The car ride was silent; I kept my mouth shut and watched the day go by till we got to court. 6 hours went by fast, I had my guard up though, ready any moment, and we got there around midnight. I jumped out and helped my master out.

We got everything out and a guard of the queen's took away the car. I watched awed when the Queen walked out with her guards in their royal clean pressed uniforms suit obviously for the elite. Then from my left and right I saw Adrian and Lissa coming our way to greet us. I kept myself formal, and my emotionless mask up, making sure to take a few steps back into the dark light and the background.

Then I saw him, walking behind Lissa, he was chuckling with Eddie, talking about something funny I suppose, and he was as beautiful as I remembered him. With his long beautiful dark hair and he grew a bit of a stubble… I focused myself. I couldn't have him, no way, I was a murderer, he didn't want me, love fades, mine has.

The words rolled in my head, those 4 words would keep me stable ad sane. Plus keep my mouth shut through this whole mess. Why of all times did Duke choose to surprise me with something so big?! I'd ask for my own car because… well. Just to have a back up plan in case my life goes haywire, and he says maybe, but it would be a surprise, instead he chooses this?! I prefer the car.

"Your highness, I've heard so much about you, my name is Duke Jr. Petrolia, spirit wielder, it is a pleasure to meet you Queen Tatiana." She nodded at him. "These are my loyal guards, Ben Page, Nate Welkin, and my right hand, Rosemarie Hathaway." Everyone's eye went to mine, I kept my mask up and stayed silent, my lips pressed in a thin line, the perfect picture of a guardian, except I was anything but a perfect Guardian, I was a failure…

"Rosemarie Hathaway? I've always wandered what happened to all that talent, it's going to be a pleasure if your right hand guard is Rosemarie. How may I ask did you come across her?" She eyed me suspiciously.

"I will tell you in private, my dear, for now, we really must be getting to bed. My guards are all tired from the prolonged laborious journey; we may discuss such boring things in private matters. For now, I'd just like to know when we will discuss spirit tomorrow." He says with a smirk, happy he'd cause drama and caught everyone's attention he liked making extravagant entrances, keep things lively.

I could still feel all eyes on me; however, which sucked, because I'd hoped they would have turned there attention to him, but no, so I kept my face blank and trained on my surroundings, ready for anything even though I doubted they'd try anything bigger than talk.

"You will be discussing it in the library with Vasilisa Dragomir, and Adrian Ivashkov tomorrow at midnight, we'll have Dimitri and Eddie lead your guards…" The Queen starts but Duke cuts her off.

"Your highness, my guards I'd prefer to be at my side, Rose and I get nasty at night." He winks at me. "Rose already knows where it is, I am sure she can get us there without a problem. After all she did used to live here and was bound to be the lovely Princess's Guardian before she met me. So with that I offer my gratitude to your highness, I hoped that's all so we can get some much need rest?" He asks.

"Yes, that is all Duke. I hope to speak with Rose privately later however? I have a few simple questions to ask her, I have been curious…" She trails off.

"Your highness, with all due respect, Rose is not allowed to speak unless I permit it, when I found her, if you can believe it, she was… quite lost, almost as if she were a stray animal, wild and uncontrollable, but with my help, I was able to fix the major things, though, her brain does not function as it used to, she is an excellent Guardian, but she goes by what she knows now, she is not as… open minded, as she used to, she has been disciplined, all my guardians are disciplined and only answer to me." He states.

Everyone's eyes are on me, but I keep a blank mind, I keep my mask up even though it's painful. Even though I want to do anything but hide these emotions that are eating my insides alive, ripping me to pieces bit by bit. Layer after layer.

"Well then, I'll send an invitation to meet me later. Please go to your rooms and rest, I'll send someone with a planner, thank you." The queen says.

We all say your highness and go to our rooms, but I knew what was coming. I sighed, how it hurt to be so close, and yet so far away, like being stuck in-between a nightmare and a dream, I just wanted to find that line, sadly I wasn't going to find it tonight, so I hauled my bag and started leading them to the obvious room for guests in high areas.

Lissa

I watched as Rose walked away like a guardian. I couldn't believe it, this was not Rose, no snarky remarks, no names, nothing. Disciplined? Rose? Those were two words I thought I'd never hear in the same sentence, she was like a fox, she was smart, coy, quick, sneaky, and for the dramatics. The Queen left shortly after.

I wondered how Dimitri was, Eddie promised to stay by his side, but Rose was so far away. But I was dumbfounded, the queen said he was distant, he seemed to be focus, Rose was the distant person. Adrian crossed the grass to us followed by Mia, then Eddie, Christian and Dimitri.

"What the hell was that?" Adrian fumed. "My aunt said he was stupid and doesn't know have of what he's doing, and Rose is on his side. Is he the numbskull blocking me from her dreams? If he is I don't care who he is, he could be the king of the world and I'd still murder him!"

"I agree Adrian, something was not right, he said she was lost… I don't gat it, Rose lost? She'd never leave Lissa, never leave without a good enough reason and block us all out, we're friends, practically family, why would she just… Why would she be lost? What sort of problems can Rose have?" Eddie asked.

"I don't know, neither do I like it, she's been blocking me, but I know she's still taking the darkness, you don't think it as something to do with that?" I ask. I was dumbfounded. I looked at Dimitri who was listening intently.

I put a hand on his shoulder and he smiled at me, he was a lot better, he was even dating Tasha, he was happy now, what was Rose doing here? Now?

"Did you see Rose's Aurora, pitch black with blood red all over. It lightened when he touched her. I don't understand, and like him I could use a drink. This is not Rose." Adrian mumbles to himself. I thought about her Aurora, it was bad, but I wasn't as good as Adrian, I was still learning how to get all the colors.

"I'm more grossed out at what their goanna do tonight." Mia chines in. We all make a disgusted noise, except for Dimitri, I knew Rose was goanna make him feel bad. He was doing so much better.

"We should keep an eye on her, she'll talk to us, I know she will. Rose can't help making a comeback. Discipline or no discipline, she's Rose." Christian reassures me. I smile at him and kiss his cheek.

I was still worried about Dimitri so through the bond I shouted leave Dimitri alone.

"Dimitri, are you okay, what do you think about all this?" I ask with a small smile. He looks at me.

"I don't know yet, I just don't know." He says before walking off in a random direction.