Chapter 14:

I left Tasha just in time to take my rightful place in the back at Priscilla’s banquet. It was a formal royal dinner, out of respect of the queen.

I reached the banquet room before anyone else did, well besides the guardians. The room was done in all silver and blue. Midnight blue silk cloths covered the tables, shiny and smooth. Sconces of beeswax candles hung all over the walls, and a fireplace decorated with stained glass crackled away in one corner. The effect was a spectacular panorama of color and light, dizzying to the eye. In the corner, a slim Moroi woman set up her station to play cello music.

Eventually all the royals arrived. And among them were Rose and Lissa. My breath caught in my throat as I took in Rose’s attire. She was wearing Tasha’s dress that had been given to her at Christmas. The shade of red was a killer on her, bringing out her skin tone and dark hair. It was long, Asian style dress with flowers embroidered into the silk. The high neck and long hem covered a lot of skin, but the material clung to her features making her look all the more amazing.

Lissa too looked just as good. She wore a deep purple dress. It was sleeveless and made of satin. The tiny amethyst-like crystals set into the straps sparkled against her pale skin. She wore her hair up in a loose, artfully styled bun.

I stood in the back watching her and Rose as they ate their dinner on china plates. After the plates had been cleared from the table Rose and Lissa socialized with the mingling Moroi in the room. Lissa flittered around the room smiling and putting on her charm, while Rose followed her like a lost puppy. I couldn’t help but chuckle at that. The tables had turned on both of them tonight.               Which didn’t surprise me, considering that Rose was the only dhampir attending the ceremony.

They traveled over to a group, one that got Rose talking. Closer observation told me that this was a group that belonged to Adrian’s dad. All my blissfulness and interest with Rose dried up. And a short time later Adrian showed up next to her. Once again I found myself fighting for self control. She seemed drawn to him, but not in the way she was to me.

As the conversation went on Rose shifted uncomfortably when he leaned down and whispered in her ear. Making her blush a red shade similar to the dress she wore. She took a sip of her red champagne smiling up at Adrian. I silently prayed that she wouldn’t get drunk. Because then, Adrian would take that to his advantage and I’d have to step in; witnesses or not. He stepped closer to her, obviously noticing the alcohol in her hand.

“Rose!” Janine strode towards her daughter angry as hell. And for once in my life I was thankful for Janine’s hot temper.

 “What do you think you’re doing?” She demanded. Her voice was so loud that I could hear every word.

Rose seemed appalled, as she tried to explain, but her mother cut her off.

“Excuse us, Lord Ivashkov,” she growled. Then as if Rose was a five year old, she grabbed her daughter by the arm and jerked her out of the room.

I couldn’t hear what they were saying, but the harsh sounds coming from Janine it didn’t sound good. Slowly and unexpectedly I scooted closer to the door.

“…why are you talking to me like I’m a child?” Rose’s rage was crystal clear in her voice.

“Because you act like one.” Her mother replied. It was exactly what I had told her.

Rose’s voice dropped an octave. “So you’re going to send me to my room now?”

“No rose.” Janine sounded beaten, tired. “You don’t have to go to your room, but don’t go back in there, either. Hopefully you didn’t draw too much attention.”

“You make it sound like I was giving a lap dance in there.” Rose told her. “I just had dinner with Lissa.”

“You’d be surprised what things can spark rumors.” Janine warned. “Especially with Adrian Ivashkov.”

I could hear Janine’s light steps walk away then. I peeked my head around the doors frame, watching as Rose stared dumfound at her mother. A couple Moroi walked past me then, glancing at Rose before whispering to each other.

“Thanks, Mom,” she muttered.

She took off then. Stalking over to the back of the lodge. I would have let her go if it weren’t for the sadness in her voice. Looking around quickly I left the banquet room and followed Rose.

The hall she was walking down eventually ended, but a door leading to some stairs sat on the left. She opened it and disappeared. Looking around one more time I descended the stairs after her. I went slowly at first, unsure if Rose even wanted me here. But after what happened with Tasha, I needed some time with her alone.

Finally I opened the door to find her sitting on a box that belonged to the ventilation system. Her arms wrapped around herself indicating how cold she was.

She looked back startled, but then turned away when our eyes met.  My heart fluttered as I made my way towards her. My boots crunching in the snow as I walked over to where she was sitting. A moment later, I took off my long coat and draped it over her shaking shoulders.

I sat down besides her, “you must be freezing.” I looked down at her dress; which was no match for the freezing temperatures.

She shrugged at that, snuggling more into my coat. “The sun’s out.”

I looked up at the perfect blue sky. My human genes welcomed it; until then, I hadn’t realized how much I missed the sun’s warm rays. “It is. But we’re still on a mountain in the middle of winter.”

She didn’t answer. Instead we sat there in a comfortable silence for a while. Occasionally, a light wind blew clouds of snow around. It was night for Moroi, and most would be going to bed soon, so the ski runs were quiet.

“My life is a disaster,” she finally said.

“It’s not a disaster,” I said all too quickly. I didn’t intend for her to find out about me spying on her. It would only make her question me further.

“Did you follow me from the party?”

“Yes.” I answered carefully.

“I didn’t even know you were there.” She took in my attire, realization flashing in her eyes. “So you saw the illustrious Janine cause a commotion by dragging me out.” Her voice still held that wounded tone. My heart ache for her.

“It wasn’t a commotion.” I comforted her.  “Hardly anyone noticed. I saw because I was watching you.” For some reason I thought that if she knew this, it would cheer her up.

But much to my dismay she said sullenly, “that’s not what she said. I might as well have been working a corner as far as she was concerned.”

She relayed the conversation from the hallway. Telling me what I already knew from eavesdropping.

“She’s just worried about you.” I said when she finished.

“She overreacted.”

I recalled the time my mother had told my sisters that they had to stay home and raise their children while the boys went out and protected Moroi. Both of them had had a hard time with that, but eventually it paid off for them.

“Sometimes mothers are overprotective.” I said.

She stared at me. “Yea, but this is my mother. And she didn’t seem that protective, really. I think she was more worried I’d embarrass her or something. And all that becoming-a-mother-too-young stuff was stupid. I’m not going to do anything like that.”

I knew she was blaming Janine just for the sake of blaming. But she wasn’t thinking this whole situation through. And when it involved Adrian I had to agree with Janine. “Maybe she wasn’t talking about you.”

More silence. Rose’s jaw dropped. Realization kicking in. After a while she sighed. “We aren’t fighting right now.” She blurted out.

I gave her a sidelong look. “Do you want to fight?”

“No. I hate fighting with you. Verbally, I mean. I don’t mind in the gym.”

I tried my best to keep my smile hidden. Although I was pretty sure she caught it. “I don’t like fighting with you either.”

Sitting next to her there, I marveled at the warm and happy emotions springing up inside of me. There was something about being around her that felt so good, that moved me the way Tasha couldn’t.

“You should take it.” She said.

I flinched. Caught off guard by her abrupt change in subject. I knew what she was talking about. The offer Tasha had given me, to be her guardian. Too bad I soiled that plan. “What?”

“Tasha’s offer. You should take her up on it. It’s a really great chance.” She said unselfishly and with meaning.

Her words still shocked me. “I never expected to hear you say anything like that, especially after---“

“What a bitch I’ve been? Yeah.” She interrupted as she tugged my coat tighter against the cold. “Well. Like I said, I don’t want to fight anymore. I don’t want us to hate each other. And…well…” She squeezed her eyes shut and then opened them. “No matter how I feel about us… I want you to be happy.”

It was the most surprising and unselfish thing I had ever heard her say. And I realized that we weren’t that far off from each other. I accepted the fact that she and Mason might be a couple, but only because that meant she would be happy, he could give her something I couldn’t. But now… now I wasn’t sure anymore.

I reached out then, and put my arm around her. I pulled her to me and she rested her head on my chest. “Roza.”

It was the first time I’d really touched her since the night of the lust charm. The practice room had been something different. This was about being close to someone you cared about, about the emotion that kind of connection flooded you with.

Rose might run off with Mason, but I would still love her. I would probably always love her.

I cared about Tasha. But I knew I could never love her.

She sighed into my chest; it felt right being with her. And no matter how much the thought of her and Mason made me ache doing what was best for her felt right.

Unexpectedly she pulled away and handed me back my coat. Standing up I could sense her unease.

“Where you going?” I asked.

“To break someone’s heart,” she replied.

She looked at me for a heartbeat more, her dark eyes swimming with regret and longing. Then she turned around and walked away from me. Putting the door between us.

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Sorry it's not as long as I hoped it would be. I still need to work on the chapter where she runs away. I have yet to figure out how to put it all together.. Plus I don't have the time like I thought I did today.. unexpected plans ): but thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed!

<3LittleDhampir18