Chapter 2

Rose

Once I had the members of my team I went back to headquarters for even more paperwork. Mia didn't require anything, although I did ask for locations of feeders in the outside world. Mia could go a few days without if she needed to, but it would be in our best interest if she could use her magic to the fullest. Luckily this close to Court there were enough Moroi in the area to warrant many feeder locations. I was surprised to see that there were actually so many in the US. I knew a lot of non-royal Moroi lived in cities with humans, but maybe we weren't on the brink of extinction after all.

I saw a location near Portland, Oregon. I smiled. That would have been very easy if we had known that. Although Lissa and I could hardly have walked into a feeder station back then. Portland felt so long ago. It was before I met Dimitri and it had just been Lissa and me. So much has changed since then. I was a full-fledged Guardian now.

Getting Mikhail to go was a bit more paperwork. I had to pull him from the archives, somehow making sure his shifts were covered. When I pointed out to Hans that it should be his job, he had just laughed and walked away before handing me more paperwork.

All in all I had been at headquarters for hours. Arranging transportation, making the first day's reservations, which was a nightmare. We couldn't just stay at any hotel. Guardians had to stay at headquarters-approved hotels. According to the Guardian who gave me these lists, these hotels have been researched so they have enough exit points, are easily defendable and don't break the bank. But between the rather short list, and the time crunch, not many hotels were still available.

This would be happening a lot I think, we would be moving around, probably without notice. We could deviate from the list at our own peril. Those had been his exact words. I didn't know if he meant the retribution from Hans for not following procedure or because they could be unsafe because they hadn't been checked. But I intended to find out.

After it was well past midnight, I finally arrived at my guest apartment building. I was exhausted. Between Dimitri and the paperwork, I was emotionally drained and brain dead.

I walked up the stairs towards my room, rummaging through my pocket trying to find my key when I saw someone sitting in front of my door. He was playing with his phone. Adrian.

I was a little startled. Because I had completely forgotten about Adrian. The whole day I had been thinking about going on this mission and of course Dimitri, but Adrian had never crossed my mind. It should have, he was my boyfriend. But the fact I hadn't considered him at all, well, that spoke volumes didn't it.

We had been sort of on the fence too and I couldn't blame him. I had been preoccupied before I had been assigned this mission.

He approached and before I could say anything, he kissed me gently and then...not so gently. He poured a lot in this kiss. Almost as if he was afraid if I would talk I would say something he didn't like. Kissing was nice and simple.

I was always surprised by my body's reaction to Adrian. I never had the urge to kiss him, but when I did, I wanted more. It wasn't the same as Dimitri, where I could feel him across the room and where his mere touch set me on fire, but it was definitely a reaction.

When he finished and pulled back I had a hard time forming a coherent thought. He gave me a soft smile, that smile that was reserved only for me. He may be a bit of a womanizer, but I knew he loved me. But could I say the same? I cared for him, I did. and maybe if we had time together it could turn into love.

But we didn't have time.

"Come in, Adrian." I finally found the key and turned the lock and opened the door. He stepped inside. I sat on a chair purposely. That way he didn't have a chance to sit next to me and he had to sit opposite me. Of course Adrian didn't sit and just started pacing.

"I am sorry." He started. I was a little surprised. Adrian wasn't the person to apologize.

"For what?" He racked his hand through his hair. He often did that when he was stressed. I could see him feeling his pocket and I knew he had a flask of something there. 'for emergencies' he had joked. But he retreated his hand.

"I have been kind of hard on you. I know it must be confusing with Dimitri back." He made two more passes across my room. "I was jealous. I am afraid of losing you to him."

Adrian was being open and honest. I had known he was insecure about Dimitri, and I think he had a reason to be. But instead of discussing it like two adults, I laughed. I laughed so hard, I started to cry. Adrian didn't seem to appreciate my outburst. I had to laugh though, because I might cry again if I thought about it too hard.

"You don't have to worry about that from him. He had made it pretty clear he doesn't want to be anywhere near me. Apparently it is too hard."

The last part sounded much more bitter than I intended. Adrian looked a little unsure. It was good news, but he was skeptical. "and you? Do I need to worry about anything from you? Do you still have feelings for him?"

I didn't think it mattered. But maybe it was best to be honest. I mean I could be dead in a week. Might as well go with a clear conscience. "Yes."

His face fell so hard so I quickly continued. "I don't know what I feel, but I do have… feelings. a lot of them. They range from grieve, to hate, to love on a daily basis." I looked down towards my hands. "I don't want them there anymore, but they are there."

Adrian moved towards me and sat in front of me on his knees and placed his hands on top of mine. "I know you can't help what you feel, just as much as you couldn't help saving him. It will take time. I expected you to just… turn it off like it was a light switch, but I know that isn't how that works. I am sorry."

I nearly cried again. He was being so considerate. He was a good man and a good boyfriend. But, now I have to be a good girlfriend.

"Adrian, I have been given my assignment." The way I switched topics, even though it really wasn't a switching of topics and the tone I used made Adrian move away from me and in the opposite chair.

"And?"

"I leave tomorrow and a mission. It could take weeks, even months."

"What kind of mission?"

"Strigoi hunting." I let that sink in for a bit. before I dropped the other bomb. "With Dimitri."

Adrian's eyes went from concern to stormy. I decided I might as well download the whole thing now, before he went off again. "Dimitri has information about the whereabouts of Strigoi here. Apparently, we are the only available fighters to take on this mission. I managed to get Mikhail Tanner to go with us. But it will be dangerous."

Adrian decided he did need a sip of whatever was in his flask in his pocket. Right now, I was too tired to chastise him. Once the flask was closed again and back in its original place he looked at me.

"You don't have to go Rose, I can talk to my aunt. I know I can get you out of this. You don't have to risk your life like that. You can stay here."

That was not the reaction I thought he would have. and I was a little stunned, not just at his reaction but also at my reaction to his words. I felt...angry. I know why they were sending us. but still it was an important mission and Hans believed we could do it. I believed in mission's like this. We had a once in a lifetime opportunity to make them fear us for a change instead of the other way around. Galina's and Dimitri's organization was very well organized. Taking them down would mean a big blow to our enemy and many more people safe. And I wanted to be a part of that.

His mother had said to me, she knew I would be out of his life and moving on when I got my assignment because she knew I could never give up being a Guardian. And she was right. How his mother had known this about me, when Adrian seemed to be oblivious about it, bothered me. A lot.

"And do what?" I asked as I stood up, with my hands on my hips.

Adrian threw up his hands. "I don't know, but I'll make sure you are safe."

I shook my head. "I have to go, Adrian. You know I do."

He sat down on the chair, well, crashing down was more accurate. "So you are just going to leave again?"

"That is the mission. The mission comes first."

He looked at me and for the first time I think he truly saw me. Not the high-school student, not the girl. But the warrior, the Guardian. Except I don't think he liked what he saw. "You expect me to wait?"

There could be only one answer to that. Only one right answer. "No."

No matter my maybe-feelings for Adrian and my definitely-but-very-confused-and-anger-ridden feelings for Dimitri, there was no place for any of that on this mission. I had to focus. It would already be very hard with Dimitri there. But I knew I could trust him in a fight. I couldn't be distracted by Adrian too. I also couldn't let him live with a girlfriend who would be constantly in danger. Not just now, but as a Guardian I would always be putting other people's lives first.

I started to appreciate why so few Guardians have a love life. I could pretend at school and even now in the summer, I could pretend that I was a normal teenager who had time to figure out her feelings, but I wasn't a normal teenager and I didn't have time.

"Rose." He made one more plea with me.

"Adrian, I am leading this mission. I need to focus on keeping my team alive. and you need to live your life too. I can't expect you to wait for someone who might never come back."

His gaze softened a little. "I would wait if you asked me."

I could see his heart breaking and mine was breaking with it. I almost went to him and kissed him telling him it would be okay, that we would be okay. "I can't. We have different lives Adrian. I thought I could pretend we didn't, but reality caught up faster with us than I would have liked. I will always be a Guardian. I will always have to put others first." I walked towards him and touched his cheek. "You deserve someone who will always put you first."

He pulled away. "Right." Another swig of that flask. I frowned. It didn't take a lot now for him to grab that bottle. He didn't say anything else as he left my room, closing the door with a bang I am sure my neighbors appreciated in the middle of the night.

In the morning I had packed my bag. Every Guardian was issued a heavy duty duffel bag. I didn't know how long we would be gone, so I had packed nearly all my clothes. There really weren't that many.

I had spent most of my time trying to find my stake. I knew I had it here somewhere. Around Court you really didn't need it. After ten minutes, I had given up and hoped stakes where standard gear provided for this mission. I had a list here somewhere with all the things that would be waiting in our assigned car in the parking lot, but it was in the giant pile of paperwork in several folders on my desk I also needed to bring.

After that I said goodbye to Lissa. I had told her about the mission, but I did make it sound less dangerous than it was. I told her we would be scouting, and only engaging when we had no other choice. Not a complete lie, but not really the truth either. But I hadn't wanted her to worry. I had also informed her about Adrian and I, or the lack thereof.

She had simply smiled gently. through the bond I could tell she was actually glad too. Now that Dimitri was back, she felt we were meant to be, and that he would come around- eventually. I doubted it. I barely recognized the Dimitri he was now. And maybe he barely recognized me too. I am a different person than I was back at the Academy. Too much trauma will do that to a person. Maybe we had simply grown apart.

She had hugged me so fiercely. And I told her I would call her every night. I had a guardian issued cell-phone now and even a laptop with its own data link. So we could talk and video chat. This wasn't like Russia, where she didn't know if I was alive or dead, and what I was up to.

Now, I was walking towards the garage. It was very early in the morning and Court was rather empty. But Strigoi waited for no one. Although, I could get a bit of breakfast first. I checked the time on my new fancy-spancy phone and decided I had a few minutes to get a donut, or a croissant, or both.

I ordered at the counter and saw Ambrose waiting on his order. He looked up at me and nodded a greeting. He didn't seem surprised to see me here. I guess it wasn't surprising. I went here as often as I could. The croissants were amazing.

Ambrose didn't say anything to me. He seemed to be a bit quiet and sad this morning. Unfortunately, I had no time to ask about it. Besides, he didn't seem to be in a sharing mood.

When our orders arrived he came up to the counter and handed cash to the clerk behind the desk, his hand brushed my side as he did. Once he had his order he smiled at me. "Good luck Rose on your assignment."

I nodded and wanted to thank him, but he was already gone before I even opened my mouth. Odd.

I moved towards the garage where a lovely SUV with three people in front of it was waiting for me.

An odd sight they made. Dimitri was tall and dark towering over the other two. Mia's innocent looks made the contrast to Dimitri even greater. Mikhail was somewhere in the middle. I knew he would be the voice of reason on this trip. and God knew we would need him.

I looked at my teammates. When they saw me they straightened. Yes, I was their leader now. They would look to me to guide them and keep them safe. Even Dimitri.

I took the last bite of my donuts and threw away the paper. "Let's do this.

Hans Croft

It was early morning. I am up most early mornings, but rarely this early. I had been summoned by the Council. I winched when I saw the summons. Did they already know that Rose was bringing a Moroi? I swear that girl will send me to an early retirement... or an early grave.

I was led towards a private chamber. The full Council was present, which was rare. Mostly I dealt with Queen Tatiana or one of her representatives. Seeing the full Council before me was a little daunting. Even though Tatiana herself was missing. In her stead and in her seat was her nephew. Nathan Ivashkov.

That was odd.

One of the clerks handed me some papers. "We need you to sign these and authorize the royal Guardians for the arrest."

Arrest? In a bit of panic I looked down at the papers and there were two lines I picked up as problematic. 'Murder of Queen Tatiana Ivashkov' and as if that wasn't terrible enough the next line read 'leading suspect Rose Hathaway'. It was Rose who the arrest warrant was for.

"When did she die?" I asked as I flipped through the papers to see if there was an M.E. rapport or any evidence Rose indeed had anything to do with this. I understood she was a prime suspect with her outburst in the courtroom and her personal connection to the Queen. But they must have evidence. But all I saw was the warrant.

"Last night, between six and eight." I signed in relief. I had developed a little soft spot for that girl. I don't think she would actually murder the Queen, but it was nice my judgement hadn't been wrong.

"And why is she your main suspect?" When some of the Council members just stared at me I added with a dismissive wave. "Besides the obvious." Which would not be admissible in court, even a court as biased as ours.

"Her stake was found in her majesty's chest, with her fingerprints on it. and we have yet to establish an alibi for her. So she had motive, means and opportunity."

The trifecta of convicting someone. Fortunately for her, I had assigned her a lot of paperwork. This might have ended a lot differently if she had simply been in her room all day and nobody had seen her.

"I won't sign this. Rose was with me last night around the time of the murder."

The look of disgust on the faces of the Council told me they had terribly misinterpreted my words. My God, that is all they thought about. Scandals. I was more than twice her age. Although I could appreciate her beauty like really anyone could, I had never seen her like that. And it wasn't because of the age difference, it was because I saw the warrior first, the woman second.

"Guardian Hathaway and I were discussing the logistics of her upcoming mission. The one you assigned her too." The one only the Council was privy to right now. So whoever framed her hadn't known this.

"And there are others that can confirm this?" Lord Ivashkov asked. I was almost outraged that the word of the head Guardian wasn't enough. But I understood that in a murder case, certainly when a Queen had been murdered they needed to cover all the basics.

I crossed my arms over my chest, indicating I found the addition ridiculous. "She talked to several other Guardians, arranging logistics for the mission. She was there for hours and not only will those Guardians happily testify on her behalf, the security cameras will also show she was there for several hours around the window the Queen was murdered. Someone obviously knew she wasn't in her room and took that time to get her stake and frame her."

I really couldn't blame this person for picking Rose to take the fall. If she hadn't had an ironclad alibi, I knew she would have been found guilty in a heartbeat.

They weren't happy about this. I think she had been their only suspect.

This also couldn't come at a worse time. The tensions were already running high. Our society was polarizing and Tatiana's death would only add to the fear and panic. This could lead to civil war. We had enough enemies without turning on each other.

"Does this mean her mission is revoked?" I asked. I looked down at my watch. If they did pull Rose, they would have to be quick. She was about to leave. With any luck she wouldn't even know about the Queen's death before she was far away from Court. I could see the Council debating this. After a few moments of hushed whispers they turned back to me. It was Princess Szelsky who spoke. "No, this mission is important and if Guardian Hathaway has been framed, it might be better for her to be away from Court. You will keep in contact with them, Yes?"

I nodded. Daily updates, like I told her.

Although I was glad I had packed them all stakes. Dimitri had lost his when he lost his life. And Rose hadn't had an official pair yet. I knew she had the one she took from her trip to Russia. The one currently bloodied with the Queen's blood.

Yeah, it started to feel like Rose being framed might have been a tad more personal.