Part 2 Chapter 38

RPOV

Songs: Running Home to You by Bee Caves, As It Was by Hozier

My hair hurt.

It had been nearly two weeks on the road and I was in desperate need of a bath. Luckily, one of the handmaidens that Daniela insisted we bring along with us knew how to braid hair and pulled mine up in a way that made it look less grimy than it actually was.

There were about a thousand other things for me to worry about other than my hair. Like the two dozen men Mr. Mazur had volunteered to bring along with us and whether or not I could rely on a band of pirates to behave. Or our single air user who sprained his ankle, making it harder for him to work efficiently with the other Moroi at night building a ward around our various campsites. Not to mention Mr. Mazur himself, who seemed to be getting closer to Adrian by the day. Once it was confirmed Lissa received my letter, the pirate Lord offered us protection and safe passage on the journey to St. Vladimir's. I should have been elated. At this point, I owed him more than I could repay. But that thought was just one more reason I still didn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

Still, as the great wall surrounding my home came into view, I allowed myself that one bit of vanity rather than everything else that had been plaguing me along the way. Once we reached the bustle of the kingdom, my senses were filled with the sights and smells of the market. It was busy that day and many of the villagers were out mingling and trading. The castle was positioned at the center of the kingdom and I began to lead the way, weaving between familiar streets.

If the entrance to the wall had been closed for some time due to the human invaders, it made sense that an extra amount of patrons would be indulging in the market, but something that struck me as odd was the number of Guardians surrounding it. They were practically stationed at every corner, each alley entrance, and all along the top of the wall. I kept getting the feeling that eyes were watching me from afar, but every time I turned to see who it was, I was met with faces of Dhampir I didn't recognize.

Once we were within ten yards of the castle, I half expected Mr. Mazur to push his way through and insist on being at the front lines to the entrance so he could personally greet the new Dragomir Queen. I assumed he'd want to gloat and flatter his way into her good graces as I'd seen him do in the Western Isles, but instead, he gathered up his men and said, "Well, I'll let you and your family get reacquainted while we make ourselves scarce."

"What," I blurted out. "You're not coming in?"

He grinned at my speculating scowl in that snakey way he did sometimes. "Not just yet. We like to get a lay of the land before we settle in. But it warms my heart to hear that you'll miss our company."

I looked around at his brigade as one of the men snorted a wad of snot into the back of his throat and another reached his dusty finger into his plump belly button to scratch it. He turned around and motioned for his pirates to follow and I called out behind him, "That's not what I—"

"Don't worry, Princess," he interrupted over his shoulder. "You'll be seeing us soon." A few of the men chuckled as he made his way to the front and I resisted the urge to pick up a rock and throw it at him.

I heard another chuckle beside me and turned to see Adrian smiling. I gritted my teeth and glared at him, but he just shrugged his shoulders innocently in response. As irritated as I was after the long journey, one quick look around made me realize that starting a fight right then would be pointless.

It was surreal to see the place I had been holding on to in my dreams was finally a reality. I was home. I wasn't sure how much of it had changed in my absence, but at least here I was no longer an outsider. Or so I hoped.

As I stood there admiring it, the hairs on the back of my neck began to stand on end and I could've sworn I felt the feeling that someone was watching me again. I whipped around, trying to catch the spectator off guard this time, but all I could see was another group of Guardians walking down the same path Mr. Mazur and his men had just disappeared down.

"Princess Hathaway," a voice called from the castle entrance. "Her Majesty is ready to receive you."

Receive me?

Through some of the memories I still had from my childhood and others that Adrian had helped me bring out along the road, I remembered Lissa waiting to greet me at the front gates. Now she was not only waiting inside but sending a group of Guardians out to snatch me?

I guess we had arrived with a band of rough looking men, but I began to wonder if things were different now between us. Maybe there was more that I had forgotten about.

I suddenly felt nervous and quietly walked beside Adrian. The Guardian that had called out to me, one I didn't recognize, set a quick pace as we made our way through the tall oak doors. Occasionally he would glance back at us with a strange look on his face—one I tried to ignore.

As we entered the room, I was hit with a wave of familiarity. The sights, the smells, everything about it was welcoming. Sure, it wasn't nearly as decadent as the grand halls at the Ivashkovs and some may even describe it as somewhat dreary, but to me...it was home.

I stopped walking in the center of the room and looked up to the ceiling, admiring the gothic style chandeliers and stone staircases. I briefly closed my eyes and let my other senses soak up my surroundings, but when I heard an echoing voice approach from the distance my face and eyes snapped towards it.

"I don't care who she came in with, I'm not waiting a second longer."

"But, Your Majesty, we need to be cautious of—"

"I've already sent men to check it out, now move out of my way. I'm seeing my sis—"

Jade eyes from across the room met mine and her commanding voice suddenly halted. She brushed past another Guardian and walked towards me, stopping when she was only a few feet away. We stared at each other for a moment, neither of us knowing what to do or say. The men behind her looked at us with the same bizarre look as the other guard, like they were seeing a ghost. I wanted to run to Lissa and pull her into my arms, ask her if she was okay, but I also didn't want to cause any of her edgy men alarm.

I grabbed the ends of my dirty skirt and knelt down into a low curtsy. "Your Grace."

Before I could rise back up to stand, I heard footsteps rush over and two arms pull me up from my dainty bow. For some paranoid reason, I briefly thought her men were taking the opportunity to seize me, but a flash of my sister's pale hair against my cheek and a gust of her familiar scent rushed around me as she enfolded me in a tight hug. Engulfed in her embrace, she softly whispered to me, "Call me Lissa."

I instantly wrapped my arms around her thin frame and tucked my face into her shoulder. I could feel hints of emotions through the bond mirroring my own rising feelings. In some of my memories, I had sensed her much stronger than I could in that moment, but the fact that I felt anything at all, especially while I was awake, gave me comfort. Waves of relief flowed through me and I held on to her tightly, soaking up all the time I had missed with her in my absence.

"You're still shite at curtsying you know," she sniffled into my hair.

I laughed and pulled away a little, still keeping her within arms reach. "Yeah, well on the list of memories to recover, curtsying and table manners weren't really sitting that high."

She gave me a shaky smile before her eyes flicked to Adrian then back to me. "I'm sorry for all the formalities but you arrived a bit earlier than expected and with all the recent incidents our security insisted on being cautious."

The impatient part of me would normally have been annoyed by the fact that the Guardians had purposely kept her away from me, even if only for a few minutes, but for some reason I actually felt grateful that they had. "It's okay. I understand."

Lissa pulled me in for one more quick hug before stepping away and turning towards Adrian. "Lord Ivashkov, welcome to our home. Rose told me in her letter what a true ally you have been to her and for that I am eternally grateful. If there is anything we can do for you in return, please let me know."

Her tone was polite, but I could still sense a dose of uneasiness from her. Growing up, we had never really been that quick to give our trust to strangers and it looked like Lissa still held on to that quality, despite what my letter had said.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, but I assure you that's not necessary. And to be quite frank, Rose would have been perfectly fine without me," he shot me a quick wink before taking a step towards my sister. When he began to speak again, his face took on a look of captivation as his eyes wandered to and from the space above Lissa's head. "I am honored to finally meet you Queen Vasilisa. I believe we have much more in common than one would assume."

She gave him an odd look and he held out his hands, waiting for hers. She cautiously placed her right hand in his, and as soon as their skin made contact, her curious brow rose in shock. He leaned down and gave her knuckles a small kiss before saying, "If it's alright with you, I think we should make some time to talk."

"Yes," she breathily replied, that hint of awe still clinging to her expression. "I think we should."

I looked behind Lissa, noticing for the first time a young Moroi man standing there with a scowl covering his face. His hair was black as night and he had piercing ice blue eyes that were currently shooting daggers at Adrian. I could only assume this was the Lord Ozera Adrian had mentioned to me. I thought about introducing myself to him and pulling his attention away, but watching him jealously glare at the two beside me was mildly entertaining and I decided to let him fume for a minute instead.

Then suddenly, something in the room shifted.

I felt him before I heard him. Which was strange given his freakish height, but he moved in a combination of grace and stealth that made it nearly impossible to detect him.

The feeling was hard to grasp. Almost like a chill, but not in the way that irks you. More like a subtle pull. As if his presence begged you to pay attention.

Lissa smiled as he approached her side and she seemed to visibly relax when he was near, but when she briefly glanced towards me, I could sense her worry begin to grow. It was as if she was anxious about my reaction. I wasn't sure why she would be concerned about my reception of another Guardian, but maybe this one was different.

I focused my attention on him and examined the new stranger in the room. At first, he seemed like a typical Guardian, other than the longer than usual hair tied back at his neck he stood at attention with a serious look on his face and that stiffness throughout his body that looked like he was ready to pounce into action at any given notice. But when I took a closer look, I noticed something strange. Even though he was by far the tallest man in the room and undoubtedly exuded power, there was a nervousness about him that I didn't see before. I tried to search his features for some clue as to what would cause it, but his position in the room had his face partially shadowed and his intense focus seemed to fall on everyone in the room...except for me.

"Lord Ivashkov," Lissa began, "I'd like to introduce you to the head of my forces, High Constable Dimitri Belikov."

The Guardian bowed politely. As his head came down a beam of light lit up his face and I could see him more clearly. He was handsome—more than handsome really, an absolute ride was a more adequate description—but good looks couldn't really be the cause for his or Lissa's peculiar behavior. Then, my gaze locked on a familiar sight and my heart leaped into my throat.

Warm, mahogany brown with subtle flecks of honey.

Adrian began to reciprocate with some kind of response, but I cut him off without paying any mind to what he was saying.

"Your eyes," I breathed out.

The High Constable's gaze immediately shot towards me in response. I wasn't sure if anyone else had even heard me, but the way he instantly reacted was almost as if he had been waiting for me to speak. With his focus fixed on me, the images from my dreams began to stir deep within. Those eyes that I had seen through Lissa's during my time away had been a recurring enigma I couldn't solve. The vast emotions that swirled behind them haunted me even long after I woke, like an apparition trailing me through the halls. And now they were right in front of me, attached to a living, breathing Dhampir.

"What was that Rose," Adrian asked.

I quickly realized how strange I was acting and shook my head with a nervous laugh. "Uh nothing. Sorry. Hello, Constable Belikov. It's nice to meet you."

"Marshall," he addressed, bowing much lower than he had for Adrian. He not only appeared to know me, but his actions symbolized a deep sign of respect. I was a little baffled to receive such a grand gesture given how none of the other unfamiliar Guardians had acted this way, but what confused me more was the term he used.

"Marshall?"

"Ah there's no need for that," Adrian cheerily chimed. "Especially now that you are the head of the cavalry." The Guardian rose from his bow and turned his attention back to the Moroi, but my gaze remained locked on him. "The Princess has returned home from court and now that she has accepted my proposal for marriage, there will be no need for her to wage wars."

A cross look seemed to take over the Dhampir's face and I could see his jaw tick with irritation.

"My sincerest apologies, Your Highness," the Constable replied without looking in my direction. When he spoke, his tone darkened and I noticed a foreign accent that hadn't been prevalent before. I had never heard his voice in my dreams but I found myself wanting to hear more, hoping it would spark a memory as to why my subconscious had been teasing me with small bits of him.

Adrian turned to Lissa and Lord Ozera, who had possessively moved beside her, and started a new conversation. Once the attention was no longer on him, the Dhampir seized the opportunity to make his escape. His exit was just as artful as his entrance, but his demeanor had changed. If at all possible, his back was even stiffer than before and I could see his hands opening and closing into tight fists at his side. I curiously watched as he disappeared into the distance until Adrian once again brought me back into the present conversation.

...

I couldn't sleep.

Which was surprising since I had just taken the longest bath I'd had in weeks and was finally back in my old room. But something about it just seemed off. Missing even.

I lied awake staring at the ceiling, trying to figure out what it was. Eventually, I resorted to tossing and turning until I couldn't take it anymore. Frustrated, I got up from the bed and walked over to my window. I pulled back the thick curtains designed to keep out any light and was pleased to find there was still a bit of sun hanging in the sky.

I glanced over to my left hand wrapped around the dark fabric and was drawn to the ring resting idly on my fourth finger. Adrian had given it to me a few days prior and the single black pearl sitting in the middle of it was still an odd sight. It was said that the tradition of engagement rings started as a way for men to bring our spirit under their control. It was a ridiculous thought and I knew Adrian's intentions were purely out of love and devotion, but it still somehow felt like a sign of ownership. Like I belonged to him. Something I wasn't sure if I would ever be comfortable with. I suddenly had the urge to break free from the captive feeling I'd irrationally created.

My eyes scanned over the forest outside the wall and a desire I'd had since our arrival became impossible to ignore. Dusk was quickly approaching, but there was still at least a couple of hours before the night completely took over. Without a second thought, I threw one of my lighter dresses on, not even bothering to check what clothes were still in my armoire, and raced out the door.

I made it to the edge of the treeline without being stopped or questioned by one of the many new Guardians scattered about—a skill I picked up in my early teens. I rushed forward into the Emerald Pines and momentarily worried that I might not remember the way. It was easy to get lost in the maze of the woods and if I wasn't careful, I could be trapped inside after dark. However, even without the help of my mind, my body took over and guided me down the familiar path. Filled with a new sense of resurgence, I increased my speed and let go of any sense of uncertainty. Low hanging limbs brushed by my face as I leapt over protruding roots. I pressed into moss-covered boulders launching myself into the air just long enough to let out a short howl before my feet came crashing back down into the soft, green earth.

It was the most alive I'd felt in weeks.

I started to feel winded sooner than expected, but it had been a while since I'd had any proper exercise. When I reached my destination, my breathing had transformed into heavy gasps and my hands shot to my knees as I folded over. Even though my limbs and lungs felt like they were on fire, I didn't regret it. If anything, I reveled in it. Once my breathing was somewhat normal again, I straightened up and began walking towards the clearing. The sun poured its light in through the trees in amber beams that weaved between the trunks, giving the cool colors of the forest a warming glow.

I held out my hands and brushed the tips of my fingers along the leaves, adding an extra rustling sound to the ones the wind was already creating. I closed my eyes as I breached the treeline towards the cliffs and a rush of wind crashed into me. It was powerful enough to knock you over if you let it, but I dug my feet in and let the wind wrap around me until it began to settle. After a moment I opened my eyes to admire the sunset in the distance. The view was as beautiful as I remembered. It was hard to imagine anything else more spectacular in the world than that very spot. For the first time since arriving back at St. Vladimir's I finally felt truly at home.

I began making my way towards the edge to peer down into the valley, but when I looked to my right, I suddenly realized I wasn't alone. For a moment, the sun played a cruel trick on me and I could've sworn I saw my brother sitting there smiling, flirting with the edge of the rocks as the wind blew at his back. I was milliseconds away from rushing towards him and flinging myself into his arms, but as the clouds shifted above—easing the sun's harsh glare—I realized there were not just one, but two figures sitting there.

I carefully approached them from behind, trying not to make my presence known but even my covert skills were no match for one of the onlookers. It's furry face whipped around towards me and once I was spotted it immediately rose to stand on all fours and walk towards me. It wasn't until it was a few yards away that I realized how large the beast was. Its gray and white fur moved in waves as the wind blew along its back and its eyes honed in on me as it moved even closer. I started to take a step back in an attempt to flee from the creature, but as a few green leaves blew past it I was suddenly hit with a jarring visual.

The wolf. I had seen it before. In a setting almost identical to this.

I thought back to the strange dream I'd had and tested the waters by reaching out my hand. The wolf didn't snarl or flinch in response, it just stood there still as if it were waiting for me to make the first move. I took another step closer, my heart pumping fiercely in my chest. If it wanted to, it could not only take my hand off with one bite but probably half my forearm with it. What I was attempting was stupid—beyond stupid—but something inside me was telling me I could trust this beast. Here goes nothing, I thought to myself with a deep inhale before pressing my hand against the gray wolf's snout.

I hadn't realized I'd squeezed my eyes shut until I felt a hot breath against my hand. I peeked them open to see my fingers spread across the wolf's snout. I exhaled in relief that it hadn't decided to chomp down on me after all and lightly brushed my hand up to its head. It continued to let me stroke it and I whispered in disbelief, "Is that really you?"

The sound of my voice must have drifted over to the edge of the cliffs, alerting the other bystander, because an instant later he jumped up from his perch almost identical to how the wolf had. I was surprised to see it was someone I knew—well sort of. The High Constable from earlier.

There was a stunned look on his face as another strong gust of wind blasted me. I hadn't thought to pull my hair back before I'd ventured out and it was now uncontrollably whipping around me. His eyes seemed to follow it and I could only assume it looked insane.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," I called out, dropping my hand from the wolf beside me and self consciously running it through my wild hair.

His gaze immediately shot to the ground away from me. He stood there for a moment as if he was gathering a lost thought before marching away from the edge of the rocks. "It's fine. We were just leaving."

His voice was brusque and hard but barely carried over the sounds of the wind. If it weren't for my superior hearing, I may not have even heard him. As he made his way by the wolf and me, he called out to it, "Nu zhe."

She obeyed whatever command he'd barked and they were just about to reach the treeline when I hollered at his back. "How did you even know about this place? The only other person who even told me about it was—" my voice trailed off as that flash of Andre's figure sitting along the rocks caused my throat to tighten. My head dropped down slightly as a weighted feeling pressed into my shoulders. His presence had felt so real for that tiny instant that now his absence felt more crushing than it had in quite some time.

"Andre."

My face snapped up towards the Constable, shocked to hear my brother's name out loud, little less come from a stranger. His back was still turned to me but his face had slightly shifted towards the side—giving me a partial view of him with his eyes still refusing to meet mine.

I nodded, unsure if he could even see me doing so. "How did you know that?"

His gaze turned upwards towards the rustling trees and his shoulders moved in sync with a heavy sigh. We both stood there silently for so long, I thought he wasn't going to respond. Then, finally, he said, "You told me."

And with that, he and his wolf walked away, disappearing into the Emerald Pines.

A/N: Special shoutout to the HW Godmother who really helped me make this chapter waaayyy better than it started. She's an angel and is always lookin out for you guys. Even though it's probably obvious by now, I wanted to clarify that there has been a time jump in the story. There will be a couple of flashbacks so if you're wondering, "wait, when did that happen?" the answer will most likely come later on.

I was super excited to finally write this chapter. It was a scene that I had on the original outline for this story and Romitri's first interaction since Rose's return has been driving me to keep going. I tried to keep Adrian and Lissa's meeting pretty close to FB but with some minor changes. Thanks to my friend Tia's story Through a Prism, I've recently started to cannon that his initial reason for wanting to hang out with Rose in FB was so he could really meet Lissa. Obviously, his feelings grew for her after, but I kind of played on that in this story with him admitting early on that he was coming to St. Vlad's in the first place so he could meet her sister and talk about Spirit.

I hope you guys enjoyed all the meetings—new and old ;).

Translations: Nu zhe - come on