Don't forget this is the second chapter for today! Don't miss the previous one!

POV: Adrian

I could get used to this, I thought as I stretched my legs out prompting them on the armrest of the swing. A porch of a house in the middle of nowhere, a swing, a warm blanket and silence, nothing but the sounds of nature around me, it would have been a nightmare for the version of me that was a few years younger and all about painting the town red every day, all the time. But this, me now, I loved it. I wanted to stay here forever. Away from the fake perfect lives of those stuck-up bastards at Court, away from all the drama, the judgment, the pressure.

I took a sip of my coffee smiling as it flowed through me warming me up and slowly waking me up. I heard a noise coming from behind me and soon Eva climbed up to the porch zipping up her sweatshirt.

"Morning", I sang as she twirled around.

"You are up?", she exclaimed slightly confused.

"So are you", I pointed out swinging my legs over to sit up.

"I went for a run to clear my head", she mumbled uncertainty walking towards me, "How is the hangover?"

I waited for her to sit next to me before I answered: "What hangover?"

"You were wasted last night", she chuckled razing her eyebrow.

"Was I?", I teased her on purpose blowing on my cup with a mischievous smile.

"You played tango with me. You passed out in the living room", she stressed laughing.

"Okay the tango part was a bit embracing, I'll give you that one, but I didn't pass out."

"Adrian-."

"I only pretended to pass out", I cut in grinning.

"Why?", she asked dumbfounded.

"So you and the Casanova in there, who's still sleeping by the way, can have some privacy", I said pointing back towards the house.

"What? You, I-", she blurted looking at me in shock before managing to compose herself and say: "We didn't need any privacy. Why would we need privacy?"

"Oh I don't know, to get hot and heavy."

"You are an idiot", she fumed jumping to her feet, "Nothing happened."

"Is that why you snuck out of the bedroom this morning? Because nothing happened?", I challenged her leaning back carelessly on the swing.

Her face became scarlet. She opened and closed her mouth a few times obviously trying to come up with some kind of a response. Finally, she whispered: "Fine. Something happened. But we were drunk and I'd appreciate it if you don't make it even more awkward then it already is by your smart quips."

"I would never", I gasped faking an insulted tone.

Her eyebrow shot up as she pursed her lips so I added: "I won't, probably, but what did happen?"

"It's none of your business", she retorted.

"Fine", I said standing up, "I'll just ask Dimitri then."

She grabbed my arm and tugged me back before I could take another step.

"You are such a gossip girl, it's unbelievable", she huffed out, "We kissed."

"And?"

"And nothing."

"Right", I drawled rolling my eyes.

"I'm serious. Alright, it was, admittedly, more than one kiss. More like making out. But that's it", she babbled out glancing toward the door nervously.

"But you slept in the same room?", I prompted.

"We did. We slept in the same bed too", she admitted blushing, "But we didn't have sex if that's what you are aiming at."

"Why the hell not?", I exclaimed earning a warning look from her for raising my voice.

"Oh I don't know let's see", she retorted angrily, "The girl he was madly in love with was killed a little less than a year ago, he is still suffering, he is running for his life, he barely knows me and oh yeah you were in the room next door."

"Okay, it's less than a year, but after everything we've been through it feels like a lifetime away, he is never going to stop suffering, because that's just his style, he is currently not running anywhere, he does know you, you've been living in his house for weeks and I was passed out remember."

"No you weren't. You said-."

"I know what I said, but I also know I said it just now. You didn't know that last night", I argued, "So the only problem is that you two are clearly not ready to admit that you like each other."

"We don't-, how would you know that?", she questioned.

"Because I know things", I responded winking.

"What things? What do you know?", she asked before the door behind us opened.

"Morning cousin", I said loudly watching Dimitri's frowny face with amusement.

"Mph", he let out rubbing his eyes.

"Welcome to the morning after world of pain", I cheerfully said walking up to him, "Aspirin helps."

I went inside, leaving them alone, smiling to myself as I did.

POV: Dimitri

"Oh God", she breathed out throwing her head back as I trailed kisses down her neck.

I carefully kissed around the still slightly visible bite mark and kept going, conquering every part of her soft skin. She glided her hand over my chest stopping when she placed it over my heart, while she kept the other one firmly just beneath my shoulder blade. One of my hands was roaming freely up and down her body while the other one was buried in her hair. Our legs were tangled up as I leaned over her. My lips traveled over her collarbone, her chest and then back to her mouth. Her skin was hot and flushed, her breaths as short and harsh as mine and her heartbeat just as frantic.

"Dimitri", she gasped her finger ghosting over my skin as she lowered her hand letting it go down my stomach and further.

I stiffed for a second, before I ignored my mind and pushed myself to stop thinking. I thought it was unnoticeable, until she moved away slightly breaking the connection between our lips.

"Are you okay?", she whispered looking up to me.

"Great", I breathed out smiling the best I could.

"Dimitri", she said her voice shaking a bit.

"Eva it's fine."

"No it's not", she mumbled cupping my cheek, "We don't have to do this."

"You don't want-."

"No, I do, I do want to", she quickly cut in, "But I know you-, you love her, you miss her. It doesn't matter that she is gone, you still feel the same way."

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding prompting myself up on my elbow to form even more space between us. I was still hazy, but I wasn't drunk anymore. I guess my liquid bravery was gone.

"I get it. You are trying. I know it's hard and it'll take time. So we don't have to", she added stroking my cheek before she let her hand fall down.

"I'm sorry", was all I could think of to say.

"Don't apologize", she stressed, "There is nothing to apologize for. Do you want me to go? I will if you do, it's not a problem."

"No", I whispered and I knew I meant it.

I wasn't ready to move on. Not completely. I didn't want to go any further, despite my bodies desires. But it still felt good not being alone. It felt really good having Eva by my side right now.

"I mean you can go if you want to", I immediately continued before she jerked up leaving a small peck on my lips to shut me up.

"I'd like to stay if that's okay."

I nodded and then she pushed me on my back, curling into my arms and resting her head on my chest. I hugged her breathing in the smell of her hair and kissing her forehead. We didn't say a word after that. We silently cuddled mostly, until we fell asleep. And it was the best sleep I've had in a long time. Until I woke up in the morning.

My head felt like it might burst any minute, I felt sick and I was alone. The bed beside me was empty and cold, the house quiet. I got up after a few efforts and moved around the bathroom like someone has beaten me up. Finally when I emerged from the room I heard hushed voices from outside. When I opened the door I saw Eva, cheeks burning red, glaring at Adrian, who smiled before looking up at me and saying: "Morning cousin."

His voice was loud, my head pulsated from it so I just mumbled "mph" as he passed me by and added: "Welcome to the morning after world of pain. Aspirin helps."

He ducked into the house and closed the door behind him, leaving Eva and me to stand there in silence.

"Hey", she was the first one to speak after a few seconds, "How are you feeling?"

"Good. You?", I responded despite being far from good, crossing my arms on my chest.

"Fine."

More silence followed until she breathed out in frustration and asked: "Can we not do this?"

"Do what?"

"This awkward polite thing where we'd rather talk about the weather today then what happened last night?"

Her candor and directness surprised me, but I also welcomed it. I didn't want to do that either. Especially since we couldn't possibly avoid each other, we were after all living together for the time being.

"Last night-."

"If you say that cliché last night was a mistake, I'll puke", she chuckled nervously, "Or I might just puke because the whiskey seems to be coming back up."

"That's not what I was going to say", I laughed not being able to restrain myself.

Her eyes shot up, her face visibly relaxing when she saw me smiling.

"What were you going to say?"

"Last night was confusing. I'm not going to lie and say I didn't like-, well, really like that confusion, but this morning however-."

"I wasn't there", she whispered.

"You weren't there", I repeated dragging a hand through my hair.

"I'm such an asshole."

"You are not an asshole", I argued approaching her.

"I am. I know I am. I just chickened out. I figured you'd wake up and you'd regret everything and-."

"Eva", I said stopping right in front of her.

"Hmm?"

"Stop talking", I chuckled.

She watched me, biting down on her lower lip probably trying to hold her words in. I cupped her face bringing it closer to mine and spoke my voice barely above a whisper: "What you said last night was true. I do still love Rose, I miss her and moving on is going to take a lot of time and a lot of effort. I used to think I wouldn't want to move one, ever. Then I realized she'd hate me for giving up even more then she'd hate me for moving on if she could see me. But, the thing is, I don't want you to feel like you are a rebound and I don't want to kiss you and think about her. It's not fair, it's not right and you deserve more."

"So what happens now?", she whispered her eyes fixed on mine.

"That depends on you", I admitted giving her a small smile, "I can't ask you to wait around until I straighten things out in my head and heal and-."

"I can wait", she cut in her eyes flashing, "I don't mind waiting."

"Eva-", I tried continuing, but she stopped me again by saying: "I want to wait."

"Why?", I chuckled amused by her stubbornness.

"Because I think you might be worth it. The wait that is", she said her cheeks blushing.

"Why do you think that?"

"I don't know. I just do. Besides I'm supposed to save you remember. That's what your grandmother said."

I blinked a few times in awe, before I burst into a full-fledged laughter. She smiled frowning slightly, probably because she had no clue what I was laughing about.

"Listening to my grandmothers visions. You are a bit crazy aren't you?", I chuckled when I could finally form a sentence.

"Maybe a little bit", she giggled before she prompted herself on her tiptoes and gave me a light kiss.

She stepped away and added: "Now that we cleared the air, let's go have breakfast and that aspirin Adrian mentioned."

"Sound good to me."

As soon as we walked in Adrian looked up expectedly at us. We didn't agree on anything when it came to what Adrian should be told, but like on cue we both walked past him acting like nothing was happening at all.

"What no big news?", Adrian yelled after us.

Eva stifled a laugh as I put on the best poker face I could manage and coldly asked: "Whatever the hell are you talking about?"

"Unbelievable", he huffed out, "Nobody here tells me anything."

"Maybe because it's none of your business", Eva voiced from the kitchen.

"Oh bite me Jackson", he laughed.

POV: Evangeline

"Oh give up Jackson. It is what it is. I'm sorry. I know it's not what you want to hear, but it's the truth", Jack said slightly irritated already.

"Are you sure?", I whispered into the phone glancing back towards the dark and empty street behind me.

"I'm sure", he confirmed firmly.

"Like absolutely sure?", I asked again trying to stop my heart from beating out of my chest.

"If you ask me that one more time I'll hang up."

"Okay, I'm sorry, I'm just, I can't believe this", I mumbled.

"Why? Do you like have feelings for the guy or something?"

"Or something", I responded grimly, "Listen I know it's a big favor to ask, but could you like loose the samples I sent you?"

"Fine. But it's the last favor you'll get from me", he retorted annoyed.

"Sure. Thank you."

"Whatever", he mumbled before the line went dead.

As he hung up I stepped out of the telephone booth my mind as close to exploding as possible. I didn't know what to think, I didn't know what this meant and I was still hoping this was some kind of a mistake. I raced back towards the restaurant slipping through the back door and heading to our table. I shook my hand out, the one with the bracelet Oksana made for me and nervously skipped towards Dimitri and Adrian.

We went out to the closes city. I didn't even know which one. We needed some fresh air and Dimitri knew I needed to make a phone call. We had our charms on so we were safe for now. Ones I plopped down back on my chair Adrian stopped mid-sentence to turn around and look at me.

"I was beginning to think you fell asleep on the toilet seat", he laughed.

"I wish", I mumbled, "Girl problems, sorry it took so long."

"Is everything settled?", Dimitri discreetly prompted.

"Yes, everything is done. We should go", I responded trying to sound as relaxed as possible.

"I'll go pay the bill", Adrian announced jumping to his feet.

As soon as he backed away Dimitri leaned towards me and spoke in a hushed voice: "What did your friend tell you?"

"Not now", I quickly responded glancing over my shoulder.

His eyes traveled up to Adrian who was making our waitress blush from head to toe, giggling frantically. Even without his looks, since now they were hidden behind the spirit charm, he was a good enough sweet-talker to win her over, just like pretty much any other woman in the establishment. He was good at flirting, he was actually great at it. And pretending too. Maybe too great.

I swallowed down the panic I was feeling and got up getting dressed. The drive back to the cabin was agonizing. Dimitri looked back at me a few times frowning upon my expression, but saying nothing about it. Ones we arrived Adrian reached out and pulled me by my arm. It wasn't a harsh movement, it wasn't unusual, but it made jump like I got electrocuted by his touch.

"What's up with you?", he whispered as Dimitri locked up the car and headed inside.

"Nothing, nothing is up with me", I stammered out fighting my urge to run away.

"Come on Freckles, I know you, I know when something is wrong. Is it Dimitri? Do I need to have a talk with him?", he offered innocently.

"No, no. It's nothing really. I just-", I trailed off as I frantically searched for an excuse for my strange behavior, "It's just that I'm a bit nervous. Cramps."

"Uh, oh", Adrian huffed, "I'm so glad I'm not a female."

"You have no idea", I chuckled nervously as he finally let go of me.

I tried hard not to just go on and run inside. I felt guilty, guilty for feeling this way towards him, for believing what I've heard. I wanted to just get it out of me, the doubt, the fear. I really just wanted to tell Dimitri everything, so as soon as I was sure Adrian was in the bathroom and under the shower I burst into the bedroom where Dimitri was rummaging through his things and announced: "We need to talk."

POV: Dimitri

"We need to talk,", Eva exclaimed as soon as she came in through the door.

I walked up to her pressing a finger to my lips until I close the door and turned the radio on.

"What is it?", I asked in alarm, "What did Jack tell you?"

"What did you not tell me?", she challenged prompting her arms on her hips.

"What do you-?"

"Don't. Please don't. Don't treat me like an idiot. You had a reason for wanting the blood samples checked. An ulterior motive that you didn't share with me and I didn't press you about it. But you are telling me now", she ranted furiously.

I exhaled slumping down on the bed behind me in dejection. I wanted to get this burden of my chest for a long time. I wanted to tell someone, but it never seemed right, or safe. But as Eva sat beside me taking my hand in hers, the hand I didn't even realize was shaking I finally breathed out: "I think Adrian is hiding something. I think he might somehow be involved in Tasha's death after all. And I don't know what to do about it."

"Why? What made you think that?", she prompted visibly trying to be as patient as possible.

"Some things just didn't add up. Some camera footage placing him close to the crime scene, him lying about where he was that night, misplacing his keys before we took off, an other things, little things. Like the clothes he was wearing when he came to tell me Natasha was dead and how he even knew that already, a cut on his forehead and scratches on his arm."

"My God", Eva breathed out burying her head into her hands.

"Evangeline I need you to tell me what you know", I urged my heart beating out of my chest.

She was silent for a moment before she turned to me and gripped my shoulder like she was trying to keep me in place.

"Dimitri one of the blood samples was a match", she said in a shaky voice.

"No", I whispered shaking my head like denial might make it better.

This was it. My worst fear was coming to life. And I could barely breathe as she whispered in utter shock: "Adrian's blood."

Only a few chapters to go (6+epilogue), hold on, it'll all become clear soon! Hope you guys like the new shift in the story! Thank you for reading! Kisses!

T!