Author's Note: Apparently it was my public duty to update ;) I was meant to finish this yesterday but I suffered from writer's block :( Lucky it is over now and I can post this. Think of this chapter as my Christmas present to you :) Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Adrian poured the last of the whisky into his glass when there was a knock on the door. Not in the mood for company he ignored it. He picked up his lit cigarette and took a drag from it. He exhaled as the knocking started again.

"Adrian! Let me in!" Adrian recognised the familiar voice of Reese Conta. Still ignoring the knocking Adrian took another drag. "I know you're in there!" Adrian grinned. How? "I can smell fresh smoke from your cigarettes." Adrian frowned. Damn it!

Adrian got up off the couch and opened the door a fraction. Peering through the gap he saw Reese Conta. "What do you want?" said Adrian annoyed.

"Can't I spend quality time with my favourite pal?" Reese said.

Adrian paused then rolled his eyes and opened the door completely. He blocked the doorway with his arm. "But seriously, what do you want?"

Reese rolled his eyes. "Like I said, I want to spend some quality time with my favourite pal."

Adrian raised an eyebrow and walked away from the door. He sat down on the couch and picked up his cigarette and put it out. Reese shut the door and sat on the couch Vasilisa sat only a few hours ago. The memory of Vasilisa and Rose in his room caused grin to form on his face.

"What are you smiling about cousin? Well never mind that, how awesome was my party this morning," said Reese looking rather smug.

He rolled his eyes. "So, you came here to brag?"

"Why do you think I have a reason for visiting you?" Adrian raised his eyebrows. "Okay fine, I do have a reason."

"Here we go," he muttered.

"My dad is making me go to Priscilla's banquet and since it is going to be really boring. All the royals are going to be there." All the royals are going to be there. "Could you please come?"

With a sigh Adrian answered. "Fine, only because I'm bored. Now could you get out so I can get ready?"

Reese got off the couch and walked towards the door. "Whatever dude, see you later."

When Adrian entered the banquet he instantly wished he hadn't come. He saw his father getting into an argument. There was a small crowd around him. He was surprised to see Rose and Vasilisa in that crowd. In fact Vasilisa was one of the people standing up to him. By the looks of it the majority were on Vasilisa's side.

A waitress walked by and offered Adrian a glass of champagne. He took the glass and had a sip. He scanned the crowd looking for Reese. He was no where to be seen. He must have bailed, the bastard.

The crowd his father was now surrounding Vasilisa. He watched as Rose backed away into a corner by the door. Maybe I can make this a little more interesting. He put down the glass on a random table and made his way over to where Rose was standing. As he came closer he could smell perfume on her. It was a mixture of currant, lily and some other unidentifiable flora fragrances.

A waitress had approached her with a tray of food.

"Is that goose liver?" she asked.

The waitress shook her head. "Sweetbread."

Rose reached for it.

"It's pancreas," said Adrian. She jerked back.

"What?" she squeaked. The waitress took her shock for rejection and moved on.

Adrian moved into Rose's line of sight, looking immensely pleased with himself.

"Are you messing with me?" she asked. "'Sweatbread' is pancreas?"

Adrian shrugged. "It's really good."

She shook her head in disgust. "Oh, man. Rich people suck."

His amusement continued. "What are you doing here, little dhampir? Are you following me around?"

"Of course not," she scoffed. "Especially not after all the trouble you've gotten us into." A smile was forming on Adrian's face.

"I don't know," he teased. "As many times as we keep seeing each other? This is, what, the fifth time? It's starting to look suspicious. Don't worry, though. I won't tell your boyfriend. Either of them."

She opened her mouth to protest but closed it. If Adrian didn't know any better he'd say she was blushing. "I only have one boyfriend. Sort of. Maybe not anymore. And anyway, there's nothing to tell. I don't even like you."

"No?" asked Adrian, still smiling. He leaned toward her, like he had a secret to share. "Then why are you wearing my perfume?"

Her cheeks were turning red as she took a step back. "I'm not."

He laughed. "Of course you are. I counted the boxes after you left. Besides, I can smell it on you. It's nice. Sharp…but still sweet-just like I'm sure you are deep down inside. And you got it right, you know. Just enough to add an edge…but not enough to drown your own scent."

"Hey," she said, tossing her hair back. "I had every right to take one. You offered them. Your mistake is in assuming me taking one means anything. It doesn't. Except that maybe you should be more careful with where you dump all that money of yours."

"Ooh, Rose Hathaway is here to play, folks." He paused and took a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. "You want one?"

"I don't drink."

"Right." Adrian handed her a glass anyway, then shooed away the waiter away and took a drink of the champagne. "So. Sounds like our Vasilisa put my dad in his place."

"Your…" she glanced back at the group she had just left. "That guy's your dad?"

"That's what my mom says."

"You agree with him? About how Moroi fighting would be suicide?"

Adrian shrugged and took another sip. "I don't really have an opinion on that."

"That's not possible. How can you not feel one way or another?"

"Dunno. Just not something I think about. I've got better things to do."

"Like stalk me," she suggested. "And Lissa."

He smiled again. "I told you, you're the one following me."

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Five times-" she stopped. "Five times?"

He nodded.

"No, it's only been four." With her free hand, she ticked them off. "There was the first night, the night at the spa, then when I came to your room, and now tonight."

"If you say so."

"I do say so…" Again, her words trailed off. "You can't mean…"

"Mean what?" A curious, eager expression lit his eyes. It was more hopeful than presumptuous.

She swallowed, obviously thinking about the dream they shared. "Nothing." She took a drink of champagne. After a moment, a smile started to form on her face.

"Why are you smiling?" Adrian asked.

"Because Lissa's still over there, working the crowd."

"No surprises there. She's one of those people who can charm anyone she wants if she tries hard enough. Even people who hate her."

She gave him a wry look. "I feel that way when I talk to you."

"But you don't hate me," he said, finishing the last of his champagne. "Not really."

"I don't like you either."

"So you keep saying." He took a step toward her, making the space between them more intimate. "But I can live with that."

"Rose!" Janie Hathaway stormed up towards them. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Nothing, I-"

"Excuse us, Lord Ivashkov," she growled. Then she grabbed Rose's arm and jerked her out of the room.

Once they were out the room, Adrian scanned the crowd again. He saw Guardian Belikov making his way through the crowd to the door Rose just exited through. More annoyed than he should be, Adrian walked around hoping to find another waiter.