Chapter Text
'To Be Continued'? What?! — you right now, probably
Let Me Show You is finished and we're going on a short break! The plan has always been to take a breather at this point in the story so that I could finish working on the sequel — this has nothing to do my impromptu mini hiatus in April, I promise! (Though, coincidentally, I do need to also focus on getting my health back in order and settling my affairs with school.)
And while we're on the subject…here's a sneak peek to tide you over for the next few weeks.
"Hans told me you asked to stay on with the assignment," Lissa said, effectively cutting Rose off before she could start an argument.
"Even if I wanted to come back," Rose said, "I would've had to stay through at least getting my cast off. I wasn't in any shape to be on the first plane home like Eddie and Sydney. Did they get back without any problems?" she asked Adrian, who nodded in reply.
"'Wanted to come back'?" Lissa echoed. This time she actually did look a little hurt.
"I mean—" Dimitri, as he always did, was in the front of her thoughts, and she pushed him to the side so she could focus on wording her answer. No way was she going to admit that the sole reason she was staying was because of him. Admittedly, though, she was beginning to feel selfish for her choice now that she was facing her best friend. "I have a duty to fulfill here, Liss, one you gave me. I want to see this thing through to completion."
Lissa nodded, the corners of her mouth still turned down. "I heard from Eddie you broke your shoulder and wrist and that you suffered a concussion?"
"Yeah." Rose rolled her wrist. It hadn't even been a full week, so even though the cast was off, it was still sore and bothersome. "And then, you know, just generally feeling like I got hit by a truck after being thrown into a tree." She didn't mention the nightly panic attacks when her dreams turned to memories of being slowly choked to death. There was already enough worry streaming across the bond.
"Okay. I mean, it's not okay — I'm just relieved you're alive. We lost two dozen guardians despite having some preparation on our side."
"Yeah, well, you should see the other guys," Rose quipped in an attempt to cover up her unease. Nobody had given her hard numbers, just that there'd been equal numbers of guardians and Strigoi and, by all accounts, it was considered a victory against the Strigoi. Two dozen guardians was a lot of lives lost.
Lissa rolled her eyes. "You're clearly fine." The image of her flickered, and she sighed. "That's my alarm. I hate to leave you, but my wedding planner is sending me to find a dress outside court since apparently I'm the pickiest bride in the history of forever." Her irritated look spoke legions. "And I have to be up in daylight for that, so I gotta go."
"No worries," Rose said, a sudden pang of sadness shooting through her as she realized this was another thing she was missing out on. Until that moment, not being by Lissa's side while dress shopping had been an inconceivable thought. It was something they'd talked about growing up, and Rose was giving it up by staying in Russia.
You can't have it all, she told herself.
"Go," she said. "Send me photos and we'll chat later or something." And then before Lissa could say anything, Rose pulled her in for a long, tight hug and let her shimmer away.
"You've been quiet," Rose noted, turning to a thus far silent Adrian.
"Watching your aura," he said, still staring at the space just slightly next to her. It was like he was looking at a photo an inch off-center. "It was glowing until you lied through your teeth about wanting to finish the job Lissa gave you. And now that I bring it up, it's dimmed again. What gives?"
She shook her head. If one person knew, that was one too many. "No idea what you're talking about." Damn, you can't even tell a bad lie well.
"Rose," Adrian said, firm but warm. "You don't lie to Lissa unless you've got a good reason. I'm just trying to make sure you're not accidentally starting World War Three here."
After the events at St. Basil's, Rose Hathaway had to make one of the biggest decisions of her life — comply with Lissa's wishes and return to Court, a get-out-of-jail free card to ending her assignment early, or go against orders and stay in Russia in order to follow her heart. Having chosen the latter, Rose now faces a host of challenges she hadn't anticipated upon arriving in Baia months ago, including the problems she must contend with as a result of having chosen love over duty.
And everyone remembers that Rose is only on assignment as punishment for what happened to Victor Dashkov…well, everyone except for Rose herself.
Call My Name
Coming June 2016