Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy 6)

"Don't worry about it,' said Eddie with a small smile. "Everything'll be okay. Just look after yourself.' Lissa hesitated, despite Christian tugging her arm to go. Although all accounts said Eddie had defended Lissa's life, he'd still killed a Moroi. That wouldn't be taken lightly. The guardians had to be 100 percent convinced he'd had no other choice before they'd release him. Seeing the strong, calm look on his face, Lissa knew he was prepared to handle whatever came.

"Thank you,' she said, walking past him. "Thank you for saving me.'

His answer was a slight nod, and Lissa stepped into the hallway--to find herself in more chaos.

"Where are they? I insist on--ah.'

My friends and the Alchemists had been heading toward the exit while a group of guardians escorted them. Meanwhile, someone had entered the hall and was now being stopped and challenged by the guardians. It was Abe.

He took in every piece of the bizarre scenario in less than a heartbeat, his eyes passing over Sydney and the Alchemists as though he'd never seen them before. Through Lissa's eyes, I saw Sydney blanch, but nobody else noticed. Abe smiled at Lissa and sidled up to walk out with her.

"There you are. They want you for the last monarch test.'

"And they sent you?' asked Christian skeptically.

"Well, I volunteered,' replied Abe. "I'd heard there was some, er, excitement. Murder, fanatical religious humans, interrogations. All things I'm interested in, you know.'

Lissa rolled her eyes but said nothing until the whole group emerged from the building. The Alchemists and their unwelcome escort went one way while Lissa and our friends went the other. Lissa longed to glance at Sydney and Ian--I did too--but knew it was best to keep moving forward and follow Abe's lead, particularly since some of those guardians were watching more than just the Alchemists.

As soon as Lissa's group was far enough away from the authorities, Abe's amiable smile vanished, and he turned on my friends. "What the hell happened? I've heard all sorts of crazy stories. Someone said you were dead.'

"Nearly,' said Lissa. She told him about the attack, expressing her fear over Eddie.

"He'll be fine,' said Abe dismissively. "They have nothing to hold him on. The worst he'll get is a mark on his record.'

Lissa was relieved by Abe's easy assurance, but I still felt guilty. Thanks to me, Eddie's record was already marred. His sterling reputation was declining on a daily basis.

"That was Sydney Sage,' said Lissa. "I thought they were all in West Virginia. Why isn't she with Rose?'

"That,' said Abe darkly, "is an excellent question.'

"Because they were apparently kidnapping Jill Mastrano in Detroit,' said Christian. "Which is weird. But not the craziest thing I can think of Rose doing.' I appreciated the support.

Abe got a recap of this new development too, at least as much as my friends knew of it--which was only a fraction of the whole story. Abe picked up immediately that he'd been played, and it was obvious from his angry expression that he didn't like being kept in the dark. Welcome to the club, old man, I thought with small satisfaction. I hadn't forgotten how no one had filled me in on the escape plan. My smugness was short-lived because I was worried about what would happen to Sydney, now that Abe was on to her.

"That girl was lying to me,' he growled. "Every day, all these reports about how quiet and boring it was in West Virginia. I wonder if they even made it to that town. I have to go talk to her.'

"Good luck,' said Adrian, pulling a cigarette out and lighting it. Apparently, in my absence, the dating contract he'd jokingly made up that said he would "cut back' on his vices didn't apply. "I don't think her cronies or the guardians are going to let you near her.'

"Oh, I'll get to her,' said Abe. "She's got a lot of answers. If she hid them from those other idiots, then good for her. But she's going to tell me.'

A sudden thought sparked into Lissa's mind. "You have to talk to Ian. That guy with the Alchemists. He knows the man in the picture--er, I mean, the guy Eddie killed.'

"You're certain?' asked Abe.

"Yes,' said Adrian, surprising them all. "Ian definitely had a reaction. He's also got a crush on that Sydney girl.'

"I saw that too,' said Lissa.

"She seems kind of uptight.' Adrian frowned. "But maybe their kind go for that.'

"That crush might actually be useful,' mused Abe. "You women don't know the power you wield. Have you seen that guardian your aunt's dating? Ethan Moore?'

"Yes,' groaned Christian. "Don't remind me.'

"Tasha is pretty hot, though,' noted Adrian.

"That is not cool,' said Christian.

"Don't get so huffy,' said Abe. "Ethan's a palace guard. He was there the night of the murder--which could be very useful to us if she can keep him interested.'

Christian shook his head. "Those guards already testified. It won't matter. Ethan's told what he knows.'

"I'm not so sure,' said Abe. "There are always things that occur off the official record, and I'm positive the guards were all debriefed with strict orders on what to reveal and not to reveal. Your aunt might be charming enough to find out something for us.' Abe sighed, still looking very unhappy at the sudden upsetting of his orderly plans. "If only Sydney had been charming enough to talk her way out of that interrogation so that I could go interrogate her. Now I've got to break through those Alchemists and the guardians to get to her and figure out where Rose is. Oh, and you do actually have to go to your test, princess.'

"I thought that was just a line you used to find me,' Lissa said.

"No, they want you.' He gave her directions to the test. It was in the building she'd had the second test in. "All of you go together and then get a guardian to walk you back. Don't leave your room until Janine or Tad come by.' Tad was one of Abe's henchmen. "No more surprise attacks.'

Lissa wanted to argue that she most certainly wasn't going to put herself under house arrest but decided it was best to just let Abe go for now. He hurried off, still radiating agitation, and she and the guys turned toward the testing site.

"Boy, is he pissed,' said Adrian. "Do you blame him?' asked Christian. "He just lost membership in the evil mastermind club. His brilliant plan fell apart, and now his daughter's missing when he thought she was somewhere safe.'

Adrian stayed pointedly silent.

"I hope she's okay,' sighed Lissa, a knot forming in her stomach. "And what in the world does Jill have to do with any of this?'

Nobody had an answer for that one. When they reached the testing site, Lissa found a situation almost identical to before. Lots of spectators lining the hall. Guardians blocking the door. More people than ever were cheering her name as she approached, some who were "common' Moroi and others who were royals whose candidates were out of the running. A number of nominees hadn't passed the fear test, so those families had switched their loyalties.