Chapter One

Guardian Hathaway,

On behalf of the academy, I would like to welcome you to speak to this year's graduating class about your experiences as a guardian in the field. As a former student, and with your current allocation, I believe you have a unique perspective and can offer useful advice to our seniors and staff alike.

If your schedule permits, we will have a spot saved for you on the date below. I hope to see you there.

Guardian Alberta Petrov

Captain of Guardians at St. Vladimir's Academy

As the car approaches the wrought iron entrance of St. Vladimir's, I thumb over the email I received from Alberta a month prior. I must have read it a hundred times over by now.

It is equally a shock as much as it is an honor to be invited back to the school, considering the longstanding record I hold for being the student with the most trips to Headmistress Kirova's office. Surely someone who caused as many disruptions as I had wouldn't be invited to speak, no matter how impressive my final exam score was or how much I had accomplished since. And yet, the proof is right there sitting in my inbox.

I almost expect it to be a mistake, and that I'll be turned away at the gate, but no such thing happens. The headmistress doesn't turn up, demanding I come clean over her swiped cat earrings, and there's not a pitchfork in sight. Instead, the two guardians usher me in with eagerness.

Recognizing one of them to be Guardian Mertens, I give her a small wave, unable to hide my smile when I remember how she looked in her ghost costume on St. Varvara's Day my senior year. Back when everything seemed so simple… Back when the highlight of my day was ending up in compromising positions with a certain Russian mentor who now only tolerates working with me.

It really is ironic that they want me of all people to bestow wisdom upon the impressionable young minds of this year's crop.

"How does it feel to be back?"

I turn to my driver, Guardian Ian Stolt, and give him a shrug as I slip my phone into one of my vest pockets.

The answer is not an easy one.

Forever cemented as a prominent background in my life's story, the academy evokes feelings of innocence and love but also of loss.

If I close my eyes, I see Mason standing around the next corner waiting to walk me to class and I see Rhea double-checking my seat belt as we embark on my first ever Dragomir vacation. But in the same breath, Natalie Dashkov is pledging her undying loyalty to Victor with red-ringed eyes and Dimitri doesn't make it out of the caves with his soul.

Long story short, it's complicated but I can't exactly unload all of that on someone I just met.

Guardian Stolt wasn't at the academy when I was a student and had explained to me on the drive over that I should expect to see more than a few new faces when I arrive. He, along with seven others, had been reassigned to St. Vladimir's over winter break. His transfer was, in part, due to Lissa's new decree that provided each academy with additional guardians to strengthen their defenses — a direct response to the coordinated attack that brought our own educations to a screeching halt years ago.

"To be honest with you, it doesn't feel like I've been gone for very long," I explain. Not really an answer but it's all I can manage.

He hums, unaware of my inner conflict, and pulls into a parking spot located near the upper campus, where the older students are. "It's only been, what, two years since you graduated?"

"Almost three," I say, stepping out of the small vehicle with my duffel bag in tow.

"Time flies."

I nod. "Tell me about it."

He says it's been five years since he graduated from St. Hendrik's, a school in Helsinki, which explains the accent. Fresh out of the academy, he was given a placement with a Moroi woman named Amy Lazar.

When she married an Ivashkov nine years her elder, her husband insisted she needed a female guardian on the grounds of no one mistaking Ian for her significant other in human settings. Utter bullshit but not unheard of from a Royal Moroi man with a complex. Four years of service with no offense and onto the next with the snap of a finger like it means nothing.

While angry at first, Ian is adamant he no longer holds any resentment toward his previous charge. St. Vladimir's has proven to be more fulfilling than he originally envisioned. He considers himself a bit of a softy for children and, because serious relationships with Moroi women are difficult to come by for dhampir men, his new placement is like a dream come true.

He asks me about my time as a student and it's refreshing (and maybe a little insulting) that he doesn't already know the answer. While it doesn't surprise me that the tales of my former debauchery and consequential reform hadn't traveled all the way to Finland, I am a bit disappointed to discover the current students haven't circulated my legendary feats.

Perhaps what happened after I left the academy overshadowed everything else. While disheartening, it wouldn't shock me if things like helping to restore a Strigoi or being tried for the murder of the late Queen Tatiana took precedence.

Ian laughs, highlighting his boyish features, as I recount the more entertaining stories behind my many trips to detention and I'm feeling much lighter as we pass dhampir housing.

A wave of nostalgia hits me when a dark-haired dhampir bolts out of the dorms, her hair a wild mess, and runs in the direction of the gym. I smile after her and Ian's blue eyes follow mine.

"Do you know her?"

"No." I shake my head, remembering the excitement of starting each day with the challenge of nailing a hard move or learning a new technique. "I was her."

He chuckles, pausing to study me thoughtfully. "Yeah, I can see that."

I don't know if I should be offended or not. "Hey!"

"Don't worry. It's not a bad thing." He looks down at his wrist and curses when he sees the time. "I'm going to be late for my shift. Do you remember your way around campus?"

The girl disappears under an alcove and I stop to inhale the brisk Montana air, taking in the familiar splendor of the place I once called home. Filled with enough memories to last a lifetime, I want to tell him it's not a place I'd soon forget.

"I remember."

"Figures. Well, I'm sorry I can't stay but Guardian Petrov is waiting for you in her office. She's been made aware of your arrival," he says, slowly walking back in the direction we came from. He must be going to relieve one of the guardians patrolling the wards. I can remember a shift change happening right about now.

"Let's hope I'm not in trouble already," I mutter, only partly joking.

"I'm fairly certain you'll find it's the opposite." He gives me a big smile before he departs. "Welcome back to the academy, Rose."

"Thanks, Ian. It was nice meeting you."

I watch him retreat until he's a small figure in the distance.

For the first time today, I'm completely alone and it's nice to take a breath. While I enjoy the liveliness of Court and its array of amenities, the slower pace of St. Vladimir's is a welcome change of scenery. Between guarding Lissa and traveling the country to take down Strigoi, I am burnt out and there's been no signs of slowing down.

Being out on the road is tiring and sharing tight quarters with two grown dhampir men for days at a time, one of them being an ex, is not my idea of a good time.

I feel like I've lost myself a little bit and there's been no time to reconnect. I know I must not be hiding it well because, when I boarded my plane today, I received an updated itinerary with a return flight on a later date, along with a text from Liss.

L: Take some extra time. Your duties can wait.

She always seems to know what I need before I do.

The thought reminds me I promised to check in so I pull out my phone and swipe past the group chat I have going with Dimitri and Mikhail. It rings twice before she picks up.

"Rose!" Lissa's chipper voice comes through the line and it gives me the push I need to start making my way to the main staff building.

"Hey, Liss. Just calling to let you know I'm here."

"That was fast." I hear her whisper something to one of her advisors before giving me her full attention. "How was your flight?"

"It was fine. One of the new transfers you brought in picked me up from the airport. His name's Ian, you'd like him."

"I've been meaning to get an update on how that's going." She pauses and I imagine her penciling in a reminder to meet with Hans now that he's the head of the Guardian Council. "How is it so far? Does everything look the same?" Her voice dips and I don't need the bond to know she feels like she's missing out. She wanted to join me but her meetings couldn't be rescheduled.

Eyeing landmarks as I pass through the heart of campus, it's like I've taken a step back in time. Aside from minor renovations after the attack, nothing has changed. The track where I'd run every morning until my lungs burned, the bench where Lissa and I would stop to chat in between classes, and, as I near the gym, the mats I'd been thrown against — whether it be during a sparring match or heated kiss — all the same, as if it was just yesterday.

I swallow hard. "Um. I haven't been able to do any real exploring yet but, at first glance, all is how we left it. Same old dingy buildings in need of a good power wash. Same flowers that smell like armpit."

"Ew, Rose, that's gross," she exclaims, making us both laugh.

"What? You know it's true."

I nod in greeting as I pass Ms. Meissner, my old Animal Behavior teacher, on her way to class. She does a double take at the sight of me and pats my shoulder as she scurries by.

Nearing the guardian offices, I sidestep students deep in conversation and it reminds me of a time when school gossip was one of the bigger threats to Lissa's safety. When school dances were all we looked forward to and being on top of the novice scoreboard was everything. That life feels like a dream now.

It's then I realize that, while the academy hasn't changed much since we left, we most certainly have. I have.

Lissa's voice softens. "I know it's St. Vlad's but at least try to enjoy yourself. You deserve a few days of fun. Catch up with the cooler staff and hang out with some of the guardians while you're there."

"While I appreciate the thought, I'm not sure any of them will want to let loose with their former student."

"Maybe if it were me and one of my professors but it's different for dhampirs and you know it. You guys have a special bond the moment you receive your promise marks — it's an unspoken kind of thing. And who knows, you might even enjoy getting to know some of the students one on one. It could mean a lot for one of them."

It's endearing how hard she's trying to convince me to have a good time.

"Okay, okay. I'll make sure to bless Stan with my presence or something."

"Then I'll be sure to say an extra prayer for him tonight," she jests. "But seriously, Rose. I remember how much you, Mason, and Eddie loved when guardians came to speak, as rare as it was. Well, aside from that one time with your mom."

The thought makes me smile. "You're right. It wasn't all bad here."

"I know I am and, no, it wasn't."

There's a small pause as we both seem to lose ourselves in the past. We'd come a long way since the academy, had survived things our younger selves would've deemed unimaginable, somehow coming out on the other side almost unscathed.

My hand comes to rest on the scar above my heart that serves as a daily reminder of what I'd endured, of the life I had nearly lost.

"For you, I'll try my best to live it up while I'm here," I promise. "Maybe I'll sneak into Kirova's office to nab some confiscated booze for old times sake."

Lissa chuckles. "I'm pretty sure there's easier ways for you to find alcohol now that you're no longer a student. Ways that don't involve you being escorted off the premises."

"But you said to have fun."

I can practically see her shaking her head in exasperation. "I wish I was there with you," she laments. "Even if only to keep you out of trouble."

"Me, too. It doesn't feel right being here without you."

"It doesn't, does it? At the academy, you and I were always a packaged deal."

I hum. "We still are and good luck to anyone who ever tries to tell us otherwise."

When I find myself in front of the correct building, I linger outside to finish our conversation before heading in. The grounds are beginning to clear out and a quick check of the time lets me know the first classes of the day are about to start. It's best if I meet with Alberta soon before she gets too busy.

"What's on your schedule this morning?" I inquire when it occurs to me that I haven't checked.

Lissa sighs. "Meetings and more meetings. I've hardly had any time at all to plan this wedding and the council's driving me up the wall."

I snort. "Let me guess, Ava Drozdov's back on her bullshit."

"Always."

"What is it this time, did a feeder look at her funny again?"

She groans. "If only it were that trivial." The line is silent for a beat. "She brought up guardian numbers again."

I grimace. "It's always back to that, isn't it?"

"Apparently one of her cousin's guardians requested a transfer and was denied until I made the call to move more guardians to the academies and now she's pissed. Mind you, this cousin still has a guardian, but Ava…is Ava."

"An entitled bitch is what she is."

"The absolute worst. She gives us all a bad name."

"Liss, you're nothing like her. Don't let her drag you down to her level when you've already done so much for dhampirs. I know it's tiring, endless work but you're making lives better." And because I can't help it, I add, "One annoying meeting at a time."

She giggles. "I miss you."

"It's only been a few hours," I protest.

Her voice quietens. "I always miss you when you're gone."

My phone vibrates in my hand and I'll bet it's something to do with the Strigoi we're tracking in Texas but I don't want to check right now.

"Are you sure you're not just feeling lonely because Christian's at St. Basil's?"

She releases a heavy breath. "Maybe a little but we've all been so busy lately and I feel like we hardly spend any real time together. I miss the days when no one expected anything from us sometimes. More frequently lately, if I'm being honest."

If I am feeling depleted then she must be experiencing it tenfold. Her days are filled with monotonous meetings and strategy sessions that often go nowhere because it's impossible to get representatives from the twelve Royal families to agree on anything.

The times I've sat in with her, I've wanted to gouge my eyes out and rupture my eardrums simultaneously, and that's not an exaggeration. Most of the council members act like children when provoked and I don't know how she manages it day in and day out. The politics alone would drive me insane.

At least with my job, there's always a conclusion. Either we stake the Strigoi or fail and try again. There are issues Lissa has been trying to resolve since her reign began with little to no progress and I know it must be aggravating.

"I miss it too, but it won't be like this forever," I try, frustrated that I'm not there to comfort her in person. We both have a lot on our plates right now but once she's married, and the well dries up for us, everything will be more manageable.

We both knew it wouldn't be easy; that we would have to make sacrifices with her being Queen and me spending all of my free time tracking down Strigoi with Dimitri and Mikhail, a side quest that had turned into a bigger undertaking than any of us anticipated. Going on six months now, the target list started out with five names but then five became ten and the list continues to grow. We are wiping out an entire network, one Strigoi at a time, based on the information Dimitri had shared from his time as one of them.

"I know. I just — you're right," she concedes. "I'm sorry. I'm supposed to be encouraging you and, instead, I'm ruining the mood."

I know I need to go but I can't leave the conversation like this. If we still had the bond, this is the moment I would've pulled the darkness from her. Instead, I rack my brain for anything to cheer her up when I remember what's just around the corner.

"Hey, how about this? My birthday's coming up. How about I let you plan the party?"

There's a sharp intake of breath and I know I've done it. "Really, for your twenty first? Are you sure?"

I chuckle. "I'm sure but, before you go crazy, remember Abe will kill you if he's not invited so we can't do anything too wild."

"Nothing too wild, check. Does that mean no male strippers?"

I shake my head, picturing Abe in the same room as an oiled up beefcake and it makes me shudder. "I hate you."

"You love me."

"Yeah, I do." I open the door to the building. "Listen, I better go. I just got to Alberta's office."

"Okay. Send her my best and I'll see you when you return."

"Will do. Talk to you later, Liss."

"Wait. Rose?"

I put the phone back to my ear. "Yeah? I'm still here."

She's quiet, and then, "Thank you."

I smile to myself.

"Back at you."

"Knock, knock."

Poking my head through the open doorway, I enter Alberta's cramped office while she's in the middle of a call.

Dressed in the typical coordinating black, she looks almost the same as when we saw each other last, the only difference now being that her hair has grown out some, reaching just below her ears. Though the change is a subtle one, I decide I like it. The length suits her, making her look younger somehow.

Acknowledging my entrance, Alberta signals that she'll be with me shortly and I use the brief delay to browse the personal items she has decorating the shelves that sit adjacent to her desk. Having never noticed them before, I examine each photo and trinket, realizing I know the significance behind some of them.

Centered on the middle shelf is one of those class photos that include all of the students and staff from that year. I assume it's the most recent but when I spy the date in the bottom corner, I notice it's from one of my years instead. With too many faces to register, I pass over it quickly, not patient enough to bother with trying to find myself.

Below that, there's a photo I've seen in the main hall from when she was promoted to her current position. She's standing with Kirova holding a plaque that displays her new title, both women looking somber as ever. Then, there's a piece of cloth with a small pin of the academy's emblem stuck into it and a picture of her with some of the other guardians — Alto being one of them. Taken mid-conversation, his eyes are closed and, despite trying to behave myself, I can't help but snicker.

After admiring a few more, it occurs to me that she isn't smiling in any of the photos except for one. Sitting on the top shelf, beside a painted ceramic elephant with wings, she's pictured with a woman I don't recognize. In the photo, Alberta must be twenty years younger as they stand arm in arm with smiles bigger than I've ever seen gracing the captain's face.

"That's my sister," Alberta explains, stopping to stand beside me. I didn't notice her call had ended.

"She looks like you," I observe, rising on my tip-toes to get a closer look. "How come she never visits?"

"She used to but you wouldn't remember. You were young when she died."

"Oh." That explains the look on her face. I turn to her apologetically. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. She died protecting someone she loved." A small smile reaches her lips and she faces me, sensing my curiosity. "I'll tell you about her one day but not now. She gave me this." Alberta takes the elephant off the shelf and hands it to me. Now that I have it up close, I can see all the intricate details. It's painted in golds, greens, and ivories, and is quite beautiful. "She brought it back with her from a trip to India with her charge. She told me it represents strength and power. It's supposed to bring good luck."

I give the elephant back to her, worried I'll drop it. "What was her name?"

"Diana. This is from her, too." She grabs another animal figurine I hadn't noticed tucked into a corner. It's a cow. "She was very interested in the Hindu culture."

"What do cows represent?"

"I have no idea. I think she just liked the colors."

We laugh and the levity makes way for my next question.

"What's with the class photo? How come it's not the one from last year?"

Alberta lets out a breath. "This is the last one we took before the attack. There's Celeste, Yuri, and Jean." My heart sinks into the pit of my stomach as she points them out along with a few others. Eyes darting across the photograph, I search the vast crowd for a red-haired boy that should've been in this picture if what she says is true. As if reading my mind, she gestures to the left corner. "There's Novice Ashford." Sure enough, there Mason is sitting with Eddie, both boys grinning ear to ear. My brows furrow when I don't see myself beside them but then I remember this was taken one of the years Liss and I were on the run. It would still be a few months before we were discovered and brought back to the academy. Which means that, maybe — "...and there's Guardian Belikov."

I don't even try to feign disinterest as I greedily take in the rare sight of Dimitri captured in photo form. This man, that I used to love with my whole being, pictured looking just as serious and respectable as always.

"This was taken soon after he arrived at the academy before we got the tip you girls had been spotted in Portland."

I nod along as she shares information I hadn't been privy to but all I can think is that the Dimitri in the photo hadn't met me yet. "He looks—"

"Stoic?" she guesses.

I was going to say handsome but thank god she beat me to it before I made a fool of myself.

"Stoic," I agree, taken by the sight of him.

I should look away but I can't bring myself to. These days, I'm not allotted many opportunities to just look at him, at least not without risking being caught, and it's nice to admire his features without judgement.

If Alberta notices my interest, she doesn't say.

"It's nice to see you doing well in spite of everything you've been through."

Tearing my eyes away from the man that once consumed my every thought, I focus on Alberta and pull her into a hug, realizing we hadn't properly greeted each other yet.

"Thank you, Alberta. It's good to see you again." I release her and she motions for us to sit. "I'll be honest, your email took me by surprise."

"It shouldn't have. You've accomplished many firsts in your short time as a guardian and I know the students could learn a lot from you."

While proud of what I had achieved, it didn't feel right taking all the credit. "Nothing I accomplished was ever on my own. You know I always had help."

"While I don't doubt that, Rose, what anyone did was at the behest of you. You were the catalyst. Don't discount that." She holds my gaze intensely.

"That's very kind of you to say. It means a lot, especially coming from you."

We share a smile.

"Thank you for finding time to visit. I know you must have very few days off."

"There's no way I could say no to this."

"How are things at Court?"

Rather than burdening her with the details, I go for the diplomatic answer. "Busy, like you said."

She gives me a knowing look. "We've been following the work you're doing with Guardian Belikov and Guardian Tanner. While unorthodox, it's progressive and, from what I've heard, a major success."

"We?"

"Your former instructors, of course."

I don't know why but her statement catches me off guard. "Really?"

"Really," she confirms. "We're very proud of you, Rose and, before you ask, yes, that includes Guardian Alto."

I laugh. "While it hasn't been easy, and there have been times when I thought the council was going to shut us down, I think it's definitely proven worthwhile. We've gathered tons of information. Of course, it helps that we have Lissa's support."

Alberta hums. "How is the Queen?"

"She has her hands full most days but she's definitely in her element. Did you hear she got engaged to Christian?"

"I did. You'll have to send them my congratulations."

"I'll be sure to pass it along."

She smiles. "I almost expected her to show up with you, you know. It's unusual to see you two apart."

"Trust me, she wanted to but couldn't get away. She sends her best, though. You may hear from her soon regarding the guardians they've sent over. Or Guardian Croft, maybe. I met Guardian Stolt this morning. He seems like a good fit."

"We're very grateful to have the extra bodies on rotation. Since the start of the new year, they've been paramount in helping students, and some of the staff, feel safe again."

"I'm glad to hear it."

Alberta nods satisfactorily before producing a file from one of her desk drawers. "I hate to cut this short but I'm expected to observe one of Emil's classes this morning, so onto business." I nod and she lays the file open between us. "I have your schedule laid out here in full. Tomorrow you'll be expected to speak to students on a relevant topic of your choice and, as you've decided to extend your trip an extra two days, I thought maybe you'd like to sit in on a few classes and assist instructors in their exercises. I know the students would love it but I'll leave that up to you to decide."

She gives me a pointed look, as if to remind me of my own enthusiasm as a novice to receive feedback from visiting guardians. It was an opportunity to improve and learn new skills. It kept us on our toes and pushed us to be better.

"I can most definitely do that."

"Great. I'll let the instructors know to speak with you." She stands and hands me the file. "Your housing information is included inside. That's all I have for you. Should you be needed for any shifts while you're here, I'll be in touch but, as of now, consider this a small working vacation. It's the least I can do."

I hadn't been expecting that. "Thank you, Alberta."

"Don't mention it." She walks me to the door before grabbing my shoulder purposefully. "On second thought, you can thank me by being nice to Guardian Alto while you're here."

After a long day of catching up with some of my old instructors, I am tired and ready to turn in for the night — after stuffing my face, of course.

Similar to how one favors their mother's home-cooked meals above all else, I love the cafeteria food at St. Vladimir's. Mediocre at best, it is what I crave when I've had enough of the food at Court and, lucky for me, the guardians here eat the same meals as the students.

I'm in the middle of choosing a side when Guardian Stolt waves me over from the end of the line. "Guardian Hathaway, over here!"

Struggling to pick one over the other, I decide I've earned the right to eat as much as I want and end up taking generous scoops of all of them.

"Did you skip lunch?" Ian asks when I meet him by the dessert. His eyes widen at the contents of my plate and he laughs as I struggle to add two cookies to the pile.

"No," I say sheepishly when I look at what he's grabbed for himself. "I just really missed the food. What's up?"

He motions for me to follow him. "I figured you'd want to eat with people your own age. Come with me and I'll take you to meet some of the others."

Feeling spent, I hesitate before accepting his invitation. Hearing Lissa's voice in my head urging me to have a good time, I can't justify turning in early.

"Lead the way," I decide. If it comes down to it, I can always make a quick cup of coffee to hold me over even though I hate the stuff.

It doesn't take long to realize he's taking us to one of the private dining rooms reserved for faculty. It is off-limits to students but that hadn't stopped me from sneaking in once or twice when I was younger.

The room is packed with guardians when we arrive and he guides me over to a table with two empty seats.

The woman sitting across from us looks up at our arrival and I notice her eyes are a similar color to mine. She's got hair equally as thick but hers is cut above her shoulders whereas mine still reaches halfway down my back, not that anyone would know because I wear it up most of the time now.

"Hey, Ian," she greets before turning to me. "Hello, I'm Maria."

Ian introduces us as he sits. "Guardian Cordova, this is Guardian Hathaway. Guardian Hathaway, meet Guardian Cordova."

"Rose," I greet, extending my hand.

I plop down beside them and start digging in.

"Rose Hathaway." Maria lights up. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Good to know someone's keeping my legacy alive," I say, making Ian laugh.

"Your name comes up pretty frequently among the other instructors and a lot of my shifts overlap with Guardian Alto's," Maria explains, "but even without all that, I'd know your name. You have an impressive resume."

I perk up. "Stan talks about me? Did he tell you I was his favorite student?"

She purses her lips. "Not in so many words."

"Well, let's just say, when I was in his class I knew how to keep things exciting."

Maria smiles. "Something tells me that's a trait you still possess."

"Where's Callum?" Ian interrupts, nodding toward the picked over plate next to Maria.

"He decided he wanted more food. He'll be back."

Ian turns to me. "Callum will be one of the other guardians speaking with you tomorrow."

"Callum?" I don't know anyone with that name.

"Guardian Brown. He's one of us academy newbies."

"Ah. Do we know who else is participating?" I look between him and Maria.

Ian nods. "A Guardian Volkov out of St. Basil's and someone I've never heard of. Her name is Agatha and her charge lives somewhere in New York, I think."

"Guardian Crestman," Maria confirms.

No one I've met. Should be interesting.

We talk a little more on the topic before conversation flows naturally into sharing how our days went. They include me at first but then start to talk around me when Maria mentions the novices are learning new moves this week.

As I eat, they discuss different techniques that may help the students that are having a hard time and I tune in and out of their conversation, filing some things away for when I join in on novice training in a few days. I'm nearly finished with my plate by the time the empty chair at our table is pulled out and occupied by who I assume to be Guardian Callum Brown.

With chiseled features and a head full of wavy brown hair, it doesn't take an expert to see that he's attractive. If Maria's gaze, where it dips to the bare skin of his chest near an undone button, is anything to go by, she agrees.

"That's more like it," he says, setting down a small platter of cake between the four of us.

"No way," I mutter, realizing what it is.

"How in the world did you manage that?" Maria asks.

"I have my ways," Guardian Brown says coyly, offering a piece to her. She accepts it eagerly.

He gestures to Ian and I. "Any takers?"

Before Ian can answer, I'm already reaching out to cut myself a piece. "I haven't had this in forever. They usually only bake this on holidays. How did you manage this?"

I can't remember the amount of times I tried to persuade Ms. Tidwell, the most talented baker on the academy's staff, to make this very cake for me outside of the usual times. I got close to succeeding one year for my birthday but then landed myself in detention and that was the end of that.

A bit of chocolate frosting gets on my thumb so I lick it off and Guardian Brown's eyes follow the movement.

"The kitchen staff loves me."

"He's real chummy with some of them," Ian informs. "Obviously, it works in his favor from time to time."

"That traitorous flirt, Ms. Tidwell." I shake my head. "You accomplished in a few months what I couldn't in seventeen years. How does it feel to have so much power?"

He laughs. "Don't ask these two or they'll say I'm spoiled rotten."

I want to focus more on the betrayal, but — "Wow, this is good," I say over a mouthful. "Thanks."

Callum smiles. "Anytime. You must be Rose."

I nod. "Rose Hathaway, nice to meet you."

"Callum Brown, and likewise." He extends his hand to shake mine.

I clear my throat. "So, how are you two liking the academy so far?"

"I can't complain, for obvious reasons." Callum gestures to the cake.

Maria rolls her eyes. "The weather was something I had to get used to but it's been really good otherwise." Her eyes flick to Callum. "I've met a lot of new people."

"Where were you assigned before?"

"My charge lived in a small Moroi community along the coast of Mexico. It's in a secluded area that's very well hidden so we didn't get many visitors or new people as it's pretty sunny all year and most Moroi can't handle it. My charge loved it, though, and I'll admit, the beaches were heavenly."

I don't bother asking why she was reassigned. The way she refers to her charge in the past tense tells me all I need to know.

"You already know my story," Ian says, looking to Callum.

He shrugs. "I'm afraid mine's not all that exciting."

"Oh, hush," Maria intervenes. "He was one of Queen Tatiana's guardians before she died."

My brows shoot up to my hairline. "You were a part of the Royal Guard? Is that true?" He gives Maria a look and then nods begrudgingly. "How come I've never heard of you? What happened?"

He's reluctant to answer. "What always happens when there's a transfer of power — out with the old and in with the new."

I scoff. "But you're, what, in your mid-twenties? There are people I work with that are older than you."

"Yes, but there are a limited number of spots and, in the case of the Royal Guard, older often means more experienced and more valuable. The younger ones get the boot."

I lean back in my chair, having never considered this before, and then it hits me. "Are you — are you saying that I —"

"You'll have to forgive Maria," he interrupts. "Sometimes she doesn't think before she speaks."

"Sorry, Callum," Maria mumbles, standing to toss her trash and, perhaps, to avoid Callum's accusatory gaze.

"It's fine." He looks at me sympathetically. "Don't worry, Rose. It's standard protocol. You weren't the only new person added to the Queen's service so don't blame yourself."

"But—"

"After leaving Court, I bounced around a while, working as a second for a few Royals, and then landed myself here when I saw the job opening."

It's obvious he wants to shift the attention away so I let him even though I have more questions.

"Why St. Vladimir's?"

Maria returns to her seat and Ian gives her a supportive glance.

"I knew they needed the numbers," Callum states plainly.

My eyes fall to the half-eaten cake, lost in thought.

"It's brave of you to show your face around here," a voice announces, putting a welcome end to the brewing tension, and I swivel around in my chair.

"Stan!" I exclaim. "I was beginning to wonder when you'd turn up. If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were avoiding me."

"Guardian Hathaway." Guardian Alto nods to my companions and then shoots me a stern look, making me feel like a teenager again. "Are you behaving yourself? We're still trying to make a good impression on these three."

I grin, playing into his game. "Never."

He stonewalls me for another moment and then his face softens. "I'm glad you made it back to us in one piece."

The next retort dies on my lips. "You and me both."

"Come," he tells me when he sees I've finished eating. "Some of the others want to see you."

Before I can respond, Stan heads in the direction of another table where I see Daniel, Emil, and a few others waiting.

I turn to my table mates. "Well, it appears I've been summoned. Any chance one of you can point me in the direction of the closest coffee machine?"

A/N: Howdy. After taking a lengthy hiatus, I have decided to give writing a new fanfic a shot. I have most of this planned out but chapters may take me a while to finish. I wanted to give a big thanks to everyone who still writes VA ff because you are keeping Rose and Dimitri alive! I hope this story does the same for someone else! By the way, I reference some of the short stories in this chapter. Apologies if you haven't read those but it should be easy to follow along regardless! See you soon!