Chapter 4

"This is guest housing. A lot of people stay here when they're just visiting Court." Jill pointed to a large building.

"If they don't know the Queen, that is." Adrian joked.

"I only invite special friends to stay." Lissa laughed.

"Aw, did you hear that, Sage? We're special friends!" Adrian grinned happily.

"I heard." I smiled at Adrian in the way you would smile at a three year old introducing you to their pet unicorn. Sometimes it was best to humour him.

We walked past a group of Moroi and dhampir teenagers who were talking and laughing loudly. The noise was quickly replaced by silence as we passed. At first I assumed it was because they had noticed their Queen, but when I followed their gaze it didn't lead to Lissa. I found myself under scrutiny, the group were all examining the laced fingers that joined Adrian and me.

I blushed and looked at my feet, my hair falling in front of my face. I moved closer to Adrian, leaning into his shoulder, an action which was soon followed by a possessive arm snaking around my shoulders.

"You okay?" He said in a low voice so that no one else would hear.

I didn't respond except with a slight nod of my head. Not that Adrian believed me, somehow he always knew when I was lying. He glanced at the group of teens and saw their harsh looks before tightening his arm around my shoulder.

"I don't care what they think."

"I know." I smiled, but it was half-hearted.

"So who wants to grab a drink?" Jill asked. We were apparently now standing outside a small cafe and I recognised the name from some of Jill and Eddie's stories. They thought it was excellent and served some great milkshakes.

"Sure," Adrian said, glancing at Lissa and Rose, who both nodded.

"I need to get back after though," Lissa grimaced. "Royal duties."

"Well then, if the rest of my afternoon has to spent watching you do paperwork then a coffee is most definitely in order."

"You don't have to watch, Rose, I have multiple other guardians. Why don't you and Dimitri take the rest of the day off?"

"I don't like that you think your other guardians are as capable as me!" We all laughed at Rose's comment as we sat down at a large table in the cafe.

I ordered a large coffee and, to appease him, I agreed to share a plate of chips with Adrian.

We sat chatting for a little while before I excused myself to use the bathroom. The place was empty when I entered but I soon heard a couple of other girls follow me in.

"Who is she anyway?" One girl said.

"She looked human." I froze just before leaving the cubicle, were they talking about me?

"Probably got his own feeder, although I don't see why he should get one when the rest of us aren't allowed."

"He knows the Queen personally. He's probably using the girl for sex as well. She's no doubt some kind of human blood whore. You know what Adrian is like."

Well, that confirmed it; people at Court thought I was a blood whore.

"Well, he does like scandalous relationships, remember that Hathaway girl? You know, the one who guards the queen now; they dated for a while. Not that it ended well." The girl paused. "Maybe he thinks it impresses whoever he has lined up next?"

I considered waiting until they had left but I decided not to be a coward and confidently, with my head held high, exited the cubicle. I smiled politely at the girls whose eyes widened as they realised their mistake before washing my hands and leaving the bathroom without a word.

"Everything alright?" Adrian asked when I returned. Perhaps I had spent some time listening in on the conversation.

"Yeah, just heard some interesting gossip is all."

"Oh yeah?"

"Apparently, I am a blood whore. And you enjoy scandalous relationships." Adrian's eyes widened and he put his arms around me.

"You know it's not true, right? I love you for you, Sage. Because you are smart, beautiful, sexy, amazing."

I shivered and smiled brightly, it always made me feel so great when he said stuff like that. "I know. I love you too."

Adrian leaned down to me and pressed his lips against mine. I think he had just intended a sweet gentle touch but I was interested in more. I gently opened his mouth with my own and slid my tongue inside. Adrian didn't object, he simply pulled me tighter to his chest.

"Get a room, you two!" Someone laughed and we pulled apart. My cheeks reddened but Adrian relaxed into a grin and leant back against the seat, keeping his arm around me.

Eventually, Lissa had to get back to work. Being queen was a job you never got time off from, she said. We wandered around for a short while longer before Jill disappeared with Eddie. They left with Jill giving some ridiculous excuse that was obviously made up. I guess there is one good thing about your boyfriend having a spirit bond; Jill knows when we want some time alone.

"About what Jill was saying earlier..." Adrian began but he didn't seem to know how to continue.

"Eventually, we are probably going to live here. I know that, Adrian."

"Not necessarily. We could always stay in Palm Springs." Adrian grimaced slightly as he spoke. I knew he hadn't meant to but I was glad that the emotion had slipped through because he showed his real opinion, the one he wasn't so willing for me to hear.

"Of course, I forgot how much you loved the sun, the human hours and the excessive heat," I said sarcastically.

"And I forgot how much you loved being around vampires!"

"Adrian, I can deal with it."

"But I don't want you to have to."

"And you would rather live somewhere that affected your health?"

"Yes," Adrian said matter-of-factly and I couldn't help but smile. He would rather live in a place where he was permanently uncomfortable than make me unhappy. I had to admit it was kind of romantic.

"As much as I love you for that, I guess in some ways, I do want to live here. I mean, our friends are here, your family, your species."

"I wish you wouldn't say that, you make me feel like an animal."

"I'm sorry, Adrian." I squeezed his hand tighter but didn't say anything else as we walked.