Disclaimer:Richelle Mead owns Vampire Academy.

A/N:Sorry for the wait. I'm busy at working on the new chapter so hopefully there will be an update this weekend. I really do hope you guys like where this story is going. I think that this is probably my best work yet. This story I mean. I can't wait for you to read more and figure out where it's going. Thank you so much for the reviews and favorites. They're much appreciated and I don't take them for granted.

Chapter Twelve

"What's that?"

Startled, I dropped the object in question and watched as it fell to the floor. Hurriedly, I picked up the yellow thing and fisted it in my hand, cringing when the juice ran down my finger into a cut.

I hissed at the pain and dropped it once more.

This time, Lissa bent down and picked it up.

As I watched her for a reaction, I stuck my finger into my mouth to try and still the aching pain. Who knew a simple lemon could create so much pain in a simple scrape? It felt as bad as getting salt, or dirt, in a wound.

She eyed the half piece of lemon and then looked up at me. She looked a little confused. "Where did you get this?"

Not knowing what to say, I just shook my head stupidly. I opened my mouth a few times so as to offer an explanation, but I had no answer. What could I say? That I had just "found" it? Dimitri had told me that lemons didn't grow around here. Odds are, if they were foreign to me, they'd be foreign to mostly everyone else.

Lissa handed it back to me and said, "Have you been to Royal Square lately?"

Thinking it would help my case, I shook my head. If I was going to Royal Square without letting anyone know, then it would seem suspicious. Though most people didn't bother to ask where I went, I usually filled Lissa in, because we were friends. If I was going somewhere like Royal Square, then I would have probably told her about it - so long as it wasn't a secretive meeting with Dimitri.

And that was why I denied my going there.

However, it had the opposite effect. Instead of helping me, it only made her more curious.

"Then where did you get that?"

I stayed silent, feeling completely and utterly caught. I had always been prepared to answer questions, but this wasn't something I had prepared for.

"Rose," Lissa started again, grabbing my arm. She pulled me out of the eating area, where I had been to eat breakfast. I had been covertly trying to squeeze some lemon juice onto bread like Dimitri had showed me and had been too lost in my recollection of my night with him when Lissa had wandered by without me noticing. She tugged me by the arm all the way to the little medical area she was so used to being in.

Once we were in a private area covered by a sheet, she forced me down onto an empty cot. I sat down without muttering a word and waited for the inquisition that was sure to come.

"You're hiding something," was all she said, as she folded her arms and huffed.

"No, I'm not, I - " I tried, but she cut me off before I could finish trying to explain myself, but it was no use.

"Don't lie to me, Rose. I know what someone looks like when they're hiding something. I'm hiding something myself, remember? Try again..." As she stared at me, I tried to build up a lie in my head, but no feasible explanation came to mind. Could I say that I really had just been to Royal Square? If I went with that, I could reason that I just didn't want anyone to know. But why?

I couldn't come up with anything...

Taking a big breath, I closed my eyes for a moment and hoped this wouldn't get me into any huge trouble.

I could trust Lissa right?

I opened my eyes and found her wide opal irises staring back at me. Concern was in her eyes and I realized that if I had asked, she wouldn't tell. Yes, she wouldn't probably be shocked and worried about the possible outcomes of mine and Dimitri's relationships, but I didn't do anything or tell anyone about her and Christian when she asked me to. She owed me the same...right?

"You and me," I started, "we're not that different."

Her head cocked to the side as one of her brows raised ever so slightly.

I continued without any verbal encouragement. I could openly see her curiosity. "Like you, I am in a secret relationship."

A small gasp emitted from her thin frame as she pulled up a chair to sit down in front of me. She rested her elbows on her knees and then placed her chin her hands. She seemed completely interested in what I had to say next. I almost wanted to tell her to stop, because this wasn't news I wanted her to gossip about. The way she was looking at me made this feel like I was telling her about some juicy love affair...but then again...

"With whom?" she asked, her eyes twinkling. Oh, if only she knew, then she wouldn't be as ecstatic as she seemed now. "Eddie?" she guessed, a smile bursting from her lips. When I didn't respond right away, she offered another option, "Mason?" And then she was off. "Oh, I bet you it's him! It is him isn't it? I saw you two together the other day. He was completely smitten with you! And I bet you feel the same, right?"

Lost, I grasped onto my only life boat in this sea of secrecy I was drowning in.

Nodding, I agreed with her. "Yes, it's him," I lied, partially regretting it immediately afterward.

What position would this put Mason in? If I had let Lissa believe we were in some type of secret relationship, then wouldn't I have to let him know? No, because then I'd have to explain why I was lying to her.

My goodness, this was getting more complicated.

Grabbing Lissa's hands in mine, I pulled her to senses. "You can't tell anyone!" I cried.

She nodded and then shut her mouth tight. "Of course not! Could you imagine what your father would say if he knew? Mason is one of your father's head men! The only person worse would be Eddie!" I cringed, realizing that someone like Dimitri would never have entered her mind. He wasn't even an option to her, because why would she even think I'd be interested in someone from Royal Square? I had mentioned Dimitri to her before, but that was a long time ago, and she probably thought nothing of it.

And, she was right. My father would have gotten angry if he found out I was in a relationship with Mason or Eddie. I could only picture what that would lead up to. That being said, I didn't even want to imagine what would happen if he knew of Dimitri and I, if he knew we had consummated our relationship by having sex.

As far as society believed, the only people who had intercourse before marriage were whores and lowly peasants. Yes, there were a large majority of high rank people - like Royals or wealthy men - who had affairs like these, but they were so rich and of high standard that it wasn't mentioned or spoken badly enough about to damage their reputation. My reputation was already tainted, because I was a rebel, but it would be in the gutter to my people if they knew I had slept with Dimitri Belikov...head soldier to the Royal family.

If Dimitri's fellow soldiers or the Royals found out, they'd probably disown him and he'd be left to live in his humble house without any income. No more lemons for him.

Sighing, I stood up from the cot and pulled Lissa to me. I felt bad lying to her, but it had to be done. Now that she had agreed to keep it a secret, there would be no issue with Mason. He'd never have to know anything and I wouldn't have to explain further.

Now, I just had to be even more careful with my actions.

I was scheduled to meet up with Dimitri tonight, and I didn't want to risk that.

It had only been a day and a half and I was already desperate to see him again.

Later that day, my father called for me. I had been in my room, trying to make myself look decent for the night I had ahead of me when a knock came to the door. It was Eddie, who told me it was an urgent meeting that my father was calling me to. I wanted to decline, because I was going to meet Dimitri, but I knew I couldn't. I had to uphold my duties here.

It probably wouldn't take long, I hoped. When I stepped out of my door, I guessed that I had about another hour until it was time to meet Dimitri. It took around fifteen minutes at the least to reach the lake, so I had to count my minutes wisely.

As we walked together through the village, I noted that no one seemed to be rushing along with us. That meant this was probably a meeting only for people close to organizing the rebellion. The village knew of rebellion plans, but they were not as up to date as my father's men and I were. I followed in step behind Eddie until we came upon a building that held a trapdoor leading down into the secret underworld we had constructed.

We were entering the same rooms beneath the floor that we had taken Lissa to when she had first been brought here. I thought back to that day for a moment, finding it almost funny that I had kidnapped Lissa.

As we stepped down a wooden ladder, I banged my head on the low ceiling and stopped for a minute to rub the spot.

Eddie chuckled from beside me and then lead me further into the dark tunnels. I wanted to glare but the sights around me were good for distraction. It never ceased to amaze me how this was possible to be made. I never understood why the ceiling didn't collapse or why the walls didn't cave in. Maybe one day they would, but they hadn't yet, and that was pretty spectacular.

It was dark where we walked, but he led me with conviction, so he must've known where we were heading. Soon enough, I saw a dim flickering light ahead and as we got closer, I recognized a group of people gathered in a large space that could be called a room. I also recognized the powerful booming voice that belonged to my father.

All attention was directed toward my father, whose eyes swept over me once briefly as Eddie and I joined the group. I recognized my mother, who was surprisingly here, Mason, and a few other members of my father's men.

I kept my eyes to the flickering pot of fire in the middle of the room, wondering how long this would take.

"...in two weeks time, they will know what we've been planning," my father proclaimed from the front of the room and my head shot up. I hadn't been listening, but now he had my full attention. "The royals will now see what it is like to be taken control of, to not be allowed freedom, but instead to be forced into doing ridiculous things. We will overpower them and we will triumph."

Nods and shouts of support came from my father's men and even my mother joined in on the fun. While this was happening, I caught eyes with my father who shot me a weird look before his eyes moved on to the next person in the crowd.

I could only imagine what he saw in my eyes.

Fear? Sadness? Worry? Because I felt all of those things.

I believed that I had more time than I really did. In only two short weeks, Dimitri and I would be forced to choose sides and fight against each other's friends and colleagues.

The cheering around me died down only a little bit when Mason found me and opened his arms wide for a hug. A forced a smile onto my lips and walked into his arms. He lifted me off the ground and twirled me around.

I wanted to tell everyone that we hadn't successfully completed the uprising yet, but I had a feeling that would only kill everyone's fun.

They were celebrating how far we had come, and not too long ago, I'd have been here doing the same. I'd have been bursting with excitement and confidence, but now I was just feeling heavily pressured to alert Dimitri.

But I couldn't. I couldn't do that to my father, to all these people around me. I couldn't ruin their fun. It wouldn't be right for all these people to have worked so hard in all this planning to just be shot down before it even began.

That was why I didn't say anything some time later after I sneaked away from the celebrations to see Dimitri. As I made my way into the forest, I pictured my father retelling his speech to all of our village - like he mentioned he would do tonight after the "meeting" was over. Once everyone in our town knew, it would be all they'd talk about until the day, I just knew it.

My time would be even more taken up because this would call for more training sessions and harder training and more meetings and more information.

God, if I knew more plans, then the urge to warn Dimitri would only heighten.

When Cobalt stopped at the edge of the lake, I looked around, thinking I still had a little time until Dimitri arrived.

I tied him up and sighed heavily as I got off of him. I slumped down against a tree trunk and thought of any way to give myself some sort of relief before I had to be face to face to Dimitri. My eyes studied the fallen leaves around me and eventually traveled down the length of my legs to my feet.

Tan colored cloth sewed into shoes covered my feet. Stiff materials lightly padded the bottom as to offer any type of structure and protection to my soles. I curled my toes underneath the worn fabric and then bent down to slip them off.

Tossing them aside, I stood and walked to the lake. After a moment's thought, I walked over the spot where those special flowers were and knelt down. I wasn't wearing a special dress today, so it didn't matter that I was getting myself even more dirty than I already was.

Moving to sit on my bottom, I lifted the skirt of my dress up to my waist and lowered my feet into the water. It was rather cold, but the chill shook all stress from me. Looking around for a moment, I angled my body in a way so I could gather up a pile of leaves into a makeshift pillow. I looked up at the sky as I slowly laid back so I was in a resting position, with my feet in the water.

I must've fallen asleep because before I knew it, my eyes were opening and I was a warm bed.

Shooting up to figure out where I was, I heard low laughter from beside me.

A warm arm, wrapped around my waist, pulled me back down.

When I recognized the muscular feel of said arm, I relaxed and realized where I was.

My head fell back down on the pillow and I felt Dimitri place a small kiss on my temple. I couldn't fight the smile that caressed my lips. Shifting my head to the side, I studied his face. His eyes looked a bit tired, which probably mirrored my own appearance, and his hair was loose from its normal tie.

Lifting a hand, I ran my fingers through it and then cleared it away from his attractive face.

"How did you get me here?"

"It's a secret," he said, an unusual lazy smile falling on his lips.

Almost forgetting my previous question completely, I said, "Something is extremely different about you."

Dimitri pulled back just a teensy bit and raised his eyebrow. "Like?"

I shrugged. "I don't know. You seem very..." I searched for a word, "...happy."

He chuckled. "And I didn't appear happy before?"

"Well, yes, you did, but it's like it's more now. You seem completely content right now."

"You see, I tried to tell you," he pretend scolded and then slipped the shoulder off of my dress slowly. I didn't even try to stop him, because my body was defenseless under his touch.

I was becoming quite soft in his presence.

Not liking that thought, I grabbed his hand, stopping his movements - despite my earlier belief of not being able to say no to him - and held it in mine. He didn't seem to mind that much.

"What?" I asked.

"That I'd could be happy with you."

I blinked in realization and then reached for the ties of my dress, wanting to get it off as soon as possible.

After a rehashing the scene from two nights ago, I collapsed into the mattress and snuggled into the incredibly luxurious sheets. I breathed contentedly and splayed my hand out over Dimitri's abdomen.

My hand rose and fell along with his stomach as he tried to catch his breath.

"Tonight turned out a lot differently than I thought it would."

"Really?" Dimitri asked. "I was almost certain it would end with you in my bed, in my arms."

I laughed, pinching his skin a little as a small punishment, though I wasn't mad one bit. "Well, I had hoped for this, but I meant the other part. Me falling asleep, you somehow getting me here."

"Yes, I don't think either one of us predicted that."

"I'm sorry."

"Why?"

It was very quiet in the room, in the whole town really. It was a world away from RS and even my village. In RS, there were sounds in the town at all hours, and in my village, while it was quiet, it wasn't this quiet. I hadn't heard one peep from anyone in the village at all. It was somewhat soothing in a way but also a bit nerve wracking.

"Because I slept for I don't even know how long, and wasted time we could've been spending together."

"Don't be sorry for catching up on much needed rest, Roza. If I'm being honest, I fell asleep along with you once we got back here."

I shifted onto my side. "How did you get me here anyway?"

"I thought I said it was a -"

"Secret, yes I know, but you can tell me," I pressured. "I'm very good at keeping secrets." Flashes from what happened back in my village during the meeting with my father entered my mind. Yes, it was true. I was very good at keeping secrets it seemed.

The nap I had taken was my way of coping with the news. Making love to Dimitri had been my way of apologizing to him for the secrets, though he didn't know it. It still bothered me that I didn't want to tell him, but I couldn't spoil any of our precious time together. That wasn't right either.

Dimitri, who was staring at me fondly, filled me in. "I carried you here."

"What? I don't believe you."

He nodded, but then paused. "Well, not exactly." I laughed. "When I saw you sleeping, I couldn't bring myself to wake you, so I untied Cobalt, gathered your shoes and tied him to my horse so he could follow along. I picked you up and mounted Betta - which was actually quite a difficult feat I might add - and we rode to the edge of the forest. I tied them up and then hid in doorways - like you like to do - in order to get us both back here without being seen."

He had gone through a lot of trouble when he could've just woken me, but I was thankful...and surprised that I hadn't woken up through any of that! I must've been really tired. Now, looking back on it, I realized it was true. Staying up late all these nights to see Dimitri was taking its toll on me, but I'd continue to put myself through it to see him.

"No one saw us?"

He shook his head. "Not one soul."

"How skilled you are!"

"Well, they don't call me 'head guardian to the royals' for nothing," he joked, recalling my habit of adding that bit at the end of his name. At first I had done that in spite, but now it was somewhat of a kind gesture. Sometimes I used it in a joking manner to make fun of myself and him.

"Speaking of that, how did the dungeon duties work out?" I asked, trying subtly slip in a question about that.

I wanted to find out what my people were liable of getting into.

Dimitri shrugged, not finding my question a little odd. "Just fine, but enough about that," he said, changing the topic. I didn't blame him. I felt guilty for trying to wheedle information out of him. Guilt left and right.

I reminded myself to enjoy the time I had with him.

Who knew how long I'd have left?

I laughed spitefully at myself.

I knew how long I had left.

Two weeks.

A/N: In the next few chapters, I'll develop their relationship some more. I hope you're looking forward to that. I know I am :) Please tell me your thoughts on this chapter. Thanks for reading!