Just to clear up a couple of things. Rose and Lissa are not bonded in this story and they never ran away. Lissa when she enters the story doesn't know she has spirit yet. When Rose and Dimitri first meet she is seventeen. This story starts in February and Rose is still seventeen, almost eighteen.

DIRTY LITTLE SECRETS

DIMITRI

"Comrade"

"Roza"

I couldn't believe it was really her. The last time I saw her was at Ivan's funeral. What was she doing here? She didn't look like she was pregnant, was she one of the female Guardians? I had so many questions.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"Please tell me I don't have to explain the birds and bees to you?"

"Are you?"

"What pregnant? You couldn't tell." Then she ran her hand over what was barely a baby bump."

"Oh Roza."

"It's ok Comrade, I turned out how my mother always said I would." She tried to smile and make a joke, but I could see the hurt in her eyes. This was not how,where I wanted to see her again. I was devastated for her, she had such a promising career as a Guardian. She was one of the best we had.

I had met Rose not too long after the attack on St Vladimir's academy. The tragedy that happened there finally sealed the deal on the age decree. Novices would now become full fledged Guardians at the ripe old age of Sixteen. I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Ivan felt the same way, he tried to make sure none of his family requested any of those new young Guardians. But his uncle Andrew didn't care, his oldest son Jesse was attending the Academy when it happened and he got scared.

Rose was at the top of her class and after what she and Christian Ozera did to save so many lives gained her a lot of attention. She and her classmates were the first to become "honored" with their promise marks and become Guardians. She was supposed to be her best friend, last of her line, Lissa Dragomir's Guardian, but without having a quorum Lissa's request was denied.

Truth be told it was a bidding war that took Rose away from Lissa. She was considered a hot commodity and everyone wanted her, attitude and all. Ivan's uncle was the one to win and she became Jesse's Guardian.

I had met her at the Zecklo's mansion that was on court grounds. Ivan was staying there while he was on break from college. When we met we had an instant connection. She was just over a year older than my youngest sister Victoria and at first our connection terrified me.

Ivan was the one who encouraged me to just let go and let things happen. "Life is too short, take the chances, go for the girl" He would tell me. He always laughed and said that me and Rose were soulmates. We were the only ones who could put up with each other. That summer we were practically inseparable. We trained together everyday, and any free time we had was spent in each other's company. I was with her the night Ivan died.

He said I needed to take her out on a real date outside of the Court walls. I was reluctant to leave his side, but he was very persistent and told me to go. He said he would stay inside the wards of court if that would make me feel better. It didn't make me feel any better, but he promised he would be safe with his other Guardians. He wasn't. While me and Rose were out having the time of our lives Ivan was losing his.

Ivan just had to have something that he could only get outside of Court. He only took one Guardian with him. It was supposed to be a quick trip, but they were followed by some Stigoi hanging outside of Court waiting for their next meal. It was a quick death for both of them, they never saw it coming. When me and Rose returned to Court and were told what had happened I got mad. I unfairly blamed her for what happened to Ivan. Saying if it wasn't for her I would have been with him and he wouldn't have died. I never spoke to her again after that night and went back to Russia after the funeral.

Seeing her now I am filled with so much regret and guilt.

"Can I ask how far along you are?"

"Yesterday I hit fourteen weeks."

"And the father?"

"Is a piece of shit, I guess they forgot to include this as one of the perks of becoming someone's Guardian."

"Jesse?"

"Who else?"

"Did he?" The smile dropped from her face and she became uncomfortable.

"I would rather not have this conversation with you right now."

"I'm sorry Roza, so sorry."

"I've got to go." She turned around and quickly left.

I was left standing there with my heart crushed. Somehow I was going to make this right.