Rose Johnson

“Rose: "Why did you lie?"
Dimitri: "Because we can't be together."
Rose: "Because of the age thing right?" I asked. "Because you're my mentor?"
His fingertip gently wiped away a tear that had escaped down my cheek.
Dimitri: "That's part of it." He said. "But also, well, you and I will be both be Lissa's guardians someday, I need to protect her. If a pack of Strigoi come, I need to throw my body between them and her."
Rose: "I know that. Of course that's what you have to do."
Dimitri: "No. If I let myself love you, I won't throw myself in front of her. I'll throw myself in front of you”
― Richelle Mead, Vampire Academy