"You'reroyal too, " I said, more to myself than him. I kept forgetting the Ozeras were one of the twelve families.

"Doesn't mean much in a family full of Strigoi, huh?"

"Butyou're not-wait. That's why she connects to you, " I realized with a start.

"Because I'm going to become a Strigoi? " he asked snidely.

"No…because you lost your parents too. Both of you saw them die."

"She saw hers die. I saw mine murdered."

I flinched. "I know. I'm sorry, it must have been…well, I don't have any idea what it was like."

Those crystal-blue eyes went unfocused. "It was like seeing an army of Deathinvade my house."

"You mean…your parents?"

He shook his head. "The guardians who came to kill them. I mean, my parents were scary, yeah, but they still looked like my parents-a little paler, I guess.Some red in their eyes. But they walked and talked the same way. I didn't know anything was wrong with them, but my aunt did. She was watching me when they came for me."

"Were they going to convert you? " I'd forgotten my original mission here, too caught up in the story.

"You were really little."

"I think they were going to keep me until I was older,then turn me. Aunt Tasha wouldn't let them take me. They tried to reason with her, convert her too, but when she wouldn't listen, they tried to take her by force. She fought them-got really messed up-and then the guardians showed up. " His eyes drifted back to me. He smiled, but there was no happiness in it. "Like Isaid, an army of Death. I think you're crazy, Rose, but if you turn out like the rest of them, you're going to be able to do some serious damage one day. Even I won't mess with you."

I felt horrible. He'd had a miserable life, and I'd taken away one of the few good things in it. "Christian, I'm sorry for screwing things up between you and Lisa. It was stupid. She wanted to be with you. I think she still does now. If you could just-"

"I told you, I can't."

"I'm worried about her. She's into all this royal stuff because she thinks it's going to get back at Mia-she's doing it for me."

"And you aren't grateful? " The sarcasm returned.

"I'm worried. She can't handle playing all these catty political games. It isn't good for her, but she won't listen to me. I could…I could use help."

"Shecould use help. Hey, don't look so surprised-I know there's something funny going on with her.

And I'm not even talking about the wrist thing."

I jumped. "Did she tell you?… " Why not? She'd told him everything else.

"She didn't need to, " he said. "I've got eyes. " I must have looked pathetic, because he sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, if I catch Lisa alone…I'll try to talk to her. But honestly…if you really want to help her…well, I know I'm supposed to be all anti-establishment, but you might get the best help talking to somebody else.Kirova.Your guardian guy. I don't know.Someone who knows something.

Someone you trust."

"Lisa wouldn't like that. " I considered. "Neither would I."

"Yeah, well, we all have to do things we don't like. That's life."

My snarky switch flipped on. "What are you, an after-school special?"

A ghostly smile flickered across his face. "If you weren't so psychotic, you'd be fun to hang around."

"Funny, I feel that way about you too."

He didn't say anything else, but the smile grew, and he walked away.

CHAPTER 17

Afew days later, Lisa found me outside the commons and delivered the most astonishing news.

"Uncle Victor's getting Natalie off campus this weekend to go shopping inMissoula.For the dance. They said I could come along."

I didn't say anything. She looked surprised at my silence.

"Isn't that cool?"

"Foryou, I guess. No malls or dances in my future."

She smiled excitedly. "He told Natalie she could bring two other people besides me. I convinced her to bring you and Camille."

I threw up my hands. "Well, thanks, but I'm not even supposed to go to the library after school. No one's going to let me go toMissoula."

"Uncle Victor thinks he can get Headmistress Kirova to let you go. Dimitri's trying too."

"Dimitri?"

"Yeah.He has to go with me if I leave campus. " She grinned, taking my interest in Dimitri as interest in the mall. "They figured out my account finally-I got my allowance back. So we can buy other stuff along with dresses. And you know if they let you go to the mall, they'll have to let you go to the dance."

"Do we go to dances now? " I said. We never had before.School-sponsored social events? No way.

"Of course not.But you know there'll be all kinds of secret parties. We'll start at the dance and sneak off. " She sighed happily. "Mia's so jealous she can barely stand it."

She went on about all the stores we'd go to, all the things we'd buy. I admit,I was kind of excited at the thought of getting some new clothes, but I doubted I'd actually get this mythical release.

"Oh hey, " she said excitedly. "You should see these shoes Camille let me borrow. I never knew we wore the same size. Hang on. " She opened her backpack and began rifling through it.

Suddenly, she screamed and threw it down. Books and shoes spilled out. So did a dead dove.

It was one of the pale brown mourning doves that sat on wires along the freeway and under trees on campus. It had so much blood on it that I couldn't figure out where the wound was. Who knew

something so small even had that much blood? Regardless, the bird was definitely dead.

Covering her mouth, Lisa stared wordlessly, eyes wide.

"Son of a bitch, " I swore. Without hesitating, I grabbed a stick and pushed the little feathered body aside. When it was out of the way, I started shoving her stuff back into the backpack, trying not to think about dead-bird germs. "Why the hell does this keep-Lis'!"

I leapt over and grabbed her, pulling her away. She had been kneeling on the ground, with her hand outstretched to the dove. I don't think she'd even realized what she was about to do. The instinct in her was sostrong, it acted on its own.

«Lisa,» I said, tightening my hand around hers. She was still leaning toward the bird. "Don't. Don't do it."

"I can save it."

"No, you can't. You promised, remember? Some things have to stay dead. Let this one go. " Still feeling her tension, I pleaded. "Please, Lis'. You promised. No more healings. You said you wouldn't. You promised me."

After a few more moments, I felt her hand relax and her body slump against mine. "I hate this, Rose. I hate all of this."

Natalie walked outside then, oblivious to the gruesome sight awaiting her.

"Hey, do you guys-oh my God! " she squealed, seeing the dove. "What is that?"

I helped Lisa as we rose to our feet. "Another, um, prank."

"Is it…dead? " She scrunched up her face in disgust.

«Yes,» I said firmly.

Natalie, picking up on our tension, looked between the two of us. "What else is wrong?"

"Nothing. "I handed Lisa her backpack. "This is just someone's stupid, sick joke, and I'm going to tell Kirova so they can clean this up."

Natalie turned away, looking a little green. "Why do people keep doing this to you? It's horrible."

Lisa and I exchanged looks.

"I have no idea, " I said. Yet as I walked to Kirova's office, I started to wonder.

When we'd found the fox, Lisa had hinted that someone must know about the raven. I hadn't believed that. We'd been alone in the woods that night, and Ms. Karp wouldn't have told anyone. But what if someone actually had seen? What if someone kept doing this not to scare her, but to see if she'd heal again? What had the rabbit note said?Iknow what you are.

I didn't mention any of this to Lisa; I figured there were only so many of my conspiracy theories she could handle. Besides, when I saw her the next day, she'd practically forgotten the dove in light of other news: Kirova had given me permission to go on the trip that weekend. The prospect of shopping can brighten a lot of dark situations-even animal murder-and I put my own worries on hold.