Christian stewed for a day or so. He asked us to let him confront Natasha, but he was in such a bad mood that everyone seemed to notice. Lissa would give him concerned looks, but by those looks, I figured he had told her either.

All of the tension and secrecy was making me sick.

Not being able to stomach it any longer, I hid out in the art studio I was renting. It was nice doing something I loved for work, but it was easily the best part of my day. Not a lot of people got to do their favourite thing for work. It was even better that the space I got to rent was inside the University.

I chewed my lip as I looked at the canvas. I wasn't sure what I was painting, I sort of just went with whatever popped into my head. It seemed like a mess of colours but it reflected exactly what I felt inside.

There was some commotion near the door, and I looked up, seeing a handful of students from Dimitri's class. Sometimes students would wander in here and study because it was quiet, but these three didn't give me the feeling that they were here to study. I cleared my throat loudly and raised my brows, indicating that they needed to be quiet.

It didn't take long after that for one to approach me, probably thinking I was a student instead of an instructor. The one that I pegged as being the student Dimitri had had multiple issues with to be the blonde. And based on the way he spoke when he addressed me, I could see why he had an issue.

"Why would a girl like you be hiding out in here all alone on a Friday night? I'm sure I could give you better entertainment," he said leaning against my easel. I sighed and shook my head.

"You wouldn't, trust me," I said plainly and went back to my canvas. The three snickered and he tried his hand again, but I blatantly ignored him, focusing on my work. There was a timid knock on the door and I looked up, finding one of my night class students lingering in the doorway. Jeremiah gave off the look of a reckless bad boy but had a real heart for art. He caught onto the techniques quickly and had a flair for painting the images in his mind.

But from looking at his work, I knew that he had a troubled home life. He tried to conceal it, but it wasn't hard for me to see it, or for Dimitri to see it when he visited the classes.

"Sorry to bother you, Mrs. Belikova," he said quietly.

"Mrs. Belikova is my mother-in-law. Rose is fine," I said, "What can I do for you?"

Jeremiah glanced at the three others before coming towards me, setting his portfolio bag on the table beside me.

"I'm applying to the Academy of Art and wanted to know if you would look over the pieces I thought about submitting?" he asked. I nodded and wiped my hands on the towel while he unzipped the case. I crossed my arms over my chest as he pulled the pieces out, laying them on the table.

"Jeremiah, these are amazing!" I whispered in amazement, pulling the sketch towards me. It was a church of all things, but it was absolutely stunning.

"Really?"

"Yes! I wish I could sketch with this much detail at your age. You used brown here instead, didn't you?" I asked, pointing to one area. He nodded with a timid smile.

"I remembered what you said about how brown gives more dimension when black makes it look flat," he said and I smiled at him.

"I'm glad to know someone listens to me," I mused and went over the other pieces. They were good and I knew that they would catch the eyes of the admissions department.

"I think that these would be perfect for your applications," I said with a nod of my head. The three from Dimitri's class made a snickering noise and I looked up, raising my brows.

"I will throw you out if you don't keep quiet and do something productive."

The three rolled their eyes and kept talking to themselves as I turned back to Jeremiah.

"Do you have your recommendation letter?"

"No…my high school art teacher refuses to write it."

"'Cause, you don't need it. It'd be a waste of their time," the blonde one piped up and I shushed him before looking back at Jeremiah.

"Why not?"

"She said she doesn't think I'd take it seriously," he said after a moment. I sighed and shook my head.

"Well, I happen to be very good friends with Chairman Weston. I will be more than happy to write your recommendation letter," I offered, "I could have it done by tomorrow afternoon?"

"You are?" he asked surprised.

I smirked. "He was at my wedding. He's known my husband since he was a kid."

Jeremiah seemed to process what I said before nodding enthusiastically. I smiled and picked up my phone, typing a note in so that I wouldn't forget to do the letter.

"Did you work closely with Weston?"

I nodded. "I did. I actually won the Weston award my first semester," I said with a small smile.

"Is that supposed to impress anyone?"

I sighed and shook my head when the door opened again, Dimitri coming into the studio. I smiled at him and he smiled at me, his smile falling when he spotted his students.

"I hope my students aren't harassing you," Dimitri mused as he came around the table, clapping Jeremiah on the shoulder.

"They're pissing me off, but it's nothing I can't handle," I gibed and pursed my lips for a kiss.

"The Weston award is one of the best awards you can get inside the academy," Jeremiah but in, raising his brows at the three others. "What did you draw?"

I smirked and slipped away from Dimitri, heading toward where I kept the paintings. I kept my larger canvases here so that I could keep more at home. I wished that I had sketched it on a smaller canvas, but when I painted it, it looked even better.

"It was simply a sketch, but I just finished painting over the original sketch," I explained as I carried the canvas. It was almost as tall as me and wider. Dimitri snorted a laugh and took the canvas from me, setting it on the stand.

"Wow," Jeremiah said, "Professor, you're ripped!"

Dimitri smirked and I smiled up at him. "I wouldn't let anyone see it until after the reviewing. The only ones who saw it were my roommates," I chuckled, "But I think it's pretty good. One of my favourite pieces."

"Wait, you're married to Belikov?" The blonde one asked.

Is that the one you complain about? I asked Dimitri mentally.

Austin. Yes.

"As a matter of fact, Austin, yes. Hence why I have a massive canvas with him on it," I said almost dryly. I turned back to Dimitri and gestured to Jeremiah's pieces.

"And a huge rock on your finger," Jeremiah muttered.

"These are amazing. Malcolm is going to go nuts over the chapel," I said. Dimitri nodded in agreeance. I smiled at Jeremiah.

"I will have that letter ready for you tomorrow," I said softly and Jeremiah nodded with a small smile, packing his things back into his case. He smiled at the two of us before leaving with a wave, leaving us with Dimitri's students. I started cleaning up my painting supplies, scrunching my face up as I opened the container of paint thinner.

"You okay?"

I nodded. "Yeah. You know how I get with stress. I've puked twice today. I'll be glad when this is over," I said quietly. Dimitri frowned and nodded, taking the thinner and capping it. He picked up my brushes and moved them to the sink, cleaning them out while I grabbed my paints.

"Do you think Christian will say anything today?" I asked, mindful of the students that lingered.

"I think so. He called and asked that we meet him there in an hour," Dimitri said to me before lifting his head, "You three should head out. The studio is closed for the night."

Austin mumbled a sarcastic comment, and I lifted my head up. "You're lucky I didn't kick you out when you hit on me. I am leaving, this room is closed. Out."

Dimitri shot the three of them a look and they scattered. I chuckled to myself as I picked up the canvas and put it back with the others. I leaned over and set the canvas down when I felt Dimitri's hands caressing my ass and set his hands on my hips.

"Those jeans make your ass look fantastic."

"My ass makes my jeans look fantastic," I chuckled and turned in his arms with a smile.

Dimitri smiled and brushed my hair away from my face and kissed my forehead.

"I love you, I feel like I don't tell you that enough," he said quietly.

I leaned into him and rested my cheek on his chest. "You tell me plenty. I love you too. We should get going if we're going to get to the hub in time," I said as I pulled back and smoothed my hands over Dimitri's chest. I smiled at him despite feeling nauseous, already anxious about tonight.

Dimitri could feel it and frowned but didn't comment on it, letting it be. I did a look over to make sure everything was put away and grabbed my bag, smiling at him as I pulled my coat on.

I picked at the seam on my jeans. I was trying to keep myself composed as we waited for Natasha to show up. Christian insisted that Lissa go visit my parents under the ploy of my mother. Mom said she wanted to go shopping. Lissa didn't find anything wrong with the statement and went excitedly.

All while, she was really with Mom because Christian was terrified of leaving Lissa alone until we knew what to do with Natasha.

Baba was here, and a few other members of the Guardians waited across the street. It wasn't safe to leave Natasha up to her own devices. We didn't know what to do right now, but we knew the Guardians would be able to detain her for a short time. Once she was detained, we could bring in the Alchemists. I would tolerate being in the same room with Sydney's parents for a short time for this.

Christian was gritting his teeth quietly before he looked at me.

"Why do you look green?" Christian asked.

I shrugged. "The anxiety and stress are getting to me, is all. Remember how I was before my last exam in college?"

Christian made a face. "Yes. Vividly. Thank you for being it back into the fore focus of my mind. I really wanted to remember you covered in stress hives and vomiting for two days," Christian said in slight disgust.

I shrugged and internally was grateful the stress hives haven't made an appearance again. It was brutal. Dimitri had to put calamine lotion on my back for days because they were so bad. I looked like I had rolled in put of poison ivy.

The front door slammed shut and I sat up straighter in my chair and cleared my throat quietly. Dimitri came to stand behind my chair and rested his hands on my shoulders. I took a slow breath and tried to calm myself. I didn't want my anxiety to bleed into him and make him agitated.

Natasha sighed heavily as she came into the room, her shoes clicking against the floor. I glanced at Christian one more time before she realized we were all in the room. Natasha spotted me and stopped, her eyes moving up to Dimitri behind me.

"Aren't you two supposed to be on a honeymoon or something?"

"We already went," Dimitri said flatly. Natasha brushed it off and looked at Christian.

"I'm surprised to see you here. You seem to have disregarded anything to do with Ekons, all for the little mate of yours," Natasha said and I watched Christians' hands clench.

"I haven't disregarded anything; unlike you," he spat. I thought that he might ease into this, not just spring it on her. But I guess if I knew my family was causing problems like this, I wouldn't be able to be eloquent about this either.

I shifted in my chair and glanced up at Dimitri, giving him a tight-lipped look.

"And what are you doing here?" Natasha said, turning on me. I raised my brows at her and scoffed a laugh.

"Do I need a reason to be at the hub? I am a member," I said with a slight shake of my head.

"But you're not. Dimitri is a member of the hub. You're just his fresh side following him around pathetically," she snarked and I raised my brows at her, my mouth opening but Christian cut me off.

"Oh for God's sake, Tasha! They're married, you were at their fucking wedding. She's not a 'fresh side', she's his mate. The person that loves him unconditionally and unwaveringly. And he is the same for her. You need to get over this song and dance that mates don't mean anything. You sent someone after her, and my mate! You have tried to ruin us all because you cannot believe that someone could be made for another!"

I blinked and closed my mouth, letting Christian go on his tirade.

"Christian, I really have no idea what you're talking about," Natasha said plainly.

"Bull shit! Randal told us everything!" Christian exclaimed. I watched the colour, or the little colour on her face, drain. Her eyes flocked to Dimitri and his hand tightened on my shoulder, my hand coming up to grip his. Maybe reaching up with my left hand might have rubbed it in, but I knew that the light above us caught in my ring.

Natasha gapped for a few moments but Christian stood up, standing just in front of us.

"We know all of it. How you were the person whispering in Nathan's ear, the person who all but told him to rape Rose, the person who sabotaged Lissa's dad's car, led Sonya right into the hands of the Strigoi. We know everything, and I'm disgusted."

I took a slow breath and squeezed Dimitri's hand again. If I could do anything to stop the heartbreak that I knew

Christian couldn't stand still and started pacing while Natasha just stared at us. Christian shook a few times before he looked at her.

"How could you!? You put your own family at risk!" Christian yelled, running his hand through his hair with a sharp shake of his head. My eyes watched him as he paced, if fire could come out of his ears it would.

"I was protecting my family," Natasha said but we all knew the lie that came out of her mouth.

"No, you weren't. You were acting in your best interest," I said without thinking. Natasha's eyes darkened and she stepped towards me but Christian wasn't letting her get any closer. I knew that Christian was powerful when it came to his ability with flame, but I had never seen the extent. A wall of fire slid between us, separating us from Natasha.

"It's over, Tasha. I'm not going to let you continue to hurt the people I love. This hub is more of my family than you have been in years," Christian said blankly, "The Guardians are waiting for you outside. Just make this easy for everyone."

The smirk that crossed Natasha's face was chilling. It was like an entirely different persona had taken over.

"I have no intentions of going anywhere with them," she said and backed out of the room. Ekons were so used to walking among humans that they didn't use their natural speed, but she was using it now. In a blink, she was gone.

Once she was gone Christian let go of the flames and sat down, not even bothering with a chair, just sitting down on the floor next to the charred floor. I looked up at Dimitri and got up, going to Christian. I sat down beside him and mimicked his position. Knees pulled and elbows resting on them.

"This isn't your fault," I whispered, knowing that he'd be a mess in the morning.

Christian nodded and blinked numbly. I moved closer and he sighed heavily, resting his head on my shoulder. I swallowed and wrapped my arm around his shoulders, resting my head on top of his.

"I'm sorry."

"I know," Christian said after a moment. I sighed quietly and heard new footsteps come in. I looked up and saw Baba and Alberta standing there, both with grim faces.

"We weren't able to catch her. She's gone, she didn't care for image, she just blew through a crowd of people," Baba said. I nodded and squeezed Christian's shoulders again.

Hey loveies!

It's a really rough edit! I'm sorry I haven't updated sooner. I'm in the process of studying to take my law clerk exam in two weeks (queue the barfing and anxiety) and starting to plan my wedding.

I hope to have another update soon!

Give me some love, please! I could use the pick me up lol.