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Sixteen

"SO ARE YOU," HE TEASED

"Yeah, but I just thought - "

"That I was human? Because of the bite

"We all have to survive," he said "And dha out ways to"

"Yeah, but uardians," I pointed out "Especially men" I still couldn’t believe he was a dhaht away

Long ago, dhaether We were half-va therew too plentiful and no longer needed Moroi for ic Moroi now feared they’d become human experi etting together with dhampirs couldn’t make more dha was through Moroi ic would make you think that a dhampir and a Moroi would make children ere ? Moroi Nope We ca some of the best traits of both races Most dhampirs came from dhampir women and Moroi men For centuries, these women had sent their kids off to be raised souardians That’s what h, some dhampir women had decided they wanted to raise their children theether in communities That’s what Dily rumors surrounded these wo cheap sex Dierated and that most dhampir women weren’t that easy The rumors cale mothers who had no contact with their kids’ fathers - and because so sex It was a kinky, dirty thing in our culture and here the nicknauardian dhampirs had come froht about a uys who don’t want to be guardians just run off," I said It was rare, but it happened Guys bailed on guardian school and disappeared to hide out a

"I didn’t want to run off," said A very cheerful about all this "But I didn’t want to fight Strigoi either So I did this"

Beside es of our world Having one right in front of her - a guy, no less - was incredible

"This is better than being a guardian?" I asked in disbelief

"Well, let’s see Guardians spend all their ti bad shoes Me? I have great shoes, airl, and sleep in an awesome bed"

I made a face "Let’s not talk about where you sleep, okay?"

"And giving blood isn’t as bad as you think I don’t give as h’s pretty neat"

"Let’s not talk about that either," I said No ould I admit that I knew Moroi bites were indeed "pretty neat"

"Fine But say what you want, ave me a lopsided smile

"But aren’t people, likewell, aren’t they s"

"Oh yes," he agreed "Horrible things I get called a lot of ugly narief from? Other dhampirs Moroi tend to leave me alone"

"That’s because they don’t understand what it’s like to be a guardian, how important it is" It occurred to me, with some unease, that I sounded exactly like my mother "It’s what dha his legs and giving me a face full of muscled chest "You sure? Hoould you like to find out what you’re really ht be able to tell you"

"Aroaned Lissa’s manicurist "That woman’s crazy"

"She’s psychic, Eve"

"She’s not psychic, and you cannot take the Dragooes to her for advice," he argued back

"That’s a ed looks She’d latched onto the word psychic Psychics and fortune-tellers were generally regarded with the sahosts - except that Lissa and I had recently learned that psychic abilities we’d previously believed to be fantasy were actually part of spirit Hope that she h Lissa

"We’d love to see a psychic Can we go? Please?" Lissa glanced at a nearby clock "And soon? We have a flight to catch"

Eve clearly thought it was a waste of our time, but Ambrose could hardly wait to show us We put our shoes back on and were led out of the e area The spa rooms had been in a maze of halls behind the front salon, and we soon found ourselves in another maze that was farther back still

"There’s no directory here," I said as alked past closed doors "What are these roo people will pay money for," he said

"Like what?"

"Ah, Rose You’re such an innocent"

We finally reached a door at the end of the hall We stepped inside and found a small room that only held a desk A closed door sat beyond it A Moroi at the desk looked up, obviously recognizing Aot into a quiet arguet her to let us in

Lissa turned toher voice soft "What do you think?"

My eyes were on A to waste"

"Forget the blood whore thing already I mean about this psychic Do you think we’ve found another spirit user?" she asked eagerly

"If a party boy like Adrian can be a spirit user, then a woman who tells the future probably can be too"

A "Suzanne was happy to fit you into the schedule before your flight It’ll be just a minute while Rhonda finishes up with her current client"

Suzanne didn’t look very happy about fitting us in, but I didn’t have time to ponder that because the inner door opened and an older Moroi ave Suzanne some cash, nodded at the rest of us, and left A motion toward the door

"Your turn"

Lissa and I walked inside the other room Ambrose followed and closed the door behind us It was like walking into so was red Plush red carpet, a red velvet couch, velvet brocade wallpaper, and red satin cushions on the floor Sitting on the cushions was a Moroi in her forties, with curly black hair and equally dark eyes There was a very faint olive cast to her skin, but her overall look was pale, like all Moroi Her black clothing stood out in stark contrast to the red rooleamed on her neck and hands I expected her to speak in a spooky, mysterious voice - one with an exotic accent - but her words sounded blandly American

"Please, sit down" She pointed to some cushions across froht?" she asked him as Lissa and I settled down

"Princess Vasilisa Dragouardian-to-be, Rose They need a fast fortune"