A/N: Thanks for the love everyone and for continuing to come back to read. I am not sure what is going on lately, that the story seems to keep disappearing and reappearing, but I have submitted a ticket on the issue. Rest assured, the story will continue. If you have any concerns, don't hesitate to reach out and DM me.


Dimitri


Chapter 6

One Month Earlier (Week 1, Day 2)…

"Guardian Hathaway and I know what we saw," I repeated, my answer leaving no room for debate.

Guardian Foster gave us a doubtful look "A Strigoi. In daylight?"

"There has never been in the existence of our kind that a Strigoi could walk around in the sunlight," questioned Ian.

"What Guardian's Belikov and Hathaway says is true," Mikhail stepped forward and spoke up for the first time. "I was the next to arrive at the tail end, but I saw him leaving just before he slipped back into the cover of the forest. The fact that it was even out at this time should be enough to warrant further investigation."

"If what you say is true, what we are dealing with is far greater then what was initially thought," Ian pointed out.

"Which is why we need to organize a search and go after the bloodsucker and kill it," Rose suggested emphatically.

Ian's expression morphed into one of shock and horror. "No one has ever seen a Strigoi walk in the daylight. What you are proposing is reckless, childish, and unsafe."

"No—"

"Rose!" I said quickly, giving her a passing look to ask her to let me handle this my way. We wouldn't get anywhere with this group if we did things with brunt force like she no doubt wanted too. I turned my attention to Ian. "Headmaster Croft, Guardian Hathaway has a point. If we have Strigoi that can walk around in the daylight, this drastically changes things. We need to find that Strigoi before it has the chance to hurt anyone else. Anyone not protected by wards."

He paused for a moment taking in my words. This was a serious issue that needed an answer immediately. As it was, we didn't know if the Strigoi had already moved on and this was moot point, but if I had to guess, a Strigoi as cocky as that one to show themselves like he did, wanted us to know he was there. Wanted us to come after him.

Ian pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and forefinger. "I cannot risk my faculty and staff to go on a witch hunt for something that we don't even know if it is still there."

"We need to think of the possible reward," Sonya said stepping forward for the first time since the meeting started.

Ian looked over in her direction. "What reward outside of its death? Assuming this thing can actually be killed."

"That's just it," Sonya replied. "We don't know anything about them. We know from the initial research that the abilities they do have are even more heightened, and now we know they can sustain in the sun. We need to know what else they can do. We need to know if the same methods we use today are still the same methods that could kill them," she explained.

"Let me get this straight. You want me to send my best guardians out there on a chance mission that we could find them. Then, if we do find them, somehow not kill them but find a way to bring them back alive so you can study them?" Ian asked incredulously.

Sonya took his patronizing tone in good strides. "That is exactly what I am saying."

Before anyone else could speak or join in on the debate, Ian was alerted that Queen Lissa and Guardian Croft—his brother—were on the line waiting for a debriefing update.

Each of us went around the room again telling our sides of the events and updates. As Lissa and Hans shared the screen, I could see her constantly looking at both Rose and I for confirmation. Sonya had just got done detailing her request that we attempt to bring back the Strigoi alive.

"They make a good point," Hans said agreeably.

I watched as Ian's face grew pensive. "I will not put my staff in harm's way, brother, for a wild goose chase."

Hans's expression turned hard. If I had to guess, he didn't like that Ian was using their personal relationship in this conversation. "We will do whatever is necessary for the betterment of our people."

Ian was about to open his mouth again when Hans cut him off by asking me another question. "Guardian Belikov, what is your assessment?"

I cleared my throat, my hands clasped behind my back. "I would like to request permission to attempt to find the Strigoi. My opinion is that it wants us to find him. I also agree with the recommendation and benefits we could learn per Ms. Tanner's request."

"It could be to lure you into a trap," suggested Tom.

Dimitri nodded. "Which is why I don't believe we should send out a search party to Headmaster Croft's point."

"What are you proposing?" Queen Lissa asked almost imperiously.

"That Guardian Hathaway and I handle the matter," I answered.

Mikhail stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I would also like to request to be a part of the search party. I think one additional pair of hands could be useful considering the circumstances."

I nodded my thanks and respect to Mikhail, even though I could see Sonya's bottom lip suck in between her teeth. Her concern was evident for her husband's request to be added to the dangerous assignment.

Lissa looked at Hans on screen, their whispers almost inaudible before she turned and looked towards us again. "I am approving Guardian Belikov's request. I believe the reward of what we could find if we can bring back the Strigoi alive would be instrumental. I spoke with the Alchemists and they too are unable to provide us anything useful without samples. Samples that Sonya can work directly with Sydney on."

"Thank you, Lissa," said Rose with a smile.

Lissa shot her best friend a warm smile, before she snapped back into her queenly voice. "However, if the risk is too great to keep the Strigoi alive, then do what is necessary. I want you all to return home safely. Is that understood?"

Everyone in the room answered with a resounding "yes," before Lissa bid us good luck and to call back in with an update before the call disconnected.

Everyone filed out of the room, Mikhail coming over to stand next to Rose and I. I shook his hand in thanks for his offering of support, promising him to share the strategy once Rose and I had a chance to take a look at the game plan.

Rose and I decided it would be best to head back to my room—since I was near the faculty building—to discuss our strategy for the search. Since the Strigoi could walk in the sunlight, the safest thing to do would be to hunt him down during daylight. It was already close to nightfall, so our plan would need to hold off until tomorrow morning.

I let Rose into my room, before I shut the door behind us.

"Are we crazy?" she asked, as she turned around, her thumbnail between her lips.

"No more than usual," I answered casually. When she didn't crack a grin, I moved closer towards her, placing both my hands on either side of her arms rubbing them up and down. "Talk to me, Rose."

My Rose was always so confident and ready to jump into any situation head first. One of her qualities I loved the most was her ability to want to protect others. Not just because what she was trained to do, or because the Moroi came first, but because she genuinely wanted to save others. It was many of the reasons I loved her.

"I know it seems crazy when I was the one to push the idea…"

"You forget that I backed you up," I argued.

She dropped her hand, placing in on my chest. "What if it is a trap? What if there is more than one out there? We don't even know if stakes will work anymore now that they can walk in the sunlight."

I wrapped my arms around her, her chin resting on my shoulder. "I won't let anything happen to you, Rose."

"I know," she whispered into my ear, before pulling back. "You know I wouldn't let anything happen to you, either. Right?"

I nodded, pushing a piece of her long wavy brown hair behind her ear. "I know. I wouldn't want anyone else guarding my back."

"I don't think Sonya was too thrilled that Mikhail volunteered to join our excursion."

"She loves him. She worries for his safety like you and I worry for each other. She understands though."

Rose moved her hands around my neck, pulling me closer to her. I lowered my forehead towards hers. "Promise me this will work out, Dimitri. Promise we that we will be ok."

"We'll be ok, Roza. I promise."

I leaned in and gave her a long slow kiss. Rose took control, deepening the kiss, pressing her body closer to mine. As much as I wanted to give in and spend all night exploring her body, I had to pull back. I had just promised her that I would protect her and make sure that everything would be ok. In order to do that, we needed to spend tonight preparing our plan.

She released me, as I started to pull back. "I know. I know. We should prepare." She unclasped her hands from around my neck. "Let's get started, Comrade." I turned to the desk in my room, just as she added, "But later, your all mine."


Rose


The next morning, I was full of anxious energy as Dimitri, Mikhail, and I stood in the guardian building preparing for the day ahead.

We had each packed a bag of things that we needed for capturing the Strigoi. Water, food, first aid kit, weapons and means to subdue the Strigoi if we could find it and bring it back alive. As far as weapons, that included a set of chains to keep the Strigoi bound, a machete it case it came down to the only thing to stop it was to chop it's head off, and of course lighter fluid and lighters.

I had just finished putting my backup stake in my boot, and my other in the waist of my jeans when Dimitri strode over to me. Over his shoulder, I could see that Mikhail was talking to a worried looking Sonya in hushed tones, knowing that any minute we would have to head out and go in search of the Strigoi.

"Do you have everything?" he asked.

I tapped my pack in front of me. "All here. Checked and double checked. Boy scout Dimitri would approve," I teased.

He smiled, but it didn't really reach his eyes. I knew he was worried about today. If I was being honest, so was I. This mission, this search party, could very well be a suicide mission knowing what we knew.

Thirty of us guardians died trying to just kill one of them. Suddenly, three of us against one—even the three best guardians that I knew, still seemed like impossible odds.

Dimitri's hand reached out to touch my pack, before it dropped back to his side. I dropped my bag to the ground, my hand coming to rest on his solid muscular chest.

"We'll be ok," I reassured, even though deep down, I wasn't so entirely sure.

"Roza…if anything—"

I cut his words off with a kiss, my hand coming to his cheek the other gripping hold of his shirt so tightly. His massive arms wound around my back, pulling me closer to him.

Dimitri always worried about my safety, but I knew this one out of the others, worried him the most. Not just because of the fact that we were going up against the terminator of all Strigoi's, but because as we discussed the strategy plan for today, it had to be me that was going to go in first.

After we had gotten the go ahead from Lissa and Hans, we had surveys from the last few decades around the surrounding area pulled so we could get a better layout of the mountain.

We still didn't know what we were entirely dealing with when it came to going out and search for the Strigoi, which is what made this mission so dangerous.

What we did know was that it could sustain sunlight. Sonya and Sydney's theory was that even if it were able to sustain sunlight, it was probably in small doses like a Moroi. It wouldn't kill them, but definitely make them weaker and uncomfortable. That meant they would need to travel in small amounts of time if they did not want to significantly deplete their energy or resources.

Our second-best guess is that the Strigoi would want to stay close to St. Anna's academy. If the academy was a target to capture students from here, they would need to take them back to a place in the event the sun rose and they needed to hide from the elements. Especially if they were slowed down due to having to care for extra weight.

Mapping out all of these considerations into the plans that we had, there was one likely one cave that Dimitri felt would make sense. Sonya too, once they provided their assessment from the perception of their time as a Strigoi.

Dimitri still believed that the way the Strigoi had vividly shown himself to us just outside of the school, that this was carefully orchestrated as part of the plan. The Strigoi wanted us to come after him.

It wasn't lost on us that this was mostly likely a trap. We could be walking right into its plan, but as we had pointed out to Hans and Lissa earlier, the possibility of what we could uncover if it did work out in our favor was too instrumental to just pass up.

If Dimitri, Mikhail, and I were unsuccessful today in being able to capture the Strigoi, if we ended up losing our lives, the fate of the world and everyone we loved it in could be in serious danger. We owed it to everyone that we loved, to go out there and do this.

It didn't mean that I had slept well at all last night. This mission reminded me of the one that Dmitri and I had gone on back in Russia in his home town. There was a Strigoi that had been plaguing the small town, murdering its citizens in droves.

That Strigoi had been extremely old, and a tough son of a bitch to kill, and there was three of us then too. Only that Strigoi didn't have super powers to boot as well. Somehow, I wished Dimitri's cooky grandmother was here to once again tell me that we would be alright. That we would complete the mission and come back home safely.

I knew Dimitri didn't sleep well last night either. Since Strigoi were cocky; especially now that they acquired these additional powers, they would look at me as the weakest link in the party.

Our plan was that the three of us would fan out in the woods. Dimitri off to my left, and Mikhail off to the right. Since we didn't know if the Strigoi was by himself or not, we would attempt to do what we could to make it seem that I had been careless enough to go in search of it on my own.

Each of us would be connected through the comms we wore in our ears. I would enter into the cave first, with Dimitri and Mikhail on my heels. Our hope was that with the element of surprise, it might be enough to attempt to get the drop on the Strigoi and come out ahead.

"You can't get rid of me that easily, Comrade," I said, once I pulled back, my eyes boring into his.

His hands came up to frame either side of my face, his expression anxious and filled with determination and love. "Promise me that you will be careful. No extra risks."

I nodded; all teasing gone now. "I promise."

He brought his lips down, stopping just before he kissed me. I could feel his breath on mine, a whimper at the base of my throat. "I love you, Roza."

"I love you more, Dimitri."

"Not possible," he argued, his mouth crashing on mine to cut off any further reply.

After a few minutes and a ton more kissing, Dimitri pulled back, both of us looking into each other's eyes before we nodded. We turned just as Sonya gave one final kiss to Mikahil, hugging him tight before she turned to us.

"Please bring my husband home," she pleaded, and then smiled sheepishly. "That goes for you, too."

We each picked up our bags, and slung them over our backs. We tested our coms making sure that we could hear each other loud and clear, before we walked out of St. Anna's academy and past the protection of the wards.

The hike to the cave would take us at least a couple of miles before we would reach the cave. The temperatures were still low, but the sun was already starting to rise, adding a few degrees of warmth to the chilly air.

"You know, Comrade…I hated hiking a few years ago, and I still hate it now," I remarked after we were already about a mile into the woods.

"It's good exercise," Dimitri replied.

"Of course, you would think that," I muttered softly, being mindful in case any Strigoi were watching or following. "Your idea of fun was twenty laps as a warm up when we used to train."

Even though I couldn't see his face, I figured he had to be grinning at my remark of our earlier training days when he was my mentor and I was his student. I complained almost every session of everyday that he was my own personal torture device.

Even though now I could understand all of the benefits for the times that he pushed me, even when I thought I had nothing left to give, I still wasn't going to give him the satisfaction that he had been right. He knew it even if I didn't admit it to him.

"You know, if we weren't out here trying to kill an extremely dangerous Strigoi, this would actually be a nice day," Mikhail chimed in.

"Not you too," I groaned. "Mikhail, I never figured you for turning to the dark side."

That earned me a chuckle from the both of them.

"Stay sharp," warned Dimitri, bringing our teasing to a close and back to the situation at hand.

With each step closer to the cave, the more uneasiness I felt in the bottom of my stomach. Though I no longer had my shadow-kissed ability to sense the dead just before it was upon us, I still had the knack for when I could feel that something wasn't right.

I kept the thoughts to myself, considering Dimitri was already having a tough enough time that I had to lead the mission in what we all knew was the most dangerous part of this whole thing.

The cave that we had discussed that was the initial target, was small, meaning that maybe two to three might fit in there comfortably once all the way at the base. As it was, a cave that small, most likely meant that going in would have to be done in a single file format.

As I would be the one to lead the charge, if the Strigoi was lying in wait at the back of the cave, I was going to be the first to encounter the evil undead.

I had faced several Strigoi before. I had been in circumstances when the odds were completely stacked against us. I even had faced down Strigoi Dimitri, but somehow, this…it felt as if we were in a league that none of us really could prepare for.

"Ok, Rose, just over the bend should be the opening to the cave," Dimitri said through my ear piece.

"Roger that," I said more confident than I felt.

That also meant for the time being, we had to go radio silent. If there was Strigoi lurking around, we were definitely within hearing distance. Our biggest plan of attack was still hopefully our element of surprise.

Dimitri and Mikhail wished me luck just as I moved to do what I was born and trained to do. Use my acting skills to good use. I made as much noise as I possibly could in the last distance until I saw the cave opening ahead.

Just as I reached the cave, I dropped my pack just outside, making loud remarks about the weather and my need for a break and how wonderful the scenery was. Seriously, I deserved an Oscar for this performance.

The stake in the side of my boot was comforting as I reached behind me in what looked like a stretch to confirm my stake was still at my waist. I couldn't help but make one last look to the woods straight ahead of me, knowing that right out there Dimitri was watching and waiting.

I turned back to the cave, squared my shoulders, and walked right in to the lion's den.

The opening had been the widest thing about the cave, it instantly closing in so that it only fit one person at a time. After the second step in, it was pitch black all around me. If it hadn't been for my Dhampir senses to see in the dark, I would be tripping and falling all over myself.

"Well, this isn't creepy or anything," I muttered to myself.

My hands came out to flank either side of me as I progressed down the cave pathway. My head turned left and right with each step I took, the only comforting thing, being that there was no hidden tunnels or spots that the creepy crawler could just fly out of.

My last step took me to the end of the cave, both of my hands reaching out in front of me. All that pent up energy and adrenaline deflated out of me as if someone pricked a balloon with a pin, the air slowly seeping out.

I turned; my back resting against the coolness of the cave wall, as I brought my hand back to my ear. There was a crackle in my ear piece, no doubt the signal impacted by the fact I was all the way in the heart of the cave.

"Come in, Cowboy. Do you read me?"

"We hear you," Mikhail answered, there words going in and out with static.

My eyes looked around the small space of the cave. "It's a bust. No terminator undead hiding in here. Coming out," I informed.

I pushed off the cave wall, working my way back out to the cave opening. Part of me was relieved that we hadn't found the Strigoi while the other part of me was unsettled. I wanted to find the bastard. I wanted to catch him and know what the hell was going on and make sure we eradicated any of this evil from being able to multiply.

Once I reached the edge of the cave, I still couldn't locate Dimitri or Mikhail, but I knew they were there waiting in the shadows.

Just as I was able to take a step out, that uneasy feeling coursed through me again. I looked around, but didn't see anything. I knew it had to be my nerves and senses working in overdrive.

Then, I felt the crack to my head.


Dimitri


"Rose? Rose! Answer me!"

The com crackled in my ear, but I got nothing from Rose.

"Mikahil?"

"I'm here," he answered right away.

I didn't care if this was against the plan, my legs were already pushing me faster to the cave. We hadn't been far to begin with. Our roles had been to stay away at enough distance the Strigoi wouldn't be able to see us with their heightened abilities, or the opportunity to smell us, but the moment Rose didn't answer, I no longer cared about the mission.

The com crackled in my ear again, my sigh of relief in hearing Rose's voice, only lasted for a second.

"Buria," she croaked.

Buria.

Storm. The same word I had uttered to her back at St. Vladimir's Academy when a group of Strigoi had attacked the school. I had told her to run. To keep running and not look back no matter what she had heard until she warned everyone of the looming threat.

"Roza," I exclaimed.

My hands clenched at my sides, as I broke through the trees and caught sight of the cave.

My heart lurched in my chest, the Strigoi's hands around Rose's throat as she tried to push him back. Even from here, I could see the normal tan of her face turning a twinge of blue.

I growled; my hands coming up to rip him off Rose. She hunched over as she let oxygen back into her lungs. I stepped in front of her as the Strigoi advanced at me again.

"Rose, go!" I ordered.

She wanted to protest, but she knew this was part of the plan once we had the Strigoi out in the open. If we had found the Strigoi, we had to make it seem that Rose was attempting to flee, while Mikhail and I tried our best to attempt to restrain it. Our first and foremost goal was to take it alive.

I blocked the Strigoi's first punch, landing a few of my own before I kicked it back into the rock. Mikhail broke the trees in that moment, joining me in the fight.

This Strigoi was faster than many I have had to fight before. Not only was it faster, but it had the strength of a Strigoi that was much older. What was worse, is that it didn't even seem to falter at having to take us both on. That it was enjoying it and waiting for this to happen.

I ducked its next blow, landing another kick and punch to the face. It blocked my next, getting a good sidekick into my stomach, shoving me away.

The Strigoi turned its attention to Mikhail, figuring he was the lesser threat of the two of us. Mikhail had landed a few good punches of his own, before the Strigoi got the upper hand, grabbing hold of Mikhail, and shoving him with such ease. Mikhail flew through the air, his back slamming against a tree before he fell flat on his stomach unconscious.

I was back on my feet again, already seeing that Rose was halfway to the top of the cave. If I had to guess, it had been where it had been hiding in wait for when Rose had emerged from the cave and attacked her.

I grabbed my stake from my waist, charging at the Strigoi, blocking his first attempt at me, getting a good slice to the cheek.

He hissed, as if it was merely an annoyance that I had struck him with the sliver. The cut to the cheek confirmed what I needed to know. Sliver still affected these guys, which meant that if we could wrap the chains around him, then we had a chance of taking him alive.

I kicked him against the side of the cave, the both of us deflecting and getting in good shots. The Strigoi switched us, until my back was slammed against the wall, his hand holding my arm with the stake out to the side, his other attempting to grab me by the throat.

I glanced up; seeing Rose was in position, her face looking down with concern that the Strigoi had the upper hand.

"Your more trouble than what you are worth," the Strigoi growled in my face.

I broke off his hold, kicking him back just where I needed him. "Rose…now!"

Rose dropped the bunch of chains she had right over the top of his head. To my right, I could see Mikhail getting back to his feet, his hand coming to the side of his head as he tried to shake the dizziness from it.

The Strigoi attempted to throw the chains off, but I shoved him by the shoulders back to the side of the cave. I caught a blurb just above me, before Rose landed on top of his shoulders, her legs wrapping around the upper torso of his body to keep from throwing the chains off.

She grunted; attempting to keep her hold while not only trying to keep him subdued, but keeping the chains that was now causing him to screech and thrash in pain.

"Mikhail! Chains! Now!"

He shook his head, stumbling to his bag as he grabbed his set of chains and came towards me.

"Hang on, Rose!"

She gritted her teeth. "Hurry! He's…really…strong."

I unclasped the chains, the Strigoi seeing exactly what I was about to do. He knew if I was about to get the chains around him, he wasn't going to get out of this.

Rose managed to get his neck and shoulders covered with the first set of chains, his leg coming out to kick me as he backed into the wall of the cave in an attempt to throw Rose off.

The sound of Rose's scream, jerked my attention to her. The Strigoi's hands were on Rose's thigh of her legs, it's fingernail like claws dug right into her skin.

"Roza!"

"I'm…fine," she clenched, but I could hear the pain in her voice. "Hurry!"

The Strigoi was going to pay for that. I landed another kick and punch before I managed to get the chains around his arms and torso, with Mikhail assistance.

"Get the third set," I demanded, once Mikhail and I had successfully got the second one around him.

Rose swayed on top of his shoulders; her face contorted with pain as she landed a couple of punches every time the Strigoi attempted to thwart our advances. The silver chains were starting to impact its strength and he knew it as a last-ditch attempt to free itself.

"Rose, you can let go," I shouted, as soon as Mikhail got the third chain.

She slipped from his shoulders falling to her side as she clutched at her thighs. Mikhail and I quickly wrapped the chains around his knees and calves. Once we were done, it looked like a sliver wrapped mummy.

The Strigoi fell to his side, trying to thrash and break the chains that we had wrapped around itself tightly. I flexed my foot, using the back of my heel to strike the Strigoi in the face, its nose actually sporting some blood now that it was weakened with the sliver.

I rushed to Rose's side, helping her to a sitting position, as Mikhail watched over the Strigoi.

"I'm fine," she reassured, her face grimacing in pain.

"Let me see," I demanded.

She removed her hands on her legs, her palms coming away with blood. Just seeing the dime size holes in her legs made me want to walk back over to the Strigoi and jam my stake right into its chest.

"I'll be ok, Comrade," she said calmly, after she looked at my expression.

"Your hurt," I snapped, pointing out the obvious.

Her hands came to my shoulder, as I helped her up a bit more. "Are you hurt?" she asked, trying to feel my body over for any wounds.

"I'm fine," I replied, softening my voice a little bit, now that I knew her injuries weren't life threatening.

I ran back to my pack to grab the first aid kit. Mikhail already grabbed the radio calling in for our reinforcements. We had six senior guardians at the school waiting at the wards with ATVs in the event we were able to capture the Strigoi.

I pushed some of Rose's slashed pants aside as I dabbed away the blood and did my best to clean out her wounds. Her face twisted through the pain. I would do a more thorough inspection of her body later, but from what I could see, nothing was life threatening and she would be fine.

"Can you stand?"

She nodded.

I jumped to my feet, taking her hands in my own as I lifted, Rose, who groaned as she flexed her legs to stand.

"Put your arm around my shoulder," I said, moving her closer to Mikhail and the Strigoi.

Mikhail was still feeling the back of his head, as he kept his one boot on top of the Strigoi's chest.

"You, okay?" I asked.

He nodded. "The bastard got me good," he remarked, madder at himself then the actual Strigoi.

A second later, we heard the roar of the engine, as the three ATVs broke through the trees. The guardians jumped from the seats, coming over to assist us. We lifted the Strigoi carrying him over to the larger of the ATVs that had a trailer towards the back that was used for guardians that were injured when we needed to rush them back to the infirmary.

Five of the guardians including Mikhail rode with the Strigoi, while Rose and I climbed on the back of the now free ATV to ride back to the school.

I drove us directly to the infirmary, Sonya already standing outside just as Mikhail jumped from the ATV, hugging her tightly.

"Dimitri, I'm fine," Rose protested, once she knew I was going to make her go in and get checked.

"Your hurt, Roza. You're getting checked out."

She grimaced, this time more because of the fact that she had to go into the infirmary instead of her actual injuries itself. Another nurse came out with a wheelchair, but Rose waved it off. It was hard not to smile.

"Go," Rose urged, looking in my direction.

I shook my head. "I will check—"

"Go, Comrade. It will make me feel better that these slashes weren't for nothing. I promise I won't leave until you return."

"She's in good hands, Guardian Belikov," the nurse said, flashing a reassuring smile.

"I'll be right back," I confirmed, before I took off to oversee and make sure the Strigoi was imprisoned properly.


Rose


The nurse finished checking me out, concluding that the wounds weren't deep enough for stitches and that with my healing abilities they would be fully healed in a day or two. She even figured that by morning any and all discomfort should be at a minimum.

The curtain to my room pushed back, Sonya stepping in. "I can see to Rose," she stated, the nurse nodding before walking away.

"How's Mikhail?" I asked.

Her lips were pursed together, but I could see the relief on her face. "He's fine. A minor concussion and a few scrapes, but all healed now."

She looked over at my legs, before she held her palms out, hovering over my thighs. "Sonya, you don't need—"

"Shh…" she remarked, her eyes closing as she concentrated, the holes on my legs slowly starting to close up.

I had seen spirit several times in use, no more spectacular than the times it restored both Dimitri and Sonya, but each time they used it to heal me—which tended to be a lot—it amazed me how it made it appear that nothing happened at all.

I still worried anytime that Sonya, Adrian, or Lissa used their magic to do this. In small doses it was fine, but since spirit was so unstable, I didn't want Sonya to do anything that would ever put her back in a position like she had been before.

"It's ok, Rose. I have a handle on my spirit. I'm not at risk of going crazy," she uttered, a teasing note in her voice.

I gave her a rueful smile, knowing she had figured out what I had been thinking. "Sorry."

She gave me a genuine smile. "I appreciate you worrying." She backed up to give me space. "And thank you for bringing my Mikhail back to me."

Dimitri returned shortly after, giving Sonya a hug after learning she had healed my injuries and stayed with me until he had returned.

I was glad when I got the discharge from the nurse—thanks to Sonya—to leave the infirmary. I had thought that Dimitri would walk me back to my dorm, but as we started walking, I noticed we were already walking towards his room.

"Won't we get in trouble?" I asked, a note of teasing in my voice.

Dimitri opened the door to the guardian housing. "Your worth it," he replied.

My heart beat a little faster at his words. A reminder of the time I had teased him once my parents had found out about us. He had said something similar then about me being worth it when he was going to have to face their inquisition together.

"Comrade…breaking the rules. I like it." I winked.

He shook his head, as we walked the remaining way in silence. He opened the door, flipped on the light, and shut it behind him. The only thing the both of us wanted to do was shower and go to bed.

Dimitri's arms wrapped around me later, after I washed off all the grim, dirt, and blood from the day. I nestled back into his body, comforted by his in and out breathing of his chest at my back.

"Are you ok?" he asked, his voice low and still holding a note of that earlier concern.

"Sonya healed my wounds. I'm fine," I answered.

"That isn't what I was talking about."

I let out a deep breath. "I know."

"Roza, look at me."

I had to shift my stance, so I could look over my shoulder, and when that wasn't enough, I turned so I could look at him. His arm snaked around my waist, bringing me as close to him as possible.

"Talk to me," he pleaded.

"We're alive. We've all walked away relatively unharmed…but I can't help but think…" my words trailed off.

"About the ones that hadn't made it back."

Of course, Dimitri would know what I had been thinking. The whole way back from the woods, I kept thinking about the thirty guardians we had lost that went up against one of them. I couldn't even be certain that if Dimitri, Mikhail, or myself had encountered one of these on our own, if we would have made it back.

Dimitri's finger found my chin and lifted it so he could look me in the eyes. "Rose, we take it one day at a time. Today was a win. We captured the Strigoi alive. We now have the ability to get information or data that could help us in the future."

I gave him a smile that I know really didn't reach my eyes. "When did you get so wise."

He grinned. "Well, there is this woman that I love, she has the amazing optimistic outlook that has a habit of rubbing off on me."

My fingers played with the edge of the sheet. "I'm not feeling really optimistic right now."

"We'll be ok, Roza. I won't let anyone hurt you," he promised.

I wasn't worried about myself. I was worried about him. I couldn't seem to get the comments the Strigoi had said to me just before he cracked me in the head and tried to kill me.

To Dimitri's point, the Strigoi had planned to want us to come after it. If I had to guess, I even figured it knew that we wouldn't come alone, but it had been cocky enough to believe it was invincible going against the three of us.

Still, it was the comment, it was the notion that for Mikhail and I, we were collateral damage. It seemed that it wanted Dimitri, and that scared me.

"Did…did you recognize him?" I asked.

Dimitri's brows scrunched together. "No. Why?"

"He seemed to know you," I stated bluntly.

He shrugged, as if he wasn't worried about it. "Rose, many of those that become Strigoi were former Dhampir or Moroi. It wouldn't be uncommon to know me from their former life. Plus, there is the time from when I spent as a Strigoi," he said, his voice turning guarded at the last part.

"True."

He kissed me on the forehead. "I'm fine, Roza. You're fine. We'll be ok," he said in that calming voice, even though I still couldn't calm my growing fears.

"I know."

He pulled me closer. "Get a good night sleep. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow." I nodded. His hand came back to my chin again our eyes meeting. "I love you, Roza."

"I love you, too," I said as I snuggled into his embrace and fell to sleep.