Christian POV

I had begun training fire users this week, knowing how much Rose hated the idea of someone trying to protect her. The Moroi I had been training had just learned how to form a ball of fire in their hands. The girl Moroi were a lot more hesitant than the guys had been. The guys were thrilled that they would be able to kill Strigoi. In the back of my mind, I knew that there was a lot of risks in doing this. They could all be killed. Nevertheless, it was worth a try.

When I had told the Moroi of these risks, they were more than willing to do extra training sessions. Of course, this meant that I wouldn't be able to spend a lot of time with Rose but that was okay with me so long as we live. Rose and I hadn't spoken since the day we had talked with the Queen about all of this. I had spoken to Lissa, however. She had told me that Rose had been training non-stop, doing whatever she could before the attack. I knew Rose, and I knew that she would rather die than surrender to the Strigoi.

Lissa also said that Rose had met some Guardians that worked at the Court, they were the ones she had been training with. I know it was stupid, but I felt a little jealous when I had found out, considering that Rose would be getting physical with them. In one way, at least. I was being an idiot for over thinking it, but I couldn't help it. I hadn't seen Rose in days and it was starting to get really annoying.

I had been walking down one of the Court's hallways when I heard Rose's voice around the corner. Whom she was laughing with I didn't know, probably just one of the Guardians she had been training with. I hadn't even heard her voice in a few days but it sounded better than ever as I rounded the corner to where she was.

To my surprise it was Lissa that she was talking to. From what I had heard those two hadn't spoken much at all, apart from when they met up in Adrian's room.

"How did he do it?" Rose asked Lissa while still laughing. As soon as Rose had seen me coming her face brightened up and she smile warmly. "Hey Christian." Then she turned back to Lissa.

"I have no idea. Adrian said he didn't even know how he did it!" okay so knowing Adrian he probably did something really stupid with his spirit crap. That was why they were laughing, as far as I was concerned.

I sat down next to Rose, who was facing Lissa, who was keeping her eyes locked on Rose's. "Hey Liss." Her gaze was on me for a split second before she turned back to Rose.

"Hey Christian." After that, Lissa finished the story. I found out that they were talking about Adrian's idiocy after all. Lissa and Adrian had patched things up between them and had started practicing spirit again, although Adrian had somehow been able to learn how to grow plants.

Lissa left soon after she had told us how Adrian had grown them big enough to fly through the roof and into the Queen's bedroom. Talk about an idiot. To me, Rose seemed genuinely happy that she was able to talk to Lissa about stuff again. It'd be good for Rose to have her best friend back, given the circumstances.

"How's the training going?" she asked me after it had long gone quiet in the room.

"Good. The guys are doing extra training sessions. The girls refuse to because they have a social life, they would rather talk to each other while they can then help save us." Rose rolled her eyes like I knew she would. Sure, Rose has a social life but she would give that up in a second if it would help save someone. The girls in my class were exactly the people Rose despised. "They've just learned how to use fire. It's going good so far. What about you?" even though I knew she had been training, (because I had heard it from Lissa) I thought it was polite to ask.

"Good actually. I've been meeting up with Dean, one of the guards here. Dean has been teaching me new skills. It should help…" her voice trailed off as she stared into space, no doubt thinking about how the fight will play out. By the expression on her face she didn't think that we had much of an advantage against them, obviously since the Moroi had only just begun to learn about defence fire using.

"Rose, we'll win this don't worry." I brushed hair back from her face. She looked tired, there were dark circles under her eyes and she seemed to be a little out of it. "Rose, when did you last go to sleep?"

She shrugged. "I don't know. Ever since I found out about the Strigoi I haven't been able to sleep at all." I figured it out in my head; she hadn't slept in five days.

"Rose, you need sleep. You look like you'll pass out any time soon. C'mon." I got up and attempted to pull her with me but it was no use, she was ways stronger than I'd ever be. "Rose?" I whined, she was just making it harder on herself. If she wasn't going to sleep she'd pass out in the middle of the fight.

"Christian, I told you. I can't get to sleep. Every time I try I just can't, I'm too stressed. It's not that I don't want to sleep but my body doesn't." she said with her eyes closed. Damn, she looked so tired.

I picked Rose up and carried her to her and Adrian's room. All the way there Rose wouldn't stop asking what I was doing. "Taking you to your room so you can sleep." Everytime I answered she would just ask again, eventually I gave up.

Once I got into her room I set her down on her bed. Thinking that she was already asleep in the bed I turned to walk away. Rose had quickly grabbed hold of my left arm and, with her strength, pulled me down onto the bed.

"What, Rose?" I said as she threw her arms around me.

"I can't sleep without you here." I smiled, kissed her on the lips and lay back, quietly watching her fall asleep.