Here it is! Prepare yourself for the big reunion! :-)

49. It's You

(Mikhail POV)

I woke at 4.30pm, tired as usual, and headed to the gym for a workout before making myself a proper breakfast. Tonight was going to be a long one. The monarch elections were drawing to a close, with the final test wrapping up at 7:00pm then closing speeches and voting sometime later in the night. My duty was technically only eight hours long, but I knew I could expect to be on-call anytime until the outcome of the elections was decided so I thought I'd best be prepared for anything.

One more night, Sonya, just one more night and I'm coming to find you – no matter what, I told myself as I got dressed, buttoning up my formal white shirt and glancing over to the bow-tie that was sitting next to the bathroom sink. Sonya would have liked it if I'd left the top button undone, but Hans had asked all of us to dress our best – everybody who was anybody would be at Court tonight for the speeches, and the sight of my scarred neck and chest probably wouldn't give off a calming effect. I turned up my collar and looped the bow-tie around my neck, tying it carefully before settling the starched white fabric back down and pausing to study my reflection. I would never be a tank like some Dhampirs, but thanks to my regular training regime I'd bulked out enough to fill my clothes properly again. Hmmm…Not bad, Tanner – if you didn't look so damn tired, I thought drily, shrugging on my suit coat.

Just then, there was a knock at my door. I quickly ran a brush through my light curls – I'd been meaning to get a haircut but hadn't quite gotten around to it yet – before hurrying to see who was outside, only to find Adrian on my doorstep stubbing out a cigarette butt with his foot.

'Very sexy!' he greeted me with a lazy smirk. 'If I didn't know you better I'd say you were going on a hot date!'

'I wish!' I replied with a grin, welcoming him inside.

'Look, I know you're probably busy with the elections tonight but I was hoping I could swing a favour,' Adrian's cheeky expression vanished as soon as the door closed and he eyed me seriously from his place on the couch.

'I'd normally say yes… but I'm pretty tied up until tomorrow,' I replied hesitantly, moving to grab a bottle of water from the fridge. 'What do you need exactly?'

'Well, it's not so much me that needs the favour. It's Rose.'

'What?!' I choked violently on the water and my voice was still raspy when I tried to speak again. 'You've been in contact with her?'

'I met Rose in a Spirit dream. She asked for you specifically so I figured you knew what was going on?' Adrian said, watching my vacant expression for a moment before filling me in. 'Rose told me she's found something that's going to help us solve Aunt Tatiana's murder...'

I frowned sceptically but let him continue.

'…You know those Alchemists who are being held at the motel in Greenston while that Sydney Sage girl is being investigated? Well, apparently one of them – Ian, I think his name was – might be able to identify the Moroi guy that Eddie killed!' he finished, with unusual animation to his voice.

My eyebrows shot up as I stared at Adrian in surprise. This was amazing news. Identifying the assassin would give us a much better chance of having Eddie cleared of his murder charge. It might even give us some leads into why Princess Vasilisa was attacked and hopefully uncover why Rose had been set-up for the murder of Queen Tatiana. All we had to do was get in touch with the Alchemist and find out what he knew.

'Oh, and they have Jailbait,' Adrian said out of left-field, interrupting my racing thoughts.

'Sorry, what?!' Jailbait…It sounded like a punk band.

'Jill Mastrano – the girl that went missing in Detroit is travelling with Rose and Dimitri. I'm not really sure what she has to do with all of this, but knowing Rose it's going to be something good!'

Whew. I breathed out a low whistle. I wasn't exactly certain what was going on yet, but there was too much at stake to let this opportunity go by. If skipping work on the most important day in living history meant helping Rose and the princess, then Adrian could count me in.

'What time do you need me?' I asked, and the young lord visibly relaxed.

'Eleven should do it. I told Rose we'd meet her at midnight and it will only take us thirty minutes or so to get to the rendezvous point in Greenston.'

'Okay,' I said glancing at my watch, juggling the times to figure out how I could pull a break around then. 'I'll meet you outside HQ at 11:00pm.'

As soon as Adrian left I pulled out my cell phone and scrolled through my contacts until I found the K's. 'Don,' I said as soon as he answered. 'I need a favour.'

'Name it,' came his reply. He was a better friend than I deserved.

'Can you cover for me at the front desk from eleven? Something's come up, something big, and I have to leave early. I'm not sure how long it will take so I need someone to man the desk until the end of my shift.'

There was a brief pause before he replied, a hint of tiredness in his voice. 'No problem, buddy. Anything I can do help.'

I felt bad – Don just as over-loaded as I was, but he knew I wouldn't ask for something like this unless it was important. I'd find a way to make it up to him as soon as I could…

…As soon as I'd snuck out of Court with a royal alcoholic to meet up with a convicted murderer, an ex-Strigoi, and a kidnap victim to interrogate an Alchemist about the attempted murder of Princess Vasilisa, and potentially solve the murder of the late queen.

Good God, my life was a mess.

(Sonya POV)

When I awoke late in the afternoon Jill was still asleep in the bed across from me. She was so peaceful and carefree I didn't want to wake her – I had a feeling things were going to get worse before they got better and Jill deserved one last innocent slumber before we returned her to Court later tonight.

I made myself a coffee then stepped out onto the balcony of our hotel room to watch the sun's dying rays dip over the tree-line of the sprawling valley below. More beauty, I thought, my mind drifting to Dimitri's advice yet again. As the last traces of daylight vanished from the sky and night settled in, I breathed in the musky freshness that rolled off the forest below me, and when a cloudbank lifted in the south the darkness was chased away, illuminated by millions of tiny stars. I gasped in wonder at their pale beauty, feeling so grateful I was alive.

When I did head back indoors I discovered that I'd been on the balcony for well over an hour, and found Jill awake, hunting through the tiny bar fridge in search of something to eat.

'Don't eat that, Jill,' I scolded, seeing her trying to decide between a chocolate bar and a packet of salted peanuts. 'Let me order you some real food.' I moved across to the phone and dialled reception.

'Hi. Can I get the all-day breakfast for two please?' I asked, but I was greeted by an unexpected silence on the other end of the phone.

'Good evening, Madam. This is the night-manager speaking. I've noticed some irregularities with your check-in. Would you mind coming down to reception to sort out the particulars and then I'd be happy to place your dinner order.' The man's words were polite but his voice held a note of suspicion and I realised it was time for us to leave.

'Sure thing. I'll be down in a minute,' I replied, hanging up and hurrying across to Jill.

'Sorry, Hon, but we've got to leave now. Eat the chocolate if you want and grab whatever you need. I'll just pop next-door and tell the others to get ready.'

I went out into the hallway and tapped lightly on the door to Rose's room. There was no immediate answer but a minute later Dimitri opened the door just a crack and I was nearly knocked over by the sight of his aura. It was brighter than the sun, pulsing with intensity and raw emotion. It was like all of his walls had been torn down and he was a pure spirit, completely at peace with the world. Rose, a smile played on my lips as my heart jumped with happiness for the pair. You lucky girl.

I wanted to throw the door open and give them both a big hug, but now wasn't the time to live vicariously through Rose and Dimitri's love life. We had a more pressing issue at stake.

'It's time to go,' I explained softly. 'The manager is asking questions about our check-in and I don't want to hang around any longer than we need to.'

'Of course. Rose and I will be out directly. I'll meet you at the car in five minutes,' Dimitri replied efficiently, and I headed back to Jill.

'So, where to next,' Jill asked when we were all in the car. 'Court?'

'Not quite,' Rose replied from the front seat. 'We've got to make a stop off in Greenston first.'

'Greenston? What for?' Dimitri asked.

I had no idea why Rose would want to stop there either. I been through that town plenty of times and there wasn't much there except a gas station, a church and a few take-out restaurants.

'It's where the Alchemists are being held,' Rose explained.

Aha. Sydney, I assumed.

'And it's where we're going to find proof that Daniella Ivashkov murdered Queen Tatiana.'

Okay. Not what I expected. I guess it didn't matter if there was one more quick stop-off – just so long as I got to see Mikhail soon.

We stopped for gas soon after we crossed into Pennsylvania, and I got out with Rose to pay and buy snacks for the drive while Dimitri and Jill remained in the car.

'Come in here a second,' Rose pulled me into a dingy pawn shop next to the gas station to grab a silver bracelet that she'd spotted in the window, using Dimitri's money to pay for the gaudy trinket.

'I need you to make a charm,' she told me once we were on the road again. 'There are Guardians watching over the hotel where Sydney is being kept and I need to get in and out without anybody recognising me. Can you do it?'

'That should be easier than the healing charm. I'll do my best,' I promised, taking the bracelet and setting about creating the charm.

The car fell silent as Dimitri concentrated on the road ahead, though I saw his aura spark with the occasional burst of intensity as he relived secret moments from his afternoon with Rose. The girls chatted on and off but were quiet most of the time, probably mentally preparing themselves for what we might face when we reached Court in just a few hours' time, and I spent most of the drive working on the charm – only finishing it when we were nearly at our destination.

'Well?' Rose asked as she put the bracelet on and fastened the clasp.

Jill squinted at the young woman who looked back at us from the front seat. 'You seem a little blurry... like I just need to blink a few times.'

'Same here,' Dimitri agreed.

I smiled, pleased with my work. 'That's how it should look to people who know she's got a charm on. Hopefully, to the other guardians, she'll be wearing a different face,' I explained, looking out the window with curiosity as the car slowed and we pulled into the parking lot outside a garish restaurant with a huge sign across the front that read 'BUFFET – All you can eat $9.99'.

What was Rose up to?

It was way past closing time but there was still one car in the lot, and Dimitri pulled up to park near the black SUV.

'This is it,' Rose said cryptically and we all got out to stretch our legs after the long journey. A movement near the other car caught my attention and I glanced over with vague interest as two men stepped out from the vehicle.

But when the driver turned his head to look at me I nearly screamed. It was Mikhail.

Everything else faded from my vision except him, and he stopped in mid-stride as his eyes locked on mine. I'd spent over two years dreaming of this moment, and now that he was suddenly standing in front of me I didn't know what to do. My whole body locked up, my voice caught in my throat, every nerve in my body cried out in sweet agony as my whole being sought to be nearer to him. He appeared to be frozen in shock too and we both stood there for the longest moment – unable to move, unable to breathe.

Then something released in me and I let out a strangled cry, rushing at him and crushing myself against his body. Familiar arms wrapped around me, lifting me off my feet and holding me closer than breathing and I let the tears of joy and anguish stream down my cheeks as I buried my face in his glorious chest. 'Misha, my Misha,' I sobbed his name over and over, feeling his breath hitch as he choked back his own tears.

'Sonechka,' his husky voice sent shivers through my body as he planted countless kisses in my hair. 'It's you. It's really you. Look at me, Sweetheart. Please let me see your face.' He lifted my chin with his finger and when our eyes met his aura exploded like a thousand suns. Strong hands reached out gently to cup my face and he kissed the tears from my eyes. 'Don't cry, my Sonechka. I'm here. I'm here.'

He was so perfect and I was so undeserving. 'Mikhail. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry,' I closed my eyes, letting his love wash over me like a healing flood.

'Ssh,' he silenced me with his mouth and I sank deeply into his kiss, feeling the warmth of his lips and the urgent need of his tongue against mine as his fingers clutched at my hair, raking through my tangled tresses as he sought to draw me even closer. 'It doesn't matter,' he whispered roughly when we finally broke apart, his forehead still resting against mine, his arms encircling me like a protective wall. 'Nothing matters except that we're together again.'

(Mikhail POV)

My Sonechka was in my arms and I never wanted to let her go. I held her fiercely, defiantly, as if my love alone could heal all of her hurts and fears, but for everything I gave her of myself I received just as much in return. I dropped my face into her hair as I held her tightly to my chest – delighting in the warmth of her body pressed against mine, the smell of her hair, the taste of her lips, her skin, her tears. It was only when the sound of another small sniffle filtered into our world that we pulled back from one another and became aware of our surroundings. Our friends stood nearby, trying not to intrude on this private moment but all clearly affected by the bittersweet reunion that had been such a long time coming.

I straightened up to look across at Rose, still keeping one arm wrapped firmly around the angel who hid her face shyly against my jacket.

'Thank you. Thank you for this. Anything you need. Anything at all…' I told her, dropping another kiss into Sonya's hair.

My old filing buddy held up her hand in embarrassment. 'I'm glad to have done it, and well... it wasn't really me at all.'

'Still...' I gazed down at Sonya, who lifted her head to smile up at me through her tears. 'You've given me my world back.'

'I'm so happy for you,' Rose congratulated us, then hesitated uncomfortably before continuing, her voice apologetic. 'I want you to have this… to just enjoy this right now, but I have a favour to ask – I need you to get me into the hotel where the Alchemists are staying.'

That's right. Our real mission for tonight was uncovering the key to Queen Tatiana's murder, not reuniting with the love of my life.

'I figured that's why he brought me here,' I nodded towards Adrian with a wry smile before my face turned serious. 'Rose... I can try to get the information you need, but I can't take you with me. You being this close to Court is dangerous enough.'

'I'll have a disguise,' she pulled a silver bracelet from her pocket to show me – charmed, I assumed. 'They won't know it's me.'

That gave us a chance – a small chance – but if the charm failed it wouldn't just be Rose going to prison...

'Is there a reason you'd have to see the Alchemists?' Rose was asking, already thinking strategy.

I considered our options before answering. 'Well, they'll have Guardians near their rooms. We could probably pass ourselves off as relief.'

Dimitri stepped forward to join the conversation. 'It's a sound plan,' he added his approval. 'The Guardians are probably more worried about Alchemists getting out than other Guardians getting in, and you're a pretty familiar face at Court so hopefully they won't ask too many questions. Just don't stay too long – find what you need and get out again before anybody becomes suspicious.'

I nodded in agreement. 'So it's you and me, Rose?'

'Yup. The fewer, the better. I guess everyone else waits here,' she said, looking around at the rest our motley crew; Sonya, Dimitri, Adrian and a teenage girl I guessed was Jill Mastrano.

The others moved off to make their farewells and Sonya stretched up to kiss my cheek. 'I'm not going anywhere,' she whispered, her hand resting on my heart.

I didn't want to worry her, but I couldn't bear to leave her without telling her the truth. 'This mission should be quick if we make it past the Guardians, but it isn't without risk. If something goes wrong… If I don't come back,' I began, but Sonya quietened me with a single finger to my lips.

'You will come back,' she said resolutely.

'What? Do you have the ability to see into the future now?' I murmured, nipping playfully at her fingertip.

'No,' she frowned, pretending to be cross with me and failing miserably. 'You will come back because I have commanded it. I seem to remember you made a promise to stay by my side forever, and I plan to hold you to that.'

'Okay,' I agreed, stooping to kiss her squarely on the lips. 'I guess I'll just have to come back then.'

Getting past the Guardians was easier than I thought. The illusion charm Sonya had made for Rose worked perfectly and it was only a few minutes before we located the room where Rose's friend Sydney was being held.

The Alchemist sat cross-legged on her bed, looking up from her book as we entered and fixing us with a weary gaze.

'Well, what is it now?' she grumbled.

When Rose removed the bracelet Sydney's eyes widened slightly but she didn't seem as surprised as I thought she would be.

'I should have guessed. Are you here to free me?'

'Um, not exactly,' Rose admitted guiltily. 'We need to talk to Ian. He knows something important. Something we need.'

'He's next door, but you'll have a hard time getting him to talk,' Sydney shook her head doubtfully.

'That's where you'll help,' Rose explained, as she slipped the bracelet back on. 'He's totally into you. He'll help if you ask.'

Good play, Rose. Why use intimidation when you had the option of coercion. I knew from experience that love was an extremely good motivator.

Ian was definitely more surprised at our sudden appearance and played it cool when Sydney told him we had come for information. 'We answered your questions a hundred times,' he said coldly, looking from me to Rose.

This wasn't my mission so I stepped back to observe, allowing my friend to take charge.

'Not all of them,' Rose's voice was commanding and expectant. 'When you were at Court you saw a picture on the table. Of a dead man. Who was it?'

She was met by instant denial.

'We know you recognised him,' she pushed harder. 'You reacted.'

'I actually saw that too,' Sydney admitted, trying to bring Ian around.

'Come on,' the young man turned to face Sydney. 'We don't need to help them anymore. This whole hotel-prison thing is bad enough. I'm sick of their games.'

Sydney fixed Ian with a sweet, vulnerable expression that would have made any strong man melt. 'Will you tell them for me?' she asked. 'Please? It might help me get out of trouble.'

There was a lengthy hesitation before the man finally crumbled. 'I honestly don't know who he was,' he admitted at last. 'I just saw him with a Moroi woman over in the St. Louis facility one day. She was the one there on business – I think the Moroi guy was just her bodyguard.'

'A Moroi bodyguard?' Rose frowned in surprise.

'Not uncommon for those that can't get Guardians,' I stepped in to clarify. 'Abe Mazur is proof of that. He's got his own army.'

Rose gave a smart reply but I could tell that she was thinking a mile a minute, trying to sort out some puzzle in her mind. 'Who was she?' the Dhampir demanded. 'The woman?'

Why did Rose think there was something significant about this woman? I mentally sifted through all the facts I was aware of, trying to piece everything together. The Moroi who bribed Joe to frame Rose for the murder of Queen Tatiana was the same man that tried to kill Princess Vasilisa. According to Ian, the murderer was actually a bodyguard for a Moroi woman, and it was reasonable to assume that he was acting on her orders, making her the real mastermind behind both attacks. Whoever this woman was, we knew she didn't qualify for a Court Guardian – either because she was lowborn or had fallen out of favour with the Queen. We had to find out who she was.

'I didn't get her name,' Ian answered defensively, still annoyed that he was being interrogated by evil creatures of the night.

'Well, do you remember what she looked like, at least?' Rose asked impatiently, looking like she was going to thump him if he didn't answer immediately.

'Sure – she's easy to remember,' the Alchemist replied with disdain, eventually providing us with a description.

My eyes widened in shock when I realised who the Moroi woman was, and I saw Rose glance back at me with a look of disbelief. This was bad. We had to tell the others. We had to get back to Court. Princess Vasilisa's life was still in danger.

When we arrived back at the restaurant parking lot I moved quickly to stand with Sonya, gripping her hand in reassurance as Rose told the group everything we had learned.

'The motives are there, and they are political,' Rose concluded reluctantly, still unable to believe she had been betrayed by someone she knew, someone she thought she could trust.

Adrian and Dimitri began to argue over the evidence, trying to make sense of it all, but they weren't getting anywhere so I stepped in to bring the conversation to a close. 'I'm sorry to interrupt, gentlemen, but we need to get back to Court or I'm going to be missed.'

Rose nodded in agreement, turning her attention to the girl who looked a little bit like Sonya, and a little bit like Princess Vasilisa – Jill Mastrano, Eric Dragomir's daughter. 'And it's time for you to make your Court debut.'

Author's Note:

Aaaaaahhhhhhhh! I've been waiting to write this scene for soooooooooo long. Mushy love is so rewarding.

Still lots of fluffy goodness to come in the final couple of chapters and a lemon or two so you get your money's worth ;-)