Thanks for all the comments and reviews, wow, I am so glad you like this story. And I am so so so so so excited that the excerpt for Last Sacrifice should be released this week according to Richelle Mead's blog.

Keep commenting and reviewing please it means the world to me and keeps me writing.

It took me around half an hour to see the error of my ways. I had checked a dozen hotel bars and two 'gentleman's' clubs to no avail. I couldn't find him. I once again felt an appreciation for guardians who had no bond with their charge. Adrian could be anywhere and I had no way of figuring out his location. I walked back to our hotel in the mid day sun, sweat forming on the back of my neck and making my hair stick.

Over and over in my head I was turning over what might have happened. I couldn't see how anyone could have recognised him unless, like Izaak they were a spirit user, if anyone disguise should have been impenetrable it should have been Adrian's and Lissa's, compulsion was second nature to them. It couldn't have been Strigoi, it was the middle of the day, but then we had known humans to work with strigoi before. No. He couldn't have been taken by strigoi, I couldn't face that.

I felt through the bond that Lissa and the others had headed back to the hotel in case Adrian showed up there, seeing them was going to be like a slap in the face and I didn't know if I could face it. Suddenly I remembered the pager that Adrian had in the car to keep in contact with Abe. If anyone could help track a missing person it was Abe, and he would know if the guardians had in fact gotten him. I set off at more of a run, only becoming still as I rode the elevator to my required floor and then I was off again. I hadn't been given a key card for the door so I banged until Dimitri let me in.

'Where's the pager?' I asked, slightly breathless and totally keyed up. Dimitri looked confused for a second but Lissa appeared behind him, disapproval on her face, holding the small black box shape in her dainty hand. Dimitri went back to the chair I assumed he had vacated to open the door and Lissa pulled me aside.

'Rose. What the hell is wrong with you?' She hissed. Even though her voice was quiet I knew the rest of the room could hear, especially the Moroi. I flinched back, she rarely chewed me out like this but it was becoming more and more frequent. 'You cannot keep doing this to Dimitri, he's going through enough without you being petty. You're going to make him worse you know and you'll only have yourself to blame when he doesn't even want to see you at all let alone be your friend.' I felt a small amount of sympathy trickle through the bond and took a step back from her now softening eyes. I could tell she hated to hurt me like that but she felt she needed to protect Dimitri. I was sick of this whole situation, I didn't want to be pitied by my best friend, or looked at in the condescending way she was now. I knew that what I'd said to Dimitri was wrong, I actually hadn't meant it to that extent but I was mad, and worried, and guilty.

I looked at the pager, attempting to figure out how to send a message to Abe. I finally managed to send zmey, HELP! Before I sat down on the least comfortable chair in the suite for what I presumed could be a long wait. Any movement I heard quickly brought me to attention and I imagined Adrian walking through the door a little worse for wear after a big drinking session but otherwise safe.

The pager started beeping on my lap and I snatched it up, Abe's reply read Safe followed by a phone number. I darted for the door and felt someone following me, it wasn't Dimitri, and I'd be able to sense that, so I ran for the elevator hoping they wouldn't be able to catch up. Christian slid in just before the doors closed.

I groaned 'ugh go away'. I folded my arms and tapped my foot waiting for the elevator to finally reach the ground level. 'Rose, what are you doing?'

'Finding Adrian! None of you seem to care that he could have been taken by the guardians or strigoi or anyone.'

'Of course we want to find Adrian. We've been trying to figure out who could have him or where he could have gone since you ran off. I just want to help with whatever you're doing now ok?' I stared him down for a minute before nodding, if there was anyone I wanted on my side now it was Christian.

'Abe sent me a phone number to call him on so I'm going to find a pay phone to call him on.' Christian nodded and we rode the rest of the way in silence. It took a good fifteen minutes but we finally found a pay phone outside of some huge casino, it was on the grimy side but I really didn't care. As I dialled Christian leaned in closer so he could hear what was being said. On the third ring Abe picked up.

'Hello?' I breathed a sigh of relief at hearing Abe's voice, some part of me saw Abe as being safe and it soothed my agitated mind. 'Abe! Adrian's missing!' I managed to spit out, almost biting off my own tongue in the haste. 'I know, I know. But don't worry we've got it all under control.' Under control? How could he have this under control?

'Abe, just tell me what's going on I said through gritted teeth. I was not in the mood for deciphering codes here. 'The guardians have him' I groaned inwardly but was pleased it wasn't strigoi. The guardians wouldn't hurt Adrian Ivashkov, much anyway. 'Some guardians found him in the alley behind the Witching Hour about an hour ago; he'd been mugged and beaten up.' I glanced up at Christian and saw the worry on his face. 'One of my guys is in Vegas now trying to get him freed but I wouldn't wait around for too long in Vegas darling, it's only a matter of time before they find you too.'

'What about Adrian though? Is he ok?' I could barely ask what if these muggers had done some permanent damage, Adrian had no idea how to fight, and if he'd been drinking, well, he'd probably just acted as a human punching bag.

'As far as I know he's fine, just a little bruised. They'll question him and hold him in jail but he won't say anything. Plus, I think I may have a lead...' Just then my time ran out, I checked in my pocket for coins as did Christian but neither of us had any. I slammed the phone back on the hook and stormed out of the phone booth before falling to my knees, but it wasn't my pain and fear I was feeling just then, It was Lissa's.