Christian understood the running, at least he thought he did. Then came the day that he understood the running.
It was finals time for Lissa and Rose, meaning they had been staying on campus. But a crisis at Court needed Lissa’s immediate attention. It was late in the day when the news came in, meaning it would be a race against the sun to get back within the Court wards. Dimitri and Christian accompanied them on the trip.
The sun won. Traffic out of the city delayed them, leaving them in the dark despite Dimitri’s loose interpretation of traffic laws. They were close to Court, but not close enough
The group was smart. They laid a strip of spikes on the road, causing the cars to swerve out of control, useless. Lissa was knocked unconscious by the crash, having had her head against the window to rest.
Surrounded, knowing they would have to fight their queen out of danger and some of them might die trying, Dimitri looked at Christian.
“Run. Take her and run.” Christian sees this for what it is; an extreme show of faith and trust.
He slings Lissa’s limp body over his shoulders and brings up a ring of fire around the two of them. A Strigoi that was converging on them immediately flinched away, allowing Christian to start to sprint.
When he looks up again, he can see the guard outposts of the Court ahead. He adjusts Lissa and lets the flames grow a little more, knowing how close to safety they are and not wanting to risk anything now.
The guardians’ on the outpost recognise the sight of Christian running in his circle of flames and rush out to help him. He automatically adjusts for them, their eyes widening at suddenly being surrounded by fire. He runs Lissa across the ward lines and nearly collapses with relief.
That relief is short lived, as he remembers who he left behind. He waits by the ward line after being assured that Lissa is just fine.
An agonising hour later, the guardians’ who had been with them cross into the Court, with one of their number draped between the shoulders of two of them. It looks like he’s injured pretty badly, but-
His thoughts are interrupted by Rose bowling into him, hugging him close and whispering over and over “thank you, you did it, thank you.” Christian held onto her, letting himself deflate after the ordeal and rest on her strength. When she let him go to rush off to the medical bay and her charge, it was time for Christian to give his own thanks.
He finds Dimitri conferring with Hans, but he steps away when he sees Christian approaching. Much like Rose had, Christian wraps his arms around Dimitri, pouring all of his relief and gratitude into the embrace. When he steps back, he grasps Dimitri’s forearm and looks into his eyes.
Three days later, Lissa joins them on their morning run.
