You, Me and the shadow (Vampire Academy fanfiction)

Don't say the T-word

You, Me, and the shadow chapter thirty-two

Skip to the end of lunch

RPOV

After lunch, everyone starts to make their way into Aunt Tatiana's sitting area.

Our meal turned out really well, with everyone telling hilarious stories about our time here at St Vlad's, as well as Alberta telling everybody about all the times she wanted to kill the three musketeers, as she called us.

Myself, Eddie and Mason all clearly brought her much grief in the last thirteen years, but she didn't seem to mind. She actually said that she found most of our pranks quite amusing. Well, the ones that weren't aimed at her anyway.

Not only that, but everyone got to know each other better as well. Baba got to know my adoptive brothers, quickly deciding that he liked them, taking them under his wing. And we all got to know Aunt Tati better.

She really wasn't the Queen bitch that I thought she was the first time we met; I told her my thoughts on that, making her laugh heartily while thanking me for my honesty. She did apologise for the way she spoke to me back then as well; apparently, she felt awful about believing those rumours that were spread about me.

I can't really blame her for that though; Royals do follow royals after all. No one would believe a lowly dhampir over a Royal moroi like Jessie.

But enough about that. Right now, everyone was moving into the sitting area and finding a seat. I held back as much as I could with Dimitri, trying to buy myself a little bit more time before I had to start explaining about the bitch I shall not name.

I am going to try and get this done without even saying the T-word, because I just don't know how I am going to react if her name is mentioned. It seems to be a trigger word for me. I really can't help it though.

Holding onto Dimitri's hand like a vice, I pull him to a stop just before we enter the living room. Everyone else has already gone in, but I just feel like I need a few seconds to ground myself a little bit.

"If anything happens and I lose control, please hold me back. I really don't want to hurt anyone." I plead with Dimitri whilst looking up into his eyes, not even trying to mask the slight fear I feel. There really isn't a point in trying to hide it from him anyway.

"You will be fine, My love. I will be by your side the whole time." He leans down and presses his lips to mine, sending me calming emotions through our bond. As soon as his lips touch mine, I am surrounded by an aura of calm.

Pulling back slightly, his lips hovering just above my own, he says quietly, "Just breathe, Milaya. Take strength in me. Everyone will understand once they know. Don't forget that you're not the only person she has wronged; you may be surprised how much she has done."

That makes me gasp, but it also makes my resolve stronger. My family need to know why I hate that woman; they need to understand why they can't say her name around me. My only worry is Christian.

I am terrified that once everything is out in the open, that he will hate me. I don't want to make him pick sides between me and his own flesh and blood, but a small part of me is worried that he will choose her. I couldn't blame him though; she is his Aunt after all.

"He will understand, Roza. He loves you as a sister, and that speaks volumes. She may be his blood, but he didn't choose that. He chose to love you. Christian will be fine." Dimitri says kindly, cupping my cheek softly and lifting my face to meet his gaze. "Are you ready, My love?" He asks once my eyes meet his.