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who want to go. With everyone in one spot, they're going to have a ton of guardians to protect<br />
the place, so it'll be totally safe."<br />
"You can't be serious," I said. We reached the gym and stepped inside out of the cold.<br />
Mason nodded eagerly. "It's true. The place is supposed to be amazing." He gave me the grin<br />
that always made me smile in return. "We're going to live like royalty, Rose. At least for a week<br />
or so. We take off the day after Christmas."<br />
I stood there, both excited and stunned. I hadn't seen this coming. It really was a brilliant idea,<br />
one that let families reunite safely. And what a reunion spot! A royal ski lodge. I'd expected to<br />
spend most of my holiday break hanging out here and watching TV with Lissa and Christian.<br />
Now I'd be living it up in five-star accommodations. Lobster dinners. Massages. Cute ski<br />
instructors …<br />
Mason's enthusiasm was contagious. I could feel it welling up in me, and then, suddenly, it<br />
slammed to a halt.<br />
Studying my face, he saw the change right away. "What's wrong? This is cool."<br />
"It is," I admitted. "And I get why everyone's excited, but the reason we're getting to go to this<br />
fancy place is because, well, because people are dead. I mean, doesn't this all seem weird?"<br />
Mason's cheery expression sobered a little. "Yeah, but we're alive, Rose. We can't stop living<br />
because other people are dead. And we have to make sure more people don't die. That's why<br />
this place is such a great idea. It's safe." His eyes turned stormy. "God, I can't wait until we're<br />
out of here in the field. After hearing about what happened, I just want to go tear apart some<br />
Strigoi. I wish we could go now, you know? There's no reason. They could use the extra help,<br />
and we pretty much know everything we need to."<br />
The fierceness in his voice reminded me of my outburst yesterday, though he wasn't quite as<br />
worked up as I'd been. His eagerness to act was impetuous and naïve, whereas mine had been<br />
born out of some weird, dark irrationality I still didn't entirely understand.<br />
When I didn't respond, Mason gave me a puzzled look. "Don't you want to?"
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