He made his choice.

Being in Dimitri's room, I knew from personal experience, was nothing at all like being with Dimitri unless you were wrapped under the covers and closed your eyes. Even then you had to have a good imagination that those soft, feather covers were strong, hard arms, and that the pillows was his jaw leaning against your hair. Breathing on it. In fact, you had to imagine everything except the smell, which was fading quickly now. I was pretty sure that if I hadn't smelled him again after the last time I had been here, I wouldn't be able to pretend anymore.

My life was now all about pretending. It was so sad.

I slipped into Lissa's head while I laid in the bed after a long couple of days of traveling. She was absolutely worried sick about me, snuggled up in Christian's arms as I pretended to be in Dimitri's.

"Do you think she'll be alright?" she asked Christian in a soft, vulnerable voice.

Christian squeezed her harder. "I can't lie to you, Liss, I'm not sure. But if anyone could survive this, you know it'd be Rose."

She sighed. "What if she can't get of it this time? What if she needs me, but I don't know? I don't even know where she is? I could do so much if I could just see her through the bond."

Christian tried to joke. "It would be good to get someone see into that crazy mind of hers."

"She's not crazy. She's in love."

Christian tilted her head up to meet his eyes. "As am I."

He kissed her passionately, and I pushed myself out of her head.

I could never really catch her at the right time nowadays, not since she got back with Christian.

I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep, wrapped in Dimitri's arms.

I had seen this place before, but only from a vague memory. I think Lissa and I had stopped here for a while whilst we were on the run from the academy, a long time ago. I had control over my actions in this dream, and I instantly froze.

Adrian leaned on the brick wall of one of the small stores that surrounded the street. John's Supermarket.

"Hey little Dhampir." He grinned at me. "Still the little troublemaker, I see."

"They were going to wrongly kill me. I had to do it." I argued.

He held up his hands like a crook would to a policeman.

"I'm not here to judge. We all knew what had to happen. But some questions are in order, I think."

I sighed. "No, I didn't do it, and yes, I'm not telling you where I am. Any more?"

He grinned. "Not for now. Also, your father came to talk to me today."

Shit. That had to be bad news, but then again, maybe he knew about Adrian's 'gift'.

"Yeah?"

"He asked if I could bring you information without any suspecting. I thought of this," he gestured around him, "And told him yes. From now on, when you want to know what's happening back here, all you have to do is dream."

I smiled sarcastically. "Great."

He grinned. "And how was your transfer?"

"Annoying and uncomfortable." I grumbled. "So what's the news from over there, then?"

"Everyone is very disturbed that America's most wanted criminal is on the loose." He grinned.

"I know that!" I said impatiently. "I mean with every body else. Are they okay? I know Lissa's kind of gone into denial, or shock, and Christian is acting strong for her, but I don't see anybody else. She locked herself in her room."

"We're being questioned for your whereabouts. But since we have no clue…we couldn't help them if we wanted too."

I sighed.

"They're trying to think of ways to contact you without having me send personal messages all the time. The phone's are under supervision, so don't call. NEVER pick up your cell when it's any of us calling."

I figured.

I sighed. "I have to catch this guy, Adrian. I need to know why someone wants me dead, and why they just didn't do it to me. Why all the commotion?"

He shrugged. "Maybe it was two birds with one stone?" he suggested.

"I need him. Alive. Do you think you could find something out? Con Abe into it?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Conning your father is like asking the president for his mobile number and personal email."

I would have laughed in a less serious time.

"Lissa's stressing." He told me suddenly. "She wants the bond to go both ways. Now more than ever."

I sighed. "Make sure she doesn't hurt herself."

He grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."

"I get to go where?"

Olena grinned. "The academy. Abe rang last night and told me he had told your story, pulled a couple of strings, and you are now a proud student of the academy Dimitri used to go to before he graduated."

"But I already graduated." I told her, a smile growing slowly on my face.

"Honor student. You get to do a whole year if you want too."

I grinned. "Wow."

She nodded. "Now, it's not going to be like Montana, but it's the same principle. So long as you don't draw attention to yourself and you keep under cover, you'll be fine. If you ever have to escape, you go to Oksana's house. She'll help you transfer again to somewhere safe."

The academy, again. It was a good idea, really. I could go back to my life, almost. Different people, different teachers, but I think I could make it work.

"But it's gonna be risky," she warned. "If you draw too much attention to yourself, they'll know instantly. If you rise over and above other people's grades like you do, the Court'll know. If you fail, they know that too."

"So stay good, but not too good?" I asked.

She nodded.

I grinned. "Thank you, Olena."

She pulled me in for a hug, surprising me. I hugged her back, none the less.

"Oh! I almost forgot. Silly me. Dimitri's grandmother would like to speak to you, now you are here."

I flinched. She always claimed to know what would happen. Would she blow my cover? Would Dimitri be exposed? I swallowed my nerves.

"Do you know about what?" I asked her in as casual tone as I could manage.

Apparently, she picked up on it, but thankfully, she misread my emotions.

"She's not really that bad." She said as an apology. "Caught up in what is right and what is near, but other than that, she is quite honored in this neighbourhood."

I played along. "She made me carry garden bricks." I said in a flat tone.

Olena laughed. "Oh, well, you couldn't expect an old woman to carry that, could you?"

I shrugged. "She could have helped."

"None the less, she is a good woman and wants to help you in as many ways as possible. Dimitri would have wanted this for you. You should read the notes he had sent us! I think once it was eight, A4 pages worth of your adventures. We want to keep you safe."

I swallowed. I shouldn't have done this, but I could tell she was hurting inside, just by seeing me. I knew she could imagine us together, and it made her so upset. It was wrong to keep it from her.

"Do you miss him?" I croaked.

She nodded, not trusting her words.

I hugged her this time.

"He'll be alright," I whispered into her ear. "Wherever he is, he'll be alright."

That was as much truth as I could give her. He had probably moved on, just like he had said.

He made his choice.

There had been no mention of Dimitri from Adrian, or from Lissa. He had moved on. I tried not to think of that. I pushed it out of my head, but it was only replaced.

He had fought for me.

There was no knock at the door when Yeva walked through it and into the room, her eyes resting on me.

"You have not changed." Was all she said.

"Nice to see you too."

She glared at me before her eyes dragged to Olena. "Why has she not changed? You were supposed to-"

"Yeva! I have not arranged that yet."

"Then I shall." She looked at me. "Follow."

She walked towards the laundry room, and with a glance at Olena, I followed her. She locked the door behind us and sat me down in a chair she had placed in the middle on the room.

When she took out my ponytail and grabbed a pair of scissors off the table, I stood up and clutched my hair.

"What are you doing?"

"People in Russia know you, Rosemarie. You must be transformed if you want to stay transferred."

I just looked at her.

She sighed. "The news has gone around the world that the queen is dead, and your photo has been pasted on every surface they could find. We must change your face or they will find you. Everything from my hair to your eyebrow shape."

I winced. "I don't think so, brick lady."

She sighed impatiently. "Despite with you think, Dimitri would be disappointed if you were too die."

I winced again. "You know?"

She nodded.

"Now sit down, child. I have done this before."

Reluctantly, I sat down and closed my eyes. I didn't want to see this.