SIX

Christian

Christian hadn't been expecting someone he knew to answer the door, and clearly Rose hadn't been, either. She stiffened completely when she saw Guardian Belikov on the other side of the door, despite her casual greeting.

She let him in and passed him the envelope with the notes. He took it all in his stride. Rose stayed close to the door and stuffed her hands deep into her pockets.

"I didn't realize you were here," she said, carefully, gaze flicking to Christian for a second.

"I'm here temporarily, I'm waiting to be reassigned to a new Moroi." He was always stiff, but it was even worse than normal right now.

None of them knew why Belikov had given up his guardianship of Liss. She was the Last Dragomir, after all, and it was more prestigious than anything he'd be likely to get, especially after having given it up voluntarily.

"I didn't realize you were here, either," he replied. "I knew the Princess and Christian were here, but not you too."

"I wouldn't have expected you to come and say hello." She cleared her throat. He'd never heard her sound so bitter. "So, what do you think? I'm guessing Alberta called because she wanted your opinion on whether this needed to go into the court security-apparatus and end up in the ear of the Queen at some point?"

"Something like that," he replied.

Lissa hadn't especially minded that Belikov had left. She hadn't known him, after all, and one guardian was just about as good as the other, as long as Liss had Rose by her side.

Rose clearly didn't agree. There was something incredibly personal about how she was looking at him now, and he was guessing the disdain in her expression wasn't the only emotion fighting for dominance inside her right now.

That was interesting.

Not surprising, but interesting. She'd trained with him for hours every day, after all, and then he'd upped and left. She probably knew the real reason he'd decided to go, and apparently she didn't agree with it.

He looked at her, "Do you think it's real?"

Her face softened a little. "Yeah, I do."

"Me too," Christian agreed, though he hated to admit it.

He was trying not to think too much. His mom was alive. His mom, who he'd accepted was gone nearly ten years ago.

This would change everything. It wasn't just the fact he was in danger-because if she was back and sending him these things, she obviously intended to come and get him at some point-but it would affect all his relationships, too.

Lissa was about to embark on her new political career. One that was destined to be successful, and integral to the vampire world modernizing. Liss was young and full of good ideas. She could really make a big difference, especially to the cause that was closest to his heart, empowering Moroi to fight for themselves. The last thing she needed was the scandal of his mom returning.

His reputation was always going to be low, but he'd been a child when his parents had been killed. He'd been raised by the woman who had helped kill them. He could rise beyond his past.

But when it was brought back into the present? That would change it all. It would be a weight around Liss's neck.

The Queen would be pressuring her even more than she already did to end things.

Christian wouldn't be able to attend college while his mom was out there and threatening him. He'd be putting other people in danger just by being around them.

"What do you think?" Rose asked, coming to stand beside Belikov and take another look at the pictures. "It doesn't seem like there's an imminent attack planned."

"We don't know how many of them she has, either. If it's just her and a couple then it would take Christian leaving the wards to get to him. He's safe in court and at the academy."

"Are you going to report it?" she asked, clearly hoping he said no. If it wasn't reporting to the Court guards then it would at least remain an internal problem for now. No one else would have to know about it.

"Rose—"

"I'm thinking of Lissa," she said. "Let her get back to the Academy before she has to deal with this. She doesn't even know yet, we haven't been able to get hold of her."

"It's my duty to report it."

"I know. I'm asking you not to."

Christian wanted to look away from them. He felt like he was intruding on something.

"You're flying back today?"

"Yes, this evening."

"Then I won't say anything. But you and Christian should stay here, and get Liss to come here as well. Just in case. I'll call Alberta. She'll be glad this is the outcome as well, I'm sure."

"Thanks, Comrade." There was a beat of silence. "You've been here since you left?"

"Yes." He shifted his weight. "I'm going to take a transfer back to a Russia."

"Wow." She sucked in a breath. "To be closer to your family?"

"To be closer to my family, and to be further away from you." He was teasing her, affection on his face. Christian was sure it was the only time he'd seen any emotion on the man's face, and everything clicked into place.

Rose laughed. "I wasn't planning on hunting you down."

"I think a clean start is a good idea. And how are you?"

"You know, coping."

"Not living on pure rage that you didn't get Vasilisa for the field experience?"

"Extenuating circumstances," she replied. "I don't mind. Alberta said I should get experience guarding someone I didn't have a bond with, now I'm no longer furious, I can see her point." Rose glanced in his direction, as if realizing he was there, "Besides, looks like you need my world class protection."

"They'll stop it getting to that point," Belikov said, shifting his weight once more. "I should go and call Alberta."

Rose hummed, "Yeah. We should try and get in touch with Liss again. Would you go and have a quick look for her when you've spoken to Alberta? I'd appreciate it."

"Of course." He hesitated, then rested a hand on her shoulder for a moment. "Good to see you, Roza."

"You too, Comrade." Her smile was weak, and she deflated when he was gone.

"Well, that was unexpected," Christian said, running his hand through his hair.

"Ah, yeah."

"I guess that explains why he left."

She rubbed the back of her neck. "I suppose he thought that I'd told everyone. I don't think he'd have been so obvious otherwise. Either that or he's getting too used to not working at the Academy." Her lip quirked. "I haven't, by the way, told anyone."

"Well it's none of my business."

He could see it, though, when he tried to imagine it. They were a good fit, really. Both driven and determined, both passionate about their job. He could see why it failed, too.

No wonder Rose was having a hard time. Not just Mason, but Belikov, too.

"I don't want you to have to lie to Liss."

"It's not a lie. It's just not telling her something that will never come up in conversation anyway."

She lay down on the bottom of his bed, staring at the ceiling and taking a deep breath.

"You okay?" he asked.

She laughed. "I should be asking you that."

"Well I'm definitely not okay."

"Yeah, me neither. Dimitri was right, though, you're safe at court and at the academy. It will all be resolved without you being in any danger."

"I don't want someone fixing my problem, putting their lives on the line for me."

Rose shrugged. "That's what we're for. No one will think twice. No one should think twice."

"Yes, they should."

She looked at him, seemed to see straight through him. "I suppose a conversation about Moroi and Dhampir roles in society would definitely pass the time."

He chuckled.

The door opened and Rose rolled off the bed, immediately forming a protective stance.

It was just Lissa and Eddie, though.

Rose relaxed and Liss rushed forward, flinging her arms around him. "Guardian Belikov told me what had happened. I can't believe it."

This wasn't the same as when Rose hugged him. That had actually helped him feel better, let him get his emotions out there so he could think a bit more clearly.

With Lissa, all her felt was guilt. This was going to be so hard on her, and it was all his fault.

If his reluctance to engage with royal politics, and go to a small college, wasn't putting enough doubt in his mind, knowing that he might tank Liss's political career was definitely going to make him rethink what he was doing being with her.