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THE PROBLEM WAS, OF COURSE, that I soon lostin the wilds of Montana, I was used to how coht could s you once you stepped away from even the tiniest hint of civilization I was even used to wandering the twists and turns of dark forests But the St Vladiinia were new and foreign, and I had cos

Once I was pretty sure I’d put enough distance between ht insects hu around h the leafy canopy of trees, I could see a brilliant sky of stars, totally untouched by city lights Feeling like a true wilderness survivor, I studied the stars until I spotted the Big Dipper and figured out which direction was north The h had been to the east, so I certainly didn’t want to go in that direction It seemed reasonable that if I hiked north, I’d eventually hit an interstate and either hitchhike or walk ht plan, but it wasn’t the worst one I’d ever had, not by a long shot

I wasn’t really dressed for hiking, but as ed to avoidthe tiny road out of toould have been easier--but was also what Dimitri would expect me to do

I fell into a steady, subconscious rhythood time to check in on Lissa, now that I had ti to arrest me I slipped into her uardians’ headquarters, sitting in a hallway lined with chairs Other Moroi sat nearby, including Christian and Tasha

"They’ll question you hard,’ Tasha murmured "Especially you’ That was to Christian "You’d beillicitly blew up’ That seemed to be everyone’s opinion From the troubled look on her face, I could see Tasha had been as surprised by my escape as I had Even if my friends hadn’t filled her in on the whole story yet, she had probably pieced ether--at the very least, as behind it

Christian gave her as chare being grounded "They’ll know by now that it wasn’t caused by uardians will have scoured every inch of those statues’ He didn’t elaborate, not in public, but Lissa’s uardians would kno the explosion hadn’t been elemental And even if my friends were the primary suspects, the authorities would have to wonder--just as I had--how teenagers would get a hold of C4

Lissa nodded her agreement and rested her hand on Christian’s "We’ll be okay’

Her thoughts turned to both Di to the plan She couldn’t focus on finding Tatiana’s killer until she kneere safe Likeme locked up Her emotions were keyed up, prickly and a bit wilder than I would have liked Sotoo ed it with prescription h self-control But soly complicated, she’d allowed herself to wieldaranted Sooner or later, Lissa’s reliance on spirit would catch up with her With us

"Princess?’ A door across frouardian peered out "We’re ready for you’

The guardian stepped aside, and inside the room, Lissa heard a fa with you, Hans We should do it again so out with his usual swagger He stepped past the guardian in the doorway and gave Lissa and the Ozeras a winning, all-is-right-in-the-world grin Without a word, he strode past them toward the hall’s exit

Lissa al on a sober look as she and her companions entered The door shut behind theuardians seated at a table One of them I’d seen around but had never met I think his last name was Steele The other two I kneell One was Hans Croft, who ran the guardians’ operations at Court Beside hie of St Vladirowled Hans "A whole entourage’ Christian had insisted on being present when Lissa was questioned, and Tasha had insisted on being present with Christian If Abe had known the interrogation tiroup too, undoubtedly followed by ed a house party

Lissa, Christian, and Tasha sat down opposite the guardians "Guardian Petrov,’ said Lissa, ignoring Hans’s disapproval "What are you doing here?’ Alberta gave Lissa a suardian mode "I was here for the funeral, and Guardian Croft decided he’d like an outside opinion for the investigation’

"As well as someone familiar with Hathaway and her, uh, associates,’ added Hans Hans was the kind of guy who got straight to the point Usually, his attitude bothered ures--but I did respect the way he ran operations here "Thiswas intended just for you, princess’

"We won’t say a word,’ said Christian

Lissa nodded and kept her face s in her voice "I want to helpI’ve been so, I don’t know I’ that’s happened’

"I’m sure,’ said Hans, voice dry "Where were you when the statues exploded?’

"With the funeral procession,’ she said "I was part of the escort’

Steele had a pile of papers in front of him "That’s true There are plenty of witnesses’

"Very convenient What about afterward?’ asked Hans "Where did you go when the crowd panicked?’

"Back to the Council’s building That’s where all the others were ht it’d be safest’ I couldn’t see her face but could feel her trying to look cowed "I was afraid when things started going crazy’

"We also have witnesses to support that,’ said Steele

Hans druers on the table "Did you have any prior knowledge about any of this? The explosions? Hathaway’s breakout?’

Lissa shook her head "No! I had no clue I didn’t even knoas possible to get out of the cells I thought there was tooon his operations "You’ve got that bond thing, right? You didn’t pick up anything through that?’

"I don’t read her,’ explained Lissa "She sees hts but not the other way around’

"That,’ said Alberta, speaking up at last, "is true’

Hans didn’t contradict her but still wasn’t buying ht concealing infor her--you’ll face consequences almost as serious as hers All of you Royalty doesn’t exeaze, as though his threat had frightened her "I just can’t believeI just can’t believe she’d do this She was ht I knew her I didn’t think she could do any of these thingsI never thought she’d ht have taken offense I knew the truth, though She was acting, trying to distance herself froo, you were swearing up and down that she was innocent,’ pointed out Hans

Lissa looked back up and widened her eyes "I thought she was! But thenthen I heard about what she did to those guardians in the escape ’ Her distress wasn’t entirely faked this tiuilty, but the news of Meredith’s condition had reached her--which truly had shocked her That made two of us, but at least I no Meredith was okay Hans still looked skeptical at Lissa’s change of heart but let it go "What about Belikov? You swore he wasn’t a Strigoi any there as well’

Christian stirred beside Lissa As an advocate for Direw as irritated as us at the suspicions and accusations Lissa spoke before Christian could say anything

"He’s not Strigoi!’ Lissa’s remorse overin She hadn’t expected this line of questioning about hi herself to defend me and her alibi Hans seemed pleased at the reaction and watched her closely

"Then how do you explain his involveoi,’ said Lissa, forcing her control back Her heart was pounding rapidly "He changed back There’s no Strigoi left’

"But he attacked a nuuardians--on more than one occasion’

It looked like Tasha wanted to interrupt now and defend Dimitri as well, but she visibly bit her lip It was remarkable The Ozeras liked to speak their minds, not always tactfully

"It wasn’t because he was Strigoi,’ Lissa repeated "And he didn’t kill any of those guardians Not one Rose did what she didwell, I don’t knohy She hated Tatiana, I guess Everyone knew that But Di to do with this He helped her because he used to be her teacher He thought she was in trouble’

"That was pretty extreoi-- was known for being level-headed and rational’

"Yeah, but he wasn’t thinking rationally because--’

Lissa cut herself off, suddenly caught in a bad situation Hans seemed to have realized quickly in this conversation that if Lissa was involved with recent events--and I don’t think he was certain yet--she would have an airtight alibi Talking to her, however, had given him the chance to pursue another puzzle in my escape: Dimitri’s involvement Dimitri had sacrificed hi hiht she’d made people think his actions were a former teacher’s protective instinct, but apparently, not everyone was buying that

"He wasn’t thinking rationally because?’ prompted Hans, eyes sharp Before the murder, Hans had believed Di tolddangling before him

Lissa stayed silent She didn’t want people thinking Dioi She wanted people to believe in her powers to restore the undead But if Dih to others, all thatat her interrogators, Lissa suddenlyShe wore that neutral, scrutinizing expression that guardians excelled at She also had an air of wisdom about her, and Lissa briefly allowed spirit to show her Alberta’s aura It had good, steady colors and energy, and in Alberta’s eyes, Lissa swore she could see a e seemed to say It’ll create problems--but they won’t be as bad as your current ones Lissa held that gaze, wondering if she was just projecting her own thoughts onto Alberta It didn’t ht

"Dimitri helped Rose becausebecause they were involved’

As I’d guessed, Alberta wasn’t surprised, and she seemed relieved to have the truth out there Hans and Steele, however, were very surprised I had only seen Hans shocked a few times

"When you say "involved,’ do you mean ’ He paused to structure his words "Do you mean ro horrible She’d revealed a big secret here, one she’d sworn she’d keep for me, but I didn’t blame her Not in this situation Love--I hoped--would defend Dimitri’s actions

"He loved her,’ said Lissa "She loved him If he helped her escape--’

"He did help her escape,’ interrupted Hans "He attacked guardians and blew up priceless, centuries-old statues brought over froed "Well, like I said He wasn’t acting rationally He wanted to help her and probably thought she was innocent He would have done anything for her--and it had nothing to do with Strigoi’

"Love only justifies so much’ Hans clearly wasn’t a roe!’ exclaimed Steele That part hadn’t escaped hihteen,’ corrected Lissa

Hans cut her a look "I can do theromance in the last feeeks--while he wason at your school that someone should have reported’

Lissa said nothing, but from the corner of her eye, she could see Tasha and Christian They were trying to keep their expressions neutral, but it was obvious this neasn’t a surprise to the Hans’s suspicions that illicit things had been going on I actually hadn’t realized Tasha knew about Dimitri and me and felt a little bad Had she known that part of his rejection of her had been because of me? And if she kne many others did? Christian had probably tipped her off, but so to find out as well After the school’s attack, s for Di a deal after all The secret wouldn’t be a secretup at last "I think we have ht now than some romance that ave her an incredulous look and slaainst the table "This is pretty serious Did you know about it?’

"All I know is that we’re getting distracted fro the question Alberta was about twenty years older than Steele, and the tough look she gave hiht ere here to figure out if Miss Hathaway had any accoe up the past So far, the only person we can say for sure that helped her is Belikov, and he did it out of irrational affection That oi’

I’d never thought of my relationship with Dimitri as "irrational affection,’ but Alberta’s point was taken So in Hans’s and Steele’s faces made me think soon the whole world would know about us, but that was nothing cooi, then it meant he’d be is

Lissa’s questioning continued a bit longer before the guardians decided she was free and clear of any part insurprised and confused the whole ti a few tears over how she could have so ed me She spun a little bit of coh to brainwash anyone, but enough that Steele’s earlier outrage transforroup left, he re with each of thee

For now, the next person in the hot seat aiting in the hall: Eddie Lissa gave hiive any friend There was no indication that they were both part of a conspiracy Eddie nodded in return as he was called to the rooation Lissa was anxious for hiuardian self-control would make sure he stuck to the story He probably wouldn’t pull the tears Lissa had, but he’d likely act just as shocked by my "treason’ as she had

Tasha left Christian and Lissa once they were outside, first warning theotten out of this so far, but I don’t think the guardians have completely cleared you Especially Hans’

"Hey, I can take care of myself,’ said Christian

Tasha rolled her eyes "Yes I see what happens when you’re left to your own devices’

"Hey, don’t get all pissy because we didn’t tell you,’ he exclaimed "We didn’t have tiet involved Besides, you’ve done your share of crazy plans before’

"True,’ Tasha ad by the rules "It’s just that everything’s gotten that much more complicated Rose is on the run And now Dihed, and I didn’t need her to finish to guess her thoughts There was a profound look of sadness in her eyes, one that uilty Just like the rest of us, Tasha had wanted Di the queen’s accused assassin, he’d seriously daed any chance at acceptance I really wished he hadn’t gotten involved and hoped my current escape plan paid off

"This’ll all work out,’ said Christian "You’ll see’ He didn’t look so confident as he spoke, and Tasha gave him a small, amused smile

"Just be careful Please I don’t want to see you in a cell, too I don’t have ti on’ Her amusement faded, and her outspoken activistridiculous, you know Can you believe they’re actually talking about running Esedy after another around here At the very least, we should try to salvage so out of this mess’

"I don’t think I know Esmond,’ said Christian

"Moron,’ she said ot to talk sense into our family before they erinned "And let uess: you’re just the one to do it?’

"Of course,’ she said, a leam in her eye "I’ve already drawn up a list of ideal candidates Our family just needs some persuasion to see how ideal they are’ "I’d feel bad for the assholes to us,’ Christian reered after all these years Tasha accepted it --if only to be able to participate in the Ozera faer decisions Christian h to be treated as less than other Moroi, to be denied guardians and other things royals were entitled to But from his own family? It was especially harsh He refused to pretend it was acceptable

"They’ll co more optimistic than she felt