What about us: Vampire Academy

Tea with Her Majesty. Chapter 26

Adrien POV

I was feeling out of sorts today. Aunt Tati had formally invited me to afternoon tea in her south facing, golden parlor in her private quarters of the Palace. She had gone all out, small finger sandwiches, cakes and pastries, along side a  'premium' feeder. Not to mention the latest Rolex beautiful gifted wrapped.

I know what game she is playing. She is trying to butter me up with a luxurious afternoon to remind me the benefits of being her favourite nephew. She has obviously assumed Rose had informed me of the breeding plans and about her disastrous verbal battle with Abe and is trying to get me on her side. Once upon a time, I would of sided with Aunt Tati no matter what, but that was before Rose.

'Oh, Little Dhampir. Life has become so much more complex since I met you. And now you are gone again.'

It had been much a mixture of emotions waving Rose and her father off. Lissa had been determined that we suprised Rose and say our final goodbyes at the airport. It definitely didn't go as Lissa planned. Rose had been so drugged up on GHB that she was barely awake, which had caused Lissa to become a little distressed.

We had only managed to calm her down, when Abe explained that Rose was worried about the effect of the ghosts will have on her on such a long flight. Giving Rose GHB would ensure she slept most of the flight and would cloud her memories of any hours she was awake.

Literally, 20 minutes after Rose's plane departured, I received a Royal Telegram summoning me to the Palace the next day.

So far it has been quite pleasant, if you ignore the underlying tension. We started off discussing the huge wedding the Szelsky Prince was hosting for his granddaughter in the summer. We then swapped gossip stories we has heard around court the last couple of days that eventually caused us to scrutinize our own family's scandals.

"Hang on, hang on." I chuckled. "You are telling me that Uncle Stefan brought his pregnant wife and his pregnant Dhampir girlfriend to court, and they are all staying in the same accommodation? And he can't understand why his wife is mad at him?!"

"Yes. Catherine is rather put out. Then again, she was a Voda. They like to pretend that they don't have Dhampir lovers." Tatiana smirked, sipping her tea.

"Or she resents the fact that Uncle Stefan has been in love with Molly since they were 15 years old and that the only reason he didn't marry Molly is because she is a Dhampir." I stated. "I'm certain Catherine only fell pregnant because Molly did."

Aunt Tati looked up at me over her teacup and narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. I know what she is doing, she is trying to read my emotions, but she was out of practice. Even if her eyes didn't give her away, the sudden surge of gold in her aura definitely did. Releasing my own bit of spirit, I blocked my emotions from her, a handy trick I learnt from one of her books a few weeks back.

"You sound like you pity him." She accused. "On paper he has it all. A Royal Moroi wife who is giving him a legitimate heir and a Dhampir women who he can share his bed and heart with."

"You miss understand me Aunty, I meant it's shame Molly isn't a Moroi or at least Stefan loved Catherine instead." I said, trying to smooth her hackels. There was no point telling her the truth, that anyone and everyone should be allowed marry the person they love, no matter their race.

"Well, that would make less gossip for us." She replied in satisfaction.

"Hear, hear!" I cheered, hiding my sarcasm with a smirk.

"Speaking of love. When do you plan to settle down?" She questioned me as she selected a iced finger from  selection of cakes. "At the every least date a lower Royal Moroi as a rebound to get over Hathaway."