Adrian slipped into the banquet room, closing the door behind him. "Cousin," he said by way of greeting. He sat down beside her and drew his knees up, unconcerned about his expensive dress pants. "Sorry I'm late."

"It's okay," she said.

"You didn't know I was here until you saw me, did you?" He asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

She shook her head.

"And sitting with me … you can't really notice anything?"

"No."

He shrugged. "Well. Hopefully it'll come soon."

"How does it look for you?" Her aura flared with curiosity.

"Do you know what auras are?"

"They're like … bands of light around people, right? Some New Age thing?"

"Something like that. Everyone has a sort of spiritual energy that radiates out from them. Well, almost everyone." He hesitated, thinking about the darkness that always surrounded Rose. "Based on the color and appearance, you can tell a lot about a person…well, if anyone could actually see auras, that is."

"And you can," she said. "And you can tell I use spirit from my aura?"

"Yours is mostly gold. Like mine. It'll shift with other colors depending on the situation, but the gold always stays."

"How many other people out there like us do you know?"

"Not many. I just see them every once in a while. They kind of keep to themselves. You're the first I've actually ever talked to. I didn't even know it was called 'spirit.' Wish I'd known about this when I didn't specialize. I just figured I was some kind of freak."

Lissa held up her arm, staring at it intently, as if she could will herself to see something. She sighed and let the arm drop, letting Adrian know she had failed miserably.

"So, they finally let you go?" Adrian asked her.

"Yeah. They finally decided I really didn't know anything."

"Good," he said. He frowned for a moment, wondering if he should ask his next question. "And you're sure you don't?"

"I already told you that. I can't make the bond work that way."

"Hmm. Well. You've got to."

She glared. "What, you think I'm holding back? If I could find her, I would!"

"I know, but to have it at all, you must have a strong connection. Use that to talk to her in her dreams. I tried, but I can't hang on long enough to—"

"What did you say?" exclaimed Lissa. "Talk to her in her dreams?"

He stared at her, puzzled. "Sure. Don't you know how to do that?"

"No! Are you kidding? How is that even possible?"

He ran a hand through his hair and tipped his head back, staring at the crystal chandelier above as he pondered. "Okay. So. You don't see auras, and you don't talk to people in dreams. What do you do?"

"I … I can heal people. Animals. Plants, too. I can bring dead things back to life."

"Really?" That was impressive. "Okay. You get credit for that. What else?"

"Um, I can use compulsion."

"We can all do that."

"No, I can really do it. It's not hard. I can make people do anything I want—even bad things."

"So can I." Adrian's eyes lit up. "I wonder what would happen if you tried to use it on me…."

She hesitated and absentmindedly ran her fingers over the textured red carpet. "Well… I can't."

"You just said you could."

"I can—just not right now. I take this prescription … for depression and other stuff…and it cuts me off from the magic."

He threw his arms up in the air. "How can I teach you to walk through dreams then? How else are we going to find Rose?"

"Look," she said angrily, "I don't want to take the meds. But when I was off them … I did really crazy stuff. Dangerous stuff. That's what spirit does to you."

"I don't take anything. I'm okay," he said.

"You got really weird that day when Dimitri was in your room," she pointed out. "You started rambling, and you didn't make any sense."

"Oh, that? Yeah … it happens now and then. But seriously, not often. Once a month, if that." He sounded sincere.

Lissa stared at him, and he could tell she was contemplating what he's said.

He smiled, guessing what she was thinking. "What do you say, cousin?" he asked. He didn't need to use compulsion. His offer was plenty tempting in its own right. "I can teach you everything I know if you're able to touch the magic. It'll take a while for the pills to get out of your system, but once they do, just think about what we can learn from each other."

Lissa gave him a small smile. "I'll think about it. It's not like it will do us any good today. Can you try to contact her again?"

Adrian sighed. He really didn't think Rose would be asleep again quite so soon. "Yes, but I can't do it right away. I wish there were some other way—" He stared at Lissa, an idea forming in the recesses of his brain.

"What?"

"I have to talk to Belikov. Now."

The Guardians had set up a command post in an empty conference room, and it was a mess. Half empty coffee cups were on every available surface. Maps were tacked to the walls and trash was scattered throughout the room. There were twelve or so Guardians spread out through the room, the most noticeable being Janine Hathaway and Dimitri. Rose's mother had her head down, resting on her folded arms. Belikov was pacing like a caged tiger; his hair—normally pulled back neatly—was hanging around his face. As Adrian watched, he ran a hand through it, dislodging several more strands from the tie at the base of his neck. He looked almost… crazed.

A dhampire woman who appeared to be in her mid-fifties was watching Belikov's frenzied movement with a worried expression on her face. Adrian had met her before and he searched his memory for her name. It was something easy… Petrol. No—it had something to do with alcohol. Petrov, like the vodka.

Adrian studied her aura, making note of the fact she was suspicious about something. Well hell. It appeared that someone else had noticed the strange interactions between Rose and her mentor. Of course, Belikov's mini-meltdown wasn't helping matters, it would just further her suspicion that there was more to the relationship than met the eye. He had to get the Russian out of here, for Rose's sake.

"Lord Ivashkov. Do you need something?" Petrov's gaze switched from the pacing man to the handsome young royal.

"I need a moment with Guardian Belikov."

"Not now." Dimitri growled.

"Look—" Adrian began, only to be cut off when the tall man spun, grabbing his collar and yanking him off his feet.

"I do not have time for your games, boy!" His accent was so pronounced that his words were almost indecipherable.

"BELIKOV!" Petrov's voice sounded shocked. "Let him go. NOW!"

With a growl Dimitri released his shirt, shoving him away. He glared at Adrian with a look of pure hatred.

The woman spoke again, her voice softer this time. "Take a break Dimitri."

"No."

"That was an order, not a suggestion. I'll call you if we hear anything."

Belikov stormed out of the room, not caring that every eye was on him. Adrian followed him, determined to make him listen.

"Well that was brilliant. You do realize that she suspects there's something going on between you and Rose, right?"

"Ivashkov, right now I do not care if the fucking Queen suspects." He resumed his pacing , this time in the lobby.

"I think I know a way—"

"Dimka!"

Jesus fucking Christ. Could he please just finish a sentence? Adrian glared at Natasha as she scurried across the lobby towards them. "You realize her childish game—sending you on a wild goose chase—wasted valuable time when you might have caught up with Rose, right?" Adrian asked the man beside him, his voice almost a whisper. "Rose would never have done something like that in such a serious situation."

Dimitri began making a dangerous noise deep in his chest, as if he were about to attack. Adrian winced, hoping the noise wasn't directed at him.

"Any word?" Tasha's face was full of worry, but strangely enough, her aura was full of glee.

"No." Belikov's voice was harsh.

She looked hurt. "What's wrong Dimka?"

He looked at her as if she were an idiot. "What's wrong? Did you actually just ask me that? Rose is missing. Your nephew is missing, along with three other students."

"I didn't mean that the way it came out." Tasha grabbed onto Dimitri's arm.

"Let. Go." His voice held a barely disguised warning. "You lied to me. Rose was never with Adrian last night."

She flinched back, releasing him. "Dimka, She was! I saw her! I—"

"Get out of my sight. I'll talk to you later." He resumed his pacing, pointedly ignoring her until she finally gave up and stormed outside.

"Jesus. Finally. I've been trying to tell you I talked to Rose earlier and—"

"WHAT?"

"Not in person—it was in a dream and she said—"

Dimitri's hands fisted at his sides. "Ivashkov…"

"Listen to him, Guardian Belikov. It has to do with spirit. He's a spirit user, just like me, but he can talk to people in their dreams."

Lissa. Thank God. For a minute, he thought he was going to get the shit beat out of him. "Rose said they're being held in a basement and they need help. I won't be able to contact her again for a while, because she just woke up. But if you can get me pictures of the other kids, maybe I can reach one of them. It's worth a shot, anyway."

Belikov stared at him for a moment then nodded. "I'll meet you in your room in ten minutes. Princess, if you'll follow me, I need you to explain this to Guardian Petrov."

Adrian sighed, longing for a drink. He pulled out a cigarette, ignoring the no smoking sign and headed for his room. Belikov was going to owe him for this. Big time.