A/N: Thanks again for your continued support and feedback. Please enjoy this next chapter.


Chapter 3 – The Royal Court

It had been two days since Dimitri had woken up from his coma. Unlike me, they didn't give him a hard time when he requested a discharge from the infirmary. As it was, his bite marks had disappeared, and his blood transfusion had restored his strength enough they felt comfortable with his release.

As we left his hospital room that he called home for the last few days, Alberta had been waiting for us just before we could leave the infirmary. She looked between the two of us, but I avoided her gaze. If she took one look at my face, she would know I had overheard her and my mother. As it was, I was sure that was the reason she was waiting for Dimitri after he had been discharged.

"Guardian Belikov, a word," she said in a tone that was non-negotiable.

Dimitri looked in my direction, as I gave him a quick nod, that I would wait by the entrance. I could feel Alberta's eyes on me as she watched to make sure I was out of earshot. When she turned away from me, I may have taken a few steps closer to try and hear what it was she was saying.

"This is serious," I heard Alberta say. "You know how much I respect you. Your abilities and your skills. As your colleague, I overlooked a lot because you have done remarkable work. As your friend, I will do what I can to help back you up." She paused, and even from behind, I could sense her expression was probably a conflicted one. "I can't support anything illegal."

Dimitri gave a curt nod, giving nothing away. It really was a gift how he could remain so calm and guarded without even flinching. "Your friendship means a lot to me, Alberta. I respect whatever it is you decide."

Alberta's head turned, making me look away even though I was sure I had been caught eavesdropping. "You were right when you argued her potential. I hope everything else that might get thrown your way makes it worth it."

I caught the slight quirk of his lip, the quick glance in my direction. He had just said as much to me not only a few days ago. "You know that it is."

Alberta's head bobbled up and down, before she turned and went in the opposite direction. I waited until Dimitri reached my side before, I shot him a teasing smile. "So, still worth it, huh?"

He shook his head exasperatedly. "Yes, Roza," he whispered.

As we left the infirmary, we ran into our next hurdle. A far scarier one. Janine Hathaway was standing outside, her gaze on the two of us as she waited for us to reach her. She looked at Dimitri first and then me, and then back and forth between us again.

"Guardian Belikov." She nodded, even though her tone offered the level of respect he earned, there was an edge there. She turned to me. "Rose." I didn't get the same treatment.

"Guardian Hathaway. I heard you risked your life to save mine. I'm indebted to you," Dimitri said.

I cringed. It wasn't because he was appreciative for my mother saving his life, but for the fact that I knew by the look on her face, she was going to try and use that against him.

"I would like a word with you." She looked briefly in my direction. "Privately."

I crossed my arms over my chest. "No." My mother looked over at me with a look that said she didn't care what I wanted. I matched her look with my own. "Knowing this conversation is about me, whatever you have to say to Dimitri, you can say in front of me."

I waited for Dimitri to side with my mother, but when he didn't, I actually had to stop myself from stumbling over myself. "With all due respect, Guardian Hathaway, I agree with Rose. If this is about her, or questions about her and I, she should have every right to stay."

I could tell my mother wasn't happy about it, but her need for answers won out. "Fine." She looked over at me, her lips pressed together. "The risky actions of my daughter to go after you once you had been captured has led me to believe that there may be something going on between you two. Something inappropriate than that of a mentor and his student."

Again, I was awed by Dimitri's ability to not flinch. That wasn't aimed at me, and it was taking everything in me not to want to shift my stance under her gaze.

"Was there a question in that, Guardian Hathaway?"

She sucked in a large breath. "My daughter has alluded that she cares for you deeply. If I had to guess, that she thinks she's in love with you." I scoffed at the idea that my mother still thought I was too young to know truly how I felt. She only spared me a quick glance before looking back at Dimitri. "I can understand since she is young and naive, but not you." She focused the full weight of her gaze on him. "My question, Guardian Belikov, is do you feel the same way?"

Dimitri didn't even hesitate. "Yes."

It was the first time I think I had ever seen my mother actually shocked into silence. I couldn't help but still do the little happy dance inside at hearing him say it out loud to someone else. Someone of importance as my mother.

My mother shook her haze away, stepping forward, her voice low and angry. "Do you understand the ramifications of what you are saying? Of how inappropriate this is?"

"Mom."

"I respect you Guardian Belikov, but this…this is unacceptable," she carried on.

"Mom."

"I will take no pleasure in the consequences if that means you are fired. Your one of the best guardians I have had the privilege to work with, but this is my daughter, and…"

"Mom!" My voice had risen to a level that a few guardians and Moroi walking with their umbrella's looked in our direction. When I had her attention, I leveled the full weight of my anger on her. "You want to be angry with someone…be angry with me. Dimitri did nothing wrong."

"Rose," Dimitri said quietly.

I didn't care. I wasn't letting him get fired, transferred, or whatever worse punishment by being with me. "You have no right to come in here and suddenly want to have a say in my life. Sending a few telegrams every few months doesn't make you a mother." She flinched. I could see the flash of hurt behind her eyes, but I wasn't going to bother with pretenses. "It was Dimitri who cared enough about me being the best guardian I could be. If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have been able to save anyone in that damn cave. I don't care what you say about age or mentor-student relationship, he is the one thing in my life that makes sense. The thing I care about most. So, if you ever want the hope of having any sort of relationship with me, you will back off."

I had stunned her into silence. I was fuming. I could feel the simmering of rage beginning to build within me. Nowhere near what I had experienced with Jesse when I had tried to beat him to a pulp, but if I didn't remove myself from this conversation now, I was worried I might find myself back in that same space.

I briefly met Dimitri's eyes, which I could see held concern for that same exact thought.

"Excuse me," I said briskly, storming away from my mother.

I didn't stop, knowing that even though Dimitri wanted to follow me, he still had to face my mother. I figured he would find me when he needed too. For now, I was going to go to the one place that allowed me to let off the excess steam.

The gym.

It had to be another thirty minutes before I heard the door to the gym open again. I had just given the punching bag the best work out of my lifetime.

I could feel Dimitri behind me, before I even heard his steps. It was just something that happened between us. It didn't matter how large the space was, or how many people might be in the room, we were like two magnets that were just instantly drawn together. Always.

I glanced over my shoulder, seeing his arched brow, arms crossed over his chest, and a devilish smile on his lips. My hands flexed, as I dropped them from the punching bag.

"Rose?" I turned; Dimitri's eyes immediately going to my knuckles. He frowned. "Come on," he beckoned, walking towards the direction of the guardian office here in the gym.

I silently followed, the skin on my knuckles stretching as I clenched and unclenched my fists. Dimitri opened the door, immediately going for the first aid kit they have housed here on the upper shelf in the event of any injuries during practice sessions.

I can feel a tug at the corners of my mouth standing here in the office. The first time I had been in here was when I had done something like this before with my hands. Dimitri had taken care of me then too. Back when we were still trying to deny our feelings for each other.

The second time had been when I came in here to steal one of Dimitri's workout CDs as part of our scavenger hunt. It was one of the harder items to snag, and just like always, he had somehow known that he had been part of the game. I hadn't been too terribly upset when he had caught me. Especially, since it was one of the rare times, he let his guard down and all but helped me so I would win and not get caught.

He motioned to the seat; as I sat down, Dimitri opening the first aid kit to the side of the desk, as he started pulling out the necessary items. Cleaning wipes, ointment, and gauze wraps for my hands.

He turned towards me, his thighs practically trapping me in as we faced each other. His strong hands, taking my much smaller ones, as he ripped the first of the cleaning pads with solution and started to dab at the broken skin on my knuckles, wiping some of the blood away.

I winced. "How bad is it?"

His eyes remained on my knuckles as he gently cleaned around the cracked skin. "Not too bad. You'll be fine in a day or two."

I sighed. "That isn't what I was talking about."

"I know." He threw the first cleaning pad that was soaked red, to grab another clean one. His eyes looked up at mine briefly. "Everything will be ok, Rose."

I scoffed. "How can you say that? You know my mother. You know she won't let this go."

"And taking it out on the punching bag without proper equipment was the best choice?" he countered.

I narrowed my eyes at him, trying to pull my hand back, but he held them firm. He grabbed a new cleaning pad and switched to my other hand. "It was better than her face," I argued.

He shook his head, but I could see he was trying to hide a hint of a smile there. "You know, your mother isn't the only one that can be intimidating."

My brows drew together. "What does that mean?"

He finished cleaning both my hands, dumping the contents in the trash can next to us. He pulled the ointment out, putting a dab on top of each of my knuckles before he gently started to rub them gently. It felt good and eased the last fraction of the anger that had been brewing inside of me.

"It means…after you stormed off, your mother had a change of heart."

I shot him a look of incomprehension. "She's not going to report you. You won't get fired?" I asked hopeful.

A wry smile reached his lips. "No, Rose, she won't."

"But…why?"

His fingers finished methodically massaging my hands, as he brought a roll of gauze to wrap my knuckles. "She may have mentioned that your speech reminded her how much you were like her when she was young."

I rolled my eyes. "What? A know it all," I replied sarcastically.

He shook his head, but chuckled. "Someone that fights for the people they love and their convictions." He finished securing my left hand and moved to my right. "Your mother only wants what's best for you. Wants you to be your best."

"She still wants to control my life," I argued. "I mean it, Dimitri, I won't let her take you away. Ruin what we have."

That earned me a wolfish grin. "Rose, do you really think that even if she did, it would stop me from being with you?"

I felt a tingle of warmth in my chest, as I bit my lip. "So even after a big scary meeting with Janine Hathaway, you still think I'm worth it?"

He grinned. I dropped my hand back to my lap now that both were cleaned and bandaged, Dimitri's hands dropping to my thighs. A need in me started to blossom with just that single touch. It was still risky, since we were in such a public place, and the gym at this time was usually packed, that anyone could walk in at any moment.

It had only been three days since the attack on the school and then the rescue mission in the caves. We had still lost quite a few guardians and students, so classes had been cancelled for the week, and most of the faculty was either attending to those injured or shifts in making sure the academy was protected with double the guardian detail.

Dimitri leaned in, his lips pressing softly against mine. I wanted to wrap my arms around his neck and pull him closer, but I didn't want to press my luck. "Your worth it, Rose," he said softly.

I heard a moan leave my lips, before I blinked them open. The heat in Dimitri's eyes had almost been my undoing. It took me right back to our moment in the cabin. How much I wish we could be alone together right now and pick up where we had left off.

Of course, I would end up ruining the moment. "So, what happens now?"

"We stick to our original plan," he answered.

My face had to convey my surprise. Our plan was to keep things quiet until I had graduated, which was only a few months away. "But…"

His hands slid up to my upper thighs, the words dying on my throat. His look turned mischievous. "According to your mother, your actions—albeit questionable for your safety in going back for me—and your threat to her, showed her just how mature and understanding you are of what truly being a guardian is. She feared after all your stunts over the years, that you would never get there."

"How comforting of my mother."

He chuckled. "While she may not be happy or agree with our relationship—" —he held up his hand before I could protest— "—she said she could see what Alberta referenced in your progress over the last six or more months."

A large part of that had been because of Dimitri.

"So, you won't be fired or reassigned?"

He grabbed my hands in his, placing a gentle kiss on top of my bandaged knuckles. "No, Roza. She won't report this any further as long as you and I can maintain our mentor and student relationship until you graduate."

My nose crinkled. "I guess, in the scheme of things, it's the best outcome."

He arched a brow. "I thought it was exactly what you wanted."

I sucked in my bottom lip. "I was hoping I could start to hold your hand or kiss you anytime I want," I replied, scooting closer so my thighs were now even closer in between his.

He groaned. "Roza…"

My voice turned seductive. "Don't you want to kiss me anytime you want?"

I leaned in, just as Dimitri did too, before we heard the door to the gym opening, both of us leaning back and snapping upright. I tried to stifle my laugh at the grumble I heard in his chest.

He dropped my hands, as he threw out the remaining discarded supplies, packing back up the first aid kit and putting it back in its spot. He flipped off the light in the office, as we walked back out into the open gym area, a few guardians nodding at Dimitri and a couple of novices looking up at him with utter surprise and adoration as we walked through.

He had been here at least a year now, but he still somehow managed to turn heads anytime he walked around the campus. I couldn't blame him, I still got awestruck and butterflies every time I saw him too. Kissing him was even worse. It was like I went into some trance or under some spell every time we touched.

The door to the gym opened again, Alberta walking in, as her eyes looked around the room, before landing on both Dimitri and me. She walked over coming to stop in front of the two of us. "Headmistress Kirova wants to see you," she informed.

My glance looked over at Dimitri. Why would she want to see him? My mother said she wasn't going to report him. Did she lie, or worse change her mind about supporting our relationship?

Her eyes then drifted to mine. "You too, Rose."

I swallowed. Dimitri's face gave nothing away. "We'll be right there," he said.


As we walked into Headmistress Kirova's office, I tried not to scowl. Alberta was standing off to the side. Along with my mother.

If she wasn't reporting us, then I suddenly wondered why all of my friends had been summoned to the office as well. Lissa, Christian, Eddie, and even Adrian we're all standing in front of us as Dimitri and I walked in.

Kirova's eyes brightened at seeing Dimitri. "Guardian Belikov. I can't tell you how happy we all were to hear of your recovery."

I could feel my mother's eyes on me, but I didn't dare glance in her direction.

"Thank you," Dimitri replied, with a slight bow.

My eyes moved to Lissa, trying to see if she knew why we were all being summoned to the office, but her blank expression told me she had no clue. I got the same reactions from Christian and Eddie.

Adrian on the other hand, sat slumped in a chair, with black sunglasses covering his eyes. I knew he had a habit of drinking and smoking—his way of coping with using spirit—making me worry that he wasn't taking care of himself.

He had tried to flirt with me several times, and I may have led him on once or twice as a way to make Dimitri jealous—crappy thing on my part—but Adrian wasn't that bad of a person. He had a lot of potential and could do so much more, if he could just find that spark that I knew was missing in him.

"Great. Now that Little Dhampir and Agent Boring Borscht are here, we can get started," remarked Adrian.

"Mr. Ivashkov, that's enough," Kirova reprimanded.

Adrian didn't bother to hide his grin as he looked at me. He tried to do anything he could to get a ride out of Dimitri, even when Dimitri didn't take the bait.

"Now that you are all here, I can inform you why you have been summoned to my office," began Kirova.

"Personally, I think we are all owed accommodations for practically saving the school," Adrian stated.

Kirova's face looked tired, which was hard for a Moroi, as she briefly turned her gaze back to Adrian. "Mr. Ivashkov, we could do without any further witty remarks."

"Just sayin…" he muttered.

She turned her gaze back to the rest of us. "I had a personal call from Queen Tatiana herself this morning." She looked to each of our faces, surprising me when she left me for last. If I wasn't looking at her directly, I wouldn't have believed that she might actually be looking at me with something that was similar to pride. "Word has gotten around about the attack here at St. Vladimir's. More importantly the actions of guardians, novices, and Moroi working together," she said, her gaze moving to Christian now.

If it hadn't been for Christian, our death count would have been much higher. The fact that Moroi and guardians could simultaneously work together making sure there was little risk as possible to prevent Strigoi from wiping out our kind, was extraordinary.

"Are we in some kind of trouble?" asked Christian.

Kirova clucked her tongue. "On the contrary. You've been invited to speak about it." Her look told me that we may not be in trouble, I mean we were just students, but her guarded look said she had probably gotten an earful. "Since classes have been cancelled for the remainder of the week, I find no reason that you all should not accept the invitation from the queen."

"The queen." I heard myself repeat out loud.

Kirova nodded. "I have the jet standing by. I need you all to pack and report back within the hour so it can take you."

The room started to pile out after that. I caught a quick glimpse of my mother as she turned to Alberta talking in hushed tones. I didn't know if she was in the room because I was being asked on this special trip, or if she was there because of official guardian reasons.

As I turned to leave, I noticed that Dimitri was hanging back, his eyes on my mother and Alberta. "Go on, Rose. I will catch up with you," he said.

"I can wait."

He shook his head. "I might be able to get more out of them if you aren't here."

I tried not to take offense to that, but he was right. Plus, I didn't exactly leave things on good terms with my mother the last time we spoke. That being the threat that I would cut her out of my life for good if she meddled in my relationship with Dimitri.

As I left the office, Lissa and Christian were both waiting for me. We fell into step as we started walking back to our perspective dorms.

Lissa turned her suspicious look on me. "An invitation from the queen," she remarked. "This sounds serious."

I nodded. "Yeah, something tells me this isn't a visit to give each of us a medal. Much to Adrian's chagrin."

"I've heard rumors," Christian whispered, looking around before he spoke his next words. "Rumors that because of what we did here…they might be looking at amending the laws."

"Amend what laws?" I asked in surprise.

He shrugged. "I don't know. My aunt called this morning after she heard about the queen making a call to Kirova. All she said, was that things have been rather interesting at court."

I thought about that. "Isn't Adrian's parents at court?"

"Yes," said Christian.

"If memory recalls, they are pretty close to the queen. Maybe they know more than Tasha does."

Lissa perked up. "I would be happy to ask him."

It was a smart choice at this moment. The more we could arm ourselves with information before we got there, the better we would be. Even Dimitri would have to approve of the strategy.

"Ok. Let's pack and then we can meet back up during the flight and see what we can uncover." I suggested.

I dropped Christian off at his dorm first. Even though security was double around him, the guardian in me didn't feel right about just letting him walk around unattended. Even if he was probably the most dangerous Moroi we had on campus at this point.

After dropping off Lissa, I quickly ran back to my room, throwing a couple of pair of my black leggings, shirts, two of my favorite beat up jackets, my toiletries and was ready to go.

I swung my bag over my shoulder, just as a knock was on my door. I smiled once I saw who was on the other side.

"I don't know whether to be proud or surprised that you are already packed."

I grinned. "Why not both, Comrade," I said, my response coming out cheeky. I noticed he already had his duffle at his side. "How are you…"

He shrugged. "As a guardian, you are always packed. You never know when you may be sent somewhere else on assignment."

It was good advice, and probably something I would have to remember next time. After Dimitri's charge, Ivan, had been killed he had been sent here. Lucky for me, because I couldn't imagine my life without him at this point, but I still knew how deep those emotions ran for him. Ivan Zeklos had not only just been his charge to protect, but he had been his best friend too. I could only imagine the hurt and pain. If anything happened to Lissa, a part of me would be lost for good.

He stepped aside from the door, allowing me to exit first as we walked in step towards the plane. "Did you find out anything useful?" I asked.

"Only that it appears to be chaos back at the court," he answered.

I pondered the news, telling him what Christian had said to Lissa and me as we left. "What law could they be trying to amend?"

I could see the wheels in his mind working. "There are a number of them. But I can't think of any that would make sense based on what happened here." He paused as his expression turned more serious. "I have a call out to Tasha to see what she knows."

My forehead wrinkled at that. I knew that Dimitri and Tasha were friends, but Tasha also felt something much stronger for Dimitri then friendship. On her last visit her to see Christian— which I later learned was also to mostly see Dimitri—she had practically proposed the idea of marriage to him. To give him everything he wanted. One thing she knew I wouldn't be able to give, even if she didn't know we were together then.

Dimitri wanted kids. He came from a large family. He had grown up in a world where he had his mother home, along with a grandmother and sisters who loved and supported him. A completely different upbringing and background then I did.

One of the major flaws of dhampir's was that we couldn't have kids together. We could with other Moroi, which was why people like my mother may have slept with whomever my father was to produce more guardians. It was looked at as more of a duty than anything else. However, the genetics between two dhampir, didn't allow us to conceive together.

A part of me worried whether in the future I would still be enough for Dimitri to overcome that need to want to be a father. There was always adoption, but even that, I was way too young to even think about kids. I wasn't even an official guardian yet. Not that Dimitri was pressuring about it or anything. Our relationship was still new.

That still did cause a bit of possessiveness in me when Tasha was around. Dimitri wasn't the kind of man you could just stop loving. Lord knows…I tried. If Tasha did feel something deeply for him—even if Dimitri didn't—it didn't mean that I liked her wanting to constantly hang around with him. I trusted Dimitri. I didn't trust her.

"You think she would have kept something from Christian that she would tell you?" I asked, my voice coming out more bitter than I intended.

"I do," he said automatically. "Tasha loves Christian. She would say enough for a head's up, but not enough to want to worry him."

As we reached the plane, Dimitri and I dropped off our luggage before climbing aboard. I had my answer about my mother's involvement when she was the only one on the plane as we stepped on. Her glance went from Dimitri and then to me.

"I would like a word," she said, once her eyes landed on me.

"Of course," Dimitri said, making me want to elbow him hard in the stomach before he shot me a be nice look before he moved towards the back of the plane.

My guard was up, but I tried to take Dimitri's warning to be nice in the back of my head. After all, she was supposedly not going to report us.

I crossed my arms over my chest as a way of protection. "What did you need?"

She sighed, hearing that my question was guarded. "I don't want to fight with you, Rose."

Her tone was tired, her expression weighing just as heavily. It filled me with remorse. I had been so focused on myself and then the possibility of losing Dimitri, that I didn't even stop to think how all of this must be impacting her. The attack on the academy, being a part of the rescue mission, and then choosing to come back with me to save Dimitri because of her fear that I too could have been lost.

I dropped my arms to my side. "I don't want to fight with you either," I admitted.

I felt like some of the tension between us was suddenly starting to thaw.

"Rose, I know you don't always understand all of my decisions. I know my work hasn't allowed me to always be around for you like I am sure you would have liked."

"Mom…"

Even though a part of me did resent that, a larger part of me understood. The only thing I could think about for the longest time was becoming a guardian. Protecting Lissa. If someone tried to take that away from me, I wouldn't let that happen. I would never want someone to ask me to choose.

"But I love you, Rose. That might seem impossible for you to believe, but I do. Your safety and well-being have always been on my mind, even when I couldn't be here." It felt like the knife being plunged into my heart was going in inch by inch slowly. Her brows drew together, her expression morphing into a grimace. "When you decided to go back into those caves, when…"

I stepped forward, not sure what possessed me too, but I pulled my mother into a hug, hearing the anguish in her voice as her words trailed off. I felt her arms slowly come up around me and hug me back tightly.

"I know. I'm sorry," I said, hoping that those words would calm her fears.

"You can't do that to me, Rose. Promise you won't do that again," she said into my hair.

I swallowed. How could I promise something to my mom that I knew I wouldn't be able to keep? I was going to be a guardian. That meant that I was going to throw myself into many situations that could harm me, or worse kill me. If in the future, if I was faced with a similar situation to where Dimitri, Lissa, or anyone else that I cared about where in danger, I would do it all over again. There isn't anything I wouldn't do to protect the ones I love. My mother had to know that.

"I promise to be careful," I said instead, hoping that would be enough.

She pulled back and nodded, her hand coming up to smooth out my hair and let it fall naturally around my shoulders after her hands and gotten tangled into it from our hug. "I may not agree with all of your choices." I sensed that had to do with my relationship with Dimitri, but this moment right now, it was a start. A start of a possible relationship that I had always wanted. "I am proud of you, Rose. You will make a wonderful guardian."

I couldn't stop the smile that spread to my lips. I could feel the blush rising to my cheeks. This kind of compliment coming from the infamous Janine Hathaway was something I wasn't going to take lightly. People assumed that because she was my mother that everything just came naturally to me, but they had no idea. Janine Hathaway gave nothing away for free.

I tucked a piece of my hair behind my ear. "Thanks, Mom." She gave me a brisk nod, turning to walk away, but my hand shot out to stop her. She turned back, her brow arching. "I never said thank you. For having my back. For going back for Dimitri with me." My eyes glanced over her shoulder at Dimitri, as he immediately looked up in that uncanny ability he had to know when I was glancing at him. I held his gaze for a second before I looked back at my mother. "It meant everything to me. So, thank you."

"You're welcome."

"And…" I said before she could start to turn again. "I know I give you a hard time and I don't always say it…but I love you too."

Her eyes flashed with a rare show of emotion, before she turned and headed back to her seat. Voices behind me let me know that Lissa and Christian had arrived. They had taken the seats directly in front of Dimitri and I. Eddie was next, followed by Adrian, who fumbled into the plane, his black sunglasses still in place.

I waited until our plane took off, Dimitri already bringing out one of his boring western novels to pass the time, before I unbuckled my seatbelt and crossed over his lap.

I hunched down in front of Lissa and Christian first who were whispering together. I was glad they were starting to work past some of their issues that her spirit had been causing. Me taking some of the darkness away had helped, but I had hoped they would eventually find their way back to each other.

As much as I hated to admit it in the beginning that Christian was good for Lissa, I couldn't deny it now. They were great together. Lissa softened some of Christian's rougher edges, while Christian helped Lissa find her voice. Become surer of herself. They truly brought out the best in each other. Just like Dimitri and me.

"Did you find anything else out?" I asked, my voice just above a whisper.

Lissa leaned in. "I mentioned it to Adrian. He said he would make a call to his mother."

"What about on you end?" asked Christian. "Anything from your resources?" His head jetted in the direction of where Dimitri was sitting.

I shook my head. "The guardians have heard the same thing we have. Apparently, court is extremely lively."

"Talk to Adrian. He might be more inclined to share with you," suggested Lissa.

It had been exactly what I had planned to do next. Though I knew Adrain harbored some sort of crush on me, I truly did care about him as a friend. I was worried about the methods he was using to cope with his spirit abilities. Especially, now understanding that Lissa was a spirit user, it made sense.

I moved towards the front of the plane, where Adrian stretched out his long legs into the two seats within his row. His head was resting against the window of the plane, his black glasses still covering his eyes.

I smacked his feet, enough to let him know I was there, but not enough to shove them to the floor. "Can I sit?"

His head jerked forward from the surprise of my hit. "What…is cradle robber not entertaining enough?"

"Adrian…"

He groaned, moving to a sitting position making the seat next to him vacant now. I took that as my opportunity to sit. I glanced over at him, my lips frowning at his appearance. Even with the glasses still on his face, he looked worse for worn. His shoulders were slumped, his hair more tasseled then normal. As if he hadn't washed it in a few days, not because he had run his hands through it. The corners of his mouth were pinched downwards as if he was in a constant scowl.

"How are you?" I asked.

His shoulders lifted in a shrug. "Great. I'm always great."

I sighed. "That might work for others Adrian, but I know something is bothering you."

He turned towards me, and even though I couldn't exactly see his eyes with his blacked-out glasses, I could almost see the questioning sneer in his eyes.

"Could have fooled me. Didn't think you cared about anyone other than Agent Boring back there."

Ouch. I was trying to bite back a retort. I figured some of his response might be linked to his spirit. Lissa had me to take away some of her darkness when she used too much, but Adrian didn't have such an option. Which was exactly why he turned to cigarettes and booze. The other reason I figured was because it still did have something to do with his crush on me.

"Do you want me to go?"

He pursed his lips, but then shook his head. He was trying to act like he didn't care what I chose to do, but I could sense he didn't actually want me to go.

"Some company is better than none, little dhampir."

I tried to change tactics. "I heard you helped in the infirmary."

"Seemed like the right thing to do," he said nonchalantly.

"You saved lives," I reminded him.

It was conversations like this that bothered me when it came to Adrian. He was attractive. He could be charming and funny. Maybe if I had never met Dimitri Belikov, he would have been someone that I might have showed interest in, but even then, it would never have lasted.

Adrian would be a fun time for sure, but the major differences between us was the passion and will to want to do more with our lives. Adrian was content living off the fortune of his family. Attending to parties and dressing up. He could do so much more with his abilities and his life, but he had no drive to want to do it. Me on the other hand, I needed to be challenged. I needed to thrive to do something each day that made getting up worthwhile.

It was partly why Dimitri and I fit so well together. We both had that same fierceness within us. The ability to want to take charge and let our passion drive us to succeed. To be better than the day before. It only made our intimate connection just as powerful. The same way we challenged and fought with our fists; was the same way we were together when we had sex. May have only been one time, but I looked forward to doing it again. Soon. Very soon.

Adrian removed his glasses as he looked up at me. "Is it your turn now?"

I looked at him in surprise. Not so much by his question as it was seeing the redness in his eyes. I was noticing how much he must have been using alcohol to cope with his symptoms. It looked like he had been hungover for days.

"What, to care?" I countered.

He scoffed. "The word care is used so loosely. Mostly, it's to admonish my life choices."

I looked squarely at him, grabbing the glasses from his hand before he could put them back on. "This isn't you. You honestly want me to believe that you like being hungover and fumbling around, barely being able to stand on your own two feet?"

He scowled; his words coming out sharp. "I didn't ask for your judgement, little dhampir. I don't sit there and intrude on yours."

I let out a comical laugh. Adrian turned to me in surprise when I arched my brow. "Oh, really? You don't? That seems to be the only thing you've done since we met."

His mouth opened to say something, but then he closed it with just a grin. I could tell he was reverting back to using wit to shut down any deeper emotional conversation. "Touche." He moved to put his glasses back on, and this time I let him. "I guess you also came by to see if I heard anything from my parents."

I didn't necessarily want to change subjects, but even I knew when it was best to let something drop. I would…for now. "Have you?"

He looked back out the window of the plane, his hands falling into his lap. "They wouldn't say much over the phone since they knew I was already coming. The only thing my mother mentioned was it having to do with guardians. Something about their age."

I pondered that. I would have to ask Dimitri about that. He seemed to know a lot more about laws and inner workings of the court. Maybe he knew the cryptic information Adrian was giving to me.

"Thanks for checking on it for me," I said.

"Yeah…"

He looked back out at the plane, and something told me that he wanted to be left alone. I stood from my seat. "I'll let you get some rest."

He nodded. Just as I turned to walk away, his calling my name stopped me short. I turned back to face him. "Thanks. For checking on me."

I smiled. "Of course. I care about you, Adrian. You're my friend."

He wiggled his eyebrows. "Just a friend?"

"Adrian…"

He grinned. "I know. I know. It's Dimitri. Always Agent Boring Borscht, Dimitri."

I shook my head in exasperation at him. Even if he was right. It was always Dimitri. That would never change. "I'll see you later," I said instead, moving my way back to the plane.

At some point during the flight, I must've fallen asleep, Dimitri's voice in my ear as he gently shook my shoulders to wake me up.

My arm was numb from laying on it, as I wiped the tiniest bit of drool from the corner of my mouth as I came alive. I was sure my hair looked a complete mess, but the way Dimitri was looking at me, was as if I was the sexiest thing in the room, er, plane.

"Are we here?"

He nodded.

I sprang from the seat, just as Lissa and Christian stepped off the plane, both Dimitri and I being the last to leave. We each grabbed our bags waiting for us as we climbed into the two sets of SUVs that would take us to court.

As the SUVs crossed through the gates, I noticed even the smallest hints of Tatiana's rule as queen. Normally, whomever resided at court as the ruling family was able to decorate in their families' colors. Queen Tatiana's family monarch was red, which seemed to show all throughout the court.

Once the SUVs came to a stop, we all piled out, getting to leave our bags behind in that we were assured that they would be taken to the accommodations that had been provided to us during our stay here at Court. From what we learned from Kirova; she didn't expect us to be here more than a few days.

My mother instantly took off, indicating that she needed to check in with Hans. Dimitri and I fell into step, with Lissa, Christian, and Eddie behind us, and finally Adrian bringing up the rear.

Our steps slowed, just as a small party came forward to greet us. One of them I knew, Tasha, as her eyes lit up at seeing Dimitri. The other two, I recognized from last time as Adrian's parents. They regarded our party with warm smiles.

"Dimka!" Tasha said, her arms outstretching for a hug.

"Hi Tasha," Dimitri greeted, returning her hug.

She looked to each of us, as I noticed she attempted to maintain her closeness to Dimitri. "Hi Rose," she said to me only because I was next in her line of sight, before she turned to smile brightly at Christian and gave him a hug in return.

Adrian's mother wrapped her son in a hug, while his father, clapped him on his shoulder. Daniella was quick to whisk him away something about needing to update him on court business, Adrian promising to catch up with all of us later.

"Dimka, I was hoping I could have a moment of your time later," said Tasha, bringing my gaze back to the group.

Yeah…that wasn't going to happen.

She leaned in, for her next words, but I was still close enough to hear. "The queen from what I hear might be indisposed the remainder of today. I figured I could give you a heads up on what else I was able to uncover."

"I'm sure I can find some time later on to meet with you," he said.

If I hadn't been so shocked, I probably would have interjected right then and there. Before I could find my words, Tasha was already moving on to Christian and Lissa promising them a full day's tour and people she wanted them to meet.

Lissa gave me an apologetic look, before she ended up going with her. I didn't have the heart to ask her to stay or want to even tag along with them. They were just getting back on to friendly terms, and part of me was hoping this little excursion away might move them back in the direction of romantic partners. Christian might ask me to but out and let things work out naturally, but that really wasn't my thing.

I crossed my arms over my chest, just as Dimitri turned back to face me. My lips were pursed together as I somehow managed to toss some of my hair to the side.

"You know, I always wanted to see how the guardians operate here at court," said Eddie. "I'm just going to go…anywhere that is not here," he muttered as he walked away.

Dimitri watched Eddie walk away before his eyes turned back to me expectantly. "What?"

I think I actually started taping my foot in irritation. "Oh, I don't know…maybe the fact that you practically just made a date with the same woman who clearly wants to have your babies, might be a thing."

He chuckled; clearly thinking I was teasing, his laughter dying when he realized that wasn't the case. "Rose, you can't be serious."

"Try again," I said dryly.

He crossed his arms over his chest, but his expression turned to one of amusement, as he took a step closer to me. He had to look down just so we could make eye contact. "You know I am not interested in Tasha that way. She's just a friend."

"To you," I muttered, losing some of my bravado now that he was much closer to me.

He grinned, taking another step closer. At this point, if anyone walking by did happen to see us, it could be questionable. "Your cute when you're jealous."

I was well aware of the blush creeping up the back of my neck. I wasn't jealous…was I? "This has nothing to do with that."

His look said it was exactly having to do with that. "Roza, believe me when I say, I only have eyes for one wild girl, and that is you."

This time the blush reached my cheeks. My hand itched to reach out and touch him but being in such a public place wasn't really a good idea, so I kept my hands exactly where they stayed.

"Good to know." My response came out triumphantly, even though I was sure that it was him who ended up winning this conversation.

"Come on," he beckoned. "I'll walk you to your room."


After Dimitri had dropped me of at my room—which was twice the size of my dorm back at the academy—I had decided to use the time to actually catch up on sleep.

Dimitri had wanted to check in with the other guardians and see if he could find out anything else about the additional information, I had provided to him from Adrian. When I had mentioned it had something to possibly do with age and guardians, I noticed his guarded expression and the way his body stiffened.

It was close to early evening now, and since Dimitri was going to be spending his hours trying to see what he could get from Tasha—something I still wasn't happy about—it pretty much left me on my own devices. Either everyone was checking in with guardians or enjoying their evening together.

I thought about going in search for Adrian to see what he was up too, when I remembered that he was most likely stuck at his mother's mercy. Maybe an interruption from me might just be what he needed.

I found myself walking through the courtyard, enjoying the view as the sun was starting to set bringing on dusk. No doubt the area would be brisling soon once the Moroi didn't have to worry about the harsh rays.

"Excuse me?"

I turned; A Moroi who looked about forty was staring back at me. He had jet black hair, brown eyes that sparkled with mirth and the loudest looking suit I had ever seen that seemed to just jump out even more against his tanned skin.

He was assessing me as if we might have met before, but I couldn't recall any memory of having met this Moroi before. "Can I help you?"

"Maybe you could help give me the time."

It was an odd request, especially considering a man as impeccably dressed as him could afford a decent kind of watch. I held up my arms pushing back my sleeves at my cuff. "Sorry."

He shrugged as if it was no big deal. Almost as if he hadn't cared about the time to begin with. If this was his attempt to try and flirt with me, he seriously needed some work. Plus, gross, he was old enough to be my dad. He would just have to find someone else to be his blood whore.

I turned to walk away, but his next words stopped me short. "Your Rose Hathaway, aren't you?"

I half turned back, my eyes squinting in his direction. "I'm sorry, do I know you?"

"No," he replied simply, taking a step in my direction. "But I know you."

The hairs on the back of my neck stood. Something about this Moroi just seemed off. "I take it you heard what happened at the academy," I guessed.

It was the only thing that made sense. Christian and Dimitri had both confirmed based on reports they had gotten, that court had been buzzing with what had happened when the Strigoi attacked the academy. The fact that I was here to even talk to the queen about it, meant that news had to travel fast around these walls.

"Among other things," he said cryptically.

I noticed a guardian behind him making quick strides in his direction. "Sir, I wish you would stop doing that."

Mystery Moroi raised his hand up, the guardian instantly pressing his lips together, but backing up a few steps and waiting off to the side. Whoever the Moroi was in front of me, he obviously carried enough weight to rule with an iron fist.

"I'm sorry, I don't believe I caught your name."

A wry smile crossed his lips. "That's because I didn't give it."

I rolled my eyes. "Okay…well as pleasant as this little conversation has been, I am going to go now."

"I'm sure we will see each other again soon," he remarked.

I barely shot him a glance over my shoulder as I said, "I doubt it."