Everyone is in awe of this incredible guardian. Rose, however, rudely questions the decisions her mother made, making it seem like Janine was out more for glory than for the safety of the Moroi victims.
The tightness in her lips increased, and her voice grew frosty. “We did the best we could with an unusual situation. I can see how someone at your level might not be able to grasp the intricacies of what I’m describing, but once you’ve actually learned enough to go beyond theory, you’ll see how different it is when you’re actually out there and lives are in your hands.”
“No doubt,” I agreed. “Who am I to question your methods? I mean, whatever gets you the
molnija
marks, right?”
—page 56
That’s enough snark to get Rose booted from the class for having a bad attitude. All too soon, though, she’ll realize just how right her mother is . . .
For now, she’s just pissed off and ready to hit something. Hard. In her after-school session with Dimitri, she proves she now knows exactly where the heart is—she studied up, like he asked her to.
Later in their practice, he surprises her:
When he suddenly extended his hand and offered the stake to me, I didn’t understand at first. “You’re giving it to me?”
His eyes sparkled. “I can’t believe you’re holding back. I figured you’d have taken it and run by now.”
“Aren’t you always teaching me to hold back?” I asked.
“Not on everything.”
“But on some things.”
—page 60
He’s made it very clear that too much stands between them right now—the age difference and the fact that protecting Lissa takes top priority over any potential romance. Still, she finds herself wishing things could be different. Just because Rose knows it’s true doesn’t make it any easier to be near him.
Especially when he notes how similar Rose and her mother are. It’s the
last
thing she wants to hear because, hello?
So
not true. She still feels like Janine’s story earlier was all about bragging about her fierce reputation and her impressive number of
molnija
marks.
Dimitri wants to show Rose something that might change her mind—not all marks are badges of honor.
He takes her to a small, run-down cabin in the woods that surround the school. It’s an abandoned watch post for school guardians. Lissa and Christian are skating on a nearby frozen pond, and they’re with another woman who seems to know Dimitri. She even calls him by a nickname: Dimka.
This is Rose’s first introduction to Tasha Ozera, Christian’s aunt, a woman whose beautiful face is marred by a large scar she got protecting Christian from his Strigoi parents.
She’s way different than other Moroi, who shy away from physical conflict. Tasha teaches martial arts classes. And even though she’s a royal, she has no guardian. When she mentions she’s going shopping later, Dimitri offers to go with her for extra protection.
Before they leave, Rose lets Dimitri know that she
gets
it. Tasha’s shown her that when it comes to fighting Strigoi, the marks don’t matter—
molnija
or scars. What matters is doing the right thing to save others.
Dimitri didn’t say anything, but he gave me a sidelong glance. I returned it, and as our eyes met, I saw the briefest glimpse of the old attraction. It was fleeting and gone too soon, but I’d seen it. Pride and approval replaced it, and they were almost as good.
When he spoke, it was to echo his earlier thoughts. “You’re a fast learner, Roza.”
—page 76
When Rose goes to her before-school practice the next day, she’s greeted by her mother. Apparently, Dimitri only just returned from taking Tasha shopping and is still sleeping. Instead of canceling the session, Janine’s offered to take over today. She wants to see what her daughter can do.
Oh, it’s so
on
.
It’s the chance Rose has been waiting for, to take some of her frustrations out on the woman herself. As they spar, Rose doesn’t hold back on how she feels.
“Did you go all Darwin and select the guy most likely to pass on warrior genes to your offspring? I mean, I know you only had me because it was your
duty
, so I suppose you had to make sure you could give the guardians the best specimen you could.”
“Rosemarie,” she warned through gritted teeth, “for once in your life, shut up.”
“Why? Am I tarn ish in g your precious reputation? It’s just like you told me: you aren’t any different from any other dhampir either. You just screwed him and—”
—page 82
—and she gets a fist to the face, which sure feels more personal than part of any training session.
Rose heads directly to the Academy’s med clinic to get checked out. She’s okay—apart from a big black eye. Great. Just in time for the ski trip, too.
Lissa isn’t entirely sympathetic to Rose’s plight when she learns that Rose provoked the punch—although it still doesn’t excuse what Janine did. If it weren’t for her anti-depression meds, Lissa could use spirit to heal Rose. Lissa wishes she could use her magic in a controlled way that doesn’t destroy her mentally and physically. Bitterness over this comes through the bond, which quickly intensifies to something darker and uglier. Uh-oh. Are the meds really starting to weaken?
Lissa’s mood brightens during their talk when they switch to a different topic. Namely, Rose’s potential romantic future . . . with
Mason
. After all, the guy’s crazy about her.
Lissa has no idea yet that Rose is really interested in Dimitri. Rose wants to tell her the truth about her crush on her older mentor and how her feelings were very nearly returned in full. She and Lissa have always told each other everything. Why should this be any different?
Rose is about to spill all her secrets about Dimitri and her hesitation to date other guys like Mason when Lissa interrupts her to go meet her boyfriend, Christian, for their date. Later, a burst of emotion shoots through the bond and—
bam!—
Rose is in Lissa’s head experiencing her world firsthand. And Lissa and Christian’s date is getting hot and heavy.
The two are taking their relationship to the next level. Since Rose
really
doesn’t want to virtually lose her virginity to Christian while being stuck in Lissa’s head, she manages to get out of Lissa’s head and escape the romantic encounter just in time.
That Lissa and Christian are taking their relationship to the next level leaves Rose with an ache in her heart. Christian’s officially replaced her as the most important person in her best friend’s life . . . and this makes her feel very alone.
A KISS FROM A ROSE
Rose wears her hair down for her next session with Dimitri to make her bruise less visible. When it gets in the way, Dimitri almost brushes it away from her face—he has an ongoing love of her beautiful hair—but he stops himself.
Rose can see he wants to touch her. He
is
still attracted to her, despite being on his best and most professional behavior lately.
With concern, he asks if her bruise hurts—and her attention momentarily shifts from her sexy instructor back to her annoying mother, darkening Rose’s mood. Dimitri suggests she make peace with Janine and control her hatred. This
isn’t
what Rose wants to hear. She challenges his Zen-like behavior. Despite his protests, she knows Dimitri doesn’t always want to stay in control . . .
especially
when he’s around her.
And you know what? Rose is ready to prove this once and for all.
Before he realized what was happening, I kissed him. Our lips met, and when I felt him kiss me back, I knew I was right. He pressed himself closer, trapping me between him and the wall. He kept holding my hand, but his other one snaked behind my head, sliding into my hair. The kiss was filled with so much intensity; it held anger, passion, release . . .
He was the one who broke it. He jerked away from me and took several steps back, looking shaken.
“Do
not
do that again,” he said stiffly.
“Don’t kiss me back then,” I retorted.
—page 112
Rose has definitely succeeded in shaking Dimitri’s composure. And, just like that, their session is
over
. He cancels the next two sessions too, and, despite his other excuses, Rose is sure it’s because of their very dangerous kiss.
On Christmas morning, with the upcoming ski trip on everyone’s mind, Rose goes to an on-campus brunch hosted by Tasha. Who should be there but Dimitri? She hasn’t seen him since their kiss. Rose realizes she should have expected him—he’s Tasha’s friend after all. He seems to make a point to steer away from Rose, keeping his attention totally on Christian’s aunt.
Lissa gives Rose a present of a
chotki
, which is like a rosary, only bracelet-sized. It’s a Dragomir family heirloom that belonged to her great-grandmother’s guardian, so it’s only appropriate that Lissa pass it on to her own (soon-to-be) guardian and best friend Rose.
Tasha also invited Janine to the brunch—which Rose is less than thrilled about and only makes her more agitated. Rose hasn’t seen her mother since she punched her in the face two days ago. And since that time, there have been no visits, no apologies.
No big surprise.
Now, with her mother in attendance, talk turns to such festive topics as how to decapitate a Strigoi and—as always—everyone except Rose seems fascinated by Janine’s tales of being a guardian.
After the party, Rose is on her way back to her dorm when Janine catches up to her. She has a Christmas present for her daughter. It’s a piece of jewelry too: in this case a strange glass pendant that looks like an eye—which she’ll later find out is called a
nazar
, given to Janine by Rose’s real father. It’s a generous and heartfelt gift, but Rose doesn’t know or appreciate that yet.
And that’s when Janine drops a bombshell on Rose’s lap in casual conversation: Tasha has requested Dimitri as an official guardian. And she has her eye on something more
. . .
Apparently, Christian’s aunt is
romantically
interested in Dimitri and willing to have dhampir children with him—something very few Moroi women would be willing to do. Hooking up with a Moroi woman is the only way Dimitri can have kids since dhampirs can’t procreate with each other.
This news hits Rose like another punch to the face, stunning and sickening her. The thought that Dimitri could be leaving the Academy, leaving
her
, to be with Tasha instead is too much for her to bear. It’s one thing to accept that
she
can’t have him, but imagining him with someone else?
It’s the worst Christmas
ever
.
RESORT LIFE
If the news about Dimitri has done one thing, it’s made Rose look at Mason with a bit more interest. After all, if Dimitri can move on with Tasha, then she should be able to do the same, right?
They reach the gorgeous resort, all decked out—including human feeders—for a large group of holidaying vampires. Wards are set, guardians are in place, and the ski slopes are on a nocturnal schedule. Even though the reason they’re there is because of the Badica massacre, it’s kind of hard
not
to have fun.
Rose and Mason challenge each other on the slopes in dangerous feats of bravery. Rose sees firsthand that Mason’s a major risk taker and he loves to face danger head-on. That risky behavior will soon lead to very bad things for him. Today, however, it’s just a sprained ankle.
After Rose helps the injured Mason back to the lodge, she meets someone who will soon become one of the most important people in her life....
Adrian Ivashkov is a very good-looking but arrogant, cigarette-smoking Moroi royal who seems intrigued by the pretty girl he immediately nicknames “little dhampir.”
Rose’s first impression of Adrian? He’s a jerk. And the Ivash-kovs’ arrogant family reputation certainly doesn’t help change Rose’s opinion of him. And yet—she’s not scurrying away. Adrian’s also charming and handsome and has an air of danger to him that she’s drawn to.
Rose’s nemesis Mia Rinaldi picks that moment to stroll by, sneering about Rose being with yet another guy. She even tries to give the handsome Ivashkov a bit of advice when it comes to the dhampir:
“Rose only hangs out with guys and psychopaths,” said Mia. Her voice carried the usual scorn she harbored for me, but there was a look on her face that showed Adrian had clearly caught her interest.
“Well,” he said cheerfully, “since I’m both a psychopath and a guy, that would explain why we’re such good friends.”
“You and I aren’t f riends either,” I told him.
He laughed. “Always playing hard to get, huh?”
“She’s not that hard to get,” said Mia, clearly upset that Adrian was paying more attention to me. “Just ask half the guys at our school.”
—pages 139–140