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I honestly couldn't believe we were having this conversation on Christmas. Her presence had<br />
soured everything. Fortunately, the gathering eventually dispersed. Christian and Lissa went off<br />
to do their own thing, and Dimitri and Tasha apparently had more catching up to do. Mason and<br />
I were well on our way to the dhampir dorm when my mother joined us.<br />
None of us said anything. Stars cluttered the black sky, sharp and bright, their glitter matched in<br />
the ice and snow around us. I wore my ivory parka with fake fur trimming. It did a good job<br />
keeping my body warm, even though it did nothing against the chilly gusts that seared my face.<br />
The whole time we walked, I kept expecting my mother to turn off toward the other guardian<br />
areas, but she came right inside the dorm with us.<br />
"I've been wanting to talk to you," she finally said. My alarms clicked on. What had I done<br />
now?<br />
That was all she said, but Mason picked up on the hint immediately. He was neither stupid nor<br />
oblivious to social cues, though at that moment, I kind of wished he was. I also found it ironic<br />
that he wanted to fight every Strigoi in the world but was afraid of my mother.<br />
He glanced at me apologetically, shrugged, and said, "Hey, I've got to get, um, somewhere. I'll<br />
see you later."<br />
I watched with regret as he left, wishing I could run after him. Probably my mom would only<br />
tackle me and punch my other eye if I tried to escape. Better to do things her way and get this<br />
over with. Shifting uncomfortably, I looked everywhere but at her and waited for her to speak.<br />
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a few people glancing over at us. Recalling how<br />
everyone in the world seemed to know about her giving me the black eye, I suddenly decided I<br />
didn't want witnesses around for whatever lecture she was about to unleash on me.<br />
"You want to, um, go to my room?" I asked.<br />
She looked surprised, almost uncertain. "Sure."<br />
I led her upstairs, keeping a safe distance away as we walked. Awkward tension built between<br />
us. She didn't say anything when we reached my room, but I saw her examine every detail<br />
carefully, as though a Strigoi might be lurking in there. I sat on the bed and waited while she
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