I Can't Stop ── Dimitri Belikov

𝟙𝟜. | 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕠𝕪𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕠𝕦𝕣

𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕣𝕠𝕪𝕒𝕝 𝕥𝕠𝕦𝕣
𝕖𝕡𝕚𝕤𝕠𝕕𝕖 𝟞. - 𝕞𝕠𝕝𝕚𝕟𝕚𝕛𝕒
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Both Lissa and Delilah met with Rose before she would receive her Molinija mark. The girls hugged their friend while encouraging her.

It was the highest honour for a Guardian to be marked for killing a Strigoi. But that was precisely the problem, Rose didn't kill a Strigoi, in her mind, it was Mikhail she killed. Rose left the cousins before the chapel when she needed to leave for the ceremony.

Waiting for Rose didn't take long because after about five minutes she ran out the door with tears gathering in her eyes. The Dragomirs took their friend inside and sat down in front of an altar. The whole room was empty except for them.

"You have to stop blaming yourself," Lissa spoke after Rose told them the reason for refusing her mark. She was fully crying now and both of the girls tried to calm her down.

"I killed one of my only friends."

"You didn't kill Mikhail. You killed a Strigoi."

"You saved us, Rose. All of us," Delilah added while placing a hand on Rose's shoulder.

"So Jesse Zeklos? That's the best you could do?" Rose mockingly asked after a moment. Delilah still couldn't believe her cousin was going to be engaged and then married to Jesse.

"Look, I've got him under control."

"Lissa."

"I'm not compelling him," Lissa continued after receiving a look from both Delilah and Rose. "And I won't. But this is why I have to go on the Royal Tour."

"This Ivashkov guy... I mean, he can know a lot more about spirit and this darkness that I've been feeling. And you know I need my quorum back 'cause if I can help even a little to stop what happened to Mikhail from happening again, I have to try," the frustration she was feeling filled her voice. "Jesse's really the only viable option for all of that."

"In a nice, neat pervert package," Rose replayed sarcastically earning a chuckle from her friends.

⋅•⋅⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱⋅•⋅

Wearing a white, sleeveless dress with pale blue details along the bodice Delilah was making her way among the crowd looking for Lissa. On her head, she wore a flower crown that matched her dress nicely.

After making eye contact with her cousin, Delilah grabbed her long skirt and started walking faster. Lissa was talking to Jesse about something when she finally neared them.

"You have to be on some fucking exclusive list," was the first thing she heard.

"Lady Dragomir. Son," Lord Zeklos walked past them and he either didn't notice Delilah or he simply ignored her.

"Well, then, I'll have to try someone with some real power. Lord Zeklos," and with that Lissa was rushing behind the man leaving her cousin and Jesse alone.

As they looked at each other, a look of disgust appeared on Jesse's face.

"What are you-"

"Just don't," Delilah interrupted Jesse's insult before he could finish or even really start.

She turned around, scanning the room again. Rose suddenly walked outside making Delilah hurry after her.

"I'm the first Novice since my mother to kill a Strigoi. My talents would be better suited elsewhere, don't you think?" Rose was speaking to a Guardian about her relocation.