Adrian studied Lissa and then looked at Christian sprawling on the bed on the far side of the suite. ʺHuh,ʺ Adrian said, letting himself in. ʺSo thatʹs how youʹre going to fix the family problem. Little Dragomirs. Good idea.ʺ
Christian sat up and strolled toward them. ʺYeah, thatʹs exactly it. Youʹre interrupting official Council business.ʺ
Adrian was dressed casually for him, jeans and a black T-shirt, though he made it look like designer clothing. Actually, it probably was. God, I missed him. I missed them all.
ʺWhatʹs going on?ʺ asked Lissa. While Christian seemed to consider Adrianʹs arrival a personal offense, Lissa knew that Adrian wouldnʹt be here without a good reason—especially this early in the Moroi day. Although he had on his normal lazy smile, there was an excited and eager glitter in his aura. He had news.
ʺIʹve got him,ʺ said Adrian. ʺGot him trapped.ʺ
ʺWho?ʺ asked Lissa, startled.
ʺThat idiot Blake Lazar.ʺ
ʺWhat do you mean trapped?ʺ asked Christian, as perplexed as Lissa. ʺDid you set out a bear trap on the tennis courts or something?ʺ
ʺI wish. Heʹs over at the Burning Arrow. I just bought another round, so he should still be there if we hurry. He thinks I went out for a cigarette.ʺ
Judging from the scent wreathing Adrian, Lissa had a feeling he actually had been out for a cigarette. And likely shared in the round. ʺYouʹve been at a bar this early?ʺ
Adrian shrugged. ʺItʹs not early for humans.ʺ
ʺBut youʹre not—ʺ
ʺCome on, cousin.ʺ Adrianʹs aura didnʹt have the muted colors of someone who was completely drunk, but yes, heʹd definitely had a few drinks. ʺIf pretty boy Ambrose was right about Aunt Tatiana, then this guy can tell us the names of other jealous women.ʺ
ʺWhy didnʹt you ask him yourself?ʺ asked Christian.
ʺBecause me asking about my auntʹs sex life would be sick and wrong,ʺ said Adrian. ʺWhereas Blake will be more than happy to talk to our charming princess here.ʺ
Lissa really wanted her bed, but finding out anything to help me sparked a new rush of energy within her. ʺOkay, let me at least get some different clothes and brush my hair.ʺ
While she was changing in the bathroom, she heard Adrian say to Christian, ʺYou know, your shirtʹs kind of grungy-looking. Seems like you could put in a little more effort since youʹre dating a princess.ʺ
Fifteen minutes or so later, the threesome were on their way across Court to a tucked away bar inside an administrative building. Iʹd been there before and had originally thought it was a weird place to house a bar. But, after a recent stint of filing, Iʹd decided that if I were doing office work for living, Iʹd probably want a quick source of alcohol on hand, too.
The bar was dimly lit, both for mood and Moroi comfort. Adrianʹs joking aside, it really was early for Moroi, and only a couple patrons were there. Adrian made a small gesture to the bartender, which I presumed was some kind of ordering signal because the woman immediately turned and began pouring a drink.
ʺHey, Ivashkov! Whereʹd you go?ʺ
A voice called over to Lissa and the others, and after a few moments, she spotted a lone guy sitting at a corner table. As Adrian led them closer, Lissa saw that the guy was young—about Adrianʹs age, with curly black hair and brilliant teal eyes, kind of like Abeʹs recent tie. It was as though someone had taken the stunning color of both Adrian and Christianʹs eyes and mixed them together. He had a leanly muscled body—about as buff as any Moroi could manage—and, even with a boyfriend, Lissa could admire how hot he was.
ʺTo get better-looking company,ʺ replied Adrian, pulling out a chair.
The Moroi then noticed Adrianʹs companions and jumped up. He caught hold of Lissaʹs hand, leaned over, and kissed it. ʺPrincess Dragomir. Itʹs an honor to meet you at last. Seeing you from a distance was beautiful. Up close? Divine.ʺ
ʺThis,ʺ said Adrian grandly, ʺis Blake Lazar.ʺ
ʺItʹs nice to meet you,ʺ she said.
Blake smiled radiantly. ʺMay I call you Vasilisa?ʺ
ʺYou can call me Lissa.ʺ
ʺYou can also,ʺ added Christian, ʺlet go of her hand now.ʺ
Blake looked over at Christian, taking a few more moments to release Lissaʹs hand—seeming very proud about those extra seconds. ʺIʹve seen you too. Ozera. Crispin, right?ʺ
ʺChristian,ʺ corrected Lissa.
ʺRight.ʺ Blake pulled out a chair, still playing the over-the-top gentleman. ʺPlease. Join us.ʺ He made no such offer to Christian, who went out of his way to sit close to Lissa. ʺWhat would you like to drink? Itʹs on me.ʺ
ʺNothing,ʺ said Lissa.
The bartender appeared just then, bringing Adrianʹs drink and another for Blake. ʺNever too early. Ask Ivashkov. You drink as soon as you roll out of bed, right?ʺ
ʺThereʹs a bottle of scotch right on my nightstand,ʺ said Adrian, still keeping his tone light. Lissa opened her eyes to his aura. It bore the bright gold all spirit users had, still muddled slightly from alcohol. It also had the faintest tinge of red—not true anger, but definite annoyance. Lissa recalled that neither Adrian nor Ambrose had had a good opinion of this Blake guy.
ʺSo what brings you and Christopher here?ʺ asked Blake. He finished a glass of something amber colored and set it down beside the new drink.
ʺChristian,ʺ said Christian.
ʺWe were talking about my aunt earlier,ʺ said Adrian. Again, he managed to sound very conversational, but no matter how much he might want to clear my name, delving into the details of Tatianaʹs murder obviously bothered him.
Blakeʹs smile diminished a little. ʺHow depressing. For both of you.ʺ That was directed to Adrian and Lissa. Christian might as well have not existed. ʺSorry about Hathaway too,ʺ he added to Lissa alone. ʺIʹve heard how upset youʹve been. Whoʹd have seen that coming?ʺ
Lissa realized he was referring to how sheʹd been pretending to be angry and hurt by me. ʺWell,ʺ she said bitterly. ʺI guess you just donʹt know people. There were a million clues beforehand. I just didnʹt pay attention.ʺ
ʺYou must be upset too,ʺ said Christian. ʺWe heard you and the queen were kind of close.ʺ
Blakeʹs grin returned. ʺYeah . . . we knew each other pretty well. Iʹm going to miss her. She might have seemed cold to some people, but believe me, she knew how to have a good time.ʺ Blake glanced at Adrian. ʺYou must have known that.ʺ
ʺNot in the way you did.ʺ Adrian paused to take a sip of his own drink. I think he needed it to restrain any snippy remarks, and honestly, I didnʹt begrudge him it. I actually admired his self-control. If Iʹd been in his place, I would have long since punched Blake. ʺOr Ambrose.ʺ
Blakeʹs pretty smile transformed into a full-fledged scowl. ʺHim? That blood whore? He didnʹt deserve to be in her presence. I canʹt even believe they let him stay at Court.ʺ
ʺHe actually thinks you killed the queen.ʺ Lissa then added hastily, ʺWhich is ridiculous when all the evidence proves Rose did it.ʺ Those hadnʹt been Ambroseʹs exact words, but she wanted to see if she could elicit a reaction. She did.
ʺHe thinks what?ʺ Yes. Definitely no smile now. Without it, Blake suddenly didnʹt seem as good-looking as earlier. ʺThat lying bastard! I have an alibi, and he knows it. Heʹs just pissed off because she liked me better.ʺ
ʺThen whyʹd she keep him around?ʺ asked Christian, face almost angelic. ʺWerenʹt you enough?ʺ
Blake fixed him with a glare while finishing the new drink in nearly one gulp. Almost by magic, the bartender appeared with another. Blake nodded his thanks before continuing. ʺOh, I was more than enough. More than enough for a dozen women, but I didnʹt fool around on the side like he did.ʺ
Adrianʹs expression was growing increasingly pained at each mention of Tatianaʹs sex life. Still, he played his role. ʺI suppose youʹre talking about Ambroseʹs other girl-friends? ʺ
ʺYup. But ‘girlʹ is kind of extreme. They were all older, and honestly, I think they paid him. Not that your mom need
ed to pay anyone,ʺ added Blake. ʺI mean, sheʹs actually pretty hot. But you know, she couldnʹt really be with him in any real way.ʺ
It seemed to take all of them a moment to follow what Blake was alluding to. Adrian caught on first. ʺWhat did you just say?ʺ
ʺOh.ʺ Blake looked legitimately surprised, but it was hard to say if it was an act. ʺI thought you knew. Your mom and Ambrose . . . well, who could blame her? With your dad? Though just between you and me, I think she could have done better.ʺ Blakeʹs tone implied exactly whom he thought Daniella could have done better with.
In Lissaʹs vision, Adrianʹs aura flared red. ʺYou son of a bitch!ʺ Adrian was not the fighting type, but there was a first time for everything—and Blake had just crossed a serious line. ʺMy mom was not cheating on my dad. And even if she was . . . she sure as hell wouldnʹt have to pay for it.ʺ
Blake didnʹt seem fazed, but maybe things would have been different if Adrian actually had hit him. Lissa rested her hand on Adrianʹs arm and squeezed it gently. ʺEasy,ʺ she murmured. I felt the smallest tingle of calming compulsion move from her into him. Adrian recognized it immediately and pulled his arm back, giving her a look that said he didnʹt appreciate her ʺhelp.ʺ
ʺI thought you didnʹt like your dad,ʺ said Blake, utterly clueless that his news might be upsetting. ʺAnd besides, donʹt get all pissy at me. I wasnʹt sleeping with her. Iʹm just telling you what I heard. Like I said, if you want to start accusing random people, go after someone like Ambrose.ʺ
Lissa jumped in to keep Adrian from saying anything. ʺHow many women? Do you know who else he was involved with?ʺ
ʺThree others.ʺ Blake ticked off names on his hand. ʺMarta Drozdov and Mirabel Conta. Wait. Thatʹs two. I was thinking with Daniella; thatʹs three. But then, thatʹs four with the queen. Yeah, four.ʺ
Lissa didnʹt concern herself with Blakeʹs faulty math skills, though it did support Adrianʹs previous ʺidiotʺ claims. Marta Drozdov was a semi-notorious royal who had taken to traveling the world in her old age. By Lissaʹs estimation, Marta was hardly in the U.S. most of the year, let alone Court. She didnʹt seem invested enough to murder Tatiana. As for Mirabel Conta . . . she was notorious in a different way. She was known for sleeping with half the guys at Court, married or otherwise. Lissa didnʹt know her well, but Mirabel had never seemed overly interested in any one guy.
ʺSleeping with other women wouldnʹt really give him a motive for killing the queen,ʺ pointed out Lissa.
ʺNo,ʺ agreed Blake. ʺLike I said, itʹs obvious that Hathaway girl did it.ʺ He paused. ʺDamned shame too. Sheʹs pretty hot. God, that body. Anyway, if Ambrose had killed her, heʹd have done it because he was jealous of me, because Tatiana liked me better. Not because of all those other women he was doing.ʺ
ʺWhy wouldnʹt Ambrose just kill you?ʺ asked Christian. ʺMakes more sense.ʺ
Blake didnʹt have a chance to respond because Adrian was still back on the earlier topic, his eyes flashing with anger. ʺMy mother wasnʹt sleeping with anybody. She doesnʹt even sleep with my father.ʺ
Blake continued in his oblivious way. ʺHey, I saw them. They were all over each other. Did I mention how hot your—ʺ
ʺStop it,ʺ warned Lissa. ʺItʹs not helping.ʺ
Adrian clenched his glass. ʺNone of this is helping!ʺ Clearly, things werenʹt going the way heʹd hoped when heʹd first summoned Lissa and Christian from her room. ʺAnd Iʹm not going to sit and listen to this bullshit.ʺ Adrian downed the drink and shot up from his chair, turning abruptly for the exit. He tossed some cash on the bar before walking out the door.
ʺPoor guy,ʺ said Blake. He was back to his calm, arrogant self. ʺHeʹs been through a lot between his aunt, mom, and murdering girlfriend. Thatʹs why really, at the end of the day, you just canʹt trust women.ʺ He winked at Lissa. ʺPresent company excluded, of course.ʺ
Lissa felt as disgusted as Adrian, and a quick glance at Christianʹs stormy face showed he felt the same. It was time to go before someone really did punch Blake. ʺWell, itʹs been great talking to you, but we need to go.ʺ
Blake gave her puppy-dog eyes. ʺBut you just got here! I was hoping we could get to know each other.ʺ It went without saying what he meant by that. ʺOh. And Kreskin too.ʺ
Christian didnʹt even bother with a correction this time. He simply took hold of Lissaʹs hand. ʺWe have to go.ʺ
ʺYeah,ʺ agreed Lissa.
Blake shrugged and waved for another drink. ʺWell, any time you want to really experience the world, come find me.ʺ
Christian and Lissa headed for the door, with Christian muttering, ʺI really hope that last part was meant for you, not me.ʺ
ʺThatʹs no world I want to experience,ʺ said Lissa with a grimace. They stepped outside, and she glanced around, in case Adrian had lingered. Nope. He was gone, and she didnʹt blame him. ʺI can see now why Ambrose and Adrian donʹt like him. Heʹs such a . . .ʺ
ʺAsshole?ʺ supplied Christian. They turned toward her building.
ʺI suppose so.ʺ
ʺEnough to commit murder?ʺ
ʺHonestly? No.ʺ Lissa sighed. ʺI kind of agree with Ambrose . . . I donʹt think Blakeʹs smart enough for murder. Or that the motiveʹs really there. I canʹt tell if people are lying or not from their auras, but his didnʹt reveal anything overly dishonest. You joked, but if anyone was going to commit a jealous murder, why wouldnʹt the guys want to kill each other? A lot easier.ʺ
ʺThey did both have easy access to Tatiana,ʺ Christian reminded her.
ʺI know. But if there is love and sex involved here . . . it seems like itʹd be someone jealous of the queen. A woman.ʺ
A long, meaningful pause hung between them, neither of them wanting to say what they were both likely thinking. Finally, Christian broke the silence.
ʺSay, like, Daniella Ivashkov?ʺ
Lissa shook her head. ʺI canʹt believe that. She doesnʹt seem like the type.ʺ
ʺMurderers never seem like the type. Thatʹs why they get away with it.ʺ
ʺHave you been studying up on your criminology or something? ʺ
ʺNo.ʺ They reached her buildingʹs front door, and he opened it for Lissa. ʺJust laying out some facts. We know Adrianʹs mom never liked Tatiana for personality reasons. Now we find out that they were sharing the same guy.ʺ
ʺShe has an alibi,ʺ said Lissa stonily.
ʺEveryone has an alibi,ʺ he reminded her. ʺAnd as weʹve learned, those can be paid for. In fact, Daniellaʹs already paid for one.ʺ
ʺI still canʹt believe it. Not without more proof. Ambrose swore this was more political than personal.ʺ
ʺAmbrose isnʹt off the list either.ʺ
They came to Lissaʹs room. ʺThis is harder than I thought it would be.ʺ They went inside, and Christian wrapped his arms around her.
ʺI know. But weʹll do it together. Weʹll figure it out. But . . . we might want to keep some of this to ourselves. Maybe Iʹm overreacting here, but I think itʹd be best if we donʹt ever, ever tell Adrian his mom has an excellent motive for having killed his aunt.ʺ
ʺOh, you think?ʺ She rested her head against his chest and yawned.
ʺNaptime,ʺ said Christian, leading her toward the bed.
ʺI still need a shower.ʺ
ʺSleep first. Shower later.ʺ He pulled back the covers. ʺIʹll sleep with you.ʺ
ʺSleep or sleep?ʺ she asked dryly, sliding gratefully into bed.
ʺReal sleep. You need it.ʺ He crawled in beside her, spooning against her and resting his face on her shoulder. ʺOf course, afterward, if you want to conduct any official Council business . . .ʺ
ʺI swear, if you say ‘Little Dragomirs,ʹ you can sleep in the hall.ʺ
Iʹm sure there was a patented Christian retort coming, but another knock cut him off. He looked up in exasperation. ʺDonʹt answer it. For real this time.ʺ
But Lissa couldnʹt help herself. She broke from his embrace and climbed out of bed. ʺIt′s not Adrian . . .ʺ
ʺThen itʹs probably not important,
ʺ said Christian.
ʺWe donʹt know that.ʺShe got up and opened the door, revealing—my mother.
Janine Hathaway swept into the room as casually as Adrian had, her eyes sharp as she studied every detail around her for a threat. ʺSorry I was away,ʺ she told Lissa. ʺEddie and I wanted to set up an alternating system, but we both got pulled for duty earlier.ʺ She glanced over at the rumpled bed, with Christian in it, but being who she was, she came to a pragmatic conclusion, not a romantic one. ʺJust in time. I figured youʹd want to sleep after the test. Donʹt worry—Iʹll keep watch and make sure nothing happens.ʺ
Christian and Lissa exchanged rueful looks.
ʺThanks,ʺ said Lissa.
TWENTY
ʺYOU SHOULD SLEEP.ʺ
Sydneyʹs soft voice nearly made me leap out of my skin, proving that even while in Lissaʹs mind, I could still stay alert. I tuned back to Sonyaʹs dark living room. Aside from Sydney, everything was quiet and at peace.
ʺYou look like the walking dead,ʺ she continued. ʺAnd I donʹt say that lightly.ʺ
ʺIʹve got to stay on watch,ʺ I said.
ʺIʹll watch. You sleep.ʺ
ʺYouʹre not trained like me,ʺ I pointed out. ʺYou might miss something.ʺ
ʺEven I wouldnʹt miss Strigoi beating down the door,ʺ she replied. ʺLook, I know you guys are tough. You donʹt have to convince me. But I have a feeling things are going to get harder, and I donʹt want you passing out at some crucial moment. If you sleep now, you can relieve Dimitri later.ʺ
Only the mention of Dimitri made me give in. We would need to relieve each other eventually. So, reluctantly, I crawled into Sydneyʹs bed on the floor, giving her all sorts of instructions that I think she rolled her eyes at. I fell asleep almost instantly and then woke up just as quickly when I heard the sound of a door closing.
I immediately sat upright, expecting to see Strigoi busting down the door. Instead, I found sunlight creeping in through the windows and Sydney watching me with amusement. In the living room, Robert was sitting up on the couch, rubbing his eyes. Victor was gone. I turned to Sydney in alarm.
ʺHeʹs in the bathroom,ʺ she said, anticipating my question.
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