Author's note: I do not own Vampire academy or any of the characters. (Except one; Jenessa. That I know of for now.) I have done some editing to the chapters and made some changes. (Some of them subtler than others.) I hope you enjoy. (Only updated if you see this header. If not, I am working on it.) Thank you, and please enjoy. 😊

Chapter#4

I was relieved when we finally made it to the Dragomir beach house.

It was beautiful, just as I remembered it, a blue house with white trim and shrubbery at the front leading up to the door.

I spent a lot of summers here as a kid when they were alive.

Instead of soaking in the beautiful spacious entryway like I had, and the rest of our group Dimitri grabbed his bag and headed straight upstairs.

"Don't mind him." Jenessa said turning towards the spot where Dimitri was. "He gets cranky during long car rides. Was that way as a kid too."

"You grew up with him?"

She turned to me with a smile, but raised her eyebrow. "Yea." She said, laughing as she threw her hair up into a ponytail. "He's my big brother."

My heart broke through the icy chamber that was my disappointment and was heaved straight back into my chest where it belonged. In that moment, I scarcely allowed myself hope that we would be together and all would be right with the world.

"Come on." She proceeded, making her way towards the kitchen. "I'll start dinner."

Lissa followed Jenessa eagerly. "Can I help you?"

"Oh no." She said with a wave. "Your majesty this is your time to relax. Please allow me."

Lissa frowned, though she knew that Jenessa was only trying to be kind I could feel rays of disappointment crash over me through the bond.

She loved to cook, and as queen she wouldn't have much of an opportunity. To her it felt like she was losing so much of who she was by taking that role, but she still had this summer. So, I stepped in draping my arm around Lissa's shoulders before I spoke.

"You know Jenessa, her majesty makes an amazing pork tenderloin."

I turned to Lissa, who was giving me a look of gratitude, but I could also feel a twinge of frustration through the bond. She hated when I called her titles like the queen or your majesty. (well she hated it when anyone did it really) She much preferred I called her Lissa, but I wasn't sure how Jenessa would react at such a casual mention of her. So, I chose to be safe. "Maybe tomorrow night she could make it."

Jenessa smiled and nodded at us. "If your majesty wishes it then it shall be yours."

Lissa smiled. "Thank you Jenessa, I appreciate that."

"But for now." She said as she stirred a pot. "Please, relax. You've had a long journey."

She nodded and together we walked out towards the French doors and out to the balcony.

Lissa had to have an umbrella. Even in the early evening sunset the sun here was brutal. It was too sensitive for her pale skin.

"Why didn't you tell me that Jenessa was Dimitri's sister?"

If I hadn't known Lissa my whole life I wouldn't have guessed that she didn't know, but the fact of the matter was I did know her, and I knew the moment that I found out Jenessa was his sister that she had known before then. She was just too composed and lifeless, not at all like Lissa when she discovered something.

She turned to me, looking more regal than I had ever seen her before. It took my breath away, and caught in my throat. I coughed and Lissa tapped my back, drawing out the rest of the air.

"Thanks." I said when I could speak again.

She nodded and then turned towards the crashing waves in the distance.

"Because I was asked not to." She said with a breath. "Dimitri asked me not to."

"But why?"

She shrugged her shoulders, but wouldn't turn back to me. She always did that when she felt guilty.

"I'm not sure. I was just doing what I was asked."

I bit my lip and rose to my feet.

"Hey, are you OK?" She said, reaching out to me and finally looking at me.

"Yea, I'm fine." It was a lie, but I couldn't look at her. It was all I could do to keep from crying.

I wanted to run to him. To yell at him, to demand an explanation, but I couldn't. I wouldn't leave Lissa alone.

So, I sank back into the chair and watched as the waves continued their rage on the shoreline.