Hey guys...

I'm so embarrassed to be updating this late, so please read the previous A/N for my reasons as to why this update is so ridiculously late... I'm sorry :(

Oh and no I did not magically turn into Richelle Mead overnight, so no; as much as I wish it was, Vampire Academy is not mine.

Enjoy the chapter,

LaraJade xxx

Mr. Fredericks was still coming to my cell every now and then, still asking his dumb questions and making inappropriate comments about Roza.

I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists as I watched him in front of me, smug as ever. I was about to kill this man.

"That Ivashkov is one lucky bastard!" he whistled, shaking his head and chuckling.

My head snapped up, "What did you just say" I growled. Rose wouldn't be with him. Would she? If she was, I was going to kill Adrian Ivashkov. He would never love her like I did.

"Hmm, you seem angry Belikov, why is that? Jealous?"

"Of course I'm not jealous, she. Is. My. Student. I'm concerned for her, Adrian Ivashkov", I sneered his name, "is not good for her." I hadn't meant to get so angry, but just the thought of him holding her, kissing her, touching her... it made my blood boil.

"Mm-hm...sure Belikov" he whispered as he winked at me.

I started to shake from anger, half from Mr. Fredericks and his infuriating ability to piss me off, and half from the idea of Rose and that Ivashkov kid together.

Mikhail stepped forward and ended the session as he always did "Get out. Right now."

I stared at Mikhail, shocked at the venom in his voice and the fact he had just spoken to Mr. Fredericks like that. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Mr. Fredericks looking at Mikhail will the same stunned look I had, only mine was filled with gratitude while his consisted of disgust and although he tried very hard to mask it; fear.

Mikhail spoke again, his voice like ice, effectively sending a shiver down my spine. "Did you not hear me? I said get out. I've had enough of this.", he took a deep breath and I could see him struggling with his control, "please." His voice was menacing and full of hatred. I could understand the fearsome look Mr. Fredericks now wore.

"R-r-r-right. Um, yes. Right away." He turned to me, "I'll see you soon Belikov. Try not to kill anyone while I'm gone." Seeing the murderous look Mikhail was giving him, he changed his words; "um I didn't mean soon, I meant a long time. Yes yes... weeks, months maybe, I've got a sick wife. And mother. And yes my nephews... and nieces. Sick, very sick. Terrible, terrible." I laughed internally at his discomfort and poor choice of excuses and couldn't help but laugh out loud as he tripped on his way out while looking back at us, fear evident in his eyes. I heard Mikhail chuckle next to me, and I smiled as I turned to him.

"Thank you. I don't know how to thank you enough. I swear I was about to punch him in the face"

He chuckled again, and I heard a few of the more relaxed guardians positioned in and outside of my cell chuckle with us in agreement.

"Not if I got to him first", he whispered with a smile, winking at me. As he went back to his position on the wall, he spoke again; "We know you're not Strigoi by the way."

It was such a simple statement, yet it managed to warm my heart and make me feel something I hadn't in a while; hope. Hope that things would get better.

I smiled back, nodded at the guardians in thanks and climbed into my bed, for once not noticing how uncomfortable it made me feel. For once I was happy. Happy I wouldn't have to deal with Mr. Fredericks any more, happy that the guardians knew I wasn't Strigoi and happy as I knew Princess Vasilisa would be visiting me soon, as I'd been told by one of the guardians bringing me my stale bread earlier.

I woke up to the sound of footsteps, too quiet for Mr. Fredericks, yet too loud for a Dhampir. I was still exhausted from the encounter with Mr. Fredericks yesterday that I didn't bother opening my eyes to see who was visiting me.

"Oh Dimitri..."

My eyes immediately opened, and I looked up to see the tear-stricken face of my saviour. Princess Vasilisa. I didn't want to go too close to her in fear the Guardians would see me as a threat so I cautiously walked up to the bars but when I made my way over to her. I couldn't stop myself; I fell to my knees, tears building in my eyes.

I felt the Princess kneel down in front of me, and I let out a small sob as I felt her hand reach through the bars and stroke my hair. I hated feeling weak, especially showing my weakness, but the emotion overcame me. I had to let it out somehow and I knew Princess Vasilisa wouldn't judge me, I already felt like I loved her and she loved me. Not romantically of course as Rose is and always will be the only one I'll ever truly love, and you could see after being with them for ten minutes that the Princess and Christian Ozera were hopelessly in love. I loved her like an older brother loves his younger sister, but also strangely enough I felt this kind of motherly bond with her. I would always protect her, and I knew she would protect me too; physically and emotionally.

"I just need to know if she's good for him. Please, just tell me he treats her right." I whispered the pain evident in my voice. I didn't need to tell her who I was talking about, which surprised me, but I guess Rose told her. Not that it mattered, because we were never going to be together again.

She looked at me, sympathy filling her jade green eyes, "He is. He treats her right Dimitri, no matter what people say about him, he loves her and he would never hurt her." I closed my eyes, I knew in my heart that was the sealing of my decision. I had to let her go.

As if reading my thoughts, Vasilisa's eyes widened, and she spoke almost frantically "She loves you though. She went through so much to save you, she would take you ba–"

"No Princess. That's not what's best for her. I can't be with her, not now I know Ivashkov makes her happy. I want her to be happy. Please if you could, can you tell the guardians not to let her down if she asks, not that I expect her to."

I felt the Princess's confused and upset gaze on me "But–"

I looked up at her as a tear slid down my cheek. "Please." She must have heard something in my voice then as she reluctantly nodded at me, tears shining in her eyes.

I had to push Rose away. Again. It pained me so much to do it, especially as I remembered one of the last conversations we'd had when I was a Dhampir about how we were going to be together, and fight for our love. I felt like a coward now, but I had to keep reminding myself that I was saying no to her because I loved her, and I needed her to be happy.

There were so many reasons why I was going to push Rose away, and not one of them included the fact that I didn't love her enough. I loved her more than anything, but I ruined everything we once had. She had moved on now, and I knew that although some people saw Adrian Ivashkov as a womanizing drunkard, I knew better. From what the Princess had told me and the honesty in her voice when she said it, it was obvious he really did love her and would treat her like the goddess she was.

It was a decision I'd stayed up late almost every night in my cell thinking about. I'd say yes, and then decide it would hurt too much and say no. My heart felt like it was being torn into tiny pieces, and it pained me so much to think about letting her go, but I had to. For her.

"Alright Princess, that's enough. You've had your five minutes." I heard one of the guardians say, his voice firm and loud.

Five minutes? I felt like I'd been sitting with the Princess for hours. She gave me a chaste kiss on my forehead, "I'll be back, I promise. Goodbye Dimitri."

I watched her leave and wished silently to myself she was telling the truth. She had to come back; I needed something to distract me from my constant thoughts about Roza, and I of course just wanted to see her. She was the only person I could truly show how I was feeling in front of. She wouldn't judge me. I knew Rose wouldn't either, but she wasn't an option.

As much as my already broken heart protested, I had to let her go. Thoughts drifting around my head of my beautiful Roza, I fell into my routine nightmares.

Once again, I want to thank my BEAUTIFUL readers that reviewed chapter 4;back2back, amberrosalie, Dimka24, Chantie15 and EllelovesEmmett. Thank you so, so much :)

Special thanks to amberrosalie who has reviewed every chapter, always with sweet comments that mean so much to me :)