Building the Tension | ✔ | 18+

Chapter 38 - Licking Our Wounds

When Dimitri and I arrived at the door to the banquet room, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. Just grabbing and holding his hand seemed so simple, but it was so rife with meaning that I didn't immediately reach for him, even though I knew I could. Even though some girls - including Lissa - dream about growing old together with someone or walking through the park as senior citizens holding hands, I had never thought that was in the cards for me as a guardian. Although I certainly hoped so, I wasn't even sure if we would live long enough to retire. Though sweet, and certainly conveying a message about our connection to each other, it also seemed a little childish to walk around holding hands.

I hadn't even realized I was still standing there in the doorway, unmoving. Most of the people in the room hadn't seen me yet, but they were all waiting for either Lissa or me.

Before I could question it any further, Dimitri put a hand around my waist and whispered in my ear, "Rose, are you feeling nervous? You seem uncomfortable."

I looked straight at my mother, across the room, and nodded, then said to Dimitri - whose hand was still around my waist - , without breaking eye contact with my mother, "What will they all think?"

Dimitri used the hand on my waist to steer my body, turning my face to his. "Roza, you are eighteen, which makes you legally an adult. You have killed more Strigoi than most guardians ever live to see. You have saved lives. And most recently, you not only obtained a promise mark, but you received the single highest final trials score ever recorded by a dhampir novice at any academy. They will think you are an exceptionally strong, intelligent woman who is now free to make her own choices. And I hope that you choose me." With that, Dimitri placed a kiss on my forehead and then took my hand in his own, pulling me into the room.

The room was filled with people Lissa and I knew and loved - many of whom were also graduating: both of my parents, Lissa, Christian, Jill, Eddie, a few other students, Doctor Oldendzki, Yuri, and Alberta. When they saw me enter, everyone clapped or cheered. I wasn't used to the attention, which was usually all on Lissa.

Jill walked up to me and immediately gave me a big hug. "Rose! I'm so happy to see you! I was so worried earlier! And I'm so glad you're okay!" she said, sounding very much like her usually happy and chatty self, but then: "Oh!" she exclaimed as she looked at our joined hands together. Most of the people in the room still didn't appear to have really noticed it yet. Jill's eyes got bigger than I had ever seen them and then she smiled. "You're ... together - aren't you? When did this happen?"

I couldn't find my ability to speak, so Dimitri answered for me, "Officially, right after Rose's trials."

Jill let out a light chuckle and asked, "But unofficially?"

"Let's just say that we've known how we felt about each other for a while," I told her, seeing Alberta and my mother both within hearing distance.

Alberta walked up and gave me a hug, saying, "You know, Rose, you and Dimitri are not my problem anymore. It doesn't matter to me what you do - as long as it didn't happen while you were a student here!" I could've sworn she winked at me as she finished her statement. She whispered in a low tone, "So sorry about how things worked out with your flowers earlier. Dimitri picked them out, but I helped him get the approval for the flowers and donuts to be delivered after your trials. I've arranged for the flowers to be delivered to your dorm room before you leave, but I couldn't figure out where the donuts went to get those to you."

For the first time, my dhampir appetite seemed to be a thing of embarrassment when I told her, "Actually, I ate them."

My mother, picking up part of the conversation asked, "Ate what?" at nearly the same time that Alberta asked, with wide eyes, "All of them?"