I've worked out the main plot line, so I know exactly where I will go with this story! Thank you all for the lovely reviews!


Chapter 4

The next morning, I woke an hour for sunset. Dawn for vampires.

Dimitri was asleep next to me. His arm was wrapped around my waist and hold me tight against his chest.

I closed my eyes en tried to surrender to the warmth. It was one of the spare moments, where Dimitri and I were just alone in our happy bubble. No Moroi we've had to defend, no Court we've had to worry about. Just two of us.

Well, actually three.

My good mood disappeared as soon it had come. This was just a fantasy. Our happy bubble would never last long. We – and especially I – were born for troubles and problems. It was our job. To protect the Royal Couple – aka know as my best friend Lissa and the most annoying creepy stalker ever Christian. Owkey, I confess, Lissa loved him, but still. Christian was nice and all, but I've had just witnessed too many doo-eyed gazes to be his biggest fan. Ugh.

I wriggled carefully out of Dimitri's arms, trying not to wake him. He was doing this late night shifts and needed his sleep more than I did. And sleeping with me – someone who loved to work out in her sleep and to steal the blanket – was not that conducive.

As silently as I could I sneaked to my walk-in closet. Lissa made sure I'd have one of the biggest apartments available for Guardians. It was too much honor – really, I didn't all that space – but was awesome.

The apartment had three rooms: a small kitchen – barely used, since the cooks were so much better than me - and living room with a TV in it and a lovely leather couch that could provide space for six persons, but mostly it was just me taking up all the space. There was the bedroom with this bigass bed and a lot of cushions and a walk-in closet – Lissa's idea, not mine, connected to a bathroom that was build with marble and had a kind of bubble bath.

Sometimes, working for the Queen wasn't that bad. Not bad at all.

I changed myself into running tights and a gym tank. My hair – that I let grow, as the only Guardian I've known – I bound together in a ponytail. When it was loose, it almost came to my waist.

On the nightstand laid my iPod – a green little thing, that I could clip onto my clothes and was filled with loud pop music. I fumbled with the ears, plugged it in and tied the laces of my sport shoes.

Outside it was still hot from a beautiful autumn day. The forests around the Court were folded in scarlet and gold.

Under my shoes I could hear the leaves crack. The wind stroked my skin in my neck and made my hair fly.

While I forced my body to go faster, following the beat of the music, I remembered how much I hated running when I was in high school. Dimitri, who was my mentor, forced me into doing laps while I just wanted to learn how to fight and kill Strigoi. Oh, and to seduce Dimitri while I damn well knew that it was forbidden. But mostly, during running, I just hated Dimitri.

I smiled. By him forcing me into something I was not familiar with, I discovered how much I loved running.

The beat pumped it my ears and I could feel the chill of the afternoon air on my skin.

During running, I could completely leave my worries behind. Totally lose myself in the music and the aching of my muscles and just run.

After the most adrenaline was out of my body, I slowed down and began searching my way through the woods, making my own path. I knew the forest quite well and wasn't afraid.

My mind was wondering about. I kept thinking about the baby, the child I now carried with me.

I had no idea what I would do. I hated my mother for a long time because she gave me up to the Academy and I always knew I wouldn't do that. It was one of the many reasons I didn't want to have kids.

Could I give this baby up? I knew that if I kept it, that I would raise it as a loving mother. It was all or nothing.

I didn't know what to do. I felt like I should talk to somebody, but whom? I thought about Dimitri, but he couldn't know yet. I had to make this decision first for myself. He would not influence my choice, but would stand by me.

I thought about Adrian. Adrian Ivashkov, the one who kept me sane when I thought I lost Dimitri forever. I brought him back from the land of the death, but Dimitri denied my love and I thought I would drown in the sea of pain.

Adrian had been there for me. Gave me hope on love again. I still could feel his love, although it was a weak reflection of the love I had with Dimitri.

After Lissa had send Dimitri and me on a mission to find Jill, her half-sister, Dimitri had come to his senses that his love for me would never end.

I betrayed Adrian with Dimitri and I didn't feel sorry about it. I've hurt Adrian more than I could possibly imagine.

He said I should talk with him if things with Dimitri would go better, just before I left on mission. I promised I would, but broke my promise as soon as I took off.

When I returned, Adrian and I fought and he left the Court soon after. He could bare to see me happy, knowing I destroyed his happiness.

I didn't realized that I had stopped running. Cold realization hit me right in the face.

Adrian Ivashkov would be a father and there was no way I could reach him. He was the only person I wanted to talk to right know.

I laid my hand against the tree en felt the sweat dripping of my face. I'd run a lot deeper into the forest than I meant to.

My whole body ached and I was satisfied to feel that my body was still healthy and okay, even it carried a little baby inside it.

Adrian. I should see how he was. I hadn't heard for him in weeks. I didn't know where he was, but I felt the need to see him.

I took my cell phone – I always carried it with my during running. Strict orders from Dimitri, who was paranoia when it came to my safety.

I need to speak to you asap. In person.

My fingers didn't shiver when I hit the send-button. The response almost followed immediately.

Go to sleep, little damphire.

A smile crooked up on my face while I sat against the tree. The moss felt soft against my naked legs and before I closed my eyes, I could see the sunset shining through the trees.