– DIMITRI –

Without so much as a moment to question why the queen would like to talk to Rose, we were escorted across the lawn towards the main royal palace. It was more elaborate than many of the buildings at Court, perhaps only overshadowed by the large stone cathedral, but still nothing compared to some of the old historical places back home in Russia. It would never have the awe-inspiring impact of St. Basil's Cathedral, but that didn't mean it wasn't still somewhat imposing, especially when Rose and I still weren't sure why we were summoned. Or, we weren't sure why Rose was here. I was here because I wasn't leaving her side unless the Royal Guard absolutely forced me to. And even then there would probably be a fight.

The escort led us through several hallways and corridors, our footsteps echoing off the marble tile and antique artifacts before we eventually stopped in front of a set of doors that I had never seen before. I hadn't been invited to any personal audiences with the queen, but I have accompanied Lissa when she had met with Queen Tatiana in the past. Typically we were led to the throne room or one of the council rooms, but when the double doors where opened by a pair of Royal Guardians (one of whom had a fresh bandage on his neck) we were met with light an airy room that seemed more reminiscent of a English parlor than a place of governmental power. It was surprisingly...intimate.

"Rosemarie, welcome. I've been looking forward to speaking with you." The queen spoke from a round table in the middle of the space. To our surprise, Lissa was sitting beside her, but beyond the silent guardians flanking the door we entered through and a young woman near a dining cart on the other side of the small room, the room was otherwise empty. "We weren't expecting you, Guardian Belikov. Miss Aria, would you mind setting another place for Guardian Belikov so he can join us?"

I was going to instinctively decline the offer, but I knew that Rose was still looking for as much support as possible. Sitting beside her rather than quietly standing on the sidelines would be the least I could do for her.

Within moments, Rose and I were seated, with her safely tucked away between me and Lissa. A full tea service was set in front of us, giving it a much more casual atmosphere than you would expect from such a meeting but I was still on edge. Rose placed a small finger sandwich or two on her plate, nodding distractedly when I offered to fill her cup with tea. The queen spoke all the while.

"I've heard quite a bit about you Rose. Vasilisa speaks very highly of you, as does Natasha Ozera."

My head perked up again hearing Tasha's name. She was fairly active in the political scene here, but that didn't mean that she was very well received or respected by her peers. The fact that Queen Tatiana, of all people, seemed to value her opinion on any matter seemed quite the news to me.

"There has been a long standing discussion for quite some time," Tatiana continued, "specifically about equality among my people. We were once seen as symbiotic and treated comparably, but for far too long the Moroi have been favored, and dhampirs have not only been overlooked, but often abused."

Rose and I remained silent, both seeming hesitant to agree openly with her. Perhaps to keep from having to say anything, she sipped a small sip from her cup, immediately cringing from the taste. She tried to hide her expression, and did pretty well, but I could see the slight purse in her lips from the bitterness and as the teacup chimed against the saucer again, I could see why. The liquid was still a clear, dark amber; she hadn't added any sugar or cream.

"Rose, despite my position, I am far from all powerful. I cannot change things at the drop of a hat, despite how much I would like to. Change comes slowly, but with the right moves, and the right people in the right positions, we can make change happen. That's where you come in."

Rose fiddled with one of the small cakes on her plate, seemingly unsure of whether or not she wanted to chance another mystery treat. "What do you expect me to do? I'm not a guardian. I never even finished my training. I'm nobody."

She was hardly nobody, at least not where I was concerned, but Lissa contradicted her words before I could.

"You aren't nobody, Rose. In fact, you might just be exactly who we need."

The roundabout talk and hidden meanings were doing nothing to settle my nerves, and risking the chance of speaking out of turn, I voiced my deepest concern. "And what, exactly, do you need Rose for?"

"A voice," the Queen spoke proudly. "A voice for the dhampir community, both promised and unpromised. You can be that vehicle for change that is so desperately needed."

Rose looked as stunned as I felt at the declaration. "'Scuse me, but that's quite the responsibility...Your Majesty." She added the title as almost a sarcastic afterthought, though nobody corrected her. "And as I mentioned before, I'm hardly qualified."

"No, that's actually a huge benefit!" Lissa's interruption intrigued us both. "You aren't a guardian, but you essentially had all the training, just a few weeks from your field experience before the disappearance, and were recognized by all your instructors as the top of your classes. You even received your first marks and protected several Moroi students, plus you recently proved yourself again. Most people wouldn't doubt your ability as a guardian, even if you don't have an official mark."

Lissa did have a point. While she would never be considered an official guardian without a promise mark, she would always have the respect of guardians because she had fought beside us; risking her life and coming out on top. The molnija and zvezda proved that. Plus, those of us that knew her knew that even without graduating she could still best half of us in the training ring.

It seemed that Lissa's explanation wasn't done yet though. "However, because you aren't a full-fledged guardian, you will still be seen as having the general population's best interest at heart. Yes, you will want guardians to succeed, but you will want those who have chosen a different path to find success too. There may not be a completely neutral person in this situation, but I think you are the closest possibility out there. On top of all that, you can provide a unique view that most people wouldn't be able to. You grew up in the Moroi world and are used to the customs here, but you also had the chance to see it with new eyes after your accident. It gave you a fresh perspective."

"You mean it almost drove me away."

Lissa winced at Rose's blunt retaliation, even if the jab wasn't aimed directly at her. I'd be lying if I didn't flinch some as well. Perhaps the most surprisingly, it was the queen who seemed the most sympathetic.

"As I said before: we need change. We need you, Miss Hathaway."

"Still, that is so much for one person to carry. If a queen can't affect change, how do you expect a one young delinquent with a sketchy reputation to do so?"

"I don't. My hope is that you'll lead a council, the same way I do. There is strength in numbers."

The Moroi Royal Council is made up of members of the twelve royal families, but there wasn't anything even remotely similar among dhampirs. I wasn't sure how that would be set up. Lissa answered my question before it was ever asked.

"Initially, we would ask you to work with us to call the first twelve members of the council, plus you of course, but future members would be selected by election."

"It would be a difficult first few years, especially figuring out the logistics of this new branch of our government, but I believe it is truly necessary and you will have my support 100%."

"And the rest of the council?" I asked.

She hesitated, and that itself told me more than anything else could have. "The rest of the council will have to learn to deal with progress that is necessary to make society continue to function. We are coming dangerously close to the point where it will be this, or an uprising. Our world cannot survive with half our people – or more – revolting against the other. They forget that the Royal Moroi are not the majority, despite having the power."

I couldn't exactly disagree with her. Discontent among Guardians and other dhampirs has always been in the shadows in one form or another, but it had becoming harder and harder to ignore in the recent years. There hadn't been outright protests, at least not since talk of lowering the novice graduating age started, but the whispers were getting louder. People were getting angrier. I had never been thrilled with the cards I had been dealt in life, but I had been content. Rose coming into my world had made me question things more, but as long as I had her by my side, I would always find happiness. But I recognized that not everyone felt the same way. People wanted more out of their lives, and they deserved more. Pretty soon, they would start demanding it.

The room was silent as all eyes moved over to Rose, including those of the dhampir waitress and the guardians who were still waiting silently near the door. In the end, it all came down to her.

"When do I start?"

~ROSE~

What was I doing? What the hell had I gotten myself into? I wasn't a politician! I couldn't talk my way out of a paper bag! The only way I successfully got myself out of arguments growing up was to either flirt or fight myself out of them and I doubt the queen would find it acceptable for me to use either of those tactics now.

"Rose. Rose! Wait up!"

"Roza!"

I slowed at Dimitri's voice, turning to find him and Lissa following me as I all but ran back to the townhouse.

"What's the rush, Rose? We should celebrate! You are the brand new head of the Dhampir Council!"

"Shhh!" I hushed her, bringing my finger to her lips and urgently looking around to make sure we weren't overheard. Dimitri mimicked the action, checking any of my blind spots and I appreciated that at least he got that this wasn't all sunshine and roses. "Not so loud, Liss!"

"Vasilisa, I really must agree with Rose on this one. It might be best to discuss this somewhere a little more private for the time being." I could feel his hands on our back, gently urging us to start moving again as he continued to scan the area.

"You're acting like she has a target on her back, Dimitri. Nobody even knows yet."

I shot him a glance, and by the one he returned, I knew we were sharing the same thought. It may not be common knowledge yet, but I doubt that it was still completely under wraps. Information like this tended to spread like wildfire. The best I could hope for was a quick announcement from the queen about the council and my new position on it. I could be dramatic and say that my life would never be the same again but honestly, that seems to happen pretty often so...

"Either way," he continued, "I'd prefer to keep things low key for the time being." It wasn't out of Dimitri's character to be overly cautious when it came to safety, particularly her's or mine, so it seemed to be enough of a reason to satisfy her.

The moment we were inside the doors though, my mother and Eddie were on us.

"Where did you two go? One moment you were there, and suddenly you were gone."

"Sorry, Guardian Hathaway. Rose was..." I saw him hesitate, recognizing that it wasn't his news to share. I wasn't sure if I was ready to share it either, but the truth was that news would break soon so there wasn't any reason to keep it a secret. They would find out soon enough.

"The Queen asked to speak with me. Sh-"

"What did you do?" My mother sternly cut me off so quickly that I didn't even have time to finish my explanation, but I didn't do much more than offer an annoyed look and continue, wondering if even this would get her to change her opinion of me and my reputation for bad behavior.

"As I was saying, she offered me a job. Well, a position. She has asked me to be the head of the new Dhampir Council."

"The...what?"

"The Queen is creating a new branch of the council. I'm not entirely sure how she is getting the full support she needs to do so, especially since the current council probably won't be completely on board with it, but there it is. I accepted her offer."

While my mother slowly began to understand the news, the full force of what I was about to embark on was still settling over me and I slumped on the couch, collapsing under weight of what would happen over the next few weeks. Why in the world did I accept it?

"Because you want to make a difference, remember?"

I struggled to lift my head from my hands. It seemed much heavier than it should have as I looked up at her, realizing that I had spoken my thoughts out loud.

"You wanted to make a difference here. Not just in my life, and your life, but in everyone's lives. Right?" Lissa sat beside me, rubbing my shoulder comfortingly and I wasn't sure if it was her natural charm, minor compulsion, or spirit healing that was making me feel more relaxed at the moment. Whatever it was, I was going to let it slide for now. "That's why I suggested you to Tatiana. Tasha had been proposing a Dhampir counsel for a while but the Queen wouldn't consider the option unless we found the right leader for it. Nobody seemed to be the right fit until you came along." Her gentle squeeze encouraged me to meet her eyes. "We need you, Rose."

Her words weren't filled with desperate pleading or begging. No guilt trips. If anything, her smile was full of encouragement and confidence and I couldn't help but return it. Even if I wasn't sure of myself, it helped to see her so certain that I would succeed.

I felt the couch shift on the other side of me, quickly followed by a familiar muscular arm. "I guess the next question is: what can we do to help?"

Eddie's cheeky grin was just what I needed to lift my spirits again, and I rested my head on his shoulder with a laugh and a sigh. "Well, I guess the first step is finding twelve people crazy enough to fill the council seats. What do you think Eddie? Are you up for it?"

"Hell no!"

Our boisterous laughter was cut short by a muted cough from across the room (I couldn't tell if it was from Dimitri or my mother, since she was giving us a disapproving glare and he was sporting a signature raised brow at our antics) but we continued our snickering under our hands a moment later.

"You know I'm always here for your Rose, we all are," Eddie promised, and I could sense more than see Lissa's nod of agreement. "Even if we aren't on that council with you, we'll always stand behind you."

Through the rest of the day, as our gang came and went, the news of my new role at Court spread. It never left the house of course, but by dinner we were all enjoying tossing names around for possible counsel candidates – some serious, some asinine – and even my mother was getting in on the action.

When the crowd phased out with the raising light of day, I was beginning to feel more and more confident in my future, at least when it came to my close circle of family and friends. The world outside the front door? Well, that was a whole 'nother matter.

"What are you thinking so hard about?" Dimitri sat a cup of hot chocolate in front of me on the coffee table, taking the open seat on the couch but not being so bold as to assume the spot right next to me. We had shared a few sweet moments here or there, but our status was still technicality up in the air.

I shifted over slightly, offering him my side silently, allowing him to refuse without the sting of possible rejection. He glanced down at the movement, smirking for a moment before looking around the now empty living room and gesturing me over in to his waiting embrace instead. Everyone else had already gone to bed and it was just me and him awake now.

I tucked myself under his arm, warming my hands with the cup while stealing some of his body heat as well. "Tomorrow. My guess is that the Queen will announce the new Council either then or the next day. I'd almost prefer it to be sooner rather than later."

"I can understand that. I'm fairly anxious for the news to break, so I can only imagine how nervous you are. But Eddie is right, we're here for you Rose. We'll keep you safe. I can talk to Hans about getting you a temporary guardian for your protection if needed. I think the circumstances call for it. Until then, I'm sure Lissa would be fine with me staying close by for your protection." Dimitri's arms wrapped around me to emphasize his point.

I almost told him off for suggesting that I would need someone to protect me, former guardian-in-training Rose Hathaway, but the truth was that I had no clue what hell storm would be unleashed the moment I officially and publicly became Rose Hathaway, Head of the Dhampir Council. Protecting someone with a target on their back was one thing was one thing, having a target on my back was something else entirely.

"While I'm sure your motives are completely selfless, let's not be too hasty. For all we know, we're jumping the gun on this and everything will be just fine."

His arms tightened just a little bit more, and I could feel the line of his jaw trace its way through my hair to place a kiss at my temple. "I'm not taking any chances, Roza. I won't let anything happen to you. Not again."

I knew he still felt some guilt from Spokane, but now wasn't the time for that discussion. Instead, I tucked myself into him and changed the topic. "I know. Plus, I'm not worried about my personal safety as much as I'm worried about the future. This is the next eight years of my life. Possibly more if I decide to go for a reelection and actually manage to win. By the time I'm done with this, I won't have many years left to be a guardian if I decide to finish training. Who knows if anyone would even want me at that point? I'd probably only be qualified for desk work."

I let my head sag against his shoulder as I watched a lifetime of work wash away with one hasty decision made this afternoon. I doubted there was any way to go back now, even if I wanted to. Lissa was right, I did want to make a difference and I knew this would be a huge help to many. I was willing to suffer the growing pains at the beginning to help others in the future.

"Does that worry you?" Dimitri asked, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear as I sipped some of my cocoa that had finally cooled to a palatable temperature.

"A little. I've just worked so hard to be a guardian, and it's hard to give that up, even if I wasn't completely sure I was ready to go back to that life yet. Plus, you invested quite a bit in me. Aren't you a bit disappointed that I'll never get my promise mark after everything you've sacrificed to train me?"

The move was so sudden and swift, it was a quick reminder about how fast and smooth Dimitri could move when he wanted to. He didn't spill a single drop of the hot chocolate as he took the cup from my hands, lifted me from my spot under his arm, turned me around, and sat me down again so that I was straddling his lap. My heart was racing for several reasons. Obviously the position itself was fairly provocative, even if it was unexpected. There was also the fact that we were so close that I could pick up the various shades of chocolate in his eyes and the barely there dusting of freckles across the bridge of his nose. But above everything else was the way that he was looking at me; like there was nothing else in the world that mattered as much as this one moment between us, right here, right now.

"Roza. I could never be disappointed in you, especially for doing something as selfless as dedicating your life to helping others have a chance at a better life themselves. Even if you hadn't decided to join the council, it wouldn't have mattered to me. Yes, you had – have – the natural talent to be an amazing guardian if that is what you want to do. If you had decided to stay in Vegas, I still wouldn't have been disappointed in you. At least not for that. Not calling or answering my texts on the other hand..." he grinned, lightening the moment for a second. "Rose, you could do anything from being queen to a hotel maid and I would still be proud of you. That will never change. If you decide in a couple of years to change your mind and settle down," his faced and voice dimmed slightly, "maybe start a family, then I will always be your biggest supporter. Always."

His promise was so solid, it might as well have been written in stone. He had already proven to be my biggest supporter time and time again, from the very first day we met, to this very afternoon. With how faithful he had demonstrated himself with that, I had no reason to doubt anything else about his words. He would always be proud of me, no matter what.

It wasn't until a moment later that I realized what else he had mentioned. Family. That was one thing he and I could never have, at least not together.

Impassioned speeches were never my thing, though I guess I'd have to change that with my new career. I had always preferred sarcasm before, but honesty and openness were more difficult. Thankfully, things of a physical nature came more naturally to me.

I ran my fingers through his hair, probably messing it up more than anything else. I had a feeling that my impact on his life tended to mirror that thought quite a bit. Still, he smiled at me.

"I'm not going anywhere, Comrade. You're stuck with me. Always."

I'm not quite sure who moved first, but we were so close at that point I don't think it really mattered. His lips were on mine a moment later and the next several hours were spent together, in each other's arms, definitively solidifying our relationship status...at least between one another.

Author's note

What do you think of the idea of a Dhampir Council? What effect do you think it could have on the political scene of the Vampiric world? Do you think Rose is a good choice? What do you think about Rose giving up her chance on being a guardian?

Thanks for sticking with me through the long wait! This chapter ended taking on a life of it's own, trying to be a much larger one that needed to be split into two smaller chapters with some minor edits to make that work. The good news is that I will hopefully have the last chapter up soon, maybe even later this week! A big thank you to my Beta, Raissa, for keeping me on track and supporting me through the crazy holidays.

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas/Winter Holiday and a Happy New Year. It was wonderful to relax with family and friends although I'm somewhat sad that I have to go back to being an adult tomorrow. However, I did decide on my "theme" for 2016: Peace. I have the quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson up on my bathroom mirror: "Nobody can bring you peace but yourself." I love the idea that I need to stop searching for outside sources for peace. It doesn't come from more money, more time, more things...it comes from acceptance of what I do have and finding joy in that.

What is your theme this year?

Thank you again for reading and if you have a moment, I would love to hear your thoughts. Also, please take a moment to favorite, follow, and share! You guys are amazing and I really appreciate your support through everything. For all of you who might be wondering, Kael (my son) will be going into surgery this Wednesday and I would be very grateful for any prayers or well wishes. It should be a simple procedure and the doctors don't anticipate any issues, but even a simple procedure has it's risks.