In all the chaos and panic and passing time, a hard knock on the door sent me jolting out of my seat.
"It's Oksana and Mark," Dimitri assured me. "Ivan called them earlier."
"I panicked," Ivan admitted, allowing Alexei to move towards the door on the off chance it wasn't the intended visitors. "There's strength in numbers, right?"
If the situation wasn't so dire, the thought of stoic, scholarly Ivan panicking would've made me laugh. But I got it, I myself was a ball of panic projecting, and the best the three boys could do was diffuse it while only getting half a snippet of the story.
The couple strode in, Alexei locking the door behind them but standing guard near the door. I could tell he was antsy, that he was taking up the position to avoid having to sit down again, probably catching the feeling from me.
"We came as fast as we could," Mark assured. "Ivan told us as much as he could."
"There's nothing new," Alexei reassured them. "Nothing since."
Oksana pulled me into her arms, and I welcomed the kind embrace. "How can I help?"
The truth was… there was nothing anyone could do but wait. Still, I felt some of the lingering anxiety pull away from me, and I realized it was Oksana healing out any lingering darkness not dissipated by my worn-out charms.
My head flew up, realization striking me.
"You… could you do that thing?" Oksana met my crazed gaze with a questioning look. "You know, from when we first met, when you go in someone's mind and touch their thoughts?"
She frowned, flinching slightly. "Well, yes… but we talked about that, it's terribly intrusive-"
"Could you… compel them from inside?"
A wave of shock and disgust passed over her face. "Well, I suppose yes, the actions are actually quite similar… But you can't expect me to force your bond mate into doing something… I mean, it's already so intrusive."
"Lissa is in trouble," I plead. "She's being tortured for her healing powers right now. Our bond, it doesn't work both ways, and she needs to know that someone is looking out for her."
"Supposing morals weren't an issue," Oksana pressed, shaking her head. "I can't just reach into someone from across the world, someone I've never even met."
Panic set in. She was right. My dad had caused more chaos than we'd ever anticipated by shipping me off across the world.
An even crazier idea came to me. "But... you can reach into my mind?"
"Yes," she confirmed, tilting her head in confusion. We'd long since established that.
"Well, if I were to… go into her head at the same time… would you be able to cross into her mind that way? Could I bridge the gap?"
"That would be unprecedented," Mark countered.
"And epic," whispered Alexei.
"I don't know…" she wavered.
"It's the best chance I have," I plead. "If it doesn't work, well then we know another limitation of the powers. But if you could just cross the bridge, we could at least help guide her escape." I cut her off in her attempt to counter my point again. "I know, you think it's wrong. But, we're talking about the Dragomir Princess, another Spirit user being kidnapped and forced to heal someone for political gain… for the rest of her life."
I turned to Mark, "No amount of spirit charms could counter the damage he's doing to her, the darkness I'll have to take away."
He grimaced and I felt Dimitri's grip on my arm tighten. There was no arguing with that. Anything Lissa would have to endure, if it came back to torture, would still affect me. And, if she was stuck healing him for the rest of her life, I would have to hold her in balance. That is why he'd chosen her after all. Better risk the last Dragomir than his own bondless brother.
"All right," Oksana breathed, reaching towards me with a defeated, yet determined, sigh. "When the time comes, I'll need your hands."
"Wait a second," Dimitri countered, bringing me to stare deeply into his eyes, full of worry. "Are you sure, Roza?"
I nodded, determined. "This is what I was made for."
"остерегаться, солнышко," I heard Mark murmur to Oksana, kissing her on the cheek. Be careful, little sun.
Dimitri softened his gaze at me. Despite his hand not straying far from my arm throughout the night, I knew he wasn't big on public displays of affection, least of all in front of his charge and colleague. Something in his gaze told me all I needed to know for my own well wishes, though, and my mouth softened into a smile.
"It should be soon," I let everyone know, familiar stirrings in the back of my mind.
She was finally awake.
I clasped Oksana's hands, a knot of fear coiling in my stomach. I didn't like the idea of someone being in my head, even though that was a hypocritical sentiment for someone who was constantly traveling into her best friend's mind. Oksana gave me a small smile, though it was obvious she was as nervous as I was.
"I'm sorry," she said. "I hate doing this to people..."
I felt it again, just as I had when we'd first met. It was like the actual physical sensation of someone touching my brain, sending chills throughout my body as I looked into her eyes. Oksana was in my head.
"Let's go to her," she prompted.
Just as I'd done before, I let Lissa's perception of reality take over my own. Rather than Oksana, I found myself looking around the small cabin room from a couch she must have been laid on when she passed out.
I didn't know exactly what to do. All perception of Oksana, the familiar tickling, was gone now that I was with Lissa
Oksana? I wondered to myself. Are you there?
"Oksana?" I repeated aloud. Only, this time, I received two answers.
"I'm with you Rose," Oksana said.
Rose? I heard Lissa's voice echo inside me. Oksana's arm tightened in response, obviously having heard it too despite being unable to join the conversation herself. Elation coursed through my body, and I suspected it was a mix of all three of our feelings.
Lissa. It's me.
How is that even possible? Am I still asleep?
No, Liss, I reassured her. It's complicated, but it's me. I'm here, thanks to Oksana.
The other spirit user? She asked, remembering our previous conversations about extending her abilities.
Yes. We can talk more about the mysteries of Spirit later. Right now, we have to focus. There are guardians coming for you.
They know where I am? she asked, relief coursing through her.
Yes, we just need to make sure you stay safe until they can retrieve you.
Okay.
We need to get you barricaded so no one can get to you.
Harnessing a new sense of resolve, Lissa set her eyes on the lone guardian left with her. With effort, she pulled herself to a sitting position, clearing her throat. The guardian took her in, wary.
She smiled, capturing his gaze. "Let's be very quiet. You're desperate to protect me. You're going to lock the door and pile as much furniture as possible in front of it so that no one can get in. Nothing matters except protecting me. Okay?"
His features glazed over instantly, powerless to her even without her strength. She was a force to be reckoned with.
I think they're here, Rose. Sure enough, I heard loud voices raising just beyond the room.
Good Lissa. Now stay safe.
The doorknob rattled and I heard someone, I suspect Spiridon, curse as they shoved it forcefully.
Wait, Rose. Someone's at the window.
Stay back, I plead, as she foolishly went to check out the noise.
"Lissa, it's me," a familiar voice whisper-yelled from outside the glass.
"Christian!" we gasped in unison. I, however, was less than enthralled by this change in plan. The sentiment was echoed around my physical self.
I swear to god, Liss. If you climb out of that window you better find the nearest friendly or have him lead you straight to the vans.
Halfway out of the window, she reassured me that was the only option. We heard the howls at the same moment.
Three psi-hounds appeared in the yard and, suddenly, everything made sense. The ones my dad has conveniently run off in Chicago weren't sent by the school, they were sent by Victor.
They looked like wolves, if the Montanan carnivore had eyes like glowing flames. And while they were probably trained not to harm his healer, they had no such obligations when it came to Christian.
He desperately shoved her back into the window. Obviously assessing that he wouldn't have enough time to follow, he picked a stick off the ground, setting it aflame and waving it wildly. They cowered, afraid of the flames.
But one had broken rank, moving in at him from the side before Lissa could even warn him. He was taken down from the side, the flaming stick still keeping the others at bay.
Lissa squeezed her eyes shut, desperate to erase the ensuing carnage, for which I was thankful.
Breaking her resolve, three shots rang out, clear and distinctly outside, followed by soft canine whines. Opening her eyes, Lissa could make out Alberta moving in from the trees. While guns were hardly useful against a Strigoi, we still maintained training for the occasional variety in opponents – say, fellow guardians and demon dogs.
With the present danger gone, Lissa leapt from the window none-too-gracefully.
Christian.
She pushed the attacker's form off him, assessing the damage on his all-too-still body.
I could heard Oksana gasp, obviously still with me, and I fought back the desire to hurl. Christian wasn't dead yet, but he couldn't have much longer.
Rose, Lissa wept. I- I can't do it. Victor took all my strength.
Albert reached a leathery hand out to her, face as soft as I'd ever seen it. "Come on, Princess. We need to get you out of here."
Oksana and I could both feel the horror in Lissa's heart. The loss of yet another person she loved. If I wasn't there with her, then she was truly alone.
"Oksana," I gasped, feeling tears threaten their way to the surface on behalf of my bond mate. "What do I do?"
"Rose, I- I'm not sure there's anything you can do."
"No," I pushed, resolved. I summoned my strength, pulling all the darkness I could from her, just as Mark and I had practiced. "Heal me," I insisted. Simultaneously, as I felt Oksana's magic surge through me, I did my best to will it into Lissa.
Rose? What's happening.
Just try, I plead with her.
With renewed strength, Lissa poured over Christian, resting her hands on his torn back.
Visibly, there were no fireworks. No golden explosion of light to mark the occasion. But, inside, I felt it, just like I had with Victor.
Alberta gasped, a miracle unfolding before all our eyes. The wounds closed. The blood dried up. His breathing grew stronger. Christian stirred, rolling just enough to meet her with fluttering eyes.
It was like a goddamn movie.
Author's Note: Okay, I'm really vibing on all my excitement of how much I love the casting (this is a casting-hate-free zone, because Kieron is honestly a BEAUTIFUL Dimitri and Sisi is going to be epic, thank you), and I just had to finish this update. Thanks for all the continuous support, y'all.