"DIMKA! What the fuck?"
I opened my eyes in confusion. I was lying in bed with Dimitri. More like on Dimitri, actually. He was on his back, and I was on my side. My head was resting on his shoulder, and I'd flung a leg over his hips while we slept. It was hot in the room, and airless. I couldn't feel where the covers were, but they certainly weren't over us. The two of us were tangled together, naked as the day we were born!
"Tasha?" I asked stupidly, seeing as she was standing in the doorway, Paul standing behind her with a fearful expression.
"What are you doing in bed with him? Did you have sex?!" she loudly demanded.
By now Dimitri had woken, grasping my leg just as I was about to move away from him - which I quickly appreciated would have left his private region exposed.
"For Vlad's sake, Tasha! Can you stop shouting?" he grumbled, not happy about being woken up, particularly in such a compromising position.
Pulling a pillow from the head of the bed, Dimitri positioned it over his privates, passing another to me so I could put it in front of me to cover myself.
"Tasha, can you give us a moment so we can get dressed?"
She stood in the doorway furiously, shooting both of us daggers.
"Close the door - we'd like to get dressed!" Dimitri repeated a bit more forcefully.
What he said sinking in, Tasha reluctantly stood aside, shutting the door to give us our privacy.
Dimitri stood up and groaned. It was just past 8 am, and it had been late by the time we'd finished our amorous activities for the night. Last night had been perfect, and we'd both hoped for a sleep in and then maybe some more lovemaking before a leisurely brunch. An incensed wanna-be lover turning up early hadn't been on our agenda.
"Did you want me to stay or go?" I asked softly as we slipped into sweatpants. Dimitri pulled on a TShirt, while I picked a cute black spaghetti strap singlet top that I knew made my tits look fantastic. If I had to face her, I was going to make sure I did it looking good!
"Stay. She knows, now. It's all over except the crying," he predicted.
Dressed, Dimitri paused to give me a long sweet kiss.
"I'm not ashamed of loving you, Roza. I'm not going to apologize."
"I don't expect you to." Last night had been a night of rebellion. The first of hopefully many nights spent together as a lawful, loving couple. I gave him a final peck on the lips. "Let's do this."
Dimitri opened the door, and the two of us stepped out, finding an irate Tasha standing near the window by the kitchenette.
"Sorry – we weren't expecting anyone so early," I yawned, as though Tasha hadn't just busted us in bed together. Reminding myself that Dimitri and I had done nothing wrong, I deliberately kept it friendly and casual. "Do you want a coffee?"
"No thank you," Tasha said in an arctic tone.
"I will thanks, Roza." There was the usual affectionate tone in Dimitri's voice when he said the Russian version of my name, and Tasha looked even more incensed when she heard it.
"What the hell happened here last night?" Tasha shouted, any attempt at self-control completely lost once she heard Dimitri's loving tone toward me. "Are you fucking your student?"
"Not in front of my nephew," Dimitri growled furiously, showing anger for the first time. "Give us a moment."
The shouting must have woken Eddie because the door to his room opened, a bare-chested Eddie stepping out clad only in sweatpants, holding his stake. Right behind him was Meredith wearing a large TShirt and a pair of sweatpants I recognized as Eddie's. She was also armed.
"Everything ok?" Eddie checked. It was telling that he chose not to sheath his weapon as his eyes made their way between Paul, Dimitri, Tasha and I.
"Yeah, it's fine," I said tersely. "Sorry for waking you two."
After assessing the situation, Eddie's eyes searched mine, and I gave him a reassuring nod. With a mutter that he was "here if needed," he lowered his stake and stepped back into his room, closing the door after him. I moved across to where Paul was standing near the unit door and as far away as possible from Tasha.
"You ok?" I asked, resting my hands on his shoulders and looking into his eyes reassuringly.
"I'm sorry, Auntie Rose. She said she needed to see Uncle Dimka and asked me to show her which was his room." Paul's voice quavered right toward the end, and suddenly I was incensed with the scar-faced bitch for scaring him. Sure be angry with Dimitri, or me, but leave the kid out of it.
"It's alright. You did nothing wrong." I hugged him, whispering in his ear to go to Lissa's suite and send her over here immediately. "Don't tell her anything is wrong – just tell her I need to see her urgently. Just her," I stressed, my lips right against his ear so Tasha wouldn't overhear.
Once Paul was out of the unit, I returned to the kitchen absolutely seething. Who the hell did Tasha think she was barging into our accommodations and shouting at us? I deliberately didn't make eye contact with her, starting my coffee preparations.
Tasha glared at me. "What were you doing in bed with your mentor?"
"We're together, Tasha. Rose and I are lovers," Dimitri answered on my behalf. He said it calmly, as though it were the most natural thing in the world. Which I guess, to us, it was.
"Together? Lovers?" Tasha repeated his words, her face becoming even more outraged as the syllables slipped from her unwilling lips. "How long?"
Dimitri shrugged, as though the timing of our love and union were of little consequence.
"Were you involved at the Lodge at Christmas?" she shouted.
"We weren't lovers, but yes, I had already started to fall in love with Rose," Dimitri replied uncomfortably.
"It was her. After Christmas, you said you couldn't take me up on my offer because you'd 'promised her you'd stay.' At the time, I thought you meant Vasilisa! I figured it was your damned sense of duty that was holding you back. But it wasn't, was it?! It was her!"
Dimitri nodded.
"What about when you called me from your mission? I spent the whole time hoping you'd come back and give us a chance. I knew if you just gave us a go you'd see how good it could be. Then you rang me and told me your head was fighting with your heart. You were obviously reconsidering my offer then. What happened?" Her voice was needy and pleading. As if, despite Dimitri's frank and honest admission, she still couldn't give credence to what she was hearing.
"That wasn't about you," Dimitri explained softly. "I was struggling with my feelings for Rose. I guess I just needed to talk it through."
"You knew how I felt, but you rang to use me as a sounding board for your feelings about another woman?" Tasha asked incredulously. She made Dimitri sound like an asshole and thinking back to that time, maybe she had a point! Yes, I had been the one to give him reason to doubt – but whether he appreciated it or not, his thoughtless phone call had caused Tasha and I both a lot of pain!
"I'm sorry, Tasha. I thought I'd made it clear I couldn't take up your offer and that I didn't feel that way about you? I told you at Christmas there was someone else, and that I knew I'd never be able to be in a loving relationship with you. I thought we were back to being friends. Good friends."
His voice was imploring. He was losing one of his oldest friends, and I knew it hurt him.
"So you can't find it in you to give it a go with me, but meanwhile you're ok with screwing your underage student!" she shrieked. "She was what? Seventeen? And your student, Dimka! You were in a position of authority over her!"
"I'm not his student or underage," I interjected with a calmness I didn't necessarily feel. While she was right with her assertions, that didn't paint the full picture of how things stood between Dimitri and me. I hadn't been some naïve schoolgirl coerced by a predatory, older male. Ours was a story of love growing, despite its inauspicious circumstances.
Tasha spun to fix me with her eyes.
"But you were then! What sort of slut are you?! I saw you at Christmas time – encouraging that red-haired boy. And then you used Dimitri's pillow talk to feed him the information which got him killed! You're the reason he's dead, and make no mistake about it."
I gasped, Tasha's words wounding me in a way nothing else could because she was right. I had encouraged Mason, and ultimately it was me who'd given him the information that got him killed. And the guilt I held, that I'd always hold about it was immeasurable.
"I wondered at the time," Tasha continued with a bitter laugh, turning back to Dimitri. "You were so desperate to find them. You felt so responsible for what had happened. But you were responsible, weren't you Dimka? You were the adult – you should have known better! But you didn't. Because of you, one child is dead and how many others suffered as a result of your infatuation? My nephew could have died! But you didn't care, as long as you were getting a bit!"
I could see Dimitri flinch under the barrage of Tasha's words. Because, like me, he knew there was at least some truth to them. And if I knew the fallout resulting because we fell in love, so did he.
"Tasha, stop," Dimitri said firmly. "Rose and I weren't in a physical relationship then, and the past is the past! She's a Guardian now, and eighteen. We're not doing anything wrong! We're in love, and we're going to be together. I'd hoped you might be happy for us."
"Happy for you?! You keep me hanging on, dangling the chance you might change your mind in front of me like some sort of carrot, but the whole time you're getting it on with that blood whore slut! Were you going to keep me around just in case it didn't work out with her? Was I Plan B?!"
"I know you're hurt, but don't you ever talk about Rose like that," Dimitri roared. "And I never gave you any reason to believe I'd change my mind. Every time you've asked, I've said no. Anytime you tried to get me alone or get too close, I've backed off. I took the time to consider your offer at Christmas, and I said no. I told you again at Court I couldn't guard you, or be romantic with you, and I thought you understood? I'm sorry if you didn't, but I tried to be clear then, and I'll be clear now. I can not, and will not, accept your offer to be your guardian, and I can't love you the way you want me to!"
"No, you never really considered it. Because you were already fucking her! I can see it now. The way you were always together. How you'd look at her. You came to Russia just to be with her, didn't you?" she goaded. "Following your dick instead of your duty! What sort of man are you?!"
"It's not my duty to guard you!" Dimitri shouted his face red with rage.
"But it should be! I'm Royal, and that counts for something. But no – you want to give it all up so you can sink your cock into a chick that will no doubt blow you off when the next guy she can use comes along. In fact, I think she's already set her sights on Ivashkov. He seemed pretty eager to come over here to see her as soon as he found out Tatiana was visiting! A person doesn't do that without some sort of encouragement!"
A vein was throbbing in Dimitri's temple. While he knew nothing was going on between Adrian and me, it was still a sensitive topic with him. After their rivalry at the Ski Lodge, Dimitri's go to position was suspicion and defensiveness when it came to the Queen's great nephew.
"Why not? You did," I said raising my eyebrows tauntingly. "You flew all the way here to see Dimitri, even though he'd made it clear time and time again he wasn't interested in you. He was much more interested in, what did you say? Oh, that's right – sinking his cock into me! And for the record, there's nothing between Adrian and I. He knows about Dimitri and me, and unlike you, he's smart enough to recognize a lost cause when he sees one."
I was shouting so loudly Tasha didn't hear the outer door to our unit open, Lissa stepping inside, taking in the scene before her with astounded eyes.
"Shut up you worthless blood whore. I don't have to listen to scum like you. You're a useless slut who's probably opened your legs to half of St. Vladimir's!"
"I told you not to speak about Rose like that! You don't know anything about her or about us!" Dimitri bellowed, stepping toward Tasha threateningly before stopping himself. I honestly had never seen my man so irate. Even Tasha looked a little taken back by his rage, so she turned to me, refocusing her attention in my direction.
"I'm right, aren't I?! You've used Dimitri for all you can. You've graduated with a good score, and now you plan to trade him in for a richer, better-connected man!" she taunted me.
"Tasha you have no idea what you're talking about," I said disdainfully, shooting Dimitri a calming look. "Dimitri and I are in love. We're going to be together as a couple no matter what you or anyone else thinks. You can't stop us!"
"But I can," she declared triumphantly. "Do you really think I'll let you be with him? If I can't have Dimka, I'll make damned sure you can't either," Tasha screamed, the dark, poisonous words spewing recklessly from her mouth as though she were incapable of stopping them. Which was probably the truth.
"I'll tell Guardian Headquarters that for the last six months, Dimitri has been neglecting his duty so he can fuck a child. A child in his care. There'll be nothing left of his career once I'm done. Are you willing to stick around, waiting faithfully for years until he's out of prison? Because you won't be guarding Lissa, that's for sure. I'd never let a whore like you guard my nephew's beloved. But no doubt there are Moroi men out there who won't mind a slightly used Guardian. I'm sure you can convince them with your charms…"
"You don't frighten me," I said staring Tasha down.
"I should," she threatened, and it was then I saw the fireballs forming in her hands. And she was right – I should fear her; because it was then I understood something I hadn't before. Tasha was stark raving mad, and her regard for Dimitri went way beyond desire – she was obsessed with him. And she'd meant every word, every threat, she'd made. And rather than angry, I just felt sad.
"Tasha!"
The scar-faced Moroi spun, hearing Lissa speak and witnessing her presence for the first time. Dimitri also turned, but rather than relieved, he was worried by Lissa's appearance. On some level, Lissa was still his charge, and her being in such a volatile situation unnerved him.
"Stop it!" Lissa cried peremptorily, her voice shaky, yet carrying a command that was undeniable. I wasn't sure whether the demand was for Tasha or all of us. I don't suppose it really mattered, given the context.
"Why? She's taken everything I wanted!" Tasha replied beseechingly, gesturing to where I stood in the kitchenette. It was as though she were putting her case forward for Lissa to play judge, jury, and executioner.
"What do you mean, Tasha?" Lissa asked in a soothing tone. "What's going on?"
"She doesn't deserve him! She doesn't deserve anything! He's mine!" Tasha explained, her eyes seeking out Dimitri. "He's meant to be mine! He's meant to love me. We're meant to be together."
I could feel Lissa's alarm through the bond. She was studying Tasha's aura, and a moment later I felt her make a decision.
"No Liss!" I shouted, but it was already too late.
"Tasha," Lissa said in a strangely calming voice that was almost musical. She moved in closer, grabbing Tasha's now flameless hands, looking deep into her eyes. "You have never had romantic feelings for Guardian Belikov. You offered to have him as your Guardian, but only ever with friendship in mind. You came here today to apologize to Guardian Belikov for your drunken behavior last night, and he told you about his feelings for Rose. You are delighted that Dimitri and Rose are in love, and you understand they are being private about it, so you won't tell anyone. You are going to go back to your suite now for a sleep, and you won't remember anything about this."
Tasha's face morphed from anger through confusion to, finally, an almost dreamlike benevolence.
"Of course I'm happy for them," she said with what looked like a genuine smile. "Dimitri and Rose make a wonderful couple. They're perfect for each other! I'll see you later, guys. I'm still tired after last night – I think I need to go back to my suite for a rest."
With a smile Tasha left the apartment, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.
Dimitri regarded Lissa uneasily. Unlike me, he'd never seen her perform compulsion, and I could tell he found it more than a little confronting.
"You shouldn't have done that," I growled, scooping an exhausted Lissa into a grateful embrace.
"I could see it in her aura. She's not well, Rose. She wasn't going to stop until she destroyed you both," Lissa explained.
"But still! It's not worth the cost!"
"What are friends for?" she asked faintly, letting me guide her to one of the sofas. She was exhausted from such an intense use of magic and needed me to care for her.
"Comrade? Can you order a feeder to come to our suite?" I asked Dimitri, smoothing the hair back from Lissa's brow. She was even paler than usual and feeling a little clammy to the touch. "Lissa needs to feed, and then she'll need to sleep. I'll take care of her, here. Can you give it a few minutes, then go tell Christian she and I are having a gossip session about last night, and we'll meet him at the dining hall for lunch at midday?"