Chapter 26

Third POV

Rose tried to turn away from him and yearned to huddle further into Lissa's arms feeling ashamed and unworthy of Dimitri but he refused to let her go and pulled her onto his lap.

"Please Dimitri leave me be, I don't want you!" she cried not able to look him in the eye. Lissa was at a loss of what to do because she felt an immense need to protect Rose and shield her from everyone and everything. But as Lissa looked into Dimitri's eyes she knew deep down that it would be his love that would help her right at that moment.

"Roza, please it is me!"
"Dimitri, go away!" Rose sounded weak and defeated.
"No, I will not go away! I will never leave you, not ever! When will you understand this. Whether you are a Dhmapir, or a Strigoi I will always stay by your side because you are my Roza, my love, Moya Dusha!"

"You don't know what you are saying I know what I did Dimitri I killed humans!" Rose dared to look him square in the eye as she confessed the truth. Dimitri gasped but was quick to recover himself.

"I don't care it wasn't you! I love you with all my heart and I know the true you and who you really are. I have always loved you and I always will be here for you Milaya".

"But I lied to you Dimitri, I turned you, I fed from you! How can you even bare to look at me!"
"Because I know that, that was not the real you! I forgive you and you must do the same! Forgive yourself and lets move past this please! We now have a second chance at life please let's not waste it!".

Rose could not deny the power of Spirit and how it truly managed to heal her evil soul and turn her back. Dimitri was right and they did now have a second chance and she knew deep down that she could not just throw it all away and wallow in self pity for the rest of her life. Dimitri held her gaze to prove to her that his words were true and sincere and that he did forgive her and would always be there for her. Rose looked at the people around her. Her best friend offered her nothing but kindness and compassion in her smile. Christian was now by her side with a mischievous grin to show Rose how grateful he was that she was back to her old self again.

"Gee Rosie, only you need a whole group of your very own X-Men to get you out of trouble!"

Rose gave him a slow smile, "Thanks to you Pyro"

Adrian was standing beside Oksana and Mark and had a mixture of happiness and true sadness in his eyes.

"Adrian I am so so..." Adrian cut her off.

"Little Dhampir please there is nothing to worry about I am just glad you are back to your normal delectable self".

Dimitri gave a low growl but was still so grateful that this man who loved his woman came along to help her. He knew that their love would never escalate to more than friendship but it pained him all the same.

Adrian could see Dimitri assessing him and he gave him a cheeky smirk. "Dimitri please you have nothing to worry about! All my flirting is just harmless. I see both your auras and I know that you are truly meant for each other and I won't, no can't get in the way of your bond. Speaking of auras little Dhampir have you noticed anything different at all?". Adrian suggested with a sly smirk on his face.

"No, what do you... Oh my Gosh Lissa...the bond , I can't sense you!"

"I was wondering when you would notice. I thought that maybe the bond might have just fizzled a bit but it is in your aura Rose there is no more darkness the dark shadows are gone."

"But Liss how will you deal with Darkness all on your own?"
"Like Oksana and Adrian, I will learn to make charms and control Spirit it is time for me to take care of myself and not always rely on someone else to save me. That is sanity wise, on the other hand I still need my guardian by my side and my soul sister!"
"Are you sure you still want me, after all I have done?"
"There is no-one else I would trust my life with, Rose I meant it! It is only you!, Sorry Dimitri" she adds with a cheeky grin.

"That's ok I think I need to start looking for a new charge anyway"
"Hmmm I might be in the market for a guardian!" Christian proposes.

"On second thoughts" Dimitri teased, and the whole room started laughing and the atmosphere relaxed as reality set in. Rose and Dimitri were back to their normal selves again and they had all discovered the most amazing revelation of all time. The true power of Spirit and friendship.

However, their joyful moment is short lived as they hear people surround the house. In the next moment the door is kicked down and Guardians file in one by one until there are at least a dozen surrounding the group with their stakes out and ready to fight.