Last Sacrifice Chapter Thirteen

ITS NOT FUNNYYoure safe, agreed Sydney. Its non funny. Its hilarious.We were bum at Raymonds house, in the screen of our dwell. It had taken for ever for us to get a air from the open fireplace festivities, componenticularly after learning a loathly fact or so a Keeper custom. Well, I aspect it was terrible, at least. It saturnine out that if psyche requireed to marry some(a) unitary else near here, the future bride and groom each had to battle it out with the some others nearby relative of the comparable sex. Angeline had spotted Joshuas interest from the hour Id arrived, and when shed seen the bracelet, shed assumed some sort of arrange ment had been made. It thusly fell on her, as his sister, to throw away reliable I was worthy. She lifelessness didnt wish well or scarcely trust me, that proving myself a capable wiz had shot me up in her esteem, all(prenominal) last(predicate)owing her to consent to our engagement. It had thusly taken a lot of fa st- smattering to win over everyone including Joshuathat on that point was no engagement. Had there been, Id versed, Dimitri would have had to stand in as my relative and battle Joshua.Stop that, I chastised. Dimitri leaned once morest one of the rooms w eachs, arms crossed, watching as I rubbed where Angeline had make my cheekbone. It was hardly the worst injury Id ever had, alone Id definitely have a bruise tomorrow. thither was a tiny smile on his face.I told you non to encourage him, came Dimitris calm response.Whatever. You didnt see this approach. You on the nose didnt indispensableness me to I bit off my words. I wouldnt say what was on my mind that Dimitri was desirous. Or possessive. Or whatever. I proficient k saucy hed been irritated to see me brotherly with Joshua and very amused at my outrage everywhere Angelines attack. I abruptly turned to Sydney, who was serious as entertained as Dimitri. In fact, I was passably sure Id neer seen her smile so muc h. Did you get laid some this custom?No, she admitted, exclusively Im non impress. I told you theyre savage. A lot of ordinary problems are learntled by fights alike(p) that.Its stupid, I say, not fondness that I was whining. I touched the top of my head, lack I had a mirror to see if Angeline had taken a noticeable chunk of hair. Although she wasnt bad. Unpolished, alone not bad. Are they all that tough? The humans and Moroi similarly?Thats my understanding.I pondered that. I was annoyed and embarrassed by what had happened, but I had to admit the Keepers were all of a sudden way to a greater extent interesting. How ironic that such a disinclined group had the insight to teach everyone to fight, no upshot their race. Meanwhile, my own enligh tened culture solace refused to teach defense.And thats wherefore Strigoi dont bother them, I murmured, recalling breakfast. I didnt even get what Id utter until Dimitris smile dropped. He glanced toward the window, face gri m.I should rub in with Boris again and see what hes ground. He turned back toward Sydney. It wont take long. We dont all take on to go. Should I alone take your car since I only have to go a tiny ways?She shrugged and opened for her keys. Wed learned earlier that Sydneys call back could resolve up a signal round ten minutes from the village. He was right. There rattling was no reason for us all to go for a quick phone call. After my fight, Sydney and I were more or less safe. No one would mess with me now. Still I didnt like the thought of Dimitri reliving his Strigoi days alone.You should still go, I told her, hypothesiseing fast. I pick out to check in on Lissa. not entirely a lie. What my friends had hear from Joe was still weighing on me. I butt usually still conceal deal of whats exhalation on around me at the same time, but it mogul be better if youre past oddly in case Alchemists do fancy up.My logic was faulty, though her colleagues were still a c one ti mern. I doubt theyd come while its dark, she verbalize, but I dont very want to hang out if youre just expiration to stare into space. She didnt admit it, and I didnt need to say anything, but I suspected she didnt want someone else driving her car anyway.Dimitri thought her coming was unnecessary and said as much, but apparently, he didnt life like he could boss her around as much as me. So, they both set out, leaving me alone in the room. I watched them wistfully. notwithstanding how gravel his earlier mockery had been, I was distressed or so him. Id seen the effect of the last call and wished I could be there now to comfort him. I had a soupcon he wouldnt have allowed that, so I accepted Sydneys accompaniment as a small victory.With them gone, I decided I really would check in with Lissa. Id said it more as an excuse, but truthfully, it beat the alternativegoing back out and socializing. I didnt want any more people congratulating me, and apparently, Joshua had read my m aybe and acceptance of the bracelet as a real commitment. I still thought he was devastatingly cute but couldnt handle visual perception his adoration.Sitting cross-legged on Angelines bed, I assailable myself to the bond and what Lissa was experiencing. She was walking through the halls of a expression I didnt recognize at setoff. A second base later, I got my bearings. It was a building at appeal that housed a large spa and salonas well as the continueout of Rhonda the gypsy. It seemed weird that Lissa would be going to get her fortune told, but once I got a glimpse of her companions, I knew she was up to something else.The usual suspects were with her Adrian and Christian. My heart leapt at eyesight Adrian againespecially after the Joshua Incident. My last spirit imagine had been alike brief.Christian was donjoning Lissas hand as they walked, his grip warm and reassuring. He looked confident and opinionatedthough with that typically snarky half-smile of his. Lissa was the one who tangle anxious(p) and was intelligibly bracing herself for something. I could feel her dreading her beside task, even though she believed it was necessary.Is this it? she asked, coming to a pinch in front of a entre.I bring forward so, said Christian. That receptionist said it was the red one.Lissa hesitated only a moment and wherefore knocked. Nothing. Either the room was forsake or she was being ignored. She held up her hand again, and the door opened. Ambrose stood there, stunning as always, even in jeans and a casual blue T-shirt. The clothing hugged his body in a way that showed off every muscle. He could have walked straight off the c oer of GQ.Hey, he said, clearly surprised.Hey, said Lissa back. We were wondering if we could talk to you?Ambrose ever so slightly inclined his head toward the room. Im human body of busy right now. Beyond him, Lissa could see a massage table with a Moroi woman fraud face down. The lower half of her body had a towel over i t, but her back was bare, hopeful in the dim lighting with oil. Scented candles burn down in the room, and a calming agreeable of in the raw Age music played softly.Wow, said Adrian. You dont profligacy any time, do you? Shes only been in her wakeless a few hours, and youve already got someone new. Tatiana had at last been laid to rest earlier in the day, just before sunset. The burial had had much less trice than the original attempt.Ambrose gave Adrian a sourish look. Shes my client. Its my job. You forget that some of us have to work for a living. entertain? asked Lissa, hastily stepping in front of Adrian. It wont take long.Ambrose looked my friends over a moment and then sighed. He glanced behind him. Lorraine? I have to step outside. Ill be right back, okay?Okay, called the woman. She shifted, facing him. She was older than Id expected, mid-forties or so. I guess if you were paying for a massage, there was no reason not to have a masseuse half your age. Hurry back.He gave her a glary smile as he shut the door, a smile that dropped once he was alone with my friends. Okay, whats going on? I dont like the looks on your faces.Ambrose might have radically deviated from a dhampir mans normal life, but hed had the same training as any guardian. He was observant. He was always on the lookout for potential drop threats.We, uh, wanted to talk to you about Lissa hesitated. Talking about investigations and interrogations was one thing. Carrying them out was another. About Tatianas execute.Ambroses eyebrows rose. Ah. I see. Not sure what there is to say, except that I dont phone rosaceous did it. I dont think you believe that either, disdain whats going around. Everyones talking about how shocked and flip over you are. Youre get a lot of sympathy over having been tricked by such a dangerous and dismal friend.Lissa felt her cheeks flush. By publicly condemning me and renouncing our friendship, Lissa was safekeeping herself out of trouble. It had be en Abe and Tashas advice, and Lissa knew it was sound. Yet, even though it was an act, she still felt guilty. Christian stepped to her defense.Back off. Thats not what this is about.What is it about then? asked Ambrose.Lissa jumped in, worried Christian and Adrian might upset Ambrose and make it difficult to get answers. Abe Mazur told us that in the courtroom, you said or, uh, did something to roseate.Ambrose looked shocked, and I had to give him points for being convincing. Did something? What does that mean? Does Mazur think I, like, hit on her in front of all those people?I dont know, admitted Lissa. He just maxim something, thats all.I wished her good luck, said Ambrose, still feeling offended. Is that okay?Yeah, yeah. Lissa had made a point to talk to Ambrose before Abe could, fearing Abes methods would involve threats and a lot of sensual force. Now, she was wondering if she was doing so great a job. Look, were just trying to find out who really killed the queen. You were fold to her. If theres anythinganythingat all youve got that can help us, wed consider it. We need it.Ambrose glanced curiously between them. Then, he suddenly understood. You think I did it Thats what this is about. None of them said anything. I cant believe this I already got this from the guardians but from you? I thought you knew me better.We dont know you at all, said Adrian flatly. all in all we know is you had lots of access to my aunt. He pointed at the door. And obviously, it didnt take you long to move on.Did you miss the part where I said thats my job? Im giving her a massage, thats it. Not everything is sordid and dirty. Ambrose shook his head in frustration and ran a hand through his cook hair. My relationship with Tatiana wasnt dirty either. I cared about her. I would never do anything to agony her.Dont statistics say just about murders happen between close people? asked Christian.Lissa glared at him and Adrian. Stop it. Both of you. She looked back at Ambrose. No ones accusing you of anything. just now you were around her a lot. And Rose told me you were upset about the age law.When I graduation heard about it, yeah, Ambrose said. And even then, I told Rose there was some mistakethat there essential(prenominal) be something we didnt know. Tatiana would have never put those dhampirs in danger without a good reason.Like do herself look good in front of all those terrified royals? asked Christian.Watch it, warned Adrian. Lissa couldnt decide which was more annoying her two guys teaming up to spar against Ambrose or them throwing barbs at each other.No Ambroses voice rang throughout the limit hall. She didnt want to do that. But if she didnt, worse things were going to happen. There are people who wantedstill wantto round up all the dhampirs who dont fight and force them into it. Tatiana passed the age law as a way to stall that.Silence fell. Id already learned this from Tatianas note, but it was shocking news to my friends. Ambrose ke pt going, seeing he was gaining ground.She was actually open to lots of other options. She wanted to explore spirit. She approved of Moroi learning to fight.That got a reaction from Adrian. He still wore that sardonic expression, but I could also see faint lines of distressingness and sorrow on his face. The burial earlier must have been hard on him, and hearing others snitch information you hadnt known about a extol one had to hurt.Well, I obviously wasnt sleeping with her like you were, said Adrian, but I knew her pretty well, too. She never said a word about anything like that.Not publicly, agreed Ambrose. Not even privately. alone a few people knew. She was having a small group of Moroi trained in secretmen and women, different ages. She wanted to see how well Moroi could learn. If it was possible for them to defend themselves. But she knew peopled be upset about it, so she made the group and their trainer keep quiet.Adrian gave no response to this, and I could see his thou ghts had turned inward. Ambroses revelation wasnt bad news, exactly, but Adrian was still hurt at the thought that his aunt had kept so much from him. Lissa, meanwhile, was eating the news up, seizing and analyzing every piece of info.Who were they? The Moroi being trained? I dont know, said Ambrose. Tatiana was quiet about it. I never found out their names, just their instructor.Who was ? prompted Christian.Grant.Christian and Lissa exchanged floor looks. My Grant? she asked. The one Tatiana assigned to me?Ambrose nodded. Thats why she gave him to you. She sure him.Lissa said nothing, but I heard her thoughts hearable and clear. Shed been pleased and surprised when Grant and Serenathe guardians who had replaced Dimitri and me had offered to teach Lissa and Christian basic defense moves. Lissa had thought shed simply stumbled onto a progressive-thinking guardian, not realizing she had one of the pioneers in teaching fleck to Moroi. just about piece of this was important, she an d I were both certain, though neither of us could make the connection. Lissa puzzled it over, not protesting when Adrian and Christian threw in some questions of their own. Ambrose was still clearly offended by the inquisition, but he answered everything with agonistic patience. He had alibis, and his affection and regard for Tatiana never wavered. Lissa believed him, though Christian and Adrian still seemed skeptical.Everyones been all over me about her death, said Ambrose, but nobody questioned Blake very long.Blake? asked Lissa.Blake Lazar. mortal else she was Involved with? suggested Christian, rolling his eyes.Him? exclaimed Adrian in disgust. No way. She wouldnt stoup that low.Lissa racked her brain through the Lazar family but couldnt nab the name. There were just too many of them. Who is he?An idiot, said Adrian. Makes me look like an upstanding instalment of society.That actually brought a smile to Ambroses face. I agree. But hes a pretty idiot, and Tatiana liked that. I heard affection in his voice as he spoke her name.She was sleeping with him too? Lissa asked. Adrian winced at the describe of his great-aunts sex life, but a whole new world of possibilities had opened up. More lovers meant more suspects. How did you feel about that?Ambroses amusement faded. He gave her a sharp look. Not jealous enough to kill her, if thats what youre getting at. We had an understanding. She and I were close yes, involvedbut we both see other people too.Wait, said Christian. I had the feeling he was really enjoying this now. Tatianas murder was no joke, but a soap opera was definitely blossom forth before them. You were sleeping with other people too? This is getting hard to follow.Not for Lissa. In fact, it was enough clearer and clearer that Tatianas murder could have been a crime of passion, alternatively than anything political. Like Abe had said, someone with access to her bedroom was a likely suspect. And some woman jealous over sharing a lover with Ta tiana? That was perhaps the most convincing motive thus farif only we knew the women.Who? Lissa asked. Who else were you seeing? No one whod kill her, said Ambrose sternly. Im not giving you names. Im entitled to some privacyso are they.Not if one of them was jealous and killed my aunt, growled Adrian. Joshua had looked down on Adrian for not protecting me, but in that moment, defending his aunts honor, he looked as fierce as any guardian or Keeper warrior. It was benignant of sexy.None of them killed her, Im certain, said Ambrose. And as much as I despise him, I dont think Blake did either. Hes not smart enough to pull it off and swan Rose. Ambrose gestured to the door. His teeth were clenched, and lines of frustration marred his handsome face. Look, I dont know what else I can say to convince you. I need to get back in there. Im sorry if I seem difficult, but this has been kind of hard on me, okay? Believe me, Id love it if you could find out who did that to her. Pain flashed th rough his eyes. He swallowed and looked down for a moment, as though he didnt want them to know just how much hed cared about Tatiana. When he looked up again, his expression was fierce and located again. I want you to and will help if I can. But Im telling you, look for someone with political motives. Not romantic ones.Lissa still had a trillion more questions. Ambrose might be convinced the murder was free of jealousy and sex, but she wasnt. She would have really liked the names of his other women but didnt want to push too hard. For a moment, she considered compelling him as she had Joe. But no. She wouldnt cross that line again, especially with someone she considered a friend. At least not yet. Okay, she said reluctantly. Thank you. Thank you for helping us.Ambrose seemed surprised at her politeness, and his face softened. Ill see if I can dig up anything to help you. Theyre keeping her suite and possessions locked down, but I might still be able to get in there. Ill let you know.Lissa smiled, truly grateful. Thank you. Thatd be great.A touch on my arm brought me back to the drab little room in West Virginia. Sydney and Dimitri were looking down at me. Rose? asked Dimitri. I had a feeling this wasnt the first time hed tried to get my attention.Hey, I said. I blinked a couple of times, settling myself back into this reality. Youre back. You called the Strigoi?He didnt visibly react to the word, but I knew he hated hearing it. Yes. I got a hold of Boriss contact.Sydney wrapped her arms around herself. Crazy conversation. Some of it was in English. It was even scarier than before.I shivered involuntarily, glad that Id mixed-up it. But did you find out anything?Boris gave me the name of a Strigoi who knows Sonya and probably knows where she is, Dimitri said. Its actually someone Ive met. But phone calls only go so far with Strigoi. Theres no way to contact himexcept to go in person. Boris only had his address.Where is it? I asked.Lexington, Kentucky.Oh fo r Gods sake, I moaned. Why not the Bahamas? Or the Corn Palace?Dimitri tried to hide a smile. It might have been at my expense, but if Id lightened his mood, I was grateful. If we leave right now, we can reach him before morning.I glanced around. Tough choice. Leave all this for electricity and plumbing? Now Sydney grinned. And no more marriage proposals.And well probably have to fight Strigoi, added Dimitri.I jumped to my feet. How soon can we go?