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Thirteen

Chapter 7

DPOV

I picked up a couple of small rocks and started pelting them at Rose's window. Momma had booked a flight four days earlier than anticipated and I'd arrived back at the academy in the middle of the vampiric night. The sun was shining brightly and I soaked in as much of its warmth as I could, waiting in the freezing Montana winter. It was worth it to see her in person, alive and unharmed. I practically ran to the clinic the second I stepped out of the car the school sent to pick me up. Dr. Olenski was surprised to see me and looked worn out, but told me Rose was okay, more or less, and had been cleared to go back to her dorm. I almost gave up, figuring she was sleeping, when I saw the curtains fly open and the window slide up. The gorgeous girl I was madly in love with leaned out and I stepped quickly out of sight.

"Who the fuck is there and what do you want?" she called down. I emerged back into her line of sight and practically melted in relief.

"I guess you didn't suffer any brain damage since you're still mean!" I yelled back, slapping a smile on my face so she didn't see how worried I'd been.

"Well, you coming up or what?" she laughed. I'd snuck into her room countless times, thanks to the tree next to her window.

"Only if you promised not to knock me out of the tree this time," I replied, starting the climb anyway.

"That was one time! And it was an accident," she defended, mocking offence. I quickly scrambled up the tree and through the window, needing to hold her in my arms so I'd know she was real. We stared at each other for a couple minutes, then my arms were around her. She all but melted into me, burying her face in my chest, sobs shaking her slender shoulders. I rubbed her back and murmured soothingly in Russian. I told her how much I loved her and how worried I was in a language she didn't understand. I couldn't tell her in English, for fear of ruining our friendship, but she was completely clueless when it came to my native tongue, which allowed me to pour my heart out without fear of rejection.

"You weren't supposed to be back until Monday," she finally pulled away, swiping at the last of her tears and slapping my arm. "What are you doing here?"

"As soon as I heard about the accident, I tried to hop on a plane right away, but momma made me wait a couple days," I looked down at his feet, not wanting to seem weak in front of her. "I needed to see you in person to make sure you…"

"To make sure I'm alive," she finished for me and I nodded. "And kicking." She told me, kicking me softly in the foot to prove her point. I chuckled and we sat next to each other on her bed. We didn't talk, but our silences were always comfortable. I wanted to tell her that I loved her in English, but I was nervous. She was too, I could tell, but I didn't know what she had to be nervous about. Several heavy moments passed.

"I need to tell you something," we both blurted at the same time. I was taken aback, smiled in encouragement at her. Gesturing grandly with my arm, I bowed my head slightly.

"Ladies first," I teased. She rolled her eyes then took a deep breath.

"I should have died, Dimitri," she whispered, clearly afraid to say those words out loud. My breath caught in my throat and I grabbed her hand, silently telling her to continue. She complied, "The way the car hit the tree, where I was sitting, the speed we were going, everything points to me dying. But I didn't. Lissa was supposed to be the only survivor, on paper, but here I am. But that's not the strangest part…"

"You can tell me anything, Roza," I told her, thickly, brushing my thumb along her knuckles. She nodded and swallowed, squeezing her eyes shut, then opening them to look into mine. I swear she could see right into my very soul with those big, brown eyes.

"When I woke up, I could feel her," she said slowly. "Lissa, I mean. I could feel how she was feeling, still can, actually. It's there, in the back of my mind. Her emotions, her thoughts, and when her emotions run strong enough, they pull me all the way in and I can see what she's seeing through her eyes. We're bonded. Like the guardians in the stories…" She trailed off and shook her head, eyes gazing at everything and nothing at the same time. I cleared my throat, her eyes snapping back to me.

"That can't be an easy thing to go through, Roza," I replied, still rubbing her hand. "I'm here for you, whatever you need."

"Thanks, comrade," she threw me that smile that made my heart leap. "Right now, I need you to not tell anyone. You can't even tell Lissa you know, because I told her not to tell anyone either. I'm a hypocrite for telling you." Her smile turned to a small frown.

"Your secret is safe with me," I said, locking my eyes to hers. Her smile returned and my heart fluttered. I couldn't tell her I loved her after that. As if reading my mind, she asked,

"What did you want to tell me?" her eyebrows knitted together and she tilted her head curiously. I mustered a smile for her.

"I'm just really happy that you're okay," I whispered, pulling her back to my chest. She returned my hug easily and we sat together on her bed, wrapped in each other's arms for most of the night.

~.~.~.~.~.~

RPOV

Dimitri stayed with me as the sun began to sink into the horizon, marking the start of the vampiric day. We both dozed between chatting about school starting back up on Tuesday. I felt like he wanted to tell me something other than what he did, but I didn't push it. I was too content, laying in his arms to worry too much about it. My heart clenched in his chest when he told me he needed to sneak back out. He didn't want to risk getting caught in my room by the dorm matron. There were rules against male/female fraternization, not that we were doing anything other than comforting a friend. It didn't matter; we'd still get in trouble. I sighed, squeezing his waist once more before he gave me a wistful look before climbing back out my window, the sinking sun causing a haze to form around him. He looked like a God and I had to keep myself from gapping at his beautiful form. A funny feeling stirred in my stomach as he left me but I pushed it aside. I knew I had to be at breakfast in an hour or Lissa would really panic.

"He's your best friend, freak," I told my reflection in the mirror on my closet. "Stop ogling him." I shook my head, knowing it was crazy to talk to yourself and threw on a pair of sweatpants and a plain red t-shirt. I tossed my hair into a messy bun, shoved my feet into my combat boots and slide my arms into a jacket. Turning off the light and locking the door behind me, I headed to breakfast, feeling a jolt of annoyance from Lissa through our newly formed bond. I all but ran to the cafeteria. It was way more crowded today, considering school was back in session in four short days. Students would be arriving daily now, everyone's family visitations lasting different lengths of time. A group of Moroi, royal and non-royal alike gathered around Lissa, firing questions at her. She answered them tightly, not meeting anyone's eyes and clearly uncomfortable. I didn't even need the bond to tell me that so I knew they could all tell too. My eyes narrowed at the scene before me and I felt more angry than I ever had before. Storming over to her table, I grabbed the shoulder of the first person I saw that wasn't my best friend, yanking them away from the table. I slid myself into their place at the table, turning slowly to glare at each person in turn, stopping on the one I removed from the table. Ralf. I felt my gaze turn impossibly colder.

"The Princess is done talking to all of you," I growled, voice low. From the startled looks, they all heard me perfectly. "You're bothering her." Several sets of eyes widened and a couple people shuffled nervously.

"LEAVE!" I snapped, feeling my anger swell. The offending group quickly dispersed, mumbling to one another about the crazy dhampir. I was still fuming, glaring at their backs as they retreated across the cafeteria. Lissa gently touched my arm and I jumped. My skin tingled where her hand had been as I jerked my arm away. Hurt flashed in her eyes and the bond and just like that, my rage dissipated. I sagged next to her.

"Sorry, Liss," I whispered. "I don't like seeing people upset you." Her green eyes studied me, concern clear on her face.

"Thanks, Rose," she finally whispered back. "They were making me really angry. They just keep asking what it's like to be the Princess now. It's only been five days. Not only do I not have an answer, I miss my family. They have no right to bombard me like that." I felt anger spark up in her again and she glanced nervously around the room. Her eyes started to flit back to me, but froze at the entrance to the cafeteria. I followed her gaze. Dimitri. I smiled at him and waved. He waved back before jumping into the food line. My stomach growled and I realized I had yet to do that. I was too concerned about Lissa. That hadn't changed. I turned back to face her.

"Is there anything else bothering you?" I leaned close, whispering. She looked around again.

"I just feel like everyone's staring at me," she answered, honestly. "Like, look at the poor little orphaned Princess type shit." I blinked in surprise at her cursing, nodding in understanding.

"Some people are staring," I admitted. "But I think it's more out of concern, for once. I know this group is a bunch of vultures, but I don't think they're so insensitive that they're doing it out of anything other than sympathy. What you're going through right now is terrible. They all know that. They just don't know how to properly approach something like this." She sighed deeply and leaned against my shoulder.

"When'd you get so smart, Rose?" she teased, anger leaving her completely. I felt my own anger trying to flare up but shoved it down as a tray full of French toast, bacon, and hashbrowns was placed in front of me. I looked over my shoulder to see Dimitri smiling gently at us both.

"I saw you didn't have a tray yet when I came in," he told me. I smiled back at him. "Lissa, I'm so sorry about what happened. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask. If it's in my power, I'll do whatever you need." Feelings of gratefulness shot through the bond, as Lissa shot him a genuine smile.

"Thank you, Dimitri," she said, earnestly.

"I owe you a thanks too, comrade," I nudged his shoulder, picking up a piece of bacon. He picked up one of his own and we tapped them together in a cheers gesture. Lissa chuckled at us and rolled her eyes. Her appetite was nothing like ours. She simply had a granola bar and apple for breakfast, along with a visit to the feeders. Sandwiched between my two best friends, I felt a sense of calm settle over me. It wouldn't be easy, but we'd be ok, Lissa and me. I hoped.

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