DPOV

With a heavy heart, I left the cave behind. Not just because I was needed more at Court now and it would be best if I stayed in my allocated chambers there, but I knew Rose wouldn't be coming back, so what was the point of staying.

Rose, my Roza. She had been on my mind constantly, occupying my mind during the day and haunting my dreams at night. I knew this would have been the most likely outcome, and yet I was surprised.

I had lied to her. And I had kept lying to her because I was afraid she would reject me. Well, she did, not because I was a Dragon, but because I hadn't told her I was. She had admitted to loving us both. Both. That is right. In her head, we had been two people. And somehow she had fallen in love with both of us. Somehow she had loved all of me unconditionally.

And I had screwed it up. I should have told her. I should have told her the moment she wasn't afraid of me. I would probably be lying with her in my arms right now after a night of heavy passion if I had. But I had been too afraid she would reject me. Too afraid to admit to myself how much she meant to me, and now she was gone.

It almost felt like losing Ivan. He had been such a large part of my life, and I loved him like a brother. After he died, I felt like I had died with him. I just couldn't imagine living my life without him. That was how it felt now, except she wasn't dead. She might as well be, though. She was inaccessible to me. No matter how I felt, maybe this way was better. It is probably easier for her to hate me than to love and miss me.

I landed in the courtyard with a scowl on my face. Nobody dared approach me. Good, I wasn't in the mood either. I would get an update report, and then I intended to brood the rest of the night in my chambers alone.

The report didn't have any additional news, and I was on my way to my chambers when I heard her voice. It had been a long time, but I wasn't in the mood right now, so I pretended I didn't hear her and kept walking.

"Dimka."

Crap, she was only a few feet away now. I couldn't possibly pretend I hadn't heard her, now. Maybe I could tell her I had sustained some hearing impairment in the last battle?

"Tasha. It's nice to see you. Here to see Christian?"

She nodded. Tasha was a pretty black Dragoness, she was smaller than me - almost everyone was -but she wasn't as petite as some female Dragons. Her entire body reflected the light from the torches, every bit except the spot where she was missing scales on the side of her face. She had a large scar on the side of her snout where a Snow Dragon had tried to bite her head off. She had fought valiantly and prevailed, but some were put off by her new appearance. I didn't mind. I think it reflected her will to live. But to me, it was also a reminder of Tasha's nature. She tended always to fight. She didn't seem to understand that sometimes, the best course of action was to wait or even run. You can't retaliate when you are dead. Sometimes biding time is a solid strategy. But a strategist, Tasha was not.

"So I heard Tatiana is keeping the army here, instead of marching toward the border. I heard about the destruction of that human village. That is a clear provocation. I think she is way too conservative; we should be attacking now before they have time to gather more strength."

Typical Tasha. I understood where she was coming from, but her actions were way too rash. They reminded me a little of a young Dragon eager to go into battle. But Tasha was a few decades older than me, yet she had no patience.

"Tasha. I agree with Tatiana. We need time to prepare, and I don't want to start a war I don't have to."

"Dimka, you can't be serious? They have been provoking us for far too long. We need to take the fight to them and take them out once and for all. We will never be safe if any of those Snow Dragons are alive."

I knew Tasha's dislike for Snow Dragons would probably exceed most. Snow Dragons had taken her entire village, and only she and Christian, her nephew, had survived. She had seen her brother and his wife killed by Snow Dragons, and she knew she and Christian would have been next.

But what she was suggesting was genocide, not to mention suicide. I had no love for Snow Dragons, and if they crossed the border or attacked citizens of Tatiana's reign we would have to act, and I would kill as many of them as I could. But going after them was plain crazy. We simply didn't have the manpower. Training soldiers took time, and training Dragon warriors took centuries. Tasha had been pleading for more Dragons like Christian and her to join the ranks. Dragons that had a particularly powerful flame, but didn't have the body or stamina to train as a Dragon warrior. I had discussed it with Tatiana, but she said she wasn't comfortable with the idea of Fire warriors. Our flames were probably the best defense against the Snow Dragons, but military men would lose some of their power and recognition, and some of the royals in Tatiana's court would probably have to join the ranks because their flame was strong.

I didn't mind either way. I didn't need recognition, so sharing it or losing it to powerful Fire Dragons, wasn't something that bothered me. But it would upset our current system, and I wondered if that was wise on the brink of war. But more and more people like Christian were beginning to see that they could contribute even if they hadn't gone through decades or centuries of training. Having one or two of those in a squad was well worth it.

But until Tatiana gave the okay, there was nothing I could do, and going on the offensive right now wasn't in our best interest. I would wait until we had no other choice.

"Tasha. We can't do much but wait right now. They haven't done anything yet, and I don't want to put us all through another war if I don't have to. Now, I have to ... uhm...go meet my mother."

"Oh sure, Dimka, Say hi to your mother for me. Maybe we can catch up while you are here?"

Did I imagine it, or was she flirting? Dragons weren't particularly subtle, and the way her claw was pressed against my breastplate led me to believe she was being very obvious about it. But my mind just didn't want to believe it, because any romantic actions from anybody else but Rose seemed impossible in my reality, now. It was like the possibility didn't even exist, and as I walked the distance to my chambers, that was the thought that plagued me. Even if there was no future with Rose, my mind wouldn't accept anyone else. That could be a problem. I never meant to claim anybody, but never having any children would destroy my mother.

I dragged my heavy, tired body over to my chambers, but I regretted coming back here the moment I walked into the room and saw Christian and Adrian sitting there waiting for me.

"Hey dude, my aunt is in town. She wants to meet up with you when you have time."

I sighed deeply as I rubbed the scales above my eyes.

"Yeah, I just saw her in the hallway."

Adrian's eyes narrowed, and I saw his brain work.

"You don't seem too happy about her attentions. I get it, I think she is a little pushy, but this wouldn't have anything to do with you still being hung up on that human girl would it?"

I groaned as I placed myself on the bed. I closed my eyes, but opened them immediately, because when I closed them, all I would see was her face.

"It doesn't matter now; I screwed up with her. I doubt she ever wants to see me again."

Adrian seemed genuinely interested, in contrast to normal when he would only listen to a story long enough to decide if it was worthy of being gossip.

"What happened?"

"She found out."

"She figured you were a Dragon and ran? I thought you said she wasn't afraid of Dragons."

"She isn't. She figured out I had been one person all this time, and was mad I hadn't told her. She got attached to both of us and was mad I hadn't trusted her with the truth about me."

"You mean to tell me she fell in love with the Dragon version too?"

Christian looked weirded out by Adrian's remark; like it was an impossibility. But Adrian's shrewd eyes had seen the truth, even if he hadn't even known Rose.

"Yes."

"And you love her too, don't you?"

I didn't want to say it. Not to them. But I knew Adrian knew the truth, so there was really no point in lying.

"Yes."

"That is fucked up, man."

I narrowed my eyes at Christian, but Adrian had a different reaction.

"That must be some girl. I have never seen you like this."

I couldn't help but smile as I thought about her.

"She is. She isn't like anybody I have ever met. She is funny and strong and so beautiful. There is something about her that just makes you instantly love her."

"But she is human. She has no business in the world of Dragons. The best you can do for her is let her go."

I thought about that. I knew both our lives would be simpler if I did, but I wasn't the first Dragon to pull her into our world. I wasn't the Dragon that had been watching her, or that had put a binding spell on her.

"She is already involved in the world of Dragons. I wasn't the first Dragon she encountered, and I think that the Dragon that protected her when she was little put a binding spell on her. I just don't know why. There is just something about Rose I cannot place."

I realized I should have told her about the spell. She deserved to know. And honestly, I wanted to know the truth about that too.

"A binding spell?"

Both Adrian and Christian were curious. Way too curious.

"Your grandmother. She was the one who put the spell on her," Christian declared.

I nodded.

"So she would know what is going on."

"She would, but she isn't going to say anything. I have to see Rose again. I have to explain about the markings; maybe she can fill in the blanks."

"Dimitri, I don't think seeing her again is such a good idea. You have to break clear of this girl, or she is going to destroy you."

Adrian was dead serious, and I knew it was true. Every time I saw Rose I was falling deeper and deeper in love with her. When was the point I wouldn't be able to let her go? When would my heart win over my head?

I closed my eyes, and I saw her again. Would I be able to spend my life not ever seeing her again? Could I carry on not ever touching her or having her in my life making derivative comments on being a Dragon?

No, I could not. I was already in too deep. Babushka's words came back to me. And for once in my life, I would follow my heart even if my head was screaming at me to let her go. But I simply couldn't. I was physically incapable. I needed to see her one more time, even if it was only to explain myself and to tell her about the spell. I wanted so much more, but it would be up to Rose to decide if she could forgive me and spend her short lifetime with a Dragon that doesn't age like she would and who might be dragged to war soon.

I felt strangely at peace when I had made the decision. Adrian seemed to have picked up on my decision and simply groaned. Christian looked confused, but Adrian picked him up and practically dragged him out of my chambers. There was something in Adrian's eyes I didn't like. He was up to something, but I didn't know what. But honestly, my plate was way too full right now to care.

"Cous, we will see you later. Don't do anything stupid, like proclaim your undying love for a human."

I rolled my eyes. One, because Adrian was being overdramatic as usual, and two because I had already done that. And she had said she had loved me back. All of me. But I had heard the pain of my betrayal in her voice, and I wondered if she would ever forgive me.

The next morning I had settled a few things here at court, checked the incoming reports, looked at the preparations being made and was satisfied I could make the two hour trip to Rose's town. I landed just outside the village and changed back to my human form and clothed myself to look like a local. I entered the village without any difficulties and made my way to the marketplace. The palace where Lady Dragomir lived was behind it. I would need to cross the market to get to Rose. I knew they wouldn't let me into the palace, so I had to get in myself and would probably need the cover of night to do it.

I walked across the market and looked at the goods on offer. Fabrics, food, general utilities. I saw a nice wood carving and was tempted to buy it. It would look attractive in the library. I wondered if Rose would like it. I shook my head. She would have to forgive me first before she ever stepped foot in that place again.

I moved further and further down until I stopped dead in my tracks. I could smell him before I could see him. You could always smell a Dragon even when he was in human form. I locked eyes with him, and I knew he had sensed me too. There was a smoky smell coming from all of us. I think humans had too weak a sense of smell to be able to detect it, but I certainly smelled it. Also, I could feel the power radiating off of him in waves - the human form barely able to contain his true Dragon power.

I didn't recognize his human form, but that was normal. Dragons were rarely in human form around each other, so even if I had met him as a Dragon, that didn't mean I would recognize him as human.

He had black hair and dark eyes. He didn't just stand out of the crowd because he was Dragon, but because he was definitely the most colorful person around us. I had made an attempt to blend in, but he hadn't seemed to bother. He was wearing way too much jewelry, and looked at me shrewdly.

And in that moment I recognized him. Zmey. I was looking at the human version of Zmey.

Why was he here?

He seemed to be surveilling me with similar eyes, and by the smirk on his face he had identified me as well.

"General Dimitri the honorable, what brings you to this lovely town?"

His tone implied he knew why I was here, and he wasn't too pleased. But he couldn't possibly know the reason. I know people gossip at court, but he wouldn't have known this was Rose's village.

"I don't believe it is any of your business, Zmey."

If he seemed shocked I had guessed his identity, he wasn't showing it. If anything, his smile got bigger.

He stepped closer to me until we were practically chest to chest. He was trying to intimidate me, and any other man would have failed merely on height alone. Zmey's power didn't particularly lie in physical confrontation, yet I was nailed to the spot nonetheless.

"Leave this town, now. You have no business here."

If I had been anybody else, I would have missed it. Only years of military training and the knowledge of what was out there made me see where his eyes shifted to. He glanced in the direction of the palace. In the direction of Lissa… and Rose. What business did he have with Rose? Was he trying to protect her?

Suddenly, my mind made the connection. Everything fell into place. I kept looking from Ibrahim the Shrewd to the direction where I knew Rose would be. He followed my movement, and an emotion came across his face I had never seen and never thought I would see. If I ever told anybody they would tell me I was crazy - but I saw fear on his face. Fear because I had figured out the truth about Rose. She was his daughter. Rose was the daughter of a Dragon.

"You. You are the one who has been keeping an eye on her. You had my grandmother put the binding spell on her. She… She is your daughter."

The fear made way for anger, and he stepped closer, forcing me take a step back.

"You will stay away from her. You have already caused enough trouble. Maybe if you stay away, the binding spell will hold."

I wasn't going to let him keep me from Rose.

"You never planned to tell her, did you? She deserves to know Ibrahim. She has always wondered why she was different from anybody else."

"You don't get to tell me how to handle my daughter. I did what I did to protect her. You know what happens to hybrids."

I did know. I'd actually been wondering if Rose were a full Dragon and her mother went into hiding as well, or whether her mother were human. Well, I suppose that settled that question. Hybrids, or abominations as they were called by some, were the offspring of a Dragon and human. Most hybrids had an aspect of their Dragon parent but only had their human form. They also inherited our magic, but their heritage from their human parent made the magic unstable and most of the time…volatile. I understood why Zmey had bound her power. But Rose didn't seem to be unstable in any way. I had only seen one incidence when the markings had shown.

"You have to stay away, or you will make it worse."

Worse? Make what worse?

And then it hit me. I was the reason the spell was weakening, or maybe I was the reason her powers were growing. Having a Dragon around her resonated with her power, making it come to the surface. I wondered what kind of powers Rose had. I could already deduce she had gotten our fast healing and probably our eyesight, but I hadn't detected an increase in physical strength or anything like that. I knew one thing all hybrids shared though, even though their unstable magic meant they usually weren't able to use it to its full advantage. They inherited the lifespan of their Dragon parent. I was both petrified and elated by that realization. It meant that Rose and I could spend a lifetime together; it also meant we had so many more obstacles to overcome. I also realized Rose's mother wouldn't have that advantage and I realized all too well the struggles Zmey must have faced when he became involved with her.

"You must have loved her mother very much."

He seemed taken aback by my sudden comment. I saw his eyes soften a bit at the mention of Rose's mother, and I knew I had been right. There was also a weird look on his face now towards me. I think, in that moment, he understood what Rose meant to me.

"When Rose was born I made the decision to stay away from both of them for their protection. I loved them enough to let them go. I hope you will make the same decision."

He was still trying to convince me to leave Rose. And honestly, I couldn't fault his reasoning. But if I had been able to stay away from her, I would have done so a long time ago.

"Rose deserves the truth, not just about her parentage, but about why I lied to her about being human. I came here to explain. After that, it is her choice what to do with that information."

He put his hands by his side, taking a defensive stance.

"So after you explain and she tells you to go fuck yourself, you will leave her alone?"

Oh, how eloquently he phrased that!

"If she doesn't want anything to do with me afterward, I'll understand. But I need to see her. I need her to know why I did what I did. I need her to know…"

How much I love her.

Zmey seemed to understand the unspoken words and I thought I caught a glimpse of sympathy in his eyes.

He put his hands on my shoulders and simply shook his head.

"Good luck with that. Hathaway women are notorious for holding a grudge."

The smallest smile pulled at his lips, and I knew he was thinking of Rose's mother.

His hands moved back to his side, and he walked around me. When I looked back, he had already disappeared into the crowd.

And I was nailed to the spot for a few moments, overthinking all my options. But my mind was made up. I would tell Rose who she was and what she meant to me. She should make the decision who she wanted to be.