Just wanted to do another warning for the story- this one is dark, but no darker than my other stories, or even the books. There is violence, and blood mentioned. And there is of course smut. I'll put warnings at the beginning of chapters as I go.
This chapter has some violence.
I'm also loving all of the reviews, I'm so sorry I'm not replying to them all, but I love reading them and seeing what you think, so thank you so very much!
Enjoy!
It was dumb, but I went looking for Dimitri again. I couldn't decide if it was to kill him or check on him, so I didn't think about it too much. I refused even to admit that I was actively searching for him; I lied to myself that I was just going for a walk to clear my head. If he happened to be there, then that wasn't my fault.
Dimitri never showed himself, and it made my stomach twist.
Lissa called the day before and asked me to visit Court. She even dropped a not-so-subtle hint that Adrian wanted to see me again. The party boy—that used to fill me with desire whenever our eyes met—held little interest for me now.
Luckily, I could use Eddie as my excuse. He didn't have any family at Court and didn't feel like staying in a dorm for a week doing nothing. They didn't need us as guards at Court, so it would just be seven days of sitting around. At least, at the house, we had our things and could relax without the eyes of other Moroi. So, I told her I wanted to keep an eye on him, allowing us both the chance to mourn Mason.
We both held the weight of Mason's death and felt the loss. Eddie lost his best friend, and I lost the first guy I loved. Mason meant so much to me, and I loved him dearly—I just wasn't in love with him.
It was the closest I ever was to being in love, but I never reached the same level as Mason. It was because he loved me that he even ran back into that house.
Eddie kept to himself mostly, except when he needed something to take his mind off it again, so we went searching for something to hit. I felt the weight of the madness brush against the edges of my mind—Lissa had been practising fire magic that day. Though she tried to keep herself under control, she crumbled from the darkness, so I took some. It wasn't a lot, but just enough that she wasn't buckling.
I could handle it. As long as I worked it out through fighting, I would be fine.
I got too lost in chasing that relief. I raced after a Strigoi and lost Eddie along the way; I was alone in a part of town I hadn't ventured into before. It was deserted late at night, not exactly the prime Strigoi hunting ground. I couldn't remember the last time I passed anyone on the streets.
The Strigoi had managed to give me the slip, and I was pent up, pissed off, and lost.
My one saving grace was that I could sense Strigoi before they could get the drop on me, but that didn't stop me from searching the shadows around me each time I heard a sound. Strigoi weren't the only monsters that walked the streets.
"Hey, are you lost?"
Speak of the devil.
I barely glanced at the human before rolling my eyes. He had to be around six feet tall, with muscles that might intimidate others but just made me huff irritated. I didn't feel like dealing with a dickhead that didn't understand the meaning of 'no'.
"Oh, you're ignoring me. That's not nice," he called, steps following closely behind mine.
I pulled at my coat; my stake was hidden in my pocket. I could just punch the guy, but I didn't want to risk causing a scene if the guy went to the cops.
"Hey!"
A hand on the collar of my coat yanked me back just as nausea washed over me. A familiar cold presence was suddenly beside me.
"Don't touch her," Dimitri's voice was gravelly—the warning practically growled. He ripped the man's hand away from me and pushed him back; Dimitri placed his body in front of mine like a shield. "Leave before I kill you."
All the bravo left the guy, and he legged it down the street before Dimitri even finished speaking. I briefly wondered why Dimitri didn't just kill him on the spot. I wouldn't have let him, but it struck me as odd that he would let the human get away.
"Following me again?" I asked as I continued walking; I hoped it was in the right direction.
Dimitri fell into step with me, eyes searching around us. "Only when you are putting your life at risk with unwise decisions. You shouldn't be here."
"I can take care of myself."
"You are strong, Roza," Dimitri replied, surprising me with the praise in his tone, "but you aren't strong enough against them."
I halted and faced him. "Who's them?"
The corner of his mouth twitched. "You don't believe I'm the only one that was after the Princess, do you?"
It shouldn't be the part I focused on, but it stood out the most. "Was?"
Dimitri lifted an eyebrow. "You should get back to the other side of town. More Strigoi are gathering close to Court with the same thought of ending the Royal lines. You need to be careful."
"Why do you care?"
I stared up at him and waited for an answer. Dimitri didn't look away from me, dark eyes holding mine; the red that shined in them seemed dull.
Rather than an answer, Dimitri cursed in Russian. His hand took my elbow and encouraged me forward, hissing, "Go."
It wasn't quick enough, sensing the trouble just as I saw the glowing eyes in the distance. Three Strigoi walked down the street as if they owned it; each looked at me like I was a meal. Dimitri's hold on me tightened painfully; he pulled me until my back was to his chest and a hand wrapped around my throat.
"Play along," he whispered as his fingers squeezed.
"Belikov," the man in the middle greeted Dimitri; it was only once they were closer that I recognised him. The last time I saw him was when we fought at the academy, his fangs gleaming as he taunted killing Lissa.
Dimitri stiffened, though sounded uncaring when he replied, "What do you want, Nathan? I'm busy." He pulled back on my chin to expose my neck; my hands moved instinctually, but he quickly pinned them to my side with an arm around my chest.
With my face angled up, I couldn't see Nathan anymore, but it didn't matter. "Isn't that the Dragomir's guardian?" he asked with a hint of irritation. "I told you the Princess is mine."
My heart was beating wildly in my chest.
I felt Dimitri's chest rumble from a deep chuckle, "I've grown tired of watching you fail. And so has she."
A growl broke the silence of the night, "Give her to me."
My fear spiked; the realisation of the situation I was in settled on my shoulders. Was Nathan the one Dimitri was warning me of?
Nails pressed into my skin, and I gasped from the pain. Dimitri's grip eased, but he had already drawn blood, and his eyes snapped to mine as his nostrils flared. He looked back at Nathan and snarled, "She's mine." Dimitri stepped back, and I had no choice but to follow. I hoped his plan wasn't to just walk backwards until we were far enough away.
When another growl echoed around us, I knew the Strigoi weren't letting us leave. I was thrown to the side just before a Strigoi collided with Dimitri. I stared in shock as they fought; it was on a whole other level than guardians sparring.
I couldn't watch for long when Nathan came at me, aiming straight for my neck with fangs extended. I pulled my stake out just in time to fend him off, using the silver to burn his skin. Dimitri was fighting the two Strigoi Nathan arrived with, yet still, he managed to force his way to my side. He gripped Nathan's shirt and threw him a couple of feet away.
There was little reprieve for Dimitri as the two others were quick to attack again. I honestly had no idea what was happening. A voice in my head screamed at me to run while their attention was on Dimitri. And then I heard him say my name.
"Roza!" Dimitri called, spinning to face me with his arms around one of the Strigoi, their arms pinned behind their back and chest exposed. He gave me an opening.
All thoughts of running left my mind, and I surged forward with the tip of my stake aimed at the heart. The Strigoi screamed, crumbling to the ground seconds later, and I backed up with my stake, ready to move again.
I met Dimitri's eyes and saw gratitude shine back at me. And then, it shifted to pain.
Dimitri cried out, curling inwards as he cradled his stomach. I looked down and froze at the metal pipe protruding from his stomach. He stumbled forward a step before righting himself and spinning to backhand the Strigoi.
I moved past him and followed the Strigoi to where he fell, not hesitating as I buried my stake deep into their chest. My hands shook from adrenaline, searching the street for Nathan, but it was empty. It was just Dimitri and me.
"Dammit," Dimitri huffed, shuffling in the snow until he placed a hand on the wall of a building. A bloody hand gripped the pipe and with a pained groan, yanked it out.
"Fuck. Dimitri!" I was at his side, wincing at the amount of blood dripping down and staining the snow red. "We have to get out of here."
Dimitri nodded, expression pinched in pain. "Do you remember where my apartment is?"
"Not really."
He huffed, "It's close." I draped one of his arms over my shoulder when he tried to walk. He looked ready to fall.
It was concerning when even a Strigoi looked pale.
It only took ten minutes to get to Dimitri's apartment; the entrance at the back of another building, so we didn't have to pass anyone to get in. Dimitri was still bleeding when we got inside, his pants and shirt were completely ruined.
I eyed the wound, confused. "Shouldn't it have healed by now?" I had seen Strigoi bounce back from worse injuries, but Dimitri was still struggling.
"It's starting to," he explained, dropping onto his couch with a groan, "it just takes longer now."
"Why?"
He peered at me, lips pressed together firmly before he replied, "Because I don't drink human blood anymore."
I froze. I blinked in confusion as I replayed his answer in my head—he didn't drink human blood? I opened my mouth to respond but could only manage, "What?"
Dimitri turned from me, pointing across the room. "I have blood in the fridge. Grab some for me." When I didn't move straight away, he snarled, "Grab it, Roza!"
I raced to the fridge and picked up one of the bags sitting on the shelf. I pulled a face at the blood but inhaled to confirm if he was telling the truth. While I didn't need blood to survive, I spent my whole life around others that did; I knew what human blood smelt like, and the blood in Dimitri's fridge wasn't human.
He took the bag from me once I was at his side, mouth opened to bite down when he paused and eyed me. "Turn around." The order was given with a glare, so I quickly did as asked.
Was Dimitri shy?
That thought made me smile; the tension in my shoulders eased at the show of such a human emotion.
I bounced on my toes, busying myself by looking around his apartment. "Is it helping?" I questioned after a few minutes, not daring to peek over my shoulder.
"Yes," Dimitri breathed, much calmer than before; the pain had left his tone, and he sounded normal. I had noticed Dimitri preferred to be in control of his emotions—level-headed even when we fought. It was strange to see him less restrained. "You should wait a couple of hours before you leave. Nathan might still be out there."
"Is he the one you warned me of?" I turned and asked.
Dimitri leaned back on his couch, hand clutching the empty blood bag as he slowly breathed. I could see where the pipe had impaled him; it had been a mess of torn skin and blood before but had healed enough that he wasn't bleeding.
He sighed and threw the bag onto the floor. "Yes. He's been trying to build a reputation. Maybe, before I could have stopped him…"
I eyed the bag. "Dimitri, why are you drinking animal blood?"
Tired eyes met mine, but only silence followed.
Dimitri stood, stripping his clothes as he walked to the bathroom. "Use my phone to call your friend. He was worried about you," he told me before shutting the door firmly behind him.
My eyes widened. I forgot about Eddie.
Eddie was not impressed with my half-ass explanation and that I hadn't returned home. I lied and said I ended up at a friend's house, naming one of the girls from Lissa's class, and said I would lay low there until sunrise. I would get grilled for what happened when I returned in the morning, but at least I got him to accept I was safe.
I sat on the opposite side of Dimitri's couch, eyeing the blood that stained the cushion. Then I looked at the discarded blood bag.
Dimitri constantly surprised me, and I had no idea what to make of the latest discovery. I never looked last time, but I don't think he kept animal blood in the fridge. The times I injured him in our earlier fights were always quickly healed—so, this had to be a new development.
But why?
The bathroom door opened, and steam bellowed out; Dimitri followed with just a towel wrapped around his waist. I swallowed.
Dark eyes pinned me in place, and a smirk pulled at his lips. "See something you like, Roza?"
The knowing gleam made me flush, looking away with a scowl. "How do you know Nathan?" I changed the subject and focused on a loose string on my hoodie. I ditched my snow coat, but it was too cold to take off any other layers while Dimitri walked around shirtless without care.
"He awakened me."
I inhaled sharply, my attention back on Dimitri. "He turned you?"
The smirk was gone, leaving only a solemn look. "I was part of the guardians sent to help protect the students after the attack. Nathan got me when I was escaping through the tunnels."
All the air in my body left; my head spun. "You were turned in the caves," I mumbled. It was like the floor fell away from me, and I spiralled.
I was the one that told the guardians about the caves, managed to convince Alberta to push for us to save the students the Strigoi took. I tried to think back and find Dimitri's face among the crowd, but I couldn't. It didn't stop the guilt that spread through me, moving like ice through my veins.
"I'm the reason you were turned," I rasped.
"Hardly," Dimitri returned, "I chose to go in there. Following my duty as a guardian; that isn't your fault."
His words barely eased the guilt; I hadn't expected the caring tone in them. Dimitri was trying to make me feel better. "I swear, every time we talk, I get more confused by you."
"But I'm still a monster."
The words were so quiet, that I thought I misheard. Dimitri had faced away from me, dressing in the corner. I looked down at my hands, willing the blush away from my cheeks. Why would he mention that?
Again, Dimitri left me with more questions than answers.
When I slipped through the front door with the morning sun in the sky, I wasn't surprised to find Eddie already waiting. His arms were crossed and brows drawn together like a disapproving parent. "What the hell happened?"
"I got lost," I repeated the same reason I gave on the phone.
"You're hiding something, Rose. You have been for weeks," Eddie accused me, throwing me off. I knew he noticed my moods, but I didn't think it was enough to say something. "I thought it was just the darkness again, but now I'm thinking it's something else. What's going on?"
Sometimes I forgot that Eddie had been the one to talk me down after the darkness took over at the academy. He kept me from going back to beat Jesse to death. Of course, he could see the signs of the darkness creeping further into my mind.
His expression softened, hands held out with a plea in his eyes, "Please, talk to me. Whatever it is, I can help."
"I met someone." The words tumbled from my mouth before I could stop them.
Realisation lit up his eyes. "That's why you've been going out so much?"
I nodded. While it wasn't the truth, it was close enough.
Eddie pushed for more, "Are they another guardian?"
"No," I replied, not saying anything more. Dimitri wasn't a guardian anymore, so it wasn't a lie, but it was easier for Eddie to believe I was just dating a human. "I know I'm not meant to have much of a personal life, but I like this guy," I confessed, feeling my cheeks heat as I did. "I have no idea where it's going or if it'll last. I'm just seeing what happens."
"Does Lissa know?"
"No. I haven't told anyone, and I really don't want to. Not yet." I held his eyes, pleading with him to let it go.
After a moment, Eddie nodded, "Okay. I won't say anything. Can I ask one thing?"
I swallowed around the lump in my throat. "Sure."
"Is he good to you?"
The question caught me off-guard, replaying my recent run-ins with Dimitri. It definitely didn't start that way, but Dimitri had changed—he protected me.
"Yeah, he is."
