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area. The five of us sat down, huddling around its heat, and Tasha produced a bag of<br />
marshmallows that we cooked over the flames.<br />
As we feasted on that gooey goodness, Lissa and Christian talked to each other in that easy,<br />
comfortable way they always had. To my surprise, Tasha and Dimitri also talked in a familiar<br />
and light way. They obviously knew each other from way back when. I'd actually never seen<br />
him so animated before. Even when affectionate with me, there'd always been a serious air<br />
about him. With Tasha, he bantered and laughed.<br />
The more I listened to her, the more I liked her. Finally, unable to stay out of the conversation, I<br />
asked, "So are you coming on the ski trip?"<br />
She nodded. Stifling a yawn, she stretched herself out like a cat. "I haven't been skiing in ages.<br />
No time. Been saving all my vacation for this."<br />
"Vacation?" I gave her a curious look. "Do you have…a job?"<br />
"Sadly, yes," Tasha said, though she didn't actually sound very sad about it. "I teach martial arts<br />
classes."<br />
I stared in astonishment. I couldn't have been more surprised if she'd said she was an astronaut<br />
or a telephone psychic.<br />
A lot of royals just didn't work at all, and if they did, it was usually in some sort of investment<br />
or other moneymaking business that furthered their family fortunes. And those who did work<br />
certainly didn't do a lot of martial arts or physically demanding jobs. Moroi had a lot of great<br />
attributes: exceptional senses—smell, sight, and hearing—and the power to work magic. But<br />
physically, they were tall and slender, often small-boned. They also got weak from being in<br />
sunlight. Now, those things weren't enough to prevent someone from becoming a fighter, but<br />
they did make it more challenging. An idea had built up among the Moroi over time that their<br />
best offense was a good defense, and most shied away from the thought of physical conflict.<br />
They hid in well-protected places like the Academy, always relying on stronger, hardier<br />
dhampirs to guard them.<br />
"What do you think, Rose?" Christian seemed highly amused by my surprise. "Think you could<br />
take her?"
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