arched brow indicated he was not impressed. "Casimir wants the slayer. He has special plans for him." The hit man turned to the chair where he'd deposited his briefcase and removed a small electronic device. He wandered about the room, watching a small screen on the device.

 

Katya dropped her letter opener on the desk. "What are you doing?"

 

"Casimir doesn't believe you can properly defend your lair. He heard Draganesti teleported into your home last spring and rescued someone you were holding prisoner."

 

"Ivan was in charge then. We've had no invasions since then, and I've increased the number of our daytime guards."

 

Jedrek continued to move about the room, looking at his device. "Did you know Angus MacKay was here in New York?"

 

Katya swallowed hard.

 

Jedrek sneered. "I'll take that as a no."

 

"I'm sure he comes often. Draganesti is one of his clients." Not that Angus would ever bother to see her.

 

"Interesting that he's here at this time, don't you think?"

 

Did Casimir suspect Angus was involved in the slayings? Well, he had killed more True Ones in the Great War than anyone else, and his company had a nasty way of investigating matters and dispensing their own brand of justice. The last time she'd seen him was last spring at the Gala Opening Ball. He'd acted like he didn't even know her.

 

He'd only looked at her once when he'd slapped her with sarcasm. And what is yer idea of fun? Were ye planning to kill someone tonight?