Hello my lovelies! Hope you enjoyed my last chapter, although I wouldn't really know since I only got one review :( It really does make my day more than you know to hear what ya'll liked or didn't like about the chapter, and I know it's a pain sometimes but I would seriously appreciate something more than just an "update please". Enjoy!

I awoke in the night, the sun shining dimly through the curtains. I cover my eyes to shield them, but only succeed in seeing red through my fingers. Looking at the clock, I groaned.

"4pm, seriously?!" Grumbling, I put my head under my pillow. Not for long however, because I shoot up when I remember what I did yesterday.

Lissa, I call through the bond, Lissa, I'm so sorry for what happened. I don't even know what came over me. Meet me in the courtyard in an hour?

I knew I wouldn't get a response, so there was no point in phrasing it like a question, but I didn't want it to seem like I was commanding her to meet me or anything. Sighing, I get out of bed and pull on high-waisted jean shorts and a frilly red shirt that had a triangle of fabric hanging down over my stomach. Sometimes red made my already pale Moroi skin look even more washed out, but for some reason today it was working for me. Pulling my thick brown hair into a high ponytail, I blew out a breath and exited my dorm room, heading for the courtyard.

Almost there, I hear voices around the corner and I leap into some bushes to my right, staring out at Dimitri and Kirova.

"Yesterday's events were…unsatisfactory, to say the least," Kirova says and I cringe, hoping she wasn't blaming Dimitri for my darkness-induced outburst.

"That is for sure. But to be fair, it wasn't the princess's fault. Her element…took over her for a short while. According to Novice Dragomir, it has happened a few times before," Dimitri says and Kirova nods.

"Well, I suppose there is nothing we can do with such little information on the element. Hopefully Lord Ivashkov and the princess can make some headway. For now, keep watch on the princess, and make sure she isn't a danger to anyone else, especially herself," Kirova insists before walking away from Dimitri.

"You can come out now," Dimitri says, not looking in my direction. I sigh and climb out of the bushes. "What are you doing, Roza?" He sounds exasperated, to say the least.

"Roza? Is that some Russian thing for 'pain in the butt'?" I ask, only half-joking.

"No, silly. It's your name," he says, walking towards the school and away from my actual destination.

"Oh. Duh. Anyway, Kirova thinks I'm a loose cannon, huh?" I shrug my shoulders and act indifferent, when really I hoped that nobody actually thought of me as such. How un-princesslike.

"No, Rose, she doesn't think you're a loose cannon. And neither do I. But, yesterday…that was something else, Rose. You weren't yourself," he says, turning around to face me for the first time in the conversation.

"I don't really remember much of it," I admit sheepishly, "all I remember is being really really mad at you and Lissa, and then…and then it's a blur," I stumble through it after remembering the final piece of the puzzle: what I saw in Dimitri's aura.

"Very strange. Hopefully, you can figure it out with Lord Ivashkov," Dimitri nods as if trying to convince himself of the same thing.

"Oh shoot!" I smack my head to my forehead, "I totally missed our practice yesterday, didn't I?" I shake my head, remembering that morning how I had totally flirted with him, telling him I would see him later.

"Someone informed him of the situation and he was very understanding. I'm sure you'll get a chance to talk about it later today…speaking of, why are you awake so early? Aren't you getting bothered by the sun?" Dimitri asks, coming forward with a worried look on his face.

"Oh, shoot again! Lissa!" I exclaim, running off in the opposite direction, "bye, Dimitri!" I wave back at him before coming to a heaving stop in the courtyard.

"You're late," Lissa grumbles, yawning. "You get me out of bed in the middle of the night and don't even bother to show up on time? Classy."

I heave some more, catching my breath and waving my hand. "So sorry, got caught up with Dimitri."

"Hmm, well at least that's interesting," Lissa grumbles again. She was definitely not the cheekiest morning person.

"Anyway," I begin once I've caught my breath, "I'm so so so so so so so sorry for what happened yesterday. It must have been the darkness."

"Oh, I'm sure it was," Lissa nods, "but the question is: what did you do to bring it on? You used Spirit for something, Rose." Lissa gives me an accusatory look and I sit down on the bench beside her.

"I know, Liss. I'm sorry. I know I'm not supposed to, but Jesse was being a total creep and he was literally on the verge of molesting me and I—I couldn't take it anymore! I compelled him to stay as far away from me as possible, and I guess I used a little more power than I thought I did," I bow my head and Lissa sighs, putting her arm around me.

"I can feel how guilty you are, so I guess I'll forgive you," Lissa says and I laugh, leaning into her. "Now did you say Jesse was on the verge of molesting you? And Dimitri didn't try to stop it?"

I swallow hard and look at her nervously, "No, I—I didn't call him over, and I don't think he noticed. I didn't want to have to call on him for every need and I knew I could handle Jesse myself, so I did."

"Rose! Why the hell would you think that? We're your guardians. We're supposed to protect you!" Lissa exclaims, grabbing my shoulders and looking into my eyes.

"I know! But it was just Jesse!"

"Yeah, Jesse molesting you, Jesse! Just, please Rose, promise me you'll let either Dimitri or I know if something is going on. Please?" Lissa begs and I nod, sighing.

"Fine, fine! I promise," I throw up my hands in surrender, my head popping up at the sound of the bell. Without realizing it, the sun had gone down considerably.

"Well, damn, we missed breakfast," Lissa sighed, standing up and holding out her hand, "I blame you. Now I have to fight on an empty stomach."

I sigh and take her hand, "sorry. On the bright side, only four more hours till lunch!" I smile cheekily and she glares at me. We walk towards the school in comfortable silence, until we get to my first period class.

"Later gator," Lissa says, walking off towards the gym.

"In a while, crocodile," I call after her, entering AP Chem.

***Princess Rose***

Dimitri's POV

Seeing Roza this morning was a nice surprise, although at the same time unpleasant because she really needed to take care of herself more. The sun was no friend to Moroi, and she had passed out yesterday afternoon to boot. That girl…I thought fondly.

I'll admit, it freaked me out when I was carrying her yesterday. She mumbled something that sounded like romance…and all I can hope for is that she wasn't reading my aura. When I'm around her I just…Ugh, quit it Dimka! She's your Moroi charge, and a royal at that! You have no business thinking those things!

But I just can't help it.

Rose's POV

The rest of my classes flew by without my notice, especially because the compulsion I had over Jesse was still rock solid, which meant he was on the other side of the classroom and didn't even look at me once. Dimitri followed me like a lion stalking its prey, but I barely noticed. By the time fourth period rolled around, I was feeling pretty confident in my abilities, and I strolled into the study room with a smile on my face and my arms swinging.

"Well hello to you too, Princess," Adrian says, amused.

"Hello, Adrian! But, remember," I say cheerfully, putting my hands on his shoulders and my chin by his ear, "it's Rose!"

"Right. Rose," he says, "I hear you had quite the spiritual adventure yesterday."

"Ugh, I know," I sit down in a chair beside him and throw my bookbag on the other side of the small room, "it was a nightmare. I don't even really remember what I did or said."

"Hm, sounds like a fun night at the club," he muses, and I slug him in the shoulder, laughing.

"I wish," I groan, hanging my head back over the chair and closing my eyes. Slowly, I open my right eye and see Dimitri upside down looking at me with an amused expression, "well, hey, comrade. Join the party."

"Actually, princess, I need to go check on something with the head of security. Will you be all right here?" Dimitri asks. I sit up and turn my head around to face him.

"Sure thing. All good?"

"Yes, everything is fine, nothing to worry about," he smiles for the first time in a while and I smile back. After he leaves, I turn to Adrian.

"Well, that was interesting," Adrian says with narrowed eyes and a peculiar smile.

"Interesting…?" I ask quizzically.

"Yes. Interesting," Adrian says, "anyway, shall we?"

"Right. Where do we start?"

Hmmm, do we think Kirova has something in mind for dear Princess Rose? And whatever happened to the Queen saying she wanted Rose to come by the Royal Court? Oh, and what the heck is that chemistry going on with those boys? Read on next week to find out!

Review. Review. It's off to review we go!

~BBSweetie~