"Losing Priscilla is something I'll feel for a very, very long time," Tatiana managed at last. Her sharp eyes were on me. "And I hope you really do understand how much we need and value you and all the other guardians. I know sometimes your race feels underappreciated. You aren't. Those who died have left a gaping hole in our ranks, one that leaves us even more undefended, as I'm sure you must know."
I nodded, still surprised Tatiana wasn't shrieking for me to get out. "It's a big loss," I said. "And it makes the situation worse because numbers are what harm us half the time--especially when the Strigoi form large groups. We can't always match that."
Tatiana nodded, seeming pleasantly surprised we'd agreed on something. That made two of us. "I knew you'd understand. Nonetheless..." She turned toward Adrian. "You shouldn't have done this. Some lines of propriety need to be maintained."
Adrian was surprisingly meek. "Sorry, Aunt Tatiana. I just thought it was something Rose should see."
"You'll keep this to yourself, won't you?" asked Daniella, turning back to me. "A lot of the guests are very, very conservative. They wouldn't want this getting out."
That they met by firelight and played dress-up? Yeah, I could see them wanting that kept a secret.
"I won't tell anyone," I assured them.
"Good," said Tatiana. "Now, you should still probably leave before--is that Christian Ozera?" Her eyes had drifted back toward the crowded room.
"Yes," both Adrian and I said.
"He didn't get an invitation," exclaimed Daniella. "Is that your fault too?"
"It's not my fault so much as my genius," said Adrian.
"I doubt anyone will know, so long as he behaves himself," said Tatiana with a sigh. "And I'm sure he'd take any opportunity he can to talk to Vasilisa."
"Oh," I said, without thinking. "That's not Lissa." Lissa had actually turned her back toward Christian and was speaking to someone else while casting anxious looks out the door at me.
"Who is it?" asked Tatiana.
Crap. "That's, um, Mia Rinaldi. She's a friend of ours from St. Vladimir's." I'd almost considered lying and giving her a royal name. Some families were so big that it was impossible to keep track of everyone.
"Rinaldi." Tatiana frowned. "I think I know a servant with that name." I was actually pretty impressed that she knew the people who worked for her. Yet again, my opinion of her shifted.
"A servant?" asked Daniella, giving her son a warning look. "Is there anyone else I should know about?"
"No. If I'd had more time, I probably could have got Eddie here. Hell, maybe even Jailbait."
Daniella looked scandalized. "Did you just say Jailbait?"
"It's just a joke," I said hastily, not wanting to make this situation worse. I was afraid of how Adrian might answer. "It's what we sometimes call our friend Jill Mastrano."
Neither Tatiana nor Daniella seemed to think that was a joke at all.
"Well, no one seems to realize they don't belong," said Daniella, nodding toward Christian and Mia. "Though the gossips here will no doubt be running wild with how Rose interrupted this event."
"Sorry," I said, feeling bad that I might have gotten her in trouble.
"Nothing to be done for it now," said Tatiana wearily. "You should leave now so that everyone thinks you were severely chastised. Adrian, you come back with us and make sure your other 'guests' don't raise any attention. And do not do something like this again."
"I won't," he said, almost convincingly.
The three began to turn away, leaving me to skulk off, but Tatiana paused and glanced back. "Wrong or not, don't forget what you saw here. We really do need guardians."
I nodded, a flush of pride running through me at her acknowledgment. Then she and the others returned to the room. I watched them wistfully, hating that everyone in there thought I'd been kicked out in disgrace. Considering it could have gone a lot worse for me, I decided to count my blessings. I removed the mask, having nothing more to hide, and made the trek back upstairs and outdoors.
I hadn't gotten very far when someone stepped out in front of me. It was a sign of my preoccupation that I nearly leapt ten feet in the air.
"Mikhail," I exclaimed. "You scared me half to death. What are you doing out here?"
"Actually, I've been looking for you." There was an anxious, nervous look about him. "I went by your building earlier, but you weren't around."
"Yeah, I was at the Masquerade of the Damned."
He stared at me blankly.
"Never mind. What's up?"
"I think we might have a chance."
"Chance for what?"
"I heard you tried to see Dimitri today."
Ah, yes. The topic I definitely wanted to think more about. "Yeah. 'Try' is pretty optimistic. He doesn't want to see me, never mind the army of guardians blocking me out."
Mikhail shifted uncomfortably, peering around like a frightened animal. "That's why I came to find you."
"Okay, I'm really not following any of this." I was also starting to get a headache from the wine.
Mikhail took a deep breath and exhaled. "I think I can sneak you in to see him."
I waited for a moment, wondering if there was a punch line coming or if maybe this was all some delusion born out of my wound-up emotions. Nope. Mikhail's face was deadly serious, and while I still didn't know him that well, I'd picked up enough to realize he didn't really joke around.
"How?" I asked. "I tried and--"
Mikhail beckoned for me to follow. "Come on, and I'll explain. We don't have much time."
I wasn't about to waste this chance and hurried after him. "Has something happened?" I asked, once I'd caught up to his longer stride. "Did... did he ask for me?" It was more than I dared to hope for. Mikhail's use of the word sneak didn't really support that idea anyway.
"They've lightened his guard," Mikhail explained.
"Really? How many?" There had been about a dozen down there when Lissa visited, including her escort. If they'd come to their senses and realized they only needed a guy or two on Dimitri, then that boded well for everyone accepting that he was no longer Strigoi.
"He's down to about five."
"Oh." Not great. Not horrible. "But I guess even that means they're a little closer to believing he's safe now?"
Mikhail shrugged, keeping his eyes on the path ahead of us. It had rained during the Death Watch, and the air, while still humid, had cooled a little. "Some of the guardians do. But it'll take a royal decree from the Council to officially declare what he is."