A/N: I noticed a few little mistakes in chap 2 when I went through it, but they have now been changed so it should make more sense now. Every time I look at my profile I see that people are reading my story, it's so exciting. Thanks to all the people who have reviewed; they are highly appreciated and I will try to reply to all worth replying to. That is all! Enjoy chapter 3. (I can't be arsed writing a disclaimer on every chapter cause I'm lazy like that but you know the drill by now)
I managed to keep it together all the way across court. I vaguely remember Christian being there, but I didn't really acknowledge him. We made our way through a pair of ornate, polished mahogany doors into possibly the most lavish, expensive, over the top room in the entire of court. High ceilings with intricately painted scenes, depicting great battles and noble saint; second only in elegance and majesty to the Sistine chapel. Cream drapes hung at every window; delicately embroidered with gold, silver. Red ties had been added, in reference to the Dragomir Queen. The upholstery had also been changed on the plush velvet couches and chairs, matching them to the Sovereign's blood line. A small mahogany coffee table sat between the couches, on a large Persian rug. The sofas angled towards a large Mahogany desk; delicately engraved on the front and red leather laid into the top. Behind the desk sat a towering chair which matched the desk. The wood was beautifully carved with intertwining vines around the outside edge of the chair back; which stood taller than me, maybe six foot. And above it, hanging proudly from the wall, was the Dragomir suit of arms. The entire room screamed Royal, but I knew Lissa hated it; the dark colour and expensive fabric, all just for show. It always just gave me a headache.
Lissa led me to one of the couches, making me sit there while got told someone to bring us some tea. Apparently hot beverages were appropriate for people who are upset. "Can we have a little privacy?" she said to the Guardians lining the wall. They looked at one another uneasily, not sure what to do; disobey the Queen or leave her unprotected. Suddenly, a very familiar yet unexpected voice spoke, "Don't worry. I am here, so is Rose. She won't be unprotected." It was my mom. I hadn't even noticed she was there, but now I realised just how much I wanted her there. I heard the other Guardians leave, and my mother came to sit on the other side of me just as the tea arrived. My mother busied herself poring it while she spoke. "Rose, love, you know I'm not happy about your relationship with Guardian Belik-" "Call him Dimitri. Please." I interrupted – I hated it when she did that; he's practically family. "Relationship with Dimitri then," she corrected. "But that doesn't mean I don't see how much you love each other. It was hard to ignore today." She said, becoming far away in thought. Wait? Did that mean she was on the airfield as well? That was bad form on my part; not noticing my own mother.
I wasn't quite sure what my mother was trying to say, I don't think she knew either. Luckily Liss jumped in. "What we are trying to say is that we understand you being upset. And that we're here for you. The way I should have been a long time ago." She said the last part almost inaudibly. "No, Liss you were there. Your problems just needed fixing more than mine." I knew what she meant; when we had been at the academy I hadn't told her about my feelings for Dimitri. I had always had to put her first. And it nearly ruined our relationship. It's amazing how many times the mantra, they come first that had been drilled into me from childhood, had come back to bite me in the ass. "No, I wasn't Rose. I was so selfish. I should have listened to you. I could tell something was wrong and never stopped worrying about myself long enough to ask what was wrong. But now I'm listening. You have protected me my entire life and now it's my turn. I know I haven't been a very good best friend," I opened my mouth to protest, but she held up a hand to silence me, "but I can see now how much you need a friend. You have me Rose, you're not alone."
"Lissa, you weren't selfish. I was protecting you, which includes solving your problems. I was doing my job Liss, I chose my path. Don't feel guilty for my decision." She looked like she wanted to protest, but stayed silent. I could see them both watching me, waiting for me to say something. But what could I say? How could I explain how I felt? There were no words, no way to explain how it felt to have the man you loved, your soul mate ripped away from you again and again. And now not knowing if he will be taken away again, but this time there would be no return. To lose him again would be the end of me; that I knew for certain. I would be losing a part of me, the better part of my soul. I felt tears roll down my face. Lissa pulled me into her arms and I cried into her shoulder. I hadn't cried this much since Mason's death. My mother stroked my hair and back, trying to calm me down.
After I long time, I left to go back to my apartment. I couldn't keep talking about my feelings; that would mean actually acknowledging them, which would send me over the edge. So, instead, I decided to go home, eat and go to bed. I went into the bedroom to change but stopped dead in the doorway. There, lying on the bed was Dimitri's duster. It drought an overwhelming tidal wave of emotions and I saw memories playing before my mind's eye; from the first time we met, to him saving me from Natalie, to the roof of the ski lodge. All of the memories filling me with so much love, and then even more sorrow. Tears welled up in my eyes as I crawled into bed, wrapping myself in his coat and breathing in deeply. It smelled just like him, the scent filling my lungs and surrounding me. I pulled my arms through the sleeves and dug my hands deep into the pockets. I felt something smooth and crinkly. I pulled it out and it was a piece of paper folded in half. I turned it over in my hands, gasping when I read Roza across the front in Dimitri's writing. I unfolded it, reading;
My true love,
I love you more than any words could describe.
Keep my coat safe, I'll need it when I get back. Keep yourself safe too. Now is not the time for Rose logic. I will come back to you. I promise.
All my heart,
Your Dimitri xx
I read those six lines over and over, studying each curve of each letter, noticing the imperfections in Dimitri's handwriting. Seeing how each letter looked individually, then together. I hugged the letter to my chest tightly and closed my eyes, breathing slowly through my nose, concentrating on the smell enveloping me.
I awoke to the sound of my front door shutting. I shot out of bed, grabbing my stake from the night stand and creeping to the bedroom doorway. Fighting in my Guardian uniform would be less comfortable than jeans, but now wasn't the time to be picky. I rounded the corner in a fighting stance, ready to take on whoever had entered my house. When I saw who stood before my though, I dropped my stake. I stared into a pair of chocolate eyes smiling down at me. Dimitri had come back. He stood before me in what he had left in this morning. He said nothing, instead, closing the distance between us in a nanosecond and kissing me with passion and fire. We backed into the wall and I wrapped me legs around his waist, bringing us closer. One hand held the back of my neck, fingers intertwined in my hair, while the other worked its way down my body, sliding under my shirt and finding my breast. I moaned into his mouth, grinding my core against his arousal, earning a moan from him in return. He trailed kisses down my neck. "Oh God, Roza. How did I think I could ever leave you?" He said between kisses. I racked my fingernails down his back, making him shiver and graze his teeth across my neck, sharp and lustrous. No!
I pushed him back, and was met with a pair of red eyes. My blood ran cold. He looked just like he had in Siberia; cold, calculating. Evil. He smiled at me menacingly, flashing his death bringing fangs. "Oh, I have been waiting a long time for this moment." As his fangs neared my throat, I was unable to move, to speak. I was rendered utterly paralyzed by fear and regret that I had let this happen again.
I felt his sharp teeth meet my neck. Then a flare of intense pain. Pain that was all too familiar.
I really do love a suspenseful chapter ending don't you? The argument between Lssa and Rose was loosly based on one between me and my best friend. Writing form expirience always helps. I know the outlook for our Rose and Dimitri isn't looking good at this point, but I promise it won't all be depressing :) All my love to the fans of my story, but I'm afraid you may have to wait a little while until my next update. If I can't fit writing the next chapter into this week, you will have to wait till the start of July. If that's the case then I will defo add a few little teasers to wet your appetites before I leave.
Please review. Gina xx
