Getting Out While You Can

Chin Up, Princess

I wanted to believe that people were trying to be subtle while staring at me, but I had finally come to terms with the fact that they weren't. These people would always view me as a deserter, an outsider, the woman who got away with trying to kill the Queen.

If only they knew that none of that was true. If only they knew that it was one of 'them' who tried to kill the Queen.

But while everyone was watching me and Adrian sip our coffees quietly, I was watching someone else.

It was surprising that nobody else was watching them, considering I could hear them from here. Issa was clearly upset about something, and her new boyfriend was making it clear that he didn't care. I couldn't hear all of what they were saying, but I was getting the gist of it; politics.

Politics about the Dhampir laws.

"Do you know anything about that?" I asked Adrian, jerking my chin towards Lissa and her boyfriend. Adrian looked over his shoulder and made a noise that resembled a laugh before looking at me.

"You mean the battle of the royals?"

I nodded and Adrian sighed.

"Yeah. There seems to be a bit of a turf war, so to speak, between the Royal council members. Word has been floating around that the Guardians have found solid proof that the assassination attempt was done by a Royal, and it's causing a rift. Many don't believe it, but a lot of big throwers are starting to see clearly."

"Lissa being one of them?"

"Lissa being the loudest. She has been adamant that it would have been easier for a Royal to do it, and it would be easier to frame a Dhampir. A few people have listened; the Szelksys, Badicas, even a few members of the Contas. The Ivashkov line is trying to save face with the others, but Rufus isn't stupid as most would think. It's Dad that's causing the biggest rift. I think my other uncle is coming to court soon, and Dad is worried that he might cause a scene."

I stilled while taking my sip and my eyes flicked to him. "Your father's brother?"

"Yeah. Randall. I kind of hope he doesn't; we used to be drinking buddies. I know that he would try to sway me to go out with him," Adrian said with a groan, slouching down in his chair as a sign of petulance.

I nodded and set my coffee down, feeling a weight in my stomach. If Randal was who I thought he was, what would that mean for Dimitri? Would he have to come face to face with his father again? And how would it result?

"What's wrong?"

I swallowed back my concern and fakes a smile. "Nothing. Just thinking is all. Wasn't Randall rumoured to be a drunk?"

Adrian laughed. "Not just a drunk. Lots of rumours about Uncle Rand. Drugs, women, it's even rumoured he's got a handful of kids running about," Adrian said with a shake of his head, "I bet we've met one and have never even known."

I grunted and took an uneasy sip of coffee. Oh Adrian, if only you knew. My attention was drawn away by the commotion again. I looked over at Lissa out of instinct and found my instinct was correct, but she wasn't in danger, aside from the emotional danger.

"If this is how you're going to carry about, then maybe there are many things that you need to reconsider," he spat, tossing the linen napkin on the table. I glanced at Adrian and set my cup down. Even after years apart, I still had that instinct to prepare for the slightest movement. I thought of it as a flaw, especially now that I held no loyalty to Lissa, but it was an instinct that had been drilled into me since childhood.

"It is you that needs to reconsider!" Lissa hissed.

"Even since that Blood Whore came back to Court, you've been strange – obsessive even!"