Okay first I'd like to say I'm really sorry that I took forever to update, I just got really worked up with school and didn't have any time to be able to do this unfortunately.

Luckily though, I just finished my college exams and can work again!

I also plan on doing Frostbite during the break as sort of forgiveness.

Finally, I hope you guys like it and reviews help so click that green button please!

Again – Disclaimer – All character belong to Richelle Mead and no copyright infringement is intended.

Thanks for the support everyone

This is the end of my VA from Dimitri's perpective.

And thanks again for everyone that reviewed, you guys got me working again 3

Chapter 17

My body reacted immediately to the present danger. My charge had been taken. I didn't have time to think about what had just been happening with Rose or even try to decipher through this whole mess of my personal life, I had one mission right now –and it was to save the Princess.

"Get dressed," I ordered without really looking at her and tossed her a sweatshirt.

I ran out the door as fast as I could look somewhat presentable and I was conscious that Rose was following me –but I was much faster and I made no effort to slow down –right now, the Princess had to come first.

I called Headmistress Kirova and told her to get the guardians immediately, I also informed Alberta that the Princess had been taken and pretty soon we all ended up in the guardian's main office. The situation was a mess as we were trying to sort through what had just happened.

How could I allow myself to become that distracted? I'd let my guards down, almost slept with my seven year younger student and in the process had lost my charge –the last Dragomir –to some Strigoi.

The entire situation was chaos; no one bought her story though. It seems Rose had gotten into some trouble at the dance and punched Mia so her credibility was waning; however, Rose wouldn't lie about this, especially when there was a lust spell involved. Still, no one believed her story but me as she explained that Lissa had been taken until they retrieved Christian Ozera who had been with the Princess at the time of the accident.

How had Strigoi even gotten past the wards? Where was our security in all of this?

Finally, the Ozera kid came staggering in, supported by two guardians as well as Dr. Olendski. He had blood coming from the back of his head and wasn't in great shape either.

"How many Strigoi were there?" asked one of the guardians to Rose.

"How in the world did they get in?" muttered someone else. I had been thinking the same thing.

Rose stared at all up us then and said "Wh—There weren't any Strigoi."

Houston, we have a problem.

The Headmistress spoke first presumably, "Who else would have taken her. You must have seen it wrong through the… vision," she assessed, obviously blaming Rose –not that she had that much credibility.

"No. I'm positive," Rose insisted, "It was …they were….guardians," she finally assessed.

"She's right," muttered a hurt Christian, wincing as Dr. Olendski touched the back of his head, "Guardians," he assured.

"That's impossible," responded someone immediately.

"They weren't school guardians," Rose began, rubbing her forehead as if trying to think really hard, "Will you guys get moving? She's getting father away!" she exclaimed.

"You're saying a group of privately retained guardians came in and kidnapped her?" asked the Headmistress in an incredulous tone.

"Yes," Rose replied with gritted teeth. "They…" she paused, "They work for Victor Dashkov," she gasped out focusing on the Headmistress's eyes, "They're his," she finally claimed.

It was a shock. Why would Prince Victor Dashkov kidnap the Princess? Suddenly, I was beginning to realize I was missing some pieces of her story and I almost started doubting Rose myself.

"Prince Victor Dashkov?" asked someone. No the other Victor –idiot.

"Please," Rose moaned as she clutched her head, "Do something. They're getting so far away. They're on…eighty-three. Headed south," she finally claimed. I knew this would bring trouble. Eighty-three was really far.

"Eighty-three already?" asked the Headmistress, as expected, "How long ago did they leave? Why didn't you come sooner?"

I better think fast as all eyes scrutinized Rose.

She just eyed me anxiously, and I realized I needed to protect her right now. Besides the outburst of telling them there was a lust spell and what it would cause –then we'd never get the Princess and I'd be imprisoned for statutory rape.

I spoke for Rose then, "A compulsion spell. A compulsion spell put into a necklace he gave to her. It made her attack me," I answered, the lie coming out flawlessly.

"No one can use that kind of compulsion. No one's done it in ages," reverted the Headmistress.

"Well, someone did," I argued, "By the time I'd restrained her," or myself, "A lot of time had passed."

No one questioned the lie and the group then sprang into action. We decided to separate into three SUVs. No one wanted to bring Rose –but how the hell would we find Lissa without her?

I convinced them that we needed her and she ended up sitting in the passenger seat, next to me as we drove. The time seemed to slow down then and I drove fast, really fast, Rose only spoke to give a report.

"They're still on Eighty-three… but their turn is coming. They aren't speeding. They don't want to get pulled over."

I nodded without looking at her; don't get distracted, I told myself. Rose had asked me what a compulsion spell was, and I simply told her that there had actually been a lust one on the necklace and when she asked further questions, I simply told her magic earth users used to practice.

Had it really been the entire lust spell? I think there had to be attraction for it to really work. At least, that's what I had read about it, but who knows. There had definitely been attraction on my side of the spectrum.

Rose probably felt completely awkward –probably like I'd taken advantage of her. That thought sickened me; I would never want to do anything to hurt her.

Don't get distracted, I repeated to myself.

"They're turning," Rose said suddenly, "I can't see the road name, but I'll know when we're close."

I grunted and I noticed Rose sitting farther down in her seat, very, very pensive.

She probably thinks I'm a rapist.

"There," she called about twenty minutes later of awkward and tension filled silence. It was a rough road without any paved gravel –the SUV could take it though.

"They're turning again. They're in a small cabin… They're taking her –" she continued.

Suddenly Rose screamed making me flinch and the SUV swerved a little in surprise as my grip on the steering wheel jerked, I started to pull over, terribly frightened for Rose now –afraid that I couldn't protect her.

"No no! Keep going!" Rose insisted as she pressed her palms to her temples, "We have to get there."

Alberta then put her hand on Rose's shoulder and asked, "Rose, what's happening?"

She blinked back tears, "They're torturing her…with air. This guy…Kenneth.. he's making it press against her… into her head. The pressure's insane. It feels like my –her-skull's gonna explode," she sobbed.

I looked at her alarmed and sped up –I had to put a stop to this. Rose started to explain, that they were torturing Lissa and that finally she gave in and… healed Victor of his disease. It was all strange –how could she heal Victor? She tried to explain how Victor looked younger now and that Lissa had passed out from the exhaustion.

My anger flared then –that pig –had taken the girls to the mall and had plotted against my charge, me and worst of all… Rose. Now she would never want to be around me again.

I started cursing in Russian because it was the only way to vent out some of the orchestra of emotions that I was currently feeling.

Finally, we were in eye reach of the cabin and Rose signaled that this is where they had her. We pulled over as well as the two SUVs behind us. All of us got out, and it was over a dozen of guardians. One of them scouted and then reported how many people were inside and outside of the cabin. We came up with a plan –who would go in and who would stay outside and go around the door –and then dispersed. Rose started getting out of the car then and I quickly stopped that from happening.

No way was I going to allow Rose to face danger.

"No Roza. You stay here," I told her.

"The hell with that. I have to go help her." Is she crazy? She could get hurt? Besides I'd just have to worry about protecting her the whole time. It was bad enough leaving her behind alone in the car –and unprotected. But I would make sure none of these bastards got out of the cabin and that no one would ever hurt Roza.

I cupped her chin then, trying to reason with her. I so did not need this right now, "You have helped her. Your job is done. You did it well. But this isn't any place for you. She and I both need you to stay safe." Maybe the closeness was a bit inappropriate –but desperate times call for inappropriate measures when it comes to Roza.

Something clicked then, luckily and she nodded, swallowing whatever protests she had planned and got back into the car. I slipped off then, trying to blend into the trees. My eyes were on Rose for just a second longer before we charged into the house, I noticed her kick the passenger seat then.

It was so Rose.

Victor's henchmen were surprised but they put up a fight –but after fighting Strigoi –they were nothing. Besides, I fought with almost a blind rage –and these men weren't really willing to be taken as prisoners, they were fighting to the death. All of the events that had occurred tonight burned through me, and I let that rage take over, giving me an extra edge on my fighting.

After the massacre of them, someone took Victor prisoner as we searched the house –only, there was no Lissa.

Had she slipped off in the madness? We sent a search team and I immediately ran back to the SUV knowing Rose's mental tracking device would probably save some time.

Only, there was no Rose.

I felt my heart sink then. What if she was hurt?

Goddammit! Can she ever listen? I started getting frantic then, hauling orders. Find them! Find Rose! And I immediately ran, desperate to find Roza. I'd never forgive myself if something happened to her –if I wasn't able to protect her.

I finally found Rose after about twenty minutes of searching in the damn woods, Alberta was trying to hold her up –and she was unconscious. Lissa and Christian were there too, but Alberta saw my reaction.

It felt like all the blood had drained from my face.

Alberta quickly explained, "She's okay. Lissa had to drink from her," she said.

My legs felt like jelly. I took her from Alberta then and carried her in my arms. I can't describe how badly it felt to see her in such a state, even if she was going to be okay.

I'd been fighting the way I felt about Rose for months now, but now, it was like whatever lid I had put on my heart had been flung open and I knew for sure now –that I was completely in love with her.

Eventually, we got the girls to the SUV and Alberta explained to me what had happened. Lissa had run away trying to escape, not knowing that we were coming to rescue her. Rose had realized and Christian had actually been hiding in the trunk and came with her to try to get Lissa, they were quite a pair, only they ran into trouble. Victor had psi-hounds that attacked, probably the same psi-hounds he sent after them that Rose told me about –when she thought the Academy had sent them. Rose had fought that off –but they had gotten Christian.

Then, bizarrely, Lissa was able to heal Christian's wounds, after feeding off Rose because she was too weak and that was why Rose had passed out –utter exhaustion.

Rose stayed in the clinic then where they forced fluids and sugar into her. I stayed too, until she started waking up –making sure that she was safe.

Lissa then explained to us about her powers, that she had healed Christian and Victor, and even Rose after the car accident. It was all shocking, but overall we decided that it should be kept a secret. A lot of abuse could come from such great power.

Victor was being held now in prison at the school until he had a trial and was under 24 hour surveillance.

We also found out that it was Natalie who had rotted the bench and that Lissa had actually healed her ankle. All the pieces that I had been trying to figure out all made sense now –why they had left and the animal happenings.

Lissa also started dating the Ozera kid, Christian, Tasha's nephew. It was nice, especially since people held so much prejudice towards him.

And I tried to stay away from Rose –for now. I didn't visit her during her recovery, and I was still trying to handle what had happened and what I was going to tell her.

I should turn myself in. But then, who would take care of Rose? How did she even feel about all this?
I wasn't ready to deal with all that yet though, so I suspended our practices indefinitely, until finally on the fourth day after Lissa's kidnapping, we ran into each other.

She had come into the gym and then she noticed I was there. She couldn't speak –probably traumatized that her older mentor had taken advantage of her. I started to walk past her but then stopped and decided that I needed to face the facts and man up.

"Rose…" I began after a few awkward moments, and decided one of the hardest decisions of my life –to condemn myself. "You need to report what happened. With us," I told her.

"I can't do that. They're fire you. Or worse," she began.

"They should fire me," I answered, ashamed. "What I did was wrong."

"You couldn't help it. It was the spell…" so that's what she thought. It'd probably been like that for her. It's not like this goddess looking girl would fall in love with her old mentor. She probably thought it was disgusting. How could she even stand to be around me?

"It doesn't matter. It was wrong and stupid."

She bit her lip then and said, "Look, it's not a big deal."

"It is a big deal!" I exclaimed, I'd attack any other teacher if that were to happen between them. "I took advantage of you."

"No. You didn't," she said evenly. And then I knew… she had wanted me …too, and that there was only one way to deal with this.

"Rose, I'm seven years older than you. In ten years, that won't mean so much, but for now, it's huge. I'm an adult. You're a child."

She flinched then, obviously hurt. "You didn't seem to think I was a child when you were all over me."

I flinched then; it hadn't been about that… not entirely, "Just because your body… well, that doesn't make you an adult. We're in two different places. I've been out in the world. I've been out on my own. I've killed, Rose –people, not animals. And you… you're just starting out. Your life is about homework and clothes and dances," I tried to explain.

"That's all you think I care about?" she retorted, clearly offended.

"No, of course not," I defended, "Not entirely. But it's all part of your world. You're still growing up and figuring out who you are what's important. You need to keep doing that. You need to be with boys your own age. Even if you choose not to tell, you need to understand that it was a mistake. And it isn't ever going to happen again."

"Because you're too old for me? Because it isn't responsible?" she asked.

I made my face as blank as I could and decided that lying would be best, "No. Because I'm just not interested in you that way."

She stared then, searching my face as if trying to tell whether or not she believed me.

I continued, "It only happened because of the spell. Do you understand?"

She blushed beet red then and just shrugged, sounding like a hurt child, "Yeah. Understood," and then she stormed out of the room kicking the door open.

As soon as she was out of sight I punched the wall.

I just had hurt the one person that I never wanted to hurt. I'd just ruined any chance of ever being with the girl that I have fallen for.

And the worst part is –it was the right thing to do.

I made the rest of my day with rounds, making sure everything was in place, trying to tell myself, convince myself, I did the right thing.

I walked away.

I mean, how can I protect Lissa, when all I want to do is protect Rose? It isn't fair to her. I could get over people calling me a pervert. I could get over dealing with what people said. I could deal with Rose's mom kicking my ass, but what I couldn't deal with, was having another charge die.

One slip –and it could mean death for someone.

I was a guardian, above all things. I had my duties and needed to get over this whole Rose thing at once. She had her duties too.

As I was making my rounds then I got near the prison and then I noticed the two guardian bodies lying on the floor.

Adrenaline surged for me –how could have Victor pulled this one off.

I opened the door then, warily.

Then I saw Rose on the wall, injured. And Natalie, Victor's daughter, hutched over her, about to feed off her, about to hurt my Roza.

Fury sizzled through me and I immediately attacked Natalie. She was fast, maybe faster than me with her new Strigoi abilities, but I was much more experienced. She didn't know how to work with her new powers. We both gave and received some vicious hits, but finally I saw my opening and took it, staking Natalie right though her heart. I then yanked it back as she screamed to her bloody death and after making sure she was dead, I ran as fast as I could to Rose.

I leaned over and picked her up in my arms.

"Hey comrade," she called softly, way too softly for Roza. "You were right about Strigoi," she said and I noticed her eyelids start to close. She must be hurt –she admitted I was right.

"Roza, Roza!" I screamed frantically. "Open your eyes. Don't go to sleep on me, not yet," please God let her be okay.

She squinted her eyes and me then as I ran towards the clinic with her in my arms.

"Was he right?" she asked.

"Who?" I questioned, trying to keep her awake and talking.

"Victor… he said it couldn't have worked. The necklace."

Damn, she knew. Hurting her this morning was for nothing.

I wouldn't have kept her talking except her eyes started to close again so I asked, "What do you mean?"

"The spell," she continued, "Victor said you had to want me… to care about me… for it to work."

I didn't say anything and she gripped my shirt, prying, "Did you? Did you want me?"

I couldn't lie to her then, not like this, so I told her the truth, I just let it poor out of me, "Yes, Roza. I did want you. I still do. I wish… we could be together."

"Then why did you lie to me?" she questioned.

We reached the clinic then and I opened the door still holding her with one arm. I yelled for help then.

"Because we can't be together," I said.

"Because of the age thing, right? Because you're my mentor?" she asked.

No, I could deal with that, "That's part of it. But also…" I explained, "Well, you and I will both be Lissa's guardians someday. I need to protect her at all costs. If a pack of Strigoi come, I need to throw my body between them and her."

"I know that. Of course that's what you have to do," she answered, not getting the big picture.

"No. If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her, I'll throw myself in front of you," I said as the medical team came and took her from my arms, ripping a part of my soul.

I had to wait frantically to know whether the girl I was in love with would die or live. Shortly after though, Lissa arrived hearing what had happened and I think she did that weird healing thing because Rose came around shortly after Lissa spent a few minutes with her –thank god. And Rose wasn't even hurt anymore.

Maybe she had a guardian angel after all.

Victor had been found on campus and recaptured luckily so I didn't have to worry about that asshole anymore.

After a few days, Rose and I went back to our regular practices again and for the most part –we acted as usual. I remained strict with her and there was almost nothing out of the ordinary, except once in a while our eyes would lock with some longing passion and I'd suddenly feel desire fill me.

But Rose and I restrained whatever our feelings held; I hoped that these emotions would fade so that one day, we would both be protecting the princess as guardians.

But honestly, I only felt myself falling for her more each and every day.