Felix gave Demetri a sidelong glance before speaking, his voice low and warm. "We require nothing from you."
"Perhaps I should rephrase. What do you want? As I remember, no law has been broken. And as I am a fae, and decidedly not human, there is certainly no reason for you to kill me," Tauren said, her arms folded over her chest.
"We would be loath to try," Demetri said, looking uneasy at the thought. Felix shuffled beside him, his thoughts clearly mirroring his companion's.
"Then why? Surely Aro doesn't wish to recruit me?" There was a mocking air to her voice now.
"Not exactly," Demetri said, clasping his hands behind his back. "That's not why we came."
Bemused as she was at their floundering for words, Tauren was growing tired of the way they continued to hedge around a proper answer. "Then why? And a proper answer this time, if you please."
"We'd like you to travel back to Volterra with us," Felix said, when the silence grew a bit too pronounced.
"Say that again, but slower." In actuality, Tauren was by no means surprised. She had known from the second she had glimpsed them. Fae called them kindreds. Shape-changers called them imprints. Vampires called them mates.
Regardless of the terminology, Tauren had known who they were from the beginning. But that didn't mean she trusted them, and it certainly didn't mean she'd be coming with them.
"What Felix means," Demetri said slowly, fixing his soul brother with an intense glare, "is that you are our mate. And if you so choose, we would like it if you would come back to Volterra with us, where we can keep you safe."
Demetri realized at once that this was incredibly offensive. Tauren's voice, when she spoke, was utterly venomous. "Make no mistake, vampires. I am no human or vampire, nor am I a princess that needs protection. I am a fae who could turn you to ash on a whim. I will not tolerate disrespect and I certainly will not go with anyone who offends me in such a way, mates or not."
"I didn't mean-"
"Quiet," She hissed. "I'm going now, and if you try and follow me I will make sure you regret it."
"Alright," Felix said, grabbing Demetri's bicep in a forceful grip, a silent warning not to speak again. "We won't stop you, and we won't bother you. But if you ever need us, for anything, you know where to find us. And I want you to take this."
He lifted a chain that had been previously hidden by his cloak over his head. A pendant adorned with the Volturi crest hung off the end of it.
Tauren tilted her head inquisitively. "Why?"
"I know you don't want our protection, and I respect that. But wearing the crest will prevent most vampires from ever bothering you." He offered it out to her. "Please?"
Tauren's glare softened minutely, and she offered Felix a slight nod, stepping forward to receive it from him. "I appreciate the gesture."
He held onto the chain for a moment, preventing her from tugging it away. "Be careful out there."
"I'll try," Tauren said, and Felix allowed the chain to slip through his fingers and into her hand. She turned on her heel and walked off, and the ground told her that they didn't leave until she was out of sight. She paused then, studying the pendant in her hand. Slowly, she slipped it over her head, tucking it under her shirt where the cool metal rested against her bare skin.
Edward appeared unexpectedly ahead of her. "Tauren, thank God. Alice saw-"
"I am fine, thank you Edward. Your sister is getting rusty," Tauren quipped, smirk back on her face.
Edward fell in step beside her. "She can't see you all the time, remember? She only saw Felix and Demetri's decision to turn back, and I didn't realize until a few minutes ago what that might mean."
"Don't worry about it," She said flippantly.
"I assume they told you?"
"They put their foot straight in their mouths, that's what they did," Tauren said with a smirk. "Asking me to go back to Volterra with them. Honestly."
"I can't believe I'm actually defending them. But they're your mates, they just want-"
"I need no ones protection, Edward. Theirs least of all. Considering you're married to my sister, I would have hoped you had already figured that out," Tauren said icily.
"That's not how I meant it, and you know it," Edward responded. "You may not need anyone's protection, but Adira needs yours and whoever else's she can get considering the fae have a bounty on your heads. And I thought you'd be eager to take asylum in Italy."
"I'd prefer to not impose on the kindness of vampires unless absolutely necessary," She said, her tone indicating exactly what she thought of the vampires that made their home in Volterra. "Besides, that is not my only reason for refusing it. And I won't explain myself to you."
"Fine. It was just an idea, nothing more," Edward said, and the topic was dropped as the house came into view.
"Auntie Tauren! Grandmama said you were talking to the trees!" Renesmee barrelled into her, followed shortly by Jacob who had resumed human form.
"Among others, yes," Tauren said in amusement. "It's good to see you, Jacob."
"You too, Tauren." They shook hands, Jacob's large warm one easily enveloping Tauren's. "I take it you won't be visiting my dad?"
"I can't risk being seen by my kind down at La Push. You can tell him hello for me, though," Tauren said.
"Will do," He said with a warm smile. "C'mon, Nessie, let's get you a snack."
"Auntie Tauren too!" Renesmee said, fixing Jacob with pleading eyes.
The shape-changer caved instantly. "Yeah, okay. C'mon."
"Sucker," Tauren whispered, grinning when he turned to pass her a playful glare. "I'll have to go after this, Ness. I want to pick up Adira and spend some time with my dad."
"When are you leaving town?" Jacob asked.
"Probably the day after tomorrow. I don't want to stay too long and put any of you at risk. Especially not my favorite niece," Tauren said, ruffling Renesmee's hair.
"I'm your only niece!" Renesmee exclaimed with a giggle, swatting Tauren's hand away.
Tauren feigned thoughtfulness. "Hmm, I suppose you're right about that. You know Jacob, she's pretty smart."
"Yeah, she is," He laughed, scooping Renesmee up so she could sit on his shoulders.
Renesmee squealed happily, grinning down at her aunt. "I'm taller than you now!"
"That you are," Tauren said with a laugh. Bella already had a snack ready for Renesmee, and Tauren cut up apple slices for herself before taking a seat by her young niece.
"Can we visit you in Wyoming, Auntie Tauren?" Nessie asked.
Tauren smiled. "Of course. Your parents can come too, I guess."
She giggled. "Maybe we'll visit soon after you leave. Can we, momma?"
"We'll have to see, baby," Bella said, pressing a kiss to Nessie's forehead.
"Tauren, may I speak to you?" Carlisle asked, walking into the kitchen.
"It's snack time, though," Tauren complained with a straight face, right before shooting Renesmee a playful wink.
Carlisle chuckled. "Alright. Once you finish, then."
"Sure. I'm the cool kid today, apparently. Everyone wants to talk to me alone."
"What do you mean, everyone?" Jacob asked, leaning against the counter. Tauren had no idea where he had procured the sandwich he was eating, but she suspected it was Esme's doing.
"Bella and I talked earlier - if it came down to a fight, I would have gone with you and Nessie as added protection," Tauren told him.
"Ah," He grunted through his mouthful of food. Thankfully, he swallowed the rest of his bite before speaking. "I can't thank you enough for putting your life on the line for her."
Everything clicked for Tauren as she realized why Jacob was so protective over her niece. "Of course, Jacob. Imprint?"
He smiled. "Yeah."
"Well," Tauren said, popping the last apple slice in her mouth and rising to her feet. "I better go see what your gramps wants, right little flower?"
"I'll be here," Nessie said happily, still eating.
"Don't cause too much trouble without me." Tauren ruffled Renesmee's hair before going to speak with Carlisle.
"My office is soundproofed, we can talk there," He said, leading them up the stairs. The curious glances of several of the remaining vampires. Some had left shortly after the confrontation, but many still remained, including the Denalis and the Amazons.
"What's on your mind?" Tauren asked once he had closed the door.
"Edward informed me of what occurred earlier."
"You're referring to my chat with Demetri and Felix Volturi?"
"Yes, that would be it. He also mentioned the reason for their visit," Carlisle said.
"Ah, yes. That."
"Why didn't you go with them? You'd certainly be safer in Volturi than remaining here in the States - not that I doubt your ability to protect yourself."
"You know the Volturi better than anyone here, besides Eleazar. You know as well as I do that my staying in Volterra, even if it was due to my bond with them, would not come without a price. I would become a tool for Aro's use. And I will do all I can to avoid that fate, both for myself and for Adira," Tauren said, eyes settling on Carlisle's painting of him and the Volturi kings.
"I can respect that decision," He said. "You won't be as strong without them."
"I'll be strong enough," Tauren said stiffly. "A necessary evil."
Carlisle sat down in the chair behind his desk. "I just want to make sure you know what you're doing."
"I have the choice between power and my freedom, Carlisle. Tell me, is that really a choice at all?"
"Perhaps not. But I'll impart on you what I know of their view on fae. The Volturi respect the fae greatly, Aro especially. His… incident with one of the Unseelie several centuries back made sure of that. He has always been power-hungry, but I doubt he would stoop so low as to try to manipulate one. Especially one that is strengthened by the presence of her mates."
"Fae call them kindreds, you know. They're sacred, as they are with the wolves, they aren't to be killed. But if the selkie colony found out that I had found mine, they could use that against me. I will not put them in danger, Carlisle," She said, troubled. "I did not tell this to Edward, but it was my other reason for denying them. This is something I have to handle on my own."
"They would stop at nothing to keep you safe, Tauren. They can help," He pointed out.
"I said no, Carlisle. Vampires are no match for the warriors of the fae, even a coven as powerful as the Volturi. I've already put Adira at risk, I cannot do it to them too. And that's my final word." Tauren offered him a nod before exiting the room, leaving Carlisle to his troubled thoughts.
So the talk that Tauren, Felix, and Demetri had did not go as well as our two favorite guard would have liked, but we get to see more of Tauren's reason during her chat with Carlisle. Don't worry, it won't be terribly long until Felix and Demetri come back into the picture - officially, probably not for another two parts. That would be my guess, anyway. Half the time things surprise me as much as you. I'm so glad that you all are enjoying the concept and Tauren - she's incredibly fun to write, and I'm looking forward to writing more with her. Thanks for your feedback, and if you're enjoying as always consider following/favoriting and leaving me an encouraging comment with what you think. Later my taters!
