here it is folks! the newest chapter! thank you to everyone who reviewed, read, followed and faved this story, it means so much to me :')

ENJOY! XX


It wasn't until we reached our next stop that I noticed that something was wrong with Mason, and even then it wasn't until he approached me and asked to talk, leading me away from the bus.

"Rose... can I ask you something? And you'll tell the truth, no matter what"

"What's going on Mase? You're scaring me?" he stared me straight in the face.

"Is there something going on between you and Dimitri?"

Rose POV

Shit. That was all I had to say for myself. Shit. That was it, all that was going around my mind what that word, along with a few of its close friends, 'mother fucker' 'Fuck' and 'tit munchers' where defiantly on the list.

"I have no idea what your talking about" I scoffed, attempting to bring my lying skills to the surface.

"You're lying."

"What makes you say that?"

"Because I know you, and you're staring at me too intently."

"It's complicated Mase." I said, letting out a large sigh.

"How'd it start?"

"We fell for each other during our training sessions. He's always resisted, and then once I almost killed Jesse, he gave in, and I slept with him. I thought that that would be it, that after the talk we had had, he'd cave and just be with me, to just love me, but no, he went back to being his stoic self, didn't even look at me for a fortnight! We're not together, not until I graduate anyway, and even then it will probably be a while until he admits his feelings for me again." A sob escaped my lips, Mason looked at me solemnly, and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry Rose."

"It's fine, I'll be fine." I walked away from him and back onto the bus, joining the others.

We joined a debate the others where having, what kinds of books where better; fantasy or westerns. Surprisingly Eddie was defending Dimitri's views on his beloved westerns, Mason and Adrian where rooting for fantasy's and I was watching amused.

"What about you, Rose?" Mason asked, his eyes begging me to join his side, whilst Eddie shot me his best.

"I don't read. Not even for school."

"how do you even pass your classes?!"

"Spark notes, they even have a super secret part for us and our books."

Dimitri let out a deep chuckle, the exact one he had used in the cabin as I withered beneath him, begging for more. I bit my lip and crossed my legs, his eyes twinkling as he took in the effect he had on me.

Urgh. Boys suck. Throw rocks at them.

That's what I would do if he weren't so godly. Damn him, damn him and his good looks to hell.

"You know, you might just surprise your self and enjoy a book if you read more than three pages." Dimitri said.

"You're right, Comrade. I did thoroughly enjoy 50 shades of grey" I said with a wink, his cocky smile faltered and I begun to laugh.

"I'm just kidding Comrade. Nothing would ever get me near that book." he was about to reply when an angry voice boomed towards us.

"WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM?!" my head whipped towards the voice to see a pissed off Christian glaring at a smirking at Adrian.

"Oh nothing, really."

"Then why the fuck have you been glaring at Lissa since this damn bus ride started?"

"I have my reasons" Adrian spat venomously, Lissa looked at him wide eyed, as if trying to figure out what she did wrong.

"why don't you share them then?"

"I'd rather not."

"I swear to god, Ivashkov." there was an angry aura surrounding his hands, evidence that he was about to use his magic. He was standing in front of Adrian.

"Stop." my voice held a tone of finality as I clambered over Dimitri, and stood between them, facing Christian.

"Rose," they both replied.

"No Adrian, drop it. Its not worth it."

"Not worth it? Not worth it?! Of course its worth it, the little slut deserves to know what she did! She deserves the pain that she's putting-" I cut him off.

"I said drop it." I growled, pushing Christian back into his seat, and ignoring her face.

"I'm sorry, Rose" his voice was barely a whisper, I pulled him into my arms as he continued to apologise, I knew it was the darkness playing up and reached into his bag, pulling out his flask and placing it at his lips. I continued to sit with him until all of the tension left him, signalling the darkness had burnt out. I quietly clambered back over Dimitri, ignoring the looks people where giving me.

"You know." Christian stated once we had arrived at the hotel, Lissa was off talking to a group of royals.

"Know what Christian? In case you haven't noticed I don't have time nor the patience for your shit."

"You know why Adrian has been glaring at Liss this whole trip" I scoffed.

"Of course I do."

"Then tell me!"

"No."

"And why not?"

"Simple. I don't want to."

"You're such a bitch! You know that?" I sat up straighter, Dimitri stiffened beside me.

"Shut the fuck up, Ozera." Mason growled

"Or you'll do what? I may come from a disgraced family, but I'm still a royal, and a Moroi. You cant do shit with out endangering yourself."

"You may be royal, but do you know where a Dhampir at the academy goes when they break the rules? To Guardian Petrov, and I'm sure that when she hears the things you've been saying to Rose then she'll let me off the hook, she is Rose's second mother after all."

"Mase, stop it." I turned to Christian, "I know I'm a bitch, but did you ever stop to think that the reason I wont tell you is because it's my secret, and I don't want the whole world to know?"

"'Your secret'? How an earth can you have a secret the academy? Let me guess? Are you fucking Ivashkov and don't want anyone to know?"

"I am not 'fucking' Ivashkov." I growled.

"Why not? Everyone knows you're a whore!" He taunted, my mouth dropped and tears threatened my eyes.

"Lord Ozera," Dimitri's cold voice interrupted any obscenities Eddie and Mason where about to unleash on him, "I would appreciate it if you would not say such vulgar things about my student." Christian looked between the two of us.

"Oh, I get it now. you're fucking Belikov, aren't you Rosie?" before anyone knew what was happening, I lunged towards him, landing a punch square on his jaw and another one to his nose before Dimitri's arms encircled my waist, pulling me back.

"What's going on?!" Lissa exclaimed,taking in my tear stained face, thrashing body being restrained by 'Guardian Belikov' screaming obscenities at Christian, and Christian's bruising face.

"Rose! What did you do!" she exclaimed, I went limp in his arms.

"Wow Lissa, you're best friend is bawling her eyes out and you're asking her what she did? Shouldn't you be asking him?" Eddie said, she faltered, realising that my tears weren't simply ones of anger, but because he had said something.

"Rose?"

"I'm not talking about it."

"Why? Scared that I was right?" Christian sneered, holding his face.

"Right? Right about what? Someone had better tell me what's going on!" she said in her 'I am Princess Dragomir, Obey me.' voice.

"He accused me of having an affair with Guardian Belikov, and Adrian."

"And he called her a whore. Several times." Mason piped in, glaring at him.

"Why did you do that Chris?" he continued to glare stonily at me, avoiding her eyes completely, even when she stood directly in front of me, thank god she was taller.

"Is this because of the argument on the bus?" he nodded.

"I'm sorry Liss, I was just looking out for you."

"And looking after me includes calling my best friend a whore?" she raised her eyebrow, and although I was pissed at her still, I appreciated that she took my side for a change. Honestly I didn't want to wait around to hear his retort, there was no way to justify either mine nor Adrian's behavior without outing my semi-relationship with Dimitri, and I didn't want her to know how bothered I was by her ditching our plans, she always swore that even if we both had a boyfriend, we would ditch them and share a room, and spend at least four days a week with each other. I could read through the bond that she had completely over written those plans, instead looking through a pamphlet on 'activities for couples'. Luckily for me, Alberta called for attention over our small group.

"Alright. As you know, rooming goes by who was sitting next to who on the bus, so it goes as follows; The princess and Lord Ozera, Novises Castile and Ashford, Novice Hathaway and Guardian Belikov, and Lord Ivashkov you will be rooming with Miss Rinaldi, as she was driven here separately." Mia's blonde head bobbed out from behind Alberta.

"Surprise" she smiled, I reached her first, enveloping her in my arms.

"Uh, Rose? Can we hug Mia?"

"Nope. She's mine!" laughter surrounded us as I finally let her go.

"Rose. May I speak with you?" Alberta asked. I nodded and allowed her to lead me away from the group.

"What's going on?"

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't play dumb with me Rose. I saw the argument on the bus, and the one just then."

"It's nothing, okay? Adrian just needs to learn when to keep his mouth shut." she raised an eyebrow.

"What has the princess done to make him react like that?"

"He's just pissed off because Lissa and I had been planning this trip since we where twelve, and once again, she's ditched me for Christian. And now in stuck with Mr. self righteous for the next month."

"I thought things where good between you and Guardian Belikov? Especially after he grew a pair and told you how he felt?" I scoffed.

"Yeah, and then he avoided me for a week before telling me that he couldn't do it until I graduated officially." Alberta had figured out our feelings for each other months ago, before we knew it our selves, and she had been nothing but pushy. Always hounding us to hurry up and admit our feelings for each other. Even though my eighteenth birthday isn't for another week.

"Well, he's an idiot then." she smiled warmly and pulled me in for a hug.

"Thanks Bertie"

"You should go back to your friends." she walked me over "Your bags are in your rooms, we're working on human time. Dinner is in two hours, we'll be meeting in the bistro. Only tonight and our last night here is planned, all other nights you are welcome to eat where ever, the entire town has wards around it, so as long as you are accompanied by a novice or a Guardian you may wander around the town, there is a mall if you wish to go shopping and a theme park, along with several places to eat. Novices, there are two silver stakes in with your luggage, choose one to be your primary, and one as your backup." we nodded and trudged up to our rooms, by some stroke of luck, my room was next to Lissa and Christian's.

"God dammit." I grumbled.

"What's wrong?"

"Now I really wont be able to avoid her sex life." Dimitri's face was blank for a moment or two before realization set in.

"Maybe the walls are soundproof?"

"Doubt it." I cringed.

"If worse comes to worse, I can always talk to Alberta about swapping rooms."

"Lets hope it comes to that." he laughed, walking over to the bed and pulling out one of his more battered westens.

"hey Comrade. Where am I sleeping? There's only one bed?" he looked down sheepishly.

"Uhh, we'll be sharing, I'm sorry Roza, Alberta expected more 'couples' to be sharing a room. Although between you and me, I think she planned this."

"This is going to be a long month."

"I really am sorry Roza. But just think, in a little over a month we'll be able to be together."

"I don't get it Dimitri." he paled, I only called him Dimitri when I was pissed off at him, or when we where... intimate. And considering that wasn't the case, he had every reason to be worried.

"I've done my trials, I passed, technically, I've graduated! Why cant we just be together? I know we cant go public or anything, but it would be nice to be able to do couple things in private!" I had gotten closer to him during my rant. He was standing, my face almost level with his due yo me standing on my tip toes.

"You know why we cant"

"Do you find this fun?

"I—what?"

"Is it a game to you? Do you wake up and wonder how you can fuck with my feelings?"

"No! Of course not!"

"Really?! Because guess what Dimitri! That's what it feels like to me."

"I promise you Roza, you know my feeling towards you, it is so hard to stay away from you, but I can't ruin your future, if they find out about us then they'll strip the both of us of our Guardian titles and throw me in jail! I love you too much to do that to you, to my family."

"Oh? don't want to disappoint your family? Is that it? Are you that embarrassed by me?!"

"No! If I could I would take you down to dinner, holding your hand the entire way, pull your chair out for you and give you a kiss. Because that's what you deserve, you deserve so much better, so much more than I can give you! I cant wait until I get to introduce you to my family, they will love you and Vika will drag you shopping at the market. I didn't mean it as in I was embarrassed by you, its just, my family doesn't have very much money both my older sisters and my mother work one or two jobs, my food and board is covered by the academy, so I send a bulk of my pay to my family, and the rest I save for when I retire from being a guardian."

"Oh." I felt stupid, I should know by now now to doubt his feelings for me, but I couldn't help it, he made me feel so insecure and nervous. "I'm sorry." I mumbled.

"It's okay, Roza. I know this is frustrating for you. Come on, lets go explore this place, shall we?" he held his arm out to me, I placed my hand in the crook of his elbow.


I promise i'll get on writing the next chapter soon! do you think Lissa will figure out Rose and Dimitri's relationship? or why Adrian's pissed at her? And will Rose and Dimitri get any sleep with the rabbits next door? tell me your thoughts!