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although those guys usually went on to marry Moroi women. That left a lot of single dhampir<br />
mothers, but we were tough and could handle it.<br />
However, many dhampir mothers chose not to become guardians in order to raise their children.<br />
These women sometimes worked "regular" jobs with Moroi or humans; some of them lived<br />
together in communities. These communities had a bad reputation. I don't know how much of it<br />
was true, but rumors said Moroi men visited all the time for sex. and that some dhampir women<br />
let them drink blood while doing it. Blood whores.<br />
Regardless, almost all guardians were men, which meant there were a lot more Moroi than<br />
guardians. Most dhampir guys accepted that they wouldn't have kids. They knew it was their<br />
job to protect Moroi while their sisters and cousins had babies.<br />
Some dhampir women, like my mother, still felt it was their duty to become guardians—even if<br />
it meant not raising their own kids. After I'd been born, she'd handed me over to be raised by<br />
Moroi. Moroi and dhampirs start school pretty young, and the Academy had essentially taken<br />
over as my parent by the time I was four.<br />
Between her example and my life at the Academy, I believed wholeheartedly that it was a<br />
dhampir's job to protect Moroi. It was part of our heritage, and it was the only way we'd keep<br />
going. It was that simple.<br />
And that was what made what the Badicas' guardian had done so shocking. He'd abandoned his<br />
Moroi and run off with another guardian, which meant she'd abandoned her Moroi. They<br />
couldn't even have children together, and now two families were unprotected. What was the<br />
point? No one cared if teenage dhampirs dated or if adult dhampirs had flings. But a long-term<br />
relationship? Particularly one that involved them running away? A complete waste. And a<br />
disgrace.<br />
After a little more speculation on the Badicas, Lissa and I left Aaron. As we stepped outside, I<br />
heard a funny shifting sound and then something sliding. Too late, I realized what was<br />
happening, just as a pile of slush slid off the chapel's roof and onto us. It was early October, and<br />
we'd had early snow last night that had started melting almost immediately. As a result, the<br />
stuff that fell on us was very wet and very cold.
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