Jill, Lissa, and I were walking down the hall, and they were laughing hard about something I'd said about the guard at the door. We walked into Lissa's queenly study and froze. On the couch, smiling like the idiot he was, was Adrian Ivashkov. I hadn't seen Adrian since he yelled at me for cheating on him with Dimtri, which, I mean, he totally had the right to do, but still. Two years without any contact was a very long time to simmer down.
"Adrian!" Jill squealed, jumping into his arms the moment he stood up.
"Whoa! Hey, Jailbait!" he laughed, twirling her around. He put her down and kissed her head. "You've grown," he noted shocked. She had. Her hair had finally semi-settle down and played off her eyes beautifully. She'd grown up a lot since he'd last seen her. She shrugged, and he turned to Lissa and me.
"Hey," was all Lissa said before she embraced him, probably trying to hold back tears. My suspicions confirmed when I heard him telling her not to cry.
She finally pulled back, wiping her eyes. "I'm really glad you're back," she treid to explain. He just smiled and nodded. Then he turned to me.
"No hug for me, little dhampir?" he asked softly. I smiled as I walked over to hug him.
"Wasn't sure you wanted one, Ivashkov." He squeezed lightly and I pulled back. It was then that I, with Lissa and Jill, noticed that Adrian wasn't alone.
There was a tall Moroi woman sitting quietly on the couch. She was a redhead with really pretty blue eyes. I felt a twinge of something, but it wasn't enough to worry me. It wasn't all that much of a surprise, I guess. I'd always hoped that Adrian would find a girl to be to him what Dimitri was to me.
"Hello," Lissa said in her slightly surprised voice, though I could tell by her facial features that she was completely shocked.
Adrian cleared his throat. "Uh, yes. Ladies, this is my friend, Sarah."
We all nodded and smiled politely to her and she did the same. It was awkward for a few minutes when Jill piped up. "How long are you staying, Adrian?" We all silently thanked her.
"A few weeks at the least," he answered. She nodded. And it was quiet again.
"So where've you been hiding out the past few years?" Lissa asked.
Adrian smiled. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."
"Hey, we believe a lot of unbelievable things, remember?" I reasoned.
He nodded. "Okay, but just don't shoot me, okay?" He nodded towards my gun on my waist belt. I rolled my eyes, and he smiled.
"I've been at school. Finishing my classes up to start making my own money."
It was quiet again. All at once all of us started laughing, except Sarah.
"Really? You went back to school…to work?" I taunted.
"Hey, now," he said mockingly stern. We all settled down and he finished. "I really have been at school, trying to learn how to not blow all my money on my 'off-switches'"
When Adrian said it, Sarah flinched. I frowned. That was weird. I'd, personally, never seen anyone flinch at the mention of spirit except Lissa, Adrian, my former teacher, Ms. Karp, and me. And we all had very good reason to flinch at it. Spirit could be very dangerous if not used properly. But why would she? I almost asked Adrian, but Christian and Dimitri walked in. As with us, they turned to stone. Dimitri, who usually didn't let people know he was surprised, didn't hide his while Christian, who never really cared for Adrian, was in full out gawking mode. Adrian was sporting his forever-famous smug look as he reclined even more into his chair. "Hey, guys," he said casually.
Dimitri was the first to thaw. "Hello, Adrian," he said formally, flicking his eyes quickly my direction. Why is he here? I shrugged. I don't know. Maybe he was lonely but by the looks of her he's been fine. Dimitri flicked his eyes to Sarah and frowned. I looked at her and she was avoided anyone's eyes.
"What are you doing here?" Christian demanded. Leave it to him to just out right say it. Jill and me snickered while Lissa was shaking her head, and Dimitri was trying not to smile.
Adrian smiled openly. "I was wondering when you were going to say that." He didn't say anything else.
"Well?" I couldn't help but ask.
He smiled again. "You haven't learned patience yet, have you, little dhampir?"
I arched an eyebrow and Jill said what I thought. "Did you forget how Rose works?"
We all laughed at her disbelief. Except Sarah, but this time it was understandable. She didn't know me, but if she was around for any period time she would.
Adrian smirked. "No, Jailbait, I didn't forget. It's impossible to." I smiled and nodded. "The reason I'm back, well, it actually has something to do with what you can do for me, Your Majesty," he said in all seriousness, which was rare for Adrian.
Lissa's eyebrows went up. I think for the hundredth time in these past two years, Lissa had forgot that she was the queen. "What can I do for you, Lord Ivashkov?" Lissa said formally, making her way to the big desk on the back wall of the study. Dimitri, Jill, and I stood back as Christian, Adrian, Sarah, and Lissa got down to business. Adrian was apparently in a little trouble-not surprising- and he needed a place for him and Sarah to stay for a little while-again not surprising. It was when Lissa asked what trouble he was in that we all got a shock. Because Adrian, who was trying to come up with something else to say no doubt, didn't speak up. Sarah did.
"It's my dad," she said. "He's coming after us."
Lissa, who had not seen something like this coming, was puzzled. "Why?"
Here was the big shock:
"Sarah's pregnant," Adrian announced.
