Hey everyone! Sorry for the long wait, but a new chapter has finally arrived! I hope you all like it! Let me know what you think!

"Rose, wake up!" I was being shaken awake and I was not happy. I loved my sleep, who dares interrupt it.

I rolled onto my back and opened my eyes. Lissa was standing over my bed and I looked over at my clock and saw that it was only 3am.

"What is it?" I asked her rubbing my eyes.

"There has been an elimination, two girls dropped out." That caused me to sit up quickly. In all of history, it was very uncommon for girls to drop out of the Selection, let alone two girls drop at the same time.

I quickly got out of the bed and threw a robe on over my nightgown and quickly followed Lissa out of the room. "Wait Liss, why did they drop out?"

"There's no time," She grabbed my hand and dragged me down the staircases. We hit the cold the tile floor and she dragged me through the corridors to Dimitri's study.

One of Dimitri's men opened the door and we were quickly escorted into his study. The first thing I saw was Dimitri standing at his desk. His normal neat hair that was pulled back was now loose and he kept running his hand through it in frustration. His sleeves on his shirt were rolled up and tie was loose, he looked so different then the guy we all see.

I looked around at the other Selected and saw that two were missing: Sonya and Avery. How could Sonya leave? What will I do, she was my only ally in this whole thing?

I caught Dimitri's eye and he just shook his head. "As you all know by now, Sonya and Avery have both dropped out of the Selection." Dimitri said. "They were both attacked and have both decided that they would rather go home then stay here."

"Attacked?" I said confused. Who would do such a thing?

"More like being harassed." Dimitri clarified. "Apparently this has been going on for awhile and they are both now just reporting it. Do not worry, we are going to get the bottom of this and make sure that you are all safe."

"What happened?" I could tell that some were annoyed that I was asking questions, but I wanted to know.

"Someone put glass in their shoes cutting their feet, their rooms had been ransacked, and all of their clothes was destroyed." One of Dimitri's advisors said. "This is what they have reported so we are not sure if other things have happened."

I looked over at Natasha, for some reason, I had an odd feeling that it was her. She seems like she was the only person capable to do it. Besides, that's two less girls competing for Dimitri.

"Each of you will have security around you at all times." Dimitri said looking at us. "I will not allow this to happen again, I will keep you safe." At that statement he looked at me and we connected. I knew that he also meant Adrian.

I couldn't take anymore of this so I just left the room shrugging off Lissa. I could hear them call after me but I just had to get away.

How could Sonya just leave? She wanted this so bad but she was also my only friend who knew what I was going through.

I didn't know where my feet were taking me, but the next thing I knew, I was sitting in the ballroom on the stairs. Tears started to come out of my eyes; I think I was having a breakdown.

I put my head in my hands and started to cry. I didn't know how long I stayed like that until I felt someone sit down next to me and rubbed my back.

"Dimitri," I said looking up, but it was not Dimitri's brown eyes I saw. Instead I saw Adrian's green eyes staring at me. This time he did not look angry, just sadder. "What do you want?" I asked him.

He leaned forward and wiped some tears that were still on my cheek. "I heard about what happened and I saw you leave the little meeting upset. Thought I would come check up on you."

"Thought you were mad at me. Hated me."

"Rose, nothing in this world could make me hate you." He said giving me a hug. "You forget: I have an addictive personality. I'm addicted to you. Somehow I think you could do all sorts of bad things to me, and I'd still come back to you." After everything that happened to us, he was still there for me.

I started to cry more and he just put his arm around me and pulled me into him. "I am so sorry for what happened. You got so bad, I didn't recognize you, and after what happened at –" I said but he cut me off.

"I know. You did what you did out of love. I can't be mad at you over that. It was stupid, but that's how love is."

"I really am sorry. For everything . . . what happened with Jesse, what I was doing. It was wrong. And I don't understand . . . well, I don't get why you're being so nice to me."

"Should I be mean? Is that the kind of thing you're into?" He gave me one of his sarcastic smiles and that made me laugh.

"I hate it when you're the sane one. That's my job."

"Rose, I can think of many words to describe you, sexy and hot being at the top of the list. You know what's not on the list? Sane."

"Okay, well, then my job is to be the less crazy one."

"That I can accept." We both shared a little laugh.

He kissed the top of my head as we became silent. Being with him here really made me miss him. We stayed like that for a bit before he got up and walked out the door passing Dimitri on the way. "She's all yours." Dimitri gave him a cold look as he leaned on the doorway.

"How long have you been standing there?" I asked, I never even saw or heard him come in.

"Long enough." Then he walked forward and sat down next to me.

"Dimitri—" I started but once again tonight, I was cut off.

"I'm not so stupid as to believe that you've completely forgotten about your former boyfriend. I know you think there are others here more suited for me and this life, and I wouldn't want you to rush into trying to be happy with any of this. I just...I just want to know if it's possible..." This was a side to Dimitri I rarely see. He looked so vulnerable, sensitive; his guard was down; just for me.

I leaned over to him and gave him a light kiss. Once I pulled back he gave me a serious smile, "All I want is your promise to stay with me, to be mine. Sometimes it feels like you can't possibly be real. Promise me you'll stay."

"I'll stay." I gave him another kiss, one with more passion in it. "No harassment will keep me away from you." Just like what Adrian did, Dimitri put his arm around me and pulled me closer to him.

"This whole Adrian thing makes it more difficult. Doesn't it?" I just nodded and stared ahead of me. Dimitri looked out at the big ballroom and then back down at me. "Remember when your family came and we had that big ball?" I just nodded again and pictured the grand ball we had when my family had visited, before Delilah killed herself. "We danced. Remember? I was so proud to have you there, in my arms, in front of other people."

"What about the other girls?" Part of me couldn't help but feel jealous. "You are off dating now three other girls and I feel like I am the one cheating on you." I think that it came out a bit harsher then I wanted it to be, but I couldn't help but think that, especially with Adrian being back.

"You're the only person who really knows me. The only person I feel I truly know myself."

"Knowledge isn't love," I contradicted.

I don't think he had a comeback so he just kissed my temple and we sat there for a little bit. "Are you excited to become a King? To be married?" I asked looking up to his gorgeous face.

"Yes and no." He said truthfully look down at me and I could see a personal battle in his mind. I raised my hand and put it on his cheek as he leaned into it and closed his eyes and sighed.

"What's going through your mind?" I asked hoping he would tell me.

"Do you want to know what my biggest fear is?" His eyes were still close and his voice was serious.

"What?"

"If you became my bride," Well, that wasn't what I expected. "Then I would turn into my father."

"Dimitri—" I couldn't figure out what to say. The past king had died a while ago and I never met him or even knew much about him. "What did he do?"

"He abused us, especially my mother." He said opening his eyes and looking at me straight in the eyes.

"Like what kinds of things?"

"Like beating-her-up kinds of things," His eyes got a little hard as his mind went down memory lane.

"Oh God, That's horrible. And she…she just let it happen?" When I look at Olena, I do not see a woman who used to be abused by her husband.

"She did. But I didn't."

"Tell me, tell me you beat the crap out of him." If he didn't I sure would if he was alive.

"I did."

"Wow. You beat up your dad. I mean, that's really horrible…what happened. But, wow. You really are a god."

"What?"

"Uh, nothing." I tried to cover up my slip up. Then the next question was hard for me to ask. "Did he ever…to you?" Dimitri just closed his eyes and nodded. My heart just sunk and I just wanted to reach out and make him feel better, but I didn't know how.

"He would just smack me around at first, but then as he got older, and more drunk," He said, "The beatings would get worse. Then I would take more so he would stay away from my sisters." Of course he would take the hits for his family, he's just that type of guy.

I reached up and gave him a kiss not knowing what else to do. "That will never happen to you." I said and he looked at me and started to object but for once, it was my turn to interrupt. "No, you listen to me Dimitri." I said sternly. "You are too good for you to ever turn that way. The way you love, it is so deep. Any girl would be lucky to have you." Part of me really wished that girl were me.

"I love you Rose." He said bending down and kissing me. Then he stood up and took off his shirt. I was speechless because he did look hot, but I was confused on why he was taking off the shirt. Then he turned around and I gasped. All along his back were scars. I stood up and walked towards him.

I ran my hands over the scars and I just wanted to hug him. "Are these,"

"Yes Roza." Then he turned back around and started to put back on his shirt. "I have not told anyone about them except for Dr. Olendzki. Not even my mother knows. You are the only one to know. Can you keep this between us?"

I just nodded my head and he picked me up off my feet to give me another passionate kiss. I couldn't help but run my hands through his hair making him moan against my mouth.

He sat me down and looked down at me and I could see hurt in his eyes. "So do I now have to compete with Adrian over you?" I groaned a little, not wanting to talk about this after a kiss like that. "Wait for you to choose?"

"No," I said backing away from him. "Right now, I'm not choosing him or you. I'm choosing me."

Dimitri groaned in frustration. "I don't know if I'm supposed to be holding on or letting go. I don't want to give up, but if there's nothing for me to hope for, then tell me." He ran his hand through his hair again and it made me feel worse. Everything was going fine until Adrian showed up. "I only wish I knew that you'd actually want to be with me when that time is over... if I propose I want it to be as easy as breathing for you to say yes."

Tears were forming in my eyes because my heart really wanted me to say yes to him but for some reason I just couldn't.

"Love is the most wonderful and terrible thing that can ever happen to you. You know that you've found something amazing, and you want to hold on to it forever; and every second after you have it, you fear the moment you might lose it." I took a deep breath, "Dimitri, I hope you find someone you can't live without. I really do. And I hope you never have to know what it's like to have to try and live without them. Love is a beautiful fear." After I said that I gave him a quick peck on the cheek and walked away from him to my rom.

Tears were streaming down my face until I got back to my room. I silently climbed into my bed as I continued to cry. Tonight was an exhausting night.

[BREAK]

It has been a week since the night with Dimitri in the ballroom. We have both kept our distance and the four of us Selected didn't have any assignments so it has been very boring.

Dimitri was supposed to spend the rest of this time spending as much time as possible with us so he can make his final decision soon. Except, he hasn't spent as much time with me this week.

So I spent most of my time in my room helping Lissa put the final touches on her wedding. Today though I had to push aside all thoughts of Dimitri since today was Lissa and Christian's wedding. I thought that this day would never come but Lissa was beyond excited.

We were all spending our time getting ready. Lissa had hired people to come in and give us mani-pedi's, do our makeup and hair, and had some expensive champagne ready for us. The other bridesmaids, who I didn't really know too well, and I were having a good time with Lissa.

"Rose, can you believe it?" She squealed as the last few pieces of her hair was put together in a beautiful style. With her blonde hair she really looked like an angel. "I am getting married."

"I am so happy for you Liss." I said truthfully. "Since I have arrived in Russia, you have become my best friend and I couldn't be anymore happier for you." She gave me a hug and smiled at me.

"And to think, soon, this could be your wedding to Dimitri!" I tried to smile at the thought, but I couldn't help to think of our last discussion. Lissa was able to see through me. "What? What happened?"

"Nothing Lissa," I said not wanting to bother her with this. "Today is your day, all eyes are on you." I smiled at her and after some thought, she decided to put it aside and be all cheery again.

She stood up from her chair and went over to a table that had a small package sitting on it. "Rose, as my maid of honor, could you please go deliver this to Christian?" I smiled and nodded.

I grabbed the gift from her and walked out of the door. Everyone all throughout the palace was busy running around putting the last finishing touches on the reception that would be held here.

The guys were in a complete different section the rest of us. I knocked on the door to their suite and Dimitri opened the door and was shocked to see me. "Rose, what are you doing here?" He asked, and of course, I remembered that he was Christian's best man.

"Delivering a package to the groom." I said not wanting him to see my hesitation around him. "May I come in?"

Dimitri just stepped to the side and I walked in. The guys were all in their tuxes but their jackets were all lying on chairs. Christian was laughing with some of his other groomsmen and actually smiled when he saw me.

"I have a special delivery for you." I said handing him the package. He smiled and took it from my hands. Christian quickly opened the card first and read it out loud,

"My love," He started, "Can you believe the time has finally arrived. Today I become truly yours. It seems like just yesterday we met and fell in love. You are the best thing to ever happen to me. I consider myself the luckiest girl in the world to have you besides me. I cannot wait to see you soon and become your wife. Love, Lissa. P.S. I'll be the one in white." Christian actually had a few tears in his eyes and I smiled at the moment.

Then he opened up his gift and saw the cufflinks that Lissa had gotten them. On them was their monogram engraved on them. I knew that they were really expensive and she went through a lot of time and effort to find them.

He quickly put them on and then went to open up a drawer. "Rosie," He said making me growl at him for that nickname which only caused him to laugh. "Could you please give this to my bride?"

"Sure thing Pyro." I grabbed the gift and left the room smirking at him. I could feel Dimitri staring at me as I left, but today was Lissa's day, I could not think about him.

I walked back down the hallways to Lissa's suite. When I got there, they were about to put her in her gown. "Perfect timing Rose!" She squealed as she stepped into her gown. Her maids put it on and tightened it for her. "How'd Christian like his gift?"

"He loved it Lissa." I said to her honestly. "In fact, he gave me this to give to you." I held out the box for her and she excitedly took it from my hands.

She tore open the envelope and read it to herself and smiled at his words. Then she set them aside and opened up the box that came with the card. When she opened it she gasped at what was inside.

Inside the box was a beautiful diamond necklace that said 'Mrs.'. She squealed out of excitement and I took it from her and put it on her myself. I stepped back from her to give her a good look. "You look beautiful Lissa." She smiled at me and gave me another hug.

We stayed in the suite for about another 10 minutes before there was a knock on the door. One of the wedding planners popped her head in and told us that it was time to make our way to the church. One of the other bridesmaid grabbed Lissa's train and we walked downstairs where limos were waiting for us.

Lissa and I took up one limo while the rest of the bridesmaids took another. We were able to take the time together to just reflect on our friendship the past year. It only took a few minutes to get to the church and there were a lot of people standing outside cheering.

I got our of the limo first and the crowd went wild and then I reached down and helped Lissa out of the limo. The other bridesmaids were waiting for us and we walked up the stairs of the church, but before we went inside, Lissa turned around and waved to the crowd.

Once we got into the church, it was go time. The wedding planner had us all lined up and the other groomsmen were there too. I gave Lissa a big hug as the doors opened up and the flower girls and ring bearers walked down the aisle. Then one by one, each bridesmaid walked down the aisle with a groomsmen.

When it was my turn to go down, Dimitri walked over and we linked arms. He gave me a small smile and I just turned to look down the aisle. Once we started walking, though, I put a smile on looked down all the way to then end of the church and saw Christian standing there. The church was so large that it took us a little bit to walk down it all.

Once we got to the end of the aisle, I took my spot as the doors opened once more and Lissa starting walking down the aisle. Christian had the biggest smile on his face once he saw his bride.

Lissa finally reached the end of the aisle and turned to me to give me her bouquet. I gave her one last smile before she turned back to face Christian. The ceremony was beautiful and wasn't too long. They opted out for a less traditional wedding more of a modern one. The whole ceremony was over within 45 minutes and both of them wrote their own vows that made me want to choke up.

"I know pronounce you Mr. and Mrs. Christian Ozera, Prince and Princess of Russia and Norway, Duke and Duchess of Omsk. You may now kiss the bride." Technically, since Christian's mother was a Russian princess and his father was a Norwegian prince, he got both of the titles except rarely anyone addressed him as his highness.

Everyone stood up and clapped as Christian and Lissa kissed and then faced the crowd. I smiled at my best friend's happiness and I couldn't help my wandering eye over to Dimitri.

He was staring right at me, almost like he was staring into my soul. Chills ran down my back and I stepped forward and took his arm as we walked down the aisle behind Lissa and Christian.

After we all were out of the church, we all stuffed ourselves into the limos and headed back to the palace for the reception.

When we arrived back at the palace, the other Selected girls had arrived from the wedding and were waiting for Dimitri. I rolled my eyes at them and tried to push my jealousy back when I saw the attention he gave them once he saw them.

We all filled into the ballroom where there were tables all set up and a dance floor too. Slowly, all of the guests filled the room and were taking their assigned seats. I was sitting at the table with the rest of the Selected, Lissa, Christian and I. So I sat down and picked up my glass of champagne waiting for Christian and Lissa make their appearance.

"You look beautiful Rose," I looked up and saw that Natalie was sitting down next to me.

"Thank you Natalie." I felt bad for her sometimes. Out of everyone in this competition, she was always overlooked. Camille had the looks, Tasha had the connections, and I had Dimitri's heart. She was just there and no one really paid attention to her.

"After yesterday, this is a good distraction from everything." I just took a sip of my drink not really caring what she said. "I wonder who did all of those things to Sonya and Avery. It is a shame isn't it?"

"Yes it is." I would have said something else, but the doors opened and Lissa and Christian made their big entrance. We all clapped for them and they soaked it all in before sitting down at the table signaling the start of dinner.

"Thank you guys so much for being here," Lissa said to us all as we all started eating. "I know it means a lot to us." She looked over at Christian and smiled at him. He leaned over and kissed and I made a gagging sound causing in them breaking apart and Lissa laughing and Pyro giving me a dirty look.

"I cannot wait for the honeymoon." Christian said as payback. I just rolled my eyes and started eating my dinner.

The food was extremely good, which one would expect from a royal palace. During dinner, the conversation was mostly between Lissa, Christian, Dimitri, and the Selected. I just sat back for once and didn't try to talk.

"Ladies and Gentlemen," Dimitri said standing up. "It is now time for the traditional bride and groom dance." We all clapped as Lissa and Christian walked onto the ballroom floor and started slow dancing. I looked on at them in sadness; I wish that I would be able to find that type of love with someone, someone who doesn't have three other girls competing for him.

The next thing I knew, Dimitri was pulling Tasha onto the dance floor and was twirling her around causing many people there to gasp and look at me. I just tried to keep a brave face on even though I hated seeing him with her.

More people went onto the dance floor and I felt so alone. Just then there was a tap on my shoulder and when I turned around, I saw Adrian standing there in a clean tux.

"May I have this dance, your highness?" He asked holding out his hand to me. I just smiled and took his hand. He led me out to the dance floor where we danced, and when I felt someone staring at me, I turned around and saw Dimitri looking at me while Tasha had rested her head on his chest. I just turned away from him and focused on Adrian. "You look absolutely beautiful tonight Rose." He said looking down at me. "If he's too much of an idiot to see that, then he's well, an idiot."

I laughed at his comment and was thankful for him right now. "Yeah well, we had a little bit of a scuffle last night."

"So?" Adrian said knitting his eyebrows together. "We had fights all the time and yet what we had was special. He's being a stubborn prince." I laughed and just finished the dance with him.

The rest of the night went so well and too soon it was time for Lissa and Christian to leave. After their departure though, the party was still going on,

I danced with a lot of people, but the one person I wanted to dance with, was too busy with the three other Selected. Finally, after such a long day, I was ready to call it a night.

I said goodbye to some people and went over to Dimitri. For once tonight, Tasha wasn't attached to his side. For that I was excited for. He looked over at me and smiled once I was near him.

"Hey Roza," He said pulling me close to him. "I have missed you so much tonight." Dimitri bent down and gave me a light kiss on the forehead. "Can we talk tonight Roza? I don't like how things ended last night." I just nodded and pulled out of his arms.

Once I was out of his arms, I walked back to my room with Mason by my side. Dimitri wasn't joking when he said our security would always be by my side.

We walked up the stairs in quiet, which was different for us. Normally we are always talking and joking but with everything, I just wanted to retreat into myself.

When I got to my room, the first thing I noticed was something was wrong. My door wasn't close, but it wasn't open. It looked as if it broke from force. Mason saw it right away and automatically pulled me behind him and called for backup.

Eddie was there in a heartbeat and we all went in together. The sight that I saw in front of me made me scream. My windows were broken, Jill and Mia were laying on the floor with blood around them, my bed had been slashed, all the furniture was broken and sprawled all over the floor, and pictures of me with a big red X was thrown all over the room.

The door to my bathroom was open and I slowly walked in there hoping it was untouched. I slid on the floor when I saw it too. The bathtub was filled with red water, almost as if it was filled with blood. All of my perfume bottles were broken on the floor, and written on the mirror was "YOURE NEXT" written in blood.

Cliffhanger! Who do you guys think it is behind this? Review and let me know what you thought of this chapter! And this is a bit longer of chapter for your long wait! REVIEW! Let's get to 300 reviews!