Longest chapter yet. It has it all. Broken noses, drama, some hot- loving and of course getting interrupted when Dimitri takes of the charm. :(

Thank you: Guest reviewer. I agree. Although everyone can, of course, write whatever they want, sometimes I think they simply use Rose and Dimitri's names in their story. That doesn't mean they aren't any good, but yeah I love their character so I try to stay as close as possible. I did do a little tweaking to Adrian in later chapters. I actually think he is a very good guy and I hated how Richelle Mead made him look in Last Sacrifice. She did make it up in bloodlines though ;)

A few more chapters and we are through the first book. It's when things are going to get different. Enjoy and tell me what you think.

Chapter 10

RPOV

I woke up when someone was nudging me awake. I felt strong warm hands touch my hair and slowly shake my shoulders. I looked straight up into Dimitri's warm chocolate brown eyes. I realized the position we were in. I did not fall asleep on his shoulders, did I? It was the best nap I had in ages.

I saw us go through the gates of the academy. All the students on the shopping had had their morning classes canceled so we could get some extra sleep. I was grateful for that. I could sleep for days. Shopping with Lissa was fun but exhausting. We left the car and were walking back to the dorms. Me next to Lissa. Guardians including Dimitri behind us.

I felt great, better than I have in a long time. I had burned off most of the darkness, leaving me feeling light. I had new stuff and I got to finally spend some quality time with my best friend.

I was feeling almost giddy. I jumped on a nearby bench and started to walk across it, acting like an acrobat. Lissa had to laugh. I was making funny faces while balancing and we were having fun. Until I felt the bench give way underneath me. I could feel it move but could do nothing to stop it. I fell hard, twisting my foot. I could feel the bone in my foot snapping. Oh, this was not good.

I cried out in pain, grabbing my foot in the process. Lissa was by my side in seconds, so were Natalie, Alberta, and Dimitri.

"Oh my God Rose, are you okay?" Lissa asked.

All I could do was shake my head. I didn't trust my voice. If I would answer I would definitely cry. And I refused to cry. I had worse pains than this. But it hurt like hell.

"We need to get her to the infirmary and have it checked out."

Dimitri picked me up in his arms, careful not to jostle me. Even through the pain, I could appreciate this. If I had known this was what it would take for Dimitri to hold me like this I might have broken my foot earlier. That was until he started to walk into the direction of the infirmary and my foot was being moved slightly. The pain beginning to really put a damper on things. Lissa followed Dimitri into the infirmary.

Dr. Olendski said to place me on the bed. She was getting a nurse and some stuff to do an examination with. I already knew though, it was broken. Probably in more places than one. When Dr. Olendski left the room Lissa walked over. Dimitri was standing in the corner.

"Can I have a moment alone with Rose please, Guardian Belikov."

Dimitri looked at her funny than looked at me as if asking where she was going with this. I just looked back at him signaling it was okay. Sometimes we were so in sync it was eerie but handy. He left the room and Lissa went straight to work. I knew what she was doing. She was healing my foot. I was grateful, a broken foot could have cost me weeks of training.

"Careful Liss, Not all the way. I still need an injury after this, or people will think I am a wuss. Just make it so it can heal in a couple of days, Okay?"

"Okay, no problem. I'll just heal the bone and let the tendon heal on its own. It would look like a good sprain."

"Thanks, Lissa, that should do it."

When Lissa finished Dr. Olendski walked into the room telling her to leave and to examine me. She did conclude it was a sprain and I heard her inform Dimitri no training for a few days. She would be back to bandage my foot later.

Dimitri walked into the room and sat next to the bed.

"Well, that was an interesting ending to an interesting day. How are you feeling? You're lucky it was only a sprain. It could have been much worse."

Oh, it was.

"I know. Thank god. I mean getting injured is one thing, but being taken down by a bench would seriously hurt my bad-ass reputation around here."

Dimitri chuckled.

"Well, we wouldn't want that. But if you are so bad-ass I guess you don't want the 'get well' presents then."

"Presents? How did you manage that fast?"

"They weren't initially 'get well' presents, but Victor got you something to congratulate you on your first job well done. I also got you something."

I was shocked. It was very nice of Victor to think of me. And Dimitri got me something. When did he have time? I kept an eye on him the entire time.

He handed me a box first.

"This one is from Victor."

I opened the box, and to my utter amazement, it had the rose necklace in it. I stared at it. I remember how expensive it was. Victor was indeed very generous.

"Wow" was all the intelligent word I could master.

"I know I can't compare to that, but I got you something too."

He handed me a small bag and inside was my favorite lipgloss. He remembered. I loved the necklace but this meant just a little bit more to me. I also wondered how he knew which my favorite lipgloss flavor was. I only ever mentioned I was running out.

"How did you manage that? I saw you the whole time?"

He smiled a brilliant smile reaching his eyes.

"Guardian secrets."

"Thanks"

I placed my hands on his, in a way of showing appreciation. Also letting him know that even though Victor's gift was more expensive, his meant more to me.

"Well Rose, I'll bandage you up and you should take it easy for a few days, but otherwise you should be fine."

Dr. Olendski said as she walked into the room. She bandaged me up and send me on my way. Dimitri walked me back to my dorm, making sure I didn't put too much pressure on my foot.

We walked to my room and there he stopped on the threshold. Ah, what a gentleman.

"Thanks for today. Not just with the foot or the lipgloss, but with everything."

"Don't worry about it, Roza. I said that I would be there for you when you needed me and I meant it. I am just glad you are okay."

He smiled at me. I smiled back. Subconsciously I moved a little closer to him. He made me feel so safe. And I must admit, it was nice to have someone to share this secret with and help me when I needed him.

"Well, I should let you get some rest."

Dimitri turned around and walked away before I could even respond.

I climbed into bed and fell asleep immediately.

A few days later it was time for the dance. I had convinced Lissa to go in a group instead of going with dates. This eliminated the need for me to reject Mason. We would just all go together. I was in Lissa's room getting ready together with her and Natalie. We were trying on hair styles and makeup choices. It was one of the girliest things I had done in a long time and I loved it. Kirova had been wise to let me go to the dance. She also knew that if she kept me from the dance all hell would break loose. Although she did say if she found me at any of the after-parties, I would be in serious trouble. Usually, the after-parties were the only reason one would go to the dance in the first place, but I would take what I could get. At least all my friends were going.

"I don't understand why you insisted on going as a group. Why is it so wrong for you to take Mason as a date?" Lissa asked all innocent.

"Because I don't want to give him the wrong idea. I mean I like Mason, just not like that. I am not blind, I know he has feelings for me. I just don't want to lead him on."

"But Rose, why is it so wrong for you to try and work things out with Mason. I mean you could just give him a chance. You have been very chaste since you have been back. You haven't shown interest in a boy once since you have been back."

Oh darn, Lissa had noticed something. Before we ran away I was quite interested in boys, and boys in me. Although I never went further than making out with a boy, I had made out with a lot of boys on campus. Some of them have shown interest again since I have been back. But I only had eyes for one person and he could hardly be described as a boy. But I knew that that could never amount to anything. But that doesn't mean I would have to lead other boys on. No, I first had to get over this ridiculous crush before moving on to another boy.

"I haven't exactly been available to check out boys Lissa. My social time has been very limited, in case you haven't noticed. Besides I need to take school seriously to be able to become your guardian. And no boy is worth losing you."

The last part I said slightly sarcastic and partly serious. It was essentially the reason Dimitri and I couldn't be together, not now and not in the future.

We got dressed and I must admit I looked hot in my dress. I wore my hair down, partly to cover the scars and partly to drive Dimitri crazy. His fascination with my hair was not lost on me. I had once brought up the fact I might have to cut it to show my marks. The look on his face was priceless.

To finish the look off I added the necklace that Victor had given me. We looked at each other and we smiled. The boys were going to have a heart attack.

We met the boys on the way to the dance and the look on Mason's face told me I was right in my assessment of me looking hot. He was practically drooling. Christian had a similar reaction as Mason when seeing Lissa. But where Mason could not openly drool, Christian had no such reserve. He walked to her and started making-out with her. I started to gag. They got the hint. Lissa blushed, Christian just looked annoyed.

We walked to the dance together. I knew Dimitri was chaperoning. I scanned the room for him when we walked in. I wanted to see his reaction. He scanned the room in true guardian fashion until his eyes found mine. Then his eyes moved up and down my body. The look of lust was adamant in his eyes. He seemed to catch himself doing it because he quickly put his guardian mask into place and went back to scanning the room. I had to giggle to myself.

We were all enjoying ourselves dancing and talking when near the end of the dance Mia came and walked up to our little group. She looked us over like a predator trying to determine the weakest prey to pick off. She honed in on Lissa. Personally, I would have thought Natalie was an easier target, but I knew Mia wasn't interested in hurting Natalie.

"Well, I am surprised they let you come to the dance, princess. I mean with all the death, blood and gore following you around I would have thought they would try to keep this place clean and not take any chances."

"I have nothing to do with those dead animals. It isn't my fault someone has a sick sense of humor." Lissa replied.

I could feel Lissa getting anxious. She did not want to discuss the dead animals. She felt guilty for not being able to do anything for them and scared for however was leaving them around. I had long suspected Mia's hand in this but could not prove anything.

"Sure you don't have anything to do with it," Mia said sarcastically. "I find it strange that the animals just started to turn up when you didn't get any attention anymore. Can't handle the fact you're not in the spotlight anymore?"

Lissa was on the verge of tears but was holding her own, that was until Mia made it worse.

"I guess the attention of the dead family was wearing off and you needed something else to turn the attention back on you."

That did it. Lissa was in tears. I was furious. Thank God I had burned off most of the darkness otherwise Mia would be dead. But that did not mean that normal Rose temper could not do any damage. Instead of murder, I opted for a broken nose. I slammed my fist into her face and felt the bone crack.

All hell broke loose. Blood from Mia's nose burst all around the room and guardians were on me in a second. Lissa was nowhere to be found. I knew I was in big trouble. Mia was carried out to the infirmary and I was taken to my room and placed under room arrest. I guess they would deal with me later.

I checked the bond and saw Lissa was fleeing towards the attic. Christian was following her. Good. She was crying her eyes out in the church attic. Christian was trying hard to comfort her, but she was very upset. I was about to leave them be, when sadness was turned into fear. Lissa saw Christian being struck on the head and pass out in front of her. She herself was then blindfolded and dragged out of the attic. Before the blind fold came on I recognized the person who had hit Christian. It was one of Victor's guardians.

I got out of her head as quickly as possible. I needed help from someone. I needed Dimitri; he would know what to do. We would have to move fast.

I walked to the guardians building. I had been sneaking out of my room for many years and I knew my way around the campus as to avoid guardian's eyes. Although I mostly tried to stay clear of guardians building, now I had to find a way inside. I saw a drainpipe at the neighboring building I could use to get higher and then jump onto the guardians building. The jump was not easy but I could manage. Once inside I descended the stairs to the living quarters. I had no idea which room was Dimitri's but somehow I could find him none the less. It was like I was pulled towards him, like Dimitri's room was a black hole, sucking me towards it and pulling me over the event horizon.

I stood in front of his door and knocked. He should be here. He had the early shift at the dance and I saw him leave half way through.

I knocked again and he opened the door. I was about to rush into the story of how Lissa was taken and Christian was unconscious in the attic until I laid eyes on him. My mind went blank. All I could see was Dimitri, wearing only pajama bottom that rode a little too low on his hip and his chest fully exposed.

"Rose, what are you doing here?"

I didn't even justify that with a response. I pushed him inside, closed the door and attacked him with my lips. He pulled back startled until I saw his eyes glaze over and he returned the kiss. He pushed me up against the door and I moved my legs around his weight. His lips were on mine again. His tongue finding mine and the feeling was amazing. One hand was underneath my thigh holding me up the other was tracing its way downwards from my shoulder, my back, my lower back, just caressing me with a fiery passion. He lifted me up and placed me on the bed. His bed. The bed that had his smell, his cologne. The bed he sleeps in at night. Does he dream about me here? Does he sleep naked?

My hands were in his hair keeping his face close to mine. I moved one hand down his body and I could feel him shiver. He murmured my name occasionally, so I know I was doing a good job. He moved his lips to my neck down to my chest. One hand was running up my thigh, reaching higher and higher. I moaned at the sensation. He seemed to enjoy the sound as I could feel a small smirk appear on his face as he was still placing kisses down my neck and chest.

He moved the dress up and started to unzip the side. I was excited, nervous but excited. This was it I was finally going to have sex. I had made out with a million boys before and everyone probably thought I had lost my virginity ages ago but I could never cross that line. I understood why now. It has to be with the right person, and I knew without a doubt that Dimitri was the right person. I did feel a bit self-conscious. Dimitri was older and more experienced than me. He obviously knows what he is doing whereas I just make it up as I go. But from the noises, he was making when I would touch him or kiss him I guess I wasn't too bad.

Dimitri was taking off my dress and I was left in my underwear. I thanked the stars I had worn some of the new nicer stuff Lissa had gotten me. Turquoise matching panties and bra. It worked with my skin tone perfectly. I could see Dimitri stopping for a moment and taking me all in.

"God you are beautiful, so beautiful it hurts me sometimes."

Before I could respond his lips were crashing back on mine. I knew there was no going back from this. I started to undo the laces of his pants and pulled his pants down. To my disappointment, he did wear boxers underneath. Dimitri was, in turn, taking off my bra. He focused his attention on my breast and his touch on my bare skin felt amazing. I needed him like I have never needed anything. The world was gone. It was just to two of us. Nothing in the world seemed to matter except his touch, his breath, his kiss.

He was scowling though; the necklace Victor had given me was in the way. It was a very nice necklace but was also slightly big. I guess he decided he wanted me completely naked down to the last piece. He took the necklace off and placed in on the nightstand next to him. The moment he let go of the necklace his demeanor and mine changed. I was still turned on. Incredibly so, but the desperation of needing him to touch me was gone. We just stared at each other for a moment trying to decipher what had happened.

I could still see the lust in his eyes and he was having a hard time trying not to go back to kissing me. But I also saw understanding that this would be a bad idea. His reason was returning to him. And so was mine.

It hit me like lightning. Lissa. Lissa was taken and Christian was in the attic unconscious.

"Dimitri, it's Lissa, she has been taken by Victor's guardians. We need to move fast if we are going to get her back."

Dimitri was pulling on some pants and handed me my clothes and one of his sweaters. It smelled like him and in any other moment, I would have reveled in the feeling. But now all I could think of was Lissa and how guilty I felt for nearly having sex with my mentor while she was being kidnapped.

I looked back to the necklace and walked towards it.

"Don't Rose, don't touch it. I think the necklace has been charmed. I am guessing Victor wanted us distracted while he would take the princess away."

Distracted? Yeah, that is a way of putting it.

"What, no lord Dashkov?"

"Not after what he pulled. I'll contact Alberta, letting her know what has happened."

He looked a little flustered and then clarified.

"I mean, that Victor has taken Vasilisa."

Yeah, telling Alberta what happened or almost happened here would be a bad idea.

"They knocked Christian out in the attic, someone should check on him."

Dimitri nodded and started to make phone calls.

5 minutes late we were in Kirova's office discussing the situation. Christian sat next to me with a nasty head wound, but he was conscious and still the normal pain in the ass Ozera.

"We need to go after them, please. They are getting further and further away."

"How did Strigoi get on campus to take the princess?" Kirova said looking at me with disdain. I guess she wasn't sure this wasn't one of our pranks.

"What, Strigoi didn't take Lissa. Victor did. We had the feeling someone was after Lissa since the accident that is why we left in the first place. I saw one of Victor's guardians. He was the one that knocked out Christian."

Kirova still looked at me like I had two heads. I guess she could not understand why Victor would want to take Lissa. Well, that made two of us. Christian came to my rescue.

"I saw them too before one of them knocked me out. Definitely guardians, but none that I recognized, so I am guessing there weren't school guardians."

"Alright, we will send a team to pursue them. And the two of you will go back to your rooms. You, Miss Hathaway, are still to be punished for attacking a fellow student."

"What, I am going with the team. I am not leaving Lissa. Besides I can track them. I am the only one that can find Lissa."

Kirova was about to protest but Dimitri stepped in.

"Headmistress, Rose is right. Having her relay information through the bond will help locate the princess that much faster. And since time is of the essence here I suggest we contemplate about her punishment for earlier events at a later time."

"Fine, I understand the time constraint, but why was there a time delay between when you learned the princess had been taken and when you informed Alberta."

We both flinched at that one. Our little make-out session had caused us valuable time. But we could not really tell the truth now, could we. Luckily for me, Dimitri answered.

"Rose came to warn me, but Lord Dashkov had given her a necklace earlier that activated the moment she saw me. It caused her to attack me and me too attack her in return. It took a while to get that under control. It also is further evidence that Lord Dashkov is the one behind the princess' abduction."

Kirova only nodded her head. It was decided I would come along to guide them and we were on our way in less than 5 minutes after that. You have to love guardian efficiency.

Don't worry Lissa, I am coming for you. I won't let him harm you.