CHAPTER 14

BELLAMY

I caught Dimitri exiting his room. He looked more pensive than usual. Slowly as I approached him, my resolve to have this discussion with him waned. But, if not now, when? I couldn't be sure when my next opportunity would come.

"Something on your mind? He spun as though I had startled him. Hie pursed his lips, and looked at me, shaking his head.

"What about you?" Dimitri countered, cryptically asking where my head was, without asking.

I had an answer for him this time, which may have surprised him, but I couldn't tell. "I feel like I am in control again."

He arched his eyebrows, and I laughed.

"I don't feel so lost by Mason's presence now."

This explanation he understood, putting his arm around my shoulders.

"I have something important to talk to you about."

I led him downstairs into the kitchen, where I had left a folder full of recommendations and Guardian information. I was half hoping he would happen on it himself. He sat down at a barstool as I moved around the spacious room nervously.

"Yuri and I are currently deep within our search for extra Guardians for Jesse and Sophie." I repeated what he already knew.

"You mentioned that."

"I did. I got a call about six weeks ago from an interested party."

"Right." Dimitri let me know that he was still listening.

I took in a much deeper breath, sliding the folder over to him. I watched as his entire demeanor and expression changed. His shoulders tightened, his chin dropped, and he looked positively irate.

"No." He slammed the folder closed.

This was going to become a battle. "Dimitri, just listen."

"Listening won't change anything." He was shutting down, and if he shut down completely, there would be no conversation, no getting through to him.

"I did not approach her." I referred to the candidate in question.

"She contacted you then?" His sardonic tone was not nearly as veiled.

"No." I was now well within the tornado. I had to tell him everything. I had to calm him some. "Your mum did. You mum called me first."

"And?" Dimitri asked exhaustively.

"Not everyone is suited to a life inside the home." I received a look that said that this was not my business, and that I was possibly overstepping my bounds. Still, I could not let this one go.

"She could be great." I paused. Our conversation was not finished here, but we had to let it for now.

All of our plans were set. The Moroi I had chosen, the Guardians I had at my side, and even a Guardian I had not chosen, we were all willing and ready to gain back our lives. We were all ready to put to put Mason back where he belonged. The past. It was all downhill from here, right? Not exactly. It was not going to be so easy. I read the note that was sent from Eddie.

Our security systems had been disabled, all the cameras were offline, and communication had was temporarily disrupted. All of this meant that someone was attempting to blind us. But for what purpose? Who or what were they going after at Court? I held my phone in my hand, hesitating to call my friend yet. There was not much that any of us could do from this end. Still… I let my phone automatically dial his private line.

"Bells." He sounded relieved to hear from me, causing me to wonder how bad things really were.

"Ed," I reached out to him, "I need a pep talk. I feel like I am failing over here."

I heard him give a low chuckle. "You? I have yet to see you fail." He had more faith than I thought., but it wasn't helping me.

"Talk to me about the security glitches." I changed the subject, trying instead, to take my mind off my own vacillations. "Are things improved?"

A few more minutes of conversation with my friend, and I was feeling more confident. I hung up, continuing to contemplate some of the problems back at Court.

I picked up a folder from my desk, the same folder I had been agonizing over for weeks. I sat down, flipping through pages of information, reading and re-reading. The door to my office opened slow and cautiously.

"So, this is what we are doing today?" Hans entered, challenging me once again. "We are sitting idle in this house?" He was complaining.

"There is nothing to do." I heard Yuri as he entered the room behind Hans.

"There is plenty to do." Hans went on. "Guardians and Moroi have been taken. We need to…"

I held up my hand, stopping his panic. He was panicked and worried about the circumstances we were in, and I understood how he felt. But I could not let these feelings overwhelm any of us. It would only cloud our judgement. The sun would set soon, so my emotions needed to stay checked. Jesse would be aware of any drop in my confidence or truthfulness

"We need to take this time." I finished the order. "Sometimes there is nothing to do until there is something to do."

The harsh expression and hard lines on his face softened only slightly as he backed down, letting the words sink in.

"We are waiting." I spoke.

"For what?"

"Instructions." The hard lines were now reforming along his forehead. "Mason will contact me again. He will want a meeting, and I will meet with him."

"It's a trap." Hans was trying not to shout, looking from me to Yuri, and back again.

"I know."

"He is leading you into a trap."

I met his eyes and gave a single slow deliberate nod.

"You know it is a trap, and you are willingly walking into…" He was catching up again. "Because you are trapping him at the same time."

"Well done, Croft." Yuri encouraged.

By sunset, Mason had yet to contact me again. Did he know how infuriating the wait was, or was he using his time to plan? I was fairly certain that he knew what he was doing. I should've been more surprised when Guardian Croft caught up to me again, stopping me just out of my office door.

"Did you know what would happen at Court?"

I lifted my eyebrows in question. There were multiple ways this conversation could go, and I figured that he was referring to the more recent breach in security that Eddie had mentioned in his short note.

"I can plan for the future. I cannot predict it." I kept any answer I could give as ambiguous as possible.

"Precisely how long have you had him under your personal surveillance?" Hans asked, referring to Mason. And by that, he meant how had I managed to get an entire team of people watching Mason in and out of Court grounds.

"This is a lot of questioning." I put a temporary hold on his prying.

"Forgive me. I am trying to understand you better."

"Interesting." I returned.

"You haven't answered my question."

"I have had Mason under watch since I was informed of his Strigoi camouflage." I hoped my answer would satisfy him.

"Interesting." Hans countered.

"May I ask you a question?"

He shrugged, allowing me the same courtesy. Why did you agree to come here? Why help from this side?"

"I told the Queen to put me where I might do the most good." Hans came to a stop just outside of the small library. "I did not study hostage negotiation or conflict resolution techniques. I studied hand-to-hand combat, including Krav Maga and Martial Arts."

I looked back at the man as though I were trying to focus harder. "You're infantry?"

"I was."

"Why didn't you say anything before?"

"I am not interested in earning respect through a title. I will earn your respect through my work."

He was looking to earn my respect?

I feel like I should apologize for…"

"No." He refused to let me apologize to him. "You are good at what you do. I can see now why many Guardians admire you, and trust what you bring to the table."

Well damn. I had been so hard on the man, and here he was putting his life on the front lines again. He brushed off my attempts to apologize and went on talking. I tried to listen, but my emotions were suddenly in full free fall.

"Something is wrong." I said, turning in the opposite direction. My thumb ran across my wrist, where my tattoo burned. I hurried back down the hallway, with Hans in step with me. Jesse was just outside of the doorway to one of our security rooms. I had not yet reached him when he turned.

"Christian." Jesse said, pointing inside the room. "It's Christian."

I was confused but opened the door anyway. Yuri had the phone to his ear. His voice was quiet and calm. He looked up at me, and without hesitating, handed the phone to me. I sat down, placing the phone to my ear.

"Chris?"

"Bells." He sounded weaker than I had last heard him. I was sure that he was in need of blood. How long had it been since he'd fed on blood? His tone sounded uncertain. He was either being watched or listened to. His words would need to be careful.

"Chris, are you…"

"I'm okay Bells."

"Are you really?" I was not so sure that I believed him, but this was not the moment for that. I kept him talking for another three minutes, focusing on his words, and what he could or could not say. I heard the phone drop. There was a rustling, and I knew that Christian was no longer on the phone.

"Let's you and I have a chat."

I put Mason on speaker phone. "Is that wise? We couldn't have this chat back at Court?"

"No." Mason said.

"Fine. What shall we talk about now?"

"Let's discuss the royal gentleman you are still so attached to." I listened to him bringing the past up all over again. "Even after all this time, his hold over you is still so strong."

"This is what you called to talk about? Again?" I told you that I am done talking about Christian with you."

He scoffed. "This is not about him." Mason stopped me. "I was actually referring to the man who is always at your side. But Isn't it interesting that you assumed I meant Ozera?" He added a dark sort of chortle at the end of his sentence. I cringed.

"You will never change." I had come to realize so much more about Mason in these last weeks. There was so much about him that I thought was change. It was not change. I could feel anger needling me in the background. My Moroi was more riled up than usual. Mason's words were getting to him, and that was not good.

"Don't be ridiculous, Mason. And do not reach for things are not there."

"The Guardian in you has always needed Jesse."

I was not going to deny that bit. I had many of my own reasons for choosing to guard Jesse all these years, and one of those reasons was that I needed Jesse as much as he needed me.

"We are Dhampir. We need the Moroi. They are our purpose, Mason. We are born wanting to protect them. We are trained to protect them, and one day we will die protecting them. It is what it is."

"And you have always been okay with that." He commented. I'd had my own reservations years ago before realizing my purpose. And that was what Mason never understood.

"What do you want Mase?"

"Surrender." The word was reprehensible.

"Yours? I accept."

Mason made a small noise, like a cough. "Don't play dumb Bellamy. We've known each other too long."

"Exactly." I returned. "Do you expect me to simply give up? I am made of stronger stuff than that."

"Surrender and your friends will be safe. They can go free."

I kept silent, playing the next card in the deck. I had no intention of accepting his poorly planned offer.

"You're out of your depth here, Mase. You cannot escape this."

"I already have. Your friends are with me."

"You won't hurt them. You can't."

Mason scoffed. "And why is that?"

"Because if you do, it won't be me heading the charge against you. It will be an entire society." I dared him to test me. To my left I noticed the doorway was still full of people. Hans was standing with Yuri, listening closely to my words this time. Jesse was still pacing the hallway and had been joined by Sophie and Mia.

"This plan of yours relies on the idea that I would ignore everything I have been trained for. It relies on me losing to you." I laughed at the thought. "I reject your offer. I will always fight when I am called on."

"Do their lives mean so little to you? Does the life of your Moroi mean anything at all?"

"It means everything." I growled, trying to keep calm as he threatened. "That is why you are the last person I would entrust it to."

"Hm." Mason made a sound. "I did tell Liam that you would not go down without a fight."

I switched from speaker phone, to directly speaking to Mason, pressing the phone to my ear.

"What are you doing working with him anyway?"

"Liam can't touch you directly."

"His order of exile states no contact under any circumstance."

"He is not contacting you. I am."

"Semantics." I motioned silently for Yuri to enter the room. While Mason made his empty threats, I wrote down a message for my husband. He read, looking at me curiously before exiting.

"There are two sides to every story Belllamy."

"True enough. But in this case, I won't be sucked into a bad situation with your new friend. Call me when you want to meet, or when you have something better to tell me." I hung up, doing all I could to ease my anxiety. I had to stay collected. I'd just hung up on Mason, and I worried that he or Liam might hurt my friends.

"What now?" Hans wanted to know our next move.

"He will call back." I said. "He is angry, and he needs to regroup. Now, we are ready to negotiate." I thought about what was to come next. I had more calls to make, ensuring that we would be covered in all directions.

Jesse was gone when I exited the room, feeling the weight of the conversation I'd just had. I could sense the unease Jesse was wrapped in. I looked around, seeing Sophie casually point down the hall. I smiled, going in search of my friend.

Jesse was on his own at the top of the staircase when I found him. I sat down beside him, letting him put his arm around me.

His voice sounded scratchy, and I worried.

"I know that weird shit is sort of a big trigger for you lately, but I need to tell you something." His unease increased as he spoke. "I overheard Mia on her phone earlier. Bells, I know who Mason is working for, or with."

"So do I." I told him with a smirk.

"How long have you known?"

I looked back at him but said nothing. Jesse frowned, and his face said it all. Between the two of us, saying nothing was often as bad as saying too much.

"Come on Bells." Jesse urged. "If we're in this, we're in it together."

"You jump, I jump." I used a common phrase.

"Exactly."

"I've known for some time. Mason confirmed it a few minutes ago. And the look on your face says you know too. Liam has a grudge to settle. He is using Mason to do it."

"You won't let him, will you?"

I stood. "No Jesse, I won't." I assured him, but it did not ease much of his restlessness.

"What's wrong, Jess?"

He looked up at me, and I could instantly see that we were in for a long debate.

"Why does something need to be wrong? Can't I ask my Guardian questions without suspicion?"

"No." I stated. "What is wrong?"

"Do you really want to hear what I think about this situation?"

"Not especially."

"He smirked back at me. "You're going about this the wrong way, Bells." Was he starting to question my judgement? "It takes too much energy to hate the guy." I wasn't sure if he was referring to Liam or Mason. "Maybe it's best to just…"

"I swear if you use the word forgive, I will walk away." We stared at one another for a good amount of time before he answered.

"I was not going to say forgive him. I'm not stupid."

I smiled, humoring him.

"I was going to say, maybe it's best to walk away."

"Walk away?" My tone turned more defensive. "Just pack it in and ignore it all? I wish it were that simple Jess."

"It is."

"It isn't."

"Bells, we can get a flight out of here in an hour. We'll pick a quiet and safe place to hide out for a few months. Let the other Guardians go after them."

"It would be so easy for me to do that."

"But it is not in you to do the easy thing." Jesse finished, knowing me as well as I knew myself.

"I will speak with Mia." I told him as I walked away.

I found Mia downstairs, watching television on her own. She flipped through channels quickly, reminding me of another Moroi I knew.

He is so angry." Mia pointed out, turning to face me as I entered the room. I was not going to disagree with her or tell her that Mason was changed because he'd been Strigoi for so long. In fact, I was not sure that was the reason for his behavior. I had other theories I had been working on.

"I know." I agreed, offering a walk outside in the fresh air. It was cloudy, so I didn't worry about any other health issues for our Moroi.

"I don't know if I can do this Bellamy." She was panicking. I was not surprised by her doubts. Her job was not an easy one. It was one that I myself would not want, but Mia was the only person I knew strong enough to handle this part, even if she doubted herself.

However, I was not going to force her into this role. I would not put her or anyone else in real danger. I stopped walking, bringing Mia to a stop with me. I met her eyes with mine, determining her level of panic.

"Mia, I am not going to force you to do anything more. If you don't think you can go through with this, I will understand."

"Liam Kane is kind of scary." She mentioned.

"He isn't as frightening as he likes to believe. He has his weaknesses." I mentioned.

"Like what?"

"Me." I had to laugh. Like me, Liam Kane knew his way around the Guardian system. He too had been into its depths at one point or another, before he and his family were exiled.

I watched Mia's expression as I spoke. Her features went from showing her nerves, fear, and self-doubt to regret and determination. This was a girl with the courage of any Dhampir. And much like me, she was often afraid of disappointing others.

"No." She was equally as stubborn too. "I'm finished freaking out. I just needed a few minutes to wrap my head around this next phase."

I could absolutely understand any level of hesitancy. "Are you sure Mia? I will not feel comfortable if you are uncertain in any way. Others will catch on if you hesitate."

"I'm sure." She guaranteed. "I can do this."

I agreed to let her continue but promised to pull her out if the situation became too dangerous in any way.

"Jesse told us that Chris and Guardian Belikov were supposed to be taken. He said it was part of your plan. What did he mean by that?"

"He is right." I confirmed. "But there are things that I cannot say right away."

"You are going to get them back?"

"Of course, Mia." I told her as much as I could before sending her back to locate my husband.

"We talked." She told me. "He doesn't hate me."

"Told you."

Mia walked off smiling, and I was happy to see Aaron waiting for me near the house. I wanted to speak to him before I made my way to argue with Guardians again.

He took my hand with his, and we walked in the opposite direction.

After a few minutes of walking in silence, I made my worries known to him.

"This next part will be terribly difficult." I let him know. "I'm worried about you."

"You're worried. Shane is worried." Aaron gave an exhaustive sigh.

"You need to take this seriously, Aaron." I warned him, my tone became harsher than it needed to be.

"I am taking this seriously, Bellamy." He shot back. "I'm about to let myself be abducted by someone who used to be Strigoi, whom we all thought to be dead, and who has a grudge against anyone Moroi in your life. You're worried that any one of these things will send me spiraling back to what happened years ago."

"No. I am worried that something he says or does or threatens will trigger those memories."

Aaron kept my hand with his, meeting my eyes with his. "Those memories are in the past. You don't need to worry, Bells."

But I couldn't help but feel that I should still worry. I watched Aaron walk off, just as I received a text from Eddie. He had located the IP address where our breach in security had originated. Following his lead would take more time, but he was certain that between the four of us (me, Eddie, Yuri, and Mikhail, it would be handled without incident. I decided against texting back, only because of tracking protocols. I made one more call before making my way back inside.

Despite our conversations, both Aaron and Jesse were still worried. Again, Jesse said more with silence than with words, though there was nothing more that I could say at this point. Hans and Aaron were waiting with Yuri, so as I joined them, I closed the doors behind us, keeping the Moroi deaf to what was said next.

"I made a phone call a few moments ago. If Mason is not alone, and we can only assume that he is not after everything he said in his last call. We cannot be in two places at once, so I am bringing in some controversial allies."

"Controversial?" Hans put his worried face on again. Shane stayed quiet as I looked from Hans to Shane. Yuri kept his opinion silent as well. He was more aware of whom I referred t, but he did not disagree. He knew the validity in having multiple allies from multiple places, especially when living away from Court.

"These allies are human." I informed Hans. The veins in his neck flared. "They know nothing about our society and its functions. We keep that from them."

"But they come to your aid when asked."

"Is that not the point of an alliance?" Shane answered the question

I was in no mood to continue arguing with Hans about this. I was not leaving anything to chance.

"Things are going to be even harder without Dimitri and Shane, so we will need the help."

Hans went from hard lines on his face, to anxious, looking to Shane for explanation. Shane looked effortlessly calm.

If he wants Aaron, he is taking me too."

"He wants me alone." I said. "He wants me blinded." I needed to further explain Mason's intentions. "He does not know that I have you here as well."

"And Yuri?" Hans wanted to know.

"Like me, Mason has done his homework too. He has had the opportunity to observe us at Court. He knows that Yuri is not a field operative. And I will not ask him to join any field maneuvers unless it is absolutely unavoidable. Yuri's primary focus is protecting Sophie and Mia.

Once our overall discussion finished, it was possible to finally take a few more minutes to assemble and plan. Mason did call again, and now I was ready to see him, to face him.

"I will make you an offer." It was my turn to control the conversation.

"Are we negotiating now?" Mason still sounded far too overconfident.

"We have been negotiating since Vienna." I casually let something slip to him.

"What are you offering?"

"I'm offering to let you live."

I could feel his reaction on the opposite end of the phone. It wasn't enough. I needed to move the needle further.

"And what must I do for you to guarantee this offer?"

"You will come here to the Zeklos estate, you will bring my friends with you, and you will sit down with me. No tricks. No masks."

And I am supposed to trust this offer?"

"You are supposed to trust me, Mase." I beseeched. "I have offered to let you keep your life. No one, myself included will harm you if you accept." I watched Hans out of the corner of my eye, giving a look of disagreement. "What is your answer?" Mason had gone unusually contemplative, mulling over a response. "Mason." His silence was making me more anxious.

"When?"

"Tomorrow." I answered him. He accepted and hung up. I looked around and noticed that we were already missing two more of our friends. When had I lost them? I'd been so focused on Mason that I was not concentrated on Aaron and Shane. I stood, holding onto a small table at my side, steadying myself.

A hand touched to my elbow, and my worry slowly dissipated.

"They're okay Bells." Jesse reassured me, also noting that Aaron was missing.

"I know."

"Tomorrow?" Hans was insulted by the idea that I had guaranteed Mason so much safety.

"He is not waiting until tomorrow." I informed our Guardian friend. I opened a small, locked cabinet near the door, handing Yuri weapons. "Mason is already here. He wants the upper hand. He does not know that we know this." I offered Hans a look at the weaponry he might need. "Make sure that you are armed, and do not take anything or anyone for granted. Keep your eyes and ears open, and do not trust everything that you see."

Yuri had both Sophie and Mia at his side in no time. Jesse was also now glued to me, jumping slightly as the bell at the front entrance rang out louder than usual I thought.

"We have a plan." I told Yuri, reminding myself more than him or anyone else.

"We have a plan but remember that plans change. Rules of engagement can be broken." Yuri also added. "Use your words." My husband stopped before we reached the base of the stairs. "Words have always been your best weapon. Guardians back at St. Vladimir's always had a saying when it came to you. 'Never let her talk'. Words are more dangerous in your hands than any other weapon." He kissed me, and as always, I could feel the love within us both. Sophie and Jesse, both kissed each other before separating, I looked carefully to Mia as Sophie took her hand and Yuri ushered both women away from the entrance. Hans stayed with me and Jesse. He was smart not to question why Jesse was not leaving with the others. I opened the door, feeling Jesse put his palm to my back. My hand went straight to the gun on my hip when Mason showed his face.

"Where are my friends?"

He motioned to his right. I saw Christian move slightly, so I sent Hans out to make sure everyone entered the house safely. Mason walked inside, looking around, his eyes memorizing the area he now found himself in. Dimitri met my eyes as he entered back into the house. He winked and I felt better at ease with his confidence closer too. Chris walked in behind him. He stopped only briefly, and I wanted to throw my arms around him, but this was not the time. He was injured, and that only fueled my anger. Aaron and Shane moved in seconds after Chris. I worried again about them both. Once fully in, I set the security procedures for the estate.

"Initiate lockdown protocol." I spoke out loud. "Blue level." At the sound of my voice, the house went into panic mode. All doors and windows were automatically locked within seconds, heavy thick steel closures barricading them. We were all now under complete lockdown. There was no way in or out until I said different.

"It's a bit much, don't you think?" Mason commented, but he knew that he was no longer in charge. "You have your friends. What do you say you and I talk alone?"

I lifted an eyebrow. "You want to talk?" I was genuinely taken aback by his request.

"Nothing in the rule books that says we can't."

"You don't think we've talked enough?" I was finally tired of talking to him and getting nowhere.

"Not nearly."

"What more could you possibly have to say to her?" Mason's request was brought into question by Christian.

Dimitri had Christian behind him before I could say anything, and instead of allowing either of them to fuel their long-term feud, I pushed Mason from the room, bringing Jesse along with me.

I sent Dimitri and Shane a look. "You know how this goes from here." I stated, exiting with Jesse.

I picked a room and made sure we were alone.

"Before you ask, there is no catch." He let me know. "I have no ulterior motive. I simply want to chat, knowing what I am up against. Now that I know who and what you have become." He sat down in a chair, still reluctant to trust me, which was smart on his part, but also still too arrogant to identify what I was fully capable of. I stayed standing, keeping my position a short distance between the two of us, and making sure my Mooi had a buffer between him and Mason. I was not an idiot. Mason talking was more of a stalling tactic than anything else. I played along.

"I have to apologize Mason."

"For what?" He looked nervous, as though I might spring some sort of trap any moment.

"I may have overreacted to your reappearance." I admitted. For the first time in a long time, I saw him smile. Again, it was one more thing that broke my heart.

"You think?" He was amused by my statement.

"But I think that I am afforded the right to overreact under the circumstances. He gave a non-committal shrug. "Your return has been a left hook to my hot button. Letting me and everyone else think that you had been killed was unfair. It is against the rules." I sat down across from him.

"What is going to happen?" Mason asked me. "To me." I was not sure how to respond "You have given your word that I won't be hurt. I trust your word, but I doubt you are going to let me walk away without consequences." He was right. I couldn't let him just walk away. It was not my decision. I would get him back to Court, but after that his fate was out of my hands.

Before I could answer his questions, the three of us were startled by a loud crash. Mason didn't move even an inch. He rested back into his seat, awaiting my reaction.

"What was that?" I demanded to know.

"Reinforcements." I'd been right. Mason had been stalling. While I was allowing him access through the front doors, my attention was not turned to others entering through alternative entries. This could've turned into a much worse situation had I not had Guardians on my side. I held the wise sound experience of Dimitri, the strength and ambition of Shane, and I had the help I had needed in planning and anticipating most if not all curve balls Mason might have thrown at us from my husband, and Hans Croft of all people.

"You are still so trusting, Bellamy. Naively trusting."

I resisted the urge to punch mu ex in the face. "You are under the impression that I did not know that you would stall me. Who else is in the house?"

The answer to my question was met by two dhampir men walking into the room. Both had firearms, hidden under their shirts, at their sides. Predictable. I instinctively shoved Jesse to the side, away from anyone who might harm him. He did not resist.

"Breaking and entering is in fact a crime."

"I think we are past defining criminal acts, Bellamy." Mason responded. "Make sure that she is unarmed." He was taking his own precautions, but I made note that he was unwilling or more likely unable to disarm me himself.

"Don't bother." I took the gun from my side holster. Glaring at Mason as I placed it onto the table to my left. I pulled my stake out, setting it next to the gun. I had already made sure that the remaining weaponry I carried could not be detected, even if I was searched. It was a trick I had learned from my husband.

"And what about your boyfriend here?" One of the men attempted to move towards Jesse before I positioned myself between them.

"My boyfriend," I used the same term, making Jesse smirk back at Mason, "is royal. He is not permitted to carry weapons. That is what he has me for."

The man looked from me, to Jesse, and then to Mason. I felt Jesse touch my fingers with his, and I suddenly felt like I was up against more than I could handle on my own. I had learned early on in my training with Bridgette, that one should always be brave enough to look their enemies in the eyes. Looking at Mason only made me feel sick to my stomach.

"The others are taken care of." One of the men informed Mason, listening to someone else speak into his earbud. I was curious to know what he meant by taken care of.

"Let's go." Mason ordered me and Jesse. I held my hand out behind me. Jesse grabbed on and I pulled him close as soon he did.

"How the hell did I get here?" I asked myself

Jesse answered my rhetorical question. "For starters, you chose him over me."

I laughed louder than I should've at the inside joke my friend and I shared. We stopped at the door leading back to the foyer, before being poshed into the nest room. I took a deep breath in; hearing Jesse do the same. This was not exactly common territory for either of us.

"Stick to the plan."

It took me a few moments to assess the room. All four of my friends were sat in chairs to my right. There was one more Guardian, keeping the four controlled. I tried to get a better look at him, but his face stayed masked under the hood of his sweatshirt. Along with the Guardian, I saw Mia. She looked past me rather than at me, and it was probably better that she did. It was braver of her to not see the look on my face. I did what I could to mask my emotions from Jesse, knowing that I was not going to get through this without a fight, and not without help. There were only two exits to this room. It was used as a greeting room for parties, so it was not a priority for security unless in use. But, if I was going to get our Moroi out, I'd need to do some stalling of my own. I needed to convince Mason to negotiate with me.

"I am here. You have me. Let the Moroi go. I will not allow them to be complicit to what happens here between you and me. I will not let them feel the guilt of my decisions."

"You really have changed Bellamy. There was a time you wouldn't have cared if…"

"I have learned from my mistakes." I cut him off, not allowing him to pull me back to our past.

"You have learned", Mason coughed, "but still condemn the mistakes of others."

"Stop turning everything she says around to fit your purpose." I heard Shane snap from where he sat, tied to a chair. "You are not a martyr. Bellamy is no saint by any means, but she does not deserve the guilt you keep laying on her shoulders."

I watched Mason look at Shane, listening to what he said. I took a step closer to Mason, watching him tense as the dhampir near him did the same. His eyes came to rest on me again.

"Your Moroi stays." He was not going to let any of us off the hook. He wanted Jesse at my side in this life-or-death moment. He went on thinking that he held the upper hand, that he had hope of reaching through me. Jesse kept hold of my hand.

"Get him out of here!"

"Jesse is the one he wants!" Clearly both Chris and Shane had listened closely after their sudden abductions. They had listened to everything Mason said. It would work for our benefit. "Do not give him what he wants!"

"Stop!" I shot back at both men "This is not your decision."

"You never could resist a dare." Mason taunted me.

"Let them go." I growled at the man I had once loved to my core.

"In good time."

I grew more impatient with his game. "Ashford!"

"Have a seat. We haven't finished our conversation."

"Bells." Jesse kept his hand super glued to mine. He was keeping me from an attack, shifting my attention to the Moroi and Guardians at risk, tied to chairs.

I walked over to Christian, getting just close enough for me to hear him whisper.

"He wants you and Jesse here. This is a…"

"A trap." I finished. "Already established."

I quickly moved to my right where Aaron sat silent and detached from the situation. He hadn't made eye contact or said a single word since his return. I could see his shoulders shaking. My hands rested over his, and I knew that my friend was panicking. The last time I had seen him look like this, we were locked away in Switzerland.

"I'm here." I made sure he heard my voice.

His head lifted slightly, and his eyes finally met mine. "Bellamy, I…"

"Enough!" Mason ordered, as though he were in charge.

"You're going to be just fine." I whispered to Aaron, kissing his cheek as I stood.

I walked back over to Mason. He now had one of the Dhampir men standing beside him, guarding him. Jesse stayed just behind me, his fingertips always touching mine, his hand always in reach.

"What do you want Mase?"

"I want to finish talking. I feel like this is the most honest you have been with me."

"That's not true."

"Isn't it?"

"I do not believe that honesty is synonymous with truth."

"So, tell me the truth, Bells." He motioned for me to join him in the adjoining room. That was not going to happen.

"We can talk here." I refused his offer. "Anything you have to say to me at this point, can be said in front of others."

"Is that so?"

I continued ignoring his baiting. "I hated you." I finally had the chance and the courage to admit out loud. "I hated you for a long time. Passionately." If he truly wanted to hear the truth of what I had to say, I would say it. "I have never hated anyone. Not really."

"You hated him." He lifted his chin towards Jesse, reminding me of my past hiccups with Jesse.

"I strongly disliked him for being a raging ass hat, but he grew up. And unlike you, he faced his problems. He did not run. He didn't bury his head in the sand and refuse to deal with life."

"I'm sure he's a regular member of the upright citizen's brigade." Mason was being snide again. "So, you can forgive him, but not me? Bellamy, I loved you."

"You did not love me." I kept myself from shouting. I did not want to scare the Moroi more than they already were, but I was not going to let myself be manipulated by him. "It took me years to see that. You envied me."

Mason crossed his arms, listening and judging.

"You were jealous and bitter. And you know what they say about bitterness."

"It's a paralytic." The response was given by the one person Mason had not expected. Hans. The guard who had been keeping watch of the Moroi and Guardians belonged to me. I had made sure that Mia had since disappeared from the room, kept safe by Yuri.

I smiled. And it instantly seemed to vex him.

"You're smiling." Mason pointed out. "Why are you smiling?"

I shook my head, erasing the thought I'd had. "It's funny. Every time I see you now, I can't help but be reminded of how deeply I cared for you/" I paused. "Remembering the good is the only way I am going to be able to see this through and do what I must."

"So, you are going to kill me." I saw the guard his side go from docile and oblivious to tense in a millisecond. He and Mason exchanged glances. "Good luck with that."

"My plan is not to kill anyone." I repeated.

"But do not assume that she won't." Dimitri spoke.

I could see that Mason was not entirely sure what to think now. He was cornered, whether I could kill him or not.

"Hate me all you want Bellamy…"

"I don't hate you. Not anymore. I don't particularly like you, but… I admire you."

"Admire." Mason repeated the single word. "Odd choice."

"One of the many things I learned from Bridgette is that one must admire their enemy. I did not understand what that meant until I had been a Guardian for some time."

"Are we enemies?" He pondered. "I wonder when exactly that happened."

I wanted to believe that he was joking.

"Let's talk about something different for a few minutes." I offered. "Guardian Nikolai." I watched the look on his face quickly change. He was trying to hide his emotions. I could see that this was a subject that was sensitive in more ways than one. "She was helping you at Court."

He gave a nod, but I waited for him to proceed to tell me what I and others already knew.

"After you paraded me through the Court like a criminal," he gave another cutting look and I wondered if I was supposed to feel bad. I didn't, "Mere came to see me."

"The same day?"

"No." He casually confirmed. "I saw her a week after I had been at Court." He was being far too forthcoming with information now. He was changing his plot direction.

I changed the subject, heading him off at the pass. "What about Mia?"

"Rinaldi?" I saw his eyes search the room. Was he expecting to see her? More than likely, I assumed as she had been the one to tie up our friends. "When did you two become such close friends?" He seemed to answer his own question, giving a nod of acceptance. "After I left." He did not need me to confirm the statement.

"You didn't leave Mase. You died. And your death seemed to spark many new friendships. Kind of funny when you think about it."

He chose not to see the humor in my comments.

"I knew it was a mistake to trust her." He referred to Mia.

"On the contrary, Mia did not betray you." I corrected his assumption and kept Mia out of his line of fire. "She has done everything you and Liam have asked her to."

Mason looked back at me, confusion crossing his face. "I hear a 'but' coming."

He was right. "But she did everything you asked, on my authority. Not yours. You still aren't seeing the big picture Mase." I spoke. "You are not in control here. You never have been. I did my field study and training as a tracker because I am good at it. I have had you and Liam in my crosshairs since Court. I've made sure to be ahead of anything you could say or do. "I took a step closer to him. "It took me ten minutes to locate you in Vienna. It will take me less time to locate Liam Kane. Let's not make this harder than it needs to be."

"You want me to surrender right here and now?"

"I don't expect anything sweetheart, but do not mistake my kindness for weakness. I don't want to see you get hurt." I took a breath before continuing. "Liam Kane is a lot of things. But in this case, he isn't the sidekick." I knew the word sidekick would test Mason's temper. He did not like the word. "Why don't you just tell me what sort of convoluted scheme you are both up to."

"There are always two sides to each story Bells." Mason informed me, agreeing to discuss Liam. "Let's you and I have the next part of this chat privately." He was still trying to get me alone, without my backup, or so he thought. "Bring your Moroi."

I laughed just loud enough for him to hear. "I'm not bringing Jesse anywhere."

He turned, frowning at me. "You're breaking the rules Bellamy."

"I am altering the rules." I paused again, planning, and running through multiple scenarios in my head, weighing the outcomes. "Okay." I agreed. "Jesse and I will join you, but I am bringing Dimitri too."

Mason gave another look.

"And we're not going anywhere until everyone is untied." I pointed over to my friends.

Mason gave me a cold stare. He knew that I was smarter and cautious with Moroi involved. I was not willing to walk into a separate part of the house with him and his guard.

"Sure." He surprised me.

I wasn't surprised when Dimitri stood right up, his binds already loose. Shane did the same before he and Hans were on top of freeing Aaron and Christian. They took the Moroi out of the room, ushering them to a safe area of the house. Dimitri was already at my side, ready to help go after this threat once and for all.

"This needs to be over." I spoke.

"Agreed."

Following Mason into another empty room of the house, I sighed, keeping the shred of self-control I had showing. I had no intention of Mason know how close I was to coming apart at the seams. Dimitri and Yuri always said that I did my best work under pressure, when my back was against the wall and the timer had nearly run out. I looked at Jesse, giving him a small smile, ready to jump on the grenade to save him if needed. Dimitri's attention was concentrated entirely on Mason. He was infuriated that this man who was once his student had successfully hidden behind his own mask of ulterior motives these last weeks. If we weren't careful, Dimitri would take matters into his own hands.

"Do watch your words, Mason." I advised him. "At this point, I may be the only one trying to keep you safe ."

Mason's eyes turned to Dimitri. "It appears I have let loose the beast. Well played, Bellamy. You did not choose to bring Guardian Reyes with you. Are you afraid that he would not protect you from me as others do?"

Protect me from him? He was utterly delusional.

Jesse scoffed loudly. "Bellamy is not afraid of you." Dimitri and I heard him come to my defense. It was sweet but unnecessary in the moment.

"Jess." I scolded

"Let him speak." Mason insisted.

Jesse looked at me, and I reluctantly agreed.

"You don't think that your Guardian feels fear?" Mason pushed him to speak again. "You don't think that she is experiencing her biggest fear here and now? You're in terrible danger, and she put you here."

I prayed that Jesse would not take the bait. I hoped that he would use the better part of his logic. Think, be calm, and be smart. Granted, it was not difficult these days for Mason to provoke others to the point of violence. I could feel Jesse rolling his eyes. While still back at Court, I'd had a very private conversation with my Moroi, asking him whether he too wanted the chance to confront Mason, or stay out of this fight all together. I had made strong points to inform him that if he chose to tag along, he would be in a dangerous position, physically and politically. I also made sure that he knew that there would be repercussions for our choices. In the end, we were both willing to take our chances.

Why don't you ask me what you really want to ask?" Jesse provoked Mason in much the same way. Jesse put his arms around me, pulling me in as close and tight as I would allow. I had to remember that Jesse and Mason had just as much history together, so I relaxed and let him hold me in much the same way Christian used to. "You were at Court for weeks. You spoke to Guardians about Bellamy, and even a Moroi or two. You asked questions they cannot answer. You want answers that they cannot give you. I will wager a guess and say they expressed thought on her strength, her purpose, her tenacity, and kindness, etc. Why not ask your questions to someone who is with her day and night. I live with her. I have seen the best and the worst sides of my Guardian. Ask me." Jesse was daring him in much the same way that he'd done back at St. Vladimir's.

Mason stood silent, shocked by the suggestion and offer Jesse was giving him. He looked to me, trying to measure my reaction as well.

"Okay, I'll start." Jesse went on while Mason continued to judge whether to respond.

I could see in his eyes that Jesse was up to something more. I barely sensed a strange and telling emotion within him. He was trying to get my attention and boy did he have it. The feeling was gone before I could fully register what it was, hidden within all the other emotions we both shared. After years of practice, I was able to mask the bulk of my concern from Dimitri and Mason. The last thing this tense confrontation needed was more suspicion, judgement, or blame.

"You think Bellamy has been completely straight with you all of this time? Do you really believe that she would disclose everything to you, about who and what she is now?"

Mason was genuinely bemused by Jesse's words.

"I know exactly who Bellamy Pearce is."

"No." Dimitri spoke, adding to the challenge. "You don't."

"I did not ask for your opinion."

I did not need to see him to know that Dimitri was fully set off by Mason's confrontational and disrespectful demeanor.

"He's right. You really don't." Jesse never looked so mysterious to me. His eyes told me not to interrupt yet. He winked and I knew that he was going to get us into more trouble. I could not allow that.

"Jess." I knew he was trying to help, but I had to stop him from letting his mouth get him killed. I could only do so much damage control when it came to him opening his mouth. "Jesse, stand down."

Finally he slowly began to back off.

"So, you have been lying to me." Mason quickly turned, accusing me.

"I never lied to you." I shrugged, placing Jesse into a safer position. "I won't deny that I have omitted some details about myself."

"A lie by omission is still a lie."

He was one to talk, I sarcastically thought to myself. Mason pursed his lips, a thin indignant line formed as he considered this new information.

"So, how much power do you actually hold these days, Guardian?"

"I do not see it as power." I made another point. "That is one of the many things that you have never wanted to understand. I have a larger degree of authority than I once did, but I have spent years proving myself, working towards the rank I have earned, and more importantly, for the respect I have found."

"You're trying to make a point," Mason continued trying to corner and provoke me, "nut I'm just not sure what it is."

"Always the condescending novice." I made my point a bit stronger. "Jesse, remember that time the car broke down in Scotland?" I smiled at the memory we shared.

Jesse chuckled. "Yes. Remember when we lost our luggage in Budapest?"

I was sure I even saw Dimitri crack a smile.

"And the time we got drenched in the rain because you insisted on going to Kensington Gardens on a cloudy cold night."

"What is your point Bellamy?"

"My point, is that there is so much more to this 'job' It isn't just about fighting and protecting. It's about having a life. Life is my point, Mase. The life you forfeited is my point."

"She's stalling!" Mason's Dhampir protector suddenly spoke over me, catching on. I lifted my eyebrow, looking to the man as he pulled Mason back with him.

"Of course she was stalling." Dimitri and I heard Shane enter through the door at ou backs. "How else would er plan work?"

I couldn't tell if Mason was more shaken by the appearance of Shane as he joined me and Dimitri, or if he was amused by the situation.

"Aaron, Sophie, and Mia?" I asked about the other Moroi as Mason tried to regroup under pressure.

"They are all safe with Yuri and Hans. We need to get your Moroi out with them now."

"Agreed." I said to Shane as we focused our attention to getting Jesse out now. He had done enough to help.

The sound of a gun clicking instantly twisted my attention. It all happened so fast. Jesse was holding Mason in place. He was nearly to me when the shot rang out. I could still hear it in my ears. I felt myself falling to the floor, blood rushing to a single spot on my body. I had stepped into the path of a bullet meant for my Moroi. Panic and fear were all I could feel, but it wasn't mine. I could see Jesse shouting as Dimitri's hands pulled him back. I woke in hospital, back at Court, only to learn that this ordeal was not yet finished. Once on the mend, I would need to own up to my choices, my behavior, and my past.