I do not own Vampire Academy or its characters.

Prologue

Five years six months and twenty-eight days had passed since I was proven innocent of the murder of Queen Tatiana. I had been in prison for three months before I was given a trial. If it wasn't for my father, who found that the council was withholding the surveillance tapes, I would have been executed. The council didn't apologize to me for the mistake; in fact some of them seemed disappointed that the tapes were discovered before the trial. After the trial, I let the council know what I really thought about them. Basically I called them egotistical bastards and told them to shove their laws up their asses. Then I quit my position as a guardian.

For six months I lived in Russia. I hunted strigoi with Denis, Art and Lev in Novosibirsk and spent one week every month with the Belikovs. I told them about everything that happened, except between me and Dimitri. They knew he was turned back and that we weren't together anymore. I did tell them that it was his choice. Olena still insisted that I was her daughter. Viktoria cried when I saw her, she apologized for the way she treated me. I told her that I was never upset with her. During my time in Russia, Adrian visited my dreams once a week to update me on the latest news from court. I was sure to call Lissa directly when she was crowned queen. She couldn't be on the council, but she did qualify to rule. Laws were reworked and the moroi started to improve.

It was at the end of those six months that Abe tracked me down. After the unfortunate death of one of his guards, Abe was in dire need of another. Abe needed a guard he could trust, like Pavel, but he ran out of choices. So he tracked me down. As his daughter he wanted me by his side. I took my time thinking it over. In the end, I had nothing to lose. Now I am my father's right hand man or woman. I know the business inside and out. My father goes nowhere without me. The truth was we didn't trust the rest of the world.

Chapter 1

"Rose" my father took a glass of Champaign, I took my mimosa. "Today is the fifth anniversary of you joining the business" he smiled, "cheers." Our glasses clinked together in the air, "I have a present for you." We were on the private jet headed to court for my best friend's wedding. Lissa and Christian were finally getting married. "Here" my father handed me a thin gold box. I smiled and thanked him. I lifted the lid to find a delicate gold necklace inside the box. Hanging from the chain was a golden rose studded with tiny diamonds. In the very center was a tiny glass bead that had something pink inside. "That's the heart of a desert rose" he said as Pavel placed the necklace around my throat.

"Thank you Baba" I smiled and gave him a hug. "I love it."

"I have to tell you Kiz" he leaned over the aisle of the private plane so that he could whisper to me, "I have another reason for coming to the states." I waited for him to fill me in, but he simply leaned back in his chair for a nap.

"What is your reason Abe?" I asked him.

He glanced at me. "You might get upset if I tell you now" he said calmly. I gave him my famous 'you better spill the beans NOW' look. "Don't give me that look" he wiggled in his chair, "it makes me uncomfortable."

"Good" I replied still giving him the look, "now spill it."

"Fine" he sighed, "I am meeting your mother."

"Why?"

"I need another guardian" he was lying. I was one of two people who could tell that my father was lying. Pavel was the other. Whenever he lied, his index finger twitched. Strange, I know but true. I know as well as he does that Pavel and I are all the guardians he needs. We found that every strigoi in Istanbul wanted to taste Abe. There weren't many moroi in Turkey.

"Liar" I accused, "you miss her." It was no secret that my parents were in love. They talked once a week. Right after Abe and my mother had a talk, he would go around whistling and happy. I hated it.

"What if I do?" he challenged, "I can miss the mother of my child."

"You can miss a woman you love, too." I went back to my seat and settled down for a long nap.

No sooner had I drifted off to sleep than I found myself in Adrian's town house at court.

"Hey Adrian" I greeted him with a hug and kiss on the cheek. "Are you still picking us up at the airport?"

"Of course" he replied. "You, your father and Pavel are still going to stay here with me and Sydney." Sydney and Adrian really hit it off after my trial. They married two years ago, the last time I was at court. "Sydney is really excited" he was all smiles.

"Why are you so happy?"

"No reason" he replied with a grin. I gave him 'The' look. "You know I don't like that look. It makes you look dangerous and scary." I kept it up. If I stared at him long enough he would give in. "Fine" he gave in, "I have some big news." He looked nervous. "Sydney is calling I got to go!"

"Spill" I glared.

"I will see you at the airport in…" he glanced at his watch, "twelve hours."

"Wait!" I shouted as he disappeared with that stupid grin on his face. Jackass! I returned to my restful sleep. Hours later I woke up for lunch and another drink. By the time we landed I was happy. Abe thought it was the best thing for me to arrive in that way.

"Rose!" Lissa and Sydney screamed as I walked off the plane first. I scanned the area before signaling Pavel. Adrian was leaning against a black van. Three guardians stood near a black SUV nearby. Abe and Pavel got off the plane and Pavel loaded the bags into the van. Lissa and Sydney ran up and hugged me.

"Hey" I laughed hugging them back. Like I said; I was very happy. "How are you?"

"Great" Lissa said.

"Fine" Sydney replied rubbing her stomach. I looked at her stomach and then her face. Something should connect, I should piece this together. I give up. "I'm pregnant!" she yelled.

"Oh my god!" I was almost speechless. "Congratulations!" My father rolled his eyes as the three of us chatted then he cleared his throat.

"Vasilissa, Sydney" my father smiled and nodded, "nice to see you ladies again."

Once the cordialities were over, we piled into the van with Sydney and headed back to court. Lissa and her guardians followed in the SUV. The house was immaculate. Four bedrooms, three bathrooms and a two car garage. Adrian met as at the door, kissing Sydney as she entered the house. They gave us the tour. Abe was set up in the largest guest bedroom and Pavel and I agreed to share. We never slept at the same time, always in shifts. Sydney showed me the baby's room. Everything was lavender and yellow. She sat down in a cream colored rocker, rubbing her belly.

"It's so nice to have you staying with us" she said folding a tiny pink blanket.

"What are you going to name her?" I asked leaning against the crib.

"Sophia Rose" Adrian entered the room. "It was the only name we could both agree on."

"I am so happy for you" I said honestly. "Congratulations."

"Thanks Rose" they replied together.

"So tomorrow is the bachelorette party" Sydney got up with some help from Adrian. She wasn't one of those huge pregnant people. She had a belly, but not a big one. "We are going to Lissa's quarters."

"I have to check the schedule with Pavel" I said leaving the room.

"You're at court" Adrian said, "there is no need to shadow him."

"It's more than just a need to guard him" I replied, "we run the business together."

"What does he do?" Adrian asked.

"Classified" Sydney, Pavel, and I answered at the same time.

"Rose you are here for your best friend's wedding" Pavel looked over the railing from the second floor. "Lord Ivanskov is right, we don't have to shadow your father" I gave him a look, "your mother is going to spend some time with him. Her moroi is here for the wedding on Saturday." He sighed, "don't worry so much."

"Let me check on my father before I head out for a run" I said heading up the stairs.

"Don't you want to rest?" Sydney asked.

"We are use to jet lag" Pavel answered. "Exercise is the best way to deal with it, besides we have our routine."

I checked on my dad, who said pretty much the same thing as Pavel. I changed into my workout clothes and strapped a silver dagger to my calf and a stake to my hip. Then Pavel and I headed out for our workout.