Prologue
"What are you doing here?" I hissed. "Aren't you supposed to be passed out on a private jet to some far, far away place that's not here?"
Dimitri's lip twitched. "Is it so bad having me around?"
I took a deep calming breath. "Classic move. Stop dodging the question, Belikov."
He leaned closer and I made a face. His lips barely brushed my ear but I felt goose bumps rise along my arms. "Saying my name like that isn't going to help your case."
I resisted the urge to snap at him again. "Yes, well, neither is this." I lifted my knee and hit him exactly where it would hurt.
Dimitri groaned loudly, whilst hunching over awkwardly. I suppressed a smile. "This game ends now. You don't have anything on me. If you tell Adrian what happened he will never, ever forgive you."
Dimitri let out a strained chuckle and tried to straighten up. "The game's already over Rose. And the only one here who's lost is you."
I caught sight of Adrian over his shoulder. He was laughing at something Lissa Dragomir had said. I patted Dimitri's back and gave a saccharine sweet smile. "Clearly, you've never faced off in a battle with Rose Hathaway."
" I never lose, Belikov."