"I'm back!" I called out from the entryway, wiggling my toes in my house slippers in hopes that they'd warm up a little quicker. Even though it was now spring and buds were starting to unfurl into actual leaves, there had been quite a chill in the breeze today. Mark and I hadn't even decided to skip working on the new patio in his garden this afternoon. Instead, Oksana, Mark, and I decided to delve into another discussion on Spirit. It was well known in the community that Mark and Oksana had an unusual bond, even if people didn't realize the full extent of it. I was the only one in Baia who knew that Oksana was a Spirit user, though. I hadn't even told the Belikovas. Still, despite me not saying anything, I had a suspicion that Yeva knew more than she let on. The couple had told me that she insisted on introducing us on my birthday because she had recognized something in me that she had only seen in one other person: Mark.

Mark and I were both shadow-kissed.

The revelation had shocked us both, and even though he was over twice my age, there was an instant kinship between us. Not many could say that they had been brought back from the dead. Over the past week, I had basically been living at their house as we talked about our experiences non-stop. I had only been shadow-kissed to Lissa for three years, and most of that time was filled with confusion about just what was happening between us and how to control it. On the other hand, Mark and Oksana had been bonded for over a decade and were a wealth of information.

That didn't mean that I had nothing to bring to the table. Both were surprised to learn that I knew not just one but three other Spirit users. That didn't even include St. Vladimir and Anna, either. As eager as they were to learn a little more about Lissa and Adrian, and even Ms. Karp, despite the sad end to her tale, both Mark and Oksana were a little hesitant for me to share Okasana's existence with the others. They had known another Spirit user years ago who had warned them that they would be hunted down if anyone knew. He had disappeared not long after.

I couldn't really blame them for being cautious. Ms. Karp had given us a similar warning several times before Liss and I ran from the Academy. Lissa's kidnapping by Victor only solidified that worry. Eventually, I was able to ease their fears enough that the pair (or more specifically, Mark) was finally convinced that it would be okay.

It wasn't exactly something you could share over text, though. A day or two after Lissa managed to dream walk—so briefly that I had actually wondered if she had truly been there at all—I shared everything with both Liss and Adrian. I had also told Dimitri, but it was mostly for his peace of mind.

He had called me one night, nearly in a panic and demanding to know if I was okay or not. I had been confused initially because while we hadn't really been able to talk much for a few days, I didn't think it warranted quite that strong of a reaction. I had promised him that I was fine, just busy with one of his neighbors, and while he hadn't pressed the matter further I could tell he wasn't quite satisfied. I had chalked it up to the stress of our long-distance relationship, only to learn later that he had flipped out when he realized Lissa had been using magic more than she probably should have, considering everything.

We had a looong talk after that.

Dimitri apologized to Lissa for his slight overreaction, and Lissa apologized to us both for her overuse of Spirit. I assured them I was fine, just exhausted from working at Mark's side in his garden and learning from him and his wife. I knew that I needed to be more open and available, though. I hadn't been ignoring Dimitri and the others. Not really. I had just been so consumed with learning all I could that I had pushed everything else to the wayside.

Olena smiled and gave me a quick "привет" from the kitchen where she was kneading bread. Yeva was hard at sat in her rocking chair, working on what looked like a light blue cap for a baby. I knew Natalia down the street was pregnant, but I thought it was too soon to tell the sex. Maybe it was too soon for normal people. Yeva had probably known for weeks now.

After greeting them, I ran up the stairs, skipping the step that always tripped me up since I swore up and down that it was a little shorter than the others. Sonya said I was crazy, but it couldn't be a coincidence that I stumbled on that one every single time.

I already had my phone in hand by the time I opened the bedroom door, and it was ringing by the time I fell back onto the bed. Dimitri answered almost as quickly.

"Hi, Roza. Как у тебя дела?" His smooth Russian sent a shiver down my spine. I had always been attracted to Dimitri's accent, but hearing him speak his native tongue with such richness and ease was somehow even more addicting.

And then you had my broken attempts to reply.

"Segodnya byl khoroshiy den." I winced, already knowing that I hadn't gotten the second word right. Try as I might, that more guttural sound eluded me. Dimitri assured me that I wasn't alone and that many native English speakers struggled with it. Thankfully, he was kind enough not to correct me this time. "It's been busy. Oksana made something for me, though!"

"Oh?"

"Remember how I told you that Mark and Oksana keep the darkness away by her healing him every so often?"

"Yes, but I thought she said it would be too much to heal both you and Mark if needed." Whenever someone brought up the darkness associated with Spirit, a hint of worry would slip into his tone. I wasn't sure if it would ever really go away. I knew it terrified him to see me slip away from him like I had that night in the cabin, but I also knew he was more terrified it would happen again when he wasn't here to pull me back. That's why this ring was so important.

"She can't. Not without it hurting her. However, she was able to make a charm that should help." Even though he couldn't see it, I pulled the plain silver band out of my pocket and let it slip onto my little finger for a second. "It won't heal darkness completely, but it should help it from building up too much. We don't know how long the charm will last, but she said if I wear it constantly, it will probably be good for about a month. Longer if I only wear it when I'm feeling overwhelmed."

"That's amazing, Rose." I could hear a little relief in his words, even if this wasn't a complete solution to our darkness problem. "Will she just make a new one each month?"

I nodded, phone against my ear as I took off my nazar necklace and threaded the ring onto the chain until it lay next to the blue pendant. "For a while, I think. At least until Lissa can get the hang of it. Mark would prefer Lissa use her magic to make healing charms for me rather than relying on Oksana. He's protective."

Dimitri made a little noise of understanding on the other side of the line. He was almost as protective of me as Mark was of his wife. Something told me that the two of them would get along quite nicely.

"Anyways, Oksana said that she'll walk Lissa through the process sometime next week." I hadn't set that up yet, so to change the topic, I tried to turn the conversation towards him. "How's work going? Anything exciting?"

"Things are much the same here, Rose." He gave a little chuckle as if I shouldn't have expected anything else. And maybe I shouldn't have. Since he was at the Academy rather than in the field, most of his days consisted of watching over classes, walking along ward lines, and waiting for his next shift so he could do it all again. It was amazing that he wasn't going stir-crazy in there. I don't think I could handle being a school guard for long, and while Dimitri had the patience of a saint, I was sure he was ready to get out of the daily droll of Academy life. "Has Mazur been bothering you anymore?"

I had spoken to Abe a few days back and declined his job offer, making sure he knew I had absolutely no interest. I probably should be given some sort of award for not bringing up the apparent blackmail that he had on Dimitri, but I figured short and sweet was the best way to make it out of that meeting without some sort of hit being ordered on me. "No. I haven't seen him in days. I think he moved on."

Even as I said it, I knew it was a lie. I hoped that Abe had moved on, but I felt this itch on the back of my neck that gave me the sense that he was still out there watching me. Maybe not literally—I don't think he had some assassin's sniper currently trained on me or anything—but I had no doubt that he was keeping an eye on me. Why? I had no clue, but I planned on staying cautious either way.

Still, telling that to Dimitri would do nothing but worry him. And if he could tell that I wasn't being 100% truthful with him, he didn't say anything. "Good. Good. Just remember what I said…"

His words faded, leaving the memory of his unspoken death threat against the mobster. It was one reason why I couldn't let him know my real fears about Abe. If he really thought I was in danger, I knew Dimitri would fight to protect me or die trying. Unfortunately, I was worried about that second option. It would take a whole lot for me to doubt Dimitri's skills in a fight, but there was something about Abe that left me questioning things.

Another question brought me back from my anxious mental ramblings.

"I know you don't have a partner there right now, but have you been working with that stake? It's a bit heavier than the one you practiced with here. It'll probably take some getting used to."

I should have known this question would eventually come. Dimitri and I might be in a relationship now, but he was my mentor first, and there would always be that history between us. A part of him would always push me to be more—to be better than I was yesterday—and a part of me appreciated that.

The other part of me really wished he wouldn't have asked.

It had been all too easy to fall out of my routine. For months my days had consisted of: wake up, train with Dimitri, go to classes, train with Dimitri, maybe some social time, the sleep and repeat.

At one time, I had needed Dimitri's threats to drag me out of bed each morning. Eventually, I had found my own reasons to skip my snooze button. I'll admit that sometimes that motivation was just to see Dimitri while the whole world still slept. It was easier to be ourselves and talk more openly when we weren't constantly worrying about prying eyes. Most days, though, my motivation was to become the best guardian I possibly could. Lissa deserved to be protected by the best, and Dimitri deserved a partner he could trust to have his back and match (or almost match) his talent.

Now? What was the point? I'd never be a guardian. Dimitri wasn't here to spar me with both fists and wits. Why bother getting up at 5:30 every morning so I could run a few miles, complete a weight circuit, and practice with the stake he gave me?

I spent the first week or so in Baia getting used to the time zone change and the daylight hours. My sleep schedule was completely messed up, and between that and my self-pity, I didn't bother with training.

The second week, I had glared at the silver stake on the bedside table. Every day it taunted me, reminding me of what I had lost. I went for a run once or twice, but that was more because I needed a little space from Dimitri's gracious but somewhat overwhelming family. Almost all of them used English when speaking to me, but the rapid Russian they threw around when talking to each other often made me feel like I was an outsider.

Week three had been consumed with Mark, Oksana, and Spirit. Everything and everyone else had fallen to the wayside. Now it was nearly a month into my new life, and training was the last thing on my mind. I hated disappointing him, but I hated lying to him more.

"I actually haven't used it much," I admitted sheepishly. "I don't really see the point."

He was silent for a moment, and I wished I could see his face. Most people considered him hard to read, but I had become pretty adept at recognizing when he was annoyed, disappointed, or pitying.

When he spoke, I heard a mixture of all three. "The point is that you shouldn't let your skills or talent go to waste, Roza. Are you at least running every morning?"

"I've explored your neighborhood a couple of times, but no, not every day." I didn't mention that I'd only run a mile or so each time rather than my old daily standard of five.

"I know things are different, Rose, but I want you to run at least a half hour each day. First thing in the morning." A hint of my old mentor fluttered in his tone. It wasn't quite an order, but the edge in his voice made it seem like more than just a friendly suggestion. "I'm assuming you haven't done any weight training either?"

"I neither confirm nor deny."

He scoffed, and I had to wonder if a part of him missed my sarcasm each day. He once told me that it kept him on his toes.

"It's not much, but there are a few free weights and a bench in the shed out back. They'll probably need to be cleaned up a little, but they were in good condition last time I visited."

I glanced out his window towards the shed I hadn't yet explored. It didn't surprise me at all that he had a set of equipment hidden away here. I could see a studious teenage Dimitri doing bicep curls and bench presses during holiday vacations when any other student would just sit back and relax.

A quick memory of Dimitri, shirtless and muscles flexing as he benched more than my body weight, flashed through my mind. He was a sight to see, and a kernel of jealousy appeared as I wondered if any other woman was watching him now that I couldn't.

"And stake work?" I asked, trying to keep the bite from my tone. "You don't have a dummy hidden around here too, do you?"

"No," he said. "But Victoria should be out of school soon for the summer break. I'm sure she'd like someone to spar with. Until then, you should at least go through the motions. I wasn't lying when I said that stake was heavier. It'll take a while to get used to, and you don't want my little sister showing you up in a few weeks, do you?"

Using my competitive nature against me wasn't fair, but it was effective. Victoria was a bit younger than me, and I'd be damned if she beat me.

"Fine," I relented. "I start practicing again."

Dimitri was rarely what I'd call egotistical. He didn't boast or flaunt his skills. However, I was 100% sure that he was wearing that smug little smile that came out whenever he managed to win me over.

"I'm not just doing it to beat your sister, though." I couldn't back down and let him think my choice was completely due to his persuasion. "I'm going to beat you again, too. Don't forget, I won our last match. Both of them."

A low growl echoed from his side of the call, and I felt it reverberate through my body just as it had when I'd pinned him beneath me and held a stake above his heart. "I know I will probably go to hell for admitting it, but that might have been the hottest thing I had ever seen in my life. It took everything in me not to flip you over and take you right there."

My blood heated and for a moment, I forgot to breathe. The whole notion of breathing felt foreign. "At the gym or during the trails?"

"Either. Both."

The memory of our last training flashed through my mind, reminding me of how it had ended with him finger-fucking me in the gym while I tried to keep myself from screaming his name as he made me come. During the trials, though?

"It's probably a good thing that people were watching," I whispered. I was alone in my room, but it still felt dangerous to be overheard. It didn't matter that there was no one but Dimitri's old award ribbons and my dirty laundry to eavesdrop on us; it still felt like a secret between us.

His voice nearly dropped an octave as he confessed, "It almost didn't matter." I don't think he meant to say those words, but I knew I'd obsess over them tonight. Already, I could feel the thrumming of want building inside me.

Before I could think of any sort of reply, I heard someone call his name. It was faint through the phone, but I could still hear it echo over the line. He must've been in the gym. It made his clandestine words even more perilous…and that much more exhilarating.

He cursed under his breath as if suddenly realizing he wasn't alone.

"I'm sorry, Rose. I have to go. Eddie just got here."

"Eddie?"

"Umm…" he sounded guilty, but I wasn't quite sure why. "Yeah. Eddie asked me to help train with him."

I looked at the nearby clock, realizing that now would have been around the start of our afternoon practice. If I hadn't been forced to leave, that is.

I knew it wasn't logical, but I felt a small pang of jealousy towards Eddie. Something deep inside screamed, "{how dare he take my place!" even though I knew he wasn't doing anything to spite me. He was just taking the opportunity to train with the best. It was smart.

Instead of being a brat about it, I sucked it up and nodded. "Good. That's good. He's always looked up to you."

I still remembered his and Mason's awe when I told them about my "punishment" after returning to school. Mason would have traded places with me in an instant, and it looked like Eddie jumped at the chance once he could.

"How's he doing?" I tried to sound unaffected, simply curious about a friend and how his training was progressing.

"He's-"

Eddie called out to Dimitri again. This time his voice sounded much closer. More clear. It was time for me to let Dimitri go.

"I'll talk to you tomorrow?" I offered, giving him an easy out so he could get on with his afternoon.

"Tomorrow," he promised. "Feel free to text me tonight too. I have patrol this evening, but I'll check before and after."

I nodded, even though I knew he couldn't see me. "Go. Train. We'll chat later."

"Люблю тебя"

"Love you, too."

His phone disconnected before mine, and I stared at it for a moment as the profile picture of Dimitri's face morphed back into my home screen. As much as I detested our training in the beginning, I longed for them now. If only I had known how precious those hours would be now that they were impossible.

I glanced out the window again towards the old shed that Dimitri had mentioned. I couldn't train alongside him anymore, but I could still train. I could train for myself.

I quickly changed into a loose racerback tank, a light jacket, and some sports leggings before jogging down the stairs towards the front door. While I slipped on my trainers, I caught Yeva rocking in her chair, eyes on me. She didn't say anything, but she did give me a nod of approval.

I gave her a small smile in return before leaving. I'd check on the weights later. Right now, it was time to run.

Author's Note

It was fun to hear all your theories as to what was going on with Rose. It seems like she was very busy taking notes from Mark and Oksana and learning all about Spirit. Can you imagine having such a wealth of information after scraping every little tidbit possible from old books in a dusty attic? Personal experience rather than myth and century-old stories? I'd probably get a little distracted too.

Question of the Week: What is your earliest memory?

Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate your support for this story and would love to hear your thoughts.