"Gone?! What do you mean she's gone?" Adrian barked at Head Guardian Croft.

"From what we can ascertain, last night after dinner Rose drugged her mother and Guardian Matthews. When breakfast was brought to the suite this morning, both women were in their beds and it was difficult to rouse them."

"And what about the Guardians? Her suite was guarded, right? Did she just swan past them?"

"No. Novice Hathaway tied two bedsheets together and secured them to her bedframe before escaping out the window."

"She was on the fourth floor!" Lord Ivashkov roared.

"We think she climbed down to a ledge on the second floor, then made her way to the ground by way of a downpipe."

"And then what? She disappeared into thin air?"

"It would appear so. She must have left during daylight when there were fewer Guardians rostered on. I have already questioned those in the vicinity, and no one saw anything suspicious. Given she's proven to be so evasive, I suspect she's already made her way outside of Court, although I will instigate a full search here."

"Do you think she's acting with someone?" Queen Tatiana asked, joining the conversation for the first time. Her Majesty and Lord Ivashkov had been sitting down to breakfast when Guardian Croft had the unfortunate task of telling the Royal Moroi that Rose Hathaway had escaped.

"I don't think so. Rose and her mother don't have much of a relationship, and Guardian Hathaway's stellar reputation speaks for itself. Also, by all accounts, she was livid when she discovered she'd been drugged. I think we can rule her out. As for Guardian Matthews, I don't see her risking her career like that. I've checked her personnel file, and there's nothing to show any close connection to Rose or previous insubordination. My guess is Rose acted out of fear and acted alone."

"You had Rose over to your house!" Adrian blurted out, the implication clear in his words. "What did you discuss?! And why did you invite her?!"

"My wife Mirabelle requested Rose's company," Hans said, decidedly frosty. "Mirabelle is off on leave and is a little lonely. As you know, there aren't many married Dhampir women at Court. Mirabelle thought she could show Rose being married was not such a bad thing."

"What did they discuss?" Tatiana asked.

"They talked about St. Vladimir's. My wife attended there, so much of their discussion was about mutual teachers, the food and the like."

"She discussed nothing operational? With you or your wife?" Adrian blurted out.

"Lord Ivashkov… I have been a Guardian since before you were born. I would never let information like that out unintentionally!" Croft said, conveniently skirting the truth. "Nor would my wife!"

"You think Rose could have made it out of Court?" Tatiana continued.

"Easily," Croft replied, happy to return to safer ground. "The checkpoints only search vehicles coming into Court, not those going out. There were several vehicles close to Guest Quarters that left Court between nine am and seven pm, including several garbage and linen vehicles."

"That suggests pre-meditation and help. She'd have to know the maintenance schedules. That seems peculiar given she'd only been at Court a day or two," Her Majesty observed, her head clearer and calmer than her great-nephew's. Adrian was acting like a three-year-old whose favorite toy had been taken away.

"Yes and no," Croft replied. "Many service vehicles come to Court every night, many close to Guest Quarters. Food, refuse, linen, stock for shops, the postal service and the like. It wouldn't be too difficult to hide in one of them."

"Hmm," Tatiana said, nodding in understanding. Like Croft, she believed Hathaway was already miles away.

"I can check the nearby bus depots in the townships outside Court," Croft volunteered. "If she escaped in the morning human time, she's probably already a while away—but I might get a sense of where she is going?"

Tatiana nodded. It was a lost cause—the Dhampir would be miles away now if she had any sense of self-preservation, but she agreed for Adrian's sake.

"Do that, Guardian Croft. In the meantime, instigate a full search of Court."


"Shh," Dimitri cooed to Rose when he heard noises outside in the motor pool. Croft had explained that unless there was an overnight booking, the motor pool was unattended for part of the Moroi night—which is why he suggested they hide there. As they cuddled in the back of the van, cuddling to keep warm, they heard vehicle after vehicle depart. By the time the vehicles on either side of them had left, Rose was panicking. What if they were in the wrong van? Or if someone else checked it out?

"Stay calm," Dimitri whispered, purring to his mate. She'd fussed for ages making a nest for them before she'd eventually settled. He needed her to keep it together until Croft arrived.

"Tell me about how you imagine our wedding?" Dimitri asked. Since the plan was to meet Rose's, to date, unnamed father then wed, Dimitri wanted to hear how Rose wanted their special day. He'd be fine with simple vows followed by a 'kiss your bride,' but he knew the day wasn't just about him!

Rose was stumped. She'd never really considered a wedding. Contemplating, she closed her eyes to envisage it. The only person she saw for sure was Dimitri. Sure, she'd like Lissa, Eddie, and Mason there—her Mom, too—but the only constant was her mate.

"Small. Simple. I want it to be about us," Rose murmured, struggling to articulate her vision. "I don't care where, and it doesn't have to be fancy."

"Ok," Dimitri whispered, trying not to show Rose he, too, was stressed by the sounds outside the van. If they were discovered, it would be disastrous for them both. "What would you wear?"

"A dress? Maybe white? I can't see me in a wedding dress, but maybe? What do you want me in?"

"I want you in anything you're comfortable in. What would you like me to wear?" Dimitri countered softly. They were whispering since they couldn't afford to be overheard.

"I'm not sure… Maybe a suit?" Rose responded. She'd only ever seen Dimitri in uniform or sweats. Imagining him in something else was difficult.


"Morning Guardian Croft. I wasn't expecting you this morning. Do you have a booking?"

"Morning. No booking. I need to do a security run to some of the closest townships."

"Is that about that missing Omega?"

Croft's lips pursed. The Guardian dorm block and cafeteria were hotbeds for gossip. Almost every Guardian at Court probably knew about Rose's disappearance by now.

"That it is. Not a lot of vehicles here today," Croft commented, sounding surprised although he'd already checked the booking system online.

"Sorry, Sir. I had a lot of bookings. I have a nice new Camry for you though."

"Sounds good," Croft said, leaning against the side of the only delivery style van as the Motor Pool Guardian went to get the sign out tablet. Croft rapped against the vehicle twice, reassured when he heard an answering tap from within.

"Actually, I'll take the van so I can pick up some firewood. I'm running low, and it's half the price at Walmart that it is here."

In minutes Croft had signed out the vehicle and driving through Court to the gatehouse at the ward line with the heating cranked.

"Careful out there, Sir. The road to Court was plowed and salted, but I'm not sure about the side roads."

"Thank you. I should be back in two or three hours," Croft said, using his finger to sign on the electronic tablet before rolling up his window and driving out of Court. Once he was down the road a little, Croft called out "Hold on you two. We'll be at your car soon."

"Ok," Dimitri shouted back, only just able to be heard through the partition to the cabin.

"We've made it," Rose said, kissing Dimitri liberally. Sure, she was cold and leaving everything and almost everyone she knew behind, but it was exciting, too. After about five minutes, the sound of the engine changed, and Croft pulled onto the verge. Coming to a stop, he kept the engine running and came around to the rear of the van.

"Let's see if we can get your car out," Croft said, smiling at Rose and Dimitri. It had been snowing but trees had protected the vehicle a little. It took a few minutes, but Dimitri could hot-wire the car again, and by some miracle guide it up to the edge of the road. Rose moved the duvets, pillows, and quilts Croft had given Dimitri from the Guardian linen service into the back of the car along with their duffels and then they were ready to go.

"I'll never be able to thank you enough for this," Dimitri said, shaking Croft's hand through the open car window.

"Just take care of one another," Croft said gruffly, relieved all had gone to plan.

"I think we can agree to that," Dimitri replied as Rose opened the passenger side door. Then with a final wave, they were on their way, Croft trailing them along the road to Williamsport, headed to Walmart.


At Williamsport, Dimitri cruised around until he found the carpark where he'd stolen the car. Pulling back into the same spot he took it from, Dimitri helped Rose remove their duffels and her nest, checking the car was as he'd found it.

"We'll have to ditch most of these," Dimitri said pointing to the pillows and duvets. "We can get new ones when we're settled."

"Ok," Rose sighed resentfully. She didn't want to be a bitch about it, but her urge to nest was extreme and she was over having to remake it so often.

"We can keep one quilt and two pillows," Dimitri allowed, noticing his mate's downcast face.

"Thank you, Comrade. How are we getting to Harrisburg?"

"Bus. It's a two-hour journey so we'll be getting in late."

Bundled up in coats, scarfs, and gloves, Rose and Dimitri shouldered their duffels and the items that had made Rose's nest. Situated as it was in a shady part of town, it didn't take long for Dimitri to spot a group of people sleeping rough. Motioning for Rose to stay back, Dimitri walked over to them.

"Here you go," Dimitri said, handing the surplus blankets, pillows, and duvets to a few homeless people huddled to one side of an abandoned shopfront. Pulling out his wallet he gave them some cash, too.

"Thanks, man!" one of them said, already tucking a blanket around himself.

The bus station was deserted, so Dimitri bought their tickets and some wrapped sandwiches from a vending machine. They weren't too bad, all things considered, although Rose would kill for a large, hot meal.

"Pass me my bag?" she asked, opening her duffel and digging around for her contraceptive pill. Finding the packet, she realized she'd never had the chance to fill the prescription from the doctor at Court. She only had enough pills for a few days.

"I'll need to get another prescription for these," Rose said after she'd swallowed her pill, washing it down with a mouthful of Moxie.

"Why did you buy that?" Dimitri asked about the soda, wrinkling his nose in distaste. He disliked soda, generally, but the smell from the tin was particularly noxious to his enhanced Alpha senses.

"I've never tried it before," Rose shrugged, "and they say people who try new things live longer."

Finishing their food, the two cuddled until the bus arrived just after ten pm. One person alighting, Rose and Dimitri climbed onto the darkened bus choosing seats near the back. Giving Rose the window seat, and both pillows, Dimitri waited until she settled before sitting beside her and throwing the quilt over them.

"When we get to Harrisburg, can I call Lissa? I need to let her know I am ok—she'll be worried."

"Of course you can, Roza. Maybe don't tell her where we are or where we're going, though."

"Liss would never say anything," Rose said loyally.

"I know. But she can't slip up and say something she doesn't know," Dimitri justified, pulling Rose's feet across his lap as she rested against his shoulder.


"I've already told you… Matthews, Rosemarie, and I had hot chocolates just before bed. I went to sleep, and the Guardians had to wake me this morning." Janine was irritable. It was bad enough all of Court knew she'd been drugged by her own daughter, but now she was being interviewed about it by Guardians Dumb and Dumber.

"Yes. You were 'out with a colleague' last night," the young Guardian questioning her said, making it sound smutty. "Care to share who and where you met?"

The second Guardian stared at the first with an annoyed expression. Guardian Hathaway had not been named as a suspect in her daughter's disappearance and didn't deserve to be treated with such disrespect.

"Certainly. I met with Guardian Bradley Crawford at Lord Szelsky's Court residence. Guardian Bradley was chosen to replace me while I was to stay with Rosemarie. Lord Szelsky is particular about his routines, so I dined with Crawford and Lord Szelsky's housekeeper, Jenkins, to do a handover of sorts. Jenkins and I appraised Crawford of Lord Szelsky's domestic preferences, travel, routines, likes, and dislikes. I arrived at six-twenty-five am and left at seven-forty-five, all of which can be verified by Lord Szelsky's recorded security feed and Crawford, Jenkins, plus several other staff who saw me visit."

"And then?"

"Then I walked back to Guest Accommodations. Lord Adrian Ivashkov was leaving as I arrived. Rosemarie made hot chocolates for Matthews, herself and me, after which I showered and went to bed."

"You did not speak to Rose once you went to bed?"

"I did not."

"Did you have any suspicion she intended to drug you?" Guardian Dumber asked.

"Obviously not, or I would not have consumed the drink," Janine replied in exasperation.

"Where did she get the sedatives?" Guardian Dumber's partner asked.

"She must have taken them from my bag. I have a supply I carry to use when I need to switch to daylight shifts." It was understandable—many Guardians used sedatives to help in that situation.

"Did you notice any missing?"

"No. I checked this morning, but it's quite an old bottle and I have not used a lot. As Lord Szelsky's primary Guardian, I am on Moroi timetable most of the time."


"You'll wear the pavement out," Pavel said as Abe paced back and forth in the Harrisburg bus terminal just before midnight. They were waiting, not so patiently in Abe's case, for Rose and Dimitri's bus to arrive. He wasn't even sure if they'd be on it. If the plan had come off, then they would be. Abe wasn't even meant to be there - Rose and her companion had been told to meet Abe at the private airfield, however, he was eager to see her as soon as possible.

"It's been fourteen years, forgive me if I'm nervous," Abe snapped.

Pavel smirked. He'd been Abe's Guardian since he was eighteen, and in the twenty-one years since, he'd never seen the boss this antsy. And all over a girl. Well; a young lady now.

He could remember the boss's romance with Janine Hathaway, a feisty red-haired Guardian also known as the Scottish Hellcat, which ended when Janine discovered she was pregnant. Young, and stupid, a freaked-out Abe demanded Janine abort the child—amazed when Janine chose the baby over him. She hadn't contacted Abe until after Rosemarie was born, and he'd met Rosemarie several times when she was a toddler. The last time he'd seen her was when she had just turned three—just before Janine took her to America. After that, Rosemarie went to an Academy, Janine worked for Lord Szelsky in Nepal, and Abe spent his time becoming the most feared underworld individual in Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Ukraine, and Western Russia.

He'd seen Janine twice since Rosemarie was three. Once, by chance, at a Moroi party in Romania the aged Lord Szelsky was obliged to attend. While they didn't acknowledge one another publicly, the evening had ended with Abe taking Janine back to his bedchamber where they relived previous highs. Something similar happened two years ago when Lord Szelsky came to Court. Abe was there too and once again the pair reconnected. Abe had never let himself think about marriage or a long-term partnership. If he had, Janine would be his first thought. They connected in a way he never had with another, plus they had a child. Rosemarie.

"That looks like a bus now," Pavel said as a coach lumbered around the tight corner into the depot. With no other bus due for the next hour, this was undoubtedly the service from Williamsport. Abe straightened his tie, picked up the large bouquet of red roses he'd abandoned in the car's backseat, and stood to one side as the coach pulled up.

The first person off was a sixty-something female greeted by a young man and a heavily pregnant woman who'd been waiting in their car a few spots down. Obviously his mother, Abe could see the pregnant woman was nervous but doing her best not to appear so. Abe smiled when he heard the older woman exclaim "And aren't you just too gorgeous for words!" before wrapping her arms around the younger woman and the trio walking back to their car.

After her, a single guy stepped down the stairs. Dressed in black, and weedy, he carried his backpack into the terminal and disappeared. Abe was starting to worry when he saw an enormous guy take the steps, ducking to clear the door's opening. Carrying two duffels, and a duvet, he held his hand out to help a much shorter woman who was rubbing her eyes as she stepped onto the pavement, carrying two pillows.

"You should have woken me earlier," she grumbled to her male companion. Abe looked at her in astonishment. He could see the family resemblance right away, but she had an American accent. Born in Romania, somehow he'd always imagined she'd sound European. Chastising himself, he appreciated Rosemarie been raised in America—her accent should have been no surprise. Clearing his throat, Abe made his approach.

"Rosemarie! I can't tell you how excited I am to see you again after all this time," Abe said, stepping forward and presenting Rose with an enormous bouquet. Only just landed on the pavement, Rose took in her father and his Guardian.

"I'm running away from Court… Maybe some less memorable clothes might be in order!" she growled, looking at Abe's brightly hued scarf and tie then Pavels's uniform. "I mean, maybe next time you could take out an advertisement in the local paper and hire a brass band?"

Abe stood there, mouth open, with no idea how to reply.

"Also, just so you know, I hate roses. Everyone tries to give them to me, and it gets old fast. Plus, the only person who gets to call me Rosemarie is mom."

"And why is that?" Abe asked regaining the use of his tongue.

"She squeezed me out of her veejay-jay," Rose grumbled. "That counts for something."

"So what would you like to be called?" Abe asked bemused by the feisty woman in front of him.

"Rose. You can call me Rose."