We Are Shadows

Chapter 19

Chapter 19

RPOV

This wasn't good. This woman, whoever she is, knows Dimitri and that she was told he'd died. I can't see us passing this one off as battle haze.

"Lady Ozera" Roman said politely. Did he say Ozera? Was she a relation of Christian's? This definitely wasn't good. In fact it was potentially disastrous. If she figured out who I was then she would tell Christian that she had seen me, in turn Lissa, the boys and then the rest of St Vladimir's. Dimitri and I both knew that there was a risk of being discovered but we only thought locally not on a larger scale. Even if we had considered the bigger issue, in all conscience, we still would have fought to save the school. I tuned back into what Roman was saying.

"Forgive me but what are you doing here, especially right now?" he added. I hate that we have to be polite and subservient to moroi. We are no less important than they are but our society has chosen to value them above anything else. The woman tore her gaze away from Dimitri to look at Roman.

"I was staying with relatives nearby and we heard there was to be an attack in the area so we came here for the bunkers. The family's guardians joined the fight" she answered and immediately turned her attention back to Dimitri. The look she was giving him was starting to annoy me. She was looking at him as if there was something between them. Maybe there was and a feeling of jealousy washed through me but Dimitri hadn't said anything to her yet so I calmed down slightly.

"It's so good to see you Dimka" she said and I really wanted to knock that dreamy look off her face and the way she called him Dimka was nauseating. "I was told by Ivan's family that you had died in the fight too."

"I wasn't in the fight" Dimitri answered without expression. "Everyone assumed I was."

"Why hide?" she said. "I never pegged you as a coward Dimka" and she screwed up her eyes.

"I'm not a coward Tasha" Dimitri shot back. "I felt guilty over Ivan's death."

"Understandable. You should have been there" she said and Dimitri looked like he had been slapped in the face. I was going to step forward but I heard Dimitri in my head.

"Roza, don't" and I remained routed to my spot.

"Well never mind, you can be my guardian now" and I nearly choked at the callous way she threw that sentence out and the look of glee on her face.

"That's not a good idea Tasha" Dimitri started but she cut him off.

"Nonsense, I'll just talk to the court, get you re-instated as alive and put in the request" she said and I had a feeling it was more than wanting him as a guardian she had in mind. The look on her face stated Dimitri was her goal and her next words confirmed it. "You know I only dated Ivan to be around you" she said and took a step closer.

"No Natasha" and she noticed the change in her name.

"Don't be like that Dimka" she wheedled, and took a step towards him.

"It's Dimitri if you don't mind" he replied taking a step back, which made me smile internally; he didn't want to be close to this woman. "My family call me Dimka."

"Ivan called you it" she pouted. This was a grown woman pouting, it looked so ridiculous I just wanted to hit her.

"Ivan was family" and she looked stung but then collected herself.

"We could be family" she said giving him a salacious look. Does this woman not take no for an answer?

"Natasha I don't want to be your guardian" Dimitri stated again a little more forcefully.