Read Online Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Richelle Mead, Michelle Rowen - Free Book Online

cools off. And there’s clearly only one choice: Rose. Even though Rose hates formal Moroi events, she reluctantly agrees to go. When she’s Lissa’s official guardian, she’ll be going to a lot of these!
    After the meal, they mingle with the other royals. Lissa’s in her element here: perfect, polished, and polite. A group of Moroi are discussing going on the offensive against the Strigoi: Is it the right thing to do? Or is it a suicide mission? Lissa raises the point that this isn’t an all-or-nothing decision. Those who wish to learn and fight can. Those who don’t want to don’t have to. But there should be a choice. In her opinion, defense should be part of the Moroi school curriculum right now . Surprisingly, everyone seems pleased with the Dragomir princess’s solution.
    When Rose leaves Lissa to discuss Moroi politics with her fellow royals, she runs into Adrian. Even though the sexy and flirtatious guy annoys her on many levels, she feels an overwhelming urge to be near him. What’s up with that?
    Well, he does look better in a tuxedo than any other guy there. There’s no question that Adrian would be extremely desirable to any girl—Moroi, dhampir, or human.
    Unlike others at the party, Adrian’s not too interested in discussing whether or not Moroi should use their magic to fight.
    “I’ve got better things to do.”
    “Like stalk me,” I suggested. “And Lissa.” I still wanted to know why she’d been in his room.
    He smiled again. “I told you, you’re the one following me.”
    “Yeah, yeah, I know. Five times—” I stopped. “Five times?”
    He nodded.
    “No, it’s only been four.” With my free hand, I ticked them off. “There was the first time, the night at the spa, then when I came to your room, and now tonight.”
    The smile turned secretive. “If you say so.”
    —pages 227–228
     
     
    The only other time Rose had spoken to Adrian was . . . in her dream—the one in which he’d mentioned the shadows all around her. She’s tempted to mention it. Was it really only a simple dream . . . or something else?
    Before Rose can decide whether to speak up, her mother storms up to them. Shame on Rose for making a spectacle of herself by wearing a tight dress and flirting with Adrian, a Moroi lord. Who does she think she is? Janine’s accusation makes Rose mad, but she turns it around on her mother. Isn’t that what she’s supposed to do? Hook up with a Moroi in order to further her race? After all, that’s what Janine did. But Janine isn’t buying Rose’s logic—Rose is too young to get pregnant.
    Oh boy. Not a subject Rose wants to deal with right now. She feels the sudden urge to escape and swiftly flees to the rooftop patio. The door to the patio opens a few minutes later and Dimitri joins her. He followed her from the party—he’d been watching her when she’d had the argument with her mother.
    It’s clear to him that Janine’s just worried about Rose and trying to be protective of her daughter. But perhaps she was being a bit over protective. And what she’d said about being too young to get pregnant . . . maybe that was aimed more at herself than at Rose.
    Ah, Dimitri. So very insightful.
    And suddenly, Rose realizes something important.
    “We aren’t fighting right now,” I blurted out.
    He gave me a sidelong look. “Do you want to fight?”
    “No. I hate fighting with you. Verbally, I mean. I don’t mind in the gym.”
    I thought I detected the hint of a smile. Always a half-smile for me. Rarely a full one. “I don’t like fighting with you either.”
    Sitting next to him there, I marveled at the warm and happy emotions springing up inside of me. There was something about being around him that felt so good, that moved me in a way Mason couldn’t. You can’t force love, I realized. It’s either there or it isn’t. If it’s not there, you’ve got to be able to admit it. If it’s there, you’ve got to do whatever it takes to protect the ones you