Chapter 43:

DPOV

We landed at a small airport in Pennsylvania. From there we would have a car waiting to take us to court the rest of the way. It was a luxury SUV with a driver and all, courtesy of Abe. Although I was still not happy with the fact Abe was in her life, he did have his uses. Us going to court being one of them. But whenever he would look at me I would still imagine my body at the bottom of the ocean strapped to a piece of concrete. But I would not back down. I fought too hard to be with Rose, I was not going to apologize for that, especially not to her estranged father.

We entered the car. Adrian took the front seat with the driver and Rose and I were in the back, giving us the last piece of privacy we would encounter for a while. We didn't know what we would find at court. Maybe it was nothing and maybe they would lock her up and I wouldn't be able to see her for a while. We knew we had to get through this if we had any chance of returning to our old lives, but still.

I pulled her closer to me almost subconsciously. Rose seemed to feel my need to be close to her and scooted her butt in my lap. Laying her head in the crook of my neck. I was rubbing her back.

She started to look around the car, really taking in the luxurious interior. Her eyes fixed on something and she looked back at me and smirked. She left my lap for a moment to push a button. I saw a divider come up and suddenly we were in our own little world, Adrian and the driver forgotten. She was already unbuttoning her pants and pulling them down. Before I had a chance to either protest or engage she was back in my lap with her legs on either side of me, slowly nibbling at my neck.

"Roza, what are you…?"

All thoughts seized in my head when she pulled my fly down and her hand made her way inside, pulling me out. She shimmied my pants down, leaving us both quite naked from the waist down.

"Roza, what if they hear us?"

Rose didn't respond other than pointing at the glass and continuing her assault on my neck. I looked over at where she was pointing and saw a symbol saying the wall was soundproof. Okay then. I grabbed her butt and lifted her up a bit to bring her mouth to mine devouring it. My tongue seeking her own. I felt Rose's move her hand in between us and grab my shaft positioning it at her entrance. She then slowly let herself unto me. I groaned, the feeling of me filling her never seemed to amaze me. She started rocking her hips back and forth and up and down. I didn't know how she could ever have doubted she wasn't amazing in bed, or as it is here in the car, a car her father owned. I tried not to think about that right now.

The pace she was setting was frantic. This would have to be fast. She buried her face in my neck and I could hear her moans vibrating in my neck. She moved her mouth to my ear and she was sucking my earlobe.

"Oh God, Roza, If you keep doing that I am going to cum."

Although I had no objection to that, I always wanted her to enjoy our time too. Even though her moans and sighs were indicating she was enjoying herself I knew she needed a bit more time.

"Well, that is the whole point of this, silly."

She whispered in my ear, her soft voice sending chills down my spine and me over the edge. I grabbed her hips and pulled her down on my cock as I emptied inside of her. Rose moved her hand between her legs and used her fingers to finish herself. It only took a few more strokes for her to cum as well as I felt her walls clench around my still semi-hard cock. She buried her face in my neck stifling her scream.

I held her in my arms just enjoying the moment before we had to part in a few minutes. Rose lowered the divider down again and Adrian gave us a weird look. Rose just smiled at him. I hadn't heard anything through the bond, so I am guessing he really didn't hear anything.

We pulled up at court and the stationed guardian was consulting with the driver to let us in. As I understood it, Rose was to be brought to the council immediately. The guardian at the gate was instructed to take Rose to them. We exited the car and I was surprised to be met with at least a dozen court guardians.

"Miss Hathaway? Please come with us."

One of the guardians called out to Rose, he was holding a pair of cuffs. Rose walked past me towards the guardian and touched my hand with hers while she passed me. She was telling me to calm down and let her handle it.

"Mrs. Actually" She said to the guardian.

She held out her hands to the court guardian and he placed it on her wrists, looking at her a bit funny. Rose was flanked on both sides with six guardians, Rose in the middle. The sight would have been funny in any other circumstances. The thing was, if Rose was really pissed off and wanted to get away I didn't know if twelve guardians would be enough. Adrian placed a hand on my shoulder as he stood beside me.

"Don't worry she will be okay, she can handle it."

I nodded and Adrian and I followed the procession to the council. There was no way I was leaving Rose out of my sight before I knew what their verdict would be.

We entered the council and Rose was led to a chair, Adrian and I were on the side. Abe was also present.

Tatiana stood in front of the council, she briefly looked over at us before she focused her attention on the council.

"Members of the council, I have recently been alerted to a very unusual occurrence which has involved Miss Hathaway and my nephew Lord Adrian Ivashkov."

I saw Rose react to the Miss again but she held her tongue. Good this was not the time or place.

"Adrian, dear, would you explain it to the council?"

Adrian took a deep breath and started with our story.

"As some of you may know, five months ago St. Vladimir's academy was attacked and many lives were lost. Amongst them was Rose Hathaway. On the rescue mission she was turned."

I heard gasps from the council, some of them actually scooting back from her more. As if that would protect them. I saw Rose roll her eyes.

"For four months we had no idea where she went or what happened to her. My guardian and I encountered her in Las Vegas. Rose always meant a lot to me and seeing her like that broke my heart. I had met another spirit user in Las Vegas and he had informed me of a possibility of saving her, instead of killing her. Guardian Belikov and I decided to give it a try. It involved me staking her with a spirit infused stake while guardian Belikov held her still so I could stake her."

Adrian's father was suddenly outraged and didn't even want to hear the end of the story. He turned around to me, obviously angry.

"You let my son, a royal Moroi, get close to a Strigoi so he can save the life of some worthless Dhampir whore?"

It took all of me not to fly at him and strangle him right here. How Adrian turned out the way he did I had no idea, but suddenly I didn't know who the worst part of the family was, my father or Nathan Ivashkov. Sure my father had his flaws but at least he didn't treat Dhampir's like slaves.

I was about to say something which would not have been constructive but would in no way be untrue when I saw Abe step in.

"Nathan, I would suggest you keep your opinions of MY daughter to yourself? Sit down and let the boy tell the rest of the story."

I saw Nathan visibly pale at Abe's words, realizing exactly whose daughter he had insulted. Tatiana didn't budge, confirming to me she already knew this. The rest of the council was getting restless at this new piece of information.

"As I was saying, when I staked her, there was a flash and then Rose, was Rose again, a Dhampir. She was obviously traumatized by the whole experience and we took her somewhere safe to recuperate but now we are ready to show the world this miracle. She was turned against her will and thanks to Spirit she now has a chance at a second life."

Well actually third if you think about the fact she was shadow-kissed before. But hey, who's counting.

The council was looking at each other and looking at Rose in shock.

"Are you saying you turned a Strigoi back?"

One of the royals at the table asked Adrian.

"That is exactly what I am saying."

"But how do we know she is really herself again? Maybe she turned into something completely different, maybe it is a ruze and she will kill us all in our sleep."

Well, this I predicted. Actually it was a toss up between, how can we trust her again and how do we even know she turned and she didn't just run away scared after the attack. Somehow I was grateful they at least thought that she had turned against her will.

Rose rolled her eyes again, but she spoke with actually quite the amount of restraint.

"I understand this is a lot to take in. It was for me too. I am willing to undergo testing to prove I am a Dhampir again." Her voice changed from strong and determined to almost young and shy. "But all I want is a chance to get my life back, the life that was so brutally stolen from me."

By the end she had tears in her eyes. But I knew they were all for show. Sure she wanted her life back but saying it like that was for the benefit of the council. And it worked. They were eating it up. I think not in any small amount because Abe was standing right there. Well, all but Nathan.

"This is amazing. A true miracle. We would of course have to confirm this, but to be able to turn a Strigoi back to their original state will change our world. We could be doing this for all those that were turned against their will."

Adrian raised his hands, stopping the council member from going further into detail about how this would save the world..

"Well hold your horses there. I am glad I saved Rose, but it took a lot out of me. This isn't something I can do on a large scale, and there aren't many spirit users out there."

"Still, it will send a message."

I had to agree with the royal, Conta I think. Having Rose go public will also reach the Strigoi. They will not like this. Part of their power was the fear they installed. If now turning Strigoi was reversible, a part of their fear as all-powerful beings was gone. I just hoped people wouldn't start being careless or would turn Strigoi on purpose to get power and simply turn back when they want to. Even though most Strigoi don't want to turn back regardless of their positions in life. My time with Rose was evident of that.

"Very well if the council is agreed, we will have Rose examined thoroughly and relay this information to other authorities." Tatiana explained.

"Are you all insane? We can't take the risk. This whole Spirit thing is bullshit. Just some way of Adrian to justify his drinking. He isn't responsible enough to cause such a miracle. She is a fraud and now doubt a Strigoi spy, we need to get rid of her."

Well, that answers that question. Nathan was definitely worse. I felt Adrian's mood plummet. Somewhere he thought his father might have been proud of him. But no such luck.

"Nathan. My daughter came here out of her own volition. She will not be treated like an animal. I will not allow it. Am I making myself clear?"

I saw Nathan swallow. I think part of the reason the council agreed to the terms Rose has set is because she is Abe's daughter. But Nathan's common sense was shadowed by his rage. But eventually he backed down.

And I realized just how much power Abe held.