Vampire Academy: The Ultimate Guide by Richelle Mead, Michelle Rowen

Dimitri in person. The question is, what does he want from them? But Victor really isn’t interested in petty things like revenge. He has his sights set on higher aspirations: revolution. There’s been a lot of unrest building in the Moroi community, with people clamoring for a more forward-thinking government. And Victor would think that Rose of all people would be interested in overthrowing a government that holds on to archaic traditions like the virtual enslavement of the dhampir race. He even believes there’s someone she knows who would be the perfect person to spearhead this revolution—Lissa. With her compulsion and spirit magic, nothing would be impossible if she was in a position of power.
    The conversation ends when Victor threatens to discuss Dimitri and Rose’s relationship, especially pertaining to the lust charm, and the normally controlled Dimitri offers up his own veiled threats. If Victor tries to ruin Rose, he’s ruining his chance to get Lissa to help him with his rebellion fantasies.
    “And it’ll all be pointless anyway, because you won’t stay alive long enough in prison to stage your grand plans. You aren’t the only one with connections.”
    My breath caught a little. Dimitri brought so many things to my life: love, comfort, and instruction. I got so used to him sometimes that I forgot just how dangerous he could be. As he stood there, tall and threatening while he glared down at Victor, I felt a chill run down my spine. I remembered how when I had first come to the Academy, people had said Dimitri was a god. In this moment, he looked it.
    —page 188
     
     
    When they leave, Dimitri seems shaken by the confrontation. Rose wonders if he meant what he said. Would he really have Victor killed?
    “I ’d do a lot of things to protect you, Roza.”
    My heart pounded. He only used “Roza” when he was feeling particularly affectionate toward me.
    —page 189
     
     

THE TRIAL
     
    When Victor is brought into the courtroom the next day, Rose can feel Lissa’s fear through the bond. It’s the first time her friend has seen the man since he kidnapped her and forced her to heal him with spirit.
    Witnesses are called to testify against Victor, including Dimitri. The tense part is when he speaks about the lust charm—after all, he can’t exactly admit the lust part. Instead, he says the charm made Rose attack him (not that far from the truth, really), which delayed them from getting help for Lissa. It’s obvious to Rose that lying on the stand is difficult for Dimitri, but there’s no way around it.
    After Christian testifies, it’s Rose’s turn. She does her best to brush over the “attack” charm and tries to ignore Victor’s knowing smirk.
    Lissa’s account as Victor’s victim is the most moving—and she even works in a little spirit-induced charisma to gain everyone’s sympathy as she painfully relates how she was tortured by Victor’s henchman.
    Victor takes the stand as if he doesn’t have a care in the world. His defense is that he was dying and felt he had no choice but to use Lissa’s magic to heal him. Worst of all, he takes no responsibility for convincing his own daughter Natalie to turn Strigoi to rescue him. As he says, Natalie made her own decisions, ones that ultimately led to her death.
    “Can you say that about everyone you used to meet your ends? Guardian Belikov and Miss Hathaway had no say in what you made them do.”
    Victor chuckled. “Well, that’s a matter of opinion. I honestly don’t think they minded. But if you have time after this case, Your Honor, you might want to consider trying a statutory rape case.”
    —page 199
     
     
    Rose is stunned, but luckily, no one believes him, thinking he’s just trying to shift focus off himself. Looks like he’d just wanted to tease them. Evil jerk.
    The queen delivers her verdict: Victor’s found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Finally, Lissa can move on from her ordeal and feel safe again.
    Adrian