richellemead-vampireacademy01-vampireacademy-110824015328-phpapp02

"This is from Prince Victor.”
Surprised that Victor would have given me anything, I read the note. It was just a few lines,
hastily scrawled in pen.
Rose—
I'm very happy to see you didn't suffer any serious injuries from your fall. Truly, it is a miracle.
You lead a charmed life, and Vasilisa is lucky to have you.
"That's nice of him," I said, opening the box. Then I saw what was inside. "Whoa. Very nice.”
It was the rose necklace, the one Lissa had wanted to get me but couldn't afford. I held it up,
looping its chain over my hand so the glittering, diamond-covered rose hung free.
"This is pretty extreme for a get-well present," I noted, recalling the price.
"He actually bought it in honor of you doing so well on your first day as an official guardian.
He saw you and Lissa looking at it.”
"Wow." It was all I could say. "I don't think I did that good of a job.”
"I do.”
Grinning, I placed the necklace back in the box and set it on a nearby table. "You did say
'presents,' right? Like more than one?”
He laughed outright, and the sound wrapped around me like a caress. God, I loved the sound of
his laugh. "This is from me.”
He handed me a small, plain bag. Puzzled and excited, I opened it up. Lip gloss, the kind I
liked. I'd complained to him a number of times how I was running out, but I'd never thought he
was paying attention.