Lissa and I had our talk with Kirova the next day. I didn't know what she wanted from us, especially since she asked Dimitri to come too, but we could have the chance to ask if Sonya and Mikhail could return.

Lissa knocked on Kivora's door. 'Come in' Kirova said.

'Good morning, your Majesty, Guardian Belikov and Guardian Hathaway' Kirova said.

'Good morning Headmistress Kirova' we said.

'There is something I want to ask you, Belikov and Hathaway. I know you're assigned to the most powerful Moroi, but I wanted to ask you if you can return to the academy to teach the better students. Belikov, you did a great job with Hathaway, and Hathaway, I'm sure you can do this too.'

'It's an honor you asked us to come back, Headmistress, but like you said, we are already assigned' Dimitri said.

'Uhm, can I say something?' Lissa asked.

'Sure'

'I think that if Rose and Dimitri will take the job, Christian and I also could stay here. I can work here, I only have to go to Court with Rose sometimes, and Christian can do some work for the fighting class. I think it's a good idea, if it won't last too long.' Lissa said.

'Liss, are you sure?' I asked her.

'Yes, you should take the chance. I'm here too, so you won't have to worry about me.'

I looked at Dimitri, to see what he would want. Surprisingly I saw he thought it was a good plan. He quickly nodded, almost unnoticeable.

'Okay, we'll do it, for one semester.' I said.

'Fine' Kirova said. 'I'll send you the information you might need. I think we can start the last semester? This one already started.'

'Sure, we'll be there.'

'Headmistress, we also have a question.' Lissa said.

'Sure, your Majesty' Kirova said.

'Well, Christian told me that there are 2 Spirit users at the academy…' Lissa started.

Kirova nodded in response.

'I think it'll be useful to have a Spirit user teaching at the academy again.'

'Yes, but we don't know many Spirit users who could want to take the job.' Kirova said.

'We know one who wants to come back.'

'You mean Miss Karp?'

'Yes, she will want to return, with Mikhail Tanner.'

'That won't happen.'

'Why not?'

'Because she turned herself Strigoi. It's not safe.'

'I've seen her after she came back. She regrets it. She is stronger than she was and I'm sure she won't turn herself Strigoi again. Besides that, Guardian Belikov was one too.' I said.

I silently took Dimitri's hand when Kirova answered. 'I don't know' she said.

'Headmistress Kirova, you agreed that it'll be good for the students if they can get taught something about their magic. It'll spare them for a part of the suffering I went through and the problems I had. Sonya Karp is skilled in the magic.' Lissa said.

'Okay, I'll think about it.' Kirova said. She saw that I wanted to say something. 'Yes, Guardian Tanner can return too.'

'Fine, we'll let you alone now.' Dimitri said.

'Guardian Belikov, Guardian Hathaway, can I please talk to you two?' Kirova said.

We only nodded. 'We'll come, Liss, go ahead' I said when I saw her hesitate.

Kirova waited until Lissa walked away. 'Everyone knows you're in a relationship. Everyone knew since you helped Rose escape.' she started.

'Yes, that's true, what's your point about it?' I asked, starting to offend.

'Have you been in a relationship when you were at the academy?'

I seriously didn't know what this was about. Everyone accepted us. Could we still get punished?

'No' Dimitri said.

'How come Vasilisa knew and even Guardian Petrov wasn't surprised?' she asked.

'Because there was affection. We won't deny it. I loved Dimitri, he loved me, but we fought against it. We both tried to move on and forget each other, because we knew we couldn't be together' I explained.

'How come everyone knew?'

'I think it was obvious after Dimitri was turned. I was heartbroken… My reaction was a bit extreme if he was just my mentor, I think. I walked away from school to hunt him.' I said.

'So, nothing happened between you before?'

'No, we didn't have a relationship until a few days before I told everyone Natasha Ozera had killed Queen Tatiana instead of me' I said. I thought it was wise not to tell about the cabin.

'Okay, that's what I wanted to know, you can go now' Kirova said.

We walked towards our room.