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He shook his head. "The guardians who came to kill them. I mean, my parents were scary,<br />
yeah, but they still looked like my parents—a little paler, I guess. Some red in their eyes. But<br />
they walked and talked the same way. I didn't know anything was wrong with them, but my<br />
aunt did. She was watching me when they came for me.”<br />
"Were they going to convert you?" I'd forgotten my original mission here, too caught up in the<br />
story. "You were really little.”<br />
"I think they were going to keep me until I was older, then turn me. Aunt Tasha wouldn't let<br />
them take me. They tried to reason with her, convert her too, but when she wouldn't listen, they<br />
tried to take her by force. She fought them—got really messed up—and then the guardians<br />
showed up." His eyes drifted back to me. He smiled, but there was no happiness in it. "Like I<br />
said, an army of Death. I think you're crazy, Rose, but if you turn out like the rest of them,<br />
you're going to be able to do some serious damage one day. Even I won't mess with you.”<br />
I felt horrible. He'd had a miserable life, and I'd taken away one of the few good things in it.<br />
"Christian, I'm sorry for screwing things up between you and Lissa. It was stupid. She wanted<br />
to be with you. I think she still does now. If you could just—”<br />
"I told you, I can't.”<br />
"I'm worried about her. She's into all this royal stuff because she thinks it's going to get back at<br />
Mia—she's doing it for me.”<br />
"And you aren't grateful?" The sarcasm returned.<br />
"I'm worried. She can't handle playing all these catty political games. It isn't good for her, but<br />
she won't listen to me. I could…I could use help.”<br />
"She could use help. Hey, don't look so surprised—I know there's something funny going on<br />
with her. And I'm not even talking about the wrist thing.”<br />
I jumped. "Did she tell you?…" Why not? She'd told him everything else.<br />
"She didn't need to," he said. "I've got eyes." I must have looked pathetic, because he sighed<br />
and ran a hand through his hair. "Look, if I catch Lissa alone…I'll try to talk to her. But<br />
honestly…if you really want to help her…well, I know I'm supposed to be all anti-
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