Chapter 2

"Stay with Rose and give her that stake, I don't want her in danger but she'll end up in the midst of battle anyway and we need her."

"Done" he hung up and turned to me "we need to get dressed and you need to stay with me."

We got dressed in seconds and within 3 minutes Dimitri has handed me my first stake and said "read the hilt".

I did and what I saw had me smiling like a fool and on the verge of tears 'may this stake protect my heart, my soul, my Roza. I love you always and forever, Dimitri your comrade xoxo'. "Let's do this" I said and we snapped into battle mode and left the cabin and waited at the edge of the wards.

2 minutes later the Strigoi started streaming in I was struggling with my 7th and he seemed to be an ancient and I was thinking 'if only I could burn him' when he burst into flames and was nothing but a pile of ash seconds later. 'Rozaaaaa!' Came Dimitri's mental scream for help and I had his Strigoi's head ringed in flame and Dimitri had staked him within moments.

Once we were sure no more we're coming our way I checked the bond with Liss and found her and Christian (and Adrian) safe, worried but safe in the Moroi dorm under lockdown.

I turned to Dimitri "elementary Moroi dorms- Adrian mentioned something about 'easy pickings'" he nodded and we took off.

Minutes later we were at the dorms and helping 10 guardians take on 50 Strigoi. I lit up the 5 Strigoi 5 of the guardians were struggling with at once and they all took the opportunity to stake the Strigoi. Once the Strigoi realised I was in the room 12 of them turned on me and I called on the feeling I'd had when consumed by the darkness and pushed the substance out of my aura and into a tangible shield. I pushed the darkness shield out til it touch the 12 Strigoi and they were frozen in place and I whirled around plunging my stake in their hearts and all 12 were dead within seconds. Another 8 came at me and I repeated the process, and again as more kept coming until more came. I was sore and tired and through the bond with Dimitri I saw I was bruises but nothing more. I checked the bond with Liss read the situation with the senior Moroi dorms within seconds and relayed to Dimitri and took off. Dimitri and the other guardians hot on my heels. I burst into the lobby and staked the Strigoi in the doorway before he knew what was coming and yelled in a direct guardian order "novices retreat- now!" They responded instinctively and did as directed- not even registering it was me.

The Strigoi noticed me again, and once again I kept using the magic and stake hand in hand, switching between fire and darkness till no more Strigoi came. Dimitri looked at me and sent 'I love you' through the bond. And aloud said "at least half of those are yours and over half in the elementary dorm were yours too. I always knew you'd be good and likely surpass me and have you ever" he radiated pride and so much more. Just then Yuri said "just kiss her already Belikov".

"What?!" Dimitri and I exclaimed in unison.

"Just do it" Emil said and this time Dimitri leaned in and kissed me with so much love and passion and relief and I gladly returned it. Of course he was the one to pull away but kept an arm around my waist.

"We knew it!" The other guardians cheered in unison before we all returned to Alberta's office for a debriefing. Dimitri still hadn't broken his hold on me when we'd walked through campus and into Alberta's office.

"Oh thank god, about time you two" Alberta chuckled good nature fly when Dimitri and I walked through the door wrapped in each other's embrace.