Chapter 26

DPOV

I had found her. I had finally found her.

My heart was running a million miles a minute as Alberta, Janine and I ran towards the mansion when we had seen Andre run out of it. My brain and eyes were having a battle of their own in that minute. My brain new that Andre was dead, but I couldn't deny what my eyes were showing me. We all stopped running for a second to see Andre running over to us when he spotted us.

"Prince Dragomir?" Janine asked in a shocked gasp.

"Yes, I'll explain everything later, but for now Rose needs your help."

That snapped me to attention. "Where is she?" I asked in a growl.

"She's inside, Alexander-"

I didn't get to hear the rest before I had ran off inside the building.

I entered the building and my eyes straight away zeroed in on Rose. My breath caught in my throat as I took in her beauty. Her hair was longer, much longer, it came to the base of her spine and if we had been at the school training I would have scolded her and told her to put it up. She was skinner and looked a lot fiercer than what I could remember. When she turned I could see that the light in her eyes that I loved so much was gone. They were just empty bottomless pits full of pain and misery, and my heart ached at the thought of my love suffering.

I watched her as she turned to face her new opponent and I couldn't register anything because my feet had already taken me on my way to holding her in my arms. As I got closer I could smell the delicious scent of her that radiated off her skin, strawberries and coconuts. I saw her stiffen before I laid a hand on her lower back and turned her around.

"Roza…" I breathed while I reached out with my hands to stroke her face.

She moved away at the same time she whispered my name, full of shock, relief and love. The love that was pooling out of her eyes and aura was enough to knock me over.

"Dimitri…"

"Roza? It's me… Dimitri…" I said forgetting the fights and the world around us.

Roza's eyes watered as she looked at me and I saw her grip the girl she was holding in her arms tighter.

I took a moment to look at the girl. She was peeking at me from beneath her eyelashes, just like Roza does, and was looking at me through her curtain of chestnut brown hair. Her eyes were the most brilliant hazel I had ever seen. I knew without knowing how that this was Rose's daughter. My heart ached at the thought of her moving on and forgetting me, but at the same time I would forgive her.

"I know, and I am glad to see you. So, so glad. But please… Do-don't touch me. Please Dimitri."

My heart shattered, and my whole world shattered along with it as I took in the true meaning of her words. I swallowed thickly before answering.

"D-Did it happen again? What happened with N-Nathan?"

Rose slowly nodded as tears streamed down her cheeks while she buried her head in the girls hair.

My hands clenched into fists at my sides and I could feel myself vibrating with anger.

All this time I could never find Rose because of a glamour that had been placed on the outside, and Adrian also wasn't able to access her in her dreams because something was blocking him off, almost like a brick wall. Now I knew what it was; spirit. It had to be. And I bet it had something to do with Prince Dragomir being alive. Someone must have brought him back to life and he must be shadow-kissed to the person. I felt for him, knowing how Roza struggled with the darkness that Spirit brought. I hated spirit, I absolutely loathed it. It was destroying my Roza from the inside out, and the thought of her having to deal with it all on her own for the past five years drove me insane.

I spun around in a circle, needing to get rid of all this built up anger from inside me and it was then for the first time that I noticed my father stood behind me.

"You," I snarled walking towards him. "You did this didn't you? You hurt my fiancé." I said.

"If you mean impregnating her to get what I wanted… then yes, I did." He said boldly.

I moved so quickly that I had latched onto Alexander before he knew what I was doing and punched him in the side of the dace, sending him spiralling towards the ground. I bent down to haul him back to his feet and then threw him against the wall, keeping him pinned there by my arm under his chin. I kept my arm there while I maneuverer my stake out of my back pocket and positioned it over his heart.

Alexander's eyes widened. "You wouldn't," he hissed narrowing his eyes at me.

I leaned in even closer towards his face. "I think we both know I would."

With that I raised my arm and brought it back down quickly, putting it right through Alexander's heart.

Alexander gave a surprised yelp as his eyes went wide. His eyes then fluttered closed and opened no more.

I dropped my father as he crumbled to the ground and I stared down at him in disgust. I had been dreaming about this day for years. The day when I would finally kill my father for all of the bullshit he has done to my sisters and especially my mother. He was a dirty bastard who deserved to rot in hell. I had several chances to kill him before today, but up until now I didn't have the courage to kill him. Beat him up, yeah, I could do that. But to murder your own father? That's pretty dark stuff. But Roza was my breaking point. I could deal with him raping my mum and me being satisfied with beating him up, but raping the love of my life? That's another story. No one and I mean No one, hurts my Roza and gets away with it.

I heard a soft gasp from behind me and I turned to see Roza swaying on her feet. Fear spiked me as I saw her eyes flutter close.

"Roza!" I yelled as I raced over to her.

Her eyes fasted on me once more before they closed and she fell backwards. The little girl in her arms was gripping Roza's neck for dear life while calling out her name repeatedly.

"Mum! Mummy!"

I reached Roza at the same time Alberta did. Alberta reached out and took the girl out of Roza's arms so that she wouldn't be hurt as Roza fell and I caught her before she could hit the floor.

"Tessa?" Roza called out and I realised that she was calling out to the little girl.

I sat on the floor and lowered her to my lap as I stroked her hair away from her forehead. I bent over to lightly kiss her forehead and I could feel the tears pooling in my eyes. I hated seeing my Roza so weak. She was so, so strong, and that is why I loved her, so to see her so weak broke my heart.

"She's fine Roza, I promise," I whispered in her ear as I continued to stroke her hair. I knew she asked not to touch her, but I wanted – no needed to touch her, and I could tell that she was losing the fight in staying conscious.

I could feel her fading, so I bent down so that my lips were right beside her ear.

"I love you Roza," I whispered.

I knew she knew I did, but I needed her to hear me say it, I didn't know what had happened over the five years that we had been apart, but I could only guess that she would have seconded guessed my love for her. She probably thought that I couldn't care less about her, and that I couldn't be bothered finding her a second time, when in truth I had spent nearly every day and every night trying to find her. I had many sleepless nights from the nightmares that invaded me. Teasing me and mocking me in my inability to find her. But I knew the whole time, deep within me, that someday I would find her. Which I did.

Rose had passed out unconscious in my arms so I gently picked her up and started to carry her outside, but then I felt a tugging on my left leg. Looking down I saw the same girl that Roza was holding tugging on my pants leg and trying to stop me from moving.

"NO! PUT MY MUMMY DOWN!" She cried at the top of her lungs.

I looked Alberta and she bent down to pick the girl up.

"What is your name sweetie?" I asked. The girl reminded me a lot of Adrianna who was at my Mother's house waiting for me to return with Roza, along with Lissa, Christian, Adrian and Eddie.

"It's Tessa, now put my mommy down!" she screamed while starting to cry.

"Hey, it's ok, my name is Dimitri, I'm looking after your mummy. I'm here to help her." I explained.

At the mention of my name Tessa's little head snapped up to look at me with wide eyes.

"Daddy?"

I frowned. "What sweetie?"

"Your my daddy?" she said in a small voice and looked at me from beneath her eyelashes.

I was a taken back. As far as I knew, I never had sex with Roza a second time after she had Adrianna so there was no way that Tessa could be my daughter. And yet, she was looking at me with that wide look in her eyes that Adrianna often would use on me. You could see the unconditional love and faith behind her innocent little eyes, and the knowing look that I'd keep her safe no matter what, because that is what daddy's are supposed to do.

"I-" I was a loss for words in what to tell the little girl.

She obviously believed whole-heartedly that I was her father and nothing anyone was going to say would change that. I started thinking about the possibilities of how Roza could have gotten pregnant. As I looked at Tessa, I saw that she had Roza's long luscious locks of chestnut brown hair but her eyes were the most brilliant hazel. I had only ever saw that hazel colour twice in my life, with Lissa and my father-

Just like that I knew whose daughter she was. She was my fathers and Roza's daughter. When Alexander had forced himself on Roza he said how he was getting what he wanted and that he did indeed rape Roza to get what he wanted.

A grandchild.

My hands tightened on Roza at the realization that she would tell this little girl that I was her father to protect her from the truth and who her father really was.

A criminal that will now be rotting away in hell.

I looked down at Tessa and made my decision within a heartbeat. Roza had obviously worked hard to drill the fact that I was this girls 'father' into her head, and I was determined to keep it that way. I realised two things at once then. That I loved my Roza more than anything in that minute just then and that the fact I wanted to be this girl's father. She had been through enough to not deserve a real family and a real father who loved her and not just wanted her like a possession. And looking at her face I did love Tessa. She reminded me so much of my Roza that you couldn't help but not love her.

I smiled at Tessa and I felt my heart melt when she smiled back. "Yes, I'm your father sweetie," I whispered.

Beside me I saw Alberta shoot me a surprised but approving glance. I knew that looking at her she had come to the same conclusion I had about Tessa's real father.

She smiled and then looked at Rose and her smile dimmed. "Will my mummy be ok?" She asked worriedly.

My heart broke at the thought of this girl worrying. No little child like her should have to worry about anything. The crease lines in her porcelain face just didn't suite her at all. Just like a frown didn't suite on my Roza's face.

I smiled despite myself. "She will be fine sweetie. Your mummy is just asleep." I said. Looking down at the peaceful look on Roza's face I knew that Tessa would believe me.

"But she doesn't look fine; she normally frowns and cries in her sleep. She too quiet to be asleep," Tessa argued.

My heart shattered at the thought of Roza whimpering and crying in her sleep.

"She is fine, Tess, I promise. Let's just get her home ok?" I said and Tessa nodded knowingly. How could a five year old be so mature and logical? It just wasn't right.

We started walking towards the door when I saw a ghost.

Mason.

I stopped short and sucked in a shocked gasp.

How could I see Mason when only the shadow-kissed could see ghosts? I was away that I was breathing rapidly and I thought it was only me that could see Mason until Alberta spoke from beside me.

"Mason?" She asked disbelievingly.

He nodded and stepped forward. "I know you think I'm dead, but I'm not. I'm shadow-kissed." He explained.

"But I saw your body…" I said trailing off.

Mason nodded. "Robert only came to me after you guys had left."

I frowned. "Robert?"

Mason nodded again. "Yeah, Victor Dashkov's brother? Or half-brother I should say. Robert Doru."

I swore. Christ, this means we can't kill either of the brothers even though their crimes are worthy of death. We couldn't kill Robert because then Andre and Mason would die from losing their bond mate, and if we killed Victor then Robert would suffer from grief and most likely try to commit suicide. We couldn't have that.

"What's wrong?" Mason asked frowning. I noticed his eyes were trained on Rose's limp form in my arms.

That snapped my attention back to the situation and reminded me what I had to do. Get Rose out of here and to somewhere where she will be safe. Forever at my side and no one else's.

"Nothing, now let's move, we have to get back to my house where my mother is waiting for Roza." I said.

I ran out the door as smoothly as what I could because I didn't want to jostle Roza too badly. We loaded Roza into the car as soon as we reached it and the ride back to the house which was on hour away was silent. I spent the whole car ride sitting in the backseat with Roza spread out across my lap, and I was brushing her hair back away from her face and was stroking her cheek lovingly. Beside use Tessa sat next to use never taking her worried little eyes off of Roza's body.

I ended up falling asleep and only awoke when we were pulling into the driveway of my house.

I scooped Roza up into my arms and carefully lifted her out the car. Mason came around to my side and made a move to grab Roza off of me so that I could get out the car.

"I've got her," I snapped.

I was so protective over my Roza and I was never going to let anyone touch her again. Ever.

Mason raised his hands in a surrendering gesture and I walked past him with Rose in my arms.

I looked up towards the door to see my mother standing in the doorway looking at us with worried eyes white chewing on her lower lip.

"Is this her?" Mother asked me as I walked past her inside to put Roza on the couch.

"Yes," I answered shortly.

I then heard what sounded like thunder coming down the staircase and when I turned I saw Lissa, Christian, Adrian and Eddie standing at the base of the stairs appearing quite breathless.

"Did you find her?!" Lissa asked piercing me with her eyes.

I nodded and stood back half a step, enough so that I was still really close to Roza but also so that Lissa and her friends could see her.

Lissa gasped as did Adrian and Eddie, and ran forward. Christian just stood there shocked with wide eyes and parted lips.

Lissa tripped as she ran forward and I had enough presence of mind to reach forward and catch her. Tears were running down the princess's face as she gripped Roza's hand in a death lock hold.

"Oh Rose! I'm so sorry!" She sobbed onto Roza's chest.

I leaned forward so I could lay a hand on Lissa's shoulder. "She's unconscious Lissa, but she will be fine," I said with conviction.

"Physically," Adrian muttered from beside me.

I looked up and glared at him, only to see that he was drinking heavily from a bottle of vodka. My hard look softened as I felt pity.

It was then that I remembered that we still had Mason and Andre with us and that no one knew that they were alive and shadow-kissed.

I stood up and looked at Lissa and Eddie in particular. Lissa was now in Christian's arms still sobbing, no longer beside Rose and Eddie just stood against the door looking completely lost in what to do. I could relate to what he was feeling. I just felt so helpless as I looked down at Roza seeing her suffer physically, mentally and emotionally.

As I walked over to the door everyone turned to me surprised.

"Dimika? Where are you going?" My mother asked completely astonished that I was leaving Roza's size even for just two seconds.

"I'll be back, I just have to – have to get something…" I said breaking off looking once more at Lissa.

I knew what I was about to do would impact on her greatly. For the past year she had been trying to get her rights onto the royal committee and run for queen, because Queen Tatiana was giving it up and was holding an election in a week.

"Alright, just don't run off alright?" Mother said worriedly.

I smiled kindly. "As if I could," I said softly with another look at Roza.

I then walked out the front door to see that Alberta was standing with both Mason and Andre. When she saw me coming out the house she spoke.

"You realise how much these two are going to change the society?" She said as I approached them.

I nodded. "Lissa can run for Queen."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait! Lissa is running for Queen?!" Andre asked stepping forward.

"Not yet, but elections are in a week," I explained.

"So wait, how old is she now?" He asked.

"She's twenty three Andre," Alberta said quietly.

Andre fell silent and I couldn't decipher his expression. I couldn't tell if he was surprised or upset or even angry.

"Does she know I'm alive?" he whispered.

I shook my head. "But she's about to."

Andre gulped.

I smiled kindly. "Don't worry, she will be ecstatic that you are alive," I soothed.

"Does Eddie know I'm alive?" Mason asked equally as quiet.

"No, now come on and see them. They have all missed you guys like crazy."

We all turned and headed back inside and I could practically feel their nervousness from behind me.

I pushed open the door and walked inside. Only Eddie turned towards me and when he did his eyes widened and a gasp fell from his lips.

"Mason?!" Eddie asked surprised stepping forward so that he stood in front of Mason.

"Hey man, sorry I forgot to visit," Mason said with a nervous laugh.

"B-But you were dead!"

Mason chuckled darkly. "Yes, I was, but I'm now shadow-kissed like Rose."

"But wait, who brought you back?" Eddie asked confused.

By now everyone in the room was looking at Mason with dropped jaws.

"Robert, Victor's brother. But I'm not the only one who is shadow-kissed…" Mason said.

"Who else?" Christian asked.

Mason smiled briefly before stepping to the side to the side to reveal Andre.

There was a collection of gasped but one stood out more than the others.

"Andre!" Lissa was looking at her brother with wide eyes and opened mouth. Her skin had gone a ghostly white and she was looking a bit faint.

"Hey little sis," Andre said feebly stepping forward.

Just as he stepped forward Lissa's eyelids fluttered and I knew what was going to happen even before she fell forward.

I raced to her side but Andre was already there catching her before she could hit the floor.

"Well!" Said a voice from the corner and I turned to see a drunken Adrian. "This is going to change everything!" he exclaimed before he too passed out in the chair.

I was slightly amused by his behaviour, but he was right about one thing. Mason and Andre's arrival was going to change everything.

So that's another chapter done, don't forget to review to make me happy, otherwise I may not put the next chapter up :)

Till next time lovelies xx