"What?!"

I rushed toward him, knocking over one of the mugs. I heard Eddie running to join us, but my entire focus was on the image on the monitor—specifically, on the cars speeding down the road leading straight to our hideout. We had only a few minutes before they arrived.

Dimitri didn't hesitate. He jumped up and started frantically searching for something. Eddie and Jill stood frozen in the kitchen doorway, stunned.

"What's going on?" Eddie asked, instantly slipping into his role as a guardian, ready to fight to the death.

"Unknown vehicles are coming for us. We need to prepare for an attack. Jill, you need to hide—" I started, but Dimitri cut me off.

"No," he said firmly, turning to me and pressing something into my hand. Car keys and a wallet. "You need to get Jill out of here. There are too many of them—we can't guarantee her safety if she stays."

My blood ran cold, and my breath caught in my throat. I met his warm, determined gaze, and a wave of despair crashed over me. He had already made his decision. He was staying. I was supposed to run.

"I'm not leaving you here!" I shouted, horrified by the thought. "No fucking way!"

"I'm not leaving either!" Jill's voice rang out, but I was too caught up in my silent battle with Dimitri to acknowledge her.

Dimitri cupped my face in his hands, his grip firm. In his eyes, I saw sorrow, love, and unwavering resolve.

"This is not a request, Rose. It's an order."

I froze, unable to move. I wanted to scream that I didn't care, that I wouldn't leave him behind to face this alone. That I would fight by his side until my last breath. And if it were just me, he never would have convinced me to go. But this wasn't about my life—it was about my duty to Jill. Staying meant putting her in danger. Possibly dooming her to death. And we had sworn to protect her.

Someone had to stay and fight, to slow the attackers down. Someone had to take Jill and escape.

The cars were getting closer, and we had no time to weigh the pros and cons of different plans. Dimitri had decided.

"Dimitri—" My voice trembled with desperation, but whatever protest I had died the moment his lips crashed against mine. The kiss was fierce, urgent—one of the shortest yet most intense we had ever shared. His arms held me tightly, unwilling to let me go. And then, too soon, he pulled away.

"You have to go. Take Jill and protect her. Be careful."

A single tear slipped down my cheek.

"You too," I whispered.

We broke apart, but it felt like a piece of my soul was being ripped away with him. I turned quickly, knowing that if I hesitated for even a second longer, I wouldn't be able to leave. I grabbed Jill's wrist, but she resisted. Eddie shoved her toward me.

"Run!" he shouted.

Jill, wide-eyed and in shock, followed as I dragged her into the living room and toward the terrace doors. Behind us, Dimitri and Eddie rushed to the cabinet where we kept our spare weapons.

Just before stepping outside, I stole one last glance at Dimitri. He was looking at me too.

I knew the chances of ever seeing him again were slim. Every muscle in my body, every nerve screamed at me to run back to him and fight by his side. Every part of me begged to stay with the man I loved, to help him survive. And the thought that this might be our last moment together nearly shattered me.

Dimitri gave a small, sharp nod toward the second garage. Tears blurred my vision as I nodded back. No matter how much my heart was breaking—I had a duty to fulfill. We were guardians. Jill's safety had to come first.

I took off running across the clearing, pulling Jill along, forcing myself to block out every agonizing thought.

I yanked open the garage door, and a black SUV came into view. Throwing open the passenger door, I shoved Jill inside. Then I sprinted to the driver's seat, my hands shaking as I jammed the keys into the ignition and started the engine.

The headlights flashed, and with the roar of the engine, we surged forward. I pressed the gas pedal hard as the sound of gunfire erupted from the house. A shiver ran through me, and my grip on the steering wheel tightened until my knuckles turned white.

"Turn back!" Jill screamed, grabbing my arm.

I clenched my teeth, accelerating and driving in the opposite direction of where I most desperately wanted to go.

"No," I growled, pushing the gas pedal even further.

Every gunshot made my stomach churn, but I didn't turn around.

"Rose, we can't just leave them without an extra guardian! You have to go back and—"

"We can't," I hissed through gritted teeth. I swerved sharply, and Jill slammed into the window."Buckle up."

"You have to turn back!" Jill yelled at me, her voice shaking with fury.

"Jill!" I shouted, unable to keep my emotions in check. We hit a bump in the road, and the car jolted violently. "Do you think I want to run?!" I snapped. "Do you think I want to leave Eddie, Adrian, and Sydney unprotected?! Do you think I want to leave Dimitri to fend for himself?! This isn't what I want, but I have to do it to keep you safe! You're too important—you're a princess!"

"Then I order you to turn around!" Jill screamed right back.

My blood boiled. I knew she was just as shaken as I was, but I had no patience left to deal with it.

"You have no idea what you're talking about!" I spat, my jaw tight with frustration.

Jill turned away from me, pulling her knees up to her chest and hugging them tightly. I gripped the steering wheel, forcing myself to focus on the road ahead instead of the horrifying images flashing through my mind.

The sounds of the fight had faded into the distance. We were too far now. There was no way I could help them anymore. I shivered as cold dread seeped into my bones.

Dimitri's eyes still burned in my memory, urging me to run. And I couldn't shake the feeling that it had been the last time I would ever see them filled with warmth.

Of course, he told me to run—he didn't take Jill himself. He would never have left me behind, I realized, my eyes stinging with tears. I knew exactly what he would say if he had the chance. That this mission required quick, creative thinking. That only Rose-logic could work in a situation like this. That I was the best person to get Jill out, considering my experience, my skills, my unconventional solutions. That he, as the more experienced guardian, needed to stay and coordinate the fight to minimize our losses and maximize Jill's chances of escape.

But none of that mattered. He sent me away to get me as far from danger as possible.

I reached the end of the forest road and merged onto the state highway, heading south without any real plan in mind. Maybe going to Court was an option, but I had a gut feeling that if we showed our faces, Prince Drozdov would strike again.

Jill hadn't spoken to me since I snapped at her. I was still simmering with anger and fear, so I wasn't in a hurry to soothe her feelings. It wasn't her fault, but I couldn't shake my resentment. Because of her, I had left the people I loved to face possible death. The rational part of my brain told me that was the last thing Jill wanted—that she had even ordered me not to do it. But my panic-stricken heart refused to accept that.

I shuddered, imagining the horrors that might be unfolding back at the cabin. Had Dimitri just taken a bullet between the eyes? Or maybe through the side of his head? Or the carotid artery, so he had a few agonizing seconds to realize he was dying?

Maybe it was Eddie. Maybe he'd been shot in the chest and was gasping for breath, drowning in pain I knew all too well.

Maybe it was Angeline, finally realizing that being a guardian wasn't much better than the life she left behind.

I forced myself to focus on the road, not on the terrifying scenarios my fear kept feeding me. I tried to stay within the speed limit to avoid drawing the attention of human police, but my foot kept pressing harder on the gas, unable to control my restless nerves. I passed car after car, trying to anchor my frantic mind to the act of driving.

I never told him I loved him. Of course, he knew. But I hadn't said it before I left. And what if that was my last chance? What if the last thing I ever said to him was "You too"?

I trembled all over, despite the heater blasting at full power. I knew it wasn't the cold—it was the stress. Jill was shaking too, curling in on herself.

I knew she was inside Adrian's head, but I didn't pull her out of the trance. I knew she might not be able to return to her own mind if she lost the connection.

Time dragged on unbearably. I checked the clock on the dashboard every minute, though each one stretched on for eternity. Every second, I thought I was going to either vomit or pass out. Every second, a shiver ran down my spine. Every second, I imagined another horrific fate unfolding back at the cabin.

About half an hour after our hasty escape, Jill let out a deep sigh and looked at me. The joy and relief erased our earlier conflict.

"Rose, it's over! Everyone is safe!" she shouted in unrestrained euphoria.

"Everyone?" I made sure, pulling over, feeling that in my trembling state, I couldn't keep driving. Jill let out a few happy tears.

"Everyone," she confirmed.

I stopped the car and buried my face in my shaking hands. My breathing quickened as tears streamed down my face. They survived. Dimitri was alive. That was the only thing ringing in my head as, for the first time since Dimitri ordered me to run, I allowed myself an emotional reaction. A final shudder ran through my body, and I kept hyperventilating, teetering on the edge of sobbing.

I felt Jill's arms wrap around me, and I embraced her back, pulling her tightly against me. She clung to me, and I felt the wetness of her tears against my neck.

"Oh God, oh God, oh God," I exhaled, overwhelmed with relief. Everyone was alive. Everyone was safe. Dimitri was safe. I could breathe again. I finally felt the tension in my neck ease, surrendering to the blissful sensation.

"Wait, they're figuring out what to do. I'll check back in with Adrian…"

What to do—that was a good question. I released her from my embrace and watched as she passively leaned against the passenger seat, her expression vacant. Everyone was right—it looked terrifying.

I felt uneasy staying still. Taking one last deep breath and focusing on the fact that Dimitri was alive, I turned on the blinker and merged back into traffic.

I had no idea where we should go. Returning to them wasn't an option—even if they had eliminated the current threat, the people hunting us would surely track them, now that they had found our trail. I couldn't put Jill at risk. We could go straight to Court… but the more I thought about it, the less I liked that idea. For now, we had lost our pursuers—they had no clue where Jill was. But at Court, she would be within their reach again.

But… we had nowhere to go. We would have to hop from motels to temporary shelters until the others found Prince Drozdov and eliminated the threat.

Suddenly, an idea struck me. Lissa. No one knew where her secret hideout was—only the guardians assigned to the queen's personal security. Since the attackers had lost our trail, I could head to Lissa and pray she hadn't left for Court yet. A quick glance into her mind confirmed that she was still in Canada. I scanned the highway signs and steered toward the border.

Jill wake up some time later. She blinked and looked at me, still dazed.

"Everything okay?" I asked, meaning both her and the rest of them. She slowly nodded.

"Yeah, yeah. They're fine. They were figuring out their next move. Dimitri assumed I was listening in on the conversation too, which was weird because he was right."

"What did they decide?" I asked, gripping the steering wheel tighter.

"Dimitri insisted that we should go back to them, but Eddie argued it was a bad idea since they were being tracked."

"Eddie is right. Dimitri is just scared for us," I said quietly. Jill nodded.

"That's exactly what Eddie said. That's why he also argued that we shouldn't go to Court either."

I nodded as well. I could only imagine how frustrated Dimitri must be, fully aware that we shouldn't return but unable to bear the thought of us being on our own. I'd bet anything he regretted shoving me and Jill out of the cabin, even though he only did it to maximize our chances of survival.

"They're planning to head to Court themselves and report to Hans. Adrian said he'll try to reach you in your dreams."

"Well, I don't know when that will happen. You'll probably talk to him first. Tell him Eddie is right and Dimitri is wrong. We can't go back, but we're heading to Lissa's hideout in Canada. They haven't tracked her down yet, so hopefully, we'll be safe there."

Jill sighed, surprised but also reassured. I, too, felt relieved at the thought of seeing Lissa and having the support of other guardians. I decided to keep driving until sunrise and then see if I could go on or if I needed a few hours of sleep. I encouraged Jill to rest and relay my message to Adrian. Deep in thought, running through plans and possible scenarios, I drove in silence.

We stopped at a gas station. I refueled the car and bought us each a hot dog. We ate them quickly when I suddenly sensed something happening with Lissa. I immediately slipped into her mind and, to my horror, discovered that Lissa and her entire security were on board an airplane.

I dropped my hot dog, my mind racing as I considered whether I should run and grab a phone to stop her. I was about to drag Jill to the gas station to beg for a phone when I remembered that anyone monitoring Lissa's calls could potentially track me and Jill. I hesitated, torn between two dangers—risking the call and heading to Lissa's hideout, or staying under the radar but being alone with Jill.

The decision was made for me as, in my hesitation, I saw through Lissa's eyes that the plane had already taken off. I cursed and kicked the car tire in frustration.

I told Jill what had happened, and her face immediately fell. I understood her reaction. We were now without a plan. I covered my face with my hands, trying to figure out our next move. If Dimitri were here, he would have carefully weighed the pros and cons of every action, but that wasn't my style. I grabbed the map I had bought at the gas station, and after scanning it with Jill, we found a rundown inn in a remote area. Slamming my foot on the gas, I sped in that direction.

"What now, Rose?" Jill asked me. I felt a lump in my throat, unsure of what to tell her.

"We'll get to a safe place, turn it into our new hideout, and figure out if it's secure enough to stay in. In the meantime, the others will be working on capturing the prince."

"Wow, you really have everything planned out," she sighed in surprise, running her fingers through her hair.

I laughed genuinely at her words, as they reminded me of something Dimitri had once said to me in a very similar situation.

"Trust me, I have nothing figured out. But we'll manage somehow."

Jill gave me a weak smile and nodded. I thought back to our earlier argument and felt a wave of guilt for not being more patient. She was constantly in danger, and she was still so young. And despite that, she usually handled everything incredibly well. I should have been calm enough to help her when she needed me instead of adding to her stress.

"Jill, I'm really sorry for yelling at you when we were escaping. I shouldn't have done that."

"Because I'm a princess?" Jill scoffed. "Come on. I yelled at you too. And I'm sorry for that as well."

"But you had every right to yell at me, considering the stress you were under. I should have been more patient and helped you through it instead of making it worse. I really am sorry."

"There's nothing to be sorry for," Jill shook her head. In the morning light, her pale skin shimmered slightly. "I don't even know how you found the strength to get us out of there. I mean, I know it couldn't have been easy for you. It was hard for me, and I couldn't even help them. I would've just been a burden."

I thought back to that moment, when I had looked at Dimitri, feeling a searing fear that it might be the last time I ever saw him. My fingers itched with the need to touch him, to make sure he was safe and sound.

"One of the reasons Dimitri and I can work together is because we trust each other completely. I trusted him not to get himself killed, even if I wasn't there, and he trusted me to get you to safety. If we didn't have that trust and instead kept trying to protect each other, we couldn't be guardians. Not together."

"But don't you ever… have the urge to break that? To stay with him?"

"Oh, all the time. Every part of me wants to. What we feel for each other is sometimes stronger than I am. But we can't sacrifice what we swore as guardians—to be ready to give up everything to protect you. We're always balancing between those two things."

"Eddie is the same way," Jill murmured, staring out the window. "He treats his duty like something sacred."

"Does that bother you?" I asked, glancing at her from the corner of my eye. She shrugged.

"Not exactly… but sometimes I wish he could just be my friend and not take everything so seriously. I want him to have something for himself too."

"It's hard for Eddie to move past what happened over the summer," I whispered, watching her. "The fact that you were hurt while he was on duty… he probably feels like he has to make up for that."

Jill grimaced and pulled her knees up to her chest.

"I don't blame him for it. I know he did everything he could."

"It's not that simple for us," I sighed, shaking my head with amusement. Why did we have such a habit of complicating everything in our lives?

"You and your impossibly high standards…"

I laughed out loud, and she laughed with me.

We drove for another two hours before finally stopping in front of the rundown inn we had chosen. In the wallet Dimitri had given me, there were both his and my identification documents, along with cash and a credit card. The receptionist refused to accept cash despite my best efforts, so with a heavy heart, I had to use the card—potentially allowing someone to track us. However, I insisted on a room with a view of the street so I could keep an eye on what was happening outside.

As the receptionist typed on her computer, I found myself staring at Dimitri's ID photo, a sharp pang of longing hitting me. I hoped he was okay.

Our room looked quite comfortable—two fairly large beds, a couch, a vanity, and dressers, all in rustic patterns. I collapsed onto the couch and rubbed my eyes with my hands. Jill flopped onto the bed.

"Get some sleep, Jill. If Adrian contacts you, tell him about the change of plans and that we're going to stay hidden for now. And rest a little. It'll be my turn after you."

"Okay, but if you get too tired, wake me up. I can keep watch too."

I tried my best not to smile at her indulgently. Not too long ago, I had been in her exact position—no experience, just courage and determination—as I guarded Lissa for over two years.

"I promise."

Jill settled in and quickly fell asleep, while I looked over the map, once again wondering what our next move should be. Should we keep hiding in rundown motels until the guardians caught Prince Drozdov? Go back to the Court, rejoin the fight, but risk exposing Jill's location? Join the rest of our team and take the chance that they might be followed? My head spun from weighing all the pros and cons.

Deep down, I felt that staying hidden with Jill was the best course of action. I decided to follow that instinct and started checking locations of different motels on the map. I figured we could stay in each for three or four days, especially since I had to use my card to pay. I could also withdraw some cash and look for lodging in small guesthouses or campgrounds. I began marking various locations, trying to find the best route.

I sketched out different paths—through California, Oregon, and into Nevada. But as I studied the Nevada section of the map, my attention was drawn to the town of Tuscarora in the northern part of the state. That was where Kim Larson, the mysterious database owner Tatiana had mentioned in her notes, lived.

Well, if Jill and I had to stay on the move anyway, I saw no reason why we couldn't make a stop there to gather some useful information. I circled her address several times to make sure it stood out from the others.

Then, I sat by the window, watching the traffic and carefully observing every newcomer. Not that there were many—our rural inn clearly wasn't a hotspot for travelers.

When Jill woke up, she informed me that Adrian and the others were on their way to the Court, but Adrian would wait to talk to me. I gave Jill security instructions, told her when to wake me up, and asked her to keep an eye on the window. Then, I wrapped myself in the blanket and fell into a deep sleep.

I wasn't disappointed. I immediately entered a spirit dream.

"Little Dhampir, finally."

"I haven't exactly had much time for naps, you know?" I shot back, glancing around the scenery.

This time, Adrian had chosen our cabin in the woods. He stood in the kitchen doorway while I was near the counter, the same spot where Dimitri and I had made pancakes just days ago. I ran my fingers over the area where he had stood, stirring the batter.

"I'm going to miss this place."

Adrian rolled his eyes this time.

"We can come back when we're not being hunted by a deranged prince. Where are you guys? Jill said you changed your plans."

"Lissa already flew to the Court. You need to tell her everything. For now, we're keeping a low profile and staying hidden. You all need to focus on catching the prince and stopping this madness."

"If I remember correctly, the last time we had a plan like this, you couldn't sit still."

I sighed deeply.

"But this time, I have Jill to look after. If it were up to me, I'd be out tracking the attackers myself."

"So, you're really going to lie low? Just leave it to everyone else?"

"I don't exactly have a choice. This is a new situation. Tell Dimitri that Jill and I will stay hidden until we can see through our bond that it's safe. That's why you all need to focus on catching the prince."

"Dimitri thinks you two running around is dangerous," Adrian said, sounding completely serious. I shrugged.

"It is dangerous. But in my opinion, putting Jill in the spotlight is even more dangerous. If something changes, we'll gladly come back. He just worries too much."

"Can you blame him? He was devastated when he found out you didn't actually need to run."

I winced, imagining how hard Dimitri must have taken it. I was sure he blamed himself for putting us in danger.

"I can imagine… but things could have ended very differently. And he shouldn't worry. I have experience in running."

Adrian grinned at me.

"More than anyone, I'd say."

I rolled my eyes but smiled slightly.

"We'll be fine. I don't think Jill is taking it too badly, though, of course, the best place for her would be somewhere completely safe."

"We'll take care of that. For now, just keep yourselves alive. I'll check in to keep an eye on you two."

"Can't wait," I muttered, pretending to be annoyed.

Adrian stepped closer and pulled me into a hug.

"Don't pretend, Little Dhampir. You'll be waiting for me to visit your dreams."

I rolled my eyes and shoved him away.

"I thought one of the perks of our tragic breakup was never having to hear those charming remarks again."

"You don't have to worry about that anymore. We'll be in touch."

My dream faded, and I found myself back in the dark motel room. I looked over at Jill, who was keeping a close watch on the window.

"How long was I asleep?"

"A few minutes, Rose," Jill laughed softly. "You can sleep a little longer."

I adjusted my pillows and tried to fall back asleep.

In that moment, I envied Dimitri—how he could sleep anytime, anywhere, as soon as he allowed himself to. Thinking about him made my heart ache. I had no idea when we would see each other again. I could only imagine how worried he must be about us.

I had an overwhelming urge to call him. To reassure him that we were okay. And to hear his voice, to calm that part of my mind that needed to know he was okay too.

I focused on steadying my breathing, just as he had always taught me. But the truth was, I only managed to fall asleep again when I imagined his warm arm around me, holding me close.