CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

I was happy about the Moroi support for the battle that we were going to rage against Victor. In my opinion, the bastard had it coming. He had crossed a line when he threatened the Moroi people, one that was serious enough to make most of them willing to fight him. And he had pushed my fuck-with-Rose-Hathaway-and-die button to the extreme when it came to Lissa. Not to mention, he tried to have me killed at least twice now.

I was kind of riding a major euphoric high as I looked around at all the raised hands. This battle wasn't going to just be huge, it was going to be epic. It would change the Moroi and dhampir world as we knew it. Our entire future was depending upon the success of what some of the more hesitant Moroi were hailing as a suicide mission.

Me personally, I felt that the sacrifice was more than worth it. If we managed to defeat Victor and his strigoi army then I would gladly give my life for the cause. No matter what, even if Moroi come to their senses and decided that it's a good idea to fight alongside us for good, they still came first in my mind.

Things settled down in the courtroom and some people began to stand up and make their ways to the door. The Council, however, wasn't finished with their agenda for the day. One of the Council members stood up, and cleared his throat. If memory served me, he was the actual Ivashkov Prince, not just Nathan on a power trip. "We have one other issue to discuss. After much deliberating over the last few days, we have decided to announce whom we have chosen as Queen Tatiana's successor." Yeah, that had everyone returning to their seats. As it was, I even sat back down in the defendants seat and gave my apt attention to the Council.

"This was not an easy decision. It was hard for us to choose a new leader, although it was made easier by the fact that Queen Tatiana had, on several occasions, hinted that when it was time for her to retire she would appoint Vasilisa Dragomir as her successor. In honor of her wishes, we too have decided that Princess Dragomir would make an effective leader. Therefore, we officially appoint Vasilisa Dragomir the new Queen."

Everyone, including Lissa, was speechless. She had no idea that she was still being considered for the job. After a few agonizing seconds of silence, the entire room erupted into cheers and applause and I saw Lissa smile as a result.

I was so excited for her that I ran up and threw my arms around her. "Congratulations Lissa!" I told her. I wasn't sure if she was still mad at me, but I didn't care. It wasn't everyday that your best friend is named the leader of the Moroi world.

Lissa returned my embrace. "Rose, I am so sorry that I was mad at you about what you asked me to do. And just so you know, if it wasn't for the fact that Adrian told me his plan to take the blame, I would have never said you were guilty, even if it was your so called 'dying wish.'" She told me.

It was another hour later, after Lissa had received many blessings and congratulations, that we made our way out of the courtroom.

The meeting that my mother announced was going to be held in an hour in the Guardian's building, which left me with some time to kill. Unsurprisingly, I wanted to spend that hour with Lissa, just the two of us. She seemed to be thinking along the same lines, because as soon as we made it out of the courtroom, she grabbed me by the hand and dragged me off in the direction of my room before anyone else could catch up to us.

I opened my door, not surprised to find that it was unlocked, and looked around at everything that I owned. God, it was good to be home. Lissa and I went and flopped down on my bed, and I turned to her waiting for her to speak.

There is something seriously bothering Lissa, I can tell through the bond, but she doesn't say anything at first, and I quickly realize that I am going to have to coax it out of her. "What's wrong Liss?" I ask.

Lissa sighs and looks over me. "I want you to be happy. You deserve to be happy. I am going to ask you something and I want you to answer me honestly."

I swallowed. I had a feeling I was not going to like the question that Lissa was about to ask me.

"And Rose, just remember. I may not be able to hear your thoughts, but I know how to read you, and I will know if you lie to me." She continues.

After staring at he in disbelief for a few seconds, I finally sigh. "Alright Liss, what do you want to know?"

"I want to appoint you as the head of my Royal Guard, but I am only going to do so if being my Guardian is what will really make you happy." She began, and I starting laughing.

"Is that what this is about? Of course I want to be your Guardian, Liss. It's all I have ever wanted. You mean more than anything else to me."

Lissa smiled. "I thought so."

"Well, if that's it then, take this as my official acceptance of the job." I say, throwing my arms around her and giving her a huge hug.

Lissa pulled away to look at me seriously. "That's not all, Rose. Like I said, I want you to be happy. So I want to know, are you happy with Adrian? Do you love him?"

I looked down at the floor and then met Lissa's gaze again. "He makes me happy. I love him." I answered her.

Lissa rolled her eyes. "Right, well I love him too, and he makes me happy, but that doesn't mean I'm in love with him. I want to know, are you in love with him. Do you feel like he is the love of your life or whatever?"

For a split second I consider trying to lie to her, but I know it would be no use. Like Lissa said, she could read me like a book. So I bite the bullet, and I tell her the truth. "Am I in love with? Yes. Is he the love of my life? No."

Lissa nods. "You're still in love with Dimitri, aren't you? He is the love of your life?" She asks.

I hang my head in defeat. "Guilty on both accounts."

Lissa puts a hand on my shoulder and sighs. "Then you need to be honest with Adrian, and tell him that. And you need to tell Dimitri that, too. Quit playing with them, Rose, because in the end, all of you will end up hurt."

I sigh. I hate it when Lissa makes perfect sense.