Only Him

Chapter 15

*Dimitri*

Dimitri didn't scare easily. He faced many things without flinching: bands of roving Strigoi, political intrigue at Court, and even Rose. No, Dimitri didn't scare easily. But when he was given an order by the queen herself to drop what he was doing and return to Court grounds immediately, he began to panic.

What had happened?

Dimitri had received a call from Han's in the middle of the academy morning, ordering him and Christian by royal decree to return to Court immediately, no questions asked. He'd been given no more information than to be on the Court's private jet immediately before Han's hung up. He and Christian passed the two-hour flight in terse silence.

Han's had sounded hardened, more like he was trying to fight off some big emotion, but it wasn't the type of dread and chaos that would follow Lissa's death. That was a relief to Dimitri. So long as Lissa was alive Rose was okay. If Lissa had been dead....well, then Dimitri knew Rose would be too. Rose would never let anything happen to Lissa on her watch. So it could be anything. Lissa was alive, Rose would be with her.

What could possibly warrant Han's dragging them back? If Lissa needed something why hadn't she called them directly?

The plane landed around one and the guardian and charge were greeted by a handful of Court guardians.

"Guardian Belikov, Lord Ozera," they bowed to Christian, "we have orders to bring you to the Court infirmary immediately."

"Infirmary?" Dimitri and Christian snapped in unison. "What happened?" Christian continued, after a shared glance with his friend.

"Please follow us," the guardian who spoke earlier replied, ignoring their question.

For lack of any other answers they followed.

The Court grounds were a flood of daytime activity, people coming and going from lunch breaks, hurrying to make meetings or just meandering about the courtyards and shops as they gossiped. Dimitri noticed that there were more hubs of conversation than usual, the members whispering in quick fury. He sped up his pace.

The infirmary was on the opposite side of the grounds and it took them a good fifteen minutes to get there. If the two men had thought that the courtyards were unusually busy then the infirmary was in downright chaos.

Moroi in nursing uniforms rushed back and forth between cots where wounded guardians lay, a doctor in a white lab coat and a tall blond woman both crowded over one cot midway down the room.

"—think he'll be okay now." Lissa's voice carried in the room and both Dimitri and Christian stiffened at the sound.

"Lissa!" Christian called and was off, running towards his girlfriend. Dimitri followed a step behind.

Lissa whirled around from her position at the bedside and the men got their first real look at her as they came to a screeching halt.

She was covered in blood.

To be fair only some of it was hers. Over the years Dimitri had gotten very good as assessing a situation in a matter of seconds. The majority of the blood on Lissa was on her hands and across the tattered dress she was wearing. Not hers but doubtlessly the blood of other victims she'd cared for. There was a deep cut on her forehead that was starting to seal over, the remaining smudge of blood trailing upwards into her hairline.

"What happened?" Christian demanded, crossing the distance between them in two long strides and taking her into his arms.

Lissa, to Dimitri's surprise, burst into tears. The queen was stronger than many people would guess just by looking at her. She was all soft curls and delicate features on the outside but Dimitri knew of the steel core that it covered. So he was surprised to see her break down so suddenly, heaving great sobs into Christians shoulder.