"Dad, I don't care if she's my sister. She's a royal Guardian." I stopped where I stood. If my dad wasn't going to listen, I'd make him. We were here at Court, on our way to see my sister, Rose Hathaway.

"Talia, come on." Abe growled.

"I'll be here when you and Rose come find me." I sat down on a bench, crossing my arms.

"Mr. Mazur." A Russian accent tickled my ears.

"Guardian Belikov. Talia, come meet a friend of mine." My father ushered.

I turned my head and saw a gorgeous man- shoulder length dark brown hair, chocolate brown eyes, and smooth skin. He was perfection incarnate.

"You must be Talia Mazur. I've never met a dhampir who took their Moroi parent's name." Guardian Belikov smiled.

"You seem to have me at a disadvantage. You know my first name, and I haven't a clue as to what yours is." I smiled back, standing.

"I'll see you inside, Talia." My father walked away.

"My name is Dimitri Belikov. I am the guardian of Lord Ozera." Dimitri said.

"And I don't have a charge. Wow, I feel insignificant." I mused, walking alongside Dimitri.

"I'm sure you are more than capable of defending a Moroi." He turned his head and that's when I saw it- seven molnija marks surrounding the promise mark. I touched my own neck, which Dimitri noticed.

"Noticing my marks?" He grinned.

"Yeah. You have me by two." I lifted my shoulder length curls, revealing my own promise mark and five molnijas.

"Impressive." Dimitri nodded. "How old are you?"

"Nineteen." I answered, rolling my shoulders.

"Hey, Belikov!" A Moroi with emerald green eyes and brown tousled hair stood in front of us. "Does Hathaway know you're with some other hot woman?"

"Who are you?" I snapped.

"I'm Adrian Ivashkov. You must be Hathaway's sister. Belikov, I must say, doing both would be any man's dream that you're lucky enough to-"

"Listen, Adrian, Dimitri and I aren't sleeping together. I guess it's safe to assume that my sister is the only woman he's sleeping with." I snapped.

"You're a wild one. I like that. Guardian Belikov, would you be as kind as to allow me to show Miss Hathaway around?" Adrian grinned.

"It's Mazur, not Hathaway. I took my dad's name." I told Adrian.

"I'll be near." Dimitri whispered before walking away.

Adrian took my hand and I tensed. "Relax. I wasn't serious about you sleeping with Belikov." Adrian teased.

"I've never met him. How could you just assume that because my sister is a slut that I am one too?" I asked angrily.

"Keep your voice down. I know for a fact that Rose isn't a slut, she's only ever slept with Belikov." Adrian said, taking both of my hands in his.

"Adrian!" A voice yelled.

We turned to see my sister in all her Guardian glory. Her dark hair was braided to the side and her molnija marks were visible. Her dark eyes flashed, and I remembered that Adrian still had hold on both of my hands.

"Get the hell away from my sister." Rose snapped.

"I don't need you! Can't you see that I'm doing fine on my own?" I yelled.

"Sorry, Talia, I don't remember speaking to you. I was talking to Adrian." Rose stepped closer to us.

"Anything you say to him, you're saying to me." I stepped in front of Adrian, dropping his hands.

"Brave move, little sister." Rose grinned suddenly, pulling me into a hug.

"It's great to see you, Rose." I smiled widely, hugging her back.

"I'm going." Adrian touched my back.

"No. Stay with me." I begged.

"Fine." Adrian grinned down at me, taking my hand and pulling me away from my sister.

"Uh-uh. Ivashkov, you are not dating my sister." Rose shook her head.

"I never said I was going to date her." Adrian smiled, touching my nose with his finger.

"I am not sleeping with you when I just met you." I said. "I at least have to go on a date with you first."

"You want a date? I'll take you out on the best date ever. I'll surprise you with flowers and poems and chocolate. I'll buy you presents for no reason, and you'll sleep with me because you love me." Adrian grinned.

"You do know the way to a girl's heart." Rose laughed. "I'll see you two at the party tonight." My sister squeezed my hand before walking away.

"Party?" I asked.

"Yeah. It's something Lissa does once a month. She throws a party with Moroi and Guardians her age, just to stay connected to her youth. She has a huge wing cleared out just for her parties, and they're insane. Will you be my date?" Adrian asked, grinning like a little boy who had just been told his parents would buy him everything he wanted.

"Sure. But this doesn't count as our date. I want all that other stuff- flowers, poems, chocolate." I grinned.

"Done. Oh, and, Miss Mazur?" Adrian asked as he walked of.

"Yeah?" I answered.

"I'll meet you here at six. Later, baby." Adrian winked before turning.

I walked back to my room that I had previously stayed in, only to find Dimitri lounging against the doorframe.

"I hope Adrian didn't flirt too much. I am sorry he assumed I was sleeping with you." Dimitri said as he followed me into my room, shutting the door behind him.

"I take what he said as a compliment. Though I myself don't fool around with other dhampirs." I said, sitting on my bed.

"Oh." Dimitri's tone was shocked.

"I'm not a blood whore." I bit my lip.

"I didn't say you were. Look, Talia, Adrian Ivashkov only wants you for sex. You must know that. He nearly bedded your sister, don't let him bed you too." Dimitri begged.

"Why not? Moroi men love dhampirs like me. And Adrian is… unique. He understands heartbreak. I don't think he wants me just for sex." I defended the Moroi.

"Just please be careful, Talia." Dimitri said.

"I'll try. Are you going to Vasilisa's party?" I asked.

"Yes. Rose demands that I go to them." Dimitri smiled at the mention of my sister.

"You love her, don't you?" I smiled.

"I do. She is my future." Dimitri glanced at me. "Promise me you will save yourself for someone you love."

"Too late for that." I said.

"Who was it with?" Dimitri asked.

"A guy named Nikolai. I met him when my dad and I were in your hometown, actually. He was my first." I bit my lip, drawing blood.

"Hey, it's okay. Talia, it's okay." Dimitri wiped the blood away.

"Thank you. For the advice." I said, standing suddenly. "You should go. The party starts soon."

"I'll see you later, Talia." Dimitri smiled before he left my room.

I walked into the closet and searched through my clothes. Finding nothing, I collapsed on the bed.

There was a knock on my door, and when I finally got up to answer, all that was there was a box with a note.

Talia-

Please wear this tonight. I look forward to our non-date and to the one I hope to have tomorrow.

AI

I opened the box and pulled out a black number with sleeves and no back that fell to my mid-thigh. I changed into the dress and stepped into a pair of heels. Not many guardians can fight in heels, but I can.

At approximately five forty-five, I exited my room. I walked back to where Adrian told me to meet him, and I found him waiting in a black T-shirt and tight black jeans.

"You look gorgeous, Talia." Adrian licked his lips.

"It's a bit short." I said.

"It's perfect." Adrian tossed an arm over my shoulder.

As we walked through Court, many Moroi and dhampirs stared and pointed. I was used to the stares- when Nikolai and I dated briefly, everyone stared and whispered.

"Have you dated a Moroi before?" Adrian asked.

"What gave you that idea?" I replied.

"You don't seem daunted by the stares." Adrian pointed out.

"If you must know, I prefer Moroi to dhampirs. Something about you Moroi is better than my own kind." I said.

"Like how Moroi men are attracted to dhampir women?" Adrian smirked.

"Something like that." I laughed.

"We're here." We stopped in front of a section of the Court obviously only used for parties. Music boomed through the hall, lights and vampires filling the rooms.

"Adrian! You brought a date." A man I knew all too well stood in front of us.

"Jaylin." I growled, "It's not great to see you."

"Oh, you brought a blood whore. Care to share?" Jaylin Badica grinned.

That's when I honestly lost my self-control for the first time since eighth grade- I punched Jaylin right in the face.