A.N: Hey guys!!

I know most of you couldn't review the last chapter so please show some love to this one =).

Oh also I have updated the play list for this story if you want to check it out and there is a poll about my next story on my page… I really want to know what you think.

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Chapter 8:

Even if the secretary told me that Kirova was waiting for me I lightly knocked on the door.

"Come in" she said as I opened the door.

"Thank you for seeing me with such short notice" I said trying to sound as polite as I could but seeing her freaking condescending nod I wanted to add 'since you are not doing shit anyways' but I kept my mouth shut.

Adrian and Dimitri would be so proud! I thought and then frowned. Okay wasn't it twisted to think about those two men in the same sentence? Yeah it was definitively twisted!!

"Please take a sit!" She said pointing at the chair in front of her desk.

I sat and smiled tentatively to her.

"What can I do for you today Miss Hathaway?" She asked cordially but I could see in her eyes that what she meant was 'what kind of stunt are you trying to pull?'

"Well it's about my training…" I said trying to stay calm as I couldn't help but seeing myself slapping her 'know-it-all' smile off her face. Fucking old shrew!! I thought.

"Oh yes…" She said rearranging her glasses that slide on the bridge of her narrow nose. "I heard about that. It was quite… a show! Guardian Alto was pretty pleased and impressed by your performance." She conceded clearly grudgingly.

"Stan? Impressed with me?" I asked surprised. I enjoyed breaking his nose so much I think I had my first orgasm when I heard his nose crack!! I added to myself with a low chuckle.

Kirova frowned at my chuckle which sobered me off straight away. "Yes…Guardian Alto"she said pressing the words "was very pleased. So what about your training?"

"Well…" I started sitting straight resting my hands on my lap. So not a Rose pose! I thought. "As you probably heard already the fight between guardian Belikov and myself was a struggle for both of us as we know each other moves by now and we have the same fighting techniques."

She nodded in confirmation and invited me to continue by a gesture of her hand.

Could she be more condescending? Bitch!. I thought giving her my best nice smile. "Well I will, very soon, have the honor to be a guardian of the only remaining Dragomir and as you are fully aware Princess Vasilisa…" Damn it was hard to call her that but I knew that the witch loved formal and I needed her to like me right now, "means a lot to me."

"Of course!" She said with what seemed to be a genuine smile. "I'm fully aware that you would sacrifice a lot for her. "

"Exactly, so…" I shrugged slightly, "I was wondering if you could maybe find someone else to cover guardian Belikov's training sessions as I would love to learn some other fighting techniques…" I saw her eyes slightly narrowing in suspicion. "In order to be more effective…to acquire more knowledge…It can only be beneficial to her safety," I added forcing the full force of my puppy dog eyes on her.

"Is there a problem with guardian Belikov?" she asked dubiously.

"No of course not!" I said pretending to be offended bringing my hand to my heart. "He is a fantastic mentor and I can't wait to work full time with him to guard the princess!" Yeah as much as being thrown in a hole with rabid vipers! I added to myself. "But I thought that acquiring a different type of fighting method could be beneficial to all of us."

Kirova sighed and looked down to her hands on her desk she was probably thinking. "I see your point Miss Hathaway and today's fight does confirm everything you said but," she shook her head. "most of the guardians here have the same fighting techniques and I'm not sure that any guardians would be ready to put on the extra time for the couple of months left before graduation just to teach you some skills… as promising as you can be," she added trying to compliment me.

A compliment from Kirova? That was so scary! I thought with chills.

"I understand the struggle of course" I said even if I didn't understand or care. I stood up slowly. "I need to go back to Mr. Oreza." Calling Fire boy 'Mr.' I almost choke on that! "But if you could maybe just consider it and if you run into a willing guardian." I said with pleading eyes. I was pleading with Kirova! It was in my "I'd-rather-die-then-do' list but getting over Dimitri and being at peace was far more important.

"Well yeah that much I can promise!" She said sincerely. "If I find someone with different fighting skills willing enough to teach you it will be a done deal." She said standing up to probably showing me that I could go.

"Thank you" I said bowing my head before rushing outside. Now it was Adrian's part and I was pretty sure he would work his butt off to keep me away from Dimitri. I thought not able to conceal my smile at the thought.

----------------

It was now Saturday morning and I was wandering through the garden with Christian waiting for Lissa to be done with her tutorial in advance physics…whatever that meant.

Christian did come with me yesterday at the training again and I could see that Dimitri was really annoyed at the idea. I was annoyed with him as he should know by now that being alone together wasn't smart. Did he like to play with fire? Yeah maybe but as for me? I hated getting burnt and it was always the case when I was too close to him.

Christian was about to say something when my phone vibrated in my pocket. They were all wondering about the phone but they pretty much accepted the internet order explanation. They all had cell phones anyways why wouldn't I have one? Lissa was starting to get suspicious about everything she was truly believing that I was hiding something from her and it was saddening her somehow. I knew I would have to come clean with her soon and I would but I just didn't want to force her into my pretty messed up love life. She already had enough trouble to get a grip on the Spirit and I didn't want her to worry for me.

I looked at the text.

Done deal…u should hear about the witch soon. Can't wait 2nite. A =].

I couldn't help but smile at this text. Adrian apparently managed to find me a new trainer. The guy was good!! As for tonight well... I was going to switch place this afternoon with Eddie. He was going to have some 'male bonding' time with Christian while I'd help Lissa set up a little romantic evening for her and Christian, if you thought about it, it was like helping two of my best friend to get laid….Creepy!

So, with Christian and Lissa out for the night, and probably the next day (ewww to that). It was leaving Eddie and I and Eddie was invited to a guys night. I pushed him to go so now I was totally free to spend the evening with Adrian and as much as it scared me to admit it, I was really eager and pleased to spend my free time with him as, our little kisses, our little touches hidden from the others where exciting yes but also really frustrating. We were also spending a lot of time to talk when we were in public as it was really the only thing we could do without attracting attention but it made me know him a lot more and there was nothing not to like into that man. Damn it!!

"Was it Belikov?" asked Christian trying to sound nonchalant but I could see strong curiosity in his eyes.

I put the phone back in my rear pocket and looked at him wide eyes. Where did he go fetch that one? I thought. "What?! No! Why would he text me?" I asked as I stopped walking to face him.

He shrugged. "Listen I'm not a fool and I know you're seeing someone in secret." He said crossing his arms on his chest. "I'm even more aware than the others since we're together 24 hours a day. Don't you have a secret man in your life?" He questioned before adding. "Honesty remember?"

I sighted. "Yeah I'm seeing someone." I simply said.

"Okay and I know you are not the kind of person to hide things, to be ashamed of what you are doing so…" He shrugged slightly "I figured that what you're doing is somehow forbidden and…" He took a deep breath and looked deep into my eyes. "Did you sneak out to meet Belikov on that night?" He asked directly as I promised to answer direct question as truthfully as possible.

"No it wasn't him. I'm not seeing Dimitri." I said staring into his eyes.

"Okay…" He said nodding. "Okay…But I'm pretty sure it's someone you shouldn't see and if it's the case I really would hate to see you hurt," he added as I could see anger lit in his eyes at the idea of me suffering. "Plus it would cause me some kind of trouble to set this little fucker on fire if he makes you shred just one tear."

That was the brotherly, protecting love I knew we silently shared. We were teasing each other all the time but we were ready to hurt anyone who would hurt any of us. I smiled and brought my hands to his cheeks. "Thank you fire boy," I said with a smile kissing his forehead. "He won't hurt me I promise…My walls are up," I added.

Christian blushed as he was not comfortable with the intimate moment and I chuckled. "Breathe brother."

"Well it's not the way a guardian has to deal with her charge" said Alberta striding to meet us.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. "He is not only a charge to me Guardian Petrov and you know that!" I said putting my hand to his shoulder. "We're family."

"We ARE a family" said Christian pleased putting his hand on top of mine.

Alberta smiled. "I know… I'm just teasing" she said with a smile stopping in front of us. "Headmistress Kirova wants to see you quick Rose," she said nicely. "I'll take your charge while you're busy."

"Okay" I said looking at Christian. "I'll be back soon."

"And don't expect me to cuddle you like your little mommy here," She said looking at Christian pointing at me.

Seeing Christian blush furiously, made both Alberta and I chuckle so he shot us a furious glare. Christian hated to be made fun of…just like me.

"OK go now Rose but just so you know," she said looking at Christian and I standing close together. "It's very good to care about your charge but the feelings you all developed, this love well can have two sides. It can cloud your mind and make you take some inconsiderate risks."

She said that in such a caring tone that you couldn't argue. You could see in her eyes that she really worried about us four and that there was no ill feelings in what she said.

"I know…" I whispered rushing to Kirova's office. I couldn't wait to find out who will be my trainer.

As soon as the secretary saw me entering the building she gestured toward the office.

"You can go in Rose," she said. "The Headmistress is waiting for you."

I nodded with a smile, knocked and walked in.

Kirova had a smile, she seemed very proud of herself even if deep down I knew that 95% of the job had been done by Adrian.

"I've got some good news for you Miss Hathaway," she said pleased gesturing me to sit.

"Mr. Ivashkov has now a guardian assigned to him here on the campus and he very graciously proposed his service as to help you for your training issues," she said business like but I knew that deep down she was dying to know why Adrian was willing to help me.

I smiled to her pretending to be surprised.

"Anyways I've talked to this guardian over the phone this morning and he seemed pretty eager to teach you… he did hear a lot of things about you," she said pursing her lips as she didn't appear happy that he seemed to like what he heard somehow. "He is a specialist in many different kind of martial arts, he even develop his own mix of them," she added looking at a sheet of paper on her desk probably reading me his credential. "He had done his senior training ( the three last years of school) at the Institution near Fujiyoshida," she said smugly.

Right there I wanted to jump on her desk and slap her. She knew I had no idea of where Fuji-whatever was and she enjoyed it. I wouldn't give her the pleasure to ask.

I nodded.

She smiled cockily and continued. "It's in Japan, near the Mount Fuji." She said clearing things up.

I gave her a blank look that I hope said ' I knew that why are you explaining it?' but in fact I thought 'Ohmygoh!! A Japanese trainer that's so cool!!'

"Guardian Belikov will stay your mentor of course" she said seriously "and you will need to confide in him any worries you may have" she added.

"Fine" I said calmly "but… May I ask you the name of this guardian?" I asked really curious.

She seemed a bit reluctant to say his name which made me even more eager.

"Yes...well… it's…it's Guardian Walker, Chris walker" she said scrutinizing my face.

"Holy shit! I'll train with 'The warrior' ??" I shouted almost falling down my chair. "Sorry" I said seeing disproval in her face. "And you are worried about my reputation?!" I asked incredulously but chuckling.

"Yeah well…" She said clearing her throat. "That's the reason why you should remain under the mentoring of Guardian Belikov."

"Yeah I see why now!" I added still doing my best to contain my laugher.

"Well he is one of the best fighters around," she said a bit defensively. "It's what you wanted right?" I nodded . "His reputation and attitude is irrelevant for what you need from him," she added stiffly.

"Of course...Thank you so much!" I said as I really was grateful toward Adrian… I'll make it worth while tonight I thought cheekily.

"Yeah well…you are welcome," she said surprised of my gratitude. "He won't be here for another 10 days as they arrange a new guardian for his previous charge."

"Of course I understand well… I'll go now" I said seriously but I was grinning as I left.

Chris Walker was a pretty young guardian, he was 23 or 24 I think but he had a killer reputation literally. He had already managed 12 Molnija before turning 16. He had a short temper, so reckless that he seemed suicidal but with his charges he was the most promising guardian around! Everybody wanted him! As when he was guarding you it was like having a full pack of wolves… Indestructible. I never met him personally but some of the stories I've heard made him one of my god!! How did Adrian manage to get him?! It was almost impossible and moreover having him agree to teach me!

I shook my head…That's going to be fun! I couldn't help to marvel.

That evening, after helping Lissa I went straight to Adrian's. He told me to skip dinner and I saw why when I made it there. He had some nice food waiting for me.

Looks a lot like a romantic dinner! I couldn't help but think. I however did like the idea and that startled me even more.

After dinner we settle on the sofa to do something I really hated to like…cuddle.

Adrian half sat on the couch , his back resting on a big cushion that was against the arm of the sofa. I sat between his legs, my back to his chest and rested my head against his shoulder. I closed my eyes I felt so good there, safe. It was dangerous but at the instant I couldn't care less…

Come what may! I though as he brought the soft comforter around us, wrapped his arms around me and gently kissed the side of my neck that was easily reachable.

"Your skin is so soft…." He whispered letting his lips run up and down my throat.

"Your lips are doing good…"I said seriously keeping my eyes closed. There was no point denying it anyways as he could feel me shiver against his body.

He let his lips wander up my throat, to my jaw and stopped at my ear. "Stay with me tonight," he whispered into my ear.

My body stiffened straight away. Firstly because I didn't expect him to be that direct, secondly because I really wanted to and didn't like that and thirdly because it , stupidly, hurt me to have confirmation that he wanted only my body.

I tried to move away but he tightened his arms a bit more around me.

"You don't get it Rose," he said out loud now.

I turned my head to face him. Our faces only inches to each other. "Oh I think you're pretty clear my friend…." I said trying to joke and hide the hurt.

"No I'm not," he said with a half crooked smile. He kissed the tip of my nose. "I'm not asking you to have sex with me my Rose. We're not ready for that yet," he said with so much sincerity that there was no way I could doubt him. "I want you to simply sleep with me…. I want you to spend the night with me…" he grinned. "Fully dressed, just in my arms."

I still kept my eyes on his face biting my bottom lip while thinking. That was a major step in our relationship right? It was going a lot further than I wanted to go in the first place but now that he said that, I couldn't get this image out of my head...falling asleep into his arms. Uh...Would be nice to try.

I concentrated on his face again and saw the hope and care in his beautiful eyes. I brought my hands to his cheek and cupped it. "Of course I'll stay," I said with a smile trying to hide my fears and doubts.

He smiled his huge smiled and kissed my lips with passion. When we had to part to breathe he whispered a thank you against my lips.

We went to bed pretty early as I think we were both eager to share that moment even if I was clearly reluctant to admit it.

He changed into a pair of black flannel pajama bottoms but he was bare chest. I wanted to comment on his perfect chest and his very nice abs but I knew it would be crossing the line so I just shook my head , took the shirt and boxer shorts he prepared for me.

Shut the hell up Rose…you never know when to shut it but now is the time! I thought walking in the bathroom.

I quickly stripped of my clothes and changed into my strange Pjs. Adrian was so tall that the shirt was a dress on me, stopping just bellow the knees. It was a shirt of the Spurs which was Adrian favorite basketball team I was more of a Celtics fans but I could wear the shirt.

When I came out of the bathroom Adrian was already in bed and he was literally scrutinizing me from head to toe which made me slightly blush.

"You are so beautiful…" he said breathily, like if he was totally mesmerized by me.

I smiled to him too now. It felt so good to be seen through his eyes. He made me feel special...beautiful.

"You're not bad either" I said with a wink settling beside him.

"I know!" He said with such confidence that we both laughed.

He wrapped an arm around me and I snuggled more into him. I rested my head on his bare chest, an arm around his torso while he very gently stoked my hair.

He explained to me how he managed to get Chris Walker as a guardian…. by whining 'till the Queen gave up.

It made me laugh as I couldn't picture Adrian whining but it also scared me that he felt so good and trustful with me to tell me all this. Sharing his fears, and weaknesses.

He also explained me that even if Walker's reputation was terrible he wanted one of the best for me and this concern made me like him even more. I was starting to wonder how much 'like' you could get before it turned to 'love' it was a very scary and essential question I needed to focus on. I needed to end this relationship before crossing that line but the question was…Will I be strong enough?

I had to admit it, it was the most beautiful night of my life. I never felt so peaceful so rested.

I was emerging into consciousness but I kept my eyes closed while stretching my body. I could feel Adrian just beside me. His unique sent that I've learned to recognize.

He brought his hand to my face to remove some hair but continued to brush my cheek.

"Hey…" he said softly.

I opened my eyes and smiled blissfully. He was looking down at me, propped on one elbow.

"Hey to you too mister," I said bringing my hand up to his face. He kissed my palm before gently leaned down to kiss my lips.

"You know you are absolutely superb when you sleep?" he said honestly. "With your guard down...You are even more breath taking. I never thought that was possible… magnificent! I just love watching you sleep….I could do that all night…every night!"

"You are very sweet" I said. I love watching you sleep too. I thought guiltily.

"Coffee?" he asked kissing me again.

I looked at the clock it was pretty late already and I needed to show myself a little while before coming back here.

"Yes please" I said unwilling to move.

"Sure thing," he said chuckling. He kissed my forehead and got out of bed smoothly.

I looked at him leave the bedroom and couldn't help to think that it wouldn't be terrible to wake up beside him every morning and that thought terrified me even more than 20 strigoi.

When I smelt the fresh coffee I got off the bed with a sigh. I walked in the other room as he was serving the cups.

"You are sexy with my shirt on." He said handing me the cup.

I smiled. "Well yeah too bad it's Spurs…" I said teasingly. "I would have been a lot sexier with the Celtics on," I added with a wink.

He sighed. "Not that again," he said trying to sound annoyed but the gleam I could see in his eyes showed me he was happy. I never saw him happier before and I felt so glad to be a part of the reason why.

He bent down to kiss me when we heard a knocked at the door.

Adrian brought his hand to my mouth to shushed me. "I'm not here…" he whispered to my ear.

I nodded with a smile.

But a very angry voice from behind the door made that smile faded almost immediately… Dimitri!