RPOV
I awoke to the setting sun. An hour later I met my team, ready for another night of hunting. "Hey guys!" I plastered a a fake smile on my face, "what's the go tonight?"
"Rose," they sighed sadly. "We heard you screaming last night. You okay?" They were concerned in the 'brother' sense.
"Just a nightmare," I shrugged it off.
"Rose?" They weren't buying it. "You don't strike me as someone who has nightmares and wakes with a scream like that," oh, yes I am that sort of person, "that scream was bloodcurdling and traumatised. What have you been through?"
"I had to bring my soulmate back from the dead," I quietly mumbled out in a rush.
"Rose?"
I sighed. "The caves. It happened in the rescue mission. I couldn't lose him, and somehow I healed him. Now he's my bond mate. I don't know if I could do it again."
"Who? Who is bound to you?"
"Someone who shouldn't be," according to society.
"Belikov? He's bound to you? Your mentor is your bond mate?" his voice was full of wonder and disbelief. There was no judgment- yet.
"Yes, yes, and yes."
"Wow. You saved Belikov. I'm actually surprised he hasn't been offered a spot on Elite yet."
"He did. After the Academy attack- turned it down," one of the others noted.
"Why? Why would Dimitri turn it down?"
"You. He handed it over to you, Rose. Belikov really is the reason you're here- on Elite, that is. He said you were so much better than him. Even at seventeen, nearly eighteen, you had the most kills out of any of the guardians he knew."
What? How on earth did he manage that? God, that must have taken a lot out of him not to crack at the thought of giving me his spot for these missions. It would go against every grain of his being to willingly put me into these situations. He knew I loved- and craved- action. But to choose to put me in danger? That had to have been hard, and extremely painful. To say 'take Rose' would go against his protective nature- a huge sacrifice. I couldn't help it; I cried. He really had given up everything for me to have the best future. God, I loved him. So bloody much. He never failed to surprise me. He wouldn't want to lose me on a mission, but, after the caves, he clearly thought me losing him again was unacceptable. It made me love him more.
"Rose? What's wrong? Why are you crying?"
I sniffled. "Dimitri. Giving up everything for me- time and again. He did this so I could have the best possible future, so I wouldn't have to face losing him again. This is more than professional. It's a personal sacrifice." Extremely personal. "I need to call-" my ringing phone interrupted me. Watching again. "Dimitri."
"Roza," all the love, worry, and support rang through.
"Why? Why'd you give up your future for mine?"
"Because I love you. I won't send you through that pain again, Roza. I just won't. I swore to protect you- this is me protecting you from the pain of losing me again."
"Dimitri Belikov! If I die on a mission, it'll rip you apart. It'll hurt Liss, but you'll likely follow me. If I die, you and Liss have to keep going- don't you dare let me die in vain, Dimitri!" 'I love you.'
"Then don't die. I love you too."
"Where are you?"
"Just outside a class."
"Risky Belikov, very risky."
"Worth it."
'Screw you!' I mentally teased.
"Love you too, Roza."
"I better go," I sighed dejectedly.
"Good luck tonight. Stay safe, and kick ass!"
"Thanks. And I will."
"Bye Roza."
"Bye Dimitri," I reluctantly hung up. 'You may be bound to me Dimitri, but you're still totally clueless to how much I love you.'
"What was that about, Rose?"
"A warning. A warning and a request. Well, a demand is more like it."
"Do we want to know?"
"No. You don't. Come on- we have ass' waiting to be kicked."
"Yeah, we do."
I touched up my make up and we set off. Starting with the same clubs as last night then adding three more. We continued in the same fashion as the last night:
Find target
Follow
Corner
Fight
Kill
Get the alchemists to do clean-up and kill count
Repeat.
Dimitri rand again just as I was about to drop onto the bed.
