Chapter 7
Rose's POV
Tossing and turning, I lay within the confines of my room; the walls closing in on me, as the air became stale. Looking at my alarm clock to my right, I noticed that the time read just after 1 am. Only eight more hours until the meeting, six if I want to get up and actually have a shower and start preparing breakfast for everyone. I sighed, seeing Dimitri was a lot harder than I thought it would be, he was still very easy on the eyes and his muscles, I swear they have gotten even bigger. Subconsciously I held my hand to my heart, the same wrist that he just grabbed. His touch was still able to illicit sparks within me, and I did not know how much longer I would be able to keep up this act. Do I still love him? Of course I do, I never stopped; but what he said that night really hurt me and I just don't know what to do about it.
'Dimitri. Dimitri. Dimitri,' my brain kept chanting and it would not stop. My inner self wanted me to mark my claim, make sure that he knew he was no one else's; but the problem being, he wasn't mine. Maybe he never actually was, maybe he was lying the entire time he was with me. Maybe if it was that easy for him to just up and decide that he didn't love me anymore, it was never there to begin with. 'NO,' my brain shouted back at me. It wasn't possible for him to have lied throughout our relationship, not through our original bonding. If he had lied, my inner self wouldn't want him now, and wouldn't be calling at me to make my claim. To leave a mark that everyone could see and prove he was mine.
I stood, needing to rid myself of thoughts and emotions. Bring myself back to a calm state and prepare for the meeting in the morning. Standing in front of my mirror I analyzed myself seeing everything that had become different in the past few years. My hair was longer, slightly lighter; I was surprisingly leaner then I was as a Guardian which is saying something given how much training I did. What always got to me was my eyes, the golden color that they were now, and I loved them. Sure, it was different than my brown eyes and definitely took some getting used to, but they worked with the rest of my physique. Turning toward the door, I opened it and proceeded on my way out. I needed a run.
Turning right out my door, I pass the guest rooms. Adrian's was on my left, the light out and no noise but soft breathing, guess his drunkenness paid off. Not having to get used to sleeping at night rather than during the day. Lissa's was right after his, but it didn't seem like she ever made it up last night as no sounds were coming from her room. Finally, the last door was Dimitri's and his door was actually on my right, which mean we share a wall…and bathroom. Shit, I forgot about that part.
His light was on, a little snippet just peeking through the foot of the door. Leaning on the wall next to his door, I breathed in deeply, his smell reaching my nose due to my acute sense of smell. He smelled the same, and it was amazing. Definitely had me getting a little damp as I still have yet to make my claim. He wasn't doing anything, probably sitting on his bed and trying to get used to actually sleeping during the night. A human time table.
I sighed once and pushed off the wall, walking quickly down the hall and down the stairs. I needed to get out; I needed to run.
Demitri's POV
This sleeping during the night thing was really going to be difficult getting used to, I don't actually recall the last time I slept while it was dark out. I tossed and turned since Rosa left me at my room, still being able to feel the softness of her skin against my palm. Perhaps reaching out and grabbing her wrist wasn't the best move to make, but it happened without me even thinking about it. I missed the feeling, holding her against me, hearing that sweet little gasp of hers. I missed it.
I sat up quickly, I was over heating and my thoughts were definitely turning a touch too impure. I wanted her…no I needed her and I was going to figure out a way to make it work, a way to get her to forgive me. I needed her in my life. She is my life, my Roza.
I slowly stood and got out of bed, I needed to think, I needed to plan something. Not something extravagant, she wasn't into big gestures, she preferred to smaller ones, ones from the heart. I turned on the light, truly, after everything I have seen I wasn't too big a fan of the dark. I knew it wouldn't hurt me, but lights made everything easier. I leaned on the wall, next to the door, and just breathed. I could hear Roza in the next room tossing and turning, the slight squeak of the bed made it obvious that she couldn't sleep either. I paused my thoughts and just listened, and before I knew it, she walked out of her room and was standing before my door – not doing anything, just standing. I can't help but wonder what is going through her head, what thoughts are circulating within her brain; is she thinking about me or something else. I listen to her, she listens for me, it's almost like we are playing a game of cat and mouse, who's going to pounce first.
A sweet, familiar aroma fills my nose and my eyes close. I remember that smell, and my body reacts almost immediately in response; though before I can do anything she rushes off down the hall, in the direction away from her room. The front door opens and closes, and she's out it. She's outside in the middle of the night. Dangerous, and stupid. She could get attacked or hurt or worse, and I hurry to the window to see her run out in the trees. Not bothering to look around her or verify her surroundings, she just takes off as if she feels nothing could hurt her.
My thoughts lose control quickly, the need to protect her entirely overpowering, and I rush out as well. Hurrying down the stairs, and reach the door just as I hear a voice behind me, "Where do you think you're going at this time of night"? I peak around my shoulder, it was Deacon, and he's staring me down. He knows exactly where I was going, exactly what I was planning on doing – even though in all honesty, I wasn't sure what I was going to do myself.
I found myself telling him the truth, how Roza just ran outside and how I felt like she could get hurt, he continued to stare me down before saying, "She is going to be fine. She is a fighter and she knows how to defend herself. If she wanted you're company, she would have asked for it. I guarantee you she will be back by our meeting in the morning, which you need to be at. I suggest you go back upstairs and try to sleep. Your exhaustion is not something that we need to worry about. Everyone here can take care of themselves, and for those who can't, we have those who can protect them as well. Now. Go."
I found myself bowing my head in agreement, it sounded and felt like an order. I don't know why but I listened. I listened to this man who had absolutely no control over me and followed his instructions. I walked past him, back up the stairs and into my room where my thoughts had me toss for the rest of the night. Not an inkling of sleep was found. I was too worried about my Roza, watching her run off into the night. I didn't want to think she was running away from me, not again.
