"Five years?" In two words, Dimitri managed to convey his shock and heartbreak. His arms tightened around me, and I knew he was every bit as distressed as I was.

Quickly placing his gun in a holster I didn't know he wore, and closing his jacket over it, Baba ran his fingers through his hair in agitation, before suggesting we all sit down, calm down, and I tell him everything Croft said.

"Stop crying kiz," he said gently. "This isn't over, yet."

Dimitri scooped me up into his arms and carried me across to the sofa. He didn't need to, I could have walked, but with the prospect of being separated for so long, it was like neither of us wanted to let go for even a moment. Sitting on the sofa, he positioned me on his lap, his arms securely around me. Just being in his arms was reassuring, and slowly my sobs started to subside.

"Tell us all about it, Roza," my Russian God requested, stroking my arm softly.

"I saw Sokolov and got my badge," I said, "and then signed the register. Then Croft came in and asked me to step in next door to the office he's using. I did, and that's when he explained that as the winner of the elimination fights I was being sent on an allocation to the Alchemists. The mission we did a few months back was the test run. They want a male and a female Guardian to go and teach Alchemists in training basic self-defense and self-protection as well as sharing our knowledge about Strigoi and also how Moroi society works. The idea is if it's included in their education, and they know some real Dhampir, Alchemists won't be so scared of us so we'll be able to work together more cooperatively."

The entire room was listening spellbound; Pavel was even taking notes. The festive atmosphere from earlier was now completely gone, replaced by a stunned silence.

"Every Alchemist goes to a training camp for six months as part of their field-agent qualification, and Artyom and I are to be based there. I'm not sure where it is, but it is in the States. As well as doing the training, we're meant to serve as kind of advisors for the Alchemists. Apparently, there's a lot they don't know about our kind, so we're meant to act as the inbetweeners, giving them the info they need and teaching them about how we do things. In return, we're to report back to Guardian Council about what they're up to and how they do things."

"So you'd be in touch with Court, then?" Abe asked shrewdly.

"Yeah. Croft said we'd probably have to fly back there regularly for the Guardian Council meetings."

"I'll make sure Dimitri always has those days off or that we're at Court then," Lissa immediately volunteered. "I know it's not much, but…"

I nodded in grateful acknowledgment. A few hours every month or so was better than nothing at all, but then I wondered whether a relationship could weather five years apart. It wasn't fair to trap Dimitri in a union where we would barely ever see each other. What was the point of being in a partnership when all we'd ever get was stolen moments? Maybe I was better cutting him loose now, so he could find someone he could actually share his life with?

As if he suspected the direction of my thoughts, Dimitri murmured, "We'll be ok, Roza. We'll get through this together. I promise."

"And you'd be teaching the Alchemists self-defense?" Pavel checked.

"Yeah. I think the idea is basic training, but to also give some insight into how Strigoi work."

"And why were you and Artyom chosen?" he pressed.

"Because we went on the earlier mission. Apparently, the Queen promised the Alchemists she'd send her best new Guardians. That's why the top St. Vlad's and St. Basil's students were originally picked for the mission. The Guardian Council wanted to send a male and a female, and so as top and second-top ranked on our training scores and then the fights, that's why Artyom and I were picked. Croft said Tatiana was insistent about being seen to send the very best as a gesture of goodwill. Also, I had an idea about a new integrated reporting system for Guardian kills that I mentioned to Croft, and they want me to be involved in the work on that."

"Can't you just say no?" Christian asked out of the blue. He'd been listening intently and apparently decided it was time to ask the obvious question.

"I'm afraid not. Croft made it clear if I ever wanted to work as a Guardian I would have to go on this mission."

"Can he do that?" Christian blustered.

"He can," Dimitri confirmed. "As Guardians, we don't usually get a lot of choice in where we're sent," he explained.

Abe was stroking his chin in anxiety.

"If Tatiana's made up her mind, there'll be no swaying her," he declared. "Especially on something as important as this. I mean, of course, I'll try, but don't get your hopes up."

We all sat there as the realization sank in. For the next five years, I'd be working away from everyone I knew and loved.

"How did Artyom take it?" Eddie asked.

I shook my head.

"He doesn't know, yet. It turns out I broke his shoulder, so they knocked him out to set it. Croft is going to tell him tomorrow sometime."

"He'll probably be glad to get away from his sister!" Meredith commented wryly.

It was the perfect thing to say. I couldn't help it; I just cracked up! Even Dimitri was smirking as he held me against him. It felt good to release a little of the tension, even if it was at someone else's expense.

As our laughter subsided, I said to Eddie, "Pass me that vodka and a shot glass. I have a reason to get shitfaced now!"

He smiled sadly, standing up to walk to the kitchenette. Something about sitting here with almost everyone I loved felt like my last hurrah, so I might as well drink and enjoy it.

"There'll be time for that later," Pavel told me, gesturing to Eddie to put the bottle down. "I have an idea how to make the best of this."

"Have you got all your points organized?" Lissa stressed. It was 7 am, and she had come over to do my hair ready for my breakfast meeting with Guardian Croft.

Not that I needed help with my hair, of course. But we were both still getting our head around yesterday's bombshell. Because while Croft's news meant being separated from Dimitri, it would also be five years without my best friend and bondmate. Other than these last few months, we'd been together almost continuously since we were four. Not guarding Lissa but seeing her every day and living together was a very different proposition to not guarding Lissa and seeing her a few times a year!

So I understood why she wanted to spend time together while I was still here. If that meant coming over at 6.30 am and hauling me out of my warm, comfortable bed with my hot, sexy boyfriend so she could braid my hair before putting it into my bun-holder, then help me don my Guardian uniform for the first time, then so be it.

"I have," I grumbled. I was trying not to stress out, and while she was well-meaning, dealing with Lissa's agitation as well as my own was becoming too much.

"You look good," Lissa complimented me, pulling out a camera I didn't know she had on her before making me pose for several shots.

"What?" she asked Dimitri, taking in his amused expression as he leaned against the kitchenette counter drinking coffee. "It's her first day in uniform – we need to take photos!"

"Liss? I'm all done, now. Why don't you go back to your suite? I just want a moment or two with Dimitri before I go."

"Sure. Just come see me as soon as you know," she said brightly. I knew her heart was breaking; I could feel it through the bond. But she was determined to stay positive for my sake, and I appreciated it. If she broke down, I might too – and I needed to be on my A-game this morning.

Dimitri showed her out of the suite before coming to stand beside me quietly. His arms slipped around my waist as he bent down to brush his lips tenderly across mine.

"You can do this," he reassured me.

"We were meant to be past all the stress and worry by now," I replied tersely.

"Trouble follows you around, Hathaway," he chuckled.

"I thought you followed me around?" I joked.

"That too," he agreed, kissing me again. "Now go, before I strip this uniform off you and take you back to bed."

"Like that's meant to tempt me to leave," I laughed, standing on tiptoes to give him a final kiss before straightening my shirt and checking my reflection in the mirror.

"Good luck," my Russian God said.

"Yeah, 'cos nothing is riding on this," I sarcastically replied. "Keep your phone on!" I instructed as I headed out the door.

Outside the suite, the guest accommodation hallways were deserted. The partying had gone into the wee hours last night, although strangely not in the winner's unit. I'd spent the evening in Baba's suite going through every possible argument I could put forward to Croft this morning. Even though Pavel's solution wasn't perfect, the rationale behind it was sound. It made the best of a bad situation, and I could only hope Croft would be open to actually considering what I proposed.

I knew Dimitri was worried. When we'd finally retired to bed last night, he'd held onto me like he was concerned I'd be wrenched from his grasp at any second, and our lovemaking had been sweet and tender. Neither of us said much. We didn't need to. We hadn't slept much, either, mostly lying there quietly in each other's arms.

He was right. I could do this. I needed to do this.

I paused at Croft's door, taking a deep breath before I knocked.

"Enter."

I stepped inside to see Guardian Croft sitting at a desk typing on a laptop.

"A Guardian's work is never done," he joked, saving his work and looking up.

"Thanks for meeting with me so early," I said with a tight smile, sitting when he gestured for me to do so. I'd called last night and suggested we meet briefly this morning before visiting Artyom in the infirmary.

"That's fine. I'm up and working at this time anyway, and it was a good idea to tell Artyom about your allocations together."

Croft was looking at me shrewdly. While I hadn't burst into tears until I'd left his office yesterday, I'd been shocked and dismayed by his news, and he knew it.

"About that. I have some further questions about the allocation…"

"What would you like to know?"

"I was wondering how old the Alchemist students would be? And I assume there'd be males and females?"

"I believe anywhere from fifteen to early twenties, and yes both men and women."

I nodded, the answer being what I'd expected.

"And as well as teaching, we'd be giving them an overview of our world, how the government works, the different ways in which Guardians work, etc."

"Yes, that's right. Her Majesty was keen to stress this is as much an information sharing sort of mission as it is about teaching the Alchemists combat. The Alchemists will be sending two of their own representatives to Court on a reciprocal basis," he explained, giving me information I'd not had before. "They will be serving a similar sort of role."

"Do we know anything about them?" I asked curiously, straying from my mentally rehearsed script as I fished for anything else I could work into my argument.

Croft picked up a file on his desk and flipped through a few pages.

"Yes – there's a girl around your age Sydney Sage, and a fellow a few years older Tristan Bellows."

"Have they recently finished training, too?" I asked innocently.

"Sydney yes. Tristan's been out four years."

Croft could see I had something on my mind, but I wasn't ready to divulge it quite yet.

"That makes sense," I mused. I didn't want to launch straight in with my idea. I had to reel him in bit more.

"Will we be liaising with them at all? It might be useful since we'll be doing the same job?"

"I hadn't thought about that, but it's a good idea. You and Artyom will be flying to Court monthly to report to Guardian Council, and Sydney and Tristan will likewise be reporting in regularly to their people. I am sure periodic meetings could be arranged."

He jotted it down in the file he was holding before closing it and putting it on his desk.

"Shall we visit Artyom now?" he suggested.

It was now or never.

"Guardian Croft? You said if I had another idea about working more closely with the Alchemists, I should mention it. So I feel I should tell you, I have some concerns about this mission."

"If you're going to try and talk your way out of going, you should know my mind is made up, as is her Majesty's," he cautioned.

"No. You made it clear yesterday that I would be going. I understand the Queen has given the Alchemists her word, and she can't go back on that. While it was certainly a shock, I appreciate her position, and I won't let her down."

I paused to let my acquiescence sink in. It would be easier to convince Croft if he knew I'd accepted my fate.

"But I was wondering whether Artyom is the right person to go with me."

I dropped the bomb and sat back, waiting to see what would happen.

"Do you have an issue with Artyom?" Croft asked me. "I've been watching him, and I got the sense he might have an interest in you that you didn't reciprocate, in which case you can be certain that I will speak with him about the need to stay professional..."

"It's not that. I've been fending off unwanted male attention since I got my first bra," I joked, getting a lip twitch of amusement from Croft in response, "and Artyom knows I don't feel that way about him and respects my boundaries," I said truthfully. "It's not that I think he'd do a bad job on the mission – I just think there's a better choice."

"Oh?" Croft enquired.

"Guardian Belikov," I suggested.

"He's not a new graduate," Croft countered dismissively.

"No – and that's probably a good thing. Her Majesty has promised to send her top graduate, but she also needs the best people for the job. I think Guardian Belikov has the experience and skills that make him the perfect choice to accompany me on the mission."

Croft frowned but nodded for me to continue.

"He has experience teaching combat and designing individual training programs - which neither Artyom or I have," I started. "I mean, I'm sure we would learn what works in time, but Belikov is already very experienced in that area, and in a better position to hit the ground running."

Croft nodded, reaching for a notepad to jot my thoughts down.

"He's twenty-four," I lied, shaving a year off his age, "so he's young enough to mix in easily with other young people, but I think his age and experience might come in handy when dealing with some of the older students we'll be encountering. The Alchemists in their early twenties might be resistant to listening to a couple of eighteen-year-olds, especially if they're already a little unwilling to work with Dhampir," I continued. "But I don't think they be able to dismiss Belikov so easily."

Croft nodded, continuing to note my points.

"Another thing is that we're meant to be giving practical advice on how Guardians work and all that, but for Artyom and me this would be our first allocation. We can't give practical first-hand information if we haven't experienced it, where Belikov has individual and group guarded, worked at an Academy, been on a recovery mission, guarded in Russia and America and most recently mentored. He's covered a broad range of guarding applications, so he can speak with authority on how things are done in different places."

"Is that all?" Croft asked.

"Well, finally I'm worried her Majesty might be criticized for sending two relatively inexperienced representatives. It could be argued that by only sending graduates she wasn't committing her best resources. I understand she wanted young Guardians to fit in with the training camp, and she's promised them her top graduate, but it's a huge responsibility for two first-time Guardians. You said the Alchemists are sending a graduate and a more experienced representative, so I thought it makes sense for us to do the same.

"Guardian Belikov was the top graduate in his year, and won the elimination fights, too. He's the youngest ever Blood Master Seven, and he has an impeccable record. No one can argue he is not highly skilled and well regarded. Finally, he was on the original mission, so the Alchemists would already be aware of him and wouldn't have to deal with someone new. For all those reasons, I think it makes better sense to send him as the second Guardian."

Croft looked up from his note-taking.

"You've given this a lot of thought," he commented.

"I have," I admitted. "I'd always assumed I'd be allocated to Princess Dragomir, and that she'd be my charge for the rest of my life. This type of service never occurred to me, and as you saw, it came as quite a shock. But they come first, and if this is how I'm directed to serve, then so be it. It's important to me my mission is a success, and I honestly think Belikov and I would do a better job of it than Artyom and me. If I'm to succeed in such a strategic role, I need to be honest with my ideas and thoughts, so that's why I'm telling you."

I sat back, resisting my urge to ramble. I'd laid it out before him - now Croft needed to take the next step.

"So what would you do if you were me?" he asked testingly.

"Probably call Court and tell them about the idea then talk to Belikov."

"Alright then," he said with a smirk. "I'm not saying it's a yes, but you've given me a lot to think about. How about you go get Guardian Belikov and bring him back here while I make a call?"

"I think he's considering it!" I announced as I flew into our suite upstairs, surprising Dimitri, Meredith, and Eddie. "He's calling Court to discuss the idea, and he's asked me to bring you downstairs to meet with him!"

Dimitri picked me up and spun me around.

"Well done, ангел!" he laughed with a huge grin. "Guess we'd better go talk to Croft!"

Dimitri was already in his uniform, and I'd run the whole way back to guest quarters, so we indulged in a few kisses before we set off back downstairs.

"It felt like you were gone ages," Dimitri commented as we walked sedately down the corridor side by side.

"I didn't want to spring it on him," I explained. "I had to work up to it."

"Did he ask if you'd discussed it with me?"

"No, he didn't ask. Has Baba been over this morning?"

"No, but he sent Kirk over before to say we'll leave as soon as things are settled here. I packed up all our stuff, so we're ready to go."

"Do Lissa and Christian know?"

"Yeah, he was going there to tell them after us."

We were almost at the Administration building when Dimitri smirked.

"Oh. I almost forgot to tell you… I was standing in the kitchen drinking my coffee after you left when I heard some giggling and a male voice coming from Meredith's bedroom."

"Eddie?!"

He shrugged.

"I think so. I went and had a shower, and they were both in the kitchen getting coffee when I came out," he laughed.

"I'm going to give him shit!" I laughed as we pulled up outside Croft's St. Basil's office.

"We can do this," Dimitri whispered to me as he knocked.

We entered when bidden, and sat in front of the large wooden table, me in the chair I'd only minutes ago vacated.

"Belikov," Hans greeted. "Has Hathaway mentioned why you're here?"

"Only that you wanted to speak to me about an operational matter?"

Croft regarded me approvingly.

"Hathaway Junior and Artyom Vitsin were slated to be allocated on a mission to the Alchemists. A follow up from your mission earlier in the year, it's a combat teaching and fact sharing role. However we've discovered that as part of the reciprocal arrangement, the Alchemists are sending a graduate and a slightly older representative to Court, and her Majesty is of the opinion we should do likewise. For a number of reasons, including your presence on the original mission, it's been suggested that you accompany Guardian Hathaway Junior on the mission in place of Guardian Artyom Vitsin."

Dimitri nodded, not giving anything away.

"It's a long-term mission. Five years, living with the Alchemists at a training camp in New Hampshire. You'd be teaching self-defense during term, but over time it's anticipated you will become more involved in some of the other Alchemist research and data collection activities, giving a Dhampir and Guardian perspective as required. As a live-in position in a relatively remote area, you'd be free to go off-campus on weekends when you wished, and a car will be provided for this purpose. There will also be regular trips to Court scheduled so you can report to the Guardian Council and other travel will probably be required from time to time. Do you have any questions?"

"What will the accommodations be like?"

"My understanding is that you and Guardian Hathaway will have individual rooms in some sort of share accommodation with a communal bathroom, kitchen and living facilities. Beyond that, I don't know. Like last time, her Majesty is putting a lot of importance and resources into this mission, so you'll both be issued with a credit card - anything you need that is not provided by the Alchemists you can put on that."

Dimitri nodded again.

"When do we start?"

Croft smiled, taking this as Dimitri's willingness to accept the reallocation without complaint.

"I understand you've arranged to fly back to Court tomorrow? Guardian Hathaway's allocation will be announced as 'a classified mission' at the allocations ceremony on Monday, but in the meantime, you can both tell your close family and friends you will be serving in New Hampshire with the Alchemists."

"With us both on the mission, Princess Dragomir will need new Guardians," I said, speaking up for the first time. "Can I suggest Celeste Matthews and Meredith Edwards? Celeste is already her secondary Guardian, and Meredith is of a suitable age to blend in at Lehigh."

"Noted, thank you, Hathaway."

"I'd also feel happier if I knew Lord Ozera was taken care of. Maybe Castile for him?"

"Again noted," Croft said with an amused twitch of his lips, and I knew I had 'suggested' enough.

"So… Shall we visit Artyom now?" Croft said, standing and shaking Dimitri's hand and then mine.

"I did break his shoulder; I think I'd better," I said with an embarrassed smile.

"We're leaving in an hour or two, and I don't imagine I'll see him again for some time – I'll take the opportunity to visit, too," Dimitri declared.

"Let's keep his almost involvement in the mission to ourselves," Croft suggested. "It's a huge opportunity, and he would be disappointed to hear how close he came to being a part of it."