Chapter 36: Remembering Mason

Disclaimer: All sexy Vampires and Dhampirs belong to Richelled Mead.

This chapter is more or less a filler, but I though Mason deserved to be remembered. Enjoy!

RPOV

The last few weeks flew by like nothing. Classes were over and we'd just taken our last finals. I was passing every subject with a C or higher that was a first for me. I surmised that I had my Russian god to thank for all of the quality studying I put in. He helped me with the more difficult subjects like Calculus and Advanced Guardian Theory. He really was good at absolutely everything. Things between us had been going pretty well. We hadn't really seen much of each other outside of training and studying though since he was taking extra shifts and I had a lot of graduation preparation.

This morning was my last final and I felt like I'd aced it. I rushed out of class and sped over to the cafeteria where I knew Lissa was waiting for me.

"We finally did it!" she shrieked happily nearly leaping out of her seat. She threw her arms around me squeezing me tight.

"Who would have thought I'd be passing every subject and graduating top of my class in combat?" I laughed hugging her back.

"Where's Sparky and Eddie and Adrian?" I asked looking around. The cafeteria was bustling with excitement now that school was officially out.

She shrugged.

Rose why aren't you as excited as me?

I knew she could feel my anxiety. In the past two months she had caught on to the tricks of the bond rather quickly. She could now enter my head at will ninety percent of the time. When she got sucked in she was able to pull herself without difficulty. Well most of the time. If she was sleeping it was not as easy a task which I knew unfortunately from her many many late night encounters with Sparky.

Sorry it's just that classes might be over, but trials are in two days and I'm not sure I'm ready. I confessed with a sigh.

Rose you're more than ready. You're the only novice ever to have molnija before a promise mark. You've been in real combat and survived.

I know I said sadly thinking about Mason. He should be here graduating with us, but he wasn't. He'd stupidly returned to rescue me when he'd already escaped to safety. I would be forever grateful that I was not dead, but forever remorseful that he had taken my place.

Rose it wasn't your fault. Said Lissa trying to comfort me. She of course felt my guilt flare up at the thought of him.

It was my fault. I've come to terms with it Liss, but he loved me and I led him on and it was his feelings for me that interfered and got him killed. He never would have come back for me had he felt otherwise. I responded sadly a lone tear escaping my eye.

"Why the tears Little Dhampir?" Asked Adrian whom I didn't even hear approach. He used his thumb to wipe the tear that had slowly fallen down my cheek away.

I sniffled a little. "Just tears of happiness." I said forcing a smile.

"Sure they are. You know your Aura gives you away right?"

"She was thinking about how Mason should be here graduating with us." Explained Lissa with a sad smile.

"Rose, don't be like that he would have wanted us to be happy and to make the most of our lives. You know that." Said Eddie coming up behind me with a tray of food.

"I know. I just can't help thinking about him right now. He would have made an excellent Guardian."

"I don't doubt it." Said Eddie. "Let's just focus on the positive."

"I agree." Said Lissa.

"Me too!" Agreed Christian who had sat down at the table next to her.

"So who do you think you'll get assigned to Eddie?" Asked Lissa.

"I'm not sure. I was hoping to stay with you guys, but you already have Rose and Belikov and who knows if Ozera will even get a guardian with the way the Queen hates him and his family." He said with a sigh.

Christian grimaced at that comment. We all knew it was the truth though. Tasha didn't have a Guardian and Christian probably wouldn't either. It would be like I had two charges because there's no way I wouldn't protect him. Even though I acted like I hated him most of the time, I really loved him like a brother.

"You were hoping to move to the Royal Court to be near Mia weren't you?" I asked bluntly.

"Uh well yea." He said blushing profusely.

"We all know you guys are together and we couldn't be happier." I said.

We all nodded in agreement.

"And who says Sparky here won't get a guardian? And if you didn't know already there's an opening to be Lissa's guardian because Dimitri has asked to be reassigned."

"Really? Why?" he asked.

"Because we can't both guard her and be about if you and Mia were both guarding Lissa and there were Strigoi. Who would you jump in front of?"

"Mia." He responed with a knowing look.
"Exactly my point." I responded.

"So are you nervous for your trials Little Dhampir?" asked Adrian.

"A little." I admitted.

Eddie groaned loudly. "Rose you can't be nervous. If you're nervous think of how the rest of us regular novices are feeling."

"Regular novices? What am I then?"

"You my love are amazing." Came a deep voice from behind me.

"MMM say it again I didn't quite catch it the first time Comrade." I said with a mischievous grin.

He put his hands on my shoulders which was about all he could do in a room full of students.

"You are incredible." He said with one of his heart stopping smiles.

"Well that's it I'm not nervous anymore." I said with a laugh.

"Funny Rose." Griped Eddie pushing his food around on his plate.

Rose are you going to be getting ready with me in my room for graduation on Saturday?

Of course who else would I spend the day with?

Lissa smiled brightly.

"Hey stop doing that it's not fair." Whined Christian.

"Doing what?" asked Dimitri curiously. We hadn't let him in on the whole bond thing yet and he was beginning to wonder at some of mine and Lissa's odd behavior and why we were always sitting together, but never talking. Or so he thought.

"Nothing." I replied quickly shooting Christian a death glare.

"Oh really." Said Dimitri raising his eyebrow.

"Wouldn't you like to know." Snarked Chistian under his breath.
Lissa kicked him hard under the table.

"Hey the guy has a right to know." He said rubbing his shin.

"The right to know what?"

"Geez Sparky I'm really going to go to jail for beating the snot out of you." I snapped grabbing my tray and chucking the rest of my lunch into the trash.

I stormed away from the table angrily. I knew Dimitri would follow me so I walked quickly towards the one place I knew he couldn't go, the girls's bathroom. I was about to push the door open when I felt his arms tighten around my waist. He pulled me against him.

"Roza there is something you're not telling me." He breathed against my neck.

"So not fair Comrade." I complained as I nearly went weak in the knees from his close proximity.

"Come with me." He said taking my hand and pulling me towards the Guardian dorms. We went in the back way and he led me up the stairs to his room. I hadn't been in his room since the night of the lust spell. Although now that we were together that night doesn't seem so erotic anymore.

He sat down on his bed and I stood between his legs facing him. He had his hands on my hips.

"Now what is the big secret?" he asked curiosity in his eyes.

"What big secret?" I asked throwing him one of my man eater smiles.

I took a step closer and captured his lips in a hungry kiss.

He responded back for a minute and then pulled away.

"Naughy Roza. Stop trying to distract me or I will have to punish you." His voice was teasing.

"Yes, I've been very naughty are you going to spank me Comrade?" I asked seductively.

He rolled his eyes. "Roza Roza whatever am I going to do with you?"

"I can think of a few things." I said with a wink.

"Stop being coy and just spill it or I will make you." He said forcefully. He was in Guardian mode now all signs of playfulness were gone.

"You're no fun." I pouted.

"Roza." He said gruffly.

"Fine I've been learning how to curse in Russian." I lied.

"Okay then teach me what you've learned." He said sitting back on the bed with his arms crossed.

Lucky for me I'd been texting Viktoria and she'd taught me a few Russian swear words.

"Well you're just being a big Zhopa." I said calling him an ass.

He smirked. " And?" he wanted me to continue. I rattled off the words for Bitch, Whore and the F-Bomb.

He looked slightly amused.

"I'll have to give my dear sister a good talking to when we're done here." He said with a smirk.

My jaw dropped.

"How did you?"

"Those are some of her favorite words if I remember correctly."

"And Roza. I know you are still lying to me." He said.

"We'll talk about this later. Right now we have to prepare you for trials."

I groaned loudly. This was going to be a long day.

Next Chapter will contain the Trials! Please Review it helps me write faster.