They reach the gorgeous resort, all decked out—including human feeders—for a large group of holidaying vampires. Wards are set, guardians are in place, and the ski slopes are on a nocturnal schedule. Even though the reason they’re there is because of the Badica massacre, it’s kind of hard not to have fun.
Rose and Mason challenge each other on the slopes in dangerous feats of bravery. Rose sees firsthand that Mason’s a major risk taker and he loves to face danger head-on. That risky behavior will soon lead to very bad things for him. Today, however, it’s just a sprained ankle.
After Rose helps the injured Mason back to the lodge, she meets someone who will soon become one of the most important people in her life....
Adrian Ivashkov is a very good-looking but arrogant, cigarette-smoking Moroi royal who seems intrigued by the pretty girl he immediately nicknames “little dhampir.”
Rose’s first impression of Adrian? He’s a jerk. And the Ivash-kovs’ arrogant family reputation certainly doesn’t help change Rose’s opinion of him. And yet—she’s not scurrying away. Adrian’s also charming and handsome and has an air of danger to him that she’s drawn to.
Rose’s nemesis Mia Rinaldi picks that moment to stroll by, sneering about Rose being with yet another guy. She even tries to give the handsome Ivashkov a bit of advice when it comes to the dhampir:“Rose only hangs out with guys and psychopaths,” said Mia. Her voice carried the usual scorn she harbored for me, but there was a look on her face that showed Adrian had clearly caught her interest.
“Well,” he said cheerfully, “since I’m both a psychopath and a guy, that would explain why we’re such good friends.”
“You and I aren’t f riends either,” I told him.
He laughed. “Always playing hard to get, huh?”
“She’s not that hard to get,” said Mia, clearly upset that Adrian was paying more attention to me. “Just ask half the guys at our school.”
—pages 139–140
When Rose not-so-gently reminds Mia that she’s the one known for sleeping with guys so they’ll do favors for her, an embarrassed Mia quickly skulks away. Rose is left alone with Adrian, who seems genuinely interested in her.
He’s not only interested in Rose, though. He’s also curious to know more about Lissa and how she’s doing after being kidnapped by Victor Dashkov. This makes Rose end the conversation immediately. It doesn’t matter how charming Adrian is; Rose doesn’t like discussing Lissa’s fragile mental health with anyone.
But abruptly shutting down the conversation isn’t nearly enough to stop Adrian in his tracks. Even though Rose makes a swift beeline for the lodge, her brash attitude and good looks have definitely captured the young Lord Ivashkov’s interest.
“Rose Hathaway, I can’t wait to see you again. If you’re this charming while tired and annoyed and this gorgeous while bruised and in ski clothes, you must be devastating at your peak.”
“If by ‘devastating’ you mean that you should fear for your life, then yeah. You’re right.” I jerked open the door. “Good night, Adrian.”
“I’ll see you soon.”
“Not likely. I told you, I’m not into older guys.”
I walked into the lodge. As the door closed, I just barely heard him call behind me, “Sure, you aren’t.”
—page 142
The next morning, Rose finds Lissa with Christian . . . and Tasha. So much for avoiding the woman determined to steal Dimitri from her.
Tasha is teaching Christian how to use his fire magic as a weapon. This is totally forbidden among Moroi, and Rose—if she was feeling really spiteful—could get Tasha in serious trouble for this. However, she has to admit she agrees with Tasha’s unorthodox methods. A Moroi using their magic alongside their guardian to take down a Strigoi makes total sense. More weapons against the murderous monsters is a good thing, right?
But just because she agrees doesn’t mean she likes Tasha. At all. Lissa—who still knows nothing about Rose’s feelings toward Dimitri—doesn’t understand why Rose is being such a bitch. Rose brushes it off as her being grumpy from lack of sleep.
Mason meets up with them, and he’s also grouchy because he’s heard a rumor that Rose and Adrian got drunk together last night. Gee, wherever could that have come from? Looks like Mia, once again, is trying to make trouble for her.
She assures him that nothing is going on with her and Adrian. She and Mason go skiing again so they can spend more time together . . . he insists his ankle is just fine. He does a great job too, although he’s not taking quite as many risks this time. Since Rose is upset and hurt by Dimitri and Tasha’s romance, at the end of their ski date, she decides to encourage Mason’s interest in her with a kiss. It’s pretty good . . . but it isn’t nearly as earth-shattering as the one she’d had with Dimitri. Still, it’s sweet and nice and could possibly turn into more between them.
But instead of dreaming of Mason that night or even Dimitri—she dreams about Adrian. He notices something strange about her.
“Why do you have so much darkness around you?”
I frowned. “What?”
“You’re surrounded in blackness.” His eyes studied me shrewdly, but not in a checking-me-out sort of way. “I’ve never seen anyone like you. Shadows everywhere. I never would have guessed it. Even while you’re standing here, the shadows keep growing.”
I looked down at my hands but saw nothing out of the ordinary. I glanced back up. “I’m shadow-kissed . . .”
“What’s that mean?”
“I died once.” I’d never talked to anyone other than Lissa and Victor Dashkov about that, but this was a dream. It didn’t matter. “And I came back.”
—pages 154–155
Later, Rose learns that this is the kind of dream that definitely does matter.
Rose is pulled out of the dream when Lissa shakes her awake to tell her some bad news. There’s been another Strigoi attack!
Even though Rose isn’t thrilled with either of them right now, she knows she can get more information from Dimitri or her mother. In a makeshift guardian headquarters, located in her mother’s room, Rose learns more details about the attack, which was identical to the Badica massacre. This time, members of the Drozdov family and their guardians were killed in California, along with some of their staff—a list that Rose realizes with dismay includes Mia’s mother.
Janine is incredibly levelheaded during this crisis and is leading the investigation with clearheaded authority. Rose might have problems with Janine, but seeing her mother work with such control in a time of chaos shows she’s a true leader and one to be admired.
It is obvious that the threat of Strigoi attack is growing.The Moroi currently staying at the ski lodge hold a meeting in the large banquet hall to try to figure out what to do to keep themselves safe. There are simply not enough guardians available to protect everyone—some Moroi don’t even have assigned guardians, since precedence goes to those in royal families. Several suggestions are shouted out, including one that will become a major topic of debate in the future—allowing novice guardians to graduate at sixteen instead of eighteen.
Tasha believes she has a better plan, and it’s one she’s believed in for quite some time. Moroi have their own special weapon that no one else has: their elemental magic. They should use that magic to fight with guardians against the Strigoi—even to go after the Strigoi rather than waiting till they attack.
To demonstrate her ability to defend herself, she lights something on fire. Chaos immediately breaks out at this forbidden act—and Tasha is considered crazy for even suggesting something so extreme. Moroi consider their magic to be peaceful and it should only be used in a benevolent way. To use it in such a violent manner goes against everything they’ve been led to believe.
With the adults up in arms over Tasha’s ill-advised display, Dimitri quickly ushers the novices out of the meeting. In the hall outside, out of earshot of her friends, Rose finally has a chance to confront him about becoming Tasha’s guardian
. . . with benefits. He crisply tells her that whatever happens between him and Tasha is none of her business.
“Well, I’m sure you guys’ll be happy together. She’s just your type, too—I know how much you like women who aren’t your own age. I mean, she’s what, six years older than you? Seven? And I’m seven years younger than you.”
“Yes,” he said after several moments of silence. “You are. And every second this conversation goes on, you only prove how young you really are.”
Whoa. My jaw almost hit the floor. Not even my mother punching me had hurt as badly as that.
—pages 172–173
Just then, Adrian strolls by, giving Rose the perfect exit opportunity. If Dimitri is going to pretend he’s too mature for her, then fine: she’ll find another hot guy.
She turns her back on Dimitri and walks away with Adrian. When they met, Rose told Adrian she’s not into older guys, but based on the heated exchange he’s just witnessed, Adrian wonders if there’s something between her and Dimitri. Rose assures him that he’s just imagining things.
Clearly smitten—and amused—by the beautiful Rose, Adrian offers to take her and Lissa to a special spa area of the resort, one used by the most elite Moroi. However, instead of just getting the two girls, he gets the two girls and all their friends when Rose takes the liberty to invite Mason, Mason’s best friend, Eddie, and Christian along. Adrian’s easygoing so it doesn’t bother him. Mia is also included in their group. Despite their nasty history, Lissa doesn’t want the girl to be alone now that she’s grieving the death of her mother, and Rose has to agree.
While they all hang out in a hot tub, Mason lets it be known that he agrees wholeheartedly with Tasha’s plan to go after the Strigoi. In fact, he thinks they should start fighting now.
Rose is suddenly the voice of reason, strangely enough, and she doesn’t think they’re ready to face Strigoi. Christian, on the other hand, stands by the idea that dhampirs should help Moroi learn to defend themselves with their magic. Mia is quick to agree with him after her personal loss.
As this debate is raging, Rose has a few drinks—alcoholic ones. When she gets up to grab another drink, the world starts spinning. But this is Rose—when alcohol mixes with her natural killer instinct, watch out. In her drunken haze, she notices that a fight has erupted in a nearby room between two Moroi. And she’s just inebriated enough to think that jumping in is a good idea. Rose leaps between the guys to try to break things up, but when she gets caught in the crossfire, Mason is there to defend her. When the fight finally dissipates, Rose drunkenly scolds Mason for getting involved. Doesn’t he know that she had it covered?
“Are you out of your mind?”
“Huh?” he asked.
“Jumping into the middle of that!”
“You jumped in too,” he said.
I started to argue, then realized he was right. “It’s different,” I grumbled.
He leaned forward. “Are you drunk?”
“No. Of course not. I’m just trying to keep you from doing something stupid. Just because you have delusions of being able to kill Strigoi doesn’t mean you have to take it out on everyone else.”
“Delusions?” he asked stiffly.
—pages 185–186
Feeling nauseous, Rose leaves Mason behind and, while her head spins unpleasantly from alcohol, she wanders into a side room hoping to find some food to help sober her up. Instead, she finds herself in a feeder room where Moroi guys are drinking the blood of attractive human girls. It seems pretty sexy, actually. Rose can’t help but be reminded of how good it feels to experience the bite.
“Want to volunteer?”
Light fingertips brushed my neck, and I jumped. I turned around and saw Adrian’s green eyes and knowing smirk.
“Don’t do that, ” I told him, knocking his hand away.
“Then what are you doing in here?” he asked.
I gestured around me. “I ’m lost.”
He peered at me. “Are you drunk?”
“No. Of course not . . . but . . .” The nausea had settled a little, but I still didn’t feel right. “I think I should sit down.”
He took my arm. “Well, don’t do it in here. Someone might get the wrong idea.”
—page 187
Adrian works hard to be snarky and flirtatious on the outside, but on the inside he does care deeply about others, especially when they’re putting themselves in harm’s way. He directs Rose into the massage area of the spa and fetches her a glass of water. Conversation between them again turns to Lissa, although Adrian assures Rose he isn’t interested in her friend the same way he’s interested in her.
While his arrogant manner does annoy her . . . Rose really can’t help but like being around him. There’s something about Adrian that’s incredibly hard to resist.
Lissa’s been searching for her friend and is relieved to find her safe and sound. Alcohol numbed the bond, and Rose knows it was stupid of her to take such a stupid chance tonight. What if Lissa had been in danger?
Adrian surprises the girls by asking if it was their psychic bond that enabled Lissa to locate Rose. How does he know about their bond? It’s a secret. He’s extremely curious about which power Lissa specializes in, but the girls say nothing more. That’s another secret they don’t want to reveal to him—not a lot of people know that it’s spirit. Rose is confused by the major interest Adrian is showing in Lissa. Is he hitting on her?
Lissa already has a boyfriend. And, for that matter, so does Rose if she’s really interested in giving Mason a chance. When they leave the spa area, Mason is annoyed and hurt that Rose continues to spend so much time with Adrian, so she reassures him that there’s nothing going on with the Moroi guy. When the others take off, they kiss, but when she wants to go further, Mason puts the brakes on. Rose is still drunk right now. If she still wants him when she’s sobered up, they’ll talk.
AMOR AMOR
The next morning, Adrian sends a gift to Rose’s room—thirty little bottles of perfume. Since she really doesn’t want to encourage his romantic attention, she returns them. Except for one, a scent called Amor Amor, which seems fitting, given her romantic woes of late.
When Rose brings the bottles back to Adrian, she’s surprised to see that he already has a guest in his room: Lissa. What’s she doing there?
Before she can bring herself to ask that very question, though, Dimitri suddenly appears in the hallway. And he’s not happy. His alleged reason? Male and female students aren’t supposed to be in each other’s rooms.
“I ’m sure you know the rules at St. Vladimir’s.”
Adrian shrugged. “Yeah, but I don’t have to follow any school’s stupid rules.”
“Perhaps not,” said Dimitri coldly. “But I would have thought you’d still respect those rules.”
Adrian rolled his eyes. “I ’m kind of surprised to find you lecturing about underage girls.”
—page 202
However,just as soon as Adrian’s gotten a nice zinger in, he launches into a rambling and disjointed speech. Everyone is confused—he sounds crazy. And then, the next moment, he’s back to normal. They all leave his room puzzled by his strange turn. Once they reach the lobby, Lissa takes off when Dimitri asks to speak with Rose alone.
Rose jealously assumed Dimitri was on this side of the lodge to find Tasha, but she’s wrong. He actually had been visiting Janine to go over more details about the Moroi attacks and fills Rose in on the details. While Dimitri is stiff in talking to Rose after their previous quarrel, he feels she has a right to know what he’s learned. The guardians believe the Strigoi are in Spokane, Washington. There’s a shopping plaza with underground tunnels and Strigoi sightings. However, despite having this valuable information, no offensive attack is being sent until they’re given permission from higher up.
Dimitri admits that he’s said some insulting things to Rose lately about her age, so he’s telling her this info because he’s confident she has the maturity to handle it. It??
?s a sign of respect that warms her heart and brightens her mood. However, he cautions that what he’s told her needs to stay confidential.
It feels like a special moment between them . . . until Tasha ruins it by showing up, wondering when Dimitri’s shift ends. Rose feels sick and jealous at the reminder he might be Tasha’s guardian—and more—very soon.
Dimitri just told Rose something in confidence, but he really shouldn’t have. Rose is so angry at Dimitri that she shares this info about the Strigoi sightings with Mason almost immediately afterward. Serves Dimitri right!
But Mason’s reaction is a bit more intense than Rose anticipated. He doesn’t understand why the guardians aren’t acting on this info right away. They should go to Spokane and take care of the threat themselves! Rose disagrees. They’d need more people, planning, and info before it would even be a possibility.
Mason thinks she acts like Dimitri now, after being tutored by him. She’s gotten all serious and isn’t as much of a risk taker anymore—not like him.
Talking about the man she really desires but can’t be with is the last thing Rose wants right now, and it’s totally spoiling the mood. Before it’s spoiled too much, Mason shifts from discussing battle strategy to kissing her—definitely better, in Rose’s opinion. She channels her bad mood into passion and kisses him back—hard.
This is the distraction she needs. Attention from a guy who makes her feel amazing and desirable. Someone who isn’t wandering off to be with someone else just so he doesn’t break any stupid rules.
But despite herself, Rose finds herself thinking longingly about the time she and Dimitri almost went all the way. Sure, it was only thanks to Victor Dashkov’s charmed necklace, but still, she knows deep down there was something more there. Mason doesn’t understand when she pulls away, but she knows she can’t go further with him while desperately wishing she was with someone else.