While she'd whined getting up before nightfall to train, and she'd seriously resisted Dimitri's efforts to get her out of bed, once they'd gone past her dorm to pick up her books and clothing and they were in the gym, Rose had to admit it was nice getting back to normal. They'd spent fifteen minutes cuddling and talking quietly in bed, conscious that Adrian would be asleep and it would be rude to wake him before Dimitri finally coaxed Rose up with the promise of a chocolate doughnut after training.
They were doing their warm-up laps around the running track when Dimitri broached a subject that had been bothering him. He wasn't convinced it was the right time, but he was getting more and more worked up about it.
"Yesterday when you were talking to your parents, you mentioned there were certain guardians it wasn't safe to be around. What did you mean?"
"What do you think I meant?" Rose said, refusing to meet his eyes, keeping her own firmly fixed on the lines on the track.
"I thought you meant there were guardians who took an unwholesome interest in children," Dimitri replied, doing his best to keep his fury from his voice. "Did someone hurt you, milaya?"
"No," Rose said quickly, and it sounded like the truth, albeit perhaps there was a bit more to it.
"Did someone try to hurt you or make you feel uncomfortable?" he pressed.
Rose hesitated before replying.
"Not really…"
"But others?"
"Yes, others," Rose said with a sigh. "From four until eight years old I lived in a unit with a few other orphans and a dorm matron. It was lonely and sad, but it was safe. As soon as anyone hit eight, they were moved out into the elementary dorms. It was better for the boys – there were a lot more of them. But as you know, there are only a few dhampir girls in each year, so there was only ever a handful of girls in the dhampir elementary dorms. When I first moved there, a couple of the older girls told me who to avoid and some of the tricks to keep myself safe."
"Like what?"
"Never showering or using the bathroom alone, engaging the inner bolt on my dorm room door and not opening it after lights out under any circumstance unless a female guardian or the dorm matron was there. That was also when I learned to climb out of the dorm windows so I could get out of my dorm room without using the corridor if I needed to."
Dimitri was finding it hard to breathe properly, and it had nothing to do with their run.
"And these guardians – are they still working at the Academy?" he asked quietly, a menacing undertone to his voice. "Can you tell me who they are?"
"They're not here anymore," Rose said with a shudder. "Something happened with one of the other girls, and Alberta found out about it. The elementary dorm for dhampir girls was closed. All the elementary female students stay together in a mixed Moroi/Dhampir wing now. It's much busier, and each room has its own bathroom, so it's safer."
"It sounds like a horrible way to grow up," Dimitri said, never feeling more appreciative of his own loving upbringing. Sure they'd had to endure visits from his abusive father, but during his long absences, home had been a safe place filled with love and people who cared for him.
"It was no picnic," Rose agreed in a tone of voice that let him know this topic was closed.
Abiding by her wishes, Dimitri changed subjects, but not before adding it to the list of things he wanted to speak to Alberta about.
Back in the gym, they went through their drills finishing in time to spar.
"You'll need to take it easy on me, Comrade," Rose smirked, looking at him from beneath her lashes. "I'm feeling a little sore, today."
Dimitri gave her a guilty smile as he had a momentary flashback to the pleasures of the night before.
"I'll keep that in mind," he said, squaring off against her. The days she'd gone without training showed; he staked her three times to her one. But she was in good spirits as she gave him a flirty look and took off to the showers. Dimitri was picking up his bag to go to the men's locker room when the gym doors opened, and Rose's father walked in.
"I was hoping I'd catch Rose training this morning?" he said walking over to where Dimitri was standing. "We weren't properly introduced yesterday – I'm Abe Mazur, Rose's father."
"Guardian Dimitri Belikov," Dimitri said keeping his voice toneless and his face impassive.
"Rose's mentor and boyfriend?"
"That's right," he said, conscious he was making an assumption about both given he and Rose hadn't discussed either going forward yet. "We've finished training for the morning, and Rose is getting changed. She's pretty adamant she doesn't want to see you or her mother just at the moment. She's trying to get back into things after what happened. It would be helpful if you could give her a few days."
"You can't stop me seeing my daughter," Abe said levelly, his eyes narrowing.
"No, and I'm not trying to. I'm letting you know what she's said and how she's feeling. She needs to speak with you and her mother, but it would help if she's in a stronger state mentally first. She's agreed to talk with the school counselor; perhaps give her a few days to explore her feelings? She tried to take her life, and she hasn't recovered from that yet."
Abe considered Dimitri's words.
"So what do you suggest?"
"Give her back some control in this situation. Let her choose when and where to see you and when you do, listen to how she's feeling. I don't think it will be long – she's very hurt, but she's also curious."
Abe had gone by the time Rose emerged from the showers. She waited for Dimitri, and the two of them walked up to the cafeteria.
"So back to being student and mentor," she sighed. "Will you be guarding my classes anymore?" Rose asked hopefully.
"I don't know. Adrian and I have to discuss the terms of my allocation. Some charges like their guardian with them all the time, even inside wards. Others let their guardian be allocated general duties while at Court or an Academy. It's up to Adrian. He's in classes this morning with Lissa, but I'll meet with him to discuss it after lunch."
"We will still be able to train, won't we?" she asked anxiously.
"I hope so," Dimitri replied. "Do you still have final period study hall? I'll try and book you some time with the counselor then."
After telling him she did, they separated, Rose to eat with her friends, Dimitri to sit with the other guardians. A few had questions about his reappearance, but they were satisfied by the explanation that he'd been recalled to guard the Queen's nephew and help train Rose again. Watching her across the cafeteria, Dimitri was pleased to see she was talking happily enough with her friends. She looked up at him, and he gave her a quick smile before standing and leaving the cafeteria.
His first stop was Alberta. He wanted to speak with her about how things could potentially be managed before he talked to Adrian. They also spoke for quite some time about Rose, Dimitri confessing they'd crashed at Adrian's suite after the disastrous meeting between her and her parents.
"It's a good idea to give her some time," Alberta said thoughtfully. "Rose must be distressed, but I know her. She'll want the full story."
After speaking with Alberta, Dimitri visited Deirdre the Academy's counselor. They spoke for over an hour, Dimitri giving her as much background as he could about Rose's relationship with Lissa, including what he knew about their bond and the darkness. They also discussed Rose's feelings about Mason's death, the circumstances involving his own relationship with Rose and finally the latest revelation about her parents. He mentioned Rose wanted him to attend at least the first meeting, and she agreed to clear the final period each day for Rose to meet with her.
He was standing to leave when Deirdre surprised him.
"Guardian Belikov? Could I suggest you might also benefit from some individual sessions? You nearly lost your partner, and you'll be supporting her through some difficult times in her recovery. It might help you to work through your feelings."
He didn't want to say he wasn't interested, so he told her he'd think about it. Honestly, the idea of discussing his feelings with anyone other than Rose or his Mama was torturous. It had been bad enough everyone reading about their love in Rose's letter. While he was glad it was now out in the open, at least with those who mattered, he was a private person, preferring to keep his business to himself.
He had an hour before he would try and find Adrian at lunch, so he thought he might take the opportunity to call his family. It would be about midday there, so someone should be home. His last contact with them had been a text to Karolina. He'd promised to call, but so much had happened since then that he hadn't had a chance. Still, it didn't sit right with him that others knew about him and Rose while his family didn't.
Finding a vacant bench overlooking the ornamental lake, Dimitri pulled out his phone, dialing the long-familiar numbers of his childhood home. He smiled as his mother answered.
"Mama, it's Dimitri."
"Dimka! What's going on? You sent Karolina a message and promised to call and never did? Do you have a new allocation?"
"Yes, I do. It's a long story, but I'm back at St Vladimir's now. And Mama? I've fallen in love."
Once his mother's delighted shrieking subsided, and his Babushka and sister Karolina were summoned to the phone to listen on speaker, he started the long and complicated story about he and Rose. It must have been quite the tale, because his mother, grandmother, and sister barely interrupted once, whereas usually he'd be subjected to a barrage of questions.
"So you're to be your cousin's guardian," his grandmother said when he got to the end, telling them how he hoped to structure the next three months to give he and Rose maximum time together.
"My cousin?"
"Yes. Adrian's father Nathan is Randall's younger brother. Adrian Ivashkov is your paternal first cousin," his mother explained.
Dimitri took a moment. He wasn't sure how he felt about being related to Adrian. Suddenly he wondered if Adrian knew. And if he didn't, should he raise it? Mentally putting it into the too hard basket, he shared the other aspect about the last few days he'd neglected to mention; that Rose's father was Abe Mazur.
Karolina shrieked loudly enough when he mentioned that, Dimitri had to pull the phone away from his ear. The babbling from his family was so intense he could barely make out what was being said. Finally, his crotchety grandmother insisted on silence as she said her piece.
"You're a good boy from a good family. Don't you be frightened of him, Dimka. You need to stand up for yourself and your Roza for this to succeed. While he might appear not to approve, no man wants his daughter with a weak husband."
"Husband?" Karo shouted again. "Babushka? What have you seen?" she demanded.
"Nothing… I am just a silly old woman who dreams too much," she said evasively. But Dimitri knew better. It seems like he wasn't the only one dreaming of Rose as his bride.
He signed off promising to Skype soon, possibly with Rose. His mother demanding a photo of Rose reminded Dimitri that the box with the bulk of his stuff, including his good camera, was still with Tasha in Minneapolis. It was too late to text now, but he'd send Tasha a message before bed tonight asking if she could send on his things.
Adrian and Lissa were sitting in the cafeteria at lunchtime waiting for the others to arrive when Rose and Eddie came in laughing. The morning had gone better than Rose had anticipated. Everyone had accepted the story of Alto knocking Rose out, especially after Alto was sickeningly nice to her all class.
The four of them were talking when Rose looked up, a brilliant smile on her face.
"How did none of us notice that?" Eddie said under his breath, as they all witnessed Rose's adoring smile at Dimitri as he walked towards their table. "I mean seriously; I have no idea how they kept it secret!"
"Not all of us missed it," Adrian said smugly.
"It doesn't count if you only knew because you see auras," Lissa scoffed.
Adrian opened his mouth to say he'd noticed because he paid attention to Rose but stopped himself in time appreciating it would hurt Lissa and Eddie's feelings, besides which she was well and truly Dimitri's now. He didn't want to remind anyone he'd hoped she'd be his – even her.
"Hello all," Dimitri said with a small smile, his eyes lingering lovingly over Rose. "I've made that appointment for you this afternoon milaya," he said softly. "I'll meet you there after your last class. Adrian? Are you free after this? I thought we could discuss the particulars and sign the paperwork for my allocation."
"Sure. How about you join us for lunch, and we'll head back to the unit later?" Adrian suggested. Rose noticed Dimitri slip into guardian mode as he stood beside their table, back straight, feet apart at shoulder width, eyes constantly moving. Adrian picked up on it, too.
"Look – having a one-on-one guardian is new to me, but this whole stand beside me, be seen but not heard thing is creepy. It's one of the reasons I've never had a guardian. It will make it much easier if you're a bit more… casual. I get you've got a job to do, but it's ok to eat and talk and, I don't know… chill out a bit?"
Rose smirked as she saw Dimitri try to relax, but only because he'd been ordered to. Nodding to Adrian in acknowledgment, Dimitri went to the food line and quickly made some selections, returning to sit at the end of the table, diagonally opposite Rose. They were still meant to be incognito, so she was doing her best not to appear too interested in what he was doing. But it was hard when every time she looked at him, an image of his excitement when they were making love last night flashed across her mind. She thought she was doing a good job of disguising her lust, until…
Oh my God! You had sex with him last night didn't you?! Lissa squealed through the bond.
Rose looked up at Lissa with a tiny smile at the corner of her lips and lifted her eyebrows. She could have done without the sex questions at the lunch table, but it felt natural to be back on terms like these with Lissa again.
Was it good? Really good? Mind-blowingly awesome?
Rose waited until Lissa said the last before laughing and nodding. Too late she realized the whole table was looking at her.
"What?" she snapped.
"Were you two talking?" Eddie asked, looking between Lissa and Rose curiously.
"Yeah? What of it," Rose challenged.
"Nothing! Just wondering what you were talking about?"
"Just stuff," Lissa said quickly, her eyes betraying her by momentarily flipping across to Dimitri.
Christian joined them not long after, and then the Moroi left to visit the feeders, Dimitri accompanying them.
"It's going to be weird seeing Belikov guard Adrian," Eddie said quietly, so they weren't overheard. "I know he's only doing it so he can stay close to you, but it will still be weird."
"I know. I feel a bit sorry for him," Rose confessed.
"Don't," said Eddie. "He'd do anything to stay with you; even guard Adrian. You made the right choice, you know. Mason was my best friend and a good guy. But he was never the right one for you. Everyone could see that but him."
It was the first time since she'd come back anyone had mentioned Mason. Everyone else was avoiding the topic like the plague; as though if they didn't mention him, maybe her thoughts wouldn't stray in that direction.
"I had to choose between them. Right at the end. I was holding Mason's hand, and he was taking me across with him, but I pulled back. He was begging me to go with him, but I couldn't leave. I had to come back to Dimitri." What had started as a lighthearted conversation had quickly turned heavy. Eddie took Rose's hand, and they picked up their bags. Walking past a table of guardians, Eddie stopped for a moment, speaking to one.
"Can you let Alberta know that Rose and I won't be in our next classes? We're going for a walk by the ward line."
Still holding hands, Eddie led Rose across the floodlit paths and then across towards the Academy's graveyard. They stepped over the small fence, coming to sit on either side of Mason's grave.
"I let him down," Rose confessed, leaning against Mason's gravestone. "Right at the very end. He was scared, and I'd promised I'd go with him, but I couldn't."
"He would have understood."
"I don't think he did. I betrayed him."
"Rose? Listen to me! I was Mason's best friend for years. I know you were friends with him, too, but it was different with Mase and I. We were roommates and told each other everything. You could never betray Mason by choosing your own happiness."
"He said I was his unfinished business," Rose wailed, holding Eddie's hand, desperately wanting to believe his words.
"Even if he'd lived, you would always have been Mase's unfinished business," Eddie said sagely. "Could you see yourself settling down with him? Living together? Being in love with him?"
Rose shook her head. She didn't even have to stop and think to know that would never have been on the cards for them.
"What about Belikov? Can you see those things with him?"
Rose nodded, even through her tears.
"Then you made the right choice. More than anything Mase wanted you to be happy. Maybe this had to happen to show you not to settle for anything less, Rose?"
"It didn't seem like that. Mason wanted me to come with him. He was pushing for it."
"I'm sure he was. But if he'd known you'd decided not to go, he would have understood."
"How can you be so sure?" Rose asked, looking at Eddie through tear filled eyes.
Eddie didn't seem to want to answer for a moment. "Because he told me. Last night he came to me in a dream. He told me to grow a set and ask Chelsea out, and then he asked me to tell you he was happy where he was, but it wasn't your time, and you'd made the right choice."
"Do you think it was him?"
Eddie nodded. "I think it was."