The next day, Jill and I went to the shopping mall—we needed to buy a modest supply of clothes, underwear, food, and hygiene products. On the way to the store, I wondered how to find feeders for Jill. She could probably go without fresh blood for a little while longer, but I was afraid of what would happen after that. I didn't know any feeders in the area, and even worse, they could give us away to our pursuers.
In the worst-case scenario, I could probably give her a small dose myself, but that had its downsides too. First of all, after being bitten, I might not be able to provide the protection the situation required. Secondly... well, with my history of bites, it was better not to risk it. I was already walking a fine line with addiction, and small, regular doses could easily push me over the edge. Still, if we had no other choice, we might be forced to go down that route.
I kept my thoughts to myself and let Jill freely pick out clothes and all the cosmetics she wanted. I chose a few practical outfits for myself, along with the most essential toiletries, and paid for everything with the card Dimitri had given me.
"God, I don't even remember the last time I went shopping," Jill sighed, carefully placing her bags in the trunk. I smiled at her.
"It never fails to cheer a girl up."
"For me, sure, but I don't know what you find cheery about your stuff," she said, pointing at my new warm hoodie, a couple of T-shirts, and comfortable jeans.
I laughed and closed the trunk. " You have more in common with Lissa than you think."
We got into the car, and I started driving back to our motel. Night had fallen hours ago, and we had been some of the last customers in the stores. The darkness and late hour made me feel on edge—I watched my surroundings carefully, scanning for any signs of danger.
"I don't think we have anything in common," Jill sighed suddenly.
I glanced at her, surprised that she was still dwelling on my comment.
"Of course you do. You both love to laugh at me and spend time with Christian—which I don't get, but okay. That's a pretty solid start."
Jill scoffed softly and looked at me with amusement, but she couldn't hide the tension in her face from me.
"I'm serious, Rose. Before we even got to know each other, I was attacked and had to flee to Palm Springs. I only know her as Christian's girlfriend—the one I caused nothing but trouble for."
"You didn't cause any trouble. Lissa was being manipulated by Avery and acted like an idiot," I interrupted her. Jill turned to look out the window on her right. I stole a quick glance at her, but her face was hidden from view. "And I meant what I said. You two have a lot in common, and I'm not talking about simple shit like making fun of my shopping choices. You both agreed to take on important leadership roles—not for any privileges, but because you wanted to help our community. You both refuse to give up, even when things are tough, because you believe in the same goal: a better future for Moroi. I don't think there's anything else that could connect you more strongly."
Jill was silent for a while. I drove slowly, keeping an eye on our surroundings. We were just pulling into the motel parking lot when she finally spoke again.
"Do you really think—"
"Shhh!" I hissed, feeling my heart start to race.
I had just spotted three men—well-built—entering the motel. One of them stayed outside and moved a few steps away to get a clear view of the emergency exit stairs. My headlights illuminated him, and I saw a gun sticking out from his waistband.
"Get down!"
Jill instantly crouched in her seat, and I felt every muscle in my body tense. I drove past the guy, who was clearly checking out my car. I hoped the glare from my headlights had blinded him enough that he couldn't make out my face—especially in the darkness.
"Shit," I muttered under my breath, seeing his head turn to follow our car. My grip on the steering wheel tightened as blood pounded wildly in my veins. I kept driving, holding my breath, and pulled out of the parking lot, keeping an eye on him in my rearview mirror. Aside from watching us, he made no move.
I pressed down on the gas.
"Was that them?" Jill asked, suddenly looking very pale.
I nodded. Once the motel disappeared from view, I slammed my foot down on the gas. Jill was thrown back against her seat, pinned by the force of the speeding car.
"They found us, but I don't think they recognized our car. We have to get out of here. I'm worried he might have memorized the license plate."
Jill sat up properly and fastened her seatbelt as I raced down the highway, overtaking every car in sight, pushing past the speed limit. My hands ached from gripping the steering wheel so tightly, but I couldn't let go—I was too afraid of what would happen if they decided to follow us.
"How did they find us?!" Jill's voice was dangerously close to panic.
I felt on the verge of breaking down too, but this time, I wanted to be more professional than before. I forced myself to take a deep breath through my nose before answering, giving myself time to think.
"Maybe they found some footage from the gas station or the mall. Or they're tracking the credit card."
"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God!" Jill groaned, covering her eyes with her hand. Sometimes I forgot how young she was. I had a completely different set of words on the tip of my tongue.
"Don't worry, Jill. I won't let anything happen to you," I promised her, knowing it was the truth. I wasn't going to let anyone hurt her.
But I started to wonder if that meant we should go back to Court after all. I decided that for now, we'd withdraw cash and completely change our route. We'd try to disappear in some remote hole again, and if that didn't work… we'd return to Court.
I explained my new plan to Jill, and she nodded, resigned. She didn't seem too convinced. I told her to try and get some sleep, maybe reach out to Adrian in her dreams. I was dying to check in on Lissa and see what was happening at Court, but aside from confirming that she was okay, I couldn't get much without fully immersing myself in her mind—which was a terrible idea, considering I was driving.
Jill kept tossing and turning, trying to find a comfortable position, but she couldn't fall asleep. The adrenaline was still coursing through her, keeping her on edge. I stayed silent, not wanting to wake her up even more. I could feel my own tension easing with every mile I put between us and that motel.
I stopped at a gas station, and Jill opened her eyes, still unable to sleep. We walked over to the ATM and I withdrew enough cash to cover a week's stay somewhere. We also bought some food for later. I didn't miss the fact that Jill picked the meatiest sandwich available—she was craving blood. Well, that was a problem for later.
Jill curled up on the back seat, and this time, she actually managed to fall asleep. I took a different route than before, speeding along as fast as I could to put distance between us and the last place I'd used the credit card. About a hundred and fifty kilometers from the gas station, there were camps recommended on the map. I figured they might let us rent one with cash, so I headed in that direction.
Jill slept the whole way, leaving me alone with my thoughts. What should we do next? Where should we run? Should we call for help? Even if just Dimitri came, it would be a huge help. But I wasn't sure if he could get to us without being tracked. There was a chance we had shaken them off again. Of course, there was also a chance they had been tailing us the whole time, and in that case, having only one guardian wouldn't be enough.
At the cabins, they did let us pay in cash. There were only three other families staying there. A young couple from Europe on a camper road trip through the States. A family with three kids—the parents worked as a caretaker and cook at the lodge to provide their children with a home. And finally, an elderly couple who didn't seem wealthy but were warm and welcoming.
Everyone greeted us when we arrived, since there was a big bonfire going, and they were all gathered around, cooking food. They showed us where everything was and even offered us some food and drinks. I spun them a touching story about how Jill was my younger sister and I was taking her away from our abusive home. I told them that I lived in Florida now, but we needed to lay low here for about a week so our stepfather wouldn't get suspicious. The older couple and the family with kids seemed understanding. Only the European couple wanted to report my "stepfather" to the police.
"Around here, we take care of our own. The police only make things messy," said Mave, the elderly woman, smoking something that was definitely not tobacco.
"You're lucky to have a sister like Jolyn," Bob, the father of the three kids, told Jill, referring to my fake name. "Not everyone would come back for you."
Jill nodded but was too shy to speak. I could tell she was exhausted, but the whole act—pretending to be runaway sisters—seemed to bring a spark back into her. She shot me an amused look, and I smiled, relieved to see that glimmer in her eyes.
Back in our cabin, I decided to stay on watch until sunrise. Jill didn't want to sleep but lay down on one of the beds and connected with Adrian in her dreams. I figured I'd use this time to check in on Lissa.
She was buried in paperwork, going through reports about the attacks on the palace and the house in Palm Springs. The guardian jargon was hard for her to understand, and she wished I was there to help. I could feel it too—if we were together, we might be able to speed up the investigation somehow.
Christian was sitting next to her, scanning through Prince Drozdov's records. He looked like he hadn't slept much since the evacuation, judging by the dark circles under his eyes and his disheveled hair.
"He's definitely not hiding in any of his official residences," he murmured. They exchanged worried looks. "Wherever he is, we don't have a single lead pointing to it."
"But someone must have provided him with a place to stay. Someone close to him, or someone who owes him a favor. We need to get his phone records, and hopefully, we can also access his email correspondence."
"He could be using a second phone or email," Christian pointed out. I felt Lissa's hope deflate.
"You're right," she sighed.
"We'll find him, Liss. Don't worry," Christian whispered, resting a hand on her back. She gave him a sad smile, feeling less and less convinced.
They broke eye contact when they heard a knock at the door.
"Yes?" Lissa called out.
Standing in the doorway was Harvey, my boss—the commander of the Royal Guard. Since Lissa's return to Court, he had personally taken on much of her protection, implementing every possible precaution.
"Guardian Belikov requests permission for a meeting."
"Dimitri!" Lissa shouted, jumping up from her chair. Harvey gave a slight smile and stepped aside to let Dimitri in.
Both Lissa and I lost our minds with happiness at the sight of him. Through her eyes, I drank in the wonderful view of him—safe and unharmed. Relief flooded me, knowing he was truly okay. However, the dark circles under his eyes and his pale complexion showed his exhaustion. Lissa rushed toward him, about to throw her arms around his neck, but she stopped mid-step.
"Rose isn't with you?"
The hunted look in Dimitri's eyes sent a wave of panic through Lissa. She knew Dimitri would never leave me behind, and if we had returned together, I would have come to her first. So if I wasn't with him, her mind immediately jumped to the worst possible scenarios. A memory flashed through her—of Tasha shooting, when I had thrown myself in front of her to save her, and she had been forced to watch me die.
Dimitri pulled her from her dark thoughts.
"We had to split up. We were attacked at our hideout, and I ordered Rose to take Jill somewhere safe. We last checked in a few hours ago, and she's fine."
"What about the others?"
"Everyone's safe—we just arrived at Court. Only Rose and Jill remain in hiding."
Lissa exhaled in relief, feeling Christian's hand on her back. Then she reached out her arms, and Dimitri embraced her lightly.
"I'm so glad you're okay."
Dimitri tightened his hold on her briefly before accepting a brotherly hug from Christian. They all sat down at the table, and Dimitri recounted everything that had happened to us. Technically, I didn't need to listen in on the conversation, but the sight of Dimitri and the sound of his voice had such a calming effect on me that I couldn't—didn't want to—pull away.
Our adventures left Lissa and Christian in stunned silence. They had thousands of questions, all of which Dimitri answered with his characteristic stoic patience. He calmly explained the circumstances of our escape and why we had acted the way we did. But eventually, even he grew tired, leaning heavily on one arm. A few loose strands of hair had escaped his ponytail, falling across his forehead. My fingers itched to brush them back behind his ear.
"I'm so worried about her. I tried to get permission from Hans to go find them and help, but both she and he think it's too risky."
"More risky than leaving Rose alone with Jill while they're being hunted? That sounds like a mistake," Christian said, irritated. Dimitri nodded in agreement.
Lissa remained silent, but in her thoughts, I saw that she understood why Hans and I had made this decision. Even though she wanted Jill (and me) close, she preferred to ensure her absolute safety. That's why she agreed to keep Jill hidden until the perpetrator was found. She reached out and touched Dimitri's arm in a comforting gesture.
"Rose will be fine. She's handled far worse situations, and now at least you can help us find Drozdov and end this madness."
Dimitri looked straight at her, and my breath caught at the sight of his deep brown eyes. I could read them like a book. There was fear and worry in them, but also a spark of hope. And faith in me.
Dimitri nodded with determination, and Lissa and Christian began filling him in on what they already knew. This time, it was they who answered his numerous questions, but to our disappointment, we all realized they didn't know much more than we did.
Dimitri wanted to take part in the interrogations of the people I had told him about. Sara hadn't cracked under pressure, not saying a single word since revealing who Clara was. But Dimitri sensed a weak spot in Mark. A few days in captivity had worn down his resistance, and Dimitri knew how to exploit that.
After just a few minutes alone with Dimitri, Mark decided to answer some of his questions. Dimitri sat across the table from him, Hans at his side, while Lissa and Clara observed through a one-way mirror. Watching Dimitri in action, Lissa felt a surge of pride, while my heart pounded with excitement. He looked incredibly sexy—seated in a position of authority, his hair neatly tied back, his sleeves rolled up, his voice cold and commanding as he questioned Mark.
Mark provided a list of Prince Drozdov's known hideouts, but all of them had already been checked with no sign of him. This only heightened Dimitri's suspicion, but he continued his interrogation. The guard didn't know why the prince was so intent on abducting Jill or whether it had a political motive. Nor did he know what Sara McLean's involvement with the prince entailed.
Lissa and Clara exchanged weary glances. They already knew this interrogation would yield nothing. Hans sighed deeply, likely feeling the same way. But then Dimitri leaned forward, his gaze unreadable as he looked directly at Hans.
"Alright, now I have questions about the prince's past. How did Lara Drozdov die?"
The question caught everyone off guard—including me. But I couldn't suppress the smile tugging at my lips. He had memorized the gaps in our knowledge and was determined to dig deeper.
Mark was speechless, which told me Dimitri was onto something. He looked at Hans, shaking his head.
"That's a private matter for the prince, unrelated to this case. I can't disclose that."
"You can, and you must. Right now, Drozdov is being treated as a criminal, which means he's lost his right to privacy."
Mark clenched his jaw, visibly torn. I understood—if I were that close to someone under my protection, I wouldn't want to reveal such intimate details either, especially the circumstances of their child's death. Dimitri sensed his hesitation, lowered his head, and whispered in a cold, measured voice.
"Unless you'd prefer to go back to discussing your options."
Mark shot him a furious look, cursed under his breath, and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Lara died in an accident. A terrible accident we should have seen coming. She was killed by Claudia."
The room went silent. Dimitri recovered the quickest, though I could tell the revelation caught him off guard.
"So, she was murdered?"
"It's hard to call it murder. Claudia… she was unpredictable. Ever since she started growing up, she had trouble controlling her emotions. A few times, she even tried to take her own life, but we always managed to save her in time. She adored Lara—she was the only one who could calm her down when nothing else worked."
"So what happened?"
"In the end, she had an episode so severe that, in a fit of rage, she shoved Lara too hard. Lara stumbled and fell over the stair railing from the upper floor. She broke her neck. No one grieved more than Claudia."
"Why didn't you report it? Why wasn't Claudia locked up, so she wouldn't be a danger to others?" Hans interjected.
"At the prince's request. Everyone knew Claudia hadn't meant to do it, so no one wanted to take away her freedom. But after the incident, the prince left—taking Claudia, who was in a deep depression, along with a few of his most loyal servants. He disappeared. I never saw Claudia again."
The rest of the interrogation didn't yield any new information. They released Mark and started gathering more details about Claudia, cross-referencing them with what they had already obtained from the Alchemists.
I returned to my head.
Jill was lying on her bed. I wasn't sure if she had already fallen asleep. I walked over to our tiny kitchen and started rummaging for coffee. The moment I caught its bitter scent, I grimaced—but I knew I needed it. My eyelids felt heavy, grains of exhaustion rubbing like sandpaper beneath them, and my head throbbed from lack of sleep. And I still had an entire night of keeping watch ahead of me.
As I stirred sugar into my coffee, I couldn't help but smile, imagining Dimitri's look of utter disgust at my three spoonfuls of sugar and splash of milk. He drank his coffee in the simplest way—black, no sugar. If he was feeling indulgent, he might add a drop of milk in the morning. Maybe.
Muttering curses under my breath, I downed my overly sweetened coffee and took my place by the window, scanning the surroundings.
This time, I didn't drift into Lissa's head. I stayed alert, using every technique Stan had drilled into me. Jill had finally fallen asleep—her breathing had slowed, and she'd started to snore softly. I blinked a few times, forcing myself to stay awake, trying not to think about how much I wished I were in her place.
Outside, nothing was happening. The campfire had been put out long ago, and the entire camp had settled in for the night. A few bats flitted across the sky, but aside from them, everything was still.
I watched as my breath left a foggy imprint on the glass—then I saw them. Headlights cutting through the dark as a car pulled into the camp.
I froze, heart pounding, blood turning to ice.
Three men stepped out, their movements purposeful. They were looking for something. Or someone. One of them was definitely armed.
I shot up from my seat, grabbing my own gun. Then, I lunged for Jill, shaking her roughly.
"Jill, wake up. We have to go. Now."
She snapped awake, eyes wide with fear, but she didn't argue. She grabbed her bag as I grabbed mine and rushed to the door. It opened on the opposite side of the window and parking lot, which meant we wouldn't immediately run into our pursuers. I cracked it open slowly, careful not to make a sound. The other side was clear.
We pressed ourselves tightly against the wall, and I flicked off the safety on my gun. My breathing was fast and shallow as I braced myself for the next move.
I aimed at the window of an unoccupied cabin and fired.
The sound shattered the silence.
Footsteps pounded toward the cabin. I grabbed Jill's hand, and we bolted for the parking lot on the other side.
I heard the cabin door being forced open just as we broke into the open. I risked a glance back—one of the men was rounding the building, his back to us. Luck was on our side.
When we reached the car, I motioned for Jill to crouch by the driver's side. I pointed at the back seat, and she nodded. This had to be fast.
I crouched low, making sure I couldn't be seen through the window.
"I'll unlock the doors. The second I do, get in—but don't sit up. Stay low so they can't get a clear shot. Got it?"
"Got it," she whispered, breathless but focused. I felt a surge of admiration for this brave girl.
"Go."
I pressed the key. The car's lights flashed, and the lock made a noise as loud as a gunshot in the silence.
A shout rang out.
I didn't register it—I was too busy jamming the key into the ignition and slamming my foot on the clutch. I threw it into second gear, floored the gas, and took off just as the first bullet missed us. I yanked the driver's door shut and sped onto the highway.
I drove as fast as I could, making sharp turns, weaving through side roads. Jill stayed crouched in the back, but I didn't tell her we were safe. Not yet.
Only after an hour of weaving on and off the highway did I finally glance at her in the rearview mirror.
"You can sit up now."
I would have driven to the Court, but from what I knew from Lissa, Hans believed I should stay incognito for as long as possible. Then again, he didn't know I had a tail. I drove for about two hours before deciding to consult the Court.
"Jill, could you try to fall asleep so you can talk to Adrian and tell him about our situation? He can pass it on to Dimitri and Hans, and they can tell us what to do."
"Sure," Jill nodded and closed her eyes for a moment.
I focused on the road, but suddenly, I heard her breathing quicken. I glanced at her in the mirror and saw her hands clenching tightly, her chest rising and falling in fast, uneven movements. Fear twisted her features, making my stomach knot with dread.
Panicking, I pulled over to the side of the road, got out of my seat and ran to her side.
"Jill! Jill!" I shook her shoulder when my voice alone didn't break through.
She opened her eyes, and tears immediately welled up and spilled down her cheeks.
"Adrian…" she started, but her voice cracked. A cold grip of fear tightened around my heart.
"What happened?!" I urged.
"He… He had an episode… Oh, Adrian," she sobbed, shaking as I pulled her into my arms, holding her close until she could catch her breath.
I closed my eyes and reached out, slipping into Lissa's mind. The instant I connected, I was hit by a wave of fear and distress pounding through her heart.
She was in her office with Christian, Dimitri, Hans, Eddie, Angeline, and, surprisingly, Sydney. The tension in the room was suffocating. Even Hans, who was usually composed, looked drained. But Sydney… Sydney was devastated. Fresh tears shimmered on her cheeks, and her whole body trembled.
Lissa had just learned that Adrian had suffered a severe breakdown. One moment, he was rambling incoherently, spewing nonsense that didn't make any sense, and the next, he was flipping furniture, smashing glass, completely out of control. He'd become so aggressive that Eddie alone couldn't restrain him—they had to call for backup and ultimately sedate him. The red, raw marks on Eddie's face were proof of the struggle.
Now, Adrian was unconscious in the infirmary, and whether he would need further restraint was still uncertain.
Lissa had immediately called in Dr. Sanders, the psychiatrist who had helped her manage her own depression and spirit-induced mania. The doctor prescribed antidepressants, meant to suppress Adrian's spirit abilities while easing its devastating effects on his mind.
Hans, however, objected as soon as he found out. He rushed to Lissa, urging her to hold off on the treatment. Adrian was their only means of communication with me and Jill. That was why they had all gathered in her office, waiting for her decision.
Lissa's head throbbed from stress, exhaustion, and the crushing weight of the choice before her. She didn't want to cut me off, especially if Jill and I needed help. But she also couldn't sacrifice Adrian's well-being.
"You can't even be debating this!" Sydney suddenly snapped, her voice shaking with anger. "This isn't anyone's decision to make! Adrian needs help, and you can't deny him that for your own convenience!"
"Lord Ivashkov has gone without treatment until now, and he's been fine," Hans countered.
"The situation has changed," Sydney spat back. "His doctor prescribed these meds for his own good. He's not your property to use as you see fit!"
"Alchemist—"
"I won't let you exploit him!"
"Enough!" Lissa shouted. A fresh spike of pain lanced through her skull.
Hans and Sydney both turned to her, each pleading for different outcomes. Feeling lost, she looked to Dimitri. He had always been her rock, her source of reason and clarity.
"Dimitri?"
He met her gaze, the exhaustion and conflict etched deep into his features. His jaw tightened, his muscles flexing as he clenched his teeth. I could see the war raging inside him. He knew the right decision. He knew Adrian needed help. And yet, taking away my only lifeline to them made him hesitate.
His jaw twitched, his frustration and anger barely contained. But then, he took a deep breath and looked at Lissa with heavy, sorrowful eyes.
"Adrian deserves treatment and safety. We can't use him."
Lissa exhaled, a breath of relief escaping her lips. She had felt this was the right call, but hearing Dimitri say it, hearing him trust that I would be okay, gave her the strength to stand by it. Hans looked furious. But Sydney—Sydney looked relieved.
I was yanked back into my own mind, feeling lost all over again. I squeezed Jill tighter.
"He's safe now," I murmured. "The doctors are taking care of him. Don't worry, Jill. He's going to be okay."
She sniffled once more but nodded.
I climbed back behind the wheel and gripped it tightly, trying to steady the trembling in my hands before driving forward into the night.
We tried to stay hidden for another five days. Five incredibly long days that felt like an eternity as I struggled to stay awake by Jill's side. Once, we took shelter in a rental cabin deep in the mountains. I managed to sleep for an hour and a half before we had to evacuate in a hurry. In the next town, I left the car at a shopping mall and we walked to a motel. There, I got a full four hours of sleep. They found us shortly after, but we escaped through the dumpster and ran back to the mall. The next places weren't any better.
It didn't matter where we stayed—hotel, motel, rental house, campsite. Within a few hours, they managed to track us down and reach us. I knew that hiding any longer was pointless since they had our trail. As we fled from our last hiding place, I wrestled with my thoughts, wondering what to do next.
After a few hours of driving, I pulled over at a roadside diner. Jill was still awake, so we decided to eat something. She looked pale and weak—she needed blood. One more problem to deal with.
We ordered burgers, milkshakes, and another disgusting coffee for me. While waiting for our food, we watched the sunrise. We hadn't spoken since I had stopped by the roadside earlier—we just didn't have the energy.
"So," I finally started, "I don't know what we should do next."
Jill glanced at me through half-lidded eyes. The exhaustion, the hunger, and the tears had taken a toll on her. She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her feet on the seat, ignoring the stern look from the waitress.
"What options do we have?"
"We could go back to the Court…"
"But then they'll just try to kidnap me again, and this whole escape would have been for nothing!"
"But you'd have more protection and blood" I said flatly. Jill grimaced and looked out the window.
"Or…?" she asked quietly. I raised an eyebrow and spread my hands.
"Or we could keep running from one place to another, evacuating in a panic every few hours because they keep finding us."
"We'd only have to do that until they find Drozdov, right?"
"Yes, but I don't think they're getting any closer to finding him, and with every passing moment, your safety becomes more unsure. I'm getting more exhausted from the lack of sleep, they seem to be tracking us faster, and you need to drink blood."
The waitress brought our food, and we ate ravenously. Only after finishing her milkshake did Jill look at me with a mysterious glint in her eyes.
"So, the most crucial thing for my safety right now is finding and neutralizing Prince Drozdov, right?"
I shot her a mocking look. I wasn't surprised that Jill had been thinking along the same lines—it was in her nature. But I wasn't about to let her believe this was a viable plan.
"Jill, there isn't a shadow of a chance that I'm going to hunt down Prince Drozdov and take him out with you. Forget it."
"But it's the best solution! Every other option just leads to our location being exposed and us being attacked on their terms. If we attacked them, they wouldn't expect it."
"We would attack them?" I repeated incredulously. "You and me? The combat duo of the year?"
Jill glared at me.
"I can fight."
"Not well enough, Jill! An assault on someone with an army of personal bodyguards requires professional skills, equipment, and reconnaissance. What are you even talking about? Do you know how many highly trained, well-armed guardians died trying to storm his villa? How exactly do you picture our little attack going down?"
"For you, anything is possible."
"That's not true, Jill," I whispered, though I wished it were. I saw the glimmer of tears in her eyes and felt bad for shutting down her ridiculous, childish, and unrealistic plan so harshly.
"We could at least talk about it," she said softly, staring at the rising sun outside the window, avoiding my gaze. I sighed and decided to give her that much.
"Alright, so first of all, how would you even know where to find the prince?"
Jill pressed her lips into a tight line, unable to answer even the first question. I was about to open my mouth to ask another when suddenly, I found the answer myself. Or at least, an idea of where we could look.
For the first time in days, I thought about the database containing information about Lady Drozdov's death and Kim Larson. The author description mentioned that this woman was responsible for keeping statistics in the Moroi world. If Tatiana's notes really pointed to her, she was to one person who had the data needed to overturn the age law. If she had more information than we did in the guardians' database or Lissa's, maybe she also had details on Drozdov's hideouts.
Trying not to reveal my thoughts, I asked Jill another question.
"Assuming we knew where to strike, how do you imagine this attack going down, considering my primary duty is to keep you out of danger, not throw you into the middle of it?"
"That depends on the number of guards protecting the house," she muttered.
A surprised laugh escaped me. Ignoring the fact that I had no idea what I would do with Jill during an attack—she wasn't entirely wrong.
"Jill, do you realize that I'm getting more exhausted by the hour, and you're growing weaker?"
"It's not going to get any better!" she argued. Finally, she met my eyes, and I saw the fire in them—the same fire that had made me like her so much a long time ago. "You're right that with every stop, we're getting closer to being caught. And you're right that we're in bad shape, and it's only going to get worse. But the Court isn't safe either. We don't know who the spy is, and we don't know who will know where I'm hiding. You could lock me in a vault guarded by ten guardians, but the threat will still be there until we eliminate the prince. So we need to do it now—before we're even more exhausted."
I looked into her emerald-green eyes, filled with determination and courage, and realized I had underestimated Jill. Despite everything she had been through, she hadn't broken—she was still willing to fight. I felt a surge of admiration and affection for her.
The truth was, I agreed with her about returning to the Court. It also seemed risky and pointless unless we were sure the prince was no longer a threat. On the other hand, running from motel to motel was becoming increasingly dangerous. Besides, I wanted to take action—I couldn't stand sitting around doing nothing.
As I stared into Jill's eyes, two parts of me battled. One of them, rational and calm—sounding suspiciously like Dimitri—tried to convince me that this idea was just as dangerous as it was irresponsible. The other part of me—the one that craved action—wanted to push forward and solve this problem once and for all.
Honestly, I didn't know what would be more dangerous for Jill. I wondered if this would get me fired, but I relaxed my shoulders, which I had tensed without realizing, and looked at Jill. I saw hope beginning to spark in her eyes.
"You know what, Jill? I think you're right. We need to take matters into our own hands."