It surprised no one when Christian was particularly out of sorts the following morning. All the group who'd attended the biathlon bar Dimitri and Abe's Guardians were feeling a little under the weather. One by one they came downstairs, the dhampirs heading straight to the breakfast room while the Moroi fed. Adrian slunk into the breakfast parlor, lowering himself carefully into the seat at Abe's right.
"Lord Ivashkov, could you please move to another chair? That's my seat," Pavel said when he arrived a few minutes later, the morning paper in his hand. Too surprised by the request to question it, Adrian hauled his hung-over ass out of the chair, moving to the chair on Abe's other side. Abe did not make eye contact with either man, simply taking the business section of the newspaper when Pavel offered it.
"Everyone sleep ok?" Rose asked with a wicked grin, observing the misery surrounding her. Even Tasha—who had joined her shopping, hence was not hungover — appeared dispirited.
"I'm lucky I slept at all, given the stench of alcohol and Christian's snoring," Lissa said, giving her boyfriend stink-eye. It had been hours before Lissa was satisfied that Christian would not vomit and choke in his sleep. Thus, she was operating on well under her usual eight hours of rest. At least Christian had the grace to look apologetic.
"What about you, Tasha? Did you sleep well? It was exceptionally cold last night—I hope you were warm enough?" Rose asked, sounding every bit the gracious hostess.
"I slept ok. It was cold," she replied.
Rose grinned as she lobbed another volley in Tasha's direction. "Glad to hear you were ok. Luckily, I had Dimitri with me. I seriously feel the cold, but Dimitri wraps himself around me like a vine when we sleep, so I am always nice and toasty."
"I don't feel the chill as much as you. I am used to it from growing up here," Dimitri explained, smiling at Rose tenderly.
"Plus, you know lots of other ways to keep me warm," Rose replied suggestively, ignoring Tasha's ugly expression at hearing their banter. Abe likewise repressed a shudder. He knew Belikov and his daughter were sharing a bed, and presumably everything that went along with that. Didn't mean he enjoyed hearing about it. Still—if it made Tasha feel like shit, then he'd put aside his disinclination to knowing about the matter.
"So… It's New Year's Eve. Any New Year's resolutions?" Rose asked those gathered around the table.
"Drink less. A lot less," Eddie voiced with a groan. While he'd had less than some others yesterday, he was sporting a wicked hangover.
"Joining you on that one," Celeste agreed, wanting breakfast to be over as soon as possible so she could retire to her bed for another hour or two. Still—she was here to guard, at least partially, so her day would be dictated by her charges.
"This year, I am going to put myself out there and try to find love," Adrian said in an uncharacteristic display of honesty. "It's time, and I want to settle down."
No one at the table knew quite what to say about that. The crew from St. Vlad's knew Adrian had held a torch for Rose from the moment the two had met. Adrian declaring he was looking for love was also a statement that he was preparing to move on. A wise decision given Rose and Belikov were now inextricably united, Lissa was still proud of her royal cousin, and unseen by the others, grabbed his hand under the table and squeezed it, wordlessly giving him her support.
No one said anything until Dimitri voiced his resolution. "Next year, and for the rest of my life, my vow is to love Rose and make her every dream come true. We've wasted so much time… Roza? Be mine?"
The table was silent, until Tasha gasped, "What are you saying, Dimitri? Are you proposing?!"
Rose's heart was racing in her chest. Was Dimitri asking her to marry him? Not that she didn't think one day they'd be married, but they were still getting to know one another again. It was too soon.
"No, I am not proposing. Not yet. But as Rose's closest friends and family, I want you to know that I am committed to Rose and a future with her. I'm hers if she'll have me."
"Of course I'll have you," Rose said, relieved Dimitri wasn't asking the ultimate question just yet. "And yes, Comrade—I'm yours."
Dimitri's smile was beatific as he took Rose's hand, bringing it up to his lips. Rose looked a little sheepish, however her Russian Guardian was pleased to have publicly declared what everyone else already knew. He needed everyone to recognize his commitment to his former mentee.
"Well, my resolution is to travel," Tasha blurted out, in a blatant attempt to derail Rose and Dimitri's tender moment.
"Good luck with that," Adrian said almost under his breath, sarcasm clearly apparent.
"What do you mean?" Tasha snapped, already cross thanks to Dimitri's declaration.
"I think Lord Ivashkov means it's going to be hard to travel once you're incarcerated at Court for the murder of Queen Tatiana," Abe said, delivering his news sounding almost bored.
"I do not know what you mean!" Tasha said, panic flooding her every pore. Her aura lit up with pure terror—she had no idea anyone had a clue she was the architect and engineer of Tatiana's demise.
"Tasha… We know. We all know," Christian stated, his voice somber. Squeezing Lissa's hand, he continued, "I just wish I knew why?"
Abe's eyes met Pavel's; however, the career Guardian already had a dozen Guardians subtly join the breakfast room. Nodding at his stalwart companion, Abe turned to Adrian.
"You will speak honestly, stay calm, and not fight," Adrian said, meeting Tasha's eyes and speaking in his most sober voice. Compulsion. Lissa turned to Christian apologetically, her eyes saying what her words could not.
"You need to, too?" he said, recognizing what his girlfriend was suggesting.
"It's safer if I do," she agreed.
Nodding, Christian gave his consent. Spirit users were significantly stronger at compulsion than any other group of Moroi. His aunt needed to be subdued. Adrian compelling Tasha would probably hold up. With Vasilisa's help, it would be certain.
"Natasha Ozera. You will answer any question asked honestly, you will comply with any request from Mr. Mazur, Lord Adrian Ivashkov, or any of Mr. Mazur's guardians, and you will not use your magic or try to escape," Lissa had barely finished speaking when Rose fired a question at the woman who'd framed her for murder.
"I know you killed Tatiana. Why did you make it look like it was me?"
Tasha took a moment to reply, her thoughts taking some time to align. "Tatiana needed to die. You had been so vocal against her. Then there was Dimka…"
"IT'S GUARDIAN BELIKOV!" Dimitri snapped, disgusted that his former friend had used her interest in him as a justification for framing his beloved for murder. There simply weren't words for his anger and disgust. If he never saw Tasha Ozera again, it would be too soon!
Unable to stop herself, Tasha looked at Celeste, repeating her words as an explanation. "Once you met Rose, you considered no one else. I just wanted you to look at me. Consider me…"
"I did," Dimitri replied, his voice glacial. "Last Christmas. You asked, and I thought about it."
"And?"
"I knew I would never feel the way about you that I felt about Rose. She was my student, and I could not see a way we could ever be together, yet I still chose to love her from afar than a life and a family with you."
"You chose a fantasy over a real woman who would love and devote herself to you? I could have been everything you ever wanted. With a little more thought, you could have chosen me!" Tasha said, her voice catching as her heart was being torn in half. Dimitri Belikov had been her dream for as long as she could remember.
"Lady Ozera? You were never even part of the equation. Your offer was interesting, yet you were not. I find you abhorrent. Vulgar. You are everything I do not want in a woman. Even after I thought Rose was gone, I had no interest in you. Surely you could not be unaware I avoided you at every opportunity? I didn't want you before I thought Rose passed. I wanted you even less after!"
Everyone else a silent witness to the conversation taking place in front of them, Eddie laughed. Meeting Celeste's eyes, she joined in his merriment.
"He's right," Eddie chuckled, staring at his guarding companion. "Sorry, Christian, but your aunt has been like a bitch on heat around Belikov from the moment I met her. It was bad at the ski lodge, and once she thought Rose was gone, it was even worse."
"It wasn't that bad…" Christian murmured, refusing to look in his aunt's direction.
Lissa snorted, raising one perfectly sculpted eyebrow.
"Ok. Maybe it was," he admitted, knowing the truth when he heard it. "So, what happens now?"
"I am sorry to leave you young people to enjoy New Year's eve. However, Adrian, Lady Ozera, Guardian Smirnov, and I need to head to Court. Today. The rest of you are welcome to join us, however, I recommend you stay put here for at least another few days." Abe did not explain, but the subtext was it was going to be a shitshow when Tasha was brought back to Court.
Pavel stood, taking handcuffs out of his pocket. "Your hands, please, Lady Ozera."
Unable to stop herself, thanks to Adrian and Lissa's compulsion, Tasha allowed herself to be cuffed and led out of the breakfast room.
"Christian? I'll go and pack Natasha's bag. Mr. Mazur? How soon will you be leaving?" Lissa asked.
"Shortly. I'm just waiting for one more person to arrive." Seconds later, the doorbell rang. "And I bet that's her, now…"
"Rose, we have to stop bumping into one another like this."
"Morning, Sydney. I take it you're here to travel to Court with my father?"
"That's right. I'm going as one of the witnesses."
"A witness?" Lissa asked, eying Sydney warily. Rose had forgotten that despite hearing a lot about one another, the two women had never met.
"I'll explain later. Liss, this is my alchemist friend, Sydney. Sydney, this is Princess Vasilisa Dragomir, otherwise known as Lissa, and her boyfriend Christian Ozera."
"Pleased to meet you," Lissa replied cautiously.
"Shame about the circumstances," Christian added, attempting to make light of the situation but falling short of the mark. "Come on, Liss, I'll help you with Tasha's bag." Now Tasha's crime was known, he wanted her out of the house, and out of his life, as soon as possible.
"I'm glad she's gone," Dimitri said once Abe, Adrian, Tasha, Grigor, and Sydney had departed to the airport and Abe's private plane. Rose knew he meant Tasha, so didn't bother clarifying. Since Lissa and Christian did not know about Sydney and Adrian's part in Tasha's downfall, Rose explained her recent knowledge about what Abe had orchestrated.
"I'm sorry, Christian. I didn't know until a day or so ago."
"I'm also sorry. I didn't know either," Christian replied, referring to Tasha's actions. He was still reeling from his aunt's betrayal.
"I thought we might stay here an extra day or two, then return directly to Lehigh?" Lissa said, watching her boyfriend carefully. "Neither of us wants to be at Court unless we have to be…" The political and social fallout from this was going to be massive. No one blamed Christian or Lissa for not wanting to be a part of it.
"You'll need another Guardian," Dimitri said, in his first open admission he would not be re-joining them at college. "I'll speak with headquarters," he replied, subdued, yet still certain of where he saw his future.
"Will you be traveling back to the States with us?" Celeste asked, unsure of how things would go with her dhampir colleagues and friends.
"At this stage, I have no idea," Rose admitted. "I think it's a matter of playing things by ear."
Thirty minutes later, the others had departed upstairs, leaving Pavel, Rose, and Dimitri alone in the breakfast parlor. The overall mood was somber. Understandable, given everything that had taken place.
"You said you're thinking about bodyguard work," Pave started, sitting again in the seat to the right of Abe's—even though the latter was on a plane headed toward Court. "What exactly do you have in mind?"
Rose and Dimitri's talks about the future had been nebulous. All they had decided was, at least for now, they'd head out into the human world, and probably work in some sort of security field, as it was a logical application of their training. They also knew they wanted to score some sort of guarding position as a duo, which would enable them to stay together, which was their primary intention.
"It's going to be hard," Dimitri admitted, shrugging at Abe's guardian. "We have no social security numbers, no references, and no one to vouch for us. But it feels like the right decision. It might be shitty for a few months while we establish some credibility. Still—better that than working it out in the Moroi world."
Pavel looked at the younger guardian, shaking his head as he fought off his laughter.
"Belikov? You obviously do not know the influence of Zmey. Papers? Socials? A glowing recommendation? All yours in an instant. Anything his daughter wants, she'll get. You, too, if she asks for it."
"Wish you'd told me that a bit earlier," Rose grumbled, strangely touched by Pavel's admission. Her father had proven himself again and again. However, hearing it from a third party made her heart swell. "If you can set us up with human social security numbers and a credible backstory, that would be a massive help. It's going to be hard to get a job if no one knows who we are, and we can't give any sort of reference."
"That won't be a problem. You forget, while your father does a lot of work in the Moroi world, he is also well known in human business circles. We'll set you up with a believable backstory, and I will be your referee. You won't need to say much—it will be understood you would have signed an NDA to work for Mr. Mazur. When you go for jobs, I will personally vouch for the two of you."
"You'd do that for us?" Rose asked, her voice a whisper.
"Ms. Mazur, I will always do whatever needs to be done to help you," Pavel vowed.
"Hathaway," Rose corrected softly, with little conviction.
"Mazur or Hathaway. You're still Abe's little girl."
Handcuffed and seated opposite two of Abe's guardians on his luxury plane, Tasha could not escape, even without Adrian's compulsion forcing her to be compliant. Her initial panic at being discovered had abated, to be replaced with the stomach-wrenching realization that if she was convicted, she would be in jail for the rest of her life, or possibly even sentenced to death. The same fate she'd wished for Rose Hathaway.
Mazur had been annoyingly close-mouthed about how they knew about her involvement in Queen Tatiana's demise. While she had admitted her motivations back at the house—her desire to get rid of both Rose and Tatiana—Tasha's rudimentary understanding of Moroi law led her to believe that because of compulsion, her statements might be inadmissible in Court. A good lawyer could argue perhaps they had compelled her to confess to a crime she did not commit. All she needed was to introduce reasonable doubt, and she might go free. Of course, all that depended on just what Mazur knew. She'd been in contact with Moore a few times by text, and he'd not reported anything unusual, so it was unlikely they knew about his role in the deadly escapade. And without video footage, anything else was circumstantial. Closing her eyes to blot out the two Guardians watching her every move, and Ivashkov talking to a female Alchemist further down the aisle, Tasha prepared herself to play the part of a wrongly accused woman.
"Do you think she'll be acquitted?" Sydney asked Adrian. Used to thinking of Moroi as evil bloodsuckers, she had to admit that this bloodsucker was dangerously good-looking and particularly charming.
"No," he replied, leaning closer to Sydney and speaking softly so there was no opportunity for Tasha to overhear them. "With Moore's confession, and the witnesses attesting to it, she doesn't have a chance. If they use veritaserum on her it will be a slam dunk."
"Will she go to prison?"
"I think that's up to Queen Ariana. Either way, I doubt she's going to be a bother to anyone going forward. Now since we have a long flight ahead of us, tell me about your time in Russia. I am not sure if I mentioned it, but after giving my testimony at Court, I plan to return to Russia to travel. I'd love any recommendations, or perhaps you could show me a few places you recommend?"
Abe watched Adrian flirting with Rose's Alchemist friend. The chances of Sydney giving into the Moroi Lord's charms were dismal, but the young man obviously enjoyed a challenge, and Abe admired that about him. Sipping his aged scotch from a cut crystal tumbler, Abe's eyes returned to the paperwork in front of him, checking and rechecking every fact and statement he would present to Queen Szelsky and the Guardian Council. He was leaving nothing to chance. After all, his daughter's life depended on it.
While it had surprised him that she and Belikov wanted to go into the human world, his initial misgivings had given way to acceptance. There was still a lot of opposition to Guardian/Guardian romantic partnerships, plus the job and pay were terrible. His money meant Rose never had to work, so if she wanted to be in the human world alongside Belikov, then so be it. The right word here, or there, should find them a suitable gig. He'd put his mind to it.