Chapter 39

And It Begins

Three weeks later.

I may have taken my trials (at my father's wish) and become a guardian, but it didn't mean that I was fully accepted. All the stuck up royals knew was that I killed a royal Moroi. That's it. They didn't know the conditions of self defense- and better yet, they didn't want to know.

So here I am, at my father's coronation, getting stares from all over the room. I felt like the center of attention- not my father- and it didn't help that I was right next to the throne that Abe was kneeling in front of right now.

Abe swore to the vows Ekaterina read out for him, and then I was called forward, crown in hand. I was chosen to put the crown on his head because I was one of the few blood relatives that Abe had. He and my mother were going to get married but, since she was gone, I was his closest family. I set the ornate crown carefully on his head, and stepped back into place.

Ekaterina held her hand out to Abe. "Rise," She said, "You will never kneel to anyone again." They both turned to face the crowd. "King Ibrahim Mazur, first of his name." Everyone dropped to their knees in front of our new sovereign. It was a little hard in the deep red, velvet dress that my father and Lissa had forced me to wear, but I managed.

Only a few second later, Abe spoke. "Rise." We all did as he said. Paperwork followed, which a whole bunch of people had to sign, and then the two of us- Abe and I, the new royal family- walked down the aisle and into a small room where we just smiled at each other and relaxed.

"So, Old Man, how does it feel to be king?" I asked him, going over to hug him.

"I don't think the initial shock of them asking me had worn off yet, so ask me in a few weeks." We laughed, and he kissed my cheek. "So, Kiz, how does it feel to be a princess?" I felt the blood escape my face.

"Wha-What-" Then it hit me. My mother was gone, so I would be princess. "No. Find yourself another family member." I said, shaking my head.

"Too late, you agreed when you signed the papers." He chuckled.

"You devious old man you…" I said trying to keep the smile off my face. "Ugh, now I have to attend council meetings… blech…" He laughed.

Lissa, Christian and Dimitri came through the doors. I ran- as best as I could in this stupid dress and jumped into Dimitri's arms.

After my break down after nearly killing Lissa three weeks ago, he calmed me down and made me see reason. While I locked myself in the room and wouldn't come out, Adrian had come in and healed me against my effort of pushing him away. My mind became a little clearer about being Strigoi when I did that to Lissa, but then the full weight of my mother being dead hit me. Abe and I were trying our hardest to stay strong and break down alone with no one around like the people we were.

"Happy to see me, Roza?" He asked. I just nodded and put my head against his chest.

"These heels are killing me," I mumbled, closing my eyes.

Dimitri's POV

"She's asleep?" Lissa asked me, dumbfounded. I nodded. "What's wrong with here?"

Abe shot a worried glance to his daughter. "Is she okay?" He asked, worry rising in his voice.

"She's fine," I said, holding Rose closer to my body. "She just hasn't been sleeping a lot lately."

"Oh." Lissa uneasily shifted on her feet and Abe rubbed the back of his neck, clearly stressed. Christian sighed, and took Lissa hand to lead her out of the room, leave Abe, the sleeping Rose, and me.

Abe walked over to Rose and I. He patted Rose's head and closed his eyes.

"Belikov," I almost jumped at how hoarse his voice was. "She is the only thing I have left in this world; the only person keeping me from giving up completely." His eyes snapped open, and his hand dropped to his side. His eyes bore into mine, cold as a glacier. "If anything happens to her…" He left that up to my imagination.

"I would never hurt her. I would take a bullet for her." I kissed the top of her head and she twitched slightly.

"Comrade…home." She mumbled.

"Shh… I'm going. Go back to sleep." I told her.

"I see you love her, but I love her too, and I intend to spoil her because I was not there for so long." He sighed, hanging his head. "If I was there for her- them- this who ordeal wouldn't be happening."

I didn't know what to say. I stood there, watching the scariest man I knew- possibly in the whole world- break down. But before the tears could come, there was a knock on the door. Rose stirred and motioned for me to put her down. I did so, and smiled at her.

Abe stood up straight, smiling at Rose. "Come in." A small Moroi burst into the room, panicked.

"King Mazur," He did a quick small bow, "The dhampir's- they're rebelling!"

"What about?" Abe asked.

"Two dhampir's heard about Hatha-" He saw Rose and I and his eyes widened. "About you two," He nodded towards us. "Getting married. Two dhampir's tried to get married in a chapel in court and the Moroi minister refused to marry them."

I looked at Rose. Her jaw was clenched and her eyes burned with hatred. Before I could grab her hand, she was out the door, headed for the large ones that led outside. Abe was close behind us, gathering the council. Rose paused in front of the doors. She sighed and put her hand up to one. I decided to join her and not fight her. I grabbed her hand, and we pushed the doors open.