I maaaaay have gone a little long winded with this chapter but I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Sorry the clues are LAAAMMEEE. I don't own Vampire Academy.

Chapter Two

RPOV

Lissa froze in her tracks, turning slowly to face me with a guilty smile on her face. I placed my hands on my hips and tilted my head, studying her quietly. She walked towards me cautiously and gave me a quick hug. I returned it without hesitation but returned to narrowing my eyes at her immediately after.

"I'm sorry but I can't tell you anything yet," she said, timidly and avoiding my eyes. "I'm not supposed to be any part of this until the last clue."

"It's okay, Liss," I sighed for what felt like the millionth time. "I just don't like being kept in the dark on these things."

"I know, Rose. You're making good progress. I didn't expect you to be here for another fifteen minutes or so," she pondered. "I hope Dimitri can get everything he needs to do on time."

"What does he need to do?" I asked, eagerly.

"Nice try, Hathaway," her musical laughter rang out. "Keep solving your clues. I'll tell you more when you get to the one that involves me."

She turned abruptly on her heel and strode off, her guards trailing behind her and giving me sympathetic smiles. They are my coworkers, after all. We've gotten rather close in the past couple months of protecting Lissa together. I huffed to myself, polishing off donut number two and reading the card.

Clue #4

I have just a few more clues,

Head to where we got bad news.

My eyebrows knitted in confusion. Bad news was a fairly common thing in our lives and line of work, but I didn't remember getting any bad news together at Court. I felt my face smooth out when the realization struck me like a bucket of cold water. You will lose what you value most. Treasure it while you can. I groaned. For something that's supposed to be fun, he sure was giving me a lot of sour memories. I guess since everything was finally good in our lives, he figured the past wouldn't be too painful. He wasn't wrong, exactly, but there are some things I'd rather not remember. I complied with the clue regardless and set off to see Rhonda. I wound my way through the maze of hallways and knocked on her door, knowing Dimitri was going to make me talk to the scam artist.

"Come in, Rose!" she called from inside her heart-like room. I resisted the groan I felt building in my chest and pushed the door open. Ambrose sat with his aunt and gestured for me to join them.

"Is the next clue a reading?" I eyed them both warily as I sat on a blood-red cushion. Rhonda chuckled but shook her head no. She met my eyes and handed me a red gift bag.

"That man is very much in love with you," she told me, earnestly. I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face.

"I feel the same," I all but whispered into the room. Ambrose knocked his shoulder into mine.

"Open the bag, Rose," he told me. "The atmosphere is important for this one." My smile softened and I lifted the tissue out of the bag, revealing a simple white jewelry box. I lifted the lid and saw a delicate silver chain with a brilliant purple crystal pendant. My breath caught in my throat, but I wasn't sure why.

"It's beautiful," I murmured, still puzzled. "But why did I need to open it here?"

"It's a protection crystal," Rhonda explained. "A…spiritually charged room is necessary for the good energy to stick." Ambrose helped me secure the delicate necklace while I held my hair up. It hit just below my collarbone. I thanked them for their time and excused myself to the small waiting area to read the clue that was in the bottom of the bag.

Clue #5

Lissa will meet you by the door.

I know she's thrilled to tell you more.

I followed the maze back out to the spa and practically ran to Lissa's side. Sure enough, she was waiting for me by the main entrance. I hugged her tightly and she squeezed back.

"Soooooo?" I sang. "Are you going to tell me more?" I looked up at her pleadingly. She laughed and tugged me towards the counter.

"Guardian Belikov has set us up with mani pedis," she told the woman at the desk.

"Of course, Your Majesty. Guardian Hathaway," she replied warmly. "Choose your colors then Maria will take you to your chairs."

"First, we get pampered," she explained, pulling a pale green polish for herself and handing me a black polish with red glitter sprinkled through it. "Then you get your final clue." She handed her bottle to the moroi that was helping us, and I followed suit. We talked about our respective boyfriends and our upcoming college course, giggling and reminiscing on past shenanigans the whole spa experience. When our hands and feet were sufficiently primed, Lissa asked the woman at the desk for our receipt with a wink. She laughed softly and handed over my last clue. Finally!

Final Clue

By now it should be close to noon.

Join your friend in our room.

"I don't really understand how directly telling me to go to our room with you is a clue," I eyed Lissa warily. "Seems more like a direct order."

"I think he burned himself out by this one," Lissa laughed her musical laugh. She linked her arm through mine. "Come on." She led me out the door and back to mine and Dimitri's room in royal housing.

"Take a shower really quick, then you get another present," she shooed me to the bathroom. I welcomed the thought of a warm shower, since I never got to take one after mine and Eddie's run but made it out in record time. I emerged from the bathroom, a towel wrapped tightly around my body and another around my hair. I really wanted that present! Lissa was sitting on the couch in the bedroom with her legs crossed. I read from the bond that she was avoiding the bed for a certain reason. I smirked mischievously at her.

"It's cute that you thought the couch was a safe choice," I informed her, remembering how I'd given my lover a lap dance that turned into so much more in that very spot. Her already pale face drained of all color, and she stood quickly.

"I'm so happy for you, really I am," she said, her cheeks starting to flare red with embarrassment. "But TMI!"

"Where's my present?" I demanded, jokingly but still jumped from foot to foot like a kid on Christmas morning. Then remembered I might as well be naked. I turned to go to my closet. "But I guess I should get dressed first."

"No!" Liss shouted, reaching to stop me. My eyebrows flew up, completely flabbergasted by her outburst. She blushed again. "What I mean is, your present is for you to wear." She explained quickly but I could feel her hiding something else in the bond. My eyes narrowed at her half-truth, but I was too excited about my present to investigate further. She handed me two bags and a neatly wrapped box, directing me to start with the smaller bag. I didn't hesitate to rip the paper out, discarding it on the floor. I felt myself flush at the skimpy, black lace lingerie set. My eyebrows once again disappeared into my hairline, shocked that Dimitri would give me such a gift to open in front of someone else. My surprise deepened when Lissa told me,

"As weird as I know this is, that's from me," she refused to meet my eyes for a minute but when she did, I saw love all over her face. "You guys deserve some semblance of a normal couple life. I knew he wouldn't have thought of that," she gestured towards the sexy set, "and now he gets a little surprise too after all the work he did to set this up for you." I could feel her embarrassment through the bond but didn't need it with how red her cheeks were. I shot her a saucy smile.

"You're literally the absolute best friend a girl could ask for," I informed her, dropping my towel and slipping on the nearly non-existent thong and see-through lace push up bra. The bigger bag was next, and it was the most gorgeous dress I've ever seen. It was a vibrant red mini-dress with a slightly flared hemline. That was the only not form-fitting part. The top was slim with a plunging V-neck. The back would be open if it wasn't for the thin layer of red lace, split in the middle by a gold zipper. There was a gap between the top lace portion and the satin skirt, leaving my lower back 100% exposed. The lace rested at the base of my neck, just under my promise and molnija marks.

"The man's got good taste," I grinned in the mirror at Liss as she zipped the dress for me. She beamed back.

"Obviously," she snorted. "He picked you, didn't he?" I laughed and opened the wrapped box. That contained a stunning pair of sparkly black six-inch heels with a small gold buckle closure. I slide them on my feet and took in my outfit. There was no denying that it was a look. Aside from the towel still resting on my head, that is. Lissa undid it gently as to not pull my hair. She quickly but expertly blew my hair dry for me, allowing it to cascade down my back in its natural thick waves. I dabbed the smallest amount of mascara on my lashes and gloss on my lips, knowing Dimitri prefers my face without a trace of makeup as it is.

"Admit it, Liss," I joked. "If you swung the other way, you'd want me." We locked eyes and burst into a fit of uncontrolled giggles. Once we composed ourselves, she pulled out a thin black silk strip of fabric.

"I'm under strict instructions to blindfold you," she told me, apologetically. I laughed again but complied, holding still while she tied the material behind my head. She lifted my arm to rest on her shoulders, slipping her own behind my back to lead me God knows where. We walked for what had to be about fifteen to twenty minutes when we came to a stop. Her slim, soft arm left my waist and was replaced by a set of strong, calloused hands. I sighed happily and leaned into my sexy as hell boyfriend, as he stood behind me and buried his face in my neck. He kissed my shoulder softly.

"Thank you for your help, Lissa," he said, resting his chin on my shoulder. "I'll take it from here." His warm breath tickled my ear and sent a couple strands of hair fluttering against my cheek. I felt Lissa retreat both from my heighted senses and through the bond. We were alone. I tilted my head up and back, silently asking for a kiss in my currently blindfolded state. He complied immediately, pressing his lips firmly against mine, fingers digging gently into my hips. He pulled back reluctantly and spun me three hundred and sixty degrees. I could feel his gaze burning across my skin and moaned when he pulled me back against his chest again. With my back pressed firmly into him, I knew he was just as hot and bothered as I was. But then my traitorous stomach rumbled loudly. It was lunchtime after all. Dimitri laughed his beautiful laugh.

"You look absolutely stunning, my love," he breathed into my ear. "Let's get you some lunch." His nimble hands made nearly instant work of the blindfold and I squinted against the moonlight after being in complete blackness. My eyes took only seconds to adjust and when they did, I gasped at the sight before me. I turned slowly to Dimitri, my breathing going heavy as I took in his incredibly well-dressed form. I looked into his eyes and pointed my thumb over my shoulder.

"What is that?" I whispered up at him. He smiled his beautiful full smile down at me and kissed my hairline.

"Home," he answered simply, scooping me deftly into his arms and approaching the door. I blinked back happy tears, and he carried me inside. I stared around the foyer in awe as he placed me on my feet. "Welcome home, Roza." The floodgates opened and I flung my arms around his neck, kissing him until we were both breathless.

Sooo, what'd ya think?