richellemead-vampireacademy01-vampireacademy-110824015328-phpapp02

"Then don't feel bad about not getting involved," Natalie said. “I don't hang out with all those
people either, and look at me. I'm just fine. Daddy says he doesn't care if I hang out with the
royals or not. He just wants me to be happy.”
"And that," I said, finally making my appearance, "is why he should be ruling instead of that
bitch of a queen. He got robbed.”
Natalie nearly jumped ten feet. I felt pretty confident her vocabulary of swear words mostly
consisted of "golly" and "darn.”
"I wondered where you were," said Lissa.
Natalie looked back and forth between us, suddenly seeming a little embarrassed to be right
between the best-friends dream team. She shifted uncomfortably and tucked some messy hair
behind her ear. "Well…I should go find Daddy. I'll see you back in the room.”
"See you," said Lissa. "And thanks.”
Natalie hurried off.
"Does she really call him 'Daddy'?”
Lissa cut me a look. "Leave her alone. She's nice.”
"She is, actually. I heard what she said, and as much as I hate to admit it, there was nothing
there I could really make fun of. It was all true." I paused. "I'll kill her, you know. The queen,
not Natalie. Screw the guardians. I'll do it. She can't get away with that.”
"God, Rose! Don't say that. They'll arrest you for treason. Just let it go.”
"Let it go? After what she said to you? In front of everyone?”
She didn't answer or even look at me. Instead, she toyed absentmindedly with the branches of a
scraggly bush that had gone dormant for the winter. There was a vulnerable look about her that
I recognized—and feared.
"Hey." I lowered my voice. "Don't look like that. She doesn't know what she's talking about,
okay? Don't let this get you down. Don't do anything you shouldn't.”