ʺThat,ʺ said Abe darkly, ʺis an excellent question.ʺ
ʺBecause they were apparently kidnapping Jill Mastrano in Detroit,ʺ said Christian. ʺWhich is weird. But not the craziest thing I can think of Rose doing.ʺ I appreciated the support.
Abe got a recap of this new development too, at least as much as my friends knew of it—which was only a fraction of the whole story. Abe picked up immediately that heʹd been played, and it was obvious from his angry expression that he didnʹt like being kept in the dark. Welcome to the club, old man, I thought with small satisfaction. I hadnʹt forgotten how no one had filled me in on the escape plan. My smugness was short-lived because I was worried about what would happen to Sydney, now that Abe was on to her.
ʺThat girl was lying to me,ʺ he growled. ʺEvery day, all these reports about how quiet and boring it was in West Virginia. I wonder if they even made it to that town. I have to go talk to her.ʺ
ʺGood luck,ʺ said Adrian, pulling a cigarette out and lighting it. Apparently, in my absence, the dating contract heʹd jokingly made up that said he would ʺcut backʺ on his vices didnʹt apply. ʺI donʹt think her cronies or the guardians are going to let you near her.ʺ
ʺOh, Iʹll get to her,ʺ said Abe. ʺSheʹs got a lot of answers. If she hid them from those other idiots, then good for her. But sheʹs going to tell me.ʺ
A sudden thought sparked into Lissaʹs mind. ʺYou have to talk to Ian. That guy with the Alchemists. He knows the man in the picture—er, I mean, the guy Eddie killed.ʺ
ʺYouʹre certain?ʺ asked Abe.
ʺYes,ʺ said Adrian, surprising them all. ʺIan definitely had a reaction. Heʹs also got a crush on that Sydney girl.ʺ
ʺI saw that too,ʺ said Lissa.
ʺShe seems kind of uptight.ʺ Adrian frowned. ʺBut maybe their kind go for that.ʺ
ʺThat crush might actually be useful,ʺ mused Abe. ʺYou women donʹt know the power you wield. Have you seen that guardian your auntʹs dating? Ethan Moore?ʺ
ʺYes,ʺ groaned Christian. ʺDonʹt remind me.ʺ
ʺTasha is pretty hot, though,ʺ noted Adrian.
ʺThat is not cool,ʺ said Christian.
ʺDonʹt get so huffy,ʺ said Abe. ʺEthanʹs a palace guard. He was there the night of the murder—which could be very useful to us if she can keep him interested.ʺ
Christian shook his head. ʺThose guards already testified. It wonʹt matter. Ethanʹs told what he knows.ʺ
ʺIʹm not so sure,ʺ said Abe. ʺThere are always things that occur off the official record, and Iʹm positive the guards were all debriefed with strict orders on what to reveal and not to reveal. Your aunt might be charming enough to find out something for us.ʺ Abe sighed, still looking very unhappy at the sudden upsetting of his orderly plans. ʺIf only Sydney had been charming enough to talk her way out of that interrogation so that I could go interrogate her. Now Iʹve got to break through those Alchemists and the guardians to get to her and figure out where Rose is. Oh, and you do actually have to go to your test, princess.ʺ
ʺI thought that was just a line you used to find me,ʺ Lissa said.
ʺNo, they want you.ʺ He gave her directions to the test. It was in the building sheʹd had the second test in. ʺAll of you go together and then get a guardian to walk you back. Donʹt leave your room until Janine or Tad come by.ʺ Tad was one of Abeʹs henchmen. ʺNo more surprise attacks.ʺ
Lissa wanted to argue that she most certainly wasnʹt going to put herself under house arrest but decided it was best to just let Abe go for now. He hurried off, still radiating agitation, and she and the guys turned toward the testing site.
ʺBoy, is he pissed,ʺ said Adrian.
ʺDo you blame him?ʺ asked Christian. ʺHe just lost membership in the evil mastermind club. His brilliant plan fell apart, and now his daughterʹs missing when he thought she was somewhere safe.ʺ
Adrian stayed pointedly silent.
ʺI hope sheʹs okay,ʺ sighed Lissa, a knot forming in her stomach. ʺAnd what in the world does Jill have to do with any of this?ʺ
Nobody had an answer for that one. When they reached the testing site, Lissa found a situation almost identical to before. Lots of spectators lining the hall. Guardians blocking the door. More people than ever were cheering her name as she approached, some who were ʺcommonʺ Moroi and others who were royals whose candidates were out of the running. A number of nominees hadnʹt passed the fear test, so those families had switched their loyalties.
Again, Lissa was ushered into the room alone. Her heart began to pound when she saw the same old woman. Were more terrible images to come? Lissa couldnʹt see the chalice, but that was no guarantee of safety. There was no extra chair, so Lissa simply stood in front of the old woman.
ʺHello,ʺ Lissa said respectfully. ʺItʹs nice to see you again.ʺ
The woman grinned, showing those missing teeth. ʺI doubt that, but you say it very convincingly. You have politics in your blood.ʺ
ʺThank . . . you . . .ʺ said Lissa, unsure if sheʹd been complimented or not. ʺWhat would you like me to do for this test?ʺ
ʺJust listen. Thatʹs all. Itʹs an easy one.ʺ
A twinkle in the womanʹs eye made Lissa think this would not be easy.
ʺAll you have to do is answer a question for me. Answer correctly, and youʹre through to the vote. And wonʹt that be entertaining.ʺ The old woman seemed to say those last words more to herself than Lissa.
ʺOkay,ʺ said Lissa uneasily. ʺIʹm ready.ʺ
The woman sized Lissa up and seemed to like what she saw. ʺHere it is then: What must a queen possess in order to truly rule her people?ʺ
Lissaʹs mind went blank for a moment, and then a jumble of words popped into her head. Integrity? Wisdom? Sanity?
ʺNo, no, donʹt answer,ʺ said the old woman, watching Lissa carefully. ʺNot yet. You have until tomorrow, at this same time, to think about it. Come back with the right answer, and youʹll have passed the trials. And . . .ʺ She winked. ʺIt goes without saying you wonʹt talk to anyone about this.ʺ
Lissa nodded, rubbing the small tattooed spot on her arm. Sheʹd get no help with the answer from anyone else. Lissa left the room, turning the question over and over in her mind. There were too many answers to a question like that, she thought. Any of them could—
Movement in my reality instantly snapped me out of her head. I half expected Sonya to come bursting into our tent, but no, that wasnʹt what had caught my attention. It was a much smaller motion . . . and something infinitely more powerful.
Dimitri was in my arms.
TWENTY-EIGHT
I STOPPED BREATHING. WEʹD each had our own blankets, but even in the middle of summer, the temperature had dropped during the night. Dimitri, in his sleep, had rolled over against me, merging our blankets into one pile and resting his head on my chest. His body lay against mine, warm and familiar, and he even snuggled a little closer.
He was more exhausted than Iʹd realized if he was doing this in his sleep. After all, this was the guy who slept with one eye open. But his guard was down now, his body unconsciously seeking . . . what? Simple warmth? Me? Damn it. Why had I asked Sonya my question? Why couldnʹt I keep going with my easy role as Adrianʹs girlfriend and Dimitriʹs friend? Because honestly, I wasnʹt doing a very good job at either one right now.
Tentatively, fearfully, I shifted slightly so that I could put one arm around Dimitri and draw him closer. I knew it was a risk, one that might wake him and break this spell. But it didnʹt. If anything, he seemed to relax more. Feeling him like that . . . holding him . . . it churned up a swarm of emotions within me. The ache I had felt since his loss burned within me. At the same time, holding him like this also seemed to fill that ache, as though a piece of me that had been missing was now restored. I hadnʹt even realized that piece was missing. Iʹd blocked it all out until Sonyaʹs words had shaken my fragile new acceptance of life.
I donʹt know how long I stayed like that with Dimitri. It was long enough that the rising sun began to illuminate
the tentʹs translucent fabric. That was all the light my eyes needed to now see Dimitri, to see the finely carved lines of his face and softness of his hair as he lay against me. I wanted so badly to touch that hair, to see if it felt like it used to. That was a silly sentiment, of course. His hair wouldnʹt have changed. Still . . . the urge was there, and I finally gave in, gently running my fingers over some stray locks. They were smooth and silky, and that barest touch sent chills through me. It also woke him up.
His eyes opened, instantly alert. I expected him to jump away from me, but instead, he only assessed the situation—and didnʹt move. I left my hand where it was on the side of his face, still stroking his hair. Our gazes locked, so much passing between us. In those moments, I wasnʹt in a tent with him, on the run from those who regarded us as villains. There was no murderer to catch, no Strigoi trauma to overcome. There was just him and me and the feelings that had burned between us for so long.
When he did move, it wasnʹt to get away. Instead, he lifted his head so that he looked down at me. Only a few inches separated us, and his eyes betrayed him. He wanted to kiss me—and I wanted him to. He leaned over me, one hand resting against my cheek. I readied myself for his lips—I needed them—and then he froze. He pulled back and sat up, exhaling in frustration as he looked away from me. I sat up as well, my breathing rapid and shallow.
ʺWh-whatʹs wrong?ʺ I asked.
He glanced back at me. ʺPick. There are lots of choices.ʺ
I ran a finger along my lips. So close. So, so close. ʺI know . . . I know things have changed. I know you were wrong. I know you can feel love again.ʺ
His mask was back up as he formulated his answer. ʺThis isnʹt about love.ʺ
The last minute replayed in my head, that perfect connection, the way heʹd looked at me and made my heart feel. Hell, Sonya claimed we even had some mystical connection. ʺIf itʹs not about love, then what is it about?ʺ I exclaimed.
ʺItʹs about doing the right thing,ʺ he said quietly.
The right thing? Right and wrong had been perennial topics at St. Vladimirʹs. I wasnʹt eighteen. He was my teacher. We were slated to be Lissaʹs guardians and had to give her our full attention. All of those were arguments for why staying apart had been necessary back then. But those had long since fallen by the wayside.
I would have questioned him more—if someone hadnʹt scratched at our door.
Both of us sprang up and apart, reaching for the stakes weʹd slept near. Grabbing my stake was instinct because I knew there was no Strigoi out there. But lately, Strigoi had been the least of our worries.
ʺRose? Dimitri?ʺ
The voice was barely audible—but familiar. Relaxing slightly, I unzipped the tentʹs entrance and revealed Sonya kneeling in front of it. Like us, she wore the same clothes from earlier, and her auburn hair was messy. Otherwise, she seemed to have escaped her pursuers unscathed. I scooted aside so that she could enter.
ʺCozy,ʺ she said, glancing around. ʺYouʹve got the farthest spot out on the campground. Took me forever to find the car you described.ʺ
ʺHowʹd you get here?ʺ I asked.
She winked. ʺYouʹre not the only ones who can steal cars. Or, in my case, get people to ‘willinglyʹ lend them.ʺ
ʺWere you followed?ʺ asked Dimitri. He was all seriousness again, with no sign of what had passed moments ago.
ʺNot that I could tell,ʺ she said, shifting into a cross-legged position. ʺA couple guardians followed me back in the neighborhood, but I lost them a while ago. Most of them seemed more interested in you two.ʺ
ʺImagine that,ʺ I muttered. ʺToo bad Victor was long gone—he might have taken priority.ʺ
ʺHe didnʹt kill a queen,ʺ she said ruefully. Weʹd had to eventually tell her why Victor was wanted and that heʹd been the one Sonya had sensed was stalking Lissa back at St. Vladimirʹs. ʺBut the good news is I know where theyʹre at now.ʺ
ʺWhere?ʺ asked Dimitri and I in unison.
A small, knowing smile came to her lips at that. ʺWest Michigan,ʺ she said. ʺThey took off in the opposite direction from Court.ʺ
ʺDamn,ʺ I muttered. Dimitri and I had gone southeast from Ann Arbor, clipping the Detroit suburbs and just crossing into Ohio. Weʹd picked the wrong direction. ʺBut you saw Jill? Is she okay?ʺ
Sonya nodded. ʺFine. Scared, but fine. She described enough landmarks that I think we can locate their motel. I found her in a dream a couple hours ago; they had to rest. Victor wasnʹt feeling well. They might still be there.ʺ
ʺThen we need to leave now,ʺ said Dimitri, instantly in action. ʺOnce theyʹre moving, Jill will be awake and out of contact.ʺ
We packed up our campsite with amazing speed. My ankle felt better but was still sore. Noticing my limp, Sonya called a halt just before we got in her car.
ʺHang on.ʺ
She knelt before me, examining the swelling ankle that was easily exposed by my torn dress. Taking a deep breath, she rested her hands on me, and a surge of electricity shot through my leg, followed by waves of heat and cold. When it was over and she stood up, the pain and swelling were gone, as were the scrapes on my legs. Probably the cuts on my head too. Spirit users had healed me so often that youʹd think Iʹd be used to it, but it was still a little startling.
ʺThank you,ʺ I said. ʺBut you shouldnʹt have done that . . . shouldnʹt have used the magic . . .ʺ
ʺYou need to be in peak condition,ʺ she said. Her gaze drifted from me, staring off at the trees. ʺAnd the magic . . . well, itʹs hard to stay away from.ʺ
Indeed it was, and I felt guilty that she was using it on me—and moving closer to insanity. Robertʹs restoration had healed her mind a little, and she needed to take advantage of that. This was no time for a lecture, though, and Dimitriʹs expression told me he too thought it best I get back in shape.
We took off toward where Sonya told us Jill was, and this time, her directions were as specific as she could make them. No more vagueness or binding promises. We stopped once to ʺacquireʺ a new car and get a map. The info Sonya had gleaned from Jill led us to a town called Sturgis. While it was in the western half of Michigan, it was also south—meaning the distance wasnʹt quite as long as weʹd expected. Nonetheless, Dimitri drove at least fifteen miles per hour over the speed limit the whole time.
ʺThere,ʺ said Sonya, as we rolled into downtown Sturgis—which wasnʹt much of a downtown. We were near a modest-looking motel on a side street. ʺThatʹs what she described. The Sunshine Motel.ʺ
Dimitri pulled into the lot behind the building, and we all sat there, staring at the motel, which didnʹt look as cheerful as its name. Like me, I presumed my companions were trying to figure out how to approach this. Jillʹs dream info had gotten us here, but Sonya had nothing else to help us find their room—if they were even still here. They certainly wouldnʹt have checked in under real names. I was going to suggest we just walk past the doors and hope Sonya would sense Robert when she suddenly pointed.
ʺThatʹs their car,ʺ she said. ʺTheyʹre here.ʺ
Sure enough. There was the CR-V weʹd taken to Jillʹs house. Talk about karma. Iʹd swiped Victorʹs keys, and heʹd repaid the favor by taking ours. None of us had thought much about his escape vehicle in the ensuing chaos.
ʺSloppy,ʺ murmured Dimitri, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. ʺThey should have switched cars.ʺ
ʺThatʹs Sydneyʹs,ʺ I pointed out. ʺItʹs not technically stolen, so itʹs not on any police lists. Besides, something tells me Victor and Robert arenʹt hot-wiring pros like some people are.ʺ Weʹd left a string of stolen cars across the Midwest.
Dimitri nodded, like Iʹd actually just complimented him. ʺWhatever the reason, it helps us.ʺ
ʺHow do we find them?ʺ asked Sonya.
I was about to suggest the aura plan but dismissed it. Robert would sense Sonya at the same moment, giving him brief warning. Plus, when we found the brothers, thereʹd likely be a fight. Doing it in the motel would attract attention. This parking lot was in back, away from the main
road.
ʺWe wait,ʺ I said. ʺItʹs amazing enough that they even stopped this long. If they have any sense, theyʹll leave soon.ʺ
ʺAgreed,ʺ said Dimitri, catching my eyes. Souls in sync. The memory of that near-kiss returned, and I looked away, fearing what my face would betray. ʺThe lotʹs easy to defend too. Not much room for escape.ʺ It was true. The motel flanked one side, a concrete wall the other. There werenʹt many other buildings nearby either.
He moved our car to the farthest spot he could in the lot, providing us with a full view of it and the motelʹs exit—but keeping us semi-concealed. We considered sitting in the car, but Dimitri and I decided we should wait outside, giving us more mobility. We left Sonya inside. This wasnʹt her fight.
Standing behind the car with Dimitri, in the shadow of a leafy maple, I became acutely aware of his proximity and fierce warrior stance. He might be missing his duster, but I had to admit I liked the view of him I got without the coat.
ʺI donʹt suppose,ʺ I said softly, ʺthat weʹre going to talk about this morning?ʺ
Dimitriʹs eyes were fixed so hard on the CR-V that he might have been trying to make Jill and the brothers materialize inside it. I wasnʹt fooled. He was just avoiding looking at me. ʺThereʹs nothing to talk about.ʺ
ʺI knew youʹd say that. Actually, it was a toss-up between that and ‘I donʹt know what youʹre talking about.ʹʺ
Dimitri sighed.
ʺBut,ʺ I continued, ʺthere is something to talk about. Like when you almost kissed me. And what did you mean about ‘the right thingʹ?ʺ
Silence.
ʺYou wanted to kiss me!ʺ It was hard to keep my voice low. ʺI saw it.ʺ
ʺJust because we want something doesnʹt mean itʹs right.ʺ
ʺWhat I said . . . itʹs true, isnʹt it? You can love, canʹt you? I realize now that right after the transformation, you really didnʹt think you could. And you probably couldnʹt. But things have changed. Youʹre getting yourself back.ʺ
Dimitri gave me a sidelong look. ʺYes. Things have changed . . . and some havenʹt.ʺ
Last Sacrifice (6) Page 35