Rose looked around contentedly, taking in the peaceful atmosphere of the antique book store that had become her home since fleeing the academy two years ago. She was happy here. There was never "they come first", here the moroi did not exist; here she came first. Rose Hathaway had a life, choices. Something most dhampir would never know.
Loving arms pulled her from her reflection.
"What are you thinkin' bout, sugar?" Logan was a classic charming southern man, pet names included. His parents owned the book store and had taken in Rose as a part of the family, giving her a job and a place to stay until she was on her own two feet.
"Food," Rose giggled. She hated to lie to him, but he would never understand the truth. She liked him, more than she ever thought she would, and staring into those adoring blue eyes she wished she could be normal for him. A human girl with a human boy that had a human family, untouched by the evils of the vampire world. But that would never happen. So instead, Rose snuggled deeper into Logan's embrace, letting his heartbeat soothe her.
Ding. The bell above the stores door signaled a customer. Looking up Rose made eye contact with a guardian. This man was a mountain, easily 6'5" and enough muscles to make The Rock envious. Fuck. She had nowhere to run and Logan still attached to her hip. She sighed, looked like she was going to have to try to play her way out of this one.
"All books are buy one get one half off on the back shelf," she called out to the man, putting on her killer smile, "just let me know if I can help you find anything!"
The Mt. Everest of a man smiled sheepishly, "I was actually wondering if you have any good westerns?"
"Sure thing, we actually have a few full series over here." Outwardly she was calm and friendly, but inside she was cursing herself for not bringing her stakes today. She always carried a variety of weapons, but knives against a huge guardian and his stakes was not going to end well.
Reaching the shelves of westerns she gestured him to it and went to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.
"Rose Hathaway."
"You have to the count of three before I shove this knife where the sun don't shine."
Looking down he noticed the knife in her hand and let her go, but he didn't step away.
"Hathaway, I'm trying to be civil with you. They've sent a team to get you to return..by any means necessary. It is absolutely imperative that we talk."
She really had no choice but to hear him out, and that pissed her off even more. Secretly though, she was curious as to what was going on. It had been a while since she heard from Lissa.
"What's your name, since you obviously know mine," she asked, with every bit of attitude and annoyance she felt.
"Belikov. Dimitri Belikov."
She had heard of him, I mean, the man was a legend. Practically a god amongst guardians, but she gave no signs of recognition.
"Well Belikov, let's talk."