Last Sacrifice

THIRTY

I DIDN'T RUN INTO HIS arms like I usually did. How could I? After what I'd done? No. I couldn't playact anymore. I still wasn't entirely sure what the future held for Dimitri and me, not until he answered my ultimatum. I did, however, know I had to cut Adrian loose. My feelings for him were still strong, and I wondered if it was even remotely possible for us to be friends. Regardless, I couldn't lead him on after sleeping with Dimitri. It hadn't been murder, no, but it had certainly been dishonorable.

Yet . . . I couldn't say any of that to Adrian now, I realized. I couldn't break up with him in a dream. That was almost as bad as a text breakup. Besides, I had a feeling that . . . well, I'd probably need his help. So much for honor. Soon, I swore. Soon I'll tell him.

He didn't seem to notice my lack of embrace. But he did notice something else.

'Wow.'

We stood in St. Vladimir's library of all places, and I gave him a puzzled look across the study tables stretching before us. 'Wow what?'

'Your . . . your aura. It's . . . amazing. It's shining. I mean, it always shines, but today . . . well, I've never seen anything like it. I didn't expect that after everything that happened.'

I shifted uncomfortably. If I lit up around Dimitri normally, what on earth happened to my aura post-sex? 'After what happened?' I asked, deflecting the comment.

He chuckled and approached me. His hand reached unconsciously for his cigarettes, paused, and then dropped to his side. 'Oh, come on. Everyone's talking about it. How you and Belikov kidnapped Jailbait—what's up with that anyway?—and coerced that Alchemist. It's the hottest news around here. Well, aside from the elections. The last test is coming up.'

'That's right . . .' I murmured. It had almost been twenty-four hours since Lissa had received the riddle. There was only a little time left, and last I knew, she had no answer.

'Why are you sleeping in the middle of the day anyway?' he asked. 'I didn't really expect to catch you. Figured you'd be on a human schedule.'

'It . . . it was kind of a rough night, what with escaping a legion of guardians and all.'

Adrian caught hold of my hand, frowning slightly when I didn't squeeze his in return. The frown lightened quickly into his easy smile. 'Well, I'd worry more about your old man than them. He is pissed that you didn't stay put. And that he can't get in to see the Alchemists. Believe me, he's been trying.'

That almost made me laugh, except it wasn't the outcome I'd wanted either. 'So he's not all-powerful after all.' I sighed. 'That's what we need. Sydney. Or, well, that guy who's with her. The one who allegedly knows something.' I flashed back, again seeing the recognition on Ian's face. He knows the man who attacked Lissa and bribed Joe. 'We need him.'

'From what I picked up,' said Adrian, 'the guardians are just kind of lingering around the hotel, mostly concerned with the Alchemists leaving. But they're controlling who's getting in. They won't let any of us—or other Alchemists—get through. There are lots of other human guests, and I guess Abe tried to disguise himself—and failed.'

Poor Zmey. 'He should have had more faith in the guardians. They aren't going to let anyone but themselves get in and out.' My own words brought me to a halt. 'That's it . . .'

Adrian eyed me suspiciously. 'Oh no. I know that look. Something crazy is about to happen.'

I caught hold of his hand, now out of excitement, rather than love. 'Get to Mikhail. Have him meet us . . .' I blanked. I'd seen the town the Alchemists were staying in. As the closest to Court, we often drove through it. I racked my brain, trying to think of some detail. 'At that restaurant with the red sign. It's on the far side. Always advertising buffets.'

'Easier said than done, little dhampir. They're using every guardian at Court to keep the elections under control. If Lissa hadn't been attacked, they wouldn't let your mom stay with her. I don't think Mikhail can get out.'

'He'll find a way,' I said confidently. 'Tell him this is it—it's the key to the murder. The answer. He's resourceful.'

Adrian looked skeptical, but it was hard for him to refuse me anything. 'When?'

When indeed? It was almost noon, and I hadn't paid much attention to where we'd stopped. How long would it take us to reach Court? From what I knew about the elections, those who passed this last test would give speeches when the Moroi day started. In theory, they'd then go straight to voting—except, if our plan worked, Lissa's involvement would slow that down for days. Provided she passed.

'Midnight,' I said. If I was guessing correctly, the Court would be completely wrapped up in the election drama, making it easier for Mikhail to get out. I hoped. 'Will you tell him?'

'Anything for you.' Adrian swept me a gallant bow. 'Although, I still think it's dangerous for you to be involved directly with this.'

'I have to do this myself,' I said. 'I can't hide.'

He nodded, as though he understood. I wasn't sure he did.

'Thank you,' I told him. 'Thank you so much for everything. Now go.'

Adrian gave me a crooked grin. 'Boy, you don't waste any time kicking a guy out of bed, huh?'

I flinched, the joke hitting a little too close to home. 'I want Mikhail to be prepared. And I also need to watch Lissa's last test.'

This sobered Adrian. 'Does she have a chance? Will she pass?'

'I don't know,' I admitted. 'This is a tough one.'

'Okay. We'll see what we can do.' He gave me a small kiss. My lips responded automatically, but my heart wasn't into it. 'And Rose? I mean it. Be careful. You're going to be awfully close to Court. Not to mention a bunch of guardians who have you on their most wanted list and will probably try to kill you.'

'I know,' I said, choosing not to mention that there was no 'probably' about it.

With that, he vanished, and I woke. Strangely, what I found in my own world seemed almost more dreamlike than what I'd experienced with Adrian. Dimitri and I were still in bed, snuggled under the covers, our bodies and limbs still wrapped around each other. He slept with that rare peaceful look of his and almost seemed to smile. For half a second, I considered waking him and telling him we had to hit the road. A look at the clock happily squashed that thought. We still had time, plus it was getting close to the test. I had to go to Lissa and trusted Sonya would come by if we overslept.

Sure enough, I'd gauged the testing correctly. Lissa was cutting across the Court's lawns, marching like someone going to a funeral. The sun, flowers, and birds were lost on her. Even her company did little to cheer her up: Christian, my mom, and Tasha.

'I can't do this,' she said, staring ahead at the building that held her fate. 'I can't do this test.' The tattoo kept her from giving out any more information.

'You're smart. Brilliant.' Christian's arm was around her waist, and in that moment, I loved him for his confidence in her. 'You can do it.'

'You don't understand,' she said, with a sigh. She'd come up with no answers to the riddle, meaning the plan was at stake—and her desire to prove herself.

'For once he does,' said Tasha, a slight teasing tone in her voice. 'You can do it. You have to do it. We have so much riding on it.'

Her confidence didn't make Lissa feel better. If anything, it added to the pressure. She would fail, just like in the Council dream the chalice had shown her. She'd had no answer there either.

'Lissa!'

A voice brought them to a halt, and Lissa turned to see Serena running toward them, her long athletic legs quickly covering the distance between them. 'Hi Serena,' said Lissa. 'We can't stop. The test—'

'I know, I know.' Serena was flushed, not with exertion, but with anxiety. She proffered a piece of paper. 'I made your list. As many as I could remember.'

'What list?' asked Tasha.