When Spirit Shows Its Thorns

Chapter 14

We were met at the landing strip by not only my parents and friends, along with their Guardians, but also several Court Guardians and the Queen's advisor. If it wasn't for the fact that this could end badly for Dimitri, me, or both of us, it would have been quite the welcoming party.

We exited the plane with two Guardians in front of us and two behind us. My father joined my side opposite of Dimitri and my mother walked directly behind him. Looking around, I saw that the extra Guardians Abe had brought with him had enclosed our small group on the sides. I was essentially marched to the Queen's advisor amidst a small army of Guardians.

"The Queen will meet with you inside the Chapel in twenty minutes." The advisor told us before she turned and took her leave along with two Guardians. The rest stayed behind, following our group to half a dozen vehicles.

Our small parade caused many to stop and stare on at us as we made our way to Abe's house at Court. The two story town house did not exactly scream Abe at all. It matched well with the other houses in the neighborhood in shape and color. The exterior was a rosewood blend brick lay with white trim, lined with well-manicured shrubbery. The interior was a blend of beiges, tans, and whites. Although not a small house by any means, the color scheme seemed to open the rooms up making them look airy and sophisticated.

Between nineteen Dhampir and three Moroi, we filled the house beyond full. Upon realizing on the short tour of the house I realized between the basement and two upper floors the house hosted a total of ten bedrooms and six full and a single half bath, it made a little more sense. Claiming the lone master suite on the second story, Dimitri and I sat our bags down at the foot of the bed and returned downstairs to head to the chapel.

It didn't dawn to me until we walked inside to see the Queen, her personal Guardians, and the Council that the reason for meeting in the chapel was to test our claims that Dimitri was no longer Strigoi. Strigoi could not enter holy grounds and if Dimitri could enter Queen Tatiana and the Council would be safe with her Guardians. If he could not enter, they would still be safe from Strigoi.

"Guardian Belikov, Rose, it is so nice of you to agree to meet with me today." Queen Tatiana's sweet sing song voice greeted us. "I am so happy to see that Spirit once again has blessed us with such an astonishing miracle."

"It is one that I am happy to have happened, Your Majesty." Dimitri told her has he looked down at me adoringly. With the polite greetings over, the Queen, the priest, and a few doctors asked round after round of questions. We must have told the story of how he was turned Strigoi, of me hunting him, and of how he was restored dozens of times. Each time would be followed by more questions. On and on it went until my voice grew tired and hoarse. Dimitri wasn't faring much better from his side of the chapel either. After what felt like the longest two hours of interrogation in my life, the Queen asked us to stop outside while she conferred with the Council and the others.

We waited outside for another hour. The sun was setting and the air was chilling. I was cold and hungry and beginning to drift off against Dimitri's shoulder when the church doors opened and the Queen and her followers exited. The Guardians surrounding us fanned out to allow them through.

"Guardian Belikov, I see that you are no threat to anyone Moroi or otherwise and you will be reassigned to a Charge as soon as we can get a few pressing matters taken care of. Vasilissa has been very adamant about your cause and I am sure she will be overjoyed with the news. She sadly has been assigned Guardians already, so I cannot release you to your previous Charge. I do hope you understand." The Queen stated. "Will we have the pleasure of your company at the Council Meeting tomorrow evening? I would love to see you both there."

We both supplied her with an appropriate acknowledgement that we would be there. She had in her own way made the request and invitation that could not be turned down. The Queen took her leave bidding us to enjoy our time at Court.

"Roza, let's go find some breakfast." Dimitri said as he took my hand and led me to the car. Back at the townhouse, Dimitri and I both filled our plate with pancakes, sausages, bacon, eggs, and home fries. Inhaling our first plate, we each grabbed a second one and slowly ate as we retold of what had happened at the chapel.

"Rose, Christian and I were thinking of asking if Dimitri could be his Guardian. We have a meeting set up after the Council meeting with the Queen so Christian can request him directly. Adrian is going to plead with her also. The Queen dotes on Adrian for some reason, so he is fairly sure that because of him supporting the request, it will surely be granted." Lissa said when I had finished. Dimitri and I looked between one another, silently waging the idea in our minds. After a few moments I saw that Dimitri seemed comfortable and a bit happy with the idea so I gave him one of my biggest smiles. It answered our biggest worry of how we could stay close, but with separate Charges. Without a single word, we had both agreed and Dimitri expressed his approval and acceptance of it to them.

Breakfast was soon over and I was itching to do something. I had been cramped up indoors or in a plane for too many days now. "I am so tired of having to look at walls." I uttered out loud. My father scoffed and my mother gave me an odd look. "What? I have seen nothing but the inside of airplanes and houses for days now. I need to move around a bit more. All this sitting and lying about has me feeling achy." I defended myself to them.

"Rose, your life is still in danger. You can't go prancing about Court without a care." Abe said.

"I wasn't thinking of 'prancing around Court', I was leaning more towards going to a gym." I told him.

"A gym would be nice. I'm starting to feel a little stiff myself." Dimitri supplied. We were used to being active. The ability to just sit around wasn't often granted to Guardians. If I was beginning to feel antsy and closed in, Dimitri must be feeling just as bad, if not worse.

"Well luck is on our side then. We have a gym in the basement." Abe smiled at us. Well that is no help. I needed some time to work my body, but I was hoping to get away from all the chaos that came with having such a full house. "Before you balk at the idea Rose, it is just until Natasha has been neutralized as a threat. I am sure she will stumble in the next day or two and then you can go about your merry way." He told me.

"I agree with him Roza. It really doesn't matter where the gym is located. Come on, we can spar after we work our muscles out some." Dimitri whispered in my ear. I gave in, knowing I couldn't win a fight against everyone on the issue and we went in search of the gym.

We found it at the back of the basement. They gym wasn't as small as I expected. A few weight benches and treadmills lined the far back wall to the right of a door. To the left were a handful of practice dummies. The mats looked in great condition. Someone had even added lines and a sparing ring to them. Dimitri and I settled on the mats to begin stretching our muscles out, taking turns in helping one another stretch our hamstrings. We ran a few sets of lines before quickly moving on to the weight benches and then hitting the treadmills. We didn't talk much, sinking into a comfortable silence as we got ourselves ready for a sparring match.

"Water break and then we can spar?" I asked as I shut off my treadmill. Dimitri agreed. I drank down half my water and then pulled off my sweat pants and tank top, leaving myself in spandex shorts and a sports bra. The twenty-five minutes we had spent in the gym had already heated my skin and I was beginning to perspire. I probably should have rid myself of my outer clothing before running the treadmill as Dimitri had.

Forgoing the practice stakes we settled for tapping each other over the chest as a sign for a kill shot and took our places inside the sparing ring. We circled one another. It had been so long since we had sparred against one another. We circled one another one more time and I took the initiative to do a quick 1-2-jab, leading with my right hand. Dimitri quickly blocked, grabbing my left wrist and spinning me further away from him as he brought his leg up towards my left hip. With my wrist still in his grasp, I couldn't effectively block the hit and it sent me stumbling back a few paces. I didn't fall or go out of bounds, but it did cause him to lose his grip on me.

Dimitri just quirked an eyebrow at me and needless to say that set me off. I was able to throw myself fully into the match and back and forth we went. Block for block and blow for blow, we met one another over and over again. I worked my way closer and closer to him. Dimitri was tall and with that came a long reach for his kicks and jabs. The closer I stayed to him, the better I could use my speed against him. I found myself in perfect distance and feigned a jab, but instead brought my leg up, hooking him behind the knee. This sent him off balance and with a quick second kick to his shoulder I sent him spiraling towards the mat. He hands grabbed my waist though and as he fell, he pulled me down with him, twisting so I fell beneath him. I knew if he pinned me, it was over. With a few expletive words my back hit the mats and with Dimitri covering all of me. Locking eyes, the fight left me of as my desire took over. Dimitri crashed his lips to mine. His hands left my waist and taking my wrists he began to pull my arms above my head.

I nearly missed what he was trying to do. He knew my weakness for him and he was using it against me. Pulling my wrist away from his grasp and narrowing my eyes at him, I fought to take control. It was not an easy task. Finally succeeding I slammed my hands down on his chest as I leaned in placing my lips close to his and whispered, "Dead." Dimitri lifted his head up and crashed our lips together once again, flipping us back over so he was the one in control.

I vaguely heard the gym door open, a mumbled 'sorry', and the door slam shut again. Dimitri lifted away from me, looking back at the door. I followed his gaze with mine and then let out a low raspy chuckle. "Let's hit the shower, Roza." He growled at me. Standing up, he assisted me off the mats. Keeping my hand in his, we darted out of the gym and through the house towards our bedroom. I didn't miss the startled looks of those we had ran past or the knowing look on Lissa's face as we passed her in the upstairs hallway.

The door had no sooner closed and locked behind us that Dimitri had me pinned against it, our mouths devouring one another. He slid me up the door and I wrapped my legs around his waist. His lips left mine and traveled to my ear and down my neck. I looped my arms around his neck and shoulders holding him in place when he grazed the sweet spot where my shoulders and throat met.

Dimitri spun us away from the door and after a few swift paces, dropped me onto the bed. His hands instantly roamed my by body, as he roughly removed my clothes. He quickly rid himself of his pants and boxer briefs and once again attacked my body with his hands and mouth. As he suckled one of my hardened nipples into his mouth, pinching the other with his hand in the process, my hips bucked and the smooth head of his cock teased my clit. I deep and throaty moan escaped my lips at the friction. Dimitri's hand found its way to my clit and he began rubbing circles. The wetness between my legs pooled at my entrance and he slid his fingers down my lower lips and delving them into me at a quick and near punishing pace.

"You're so ready for me, Roza." He groaned against my ear. "Do you trust me, Milaya?" He asked pulling away to look in my eyes. His fingers never ceased their work of my cunt. I gave him a garbled yes and his touch left me, but before I balk against the treasonous loss, Dimitri had flipped me over and pulled me so I was bent over the side of the bed. I felt as he gave my pussy a long leisurely stroke with his cock and then swiftly he filled me to my brim. He felt so deep from this position and I moaned my approval. He reveled in the feeling as well, giving two slow, teasing strokes before beginning to pump faster and faster. I tried to meet his strokes but his hands held my hips in place.

"Oh God, Dimitri," I gasped as I felt my body begin to coil, getting ready to explode beneath him. He slowed his pace grunting a 'not yet my Roza' to me. I hissed and began to writhe under his hands. My body began to relax and enjoy the slower pace. The new rhythm slowly brought my body back up to a tight and ready to burst mess. I couldn't hold on much longer and with three quick, hard thrusts, Dimitri sent me screaming and crashing into a bursting flash of lights and ecstasy. I heard as he called my name out in conjunction with my cry of bliss. Dimitri drooped over and with his chest flush against my back, laid soft kisses along the spine of my neck, his legs giving out beneath him and both of us sinking further into the mattress.

We laid like that until our breaths caught and I could no longer take the weight of him on me. "I think it is time for that shower, Comrade." I babbled against the bed. Dimitri lifted off of me and we both stood, walking to the en-suite bathroom locked in one another's arms.