Thank you everyone for the reviews! I do love reading them. Here are two chapters tonight as a thank you :)

Chapter 24

I vaguely remember a small warning label on the side of my painkiller bottle, in bold letters saying to not mix with alcohol. I remember reading that it can make the alcohol hit you quicker. If anyone asks how I was so drunk after four drinks, I will use that excuse.

The alcohol was at least dulling the pain, making me more relaxed on the couch, laughing without care about something Adrian had said. Eddie had joined us along with Jill. She kept shooting me looks, her awe of me still strong.

A buzzing of his phone distracted Adrian; reading the text, a sly smile slipped on his face, "Well, hate to go, but I am needed elsewhere."

Lissa, who had moved to be next to me, rolled her eyes at him, "How did you manage to find someone to hook up with here?" She was also drunk. I loved how bold she became when drinking.

"Well, hopefully, she is at least eighteen," I joked, causing Lissa to laugh.

Adrian stood in front of us, leaning down so only we heard, "Unlike someone I know, I'm not a cradle robber," He grinned at my look of shock. Chuckling to himself as he walked away. I threw my empty cup at him, which missed.

"Asshole!" I yelled after him. Lissa beside me, trying to hold in her laughter. I flipped my hair over my shoulder, "Well, now I have to get another drink."

"Are you sure you want another one?" Christian asked. Both he and Eddie had been nursing their drinks for most of the night.

Rising from the couch quicker than I probably should have. I smirked at him, "I'm celebrating Sparky."

I made sure to strut away from the group, giving the impression that I wasn't close to tripping over my own feet.

I easily found the drinks table, taking in the selection. Adrian had been getting my drinks all night; he had been making mixers with vodka. I was eyeing the bottles when I felt hands slide down my hips.

"Wow, Rose, I must say, I love watching you walk away." Jesse breathed into my ear.

I spun around in his arms, trying to put as much distance between us as I could; unfortunately, the table restricted me. Jesse stepped closer, "I suggest you get away from me if you know what's good for you." I warned. Sure, I was drunk right now, but I knew I could take Jesse down with my eyes closed.

He grinned, not cowering in fear like I had hoped he would. "Come on. We used to have so much fun together. Don't you want that again?" He tried to charm me with his smile, one I used to go weak in the knees from. But now, compared to Dimitri, Jesse barely held my attention.

"Trust me when I tell you I will never do anything with you again." I tried to push past him, but his hands moved up to grasp my waist tightly. His hand pressed against my bruises and ribs, causing me to hiss in pain, the distraction making me unable to react as Jesse covered my lips with his.

I was so shocked by the sudden assault that I didn't move.

Two things brought me out of my startled state, a flash of light and the feeling of Jesse trying to force his tongue into my mouth.

I clenched my fist, ready to hit him, but he was ripped away before I could. Eddie was before me, holding Jesse up against the wall with one hand and punching him with the other.

"I told you to stay the fuck away from her!" He growled out, hitting him again.

I could hear a group of people laughing behind me, but I ignored them to calm down Eddie. As much as I loved seeing the shit get beaten out of Jesse, Eddie would get in a lot of trouble for fighting.

"Eddie, stop!"

"Guardians are coming!"

That warning got everyone moving. Students all started rushing around the room, trying to make a quick escape. Eddie released Jesse and let him slide down the wall; no doubt he will be sporting a hell of a black eye in the morning.

"Rose!" Lissa ran up to us, grabbing my arm, "We have to go."

Eddie and I both followed her, going out a door Christian was holding open for us. We went into the stairwell, heading down to the back door. Most students were avoiding these doors because they were often locked.

"This one has been broken for ages," Christian explained, proving so when he was able to throw the door open for us to escape.

Once we were out in the open, I had to squint my eyes against the bright light, it wasn't quite midnight, but it was close. I turned to Eddie; he was examining his hand. Feeling my eyes on him, he looked up at me.

"I can't believe you just beat the shit out of Jesse Zeklos," I stared at him in surprise, grinning, "That was amazing!" This caused him to laugh.

"He had it coming," He grinned. I could tell he was proud of himself.

"Why am I not surprised to find you here."

I froze in place, praying that I just imagined his voice, but based on my friends' wide eyes, Dimitri was indeed standing behind me.

I pivoted around to face him, a sweet smile in place, "Comrade," I greeted. He did not look amused.

"Please tell me you weren't at the party." His eyes were hard with disapproval.

I tilted my head, "Okay, I won't tell you."

Lissa broke out in a fit of giggles behind me, making me giggle.

He stepped towards me, "Are you drunk?"

Yes. "No."

More giggles.

He was not pleased at all, "Rose, you were in the infirmary not even twenty-four hours ago, and you are out here drinking?"

I shrugged, "We were making up for my eighteenth."

"Yeah, it was a celebration," Lissa added, trying to be helpful. Christian quickly shushed her.

Dimitri pinched the bridge of his nose, taking a deep breath. He was close to losing his calm.

He wasn't wearing his duster for once, showing his bare arms in his short-sleeved shirt. The way he was bending his arm made the muscles flex. I bit my lip as I openly checked him out.

His eyes snapped to mine, and I gave him what I was hoping was bedroom eyes. He blushed.

Before I could be bolder, he stepped away from me and up to Eddie, "Take her to her room now . Lissa, Christian, I will escort you to yours."

I pouted at him, distancing himself from me.

Lissa pouted at the fun ending, "Okay, bye Rose." She waved at me.

Dimitri stood there, eyes trained on us until we started to walk away. I decided to look over my shoulder and wink at him.

"Make sure she goes to her room and stays there." He warned Eddie again.

I laughed and turned to walk backwards, "You are no fun, Guardian Belikov."

A sudden loud cracking noise made me stop. A towering shadow moved over me, making me lookup. The large tree beside me was falling straight towards me. I couldn't make my body move.

This was it. I was going to get killed by a tree— what a lame way to die.

A solid form tackled into me, sending me flying onto the ground.

I could feel the violent rumble of the tree's impact through the ground. The sound was like thunder. After, only the rush of my heartbeat in my ears.

"Holy fuck, Rose." Eddie huffed out. He was pale and shaking. His body was lying next to mine from pushing me out of the way. I stared at the large tree lying where I had been standing.

"H-how?" I couldn't form a sentence. That tree did not look old or rotten. There was no reason for a tree that size to just fall.

Eddie shook his head, realising the same thing, "I don't know."

I heard my name being called and the sound of footsteps approaching. But all I could focus on was the tree. Suddenly it clicked—the letters.

Whoever had written them just tried to kill me for real. "They really are trying to kill me." I mused out loud.

Eddie shot me a look. I suddenly regretted speaking my mind. "What do you mean? Who is trying to kill you?" His shock was replaced with concern and fear.

"Rose!" Dimitri came to kneel beside me, Lissa and Christian both rushing to us.

I quickly tried to backtrack, wishing I could take back the words, "No one, it's nothing."

Eddie's hands latched onto my arms, surprising both Dimitri and me, "Rose, tell me the truth, what the hell is going on?"

I tried to push him off, but my body was still shaking, unable to break free of his grip. "Please, Eddie, it's nothing."

"Castile. Let her go." Dimitri ground out. But Eddie barely acknowledged him.

"No, it isn't. You almost died. You do realise that right!" He shook me as if trying to shake some sense into me. "Is it the person that left you the letter that's threatening you?"

I paused, throwing a look at Lissa and Dimitri; they're both as shocked, "How do you know about that?"

"It is, isn't it?" His eyes darkened with anger, "I found one outside your room on Friday."

"You didn't think to mention it?" I asked, anger at Eddie replacing the fear and shock of what just happened.

Eddie faltered, releasing my arms, "I thought it was a joke or something. I didn't want you to see it. And then you got injured, and it slipped my mind."

Dimitri hooked his arms under mine, lifting me to my feet. My body protesting the movement, all of my injuries coming back with a vengeance, along with some new ones. "Rose?"

I was gripping his arm tightly, breathing through the pain, "I'm okay, comrade," I tried to wave him off. The concern in his eyes not leaving.

"I need to call Petrov. This wasn't an accident, Rose."

I glanced at the tree, then up to his eyes, "I know."

Dimitri pulled out his phone and dialled Alberta. Despite being around others, Dimitri kept his arm around me. I was leaning against him to keep me standing and for comfort. If Eddie hadn't reacted, I would be dead.

"She wants to see all of us, now." Dimitri was in full guardian mode, face hard and voice rough. But I could see the anger in his eyes. And fear. I really need to stop almost dying in front of him.

I think the shock of a tree almost crushing me forced all the alcohol out of my system. By the time we reached Alberta's office, I had to clench my jaw to not groan in pain with each step. The impact of Eddie colliding with me and then with the ground had made my ribs worse, hopefully not actually cracking them again.

Dimitri was fighting himself on if he should be the caring boyfriend or the stern guardian. From the look in his eye, I could tell that I would not be let out of his sight for a long time.

Alberta stood outside her office, eyes stern and lips pressed in a thin line, undoubtedly aware that we were out of our rooms past curfew because of the party. I ignored her, beelining for the chair in her office. Letting out a moan that was crossed between pain and relief as I sat in it.

"What happened?" She demanded once we were all in the room.

I closed my eyes, leaning my head back, "Tree."

Disapproval flashed through the bond. With the alcohol leaving my system, I was able to feel Lissa again. She did not like me making light of the situation. I shrugged, attempted to at least, "Just summing up the situation Liss."

"Take this seriously, Rose." Alberta scolded me.

I opened my eyes to glare at her, "I am taking this seriously. A tree literally almost killed me."

"Why were you even out there in the first place? You should be in your room resting."

"I was having fun. You know, living that second chance life everyone keeps telling me I'm so lucky to have! I really hit the jackpot. Someone is threatening me and trying to kill me and we still have no fucking idea who is doing it!" I yelled at her, chest heaving as anger took control. A sob pulled me back to myself. Lissa had her head buried in Christian's shoulder. I felt myself deflate, "Shit. I'm sorry. I'm just so tired, and everything hurts." I roughly pulled at my hair, frustrated with myself, with the whole situation.

Tears were on the verge of falling, but I bit the inside of my cheek, willing them away. It felt like every time I gain back some semblance of my old life, something happens to take it away. Why did everything have to be so difficult?

Warm hands untangled mine from my hair, releasing my grip. Dimitri crouched in front of me, still holding my hand, "We know, Rose. Everyone understands." He told me. I wished I could just have his arms around me.

"What is going on, Rose?" Eddie asked; he was calmer now. His eyes flicked from mine to Alberta.

I was too tired to explain everything. I caught Dimitri's eyes, begging him to answer for me. Understanding me, he nodded. Not releasing my fingers, he stood and faced the room. I tuned out from the conversation, just letting his calming voice wash over me.

I had been having so much fun at the party, granted that high was ruined by Jesse forcing himself on me before the tree incident. I hated that I could still feel his lips on mine. I only ever wanted Dimitri's, and the moment I get him alone, I intend to fix that. Maybe he can help me forget all of it for a while.

"Why didn't you say something before, Rose?" Eddie's voice pulled from my thoughts. His voice was pained, "I thought you trusted me."

I felt the pang of guilt. Eddie had been looking out for me since Mason died, discovering that I was in trouble and not being able to do anything about it must have made him feel like he had failed. "I do trust you, Eddie. I just didn't want to tell anyone."

He turned to face Lissa and Christian, "Did you know?"

Christian shook his head; he remained quiet, though there was a rage in his eyes. Lissa shyly nodded hers, "She told me last week."

He turned back to me, closing off his expression. I tried to explain myself to him, "I didn't think it was worth mentioning, and then we wanted to try to figure out who was behind it. I didn't mean to hide this from you." I pleaded with him; I couldn't lose him or anyone else. Not now.

Eddie's expressions softened. Finally, he replied to me, "I'm sorry for getting mad at you. I was just scared for you."

"I know."

"So whoever this is, knows where your room is and is obviously following you around." Alberta sat at her desk, crossing her arms in thought, "I have considered putting you in a new room. But they already can access the novice dorms whenever they please despite the extra guardians we have put there. And I'm unsure of putting you in the Moroi dorms."

Dimitri quickly shut down that idea, "That tree that fell was not rotten at all. It's proof that they are using magic, so they must be Moroi."

"I have an idea."

All eyes turned to Lissa, she was suddenly unsure of herself with everyone focused on her, and I realised she was embarrassed.

"What if she stayed in Dimitri's room."

My jaw dropped. Of all the things I expected, it was not that.

"That could work," Alberta replied.

"I'm sorry, what?" I was dumbfounded. First, Lissa's suggestion and then Alberta actually considering it.

She glanced at me, "The staff wing is harder for students to enter, not to mention there are more eyes there that are aware of the situation." She stated.

"Won't people be asking questions when they see me there?"

"You are on bed rest for the next two days, so you don't need to be in going in and out. Other than that, I'm sure you can be discreet. This will only be temporary until we can decide on a better arrangement." I could swear her lips turned up in the smallest of smiles. "What do you think, Belikov?"

Realising that Dimitri had been quiet throughout this exchange, I quickly searched his eyes, wondering how he felt about this. While his expression was blank, the tint of red on his ears caught me by surprise. Was he embarrassed to have me stay in his room?

Now I was confused. He had been all but living with me this past week, but staying in his room made him embarrassed.

"If that's what you think is best." He responded, a slight waver in his voice.

Alberta nodded, "It's decided then. I will inform the others of the new arrangements."

There is no way this was happening. Alberta was allowing this. And everyone was just going with it.

I looked at Eddie and Christian. Neither one of them questioned the fact I would be staying in the room of a teacher. What was happening?

"Rose?" Dimitri held his hands out to me. He pulled me to my feet, arm going around my shoulders, taking some of my weight as we walked.

I waited until we were out of the building before stopping and eyed Eddie and Christian again. They all paused and gave me questioning glances.

"I don't understand."

Dimitri raised an eyebrow at me, "What don't you understand?"

"Alberta just gave me permission to sleep in his room, with him in there," I gestured to Dimitri in case there was any confusion as to who ' him' was, "and you two are just straight up accepting it."

Eddie shrugged his shoulders, apparently still confused, "Well, yeah."

"Rose, they know," Lissa informed me.

That made me pause. "They know?" I repeated, " You know ? How?"

"I kind of figured it out after the caves." Eddie looked down at his hands as he explained.

My eyes flew to Christian, waiting for his realisation moment. He just shrugged his shoulders, "Lissa told me."

That pulled a laugh from me, surprising myself. "The great Christian Ozera had no idea. I expected better." I quickly sobered, "So everyone just knows while I've been here stressing about how you would all react if you found out." I sagged back into Dimitri's arms, tilting my head up to see his reaction. His face was closed off; I would have to ask him later.

"Castile, can you take Rose back to her room?" Dimitri asked, looking down at me, "I need to take Lissa and Christian to their dorms. Pack a bag, and I'll be there soon." With a slight squeeze of my shoulders, he stepped away from me, splitting off from Eddie and me to the Moroi dorm.

Eddie took Dimitri's space next to me, taking some of my weight so I could walk the rest of the way, "Don't look so sad, Hathaway. He'll be back."

I smiled. Eddie and I had a simple way of communicating; if we could joke about it, then everything was fine between us.

"Come on, I'm tired as fuck," He pulled me along the path.

I laughed, "Just make sure to avoid the trees."