Sonya & Mikhail get a bit steamy in this chapter – enjoy! Then a surprise cameo from a character you will all know!

23. Caught

(Sonya POV)

I sat on Mikhail's lap with my arms wrapped around his neck, feeling his hands move slowly over my body as our kiss intensified. All of my fears and inhibitions fell away at his touch, and I shivered as his fingers slipped under the strap of my dress before he broke away from my lips to plant a pattern of kisses on my bare shoulder.

'Misha,' I spoke his name softly, feeling breathless and slightly intoxicated.

'Hmm?' he murmured into my collar-bone, intent on exploring further as he slipped the strap even lower.

Every fibre within me wanted to let him continue, but a growing realisation of where we were made me hesitate.

'Misha,' I scolded him gently. 'I don't want to stop you… but there's a room full of… royals only a few feet away… Anybody could walk out here… and see us,' I gasped out between kisses.

He stopped in his tracks and sighed as he lifted his eyes to mine. After listing all the reasons why embarking on this relationship could be dangerous, we were hardly being discreet.

'I'm sorry, Sonechka,' he whispered huskily into my ear. 'I've wanted you for so long that now you said you'll have me, I'm finding it difficult to control myself.' He delivered another kiss into my hair before leaning back against the chair, but I could still see the longing smouldering in his eyes.

I took his hand and placed it low on my hip. 'You did say you were going to walk me home after the banquet,' I reminded him meaningfully. 'Maybe you could stay?'

There was a tiny shift in his posture and his eyes darkened with desire, but I could see something else battling within him.

'I wish I could stay with you forever, but I'm rostered on for afternoon patrol duty at one o'clock. We'd only have a few hours.' He shook his head in apology but I leaned closer to whisper in his ear.

'Well you'd better get me home quickly then,' I teased softly, raking my fingers through his hair, and he made a low guttural sound as he stood, lifting me up to straddle him while kissing me with a new urgency.

'Just let me get... my jacket,' he managed to say, and at that moment we realised we weren't alone.

'Come and join me as soon as you've gotten me a drink, Adrian,' a high voice commanded. 'Actually, make that two,' the girl called back over her shoulder, before closing the balcony door behind her and glancing in our direction.

The young woman was dressed fashionably in a low-cut dress that flaunted her slim, shapely figure, and expensive jewellery glittered at her ears and throat. The second she turned her head we sprang apart, but it was clearly too late.

'My apologies,' she called out as she sauntered closer, clearly feeling no remorse about interrupting our encounter. 'I didn't realise this spot was already taken.'

Mikhail shrugged his jacket on and I made a desperate attempt to neaten my hair as the teenager approached. She stopped a few feet away from us and it seemed like she was in the mood to talk.

'You're Sonya Karp, aren't you?' her voice was languid but there was a scheming look behind her eyes. 'My father told me about you. You're the crazy one, right? Who knew you were the romantic type too?'

'I'm sorry, but we haven't met,' I said stiffly.

'Avery Lazar,' she replied as though it should have been obvious. She took out a small compact from her purse and looked at herself in the tiny mirror as she applied a fresh coat of lipstick.

'And who's this guy you've found for yourself?' she asked suggestively. 'Dhampirs are so hot, don't you think?'

I wanted to slap her, but Mikhail grabbed my hand and held it tightly. Lashing out would only make things worse.

'Wait on,' she said slowly, stepping closer. 'Aren't you a guardian with The Academy?' There was a sinister note to her voice and I bristled with anger as she approached Mikhail, putting her hand on his chest.

'If you wanted to have some fun with a moroi you could have chosen better,' she toyed with him like I didn't even exist. 'I'm free later if you think you can handle somebody younger and more energetic. The royal blood gives us extra stamina.' She bared her fangs seductively and dug her nails into his shirt.

Mikhail reached up carefully and removed her hand. 'No thank you, Miss Lazar. I have everything I need,' he declined the offer, brushing his thumb lightly on my hand in an attempt to calm me down.

'Get your hands off me, dhampir,' Avery spat at him, suddenly self-righteous. 'You have no idea how important I am. My father is slated to be the next headmaster at St. Vladimir's, and I think he will have something to say about two of his staff members having an illicit affair. He will probably have to reconsider your positions at The Academy.'

The expression on Misha's face was stony and he took a single step forward, dropping my hand and subconsciously blocking me with his body.

'Watch out, dhampir,' the girl goaded him, clearly enjoying the power she had over us. 'Maybe I'll tell Daddy that you had a stab at the crazy art teacher but she wasn't enough so you pushed yourself on me.' She sniggered sarcastically. 'You'll never work again. This is going to be such a laugh.'

That was it. The little bitch could mock me all she liked, and I'd even let her have her fantasies about my partner, but she would not threaten the man I loved. I stepped out from behind Mikhail and gave into the dark, prickling power that spurted up from my spirit.

(Mikhail POV)

How had our perfect moment ended like this? I cursed myself for putting Sonya in this situation, and cursed the moroi girl who was threatening to sabotage our lives. If Avery Lazar was a man I would have punched her and dealt with the consequences later, but attacking a royal wouldn't just make me lose my job – it would land me in Tarasov Prison. I had to find a way to make her back down.

I stared icily at the teenager's sarcastic face as I considered my options but then, without warning, Sonya stalked up to Avery and looked her in the eye.

When she spoke, her voice was calm and frightening. 'You will forget what you saw here. You will forget our names and our faces,' she intoned.

'I know what you're trying to do,' the girl laughed hysterically, 'It won't work on me. I'm too powerful for you.'

What was going on? The hairs on the back of my neck prickled as the tension on the balcony escalated and the magic in the air crackled like static electricity. I wanted to rush forward and do something to help but I knew I was powerless in this kind of battle.

Sonya ignored Avery's mocking protest and continued her attack. 'You will leave this place and tell your little boyfriend that you are so bored you want to go home. When you wake up tomorrow all you will remember is that the banquet was so dull you drank until you passed out just to forget it ever happened.'

The teenager had resisted up till now but her arrogant expression faltered then went blank as she finally succumbed to Sonya's greater power.

'Leave now and never harm or threaten either of us again,' Sonya finished, and Avery nodded in obedience before turning mechanically towards the exit.

I thought we were safe then, but the brass handle turned before she reached the door and a male voice drifted out from the doorway.

'One cocktail for you,' he announced smoothly. 'Technically that's four drinks in one glass, so it should keep you going for a while.' He snickered at his own joke.

I held my breath, preparing to be discovered again, but Avery blocked the entrance to the balcony. 'Let's get out of here,' she told the newcomer wearily. 'This party stinks. Take me to the Royal Wing, Adrian – we can have our own fun there.'

'Whatever you want, Little Royal,' came the reply, and silence settled around us once more.

I finally released my breath and stepped quickly towards Sonya who was still standing with her back to me.

'What was that,' I asked her, feeling overwhelmed. 'Did you use compulsion on her? You know that's illegal, don't you? If you got caught you could get into serious trouble.' I didn't mean to rebuke her, but the thought of Sonya on trial or in prison made me feel physically ill.

I reached out to squeeze her shoulder in reassurance, but the woman that turned around to face me wasn't the Sonya I'd held in my arms only minutes ago. This was somebody else altogether.

She glared at me and her words came out harshly. 'Would you rather she told her father about us? You know what would happen if they found out. Or were you going to go along with her offer. She was very beautiful – I'm sure she would have shown you a wonderful time.'

I knew it was only the darkness from her magic talking so I brushed aside the accusation and focused on getting my Sonya back.

'Sonechka,' I purred into her ear, wrapping my arms around her. 'It's me. It's your Misha. You know I would never hurt you like that. I love you, sweetheart. I will never leave you. Please come back to me.'

She struggled against my hold, trying to fight me off as she strained to claw at her face, but I refused to let the darkness win.

'Listen to my voice, Sonya,' I commanded gently. 'Remember when we met in the garden by the lake after the funeral. You used your magic to heal me and I held you until the shadow lifted. We proved it then and we can prove it now; our bond is stronger than the darkness. Focus on my voice and come back to me. I won't let you get lost in the dark.'

The thrashing gradually subsided and she blinked several times before she realised where she was.

'Oh, Misha... What have I done?' she looked up at me in horror and then she fainted.

I scooped her up and made my way as quickly as I could towards the emergency exit at back of the ballroom, carrying my precious cargo out into the quiet school grounds.

It was only a five minute walk to the moroi staff wing but the fresh air revived Sonya enough that she was able to climb the stairs to her apartment, leaning on my arm for support. The keys weren't hard to find in her tiny purse and I unlocked the door, steering her towards the sofa-bed at the far end of the room.

'I'm so sorry,' she mumbled desperately as the effects of the magic began to wear off. 'I didn't mean to go so far. I just couldn't let that her say those things to you. I couldn't let that happen to us.'

'It's okay, Sonechka,' I assured her. 'You're home now. You're safe.'

I couldn't find a pillow so I propped her up on a couple of cushions and knelt to remove her shoes. When I covered her in a blanket she pulled her legs up into a foetal position, and I couldn't believe how small and frail she looked lying there. I sat on the edge of the bed and stroked her hair, listening as she struggled to piece together what had happened.

'It's my magic,' she tried to explain. 'I felt fine when I created the mistletoe illusion – it felt good to make something beautiful to share with you. But when that girl threatened you it was like the darkness was choking me. If you hadn't been there I don't think I would have found my way back.'

Her hand reached out for me and I brought it to my lips before removing her lace gloves and tucking them under a cushion.

'Don't worry, love,' I bent down to place a kiss on her forehead. 'You are safe for now. I have to head out to my patrol duty soon, but I'll come back as soon as I can and we can figure the rest out together.'

I had hoped to soothe her but my words had the opposite effect.

'Please don't leave,' the desperation in her voice chilled me and I instinctively lay down beside her, folding her in my arms. Maybe I could stay a little while longer, I thought, tightening my embrace as she shivered uncontrollably against my chest.

'Don't cry, my Sonechka,' my voice cracked with emotion as I stroked her hair. 'It's been a long day and you're exhausted. I promise I will come back as soon as my shift is over. You don't have to fight this alone anymore. There is no you or me – it's just us now, remember. We won't let this problem defeat us. Now, close your eyes and sleep. I love you, my strong, beautiful girl.'

She was still weeping softly, and when I ran out of words to soothe her I reverted to my native tongue, whispering promises and assurances that she couldn't understand until she gradually settled to the sound of my voice. When she was finally calm I pressed my lips to hers one final time then sat up carefully. There were only a few minutes left before I was expected to relieve the guardian on patrol - I was running on no sleep, but I would have hated myself for abandoning Sonya when she needed me most. I slipped quietly out the door and locked it behind me, forcing myself to focus on my duty.

Author's Note:

Sonya & Mikhail finally commit to one another but their moment of intimacy is crashed by Avery Lazar... I hope I made you hate her just a tiny bit!

I wanted Sonya to have an opportunity to put her powers to the test, and in this chapter she discovers that her compulsion is strong enough to overcome another person like her. The burnout is brutal, and she is lucky Mikhail was there to save her once more.

(Sorry if you thought the romantic scene was going to end a different way - I promise I'll make it up to you next chapter!)