Commencement Dinner

Carmen and I walked together from my chambers to the formal dining hall. All along the path, the silent palace guards would bow as I passed. It was another reminder of how special this occasion truly was.

There was soft music playing ahead as we approached the entryway, and I took a few deep breaths in front of the tall, wooden doors to the room.

Carmen gripped my hand, halting us just outside. "You're going to be great. Every one of them will love you, if they don't already." She turned to face me, brushing a wisp of hair back away from my face. "I know I've been teasing you about interrogating them myself, but I'm not going to interfere. This is a decision you need to make for yourself. I'll be here, in the background, if you need me for anything, but I know you'll be fine."

I trembled slightly, my anxiety getting the best of me. "What if I pick the wrong one?"

Would I end up like my mother, unhappy and angry with my life if I bound myself to the wrong man?

She smiled and shook her head. "You won't, precious one. You'll know deep inside who's the best for you. Just go with your instincts."

I blew out another gust of air and tried to relax. "Okay. I'm ready."

She took her place back at my side, signalling the guards to open the doors before leading me inside.

All five of them turned my way as the courting representative announced my arrival. They were all dressed in identical tuxedos, each seeming a little awestruck as my eyes wandered from one to the other, all the way down the line.

There was Alec—the smallest of the men, yet still a good few inches taller than me—who moved forward first. He was a sweet and sensitive twenty-two-year-old artist, someone I'd felt comfortable with from the start. His gentle soul and calming demeanor had always reassured me during our past interactions.

"Isabella," he said, bowing deeply before kissing my hand. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you."

I accepted the lavender flower he offered, taking a moment to enjoy its familiar scent. "It's a pleasure to meet you, too, Alec."

They each came to me in turn, introducing themselves with a bow, kissing my hand, and offering me a different flower. I couldn't wait to get back to my chambers and research the meanings behind each one.

Michael was next, also twenty-two, with his warm smile, blond hair, and blue eyes. His sun-kissed good looks were definitely more pronounced in person than they had been in pictures. He had never been shy with sharing his feelings for me, letting me know from the start I would be the center of his world if I chose him. I accepted his daffodils, watching cute dimples appear on his face when his smile widened.

After Michael was Seth, the twenty-year-old genius. There was never a conversation we had where I didn't learn something new. He was taller than both Alec and Michael, yet quite lanky beneath his tuxedo. His dark hair and grey eyes were attractive, but I didn't get quite the spark I was hoping for when I accepted his violets.

Next came Jacob, his imposing form making my heart pound a little faster. He was twenty-three—the epitome of tall, dark, and handsome—and had a certain swagger that shined through as confidence more so than arrogance. He bowed a little deeper, kissed a moment longer, and his pale, pink roses smelled a little sweeter. They matched my gown exactly, and I wondered how he could have predicted the color I would wear. I knew he was a little more than the others, and he made it clear he knew that I knew with his flirtatious wink.

And finally there was Edward. Twenty-one and pure perfection. He was tall, the top of my head coming in just under his chin. He wasn't quite as muscular as Jacob, but it was clear he didn't lack strength. His smiled knowingly as he neared, and I wondered if he was aware of how fast my heart was racing. He was by far the most attractive man I'd ever seen, and luckily I was somewhat prepared for the shock of seeing him in person. I imagined with his gorgeous brown and bronze hair, twinkling emerald-green eyes, and chiseled beauty, there were many ladies who would swoon in his presence. He was almost too beautiful.

He bowed and took my hand, his thumb brushing lightly over my skin. I wasn't sure if there was electricity in the air or if it was just his touch, but the tingles from his simple gesture traveled from my hand, up my arm, and down my spine. I shivered in delight, eliciting a low chuckle from him. I knew that sound well.

I loved that sound.

"Princess Isabella, this day couldn't come soon enough." He released my hand to offer me bright red tulips, which I knew meant undying love.

But he wasn't done. He presented Carmen with her own bouquet of irises.

"He's a charmer, that one," she said with a smile, accepting her flowers.

Edward laughed again. "I only wanted to thank you for raising such a wonderful woman." His gaze darted back to me, desire and affection written quite obviously in his expression.

That one look made me light-headed and my knees weak. I vowed right then that the first kiss I would give belonged to Edward. It was an intense feeling, nothing I'd experienced before.

He leaned in very close, his warm breath hitting my cheek with his whispered words. "Shall we end this charade right now? We both know I'm your match."

I gulped and glanced around at our audience. The rest of the suitors watched our interaction with interest, but I didn't miss the flash of rage crossing Jacob's face.

The courting official moved us along before I could answer, ending the little bubble Edward and I had been in, taking my flowers and giving them to Carmen to hold before escorting me to my table. The normal long dining table had been replaced with a large round table, covered with white linen, crystal goblets, and the finest china.

The official pulled my chair out for me, likely not wanting any scuffles erupting from my suitors vying for the honor. I sat down, smoothing out my dress, as the others seated themselves. Carmen and the courting official took places at a smaller table off to the side.

The lights were dimmed a little, making the candlelight in the center of the table even more pronounced. Jacob and Edward had taken the seats closest to me, which was unsurprising. It was clear they, and likely the others, considered them to be the alpha males of the group.

Several servers appeared at once, filling our glasses and placing salads in front of us. I sipped my watered down wine, nervous about starting a conversation.

What would be a safe topic to discuss?

I knew each of them well, and they knew me, but my mind seemed to have frizzed out from Edward's intense gaze. The only subject popping into my head was the virility results, and I didn't think that would be a suitable ice breaker.

I felt all of their eyes on me as I played with my salad. I let out a sigh of relief when Michael's voice ended the awkward silence.

"You look very beautiful tonight, Isabella."

My cheeks heated as they all chimed in to agree, and I thanked them softly.

"Yes, I had a feeling my flowers were the perfect choice," Jacob added.

I glanced over at him with a nod. "They were wonderful, thank you." I looked around at each of them. "They were all wonderful."

"It wouldn't matter which color you were wearing tonight," Edward said. "You would be exquisite in anything." His fingers brushed along my arm, so soft I barely noticed it aside from the tingles running over my skin. He leaned close. "Or nothing."

My stomach flipped from his whispered addition, and I wondered what would happen if I jumped into his lap and attacked his pouty, full lips.

How was I going to be able to handle six months of his seduction and wooing? I already felt like I could melt into a puddle from the heat of his stare and the allure of his words, and we'd only just begun.

"How do you all like Forks?" I blurted out, trying to change the subject before I did something embarrassing.

"It's different," Seth answered first. "A lot wetter than I'm used to."

Seth, along with Michael and Jacob came from warmer climates in the South. Only Alec and Edward came from Northern communities, near New York and Chicago, respectively.

"Is this where you'd like to raise our children, Isabella?" Jacob asked.

A noise came from Edward, sounding suspiciously like a growl. I swallowed a few times and turned to answer Jacob.

"I do enjoy it here. The facilities are even nicer than my previous home in Phoenix. Plus, my family wing is usually empty with my parents traveling. There would be plenty of space for my children."

"I like it here," Edward said, and I turned toward him. "I think this would be a great place to stay, unless of course it is required we be transferred to an even grander palace because I provide you with multiple Chosen Ones."

My heart leapt at the thought of having more than one Cone child.

Jacob scoffed. "I could give you at least two, maybe even three."

Edward glared at him, fire in his eyes and his jaw clenching. I saw the courting official motioning to the servants out of the corner of my eye. The servers quickly scrambled to our table, diffusing the tension by taking away our salad plates and replacing them with our dinners of roasted lobster and assorted steamed vegetables.

I knew I shouldn't enjoy the animosity between Edward and Jacob, but I couldn't deny it gave me a bit of a thrill. It excited me on some level to know they were fighting over me.

The air calmed minutely as we all ate a few bites of our dinners, but then Michael brought the subject back up again.

"How many children do you want, Isabella?"

I smiled over at him. "As many as possible."

"Me, too," he answered, his face set with adoration.

"Well, I would also," Seth chimed in, before pointing toward Edward and Jacob. "And these two are ridiculous trying to give you false promises of siring multiple Chosen Ones. The odds against it are too great."

Ah, Seth. Always the logical one, even if he was now the recipient of glares from both Edward and Jacob.

Alec was quiet, but I knew he wasn't as outgoing as the rest of them. I hoped he would feel comfortable enough to open up a little more when we were alone together.

"I'm not giving false promises of anything," Jacob said through gritted teeth. "I know I can give her the best."

Seth rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath about Jacob being a stupid, macho asshole.

I glanced up in surprise when Edward suddenly pushed his plate forward and stood up next to my chair. He held his hand out toward me, giving me his sexy smile again.

"Would you join me for a dance before dessert, my Bella?"

My heart raced from his use of the secret nickname he'd given me long ago. He said it out loud, in front of them all. Nobody had ever called me anything except Isabella or Princess or Carmen's favored Precious One. Nobody except Edward.

I placed my hand in his and nodded, allowing him to help me up. He led me several paces away, to a darkened corner of the room where the marble floor had been cleared away of any furniture.

The music flowing into the room was turned up slightly, and I let out a giggle at the thought of the courting officials having someone standing by to alter lights and sounds throughout the night. They really liked to set the mood.

"I love your laugh," Edward said, pulling me to him and placing my hands around his neck. "I love having you in my arms even more."

I closed my eyes and relaxed against him as we swayed to the music. There were so many people watching us, but I didn't care. I let myself enjoy being close to him, filling my lungs with his intoxicating scent, and listening to his heart beating beneath his crisp, white shirt.

His hands slid up and down my back, each pass igniting a flurry of butterflies in my stomach. It wasn't nerves, it was anticipation. As if I was standing on the brink of an edge and about to fall.

He lowered his head, his voice low in my ear. "Do you feel how perfectly we fit together?"

"Yes," I murmured. I did feel it.

His nose nuzzled my cheek. "I want to kiss you."

I opened my eyes and tilted my head up toward him, my heart pounding with such a force I wondered if it would ever calm down.

"Right now?" I asked.

He leaned in, our lips so close to touching. "You'd let me kiss you right here, right now, wouldn't you?"

I licked my bottom lip, the rest of the room forgotten in my lust for this man.

"Yes."

Instead of kissing me, he gripped me tighter and pulled me closer, his lips brushing my ear. "I want to kiss you more than anything, but not until we're alone. Once I kiss you, neither of us will want to stop."

I felt an ache inside, not wanting to wait at all, but he was right. We shouldn't do this in front of the others.

"I want you to be my first," I told him.

He pulled back enough to watch my face, his fingers trailing over my cheekbones, down my nose, over my lips. "I want to be your only."

I couldn't promise that to him yet, even if I kind of wanted to. At my hesitation, he groaned a little, but pulled me back into his arms and continued our dance.

Our moment was interrupted by dessert being served, but he kept his arm around my waist as he led me back to the table. He helped me into my seat, and I glanced around at the weary and jealous expressions on the rest of their faces.

Guilt hit me hard for hurting their feelings with my behavior, but I couldn't help being overwhelmed and forgetting everyone else when I was with Edward. It felt like it was out of my control.

I did my part to correct the situation by allowing each of them a dance with me after dessert, engaging them in conversation. Yet my eyes always found Edward, no matter whose arms I was in.

And he was always staring back.

No fights yet, but it was a close call. How do you like her suitors?