"Are you going to tell me where we're going any time soon?"
I was fed up with Abe by this point in time, after he blindfolded me and had Pavel take my hand to guide me while he led the way. I was relying on my sense of hearing and smell, and neither of them were really doing all that much for me.
"Rose, darling, if you're going to be a guardian then shouldn't you already be used to training exercises like this?"
"Did you really just call me darling?"
Abe laughed. "Kiz, you're my daughter. Aren't I allowed to call you that?"
Not if you want to stay alive... I thought to myself. Instead of voicing my thoughts, however, I simply shook my head and bit my lip.
"Nearly here, Rose. You'll thank me when this journey is over."
I listened carefully to see if there were any giveaway signs of where we might be heading, but all I heard was the soft sound of Pavel and I's footsteps, as well as the thumping of whatever dressy shoes my father was wearing. Then, I froze.
"Adrian?"
Abe chuckled. "Wow, you dhampirs really don't have such a strong sense of smell, like us Moroi. I could smell him a mile away."
I merely smiled, and let my sense of smell take over. The smell of cloves lingered in the air, as well as a rather strong smell of alcohol, at which I crinkled my nose in distaste. Then I heard music to my ears: his laugh, which I could never get enough of.
"What, isn't a man allowed his vices when his amazing girlfriend is put in prison for an unmeasurable amount of time?"
"You're hardly a man," Abe chuckled. "Now do you want me to remove her blindfold or should we let her suffer longer?"
"Oh no you don't," I said. "I am sick to death of this blindfold and I hardly see the point to it."
"I shall explain why I had Pavel blindfold you later. Right now, I think you need a shower and a change of clothes. Adrian, take her to her room. Vasilisa will be waiting."
"Sure thing, Mr. Mazur."
"Call me Abe, Adrian."
And at that, Abe finally removed my blindfold and took off, Pavel on his heels. I turned to look at Adrian, and sharply inhaled as I drank him in. He chuckled, breaking the silence of my extensive gaze.
"Can't think how you managed to get a catch like myself, little dhampir?"
I rolled my eyes, then flashed him him one of my maneater smiles. "Come over here and I'll show you exactly what I keep you around for, Ivashkov."
"As much as I'd love to take you up on that offer, I have strict orders from your father. Seeing as he scares me, I think it's wise I follow them."
I debated this. Abe and Adrian, plotting together? Something wasn't right. Seeing my confused look, Adrian took my hand.
"Follow me, love."