The first book only narrowly missed Dimitri's face as I hurled it at him, hitting the wall with a rather satisfying thunk. The second would have been a direct dead-center hit if it hadn't been for his lightning-fast reflexes.

"Roza! Don't! Ivan gave me those books – they're precious!"

I wanted to throw them at him. All of them. I was so angry and hurt right now I wanted to upend the whole freaking bookshelf over his head.

"You told me I was the first woman you'd shown around Baia. I thought I was the first one to share this bed with you!" I snarled, a good way beyond absolutely furious.

"You are! Rose, why are you doubting me? What's brought this on?"

Dimitri was standing warily beside the bed, eyeing me carefully as I let the third book flop from my hand to lie impotently on the quilt. Deciding he was safe from further assault, at least for the moment, Dimitri approached carefully, sitting on the edge of the mattress and looking at me.

"Tasha Ozera," I snarled.

"Tasha?" Dimitri asked in confusion, and even the sound of her name on his lips pissed me off.

"I was lying here Skyping with Lissa and Tasha came into her room. Tasha was helping Lissa do her hair for her graduation dance, and we were all talking. Then Tasha looked at the screen and recognized where I was lying. She asked me why I was lying on the bed in your bedroom. How does she know what your bedroom looks like if I'm the first woman you've fucked here?!" I was shouting by the time I got to the last bit, and I was sure the entire house had heard me.

Dimitri tensed before snapping in reply. "Keep your voice down! I haven't fucked anyone here. I've made love to the woman I care for deeply, and you are, and will remain, the only woman to be intimate with me here."

I tossed my head dismissively.

"Then how come scarface knows what your room looks like?" I challenged, daring him to come up with an excuse.

"Don't call her that," he said wearily. "She knows what it looks like because she's been here. To the house I mean," he said, as though it were obvious.

"Tasha's been here? You brought her to your house? So what – you didn't fuck here? Was it in Meredith's room?!"

"Roza! I've never slept with Tasha, and she didn't even stay here. Can I explain?"

"Oh, I'd talk real fast, cowboy," I threatened.

Kicking his shoes and socks off, and peeling off his sweaty workout shirt Dimitri sat higher up the bed, leaning against the bed head. I glowered at him. He better not be trying to distract me with his sexy, shirtless chest.

"I think I've told you that I've known Tasha for years? A year or so before Ivan died, we were at a house party, and I ran into her again. It wasn't planned or anything. Ivan had intended to stay the weekend, but the party was lame, so he wanted to travel back to Omsk and then fly to St. Petersburg. Tasha wanted to leave the party, too, and since she didn't have a Guardian or transport, she asked if she could catch a ride to Omsk with us."

My Russian God paused to check I was following, and that I wasn't at imminent risk of exploding. Apparently reassured by my beady-eyed attentive look, he continued.

"We were driving, and could probably have pushed through to Omsk, but it was late in the afternoon as we were approaching the turnoff to Baia. I hadn't seen my family in months, and we weren't in any hurry to get to Omsk. Ivan suggested we spend a night or two in Baia so I could see Mama and the girls. Tasha said she didn't mind, and so I brought Ivan home for the weekend. Tasha didn't want to put Mama out by staying here, so she slept at the hotel for the two nights, but she came over here for dinner both nights."

"So how did a casual acquaintance over for dinner become so familiar with your bedroom?" I snapped, sensing there was more to this than had yet been revealed. "Did you make out with her here?"

There was a flicker in Dimitri's eyes, and I recognized I'd stumbled on the truth.

"You made out with her in the place where we sleep?!"

"Not me," Dimitri said with an exasperated sigh. "Ivan!"

"Ivan was with Tasha?"

"Not really. Mama doesn't like to see people drink, so we hung out up here, and they were relaxing and drinking vodka. Tasha was flirting with Ivan. One thing led to another, and they started kissing. It was only for a few minutes, then Mama called out dinner was ready, and we went downstairs. Later on, I drove Tasha back to her hotel, and the next morning we left and drove to Omsk."

"So Tasha has been in your bedroom?"

"Yes. But not like that!"

"Damned right," I snapped, pushing Dimitri back against the bedhead as I straddled his lap, feeling much happier. I was about to kiss him when he pushed me back from him slightly.

"Did you really think I wouldn't be honest with you about my past?" he asked, sounding hurt. "I would never lie to you about something like that."

"No… I just get a little crazy when Tasha's involved," I whispered, looking down in embarrassment. I'd completely overreacted.

"What was that? I didn't hear you?" Dimitri teased.

"Shut up and kiss me if you know what's good for you, Comrade" I growled, rocking my hips hard against his, and pushing him back against the headboard before I smashed my lips against his.

"I want to see Dimitri and Rose fight!"

It was Kirill suggesting it, and I could have killed him! He'd arrived, unannounced, at the fight late this afternoon, much to Sonya's delight. I'd fought, and beat, all six competitors in our final Saturday night fights, and now I was looking forward to indulging in some beer, food, and conversation.

"I think that's a wonderful idea!" Abe enthused, looking at me encouragingly.

"Kick his ass, Rose!" Viktoria called out from where she was sitting on a gym mat, catching her breath after her own battles.

I growled. It would hardly be a fair fight – Dimitri would be going in fresh, and I'd already defeated six skilled Dhampir fighters. But I was in a great mood; Raisa had been my second opponent, and I'd laid her on her ass in under a minute. She'd left almost straight afterward, and I'd been grinning the whole time since!

My eyes traveled to Dimitri's, and he lifted an eyebrow in silent challenge. I rolled my eyes and shrugged. It had been a week or so since we'd fought, and I always enjoyed it. I was game if he was.

"Yeah alright. Give me ten minutes, and you're on," I laughed.

The group clapped and cheered as I went across to grab a water bottle, Dimitri coming up behind me and slipping his arms around my waist.

"I'm all sweaty," I warned.

"I don't care," he said, dropping a kiss behind my ear in the spot that always made me go weak at the knees.

"No psyching out the competition, Belikov," Abe said with a grin as he walked up to us.

"It's alright, Baba – two can play that game," I giggled, wiggling my ass against Dimitri's crotch. He hissed under his breath and moved out of range. Most fathers would have pitched a fit seeing that, but not Abe. He just gave me a saucy wink!

"I arranged the plane for you four today," he announced. "This time in a fortnight you'll be almost back home."

"Our other home," I clarified. "Baia is home now, too."

Dimitri spun me in his arms, cupping my chin and lifting my lips to his.

"I love hearing you say that," he crooned before kissing me sweetly in an atypical display of public tenderness. "Now let's fight!"

I smiled and downed the rest of my water bottle, following him to the sparring square in the center of the gym. There was jeering and catcalling from those assembled as Dimitri and I faced off against one another, preparing to give them a good showing.

"Would you like some music?" Dimitri checked.

"Why not?" I laughed. Despite being tired, I was ready for this.

He gestured to Vika who somehow got what he meant, attaching a phone to the speaker system, cranking some dance music.

"You sure you can fight to this, oldtimer?" I teased.

Dimitri rolled his eyes at my irreverent comment, waiting for Pavel to count us in.

As soon as Pavel said the word, Dimitri went on the offensive, trying to catch me off guard. Typically we'd circle each other for ages before one of us, usually me, made the first move. This time he came charging toward me, six foot seven inches of sexy Russian man. He was just about to collect me when I stepped to one side, teaming my evasion with a swift kick to the abs. Dimitri turned and missed the worst of it, but his grunt told me he hadn't avoided it all.

Before I had a chance to congratulate myself, he'd retaliated with a blow to my shoulder. I hadn't seen it coming and it hurt like a bitch. Annoyed with myself for letting him get in such a good hit, I spun and kicked out at his torso again catching him as much by surprise as he had me.

We both retreated a little, me rolling my shoulder to assess the damage. It was stiff and would bruise, but nothing was broken.

I faked a lunge to one side, but Dimitri knew what I was up to so protected his other side. Retreating to circle again I waited until he started to make a move before I lept into the air, booting him in his shoulder. It connected with a crunch.

Ha! See how you like that!

The fighting now stepping up a notch, Dimitri was using his greater reach against me. Usually my speed made up for it, but this was fight seven in the last two hours, so I was slow. Knowing I couldn't take too many direct hits, I flitted away from him, getting him to chase me a little. He had a good seventy pounds on me, so it took me less energy to move around than it did him. Still – I was already tired, and the longer this went on, the more inevitable the outcome – so I decided to give it my all and try and finish the fight as quickly as possible.

The decision made, I let him grab me, angling myself so I could flip him over my hip and onto the mat. The maneuver worked perfectly; however, my Russian God caught me as he fell, pulling me down with him.

I landed on top of him, and was pleased to note I'd slightly winded him – but it was a shortlived victory. On the floor, Dimitri was a lot stronger than me, so it would be a battle to win. He tried to pin me, but I bucked upward with my hips in a move that in the privacy of our bedroom might have been quite enjoyable! But here on the gym floor in front of our family and Dhampir associates, it moved Dimitri enough I was able to flip him onto his back. I was straddling him, trying to secure his dominant hand so I could deliver the fatal blow, but he rolled sideways, and I wasn't strong enough to avoid being rolled with him.

We ended up tumbling several times on the mat, falling off the edge with a small thump. Using the distraction to raise myself up I smacked my hand over Dimitri's heart – at precisely the same time he did it to me. We looked at each other panting in exertion before we both lifted our eyes to Pavel who had been adjudicating.

"Hate to say it, but it's a draw!" he announced to the crowd.

"Aww," a couple of Dhampir groaned, handing money to a happy looking dark-haired Guardian Eddie had fought earlier. I laughed, leaning back down to kiss my man.

"Get a room you two!" Vika laughed, coming over to stand beside us, holding a couple of glasses of beer.

I stood up, offering my hand to Dimitri to do likewise.

"Good fight, baby," he said, giving me another kiss before taking one of the beers from Viktoria while I took the other. Downing the drinks we headed across to where the food was laid out. I was done for the night and ready to eat!

A couple of hours later I was so full I could barely move. I was sitting next to Dimitri chatting, but I was tired and it was time to go home. Olena had taken the car back earlier with Babushka, Karolina, Zoya, and Paul, so Eddie, Meredith, Sonya, Kirill, Viktoria, Dimitri and I bid the last of the revelers at the gym goodnight, leaving them to help Abe's Guardians with the cleanup and more importantly finishing the last of the beer.

"Rose? You know I can't drink at the moment. Kirill asked if he can walk me home, can I borrow your car to drop him home afterward?"

Kirill's house wasn't too far from the Belikov's, but the Strigoi I'd killed so close to town had people spooked, so everyone was being a bit more careful about being out alone at night.

"No worries. Any reason Kirill showed up tonight? I didn't think you were meant to see him for another week or so?"

"He didn't say," she replied with a very pretty blush before going to stand with Kirill, letting him take her hand in his.

I had my own suspicions about Kirill's impromptu appearance, and I think Dimitri shared them because when the six of us set off to walk back to the Belikovs' house, Eddie, Meredith, Viktoria, Dimitri and I walked behind the young couple, just out of earshot. We were nearly home when the two stopped, Sonya throwing her arms around Kirill's neck before the two shared a long sweet kiss.

The rest of us stood awkwardly a few yards behind them, waiting for them to resume their walk. Finally back at the house, Sonya let them inside, the rest of us following. Paul and Zoya were in bed, but the adults were still up, despite the relatively late hour.

"Olena, Dimitri?" Kirill said nervously once we had all made it through to the living room. "Tonight I asked Sonya if she would be my wife, and she said yes. I'd like permission for my mother, sister and I to call on you before Church tomorrow morning."

Sonya was holding Kirill's hand with a huge smile on her face, which was quickly matched by Olena's grin.

"Oh that's wonderful!" she enthused. "You're very welcome to call on us, Kirill," she said, giving the embarrassed young man a hug and a kiss on the cheek before sweeping her second youngest up in a big hug.

The happy couple was duly congratulated by everyone, Viktoria using the opportunity to offer her services as a bridesmaid.

"Give her a chance to catch her breath," Karolina chided. "She's only just said yes… Besides – as the eldest, if there's a bridesmaid it should be me!"

We all laughed, basking in the couple's happiness. Dimitri came to stand behind me, wrapping his arms around my waist from behind as we listened to the family's happy banter. And for the first time since Yeva had predicted our union, I could kind of visualize Dimitri and me in the position of announcing our engagement. Not for a long time yet – but the idea didn't frighten me the way it had a few weeks ago.

"They look so happy," I murmured.

"They do," he agreed, dropping a loving kiss on the shoulder he'd hit earlier. "Just as well Mama bought that clock."

Saying our goodnights, I let Dimitri lead me upstairs to bed. I undressed and climbed in beside him, my body curled against his as together we drifted off to sleep. It was a strange night - I had vivid dreams about Dimitri standing by my side as we announced our engagement.

"Wake up ангел," Dimitri crooned on Sunday morning, waving a cup of coffee under my nose. I didn't usually drink the stuff, but I was tired and sore and it had been a late night.

"What time is it?" I groaned.

"Quarter past eight, but Kirill and his family are going to be here, soon. Mama and Babushka have been up since dawn cleaning up the house and baking."

I sat up in bed, and I could detect the unmistakable smell of cookies. My stomach grumbled in response.

"Meredith's helping Sonya get ready. Mama sent me upstairs to change – apparently she wants us all looking our best today."

I thought Dimitri looked hot as hell in the dark jeans and TShirt he was wearing but didn't object when he stripped off, putting on a white button-up and topping it with a lightweight sweater.

"So how's today going to run?"

"Kirill and his family will come over before Church and present Sonya with a ring, and that's when Kirril will officially ask her. We'll all walk to Church together and Sonya will wear the ring. The priest will announce their engagement at the end of the service and then they'll receive congratulations from everyone. Then after Church, Kirill and his family will come back here for lunch."

"Should I call Baba and put him off this week?" It was our last Sunday lunch here, and I'd feel bad about it, but I knew he'd understand.

"No. Mama's got it all organized. But you might want to suggest he pick up a bunch of flowers for Sonya or something like that before he comes over. We'll be giving them their engagement present at lunch, so a small gesture would be nice."

I reached for my cell, quickly messaging Abe.

Sonya and Kirill got engaged! His family is joining us for lunch today. If you can, pick up a bunch of flowers or a small gift for them. R

I didn't expect Abe to be up so early, but almost immediately my phone pinged indicating a text.

Of course. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer a family lunch? I can drop by later in the afternoon?

I rolled my eyes as my fingers tapped out my reply.

You ARE family. See you and Pavel at one.

Downing my coffee I flicked through my limited selection of dresses, choosing a feminine pretty one I hadn't worn to Church yet and teaming it with a matching light cardigan.

"Does this look ok?" I checked with Dimitri. I didn't want to get sent back upstairs to change by Olena!

"You look beautiful," Dimitri said, grabbing me for a quick kiss.

"Dimitri? What's taking you so long? Mama wants you to help Eddie lift the sofa so she can vacuum under it… Again…!"

It was Karolina's voice.

"Duty calls," he laughed. "See you downstairs in a minute!"

I smacked him on his ass as he left our bedroom. I took my time putting my hair up in a French twist, pinning it in place before adding some subtle makeup. It was Sonya's day to shine, and I didn't want to try and outdo her, but presumably the whole family would be in the spotlight today, so I wanted to look pretty. Figuring I could put it off no longer, I opened the door and headed straight to Sonya's room.

"Perfect timing," Meredith said when she saw me. "Sonya doesn't want to wear the dress she bought as she thinks it makes her look too pregnant."

Sonya stood before me in the dress, and I had to admit, it did emphasize her bump. I pulled off the cardigan I was wearing.

"Try it with this."

The cardigan worked! It was loose enough that even though she was wearing it undone, it took the focus away from her bump. Sure you could still tell she was pregnant if you looked closely, and it wasn't exactly a secret, but I understood why she didn't want the baby to be the focus today!

"That's so much better!" Sonya wailed in relief, pulling me into a quick hug. Declaring herself ready, we all went downstairs to find the usually tidy home immaculate. Every surface was gleaming, and Paul and Eddie were finishing off washing the windows under Yeva's eagle eye; Eddie doing the top panes while Paul did the ones lower down.

"Morning! What can I do?" I asked.

"Nothing. We're all ready!" Olena declared, coming out of the kitchen with a platter of biscuits and a glorious smile. She was wearing a pale lavender dress and she looked gorgeous.

"You timed that well, Hathaway," Eddie mumbled under his breath. By the looks of it, Yeva had been working him hard all morning.

"You look beautiful, Olena," I said hugging her, and poking my tongue out at Eddie over her shoulder.

I helped Olena bring cake and other refreshments out to the living room, and right on nine, there was a knock at the door.

"I'll get it," Olena announced, walking to the entryway and showing Kirill, his mother Rada and his sister Darya into the house, performing the necessary introductions.

"And this Darya's boy, Anatoly," Kirill said fondly, rocking an infant in his arms.

"Oh he's very handsome," I complimented Darya.

"Here you hold him," Kirill said, handing him to me before I could object. I'd held Zoya a few times since I'd been here, but she was basically a toddler. Anatoly was much smaller. I rocked him awkwardly, hoping he wouldn't open his eyes and realize a complete noob was holding him.

"You look beautiful holding a baby," Dimitri whispered huskily so no one else could hear him. There was a softness in his eyes I'd never seen before. "It suits you."