Protection - d. belikov

Chapter 3

Kat found Rose on the roof in the early hours of the morning. Kat was dressed to protect herself from the sun. With umbrella in hand, she stood at the bottom of the building as she watched Rose.

"Why are you on the roof? Don't you have class?" Kat yelled up at her friend.

"I do have class, but I'm not going to miss welcoming Lissa back home." Rose jumped off the roof and Kat's anxiety spiked.

"What are you doing!" Kat yelled. Rose landed perfectly on the floor with a smile. "Don't worry so much."

"Sorry for worrying that my friend is going to break her neck."

"We train for this Kat," Rose said. Her attention was caught by an oncoming vehicle. Kat didn't recognize the Guardian driving the car, but she did recognize the Guardian in the passenger seat. Dimitri. Dimitri made eye contact with Kat and she smiled. They stared at each other until he got out of the car to open the door for Viktor Dashkov, Lissa's godfather and closest adviser to the Queen.

Rose went to give Lissa a hug, but Dimitri intercepted it.

"It's alright, Rose won't hurt Lissa," Victor told the stoic Guardian.

"She has something," he told Viktor. He turned to Rose, "show me." Rose took a small, hand carved unicorn out of her jacket pocket. "It's a super dangerous welcome home gift." Rose said sarcastically.

"I love it," Lissa assured, "even though I'm not twelve." Dimitri let Rose go and she moved to give Lissa a hug.

"Shut up, its adorable." Rose picked Lissa up and she spun her around. Kat looked at Dimitri, only to find that he was already looking at her. She looked at the ground and blushed.

"I missed that blush." Kat didn't see anyone talking but she heard it clearly. She didn't dwell on it as she greeted Lissa as well.

"I missed you guys, so much," Lissa said.

"We missed you too."

"I would love to catch up but I am starving."

"I just ate so I'll meet you when you are done," Kat told the other princess. Lissa hooked her arm with Rose's and the pair went to the cafeteria for Rose and Lissa to eat.

"I'll let you settle in Guardian Belikov. I have to go see my daughters," Viktor said to Dimitri as he took his leave. Dimitri caught Kat's eye and he made his way over to her.

"Hi," the princess greeted. She put out her hand to greet him and he took it, except he didn't shake it. He bent down and kissed her hand.

"Hi."

"How have you been?" Kat questioned.

"I have been good, but it's good to be home."

"Thank you for the dolphin," Kat blurted out.

"You're very welcome. Do you like it?" Dimitri had wanted to do something nice for her, but was worried that she'll think it's weird.

"I love it. In fact, I love it so much that I put it on my bookshelf so that I can look at it every day."

"I'm glad to hear that. I found it in a little village on the way back here."

"How did it arrive without you?"

"One of Daskov's guardians owed me a favour."

"What for?"

"He's dating my sister Alina, and let's just say I saved him from the blood thirsty jaws that is my mother, when she met him for the first time," Dimitri explained with a laugh.