"She's worried," Abe murmured, watching Rose and Dimitri as they embraced on the plane. As usual, the armrest between their seats was up, the young couple cuddled together amongst a pile of pillows, cushions, duvets and a thick handmade duvet gifted to Rose from Dimitri's grandmother. Thanks to their work, they traveled frequently. Yet a constant was the quilt Yeva had given Rose just after her wedding. It formed the basis of her nest, and more often than not Dimitri shared it with Abe's daughter.

"It's understandable," Janine said with a sigh, also watching the duo. "She loves the Princess dearly, but it's almost three and a half years since they were at Court. Their lives are different now."

Abe couldn't help his grin. Yes; Rose and Dimitri's lives were different now. His daughter had proven to have a shrewd mind and had taken to business like a duck to water. Thanks to his crash course in every aspect of his interests, supported by an online degree in economics, Rose Belikov had proven her worth a hundred times over in Mazur Industries—the legitimate part of Abe's interests where she primarily worked.

Also a quick study, Dimitri had taken to another part of the business. Specifically, the aspects involving the Moroi world. A quiet, and undeclared, part of his interests, Abe offered discreet yet high-interest loans to Moroi in need. More often than not Royal Moroi. Sometimes they paid their debt in money—sometimes with property or information. One way or another, Abe always got his pound of flesh. What Abe was embarrassed to admit, even to himself, was that his son-in-law was more efficient than he at working out what each client had to offer, and how best to extract it from them. Before any meeting, Dimitri would make general inquiries through his large circle of Guardian friends and acquaintances. The Moroi might see Dimitri as 'Abe's Guardian' or 'the Omega's mate' during their negotiations, but the unusually observant and diligent Alpha seldom failed to suggest the most favorable terms for his father-in-law before they'd even stepped inside the room.

"They look tired," Abe observed. Dimitri and Rose were curled close. He couldn't hear from his seat across the aisle and a row forward, but the couple was purring to one another, giving their mate the calm that each needed.

"Let them rest," Janine said sagely. She knew Rose was worried about their return to Court and everything that would happen when they did. They'd spoken about it several times over the last few days. Janine also appreciated nothing would sooth Rose more than sharing her nest with her mate. Suppressing a smile, she reflected on how alike Abe was to his daughter. The best way to calm the snake was via distraction. "And what about you? Are you a little excited?"

Abe grinned. He was looking forward to this visit to Court. This had all been a long time in planning. Although he didn't want to say it in front of Dimitri, he was also looking forward to seeing his former Guardian and best friend. Although officially retired, and living with Karolina in Baia, Pavel recognized that with the political situation at Court, Abe would need men around him he could trust implicitly. Accordingly, he'd arranged to arrive at Court a few hours after they did.

Seeing her lover in a better mood, Janine decided to capitalize on it. "I'd like to stretch out. Since the kids won't be using it, perhaps we could relax in the bedroom?" she suggested innocently, canting her eyes to the private sleep space at the rear of the plane before giving Abe a saucy wink.

"How do you think it will be?" Rose asked Dimitri. She didn't need to explain. Dimitri understood his mate had nerves about returning to Court and seeing her best friend.

Lissa and Rose had kept in touch over the years. They spoke on the phone and skyped regularly, and every time she visited New York for business, Rose insisted on traveling the eighty-five miles to visit Lissa, Christian, and their Guardians at Lehigh.

They had replaced Dimitri as Lissa's Primary Guardian with another Alpha, who brought with him his Beta Guardian mate. A pleasant enough couple, they were nonetheless wary around Dimitri and Rose, well aware of their history and how they'd earned the Queen's ire. Celeste, being young enough to blend in on campus, had made the move to Lehigh with the Royal couple, along with Eddie, Meredith, and Mason who had each been appointed secondary Guardians in the guarding team. While Rose loved seeing her friends, and even chatted with Christian and Eddie about her online course and some similar subjects they studied at Lehigh, it wasn't the same, and each visit left Rose maudlin and wondering how different things might have been if she'd never declared.

Not that she didn't love Turkey, her job and her mate. But her closest friends were living life together… A life Rose no longer felt part of. Lissa's wedding, following just over three years after her own, rather than making Rose feel more connected to her best friend, was having the opposite effect.

Dimitri nuzzled Rose's neck, kissing her scent glands tenderly. Abe and Janine had disappeared into the back of the plane, the other Guardians seated at the front, so they had their privacy.

"I know what you're thinking, but it's not your fault. It's just the way things have worked out."

"I guess so," Rose said, closing her eyes and listening to her husband's purr, trying to push her guilty thoughts aside.


"Mirabelle! It's lovely to see you," Rose said, embracing Guardian Croft's mate when she stepped out of a van that she'd driven to meet Abe's plane. Rose hadn't seen the woman since she was still a Hathaway and planning to escape Court, but would be forever in debt to Mirabelle for opening up her home to help them.

"If only it was under better circumstances," the pretty Dhampir replied, her eyes red from crying. No amount of begging, pleading or ultimatums had changed Hans' mind. The confluence of Abe Mazur coming to Court, and the Royal Council considering lowering the Guardian graduation age, had put a timeline on what was about to occur. Unprepared for his mate to be at Court when it happened, Hans asked Abe to arrange for Mirabelle to go somewhere safe. After some discussion, they agreed that Mirabelle would join Dimitri's sister, Karolina, and her daughter Zoya on an extended vacation in Cancun, Mexico.

A four-hour flight from Court, the ladies were booked into a spacious suite at an all-inclusive resort boasting spectacular views of the Caribbean Sea. From the website, it looked absolutely amazing, although Mirabelle doubted she'd enjoy it.

"It won't be for long," Rose replied apologetically. Mirabelle was devastated to be leaving her husband. Just one more thing for Rose to feel guilty about.

"You're right," Mirabelle said, seeing the remorseful look on the young Omega's face. "I'm just worried."

"We all are," Janine Hathaway said, coming over to join her daughter. "I promise we'll get word to you as soon as we can."

"Thank you," Mirabelle whispered, allowing Dimitri to take her suitcase and load it onto the plane. Not wishing to arouse suspicion, she'd said goodbye to Hans at their house. With a final entreaty to Janine and Rose for frequent updates, Mirabelle passed Dimitri the keys to the van she'd driven to the airfield and stepped on board the plane.


"Here goes nothing…" Rose murmured, standing in front of the Dragomir townhouse. She and her family weren't hiding being at Court, per se, but Abe had made a point of not advertising their return. Accordingly, she'd texted Lissa very early, Moroi time, hoping to make it to her house unobserved.

"Rose!" Lissa squealed when she opened the front door, hugging her Dhampir friend and pulling her inside. "I can't believe you're here!"

"I said I would be," Rose said, with a smile that didn't reach her eyes.

"I know, I know. It's just been so long! You're here, and I'm getting married in forty-eight hours… Now everything is perfect!"

Lissa ushered Rose into the townhouse she'd inherited from her parents. Stately, and furnished in tasteful dark woods, creams with highlights of duck-egg blue, once such a display of wealth would have awed Rose. Now it was something she was used to. Her father's house was every bit as well-appointed—even if it lacked the classic good taste and thoughtful touches Rhea had imbued this house with.

"Christian is upstairs. He said he'd give us time to catch up by ourselves."

"And he's too lazy to get up so early," Rose said genuinely laughing. Christian was not a morning person.

"That too," Lissa blithely replied. She was in an excellent mood and nothing would ruin it—not even her fiancé's refusal to get out of bed. "I'm so glad you're here early. There are so many last-minute details I need to confirm, and I wanted your opinion. Natalie and Camille have been a Godsend, but they're not married, and you are."

Rose didn't think her own very modest traditional religious ceremony and family dinner at home would bear much resemblance to the society wedding Lissa would enjoy in two days but chose to keep such thoughts to herself. So accepting a cup of coffee and a big smile from Celeste, Rose sat on the sofa beside Lissa, the latter's white quilted wedding binder between them as she prepared to go over every detail with her best friend.

An hour and a half later, Rose was grateful to hear Christian's snarky voice as he descended the stairs. It was perfect timing, because as much as she loved Lissa, another five minutes discussing the position of the bonbonniere on the tables, and there'd be violence!

"Rose," he greeted, sitting on the sofa opposite his fiancée and her best friend. "Belikov not with you? I thought you two were joined at the hip?"

"Nah… He was worried your aunt might be here, so stayed away."

Christian rolled his eyes. "Tell him he's safe. There's been an influx of Alpha into Court accompanying their charges for the wedding. She's staying at my parents' old townhouse, but I'm sure Tasha is busy pursuing her interests in some Guardian dorm room this morning."

What Christian said made sense. As the social event of the season, anyone who was anyone had been invited to their wedding. The crème de la crème, so to speak. The most senior Royal Moroi would be guarded by the best—and that meant Alphas. Tasha might be a very busy woman!

"Well… Everyone needs a hobby," Rose said, a wicked twinkle in her eye, causing Christian to laugh loudly. "And a cougar doesn't change its spots..."

"I suppose you're hungry?" he asked, smirking as he stood and walked through to the kitchen. At Lehigh, he'd got into the habit of cooking breakfast for everyone. Given that included six Dhampir, Christian was well used to knocking up an enormous meal every morning.

"You know me—I won't say no to food!" Rose smirked.

"Then nothing has changed!" Eddie said, coming downstairs, followed by Meredith then Mason. Rose hugged each of her friends, then sat and chatted with them while Christian cooked, and Celeste stood guard over Lissa while she saw a feeder who had just arrived.

"So, what's news?" Mason asked casually, eyeing Rose. Like every Dhampir, he'd heard the grumbles of discontent, and despite being absent these last three years, Rose and Dimitri's names were cited more often than they should be. The Queen might have tried to forget about the absent Omega and Alpha, but few others had.

"Same old, same old. Baba bought a department store in Paris, so we were recently out there settling that."

Mason hung on Rose's every word. He still carried a torch for her, but it was more than that. Rose so readily spoke of places and a world that was so foreign to his experience as a Novice and then a Guardian. Sure living at Lehigh was different, and more than most Dhampir got to experience, but for the most part, Christian and Lissa stuck to themselves at university, hence so did their Guardians. Mason would never travel and really experience the world the way Rose was. None of them would.

"What's it like? Did you buy much there?" Meredith asked a little wistfully, admiring Rose's outfit.

"It's not as glamorous as it sounds," Rose replied, recognizing Meredith's sentiments and not wanting to brag. "Most of the time I was in a boardroom listening to Baba haggle and trying to decipher things on menus so I wouldn't end up eating snails or frog legs!"

Christian plated the food and they all moved to a large dining table. Lissa walked back in, finished with the feeder, switching places with Christian.

"Where are your other Guardians?" Rose asked curiously. The Alpha who'd replaced Dimitri and his mate were not in attendance.

"I've given them until tomorrow off," Lissa said. "They're helping coordinate security for the wedding so it's like the calm before the storm."

"That's thoughtful of you," Rose replied before asking several questions about how guarding was being handled, and who'd brought their own Guardians to Court with them. Lissa furnished as many details as she could, aided by Meredith, Eddie, and Mason.

"Why the sudden interest in security, Rose? Not planning something, are you?" Christian said returning with Celeste. His words were said in jest.

"Call it former professional interest," Rose replied, popping a piece of toast into her mouth, chewing then swallowing. "Remember until I left St. Vlad's that's what I was training to do."

There was a lull in the conversation as everyone remembered that Rose not guarding was not by choice. Meanwhile Rose made a mental note of the information, so she could recount it to her parents.

"So who are we seated with at the wedding reception?" Rose asked, changing topics. All her Dhampir friends would be guarding, so she knew it wouldn't be with them. "I hope you haven't seated us with Her Majesty?!"

Lissa giggled and rolled her eyes. "No. You remember Mrs. Harton? You and Dimitri, and your father, will be seated with her, Mr. Miles and a few of Mom and Dad's old Guardians. I thought you'd enjoy that more than being stuck on a table of Moroi."

It was a thoughtful choice. Rose knew the Dhampir housekeeper, Mrs. Harton, from her visits to the Dragomir home before Eric and Rhea died. A kind woman, who'd spoiled her when she stayed, Rose was pleased Lissa had extended her an invitation. The same with the butler, Mr. Miles. Both had been with the Dragomirs since before Andre was born, so they'd been part of Lissa's life from the get-go.

"I just hope your father doesn't mind being the only Moroi on that table," Lissa commented. She'd put a lot of thought into where to seat Dimitri, Rose, and her dad. In fact, the whole guest list and seating plan had been a nightmare.

The Royal Council was easy enough. They had allocated each their own table for twelve where they would be seated with senior members of their family council. Lissa had simply asked each Council member to nominate which family members would attend on their table, leaving the politics for each family to sort out. Her Majesty would be seated at the Ivashkov table with Rufus and several other Ivashkov family members, including Nathan, Daniella, and Adrian. As Christian's closest living relative, and legal guardian after his parents turned and then killed, Tasha had been allocated a place at the Ozera family table.

It was the secondary tables where things got tricky. Each family would watch closely to ensure no one family was overly represented, or more to the point overlooked. For every Drozdov they invited, a Badica, Conta, and a Szelsky would also need to receive an invite, then there were non-Royal Moroi and their social rankings to consider. Once the list of invitees was established, then had come the tricky task of whom to seat with whom. Many inter and intra-family quarrels made the seating plan a nightmare, plus there was the positioning of the tables. The closer to the bridal and the Ivashkov table with Her Majesty, the higher the perceived worth. Not wanting to slight her best friend by shunting her to the back of the room, Lissa had put the Dhampir table in the middle of the secondary tables, slightly off to one side.

"Abe will be fine," Rose replied with confidence. Thanks to his many nefarious dealings, few Royals would want to be seated with the snake. Besides which, Abe knew how to work a room better than anyone. Other than when it was time to eat, he'd no doubt be up and pressing the flesh.

Breakfast now over, Lissa shot Christian a look.

"I think Liss is safe here with Rose. Why don't we leave the two to talk?" he suggested, grabbing a book from the coffee table and heading upstairs. Celeste, Meredith, Eddie, and Mason followed, after extracting a promise from Rose to catch up again before she left Court.

The living room now to themselves, Lissa sat beside Rose.

"On Saturday, Tasha, Camille, and Natalie are coming over in the morning to help me get ready. I know it might be a bit weird with Tasha, but would you join us? Without Mom, Dad and Andre, you're the closest to family I have left," Lissa said, trying not to get emotional.

"Of course I will," Rose said, throwing her arms around best friend.


"How was it?" Dimitri asked when Rose returned to the Mazur house at Court hours after she'd left. He was lying on the sofa with a Western book in his hand, his tall frame taking up the couch's entire length. Any other time, Rose would be tempted to jump him then and there. But not today.

"Terrible!" Rose moaned. "She's so excited… She even asked me to help her get ready the morning of the wedding. She has no idea what's about to happen—and I feel so horribly guilty!"