Chapter 1 Request
"Guardian Belikov, we have had this conversation before, " Alberta said, clearly full of agitation. "I don't understand why you continue to make this request. I was under the impression that you were very fond of Princess Dragomir."
"I am, but –" What can I possibly tell her that will convince her that I need to be reassigned? Guardian Petrov, I'm in love with Rosemarie Hathaway and I am afraid that if Lissa and Rose are attacked by Strigoi, I will save Rose and let Lissa fend for herself.
Rose has already been put through enough since she returned by Mia and her cronies, as well as Mason's death and now her apparent mistake this afternoon, she doesn't need to have rumors spreading about her and her mentor too.
"The only way that Princess Dragomir will receive an alternate guardian is if either you or Novice Hathaway are unavailable. And if this bizarre behavior of Rose's continues, that just might happen--regardless of her molnija marks."
Obviously, this conversation was over.
I left Alberta's office, feeling just as hopeless as I had the first time we had had this conversation. I had just left Rose at the medical clinic for the third time in two months. While the first two visits were minor, the last made me realize that I couldn't deny my feelings for her any longer. As soon as I realized there was a Strigoi on the grounds, I rushed to find her. To my surprise Natalie had nearly finished Rose off. She was in a heap on the floor, struggling to remain conscious. The sight of her lying like that caused a fury to run through me. I staked Natalie in record time, and rushed over to check on Rose. As I carried Rose to the medical clinic I was so frantic to keep her awake, that I admitted how much I wanted her and why I tried so hard to fight it. I could see the hurt on her face and it pained me to know that I had caused that, and at that moment I realized that it was too late. I had already let myself fall in love with her. There was no way I could continue to be Lissa's guardian.
Rose comes first, no matter how hard I continue to try to fight it, I can't.
