Crossing the Nevada border, I promised myself that for the next year, I wouldn't get behind the wheel at all. I'd let Dimitri drive me everywhere. I was done checking my side mirrors, the thought of shifting into first gear made me want to throw up, and don't even get me started on uphill starts. Long story short, after this madness was over, I had no intention of even going near the driver's seat.

I was driving down the highways, constantly switching radio stations, trying to find a song I recognized. As I turned the dial, a memory surfaced, making me smile.

Dimitri and I had gone to pick up some documents from the Alchemists not far from where we lived. It must have been not long after I had returned to active duty after Tasha shot me. Dimitri was driving, and I was doing exactly what I was doing now—messing with the radio, switching stations until I found a familiar song, and then searching for another one as soon as it ended.

Dimitri didn't say a word, but I could tell he was relaxed, probably because it was just the two of us. His hair was tied back, and he was wearing dark sunglasses to shield his eyes from the harsh sunlight. Feeling his good mood, I shot him a teasing smile.

"You know one of the best things about not being in a mentor-student relationship anymore?"

"Yes?" he murmured, still focused on the road, though his eyebrow arched slightly.

"That I get to change the music whenever I want, and you can't say anything about it."

Dimitri's lips twitched as he glanced at me. Tilting his head slightly, he peered over the rim of his sunglasses, his expression a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"Out of all the benefits, that one makes it to the top of your list?"

I shook my head with exaggerated exasperation.

"You have no idea how much your outdated music taste bothered me."

This time, he let out a warm chuckle, and I found myself genuinely smiling at the sound. His fingers slipped from the steering wheel and found mine, warming them and sending a gentle wave of heat through my entire body.

Even now, as I drove, I couldn't stop the silly grin on my face or the tingling in my fingers just from remembering that moment. Even if the circumstances were completely different.

I was relieved we were getting closer to our destination—Tuscarora. I didn't know how much longer I could keep driving. My eyes felt like they were filled with sand, no amount of blinking could get rid of it. Rubbing them didn't help either, and my eyelids kept trying to shut on their own. My head was throbbing from exhaustion, and there were moments I was afraid I might doze off while driving. I tried to stay alert, to keep my mind occupied with anything.

So I kept twisting the radio dial every two minutes, reading every highway exit sign out loud, and overthinking whether I was making the right choices with Jill.

The truth was, I wouldn't have lasted much longer on this trip alone. And it wasn't just me—Jill was barely holding on, too. I had never seen her this pale, or the shadows under her eyes so dark. I couldn't forgive myself for not being able to find her a feeder.

Finally, we reached the town where, supposedly, Kim Larson lived. Though "town" was a bit of an overstatement. I would've called it four ugly streets with even uglier houses scattered along them. I had no idea why anyone would choose to live here. Then again, the fact that Kim Larson had remained a mystery to us until now probably meant she wanted to stay hidden.

I pulled up in front of the address I had dug up from the databases just as dusk was settling in—which, in our world, was the best time to pay a visit to a Moroi or anyone remotely connected to our world.

Jill, who had been dozing off, jolted awake as I cut the engine. She stretched and glanced at the small, single-family house we had parked in front of. I looked at it, too, feeling too drained to be excited about any kind of investigation.

"This is the place?"

"Yep."

"Got a plan?"

"Nope."

Jill nodded as if that was a perfectly solid strategy. To be fair, we hadn't had an actual plan in days. At least now, I felt like I was doing something that made sense.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of the car.

I told Jill to stay behind me and run if anything went wrong. She just laughed, saying she didn't see any threat. But I wasn't ruling anything out. As I knocked, I kept my hands close to my chest, ready to grab my gun if needed.

The door opened, revealing a young-looking girl with blonde hair, freckles, and large glasses with clear frames. I wasn't surprised to see a Moroi standing in front of me, but her age threw me off.

Her hair was unbrushed, and she was dressed in a baggy T-shirt and loose jeans, but despite the casual, homey look, she was very pretty.

Her eyes widened in surprise the moment she saw us.

"Hmm… hi?"

"Hi." I hesitated. There was something familiar about her features, but I couldn't quite place it. "Are we speaking to Kim Larson?"

"That depends." Her expression turned cautious as she looked us up and down. But she didn't linger on the bulge under my hoodie, which meant she knew her way around weapons. "Who's asking?"

I had expected that response, so I pulled my Guardian ID out of Dimitri's wallet.

"Guardian Hathaway, Royal Guard. I have a few questions."

She glanced at my ID, then back at me, and to my surprise, a smile of relief crossed her face. Her reaction caught me off guard even more than how young she looked.

"Finally! I was wondering how long I'd have to wait." She grinned and stepped aside to let us in.

I froze in place, unable to move forward. "Wait… you were expecting me?"

"Ever since Queen Tatiana was buried. Was it really so hard to figure out our clues? Come in, we have a lot to talk about."

Still slightly dazed, I followed her into her small home. It was obvious at first glance that she wasn't the most organized person in the world. Clothes were scattered everywhere—pants on the couch, shirts across the countertop, and a bra peeking out from under a chair. Dishes and glasses occupied every available surface. I also noticed that her potted plants looked very much dead.

"Sorry about the mess. I live alone and wasn't expecting company," she said, tying her hair back. She started gathering up dishes to put in the sink and tossing clothes into a hamper next to the couch. Once she was done, the living room looked noticeably more inviting.

I leaned against the wall, crossing my arms. The fact that she had been waiting for us made me uneasy as if she were the one in control of this conversation.

"No problem. So, you and Tatiana left clues for me and Lissa?"

"We didn't plan them for you specifically, just for whoever ended up on the throne. She started making plans shortly before her death—she had a feeling something was coming." She sighed, tossing the bra from under the chair into the hamper. "I thought she was overreacting, but she was just trusting her instincts."

"Why did Tatiana entrust the clues to you?"

"That's a longer story, but… well, I need to explain a few things. Will the queen be joining us, or should I go with you to Court?"

I raised my brows, surprised that she wasn't up to date on current events. Then again, how would she know I was traveling with Jill on a secret mission?

"Here's what we'll do. First, you tell me everything—give me the whole story. Maybe you can help me with something in return. Then we'll decide what happens next."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously but, after a brief hesitation, nodded.

"I wouldn't agree to this, but I know who you are to the Queen Vaslisa. Should I make some coffee or tea?"

"Coffee for me," I said with a grimace. Anything to push the exhaustion from my eyes. I glanced at Jill and nodded toward her. "And could you arrange for a feeder for her?"

Kim gave a small nod, then, right in front of me, called for a feeder and started boiling water for coffee. I had deliberately avoided saying Jill's name, hoping that Kim hadn't recognized her. Maybe I was being overly cautious, but I wanted to ensure Jill's safety as much as possible.

Still, Kim gave Jill a knowing look that unsettled me. She had to have some idea who the young Moroi traveling with me was.

We settled into the now-tidied living room—Jill and I on one side, Kim on the other. She rubbed her hands under her eyes, tracing from the bridge of her nose to her temples, as if deciding where to begin.

"I worked for Tatiana for years. It all started when something… happened at Court, something that forced me to separate myself from the Moroi world."

"What happened?" I knew she didn't want to talk about it, but I needed to get a sense of who I was dealing with. She tilted her head slightly, holding my gaze.

"That's personal. But Tatiana knew about it, and she helped me. She hid me across the country so I could finish my degree in Analytics and Statistics."

"How did she know you?"

"Well… we were related. Not that I was ever raised like someone from the royal family," she scoffed.

The shock hit me again. So she was from the Ivashkov line. I wondered whether Larson was just an alias or if there was another reason she had to flee Court, but I wasn't sure she'd answer that question.

"So, you're Adrian's cousin?" Jill asked, looking between Kim and me. Kim nodded.

"Then… you're Randal's daughter?"

"Oh, God, no. Thankfully not." She shook her head. "But I'll leave that unanswered, too. It really doesn't matter to you."

I let it go—for now. I hoped we'd get the full story later. Her connection to the Ivashkovs explained why she looked so familiar, but I still couldn't shake the feeling that there was something about her that reminded me of Dimitri. Maybe I just missed him.

"So Tatiana hid you here, for reasons known only to you…" I started.

"Yes, and in return, I helped her compile databases belonging to the Court. We started doing it even before I left Pennsylvania, and then we continued remotely. We had a plan to merge all the key databases concerning the history of noble families, residences, guardian records, their charges, arrests, imprisonments… everything. We intended to cross-reference all these data points to create a holistic picture of our society."

"What changed?"

"Some of the data we received turned out to be far more overwhelming than we expected. Tatiana and I hesitated to release them to the community because we were afraid of the consequences they might bring. Some of them were so significant that they could easily spark a rebellion. That was the case with the mortality statistics of the guardians."

I straightened up, intrigued. I knew my profession was dangerous, but were the numbers so bad that they shocked Tatiana? Or was she simply unaware of the risks we were taking? Kim continued.

"These statistics surfaced relatively recently, but Tatiana knew about them when the whole storm over the age law broke out. I was shaken when I learned that, despite knowing them, she still pushed for it. We spoke on the phone back then. Tatiana didn't want to reveal the statistics just yet—she only wanted to manage the situation regarding the idea of using compulsion on guardians and expose everything when she attempted to restore the original guardian age."

"Can I see them?" I asked, feeling my blood rush faster through my veins. It terrified me that such crucial information was kept from us. Kim bit her lip, hesitating.

"I'm not sure. I'd prefer for the queen to see them first. I understand that you two are close, but this is a matter of national importance."

I gritted my teeth in frustration but couldn't deny her logic. If it had been anyone else, I would've torn their head off for sharing such sensitive information. Swallowing the bitter pill, I nodded.

"I understand… but that means you'll show them to Lissa, right?"

"Of course. This information belongs to the queen," she said very seriously.

I frowned, confused by her response.

"Then why didn't you come to the Court when Tatiana died? Or call? Or write? It could have taken us years to find you! I only put the pieces together by accident."

She shrugged, looking out the window at the wind-swayed trees.

"That was the deal I had with Tatiana, and I followed her instructions to the letter. I owe her too much. If she thought this was the safest course of action, I simply stuck to the plan."

I rolled my eyes at the thought of our late queen's convoluted schemes. Even though she wasn't the cruel bitch I had once thought her to be, I would have done many things very differently than she had.

"So, are you willing to go to the Court and present everything to Lissa?"

She nodded again.

"Absolutely. I just need to pack, and I can leave for the Court."

"Even after what happened with Prince Drozdov?" I asked, trying to gauge if she knew what I was referring to. She shrugged.

"That situation doesn't concern me. I can go if that's my duty."

I took a sip of coffee, glancing at Jill. She shot me an ironic look that screamed, Lucky you.

A feeder arrived, so Jill took advantage of his services after I opened the door and searched him to ensure he wasn't sent by the prince's people. The feeder was a man in his fifties who seemed so dazed that I doubted he cared about Jill in any way. The only thing that interested him about her was her fangs, which were about to give him his favorite form of relaxation.

Kim and I stayed in the room with them, but we didn't watch. I felt anger at myself when my breathing quickened, and my head spun at the sight of the feeder's blissful expression—something I desperately envied at that moment. I clenched my teeth and looked away, trying not to think about the wave of endorphins now flooding his body.

Redirecting my thoughts, I gave Kim's glasses a pointed look.

"Nice frames," I said. Most Moroi didn't need them—they had perfect vision. She smiled gratefully and slid them off her nose to inspect them.

"Thanks. I don't need them to see, but they protect my eyes from blue light. And since I spend most of my time in front of a screen, I figured I might as well use them."

After the feeder's visit, Jill looked better than ever. Her cheeks had color, her eyes were full of energy, and her movements had regained their grace. At least something good had come from our search for Kim.

"You mentioned needing my help with something?" Kim asked after closing the door behind the feeder.

I bit my lip, considering how much I could trust her. She seemed invested enough in the kingdom's affairs not to betray my plans to the prince. At the same time, she was isolated enough that accessing her was a challenge. Careful consideration wasn't exactly my strong suit. I nodded.

"How involved are you in the Prince Drozdov situation?"

Kim shrugged.

"Hardly at all. I only glanced at the guardians' reports because there was so much buzz about the shooting and kidnapping, but I didn't dig into it. I mainly handle statistics."

"The guardians searched his properties and couldn't track him down based on the information they had. I know it might be a long shot, but do you have access to any additional databases that might contain more details? Maybe one of them has a lead on where he might be?"

"Are you asking officially or personally?"

"Officially," I nodded. I was so gonna get fired for engaging Jill in this.

"We can go through it together, but… I wanted to order some food first. Do you guys want anything? I was thinking Chinese."

"Perfect for solving a mystery," I grinned at her, and she responded with an equally mocking smile. I thought that Kim and I might actually get along—if only I didn't have to keep wondering whether I could trust her or not.

Kim led us to her office, which, surprisingly, wasn't a windowless basement filled with dozens of monitors. Instead, it was a sleek, modern space with a massive L-shaped desk and two large computers on it. I pulled up chairs for myself and Jill.

We checked the guardian database before our food even arrived, comparing our data with Kim's. Everything matched. Kim searched three of her sources, but we couldn't find any other possible hideout. We even looked into properties that once belonged to Prince Drozdov's wife, Lara, and even Clara, but there was no potential safe house.

The guardians had already searched his known residences, as well as properties belonging to his closest relatives and friends. But it wasn't until we were eating our rice noodles that Kim had an idea—to go through the prince's financial transactions, which, for some concerning reason, she had access to.

She spent a good two hours on it, while Jill and I tried (and failed) to keep up. We settled for eating noodles and watching her type numbers and words at lightning speed.

Neither the prince's account nor his late wife's showed any transactions that might indicate he had purchased a new property. However, we did notice that a significant portion of the prince's wealth was still flowing into Lara Drozdov's account—even after her death.

To dig into Lara's expenses, Kim had to do some serious maneuvering. But I could tell she was the kind of person who thrived on a challenge. Watching her navigate databases, websites, and programming languages with ease, I knew we had to convince her to stay at Court.

I asked her how she had access to all this information, and without hesitation, she said Tatiana had given it to her. Clever—since Tatiana couldn't exactly confirm or deny it. Well, I wasn't about to summon Tatiana from beyond the grave just to settle the matter. I wasn't thrilled that Kim had access to such sensitive data, but that was just another reason I thought she was the kind of person you'd rather have on your side than against you.

Eventually, Kim managed to pull Lara's bank statement. She turned to me, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction, then spun the screen around and pointed to an address belonging to Lara Drozdov—one I had never seen before.

"You're a genius, Kim," I admitted, impressed. She smirked with satisfaction and immediately started tracking down information on the property.

It turned out the place was a perfect hideout. A ranch in Oakley, Utah, far from any neighbors, with a beautiful lake. Nestled between mountains and surrounded by a dense evergreen forest, it was a picturesque retreat. I had to admit, the prince had taste.

"This has to be it," Kim said, showing me a preview of the house. Two stories, probably with a basement as well. Unfortunately for us, it was a large property, making it harder to storm and trap the prince. From the satellite images, I counted three entry points—not including the ground-floor windows.

"So, what's the plan, Rose?" Jill asked excitement in her voice. She was so caught up in the discovery that she didn't seem to mind discussing strategy in front of Kim. I bit my lip, weighing my options.

I could call the guardians and give them the address. But if our calls were still being monitored, a traitorous guardian might tip off the prince, giving him time to escape.

I couldn't rely on device-free communication anymore, not since Adrian had started taking antidepressants.

I could try finding nearby guardians and asking for backup, but I doubted anyone would jump into an unsanctioned mission. First, it was dangerous. Second, it hadn't been ordered from above—hell, it hadn't even been run by any higher-ranking guardians. Third, it would mean abandoning their assigned Moroi, since most Moroi families only had one or two guardians.

Sure, maybe they'd take the risk to protect the queen's sister. But the truth was, I couldn't promise them success. Hell, I couldn't even promise they wouldn't be punished for abandoning their posts or putting a princess in danger. Even I wasn't sure how I'd justify this later.

The only viable option I saw was getting to Court as fast as possible. I could put Jill in a secure hideout with a handful of trusted guardians, arm myself, gather another trusted group, then head straight for the prince's location and launch a quick attack. I laid out the plan for the girls, but Jill looked visibly disappointed.

"But there could still be a traitor among those 'trusted' guardians! Someone who either kidnaps me or warns the prince, giving him time to run—and we'll never catch him! Besides, Court is a long trip from here. We could be intercepted on the way!" Jill was getting emotional, desperately trying to convince me not to take that route.

"I don't see another way, Jill."

"We could go after the prince ourselves and take him down! Just like we said!"

I let out a frustrated groan, annoyed at Jill for not understanding why I was insisting on this plan—and for openly discussing everything in front of Kim, who was listening intently.

"Jill, that house is too big. I can't take it alone, especially while having to protect you."

"Rose, you don't have to—"

"Of course I do!" I hadn't raised my voice yet, but I hoped my tone carried the weight of what I was trying to get across. "Of course, I have to protect you. I'd have to sneak onto an open property with no cover, break into a house full of guards, and not only survive but also make sure none of them got a shot at you. I can't do that alone, Jill."

"But…" I could see the desperation in her eyes, but I couldn't take her on a mission that was basically suicide.

"We don't have another option," I said, softening my tone. I noticed the shimmer of tears in her eyes, but she quickly looked away. I held back a sigh, not wanting to make her feel worse.

"Well… I might have an option for you," Kim said quietly, looking at me. I raised my eyebrows, and she cleared her throat before continuing.

"I know a group of former guardians. They haven't been in active service for years, but they're still in shape. They completed their training, and worked for a few years, but then… they quit. We met in Salt Lake City, and all of us were kind of exiled from the Moroi world. It's a group of seven guys. Some of them work as cops during the day, others as security guards. But at night, they hunt Strigoi—and they're pretty damn good at it."

I was intrigued.

"You think they'd help us? Even if they're… exiled?" I wasn't sure if that was the most flattering term, but she had used it herself. Her lips twitched into a small smile.

"I'm sure they will. They love action, which is why they gave up active duty—they felt like they were wasting their time. Should I call them?"

I hesitated.

"I think that we can try this idea. And another good idea would unfortunately be evacuating from here. The prince's guards are on our heels, and I wouldn't be surprised if they track us down in a few hours. We need to get out of here, and Kim, I'd advise you to start heading toward the Court."

"Or I could go with you to Salt Lake City, see the boys, and then we'll figure things out from there. But first, I need to call them..."

"Fine, but don't tell them who we are, okay? Just say I'm a high-ranking guardian who needs unconventional help to solve a case."

Kim grimaced.

"I think they'd be more interested if they knew how important this mission is."

"Just ask them to meet with me, and I'll convince them of whatever I need to."

The corners of Kim's mouth twitched. That reaction made me think of Dimitri—he would've reacted the same way.

Their phone conversation sounded awkward. It was clear they knew each other well and treated each other like friends, but at my request, Kim didn't reveal all the details they naturally asked for. On one hand, she had to give the former guardians just enough enticing information to get them interested in taking on this challenge. On the other, she had to stay vague enough not to reveal details I wasn't ready to share.

I have to admit, she handled it pretty well. The boys agreed to let me come and present my case, even though they felt uninformed and, because of that, not entirely satisfied. But the goal was achieved, and that gave me a rush of excitement.

We waited for Kim to pack (for an indefinite amount of time), and meanwhile, a storm was raging inside me. Like Jill, I finally felt energized by the action, ready to find the prince and put an end to this madness. But at the same time, I was torn—should I trust Kim and her friends or not?

I had no reason to trust her—she hadn't done anything to show where her loyalties lay after Tatiana's death. For all I knew, she could be working for the prince, and I could be walking right into his hands. I had even less reason to trust her friends. And yet, according to the plan, I was supposed to fight alongside them. I had no idea about their training, their skills, their structure—or most importantly, whether I could count on them.

Still, every instinct in me told me that this plan was better than going back to the Court. Something deep inside told me that this was the path we needed to take. So I decided to do everything I could to make it work—and take the risk. But first, I wanted to talk to Jill.

Still waiting for Kim, we stepped outside to get out of earshot. Quietly, I explained all my concerns to Jill—about Kim, her friends, and even the chances of success, even in the best-case scenario. I told her that I was willing to risk my own safety for this mission, but that I shouldn't be risking hers. Of course, she shook her head and disagreed.

"I'm willing to take the risk too. And I'm ready to help. I know a lot, Rose—remember when I stopped the water in the basement so that pipe would burst?"

Even though what she did had been crucial to our escape, stopping the water wouldn't help us in a hand-to-hand fight. I smiled at her and wrapped an arm around her.

"We'll find a way to put your skills to use."

She grinned, clearly pleased with the idea.

Kim took her car, so I followed behind, making sure not to lose sight of her. Jill sat upright next to me, practically bouncing with excitement in the passenger seat. With blood, rest, and a plan of action, she no longer seemed like the weak, exhausted girl from before. The person sitting next to me was a young woman, ready for a challenge.

I was relieved that we had managed to avoid the prince's men. Maybe we'd finally lost them. Maybe this nightmare was actually coming to an end.

It took us four hours to reach Salt Lake City. By the end of the drive, my eyes were shutting on their own from exhaustion, but I pinched myself to stay awake. I regretted not taking the chance for a nap at Kim's, but I hadn't wanted to leave Jill alone with her.

We parked outside an apartment building and climbed to the third floor of a place that looked solid enough. The door opened to reveal a tall, well-built dhampir. He looked to be around thirty—though maybe his thick beard made him seem a little older. In the instinctive way of guardians, his eyes scanned me, assessing the threat, just as I was assessing him. But when his gaze settled on my face, he looked stunned.

"Holy shit, Kim, you brought Guardian Hathaway here and didn't even warn us?"

We were momentarily speechless, but then the bearded man grinned and held out his hand.

"Didn't know we were in for a fun weekend!"

He introduced himself as David, and I introduced Jill as my temporary charge. I shot her a glance over my shoulder, and she gave me a subtle nod—she understood not to reveal her identity just yet.

David led us into the living room, where three of his friends were sitting. It turned out that the remaining three were at work but were also expected to arrive. Those working as police officers were currently on duty, while the three in the living room were employed as nightclub security.

I wondered how seven men managed to live in such a small, three-room apartment. There were mattresses lying around the living room, and the couch looked like it could unfold into a bed, but I still couldn't imagine all of them living together permanently.

They offered us food—pizza and pork ribs—but the only drinks available were beer, so we passed. While waiting for the others to arrive, Kim was catching up with her friends. Eventually, the intercom buzzed, and I almost jumped with relief. David noticed and shook his head.

"That's not them yet. That's our new guy from Russia."

"A new guy?" Kim asked, and I could see she wasn't happy about this news. She threw me an apologetic look, silently assuring me she hadn't known anything about it.

"Yeah, Lev. He's still young, but Kenny fought alongside him in Russia and figured the kid wasn't bad. He invited him to come stay with us, and he's been here for a while now."

"On your dime?" Kim asked, surprised. David waved his hand dismissively.

"He works part-time and contributes what he can. And honestly, he's been a big help with the Strigoi."

The door opened, and when I looked towards it, I froze. Just like the person standing in front of me.

Lev, the same guy I had hunted Strigoi with in Novosibirsk, dropped the grocery bag he was holding.

"Rose?!" His voice was filled with shock—but also excitement.

"LEV!" I shouted, jumping up with a wide grin. He didn't hesitate; he ran over and lifted me into the air, making me laugh. He set me down but couldn't hide the sheer joy on his face.

"We thought you were dead! We thought you'd been kidnapped!"

"I was kidnapped," I replied cheerfully, "but I got out."

Lev shook his head with a grin and lifted me again, spinning me around. When I was back on my feet, Kim and David were watching us with amused smiles, while Jill observed with keen interest. I could see the thousand questions in her eyes that I would undoubtedly have to answer later.

"So, you two know each other?" David asked.

"She's the one who taught me how to fight," Lev said, clapping me on the back. I rolled my eyes. "We killed quite a few Strigoi together."

"And I see I taught you well since you're still standing," I teased. "I swear, the first time I saw you fight, I was shocked you guys had survived that long with such shitty technique."

As the others busied themselves unpacking the groceries, Lev pulled me out onto the balcony, where he lit a cigarette despite my verbal disapproval. He asked about what had happened to me in Novosibirsk. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Jill subtly eavesdropping, probably trying to gauge our relationship, but I decided I didn't mind.

"When you didn't come back to the apartment after ten minutes, we went looking for you. That old lady you were trying to help looked terrified, and she was trying to tell us something. She led us to the place where we found your bracelet. We searched for you in the area, then all over the city. We kept looking for about two weeks, but…"

"…you figured I was dead," I finished for him. He nodded, looking guilty. I wasn't surprised—I would have thought the same.

"We wondered if that guy you were looking for got to you. Belikov, right?"

I gave a wry smile.

"That's exactly what happened. He found me but waited until I was alone to take me. He took me far outside Novosibirsk. Way past the forest. But I got away. Then I followed the river back, and luckily, some old couple gave me a ride into town, where I finally called for help."

Lev bombarded me with questions—what had happened to me, how I escaped, and why the hell I hadn't called them for help. I tried to keep my answers vague about my time at Galina's court, but I think my story about the escape satisfied his curiosity.

"Damn, I've never heard of anything like that," Lev laughed sincerely, and I grinned. I nudged him with my foot.

"How are Denis and Artur?"

"Denis is fine. He went back to Bai to recover. Artur got hurt the last time we saw each other and was in the hospital for three months. He still has six months of rehab before he can go back to hunting Strigoi."

"What happened?" I asked, genuinely horrified.

"Some Strigoi got him from behind and threw him onto a construction scaffold. The metal beams collapsed under him, and part of the structure fell on his spine. He got lucky—he could've died or ended up paralyzed."

"He did get lucky, but he might not be so lucky next time," I said, shaking my head. "Seriously, you guys should reconsider hunting Strigoi on your own. It's… reckless. I get risking your life for a cause, but not throwing it away for something that could have been better planned."

"Rose, I don't stick my nose into your life. Besides, if I remember correctly, you also weren't exactly promised?"

I turned around and pulled down the collar of my shirt, revealing the elongated "S" tattoo on my neck—the mark proving I was promised.

"I finished school since the last time you saw me."

Lev let out a whistle.

"And you've got a few new tattoos, too," he said with admiration, trying to hide it.

I smiled.

"I've had a few chances to take down some Strigoi here and there. But since I've been working with the Court, these missions actually make sense."

"I'm not going to waste my life and talent standing behind some old Moroi," he said firmly. I knew this wasn't just some rebellious whim—it was a life choice he had made along with the other unpromised dhampirs. His conscious decision about what he wanted to do with his life. "Besides, now that I hunt with the guys, it's a lot safer. They've got experience, and there's more of us."

"I know it's better now. What you were doing in Novosibirsk was suicide. Anyway… I actually wanted to ask you something, as an old friend."

"Go ahead, Rose."

"I wanted to ask you if these guys…" I nodded towards Kim's friends, who were still in the living room talking to her, "…can be trusted. I have a rather delicate matter to bring to them—to all of you—and I was really hesitant about whether to ask for help here."

"They're solid fighters. Most of them have finished training and had a few years of experience, so they know what they're doing. I think you can safely go on a mission with us."

"I'm also worried about discretion," I moved closer to him so they wouldn't hear me. I bit my lip and immediately let it go, watching Lev's face carefully for any signs of insincerity. "I wouldn't want unwanted ears to hear about what I'm doing prematurely."

"You don't have to worry about that," Lev scoffed, looking confident in his words. "They don't care about the Moroi world since they were cast out of it. They definitely won't pass on any information about you. If anything, I'd be more concerned about whether they'll be interested in this mission at all if there aren't any Strigoi to kill."

"I'm worried about that too," I sighed and rubbed my forehead. Lev extended a pack of cigarettes toward me, but I grimaced ostentatiously. He chuckled and shoved it back into the pocket of his leather jacket.

"Don't worry, I won't leave you," he grinned at me. I smiled back.

"I'm so glad I found you here."

From Lev, I learned that this apartment was their city hideout. Besides that, they had a house in the suburbs and a small cabin in the mountains. That was the only way they could fit so many people. Since arriving in the States, he had been trying to earn some money as a courier, porter, or warehouse assistant. He claimed it was worth the effort to be able to hunt monsters at night with the boys.

Once everyone had gathered in the house, we were called inside. They all looked at me expectantly, and I couldn't shake the lump in my throat. I wasn't nervous about speaking in front of them—I was afraid of their possible refusal or betrayal. But it was too late to back out now.

I laid out the situation for them—the fact that as a lone guardian of a very, very politically important person, I had to flee with her while being pursued. That I knew the most likely location of the hideout of a Moroi who posed a threat to us, one who had already killed many guardians in his ignorance simply because he had too much influence and money. That I had no way to contact the center for backup, and that returning would put us at enormous risk. That I needed help capturing the prince and eliminating the threat once and for all.

"And what would we get out of it?" one of the men asked. He didn't look older than thirty-five, but his eyes seemed much older. He stood against the wall, straight as a rod, analyzing every word I said.

"I can't contact the center about a reward, but I'm certain the queen wouldn't leave you empty-handed. Quite the opposite."

"Are you trying to buy us?" another huge man asked angrily, standing up slowly as if about to approach me. I knew it wouldn't be easy dealing with a group of men living alone together.

I straightened up and turned my body toward him, making sure he saw I wasn't backing down. I looked him in the eyes, carefully choosing my words but speaking with certainty.

"I don't want to buy you, but I don't expect you to act as volunteers, risking your health and lives. You deserve compensation for your work. The queen values our"—I gestured to myself and Jill, who stood to my right—"safety immensely, and I am sure she won't hesitate to reward you for helping us. A reward far greater than the pay for a few nights of guarding a nightclub."

The big guy sized me up, but seeing that I didn't waver, he backed down. He sat back in his seat and exchanged a meaningful glance with David, who seemed to be the unofficial leader of the group. Kim was sitting on the edge, but the look she gave me told me I was handling them well.

We started discussing the risk—that is, how I envisioned this raid. Kim helped me outline the layout of the residence, so we began formulating a strategy together. Aside from Lev, everyone used terminology typical of guardians, so we quickly managed to draft a preliminary, professional action plan.

Most of them visibly perked up during this initial brainstorming session, debating approaches, pointing out overlooked details, and offering new adjustments. It seemed like some of them were genuinely enjoying it—a kind of thrill they hadn't experienced in a long time. I had to admit, this part of a guardian's job had always been an enjoyable and quite exciting aspect for me too, and I wasn't surprised that inactive guardians might miss it. Although, of course, it couldn't replace the adrenaline rush of real action.

The guys also pointed out something I had overlooked—before storming the prince's estate, we needed to deal with the kidnappers who had been hunting Jill and me for the past few days. They even surprised me by offering to help me take them on—on our terms. They suggested luring them to the boys' countryside cabin, where we could face them in a controlled environment. I had to admit, I was impressed.

Two of them objected, of course—including the big guy. They hadn't abandoned their own community just to get tangled up in guardian bullshit again. They had no intention of wasting their talent and skills on the power games of privileged Moroi. They believed such conflicts weren't worth risking their lives—only fighting Strigoi could justify that. The safety and life of a fifteen-year-old girl didn't.

They left the apartment to spend the night at the suburban house. Lev winked at me conspiratorially as he closed the door behind them. He seemed excited about the mission, but I couldn't help but wonder—if it weren't for me, would he still have agreed?

We ordered pizza and got down to serious planning. David and I naturally took the lead. David knew the guys well—he knew who had what strengths and weaknesses and how to use them. As the only guardian on active duty, I had to steer the plan in a way that was as efficient as possible while always keeping Jill in the safest possible positions. Although I'll admit, I made a few very unconventional decisions—like using Jill as bait to lure the kidnappers.

David and two other guys who worked in the police force took on the task of getting us security gear—bulletproof vests, helmets, goggles, communication sets, and more.

Even though we were literally planning matters of life and death, I felt myself gradually relaxing in their company. We ate pizza over the plans, debated openly without unnecessary pleasantries, and occasionally someone said something so funny that my stomach hurt from laughing. My relaxation probably also stemmed from the fact that I had been living in constant tension for so long. Now, I couldn't stop the hope that slowly began to take root in my heart, feeling deep in my gut that this was the right decision.