[ here it is. the last chapter of haunting until we get a season 2 of the show. this wait will be unbearable. but thanks for sticking with me through this book and loving it as much as i have! also, it's on ao3 for those that like the option to download complete works on their devices — under the same username as i have on here !

also, if you do like my book, i've got a couple more of different fandoms that you could check out (some are worse than others ha). but anyway, i give the last of mischa and dimitri for the time being ]

☾

THEY TOLD ME YOU DIED.

[ season 1 — episode 10 ]

It took some time to get through the streets of the Dominion with Mia's limp. In Dimitri's defense, he offered to carry the much smaller girl, but they ended up agreeing to just let him support her weight. That way, he'd be free to fight if the need arose. But finally, the four of them somehow managed to find Jesse Zeklos in the midst of all the chaos happening in the city.

He was walking with his back turned to them, a Dhampir named Silver at his side as she held an umbrella over him. Everyone at the Academy at least knew of Silver if they didn't know her. She was a blood whore — a Dhampir who chose not to be a Guardian or go to the communes and instead earned money by letting Moroi bite them during sex. But she also had a few odd jobs around the province and could often be seen escorted at formal events by the occasional lonely, older Moroi man who wanted her on their arm in public given how beautiful she was.

It was clear that Jesse and Silver were leaving together, which was certainly an odd sight. But they both had packed bags and were holding each other tightly as they walked. Though Silver wasn't a Guardian, she still had the senses and could tell when four people were walking directly toward them.

"You've got company," Silver muttered, getting Jesse's attention. He came to a stop and turned his sunglasses-covered eyes toward them.

"We need your car," Mia told him.

Jesse scoffed at the request. "Fսck off," he muttered before turning to keep walking.

"Jesse," Silver said softly, putting her hand on his chest. His SUV had three rows, so there was no reason not to bring them. And having a real Guardian couldn't hurt, he supposed.

"Fine. We'll all go," Jesse muttered before pulling Silver along.

Mischa sighed in relief and followed after them with the others. She was fairly certain that Dimitri would've threatened Jesse or simply stolen his car keys with force if it meant getting them out of the province before nightfall, so it was a good thing it didn't come to that.

Once he was close enough, Jesse unlocked the large SUV which was under a covered parking spot. He wasted no time in popping the trunk and throwing his and Silver's things in the back. Then he looked back and saw the others were lagging because of Mia's injured foot.

"Fuck, Mia," he grumbled. "Pick up the pace."

Dimitri rolled his eyes and ended up practically lifting Mia off the ground while she responded with, "Don't be a fucking dick, Jesse."

"Oh, he doesn't know how," Mischa joked, walking to the right side of the car and opening the door.

"Thank you, Jesse, for your profound generosity during these troubled times," Jesse said sarcastically, rolling his eyes.

They managed to reign in the jokes as the six of them loaded into the car. While Jesse and Silver took the front — Dimitri argued that he should drive, and Jesse responded by threatening to kick all of them out, as he was the only person he trusted behind the wheel of his own car — Lissa and Mia sat in the middle row while Dimitri kept next to Mischa in the back seat. He reached across for her seatbelt, pulling it down and buckling it for her.

"I can do that myself," she whispered with a small smile on her face.

Instead of telling her that he did it because he just wanted to, Dimitri kissed her temple and stayed pressed to her side in the middle seat.

The rumbling of the car starting pulled Dimitri's eyes forward once more. "The southern route that runs through Main Street will get us to the nearest gate the quickest," he told him.

"Yeah," Jesse said, scoffing. "It's not as if I frequently leave the fucking grounds or anythin—"

Jesse cut himself off when his father suddenly ran up to the right side of the car. He was in a frantic state, having just run from the Council chamber while it was being attacked by Strigoi. He pulled open Silver's door.

"Jesse, finally. Where the fսck have you been?" Lord Zeklos asked.

"Dad, I—"

But Dane wasn't interested in hearing explanations. He eyed the crowd in the car and quickly decided who was worthy to live and who wasn't. "Right, the Guardian and the twins can stay — the rest of you, get out."

"How could you say that?" Mischa asked, leaning forward to glare at the man.

"There's room for everyone if we just move up," Jesse said, actually managing to stick up for himself against the man for once.

Dane glared right at Silver, the hatred for her and her kind evident. "Not her."

"It's certain fսcking death out there," he argued.

"Well, that's her problem, isn't it? I'm not getting in until she gets out. She's a filthy fucking blood whοre," he seethed.

But then Silver's eyes slid past Dane and over his shoulder, seeing something lurking in the shadows. "You really need to get in."

Dane rolled his eyes at her. "Oh, don't start with your pathetic pleas for clemency."

Lissa quickly pushed her door open to try and pull him in. "But, Lord Zeklos, please—"

As soon as the Strigoi jumped down and onto the hood of the car next to them, Dimitri threw his whole body over the seats and pulled the door shut once again. Silver shut hers as well, making sure to lock it. Dane finally realized the danger as he looked at the Strigoi that was covered in blood and screamed.

"Drive!" Mischa shouted, honestly not giving a fuck about Dane Zeklos' life at that moment.

"Jesse! Son!" Dane yelled, yanking on the locked handle.

"Drive!" Dimitri repeated, knowing that the Strigoi was getting too close, and they needed to get back in the sunlight.

"Sorry," Jesse said to his father, throwing the car into reverse. "No room."

The wheels screeched as he backed out of the spot and into the sunlight, leaving his father behind and at the mercy of the Strigoi. When Mischa looked out the window, Dimitri quickly pulled her head back into his chest so that she couldn't see as the Strigoi killed him, tearing into his jugular.

The car was painfully silent as Jesse drove away from the scene, the realization that he'd abandoned his father sinking in. Could someone have prevented it? Could Dimitri have managed to get out of the car in time? Could Mischa have used her magic? Even so, they didn't, and Jesse drove away without asking for them to help the man.

"Jesse," Mischa began softly, for once sympathizing with him. "We—"

"He was an abusive dick who deserved worse," Jesse said, tightening his grip on the steering wheel.

"Never mind," she muttered under her breath while sinking back into her seat and getting over the shock of Lord Zeklos dying. Well, she supposed Jesse was the Lord Zeklos now.

As they drove, none of them could keep from looking at the wreckage in the streets. Once they got to Main Street, it was evident that most of the people were sheltering there, likely finding strength in numbers. There wasn't really anywhere else to go, anyway. Especially those that were injured — and many people were injured.

"Look at them," Silver said sadly, watching them as Jesse slowly drove past. "At sunset, they're all just sitting ducks to the Strigoi."

"There's so many still left behind," Mischa whispered, knowing that they'd be dead when the sun set in two hours if the wards weren't put back up in time. It felt wrong to leave them when she knew she could use her magic to fight. And if the Moroi saw her fighting, maybe they'd do the same.

Lissa rolled down her window and leaned out a bit when she spotted a familiar Novice. A woman was kneeling next to Eddie, looking over his injured elbow. The fabric of his jacket was covered in blood, looking as if a Strigoi ripped a huge chunk out of his arm. It was evident that he was in pain given the tears on his cheeks.

"Stop the car," Lissa said suddenly. And as Jesse slowly rolled to a stop, she pulled up the hood of her cloak and opened the door to get out.

"Get back in the car, Vasilisa," Dimitri said, getting ready to drag her back in.

"It's not safe," Mia agreed.

"It's Eddie. He's wounded," she said softly, looking back at the boy. "There are so many people here who are wounded and scared, and they can't just drive out of here. I'm sorry, but I can't leave. Queen Marina didn't."

"And look what happened to her," Mia snapped.

Lissa looked at Mischa, both remembering their last moments with the Queen. Then Mischa nodded and unbuckled her seatbelt. Dimitri moved to stop her, but she just pushed his hand back. "This is our place—"

"—Especially now," Lissa finished, smiling sadly at her sister. So, Mischa pulled her hood up and followed Lissa out of the SUV — and of course, Dimitri was right behind her, knowing there was no point in arguing. "Thank you, Jesse," Lissa told him before starting toward Eddie.

"Wait," Mia said. Then she got out as well, grimacing as she put weight on her foot. "Oh, fuck." The sisters looked at her in surprise, knowing this would be the only way Mia could get out of the city, and she was giving it up. "What? I'm not gonna let you do this alone. Thanks, Jesse. You're not always a complete dick."

"Debatable," Mischa teased, looking through Silver's open window.

"Hey, try not to get yourselves killed," Jesse said as Lissa and Mia started toward Eddie.

"We won't," she assured him. Then she looked at the Dhampir in the passenger seat. "If he steps out of line with you, punch him in the nose again for me."

Then with Dimitri's guiding hand on her back, Mischa followed after her sister and Mia. They had reached Eddie, and Lissa was carefully looking at his arm.

"Don't worry," Lissa said softly as Dimitri and Mischa helped him get the jacket off. "It's gonna be okay."

"Wh - what are you doing?" Eddie asked, watching how Lissa hovered her hand over his arm. He hadn't been by the car to see her heal Dean that night of the field test Benchmarks. Slowly, Lissa's hands began to glow, as did the gashes in his arm. They all watched as his wound healed over, leaving behind a faint scar and traces of blood. Eddie held out his arm and looked at it with wide eyes. "Holy... shit."

Even Dimitri's eyes were a bit larger — hearing Rose tell him about it outside of Clarice's rundown apartment as opposed to seeing Lissa heal for the first time with his own eyes was quite startling. It had all those questions about the Elemental order of the world rushing to the front of his mind yet again. The Dragomir sisters just kept contradicting everything he believed in, though he knew that wasn't such a bad thing this time around.

☾

Lissa was healing. Lissa was healing way too much. But anytime Mischa told her to stop and rest, her sister would just ignore her or snap about how she was meant to help these people. So, when she started going pale and the bags appeared under her eyes, Mischa had to walk away so that she didn't have to watch it happen.

Dimitri was in an un-shaded and Strigoi-free alley, keeping an eye on the streets — on Mischa. Now that he found her, Dimitri wouldn't dare take his eyes off her again. So, he knew when she was headed toward him and away from the injured crowd that was waiting for Lissa to heal them. Though she looked concerned, when she laid eyes on him, she smiled.

"There he is," Mischa said, missing him at her side. As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around his waist, drawing herself closer to him. "My pretty boy."

"Pretty boy?" he questioned, raising an eyebrow with a hint of a smile. Though in the sunlight, she could see the tips of his ears growing red. He'd have been a flustered mess if she dared to call him that in front of others.

"Yes," she said, nodding confidently. "You're very pretty, Guardian Belikov. And you are mine."

"That I am," he murmured, leaning down to kiss her softly.

When they parted, Mischa turned around in his arms so that she could lean against his chest. And she kept her back to the street, not wanting to see Lissa tire herself out even more. She just enjoyed her time in Dimitri's arms while thinking back on the last exhausting two days.

"Why didn't you tell me you were facing prison? Death?" Mischa asked softly. She turned her head upward to look at him. "You've been lecturing me about honesty with each other since day one when we left the wards without telling you."

"What could you have done other than worry and potentially do something to get yourself in the cell next to me?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I wouldn't have gotten myself locked up," she said, rolling her eyes.

"I know you well, Princess," Dimitri said, the corners of his lips turning up. "And I couldn't risk you knowing and getting yourself in trouble too. It's my job to protect you from everything, even yourself, sometimes."

Mischa looked down, knowing he wasn't entirely wrong. Had she known what Dimitri was really facing in the trial, she'd have brought in all her friends and found a way to break him out or something equally as troublesome.

"You don't know me that well," she mumbled, letting out a little scoff.

He leaned down, his lips brushing her ear. "I do know you."

"What's my favorite food?"

"French fries with far too much salt and ketchup on them, and AB positive if we're counting feeders," he answered, not even having to think about it. He settled his chin on top of her shoulder, tightening his arms around her waist. "What's my favorite book?"

"Not fair," she said, laughing. "You have way too many. But it's certainly one of the countless tacky westerns you adore."

Dimitri turned his head slightly and playfully nipped at her neck with his teeth. "They aren't tacky," he argued. "And your favorite book is the third Twilight book."

"It's called Eclipse," she corrected, giggling. "Speaking of books, I didn't recognize a lot of them that you had. What's Long Walk to Freedom?"

"It's an autobiography written by a great human," he explained, figuring he could loan it to her once this was all over.

"You read a lot about them," she noted.

Dimitri simply nodded. "I do."

"Why?"

"Even in the worst possible circumstances, they seem to have the ability to believe something better is possible. I envy it. There is more grace in that hope than all the prayers I've ever uttered," he explained, turning her in his arms so that she was facing him. "You can't make a world you can't envision. You have always had that ability since the moment I met you."

"It's easy enough to dream of a better future when I have someone like you in my present," Mischa said softly. Then she smiled. "Even if I didn't want you in it when we first met."

"Trust me, Princess," he said, cupping her face. "I'm never leaving your side again."

"Good," she murmured, leaning up on her toes and hooking her fingers in his belt loops to pull him closer.

Dimitri met her mouth halfway, kissing her a bit more forcefully than the last time. When his tongue traced her lips, Mischa happily let him inside, sliding her hands up his chest and into his hair. He pulled her against him, his thigh slotting between her legs, earning a soft whimper from her.

"Well, this certainly isn't proper Guardian-Moroi conduct."

"Oh," Mischa said, pulling back quickly from the kiss and rolling her eyes, annoyed at being interrupted. "Fuck off, you lurker—"

"Mischa," Dimitri cut her off, looking over her shoulder with wide eyes. He looked like he was seeing a ghost.

A second later, she realized why as her brain actually registered whose voice she was hearing. It had been so long that she was starting to forget what he sounded like. But slowly, Mischa turned around, and all the breath left her body when she saw who was standing across from her.

He looked tired and was covered in scrapes and bruises. But he wasn't dead. He was alive.

"Andre?" Mischa asked, her voice shaking. Her legs were as well, and a moment later, they gave out. Dimitri kept her from completely dropping, slowing down her fall.

Then Andre — her brother — was there, crouching in front of her and cradling her face gently. Mischa shook her head in his hands, denial coursing through her.

"You - you're not here," she whispered, the tremor in her voice undeniable. "This isn't - this isn't hap — You're dead. You died. They told me you died."

"I'm here, baby sis," Andre murmured, wiping away her tears with his thumbs, though they were quickly replaced with more. "I'm alive and I'm here."

Mischa choked on a sob before surging forward and wrapping her arms around him tightly. He hugged her back just as forcefully, content to never let go. Andre kissed her forehead over and over again, rocking back and forth gently.

"I - I missed you so much," she cried, clenching her eyes shut, hoping this wasn't a dream. "I love you so much. I love you."

"I love you, too," he whispered. "Not a day went by where I didn't think of you and Liss."

"Oh, my god, Lissa! We - we have to find Lissa," Mischa said, pulling back a little. But she still stared at him for a moment longer, taking in his warm eyes and the smile on his face. "You're really here, right?"

"I think your friend with all the tongue can confirm I'm real," Andre teased, his eyes flashing back toward Dimitri.

"That's Dimitri," she half-heartedly introduced without taking her eyes off her brother. Mischa had finally found someone she'd rather look at than Dimitri and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"Yeah, I've heard a lot about him," he admitted.

"How? Where have you been, Andre?" Mischa asked, gripping his hands tight. "Why weren't you here?"

"It's a long story. Let's go find the littlest Dragomir so I can tell it," he said. As Andre stood, he helped Mischa stand as well. Her legs were far too shaky to do it on her own still. While they walked, Andre kept an arm around Mischa, the Guardian trailing behind them and giving the reunited siblings their space.

Lissa was sitting next to Mia and healing her foot finally, not caring how tired it made her. And while doing so, she revealed to Mia how she saved Rose's life in the car accident and created the bond. As it turned out, Sonya did something similar with the birds she so frequently befriended. Mia had no idea she'd been bringing them back to life and creating a bond with them — she really hadn't been exaggerating when she said she talked to the birds.

"Like Sonya with all the birds that she saved? And I called her the bird lady," Mia said, her eyes watering. She'd made fun of Sonya so much, and now she'd never get her back.

"She knew how much you loved her," Lissa told her softly. "Just like I knew how much Andre loved me."

"I'm glad you know," Andre spoke up now that they were close enough. The area was covered with a tent, so his hood was pulled back, showing off his face clearly.

Both girls looked up, one appearing far more shocked than the other. Mia's blood ran cold, but Lissa only smiled sadly and tiredly up at him, unaffected by his appearance at Mischa's side. "I should have known all this healing would mean a visit from you," she said, thinking he was just another Spirit-induced vision.

"Andre," Mia said, a tremble in her voice. Lissa looked at her questioningly, slowly realizing that maybe she wasn't the only one seeing him.

Andre smiled at his ex-fiance. If you'd have told him all those months ago that he'd ever be happy to see the girl, he'd have laughed in your face. "Mia."

Lissa slowly stood up, keeping her eyes glued to him. "No, this can't be real," she said, shaking her head.

"That's what I said," Mischa said, letting out a mix between a laugh and a cry. "But it's real, Liss."

"It is," Andre assured her, smiling.

"Oh, Andre," Lissa said, rushing into his arms. Andre hugged her tightly just like he had Mischa, letting her cry against his chest while holding her. Then he pulled their middle sibling into the mix, none of the three wanting to let each other go. "I never thought I would see you again."

"I'm here, Lissa," he whispered. "I'm here."

As the siblings reunited, Dimitri walked around to Mia's side. Though she was in shock, she let the Guardian check over her half-healed foot to give the Dragomirs a little privacy, neither able to imagine what they were all feeling.

"But how? Where have you been?" Lissa asked, pulling back a little bit.

Andre stood in front of them both, keeping a hand cradling each of their cheeks gently. "I'll tell you everything in time. And I know what you've been through. I am so proud of you both," he said, looking between them. Vladimir knew Tatiana never shut up about the twins, the oldest in particular. "But you have to get out of the Dominion now." Then Andre placed some kind of small, circular, wooden object in Lissa's gloved hand. "Tatiana isn't who she says she is. It's not safe—"

No one, not even the nearby Guardians and Novices saw her creeping up, covered with a thick cloak. But Andre was cut off when Moira Ozera threw the cloak back and sank her fangs into his neck from behind, draining him of his blood.

"No!" Lissa screamed, stumbling backward while grasping Andre's hand. "No, no, no! Andre, please stay with me! Stay with me! No, no!"

And Mischa froze. She couldn't move or scream or even think of saving her brother with her magic. Killing two Strigoi didn't help her at all in this situation. She'd never been so useless as all she could do was watch as he was being killed for a second time.

Dimitri didn't freeze, though. Neither did Christian, who wandered over and acted despite hesitating for a moment at seeing his mother. However, the two didn't coordinate their attacks that came from different directions. As Christian shot a blast of fire at Moira, she sidestepped it, meaning that she also dodged Dimitri when he lunged at her.

Moira pulled her mouth away from Andre's neck as she moved, deciding then and there to not kill him. She did something much worse as she bit into her wrist and forced it to Andre's mouth, making him drink her blood.

"No!" Mischa finally shouted, realizing yet another brother was being made into a Strigoi. She threw her hands up and shot a blast of air toward them to try and separate them, but it was too late as Moira dragged Andre off mid-transition.

Mischa couldn't breathe as Lissa grabbed onto her desperately. She choked on a sob as Lissa fell to the ground, and a moment later, Mischa went too, her whole world feeling like it was spinning. Her fingers dug into the stone streets, her magic finally rearing its head too late as she clung to the ground.

Dimitri had tried to run after Moira and Andre, but they ducked down a tunnel that was full of others, and he couldn't risk it, meaning he had to return. And seeing Mischa broken on the street felt like he'd been punched in the chest, knowing this was because he wasn't fast enough to save Andre.

It was the car crash all over again. No, it was Mikhail all over again. And if Mischa lost another person to this monstrous world, she didn't think she'd survive one more time.

☾

Sundown was minutes away, and practically every able-bodied Guardian left was gathered in a clearing in the woods. It was the area where the wards were put up by the monks. And apparently, the High Priestess and Christian had plans to get the wards back up. It involved a theory that St. Vladimir imbued an ancient stake with Spirit, so to recreate it, Christian needed Lissa to try and do the same.

So, with Mia and Dimitri in tow, Christian took the sisters that were mourning their brother all over again to the same spot in the woods. They all found umbrellas to keep over them, but with how low in the sky the sun was and the additional cover from the trees, they hardly needed it.

Mischa was leaning heavily against Dimitri, who could do nothing to make the situation better aside from holding her. But even that would have to stop when the sun went down and the Strigoi arrived. Her eyes were burning from the crying and her throat was aching from screaming.

A practically lifeless Lissa and Mischa were led to a large rock to sit down on. Mia went over to Meredith, hugging her tightly while crying over Andre. Once Mischa was sitting down, she looked up at Dimitri and nodded over at the Guardians.

"Go," she said hoarsely. "They need you."

"You need me more," he argued, crouching in front of her, knowing there were still a few minutes that he could spend at her side.

Mischa leaned in and left a lingering kiss on his cheek. "I'll be okay," she lied, her throat feeling tight. "An hour ago, he was dead. Now he is again." Then she lightly pushed his shoulders. "Just go. You're the best leader they have."

Reluctantly, Dimitri did leave and joined his fellow Dhampir. It only took seconds before he began throwing out instructions, teaming up with Rose's mother, who arrived a few hours ago. "We have to hold the line until the wards go back up. They're just waiting for sunset to attack. We can't let them through."

"Hey, look," Christian said to Lissa, needing her to focus in spite of everything. "I know it's a lot to ask, but if this works, I go to the ward line, I use the stake and the pillar, and we can close the wards. And if it doesn't, the Strigoi keep coming. Will you try?"

Lissa nodded weakly, and he pulled out the stake the High Priestess gave him to use. Mischa put a comforting hand on her sister's shoulder, hoping that she could do this. The rest of the lives in the St. Vladimir province were counting on this as their last hope. Lissa grabbed the stake tightly and focused all her energy on conjuring the Spirit. But she'd simply pushed herself too far with the healing earlier, and Andre's sudden appearance and losing him again certainly didn't help. Lissa could only stop and pant, looking at Christian apologetically.

"I want to, but I just don't think I have anything left to give," she said weakly. Christian didn't show his disappointment, knowing he couldn't imagine how exhausted she must have been. He simply rubbed her hands comfortingly.

"It's okay," Mischa whispered, standing from the rock. If they weren't going to get the wards up, then she'd have to help any way she could.

"Lissa! Mischa!" Rose shouted, running over to them. As soon as she was there, more tears fell from Lissa's eyes, needing Rose more than she ever had.

"Andre, he..."

"I know," Rose said, having seen it through the bond. She hugged Lissa tightly, rubbing her back.

"The sun's going down," Mischa said, wiping her eyes. Fog was rolling in as the area grew dimmer, and the sound of snarling reached their ears, meaning the Strigoi were close. She could overhear the Dhampir calling out orders to each other and getting in formation.

"It's now or never, Lissa," Christian said, seeing the Strigoi begin to come out of the treeline.

"You're not alone. We can do this together," Rose told Lissa, helping her hold the stake.

Lissa closed her eyes and tried again, this time knowing that she was pulling the light from Rose. Slowly, it began to work, and the stake started to glow a golden color as Lissa imbued it with Spirit. Once she was finished and the magic stopped flowing, Lissa's eyes rolled back and she passed out just in time for the Strigoi to attack.

"Eddie!" Rose called, needing him to get Lissa away from the battle.

The Novice rushed over and lifted her effortlessly. "I'll get her somewhere safe," he promised while rushing into the trees and away from the horde of Strigoi that were beginning to attack.

It only took seconds for chaos to evolve all around them. The Strigoi seemed like they were coming from every direction, each Dhampir fighting for their lives.

"You need to go with Eddie!" Dimitri shouted while pinning a Strigoi to a pillar and staking her.

Mischa was next to him, keeping her eyes on Mia to make sure no one went after her. And as soon as a Strigoi came near her, Mischa conjured up a line of fire that she shot at him. It didn't fully engulf him, but it had him running off to find another target.

"I can take care of myself!" Mischa told Dimitri as more Strigoi came out of the woodwork.

Though Mischa didn't have a stake, she was still useful. She didn't really kill any — like Lissa, she was far too exhausted emotionally and physically to pull any big feats of magic. But she could use Air to push a Strigoi off of a Dhampir or use Earth to make one lose its footing, giving a Guardian time to strike.

She never strayed far from Dimitri, and he made sure she was within fifteen feet at all times. And Mischa could see all her friends too from her position at the very center of the fight. Mason and Dean were making quick work while fighting together. Though Meredith always preferred her classes that dealt with theoretical skills and battle strategy, she was still a great fighter. And Rose was a force to be reckoned with as she kept Strigoi off Christian as he tried to reach the pillar with the hidden mechanism to re-engage the wards.

But the Strigoi just kept coming and coming. When one was killed, it felt like two more would take its place. It wasn't long before everyone was getting overwhelmed, ending up battling two or more at a time, fighting for their lives.

"Mischa, duck!" Dimitri shouted, seeing one lunging at her over her shoulder.

Mischa dropped and rolled out of the way, and Dimitri went after the Strigoi that barely missed her, throwing it against the base of a tree. But as soon as he staked it, another was on him. The scream that left Mischa's mouth when fangs dug into Dimitri's neck echoed around the fight, distracting almost everyone that was fighting with its deafening sound.

She scrambled up off the ground and threw her hands up, her palms glowing a bright gold color. "Get off him!" Mischa shouted.

A burst of air separated Dimitri and the Strigoi, pinning the monster to the tree. Then the branches grew and twisted until he was fully restrained against it. Mischa took one look at Dimitri, who was collapsed on the ground and completely out of it from the high that came with the bite.

She'd already lost her brother today. She couldn't see the same happen to him.

Mischa took in a deep breath and shut her eyes before letting out an exhausted scream once again, the glow around her hands increasing until it was almost blinding. Though she couldn't see them, it was like she could feel every single Strigoi around her.

All over, Strigoi began to drop as the Elements attacked them. The Water in their blood kept them frozen in place and unable to run. Air ripped stakes from Dhampir hands and sent them flying into chests. Roots shot up and tore them limb from limb. Fire engulfed their bodies, burning them alive as they roared in pain.

And Christian used the distraction to finally reach the pillar and find the hidden compartment the High Priestess told him about. He pressed a few tiles in a specific order before plunging the Spirit-imbued stake inside. Moments later, the wards went back up, cutting halfway through a Strigoi body as they did.

The Guardians began to cheer, but Mischa dropped from exhaustion. Even still, she had the energy to crawl to Dimitri. He was leaning weakly against the base of the tree, trying to keep his eyes open and focus on the real world.

"You'll be okay," Mischa breathed out, feeling his warm forehead. He'd never been bitten, so the euphoric feeling was all new to him. "The high will pass. You're okay."

Dimitri only let out a moan while holding her waist, thinking touching her would help ground him. But if anything, it only had his thoughts spinning with euphoric memories of her brought to the surface by the bite.

Then they all heard when Dean shouted, "Mason's down!"

Rose and Christian, who had been hugging excitedly, broke apart and ran over. Mischa was close enough to see and listen without leaving Dimitri's side. Mason was on his back and wasn't moving at all despite Meredith's attempts to rouse him.

"Mason. Oh, no, no," Rose said, freaking out when she saw he was barely breathing. "We have to get him to the infirmary."

"No, Rose," Mia said, standing behind her. She glanced over at Mischa and Dimitri, who was managing to get to his feet. "You and Dimitri need to get Mischa and Lissa out of the Dominion."

"No," Rose said, tears welling in her eyes. She didn't want to leave Mason behind. She didn't want him to be without her when he woke up.

Meredith put a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Mason would understand," she said softly. Then she glanced at the disoriented Dimitri, knowing he wasn't enough to protect them right now. "Go. They need you."

After a moment, Rose nodded through her tears. She leaned down and kissed Mason's forehead before running off with Mischa and Dimitri, knowing they had to find Lissa and Eddie right away.

☾

It wasn't safe for Mischa and Lissa to go back to their dorm room yet. So, Janine Hathaway was the one meant to go get clothes for the twins, knowing they couldn't travel without being noticed in large ball gowns. Good thing Mischa remembered where the human clothes they bought were stashed, making it easy enough for the Guardian to find.

Christian and Dean managed to track down a car before the Novice went off back to the Academy to check on Mason and his health. Rose and her mother worked to change a still unconscious Lissa out of her gown in the backseat of that car while Mischa did so behind another vehicle in the practically abandoned parking lot that held Guardian-issued vehicles.

"We'll take you to St. Ignatius," Dimitri said to Mischa, keeping his eyes trained on the area to make sure no one was lurking. The wards were up, but they couldn't be too careful. "Once the Council knows you are there and safe, then Lissa will be voted in as Queen like you said."

"And this will all be over," she murmured, letting her green, blood-stained gown pool around her feet. "We can find out what... Andre was trying to tell us about her. She had something to do with him disappearing. I know it."

Dimitri held out the folded clothes that included a light purple tank top and baggy black jeans. There was also a pair of white sneakers. Where was that comfortable outfit when she was in a warzone?

"Thanks," she said, starting with the pants and then shoving her feet into the shoes. Before pulling the shirt on, she spotted the puncture wounds on his neck, her stomach twisting at the sight. While slipping the tank top over her head, she had to ask, "How are you feeling?"

"Odd," he admitted since there was no one around to hear. Then his eyebrows drew in as he thought back on the bite. For a short moment, as he remembered the blanket of pure, golden pleasure that wrapped around him for those few seconds, he could almost understand why some Dhampir chose a life of letting Moroi feed off them instead of becoming a Guardian. Dimitri shook his head and looked away shamefully. "I'll recover."

Mischa could see what he was thinking about himself, so she stepped closer, not caring about her feet on the dress as she put her hand on his cheek. "It's not a sin to like how it felt — that's sort of the whole point of the bite. You're not weak or any less of a Guardian for it. All that matters is that you're alive."

Dimitri nodded before meeting her eyes and covering her hand with his own. "I am because of you," he said softly, a proud look in his eyes. Though his vision and mind have been clouded, he knew she'd killed countless Strigoi with her magic. "You were amazing, Printsessa."

"Maybe," she said with a smile, "but it felt like I was hit by a truck afterward. I'm still exhausted."

"You'll have plenty of time to rest in the car."

She moved closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Only if you hold me in your arms the whole ride."

He smirked and leaned down, kissing her jaw. "Only if Janine doesn't say anything. That woman terrifies me." It got Mischa to laugh for the first time in a long time, which had been his goal — well, actually, he was rather fearful of the best Guardian in the Dominion.

"Let's get on the road," Mischa said, bending down to pick up her dress. "I've been missing St. Ignatius, anyway."

"I can't begin to wonder why," he mused, raising an amused eyebrow.

"Hmm, guess I'll have to give you a reminder," she told him, going up on her toes to kiss him.

However, the sound of every unbroken TV left in the province turning on kept her from doing so. An official Royal broadcast was being made, but who could be doing it if the Queen was dead? Dimitri and Mischa quickly joined the others at the car. Though there wasn't a screen near, they could clearly hear when Tatiana Vogel began speaking.

"This Dominion was nearly lost. Today was everything I've been warning of." Mischa and Rose shared a look before scoffing in sync. "Thankfully, I was prepared. And we are still standing. Someone asked me why I worked so hard to be Queen, and the answer is simple. Why does anyone do anything? For love. And so, with the unanimous vote of the Council... I consent to be your queen."

"What the fuck?" Mischa asked, shaking with rage. Her head whirled around as she looked in the direction of the castle. She instantly began stomping away from the car. "If she thinks for even a second she — hey!"

Janine grabbed the waistband of Mischa's jeans and pulled her back as if she was a small child. And it was a good thing too, as a few moments later, Tatiana kept speaking, this time with a crown on her head.

"And a word for all members of the Dominion. If anyone knows the whereabouts of the dangerously overpowered Mischa Dragomir, she's wanted for questioning in the assassination of Queen Marina. The same is said for her sister, Vasilisa."

"Dangerous?" Mischa repeated, scoffing. But then the realization sank in that she and Lissa were the prime suspects in Queen Marina's death. After all, the Guardians who knew what happened were dead too. With Tatiana on the throne, neither girl stood a chance, especially after receiving Andre's warning. Mischa looked at Rose, the both of them drowning in dread. "We're not going to St. Ignatius, are we?"

☾

It was daylight again, but the Dragomirs weren't any safer. Not when they were still in the province, even if at the very outskirts where no one would find them. A decision had been reached on what to do, and it was one Mischa hated.

They were going to run. Not all of them — just Rose, Lissa, and Mischa on their own. No Janine. No Christian. No Dimitri.

A black umbrella for Mischa was abandoned on the grass as she and Dimitri stood underneath the shade of a large willow tree. This was the time to say goodbye as they were waiting for Lissa to wake up, but saying goodbye felt like the most impossibly painful thing in the world.

"Wear a seatbelt," Dimitri reminded her. "I don't think any of you three even know how to make the car go faster."

"Um, the gas pedal," she said, rolling her eyes playfully.

"And which one is that?"

Mischa hesitated, not quite sure of the answer. "The... middle one?"

"You are not driving," he said, shaking his head. Then he let out a sigh and looked down at her once more. "It must be a curse to know what it's like to wake up to you in the morning, that sweet face full of sleep."

"Please, don't make this harder," Mischa whispered, her eyes watering. "You know, even in the human world, we were chased down. There is no out there or in here for us now. There's just the world. None of it's safe for Liss or me."

"Until Tatiana is taken down, and order is restored in the Dominion," Dimitri told her, finally knowing where he stood without any doubts holding him back. Then he smiled sadly down at his girl, knowing he'd go to any length to protect her. "Protection comes in many forms."

"I know you need to stay here," she said, refusing to let the tears fall.

"I don't want you to leave."

"I don't want to either," she whispered.

Dimitri clenched his jaw, doing his best to not cry as well. "It would have been..."

She finished for him, knowing exactly how he felt. "Everything."

"Princess, I could come," Dimitri said, tucking a strand of dark hair behind her ear. "Just ask, and I will."

"It wouldn't be fair of me," she mumbled, looking down. "That's not who you are. You don't run, Dimitri."

"Did you know that I tried to be reassigned just a few weeks after meeting you?" Dimitri suddenly asked. "I tried to run then."

Mischa's eyes widened, looking back up at him. "What?"

Dimitri nodded while stepping a bit closer. "I could feel myself being pulled toward you with every day that passed, and it was torture. I wanted to leave — I had to get away from you. Every moment with you was agony, and my honor was hanging on by a mere thread that was fraying with every smile, look, touch."

He continued until her back was against the tree, and he placed his hands on either side of her, caging her in. "Though I soon realized there wasn't a corner of this earth far enough away to keep me from falling in love with you, Printsessa. And I wouldn't want to go there even if it did exist."

The few tears finally spilled over her cheeks at his admission. Mischa slid her arms around his neck, tangling her fingers in his hair to hold onto him. "I love you too, Cowboy," she murmured softly.

He leaned in to place a bruising kiss on her lips, pushing her up against the tree. Mischa could taste salty tears on his lips — a mix of both of theirs. It was as if every nerve ending in their bodies were singing and calling out for each other, as if they knew this was a goodbye.

Dimitri's warm hands sought out her waist and jaw for the last time, pulling her closer as he deepened the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth like it belonged there. It always had. And Mischa tugged on his hair tightly, refusing to let him go.

When they broke for air, he was soon diving back down, his lips finding her neck to kiss her there. Her head fell back against the tree, savoring the warm feeling that washed over her, missing it before it was even torn from her life.

"I love you," Dimitri murmured against her collarbone before kissing it. "I love you," he muttered to her jaw before his teeth scraped it. "I love you," he whispered against her lips, breathing in her air.

"I love you," Mischa repeated, pressing her forehead to his. "Even if we never see each other again."

"We'll see each other again," he promised, knowing he'd rather die. His misty eyes scanned her face, taking in each feature as if he didn't have every part of her body memorized. "You're my Moroi."

"You're my Dhampir," she whispered, more tears gathering. "No matter what."

Dimitri kissed her softer that time, holding her like she was the most delicate thing in the world. She melted against him, knowing she'd never feel this safe in the human world because his arms wouldn't be around her.

"Guardian Belikov," Janine spoke up, keeping a good amount of distance between the couple that parted as she called out to him. He sighed and turned his head to look at her, not caring about the scene she'd clearly witnessed. "It's time for them to go."

Janine had said goodbye to Rose. Christian said goodbye to Lissa. Dimitri and Mischa wouldn't be the exception. Hell, Rose didn't even get to see Mason one last time.

Dimitri took in a deep breath and took the first step away, knowing each one after would be just as horrible. But he surprised her by pulling something small from the pocket of his duster. When she saw the worn, tacky cover, Mischa cracked a grin.

"A western?" she asked.

"One of my favorites," he specified with a smile. "So you don't get too bored out there in between seeing the world."

"Thank you," she said, taking it and holding it to her chest like it was an irreplaceable, priceless artifact. "I'll bring it back to you, Cowboy."

"I'm counting on it, Princess," he said, leaning down to kiss her forehead. Dimitri had to say it again. "I love you."

"I love you too," she whispered so quietly, like she didn't want anything in the universe, not even the wind, to hear but him.

Then Dimitri took in a deep breath and walked away toward Janine. He couldn't look at her again or he might not let her leave.

Mischa stayed by the tree until she couldn't see Dimitri anymore, having disappeared down a trail with Christian and Janine to go back to the castle. Christian was the head of his family due to his aunt dying, so he couldn't risk running with the girls either.

Finally, Mischa managed to stop crying. She wiped the tears off her face and walked toward the car that Lissa and Rose were already in, holding the book from Dimitri tightly. The two best friends were in the front, so Mischa climbed in the back and shut up her umbrella, tossing it in the trunk with the small suitcases they'd all packed.

"I hope you know how to drive this thing," Rose said, watching as Lissa adjusted the rearview mirror.

"Because Vlad knows I don't," Mischa managed to joke despite her horribly depressed mood.

"I'm not sure, but what the hell? It's worth a shot, right?" Lissa said, making them all laugh. Then her smile dropped. "This is nothing like we ever planned when we talked about getting out of here."

"We're nothing like the two girls who made those plans," Rose said softly.

"I didn't want to be there then and I don't want to be here now," Mischa couldn't help but mutter, leaning her head against the cool window. Thankfully, the windows were tinted, meaning the sun couldn't burn her.

The three of them shared a look, knowing they couldn't put this off anymore. Lissa sighed and looked out the windshield. "You guys ready?"

Rose raised an eyebrow. "What do you think?"

Lissa just smiled. Then she grabbed the baseball hat that was up on the dashboard and slipped it over her head, along with a pair of sunglasses. After that, she looked down at the pedals.

"Now, which one is go?"

Mischa smiled at the slightly bent cover of the paperback in her hands, already missing the one who gave it to her. "Not the middle one."