Next to the Queen stood the most gorgeous, stunning, sexy Moroi I had ever seen in my life. I had never seen Adrian like that before, he was in full regalia. I was so stunned I almost forgot to kneel.
"Guardian Sterling," greeted Tatiana, "You forgot what I said about formalities."
"Forgive me your majesty," I apologized, bowing slightly.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Adrian studying me, amused.
"Lord Ivashkov," I said bowing to Adrian.
He grinned at me, "My, my, why so formal, my pretty little dhampir?"
Queen Tatiana cast him a disapproving look and he just laughed it off in that ways of his.
"Guardian Sterling, I want you to be my great-nephew's guardian and not just that, I'm giving you the authority to keep him in check," started Tatiana.
I had never been so caught off guard by anyone before; her words downright stunned me speechless and I had to put in a considerable amount of effort to keep my expression neutral.
"Of course Your Majesty, I will do my best," I agreed.
"Good. You can start by reprimanding him for trying to elope with Rose Hathaway in Vegas while Victor Dashkov was on the loose," said Tatiana, dismissing us.
I bowed slightly and backed out of the room.
"See you later, Aunt Tatiana," grinned Adrian walking out.
I heard Tatiana sigh, but when I looked up at her, there was a smile teasing at the edges of her mouth.
"Well, Guardian Sterling, are you going to reprimand me?" asked Adrian teasingly.
I looked at him seriously, "Would you like me to reprimand you in public and besmirch your reputation?"
"Ha, I don't think there's anything you could do or say at this point that would do anything detrimental to my reputation," laughed Adrian.
His laugh, his voice, was music to my ears, it really was so melodically beautiful, but I kept my opinions and emotions off my face and in my heart.
"That was reckless. How could you possibly think that Rose and Eddie could sufficiently protect you and Lissa?" I started, as we walked back to his suite.
He didn't say anything until we reached the Ivashkov's suite.
"Because we had a top rate guardian who was with us for most of the time," grinned Adrian.
I let out an exasperated sigh as Adrian opened the door, "I'm serious."
"So am I," smiled Adrian, walking in.
I followed him quietly, like a shadow, I faded into the background.
Lady Daniella Ivashkov was sitting on a velvet sofa reading a romance novel. Lord Ivashkov appeared as though he was just staring at nothing...at least he was before he noticed us...or Adrian.
"Adrian! Where have you been?! Do you know how absolutely irresponsible it was of you to try and elope with a dhampir?! You couldn't have picked a worse time to run off! Do you ever think about what you're doing?! And who is she? Another one of your whores?" shouted Lord Ivashkov.
I was taken aback by the term he had just used to describe me. Some Moroi clearly believed in their own superiority...
Lady Ivashkov, put her book down calmly, unable to concentrate on reading when her husband was yelling at Adrian.
"She's my guardian," Adrian said lazily, ignoring almost all of his father's questions.
Lord Ivashkov studied me, looking me up and down, from head to toe. I felt embarrassed to be scrutinized so closely. And clearly, my reputation was still unknown to Lord Ivashkov.
"Hmm," grunted Lord Ivashkov.
I didn't know if that was approval or irritation.
"I'm getting a drink," said Adrian turning away.
"No, you're not," said Lord and Lady Ivashkov simultaneously.
"We're not done with you," continued Lord Ivashkov.
Adrian snorted, "Whatever."
He started to walk out.
"No," I said quietly.
He looked at me in surprise, "You're my guardian. How do you have any right to tell me what to do?"
Lord Ivashkov looked mildly interested in what I had to say, while Lady Ivashkov returned to her book since the majority of the yelling had stopped.
"You heard the Queen; her orders were to keep you in check. It's much too early to be drinking," I responded, my heart rebelling viciously against my every word.
In the whole time I had met him, Lord Ivashkov looked pleased. Adrian looked positively pissed off and stormed out. As required by my duty, I followed him.
"Can't you just leave me alone?" demanded Adrian.
"No," I responded, "I'm your guardian."
"That doesn't mean you had any right to make me look like an idiot in front of my parents," said Adrian angrily, spinning to face me.
I felt horrible for what I had said, but duty was everything to me now, I had nothing to live for, nothing to fight for, only duty kept me bound to life. I had always been good at keeping my emotions from my face, but my eyes could never hide what my heart felt. Lately, since the Dimitri and Alexander incident, my aura was blacker than it had ever been and it wasn't getting any better. Adrian looked at me for a few minutes and said quietly, "Sometimes I pity you. You lost your childhood far too early and now your heart is broken beyond repair."
I managed a small smile, "And sometimes I wonder if my heart will ever love again, if it will ever heal, if it will ever feel emotions again. Sometimes, okay, a lot of the times, I say things I don't mean. I say them because I care, because my duty demands it of me. I don't mean to rude or harsh, but life is harsh. Really, I am sorry Adrian for what I said in front of your parents, but I don't like to see you so drunk all the time."
Adrian smiled, "You can't stop me from drinking forever."
"No, I can't," I admitted, "Just promise me one thing, don't drink in the morning; wait at least till the afternoon?"
Adrian seemed happy again and so my aura responded by lightening a bit, not that he noticed because at that moment we ran into Rose and his aura glowed.
