I'd been at Abe's house in Istanbul for six weeks now. I'll admit it. I wasn't handling this situation well. I worked out, studied and slept. I didn't leave my father's estate unless it was absolutely necessary. I shut myself off as much as possible. I know Abe was scared to leave me alone so spent a lot more time home than his business should have let him.

The upside to all this working out was that my body was stronger now. My endurance now a lot more advanced than it was, and my focus on training and studying improved easily by 60%. I knew that I'd lost weight, but I'd stopped looking at myself in the mirror a while ago I didn't care what I looked like, why would I?

The clothes that used to hug my figure now needed taking in just to stay up. I ate only because I worked out, I'd lost all enjoyment of it, and the donuts that my father bought me went to my father's Guardians more often than not. My puppy fat turned to hard muscle giving me defined abs. Because of my work out regime I could now run for hours and miles without tiring and I could bench press nearly 200 pounds which was a record for me. If I had been at the academy these milestone would have had be celebrating, but now? Now I just didn't care.

I knew that everyone was worried. I could feel Lissa in my head after our weekly skype calls, she could hear how lifeless I sounded, she could see how gaunt my face became every week it was worse. Lissa it seemed was ok to speak for the both of us, after all I didn't do anything worth mentioning, so I didn't have much to say but I'd steer the conversation back to her. Which she always did gladly. She was doing great at college; Meredith and Dimitri were her guardians, while Eddie was guarding Christian. Lissa was having the best time, except that her worry for me was tinting her mind.

Dimitri, I was pleased, had given full guardian status a few weeks after I'd left. I was happy for him, he could get his life back on track now, and now he could live his life like I hadn't interrupted it. They were all having a great time. Lissa was looking forward to the Christmas break which was still a while away. She looked all glowing and happy, I was happy for her.

Sometimes I'd get to speak to the others, Eddie and Christian would be in the background of the computer screen. I'd even managed a small conversation with Adrian, it didn't last long, but it was still nice to see him when he had visited Lissa.

I didn't like the time difference between us either. When I was asleep, or trying to sleep, shall I say. Lissa was in the middle of her day. I hated randomly slipping into her head, seeing how often they all would talk about me, Dimitri included. They often said how worried they were. I realised that although I hadn't seen Dimitri on the camera, he was able to see me on the screen. I could see from Lissa thoughts how every week, I'd look more distant, more gaunt and more unlike the Rose she knew. I could see from the thoughts that she wanted to jump on a plane and comfort me but knew that Dimitri would need to come, which defeated the object of this. And right now, I couldn't see myself ever going back.

Before I knew it, October hit, I had been here for near 2 months, and I couldn't remember much of it. I knew that I needed to sort myself out, that I was here to get over my ex, not wallow in self-pity. I needed to get my sass back. But I didn't know how I'd do this, but I did know that I needed a kick up the butt.

I sighed heavily, I needed to blow some steam off, I was feeling restless. I had my earphones in on my way to the outside gym area when I heard a quiet voice. I wasn't really paying much attention. I was already getting in the zone. I heard the voice again, so I took my buds out looking around me.

"Hey beautiful, could you tell me where I could find Mr Mazur?" A deep smoky voice asked from behind me. I noted a guy stood there he was very good looking and most likely in his early twenties. His skin was the colour of mocha, with a shaved head, a goatee and was very built. He stood at about 6 foot and he gave off a bad boy vibe. The guy was wearing dark jeans that had just the right about of baggy and a white t-shirt that hugged all the right muscles. He gave me a sexy smile as I studied him.

I raised my eyebrows. "Beautiful?" I asked him my brow furrowed.

He gave me little sheepish smile. "Sorry I…"

"It's ok," I gave a small smile, "I've been called a lot worse. Who are you?" I asked my voice sounding steadier than I thought it would be. He walked closer towards me. He extended his hand to me, as I gave him mine he raised it and kissed my knuckles. He was about to talk when…

"Mr Reid through here, please." I turned to see Pavel walking through the side door. Reid smiled at me again before he followed Pavel inside.

"Laters sugar." He called behind him. I stood on the spot looking after him, I noticed he didn't have a promised mark. He was unpromised. Again mentally shaking my head. Maybe not the gym maybe I needed a few laps in the cold pool instead.

"So I hired a new guardian today. A Owen Reid." My father said over dinner that night. Abe was about to leave for a few weeks he needed to go on business, so I'd be here with minimal staff. I nodded my head, I liked the quiet.

"I met him; he's different isn't he?" I stated taking a bite of my chicken. He smiled.

"He is indeed. He's here basically to help keep you safe." I raised my brows at my old man. I didn't need to be kept safe. I'm a trained guardian after all. "I thought he could help you train a bit. You haven't had a fighting partner in a while. You'll get rusty if you don't practice. I don't like the thought of you being here by yourself or you going out alone." I was about to protest; he'd gotten me a babysitter. "I know you're a fully trained guardian, but there's been some threats made to me and through me, you. Having someone watching your back isn't such a bad thing Rose, especially while you're here. You haven't gotten out that much yet, but when you do decide to venture out, I'd feel better if Reid was with you. He knows the area and he could be a great guide." He gave me one of his million dollar smiles. "Make an old man happy, will you? When I leave most the guardians leave with me, so I'll be grateful for the extra security it would mean for you and the staff. And your mother would kill me if anything happened to you." I huffed a little, I knew Abe's job was dangerous for him, and me by extension, especially now people were beginning to find out about me being his daughter. I also knew he felt torn every time he left as he took his guardians with him, leaving me with one or two for the whole property and staff. I also knew that we could be attacked at any point, so I reluctantly agreed.

"Ok old man, if it makes you happy. OK" He smiled taking a sip of his wine.

I saw Owen around over the next few days, walking perimeters, talking to staff and generally just settling in. He'd always give me a smile when he saw me. He was a charmer that was for sure. I wasn't sure how I felt about him, but he did make me take notice.

I was in the middle of my work out when I noticed Owen watching me. I stopped punching the bag I was punching and looked up at him.

"You going to work out or ogle all day?" I asked putting my hands on my hips. He gave me the most gorgeous smile as he looked me straight in the eye.

"As much as I'd like to ogle at you all day peaches, I'm pretty sure it's frowned upon." He winked as he walked over to the weights. I carried on with my workout. I watched as he set his weights up and started lifting them his muscles flexed in a strangely erotic way. I clocked tattoos on his right arm, from his elbow disappearing under the sleeve of his shirt. The lines were dark against his chocolate skin. I found myself wondering what it was.

I tore my gaze away and started my own work out again. Although Owen was very sexy and I mean he was so sexy that I wanted to devour him like I would a chocolate truffle. But at the same time it was very calming to have him here. It was strange, but I liked it.

Over the next few days we watched each other workout, Owen often starting up a conversation. He'd spot me when I lifted weights, often commenting on the amount of weight I could lift.

"You know there's something sexy about the damsel being about to save the knight." He stated after one of my weight workouts. I gave him my killer smile through the mirror.

"What if I'm not the damsel, but the dragon?"

He smirked at me. "Naw, I mean no doubt you're smoking and girl you are on fire. But you ain't no dragon, you're the knight. But if you want to practice, I'll gladly volunteer." I laughed, I mean a proper don't wet yourself laugh. He was walking towards me, my back was still to him but I could see him in the mirror.

"You think you're such the charmer don't you?" I managed after my laughing calmed down. He placed his hand on my waist, my heart kicked up a pace.

"It's hard not to charm when in the presence of a goddess. But I'll try and tone it down. Though I'm making no promises." He gave me a killer smile as he turned to leave.

That evening I was in the lounge, for the first time in a while I wanted to watch a film. As I was going through my choices Owen walked in.

"What you watching?" He said plonking himself down next to me.

"Trying to find a comedy, can't find one." I said still flicking.

"What you in the mood for?"

"Dunno, no lovey dovey. A comedy maybe?"

"Comedy ay? You seen Shaun of the dead?" I shook my head.

"Oh man, you're in for a treat." He took the control from my hand, his finger grazing mine sending an electric shock through me, making me pull my hand quickly back.

"There's sparks." He said, his smile reached his eyes, his teeth even looked like they were smiling as he started typing in the film he wanted. I ignored him and got up grabbing both Owen and I a beer before settling on the sofa. My legs under me as I cuddled into the cushions.

We sat in silence and the film started. It was a British comedy, but was surprisingly hilarious. Both Owen and I laughed our way through the film. Owen had a deep laugh that rolled through me like thunder. I hadn't laughed in months it felt good to just laugh. By the end of the film I was sat cross legged on the sofa my knee grazing Owens leg.

"Thanks for that, it was a great film. You say they made more films?" Owen had gotten up to get a couple more beers.

"Yeah, we can work our way through them." He said sitting back down next to me.

"So where did the love for British comedies come from?" I asked settling back into the cushions.

"My dad, he's British. I spent a lot of time there as a kid. He loved things like Monty Python and Only fools and horse's. These films are generally new compared to most the shows he likes but it's given me a healthy appreciation for all things British. My mum, she was a reader. She loved books, even when she was a guardian, she read all the time. That's why my brothers and sisters and I all went to college, instead of going straight into guarding. She made my dad promise that we weren't just bodyguards."

"Was? Your mom…?"

"Yeah, I was 13. She took my baby sister out for ice cream. She got hit by a drunk driver. Luckily Sandra was unharmed." He took a sip of his beer.

I placed my hand on his thigh, offering comfort. "I am so sorry." He gave me a small smile.

"No, it's ok. I mean it's not but it is. If that makes sense? She took the full force of the impact, shielding Sandra. She died protecting my sister. I don't think she'd want to have gone out any other way. I learned a lot from her and then from my step mother." He looked off into the distance.

"Your father married your mother?" I asked in shock, I was sure it happened but I hadn't heard of it.

"Yeah." He said smiling. "My parents loved each other. And when my mum died he fell in love with Adela, she's lovely. They met when dad had to go to court. She already had the twins then after they married they had Angela and Harry. My family is large and quite unusual." He smiled.

"Well that's got me intrigued." I said looking at him. "Go on, you can't stop there."

His eyes twinkled. "Well my mum and dad had five of us. Sarah, Daniel, me, Lloyd and then Sandra. Then when Adela joined the family she brought Arya and Esme. Then when dad married Adela they had Angela and Harry. Arya, Esme, Angela and Harry are all royal Moroi." I looked at him in wonder. "Dads an Ivashkov, Adela is an Ozera, married into the Dashkov family and is now married to dad. My other brothers and sisters use my mother's maiden name mostly, it can cause some issues with Moroi's when dhampir's are using the Ivashkov name." Seeing my dumb struck face he laughed.

"I know it's all strange. Adela and dad get invited with the younger kids to all kinds of functions, but they used to refuse to attend unless we lowly dhampir's are invited also, it's not so bad now most of us have left home, but Adela treats us all like her own children. She can't replace our mother but she loves us just like we were hers. You know her family gets a bad rep because of her cousins, but Adela is lovely."

"You mean Moira and Lucas?" I queried.

"That's them, they turned strigoi." He spoke with a sigh.

"Yeah, I know," I smiled a little thinking of my friend, "Christian, he's my best friend's boyfriend." I stated. "I wouldn't call him lovely, especially to his face, but I would say he's family. He's like a brother. So it seems we have some distant connections."

"Seems like it." I yawned. Owen looked at the time.

"It's late, we should go to bed." I yawned again, standing up and stretching.

"Night treacle."

"Night Owen. Thanks for tonight, it's been fun." I meant it and as I made my way to my room, I felt relaxed and calm, content even. The first time I've felt that way in a while.