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Rose's POV

Dimitri paced the floor of the suite, I saw the panic slowly settle in as the gravity of our situation became more apparent. Hans had called us no more than two minutes after Christian blurted out the news of Tasha's disappearance and told Dimitri to keep me in complete lockdown in my suite. Ethan Moore was still in his cell, apparently Tasha didn't care enough to break him out. More guards were currently on their way for me, Lissa was swept away by her guards. Christian, of course, left with her.

"Don't worry, Roza. It's going to be okay," Dimitri muttered, still pacing. I laughed despite the situation, "I'm not the one shaking, comrade." Dimitri stopped his pacing, "They're going to find her. She's going to be executed on the spot for trying to escape." He shook his head violently and clenched his fists. "How could she be so stupid? She just assured her own death!"

I saw it then, just how much Dimitri still cared for her. Dimitri swore Tasha off for hurting me, but he couldn't stop himself from feeling. Even after everything she's done… I moved in front of Dimitri, my hands unclenched his fists and I wound my fingers through his. I wish it wasn't this way. I wish he hated her with everything he had, it would be easier for both of us that way.

I gave a heavy sigh and wrapped his arms around me, resting my head on his chest. Dimitri tightened his hold on me, I tilted my head up to gaze at him. "Let's talk about something else. Distract me," I murmured. Dimitri rubbed soothing circles in my back, "What do you want to talk about?"

I pondered this for a moment. I certainly didn't want to talk about Rufus or anything having to do with my princess duties. "Uh. Why haven't we seen your family in a while? Have they been hiding from us?" I joked. Dimitri raised one eyebrow, "They want to see us, but you've been too busy with Lissa settling in as queen. They -"

His words were cut off by the sound of the lock on the suite's door sliding out of place. Dimitri turned to the door, pushing me behind him. My heart was pounding in my chest as the handle twisted and the door was pushed open. Dimitri stepped forward, his stake somehow suddenly in his grip.

My dad raised his arms, "Woah, there. Expecting company much?" My mom walked in behind Abe and made a beeline for me, checking me for any physical damage. Word really does spread fast around here. I breathed a sigh of relief, "How did you get in here, Abe?"

Abe gave me a devilish grin, "I may have made a copy of your key." He flicked his gaze to Dimitri, "Are you going to put the stake down, boy?" I narrowed my eyes at Abe for the "boy" comment, but Dimitri lowered the stake obligingly. "What are you doing here?" I demanded.

"We're here to keep you company, of course. Aren't you going to offer us something to drink? You're not being a very good host, Rosemarie," Abe scolded. I scoffed, "You really want to play tea party right now?"

Abe sat on the couch, crossing his legs and seeming much more comfortable than he should be right now. I narrowed my eyes at him for ruining the small amount of alone time Dimitri and I had before my extra guards would show up. Dimitri checked and doubled checked the lock on the door. Just as he turned away from the door there was a loud pounding on the thick wood.

I mentally groaned, was I ever going to get a break? Dimitri checked the peephole and opened the door to let in a flock of frantic Russian women. They all passed Dimitri dismissively before swarming around me and demanding to know why the court was spreading rumors that I was in danger. Vika gripped my wrist hard enough to make me wince.

A deep male voice commanded my attention, "Does this have anything to do with what Prince Tarus said to you?" I hadn't noticed that Mark and Oksana came in with the Belikov women. I shook my head, "No, but I'm not surprised you heard about that, too." I let out an exasperated sigh, "Listen, I appreciate your concern, but there's nothing to be worried about."

Dimitri's sisters gave me a disapproving look that told me I wasn't going to get rid of them. Vika leaned in to whisper, "What has Tarus said? No one will tell me anything." I looked over to Dimitri, still standing by the door. He was wearing his infamous impassive face. The other sisters, and Dimitri's mother must already know, and they didn't want to upset Vika.

I tugged her over to the corner of the room, the rest of our unexpected guests turned to Dimitri and my parents for answers. "It's nothing, really," I waved my hand in a dismissive gesture. "Just politics. Rufus is trying to attack me and make me look bad. Don't worry, no one's going to listen to him," I swallowed, my saliva tasting like bile from the lie.

Vika, who was too perceptive for her own good, gave me a hard look. "I think, whatever he said, people are already listening. Even the dhampirs have been whispering your name all day." I tried not to wince at that. I could handle Tasha escaping prison, I could handle physical danger. I don't think I could handle letting my people down, my pride wouldn't allow for it.

My shoulders sagged, I looked over at my ever growing extended family, they all wore similar looks of concern as Dimitri spoke. Lissa could never hear what I was about to say, because it would put her in a conflicting position as the queen and my best friend. I could never tell Dimitri because it would cause him too much pain. I jerked my chin to the bedroom, Vika followed me.

Once the door was closed I nearly crumpled to the floor with tears. "I'm so scared, Vika. Rufus convinced them that I need to have a child. I don't know what to do," I shuddered.

"Oh my God," Vika whispered in a horrified voice. Viktoria wrapped her arm around me in a half embrace and pushed gently until I knelt on the floor. She pulled me in close so that she bore most of my weight. Being this close to another person, being comforted like this, I couldn't hold back my tears anymore.

Viktoria stayed silent, keeping me in her warm embrace while the sobs racked through me. Every emotion I had bottled up came pouring out of me, threatening to choke the air out of me. I cried for everything that's gone wrong since I graduated; Dimitri's unrequited love, Tasha's betrayal, Rufus's threat to my council seat. I also cried for Randall, and all of the pain he's caused me, all of the pain I could never show Dimitri. I cried for the nightmares, the memories I refuse to relive yet can't escape from.

I don't know how long it was before my body stopped shaking from the violent sobs, but the quiet now enveloped us. Vika kissed my hair, squeezing my arm. "What are you going to do about it?" Her words drew me away from thoughts of the past. It wasn't a threat, she wasn't being cruel. She was making me face my demons. "I can't have children, Vika. I can't."

"Can't? Or won't?" I twisted in Vika's grip to look at the door behind us, where Oksana stood, my bedroom door wide open. "I thought I locked the door," I muttered as I swiped the tears from my face. Oksana smiled faintly before closing the door to block out any prying ears. Her tall, graceful form towered over me as she extended a hand. I took it, Vika rising with me. "It seems you have a problem on your mind," Oksana murmured softly.

I snorted, "That's an understatement."

"It seems the last time I shared a secret with you, you solved your problem."

I raised my eyebrows, recalled when she told me the rumor about returning a Strigoi to their original form. "Yes, I did. Got any more tricks up your sleeve by chance?"

Oksana pursed her lips, "Actually, yes. I'm not sure I can tell you, though."

Vika scoffed, "You have to! How can you not help her?"

Oksana turned her gaze to the window, the sun would rise soon. She became pensive for a while, escaping into her own mind. After what seemed like forever, she took a deep breath.

"What I know... it would help you and Dimitri. But it would cause more problems, for the dhampirs and for those with Spirit magic."

I felt my blood run cold. I absolutely hated ultimatums, and this choice could very well be the end of me.

"Tell me."

She did.

Dimitri's POV

I heard the sobs through the walls and my words fell short. A quick scan of the room told me that Rose and Vika had locked themselves in the bedroom. I fell silent, my feet rooted in place as I listened to Roza crying. Nobody made a move to go to the girls. Anguish and self-loathing racked through me, go to her you fool. But I couldn't make my feet move.

She's crying because of you, you idiot. I could never give her the things she needed, the things she deserved. There was a pounding in my ears, so loud that I barely heard Roza crying anymore. I stood there, staring at the bedroom door, listening to the blood rush in my head.

Finally, Oksana stood and marched to the door. She raised her hand to knock, but decided to try the handle instead. She eased the door open just in time for Vika's voice to carry into the living room, "What are you going to do about it?" There was something in Vika's voice, maybe it was encouragement. It sounded a lot like hope.

"I can't have children, Vika. I can't." There was no hope in Rose's voice. I felt as though I had been slapped by Rose's words. I can't give her the things she deserves. I took a step forward to go to my Roza but Oksana held up a hand to stop me. She faced the bedroom with her outstretched hand now on her hip, "Cant? Or won't?"

"I thought I locked the door," Rose said, a little shock lacing her voice. She sounded too tired to care much. Oksana entered the room and closed the door, this time I heard the pop of the lock being set in place.

I felt a hand rest on my arm, "Dimka, it's going to be okay. She's just letting that Tarus asshole get to her." I turned to face Karolina, my only sibling older than me. She gave me a warm smile, "You two have nothing to be crying about. Oksana will knock some sense into her, I'm sure," she shook her head with a mischievous grin, "We probably should have kept Vika away from Rose, though. Our sister can be so dramatic, if Rose is crying it's only because Vika said the wrong thing."

I took no comfort in Karolina's empty words. I didn't care that she made jokes at Vika's expense to make me feel better. Rose didn't cry without a good reason. Rose didn't even cry when she told me what my father had done to her, though I think that's because she was only giving me half truths.

"Rose is smart, she'll figure out how to get Tarus off her back," Abe declared. I heard his unspoken promise, one that ended in spilled blood if Tarus didn't leave Rose alone. Disturbingly, I took more comfort in Abe's words than my sister's.

The bedroom door swung open and Vika emerged. She slammed the door behind her and huffed as she stomped over to us. "What happened?" Janine asked, the first words she's spoken all night.

Vika crossed her arms, "Oksana kicked me out! She said she needed to tell Rose something in private." She rolled her eyes and locked her gaze with mine, "Congratulations. It sounds like you're going to be a father."

If I had water in my mouth I would have spit it out. "What?" Everyone said as a chorus, all of us except for Mark, who looked smug. Vika shrugged, "It sounded like Oksana is conspiring to get Rose knocked up with your baby, somehow. That's all I got before she kicked me out."

I frantically look to the bedroom door, waiting for Rose to appear and deny it all. "Viktoria!" My mother scolded, probably for the knocked up comment. I dared glance at Rose's parents, Janine had turned a deep shade of purple. Abe looked far too calm, a murderous glint in his eye as he studied me.

Sonja started laughing, "That's not possible, Vika. Stop making things up." I wasn't in the mood to see my sisters fight, but I so desperately needed to hear Vika confirm it… or deny it. I didn't even know what I needed, what I wanted. You know exactly what you want, I thought.

But how could I want something that's impossible? How could I want something for Rose that she doesn't want?

When thirty minutes had passed and the extra guards still hadn't shown, I called Hans and told him to send people who knew how to do their job. No word on Tasha's whereabouts. I pinched the bridge of my nose, Tasha's escape seemed like such an irrelevant irk now. So much was happening, I couldn't wrap my head around any more new, any more complications.

Vika vehemently denied lying, claiming that Oksana had a plan for me and Rose to conceive a baby together. Mark kept that secretive smile on his face the whole time. I wanted to punch him.

More than anything I wanted to break down the bedroom door and take Roza away. I don't care how far we would have to go, but this place wasn't good for her anymore. She had enemies here, enemies I couldn't simply cut down.

My mother appeared from the kitchen with a steaming mug of hot chocolate and extended the mug to me. I gave her my weak attempt at a smile, "Thanks, mamma." I didn't even get to take a sip before there were three sharp knocks on the door.

I let in two guards, Mikhail and an older guard named Brian. Mikhail's face was drained of all color, "Have you heard from Ellie and Fred?" I shook my head. Ellie and Fred were the first two guards assigned to protect Rose tonight, who never showed up for their post. Mikhail and Brian shared a look that made the hair on my neck raise. "What's going on?" I demanded.

Eddie took a deep breath, "Where's Rose?" Just then the bedroom door opened. "Here," Rose announced, her voice drained of emotion. Oksana stood with a comforting hand on the princess's shoulder. Eddie relaxed a little with Rose in sight, "A lot's happened. No word on Tasha. But first, the council is meeting right now without you or the queen. They're taking advantage of the fact that you're in lockdown."

Rose woke up from the stupor Oksana put her in, "What!" She marched forward and gripped my hand tightly, "Come on. We're going to the meeting." She pulled me to the door, giving me a death glare when I resisted, "Rose, we have to keep you in the suite."

Rose's eyes almost doubled in size, "I'm so fucking sick of this! I AM A GUARDIAN. I'm done playing the helpless princess who can't get any dirt on her hands." I could see the fury in her eyes. After everything that's happened, Rose is finally losing her cool. "If we see Tasha I will rip her throat out myself. I do not need to hide in this suite, what I need to do is get to that meeting before any more damage is done."

She let go of my hand and stomped out the door, leaving the dumbfounded guardians racing after her. My own blood was boiling from having Rose yell at me. She had to know that I never doubted her strength, not once. I knew that she could take down her enemies and dance in their ashes, but I would never stand down from a chance to protect her.

As I left the suite I heard Sonja whisper, "Oksana, what the hell did you say to Rose?"

That was an issue for another time.

Rose sauntered into the council room, still wearing her tank top and sweats. She cut off Rufus mid sentence, "So kind of you to call for this meeting so I could get out of my suite, I was feeling a little cramped." She fixed Rufus with a stare so feral and dangerous it would send a Strigoi running. I briefly pondered how much Spirit induced darkness was influencing her actions tonight. Rufus blanched, clearly not expecting Rose to make an appearance.

Rose looked like an avenging angel standing before the council, with the three stoic bodyguards to dole out any punishment she saw fit flanking her. "I would like to address the issue concerning my having children. There will be a dhampir heir to the throne. Though, I am only eighteen, so don't expect this heir anytime soon."

Rose stepped up to the table and flattened her palms on the wood. Rufus' guard tensed. "If you ever step into my personal life again, I will make your life a living hell. Don't for one second think I'm having kids to appease you. You will never have that kind of power over me." A malevolent grin spread across her face and she leaned in to whisper to Rufus. Whatever she said to him made the blood rush out of his face.

Rose seemed pleased by this and stepped away. She terrified me, and I was utterly in awe.

"Just know who has the upper hand here, Tarus. Stay away from me, stay away from Dimitri, and stay away from my queen."

She bowed to the council and turned on her heel, leaving the room gawking at the warrior princess.

I caught up to her on the stairs of the courthouse. "Rose, what did you say to Rufus?" All of her bravado was gone, she flicked her eyes to Mikhail and Brian behind me.

"Rufus let Tasha out. He needed me locked up so that he could have this meeting." She shrugged, "It was just a guess, but when I told him what I knew, his expression told me I guessed right."

I turned back to the courthouse, the vision blurring with rage. I didn't take two steps before Rose gripped my arm, "No Dimitri." I kept resisting but she wouldn't let go. How could she let Rufus get away with this?

She stepped in front of me and cupped my face in her hands, "Dimitri I have the upper hand this way. Rufus won't touch me now that I know this. If we turn him in now it will cause more problems than it will solve. I'm his political enemy, I can't be the one to turn him in or there will be doubt. The Moroi have to convict him themselves."

I thought she was out of control in that courtroom, but I didn't realize how much self control she must have had to not slam Rufus's head onto the table.

"Dimitri we have to let this go. Tasha can't hurt me and now Rufus can't either. Let's go."

I was still breathing heavy, but I could see normally again. This solved everything and nothing at the same time. And what did Rose mean about a dhampir heir?

Rose's hands were still on my face, her eyes big and pleading. I brought my hands up to hers, holding them in place. I would do anything to protect her, but she's doing a damn good job all by herself. My Roza, my princess.

What have we gotten ourselves into?