Tasha'sPOV
Dimka came to collect me again. This was the third day he'd been nothing but a cold, emotionless guardian prisoner escort around me. I couldn't stand it any longer. I couldn't hold my tongue.
"Why did they choose you, Dimitri? Why not Rose?" I suspected I knew. Because she wouldn't be able to stop herself from attacking me.
"You don't get to speak her name," he growled. "Not after the way you killed her."
"Why are you my escort?" I pressed.
He still refused to look at me. "Because Rose is already under too much stress."
"Oh."

Dimka led me back to the spot I'd sat the past two days, at the defendant's table. He then returned to Rose and Christian's sides. His hand slid into hers and he leaned down to kiss her cheek. Ew! We were in a courtroom. She smiled up at him, a tight-lipped smile, but her eyes radiated with a love for him that made my stomach turn.

Lissa's entrance was announced and Rose moved to her side. Just like the obedient little guardian. Dimitri placed a hand on Christian's shoulder in a show of solidarity and support. Both their faces caused guilt and remorse to rise up in me. I was the one person Christian believed wholeheartedly would never hurt him. Yet, here I sat, on trial and likely to be executed because I couldn't control my passion for my causes. I had betrayed him. I had betrayed so many because I thought it was for the greater good. Who was I now? How had I become this... this... monster?

Rose was called to the stand. She swore to tell the truth. And I had no doubt in my mind that she would. That girl never lied. Hid things? Maybe. But I had never once known her to lie. She would lay out the facts like the indifferent guardian she had been trained to be... by the man I loved so wholeheartedly it caused a green monster to rise up in me whenever I looked at her. Had I really killed the passionate girl Dimitri loved so entirely?

"Are you certain you are fine, Guardian Hathaway?"
"It's Mazur-Belikova, and yes, I am," she corrected the judge.

I looked to Lissa to see support, pride, and happiness radiating through her queenly mask. She, at least, had known. My eyes darted to Dimitri and nothing but pure love and absolute pride shone on his face. Since when the hell had they gotten married? I had my contacts and I had heard nothing of rumours of them marrying. My shock was mirrored throughout the courtroom. Even her parents were scowling at her and glaring at Dimitri. His eyes moved to theirs and he shrugged. "What else did you expect?" was what I'm pretty sure he mouthed. Did he really backchat Abe Mazur and Janine Hathaway? I never thought he had it in him. Christian stood between his guardian and Rose's parents. He looked as unsurprised as his girlfriend.
"We'll discuss this later, boy," Abe hissed back.
Dimitri looked undeterred and almost indifferent.

"Alright then, Guardian Mazur-Belikova," and Rose's testifying began. The girl had been put up on that stand and under oath at least three times in under a year. I almost felt sorry for her. Almost.