Disclaimer: I don't own Vampire Academy.

A/n: This is more of a drabble than anything, which is why it's so short. The idea got to me and I couldn't resist writing it.

Though he's glad that the world has been rid of another Strigoi, Adrian's not sure if he wants Eddie to call the Alchemists.

The blond girl that gets out of the car pulling up beside them is all too familiar for Adrian's taste. As he stares, meeting the brown eyes, he notices that her eyes linger on him for a moment to long. As the human turns towards the body and pulls out a small container with who-knows-what in it, Adrian wonders why he's suddenly on hyper alert. Because, after all, surely it's impossible for him to still have feelings for Sydney.

The Strigoi body dissolves before his eyes, and Sydney turns back to them. "Guardian Castile," she says curtly. Then she glances at him, and he notes that this time, she refuses to look him in the eye. "Lord Ivashkov." Her seeming indifference hurts, and Adrian longs to tell her that there's no need for titles – not with Eddie, and especially not with him.

Then she walks away, back to the car, opens the door and climbs in. But before the door's fully closed, she glances at the dhampir and Moroi with – dare he say it? – regret in her eyes.

Then she's gone and Adrian's left wondering if holding on to the lingering feelings that he feels is natural. His hands close into fists and, quite irrationally, he wants to hit something as he remembers the human girl that had saved Rose Hathaway, became the accomplice of "Moroi queen killer", helped Lissa get crowed queen, and perhaps the most taboo thing of all, been in a relationship with a vampire.

Sydney Sage was no ordinary girl, and the golden tattoo on her cheek was proof of that.