3. ECLIPSED

Twilight was just starting to settle over the river. The way Archie had perfectly timed everything meant the reception party was starting just as the cool August evening was upon us. As I led Edythe through the back glass doors, we found ourselves surrounded by another ten thousand flowers out draped from the two ancient cedars. The lawn glowed in an orange light, illuminated by dozens of strings of decorative lights.

Outside, I held my breath as the Denali clan came to greet us. I realized my jaw was practically drooping to the ground when I saw the guy leading the group. He was the tallest of the three brothers who looked so similar. His wavy, strawberry blonde hair was slicked back and down his neck, not quite as grown-out as Royal's. It made me wish idly that I'd let my hair grow longer; only then could I even approach looking so dignified.

But what disturbed me was how stupid-good looking Taran was. This face was the very definition of masculine beauty—one that only Royal could even hold a candle to. There was seriously something wrong with Edythe if she had turned this down. Though she had clearly chosen me, it still made me mad with envy in some selfish way.

Behind mister male model, the other golden-eyed immortals stared curiously at us. The shortest of the three brothers stood next to Lauren. Ivan, I assumed. I deduced that the third was Kirill, who had straight, light blond hair that flowed freely down his back. He was brawny, almost as thick as Royal, and it was almost intimidating.

Two others looked totally different. Their black hair and slightly olive-toned skin easily set them apart from the brothers. Elena and Calvin. And of course, all five of them were so stunning together like this, it reminded me of that first time I saw the Cullens, how I couldn't help but stare sickened at their flawless beauty.

"Edythe," Taran said. "I've definitely missed you."

Edythe laughed lightly and placed her hand on his shoulder as he stepped back. "It hasn't been so long, Taran. You look well."

"And so do you, as always."

I couldn't help but clench my jaw at that comment. I stepped closer to Edythe.

"It's a pleasure to finally be able to introduce you to B—" She paused to correct herself. "My husband."

It was strange, my first time hearing Edythe call me that, and she looked as if she would explode from the satisfaction it brought her.

They all laughed at her enthusiasm in response.

"Beau, meet our cousins."

"Welcome to the family, Beau." Taran smiled as he reached out for my hand. "We think of ourselves as Carine's extended family, which is probably hard to believe since this is our first time coming around in a few years. We should have met you sooner! I'm glad to see all the Cullens are matched up now. Maybe it will be our turn next, huh, Kirill?"

"Keep the dream alive," said the longer-haired man, rolling his golden eyes. He took my hand and shook firmly. "Nice to meet you, Beau. I'm Kirill."

The dark-haired Spanish man let go of the woman's hand and placed it in mine. "I'm Calvin, and this is my wife Elena," he said, gesturing to the small but athletic-looking woman next to him. Calvin had the slightest hint of a Spanish accent. "We are pleased to have a new Cullen join the family."

"Ivan," the third man said, walking over to us. "And I believe you already know Lauren."

I looked ruefully at Lauren, the most civilized member of Joss's coven. Her eyes looked resentful. But I couldn't help but wonder if she would have been involved in the chase, had I not been protected by a much larger coven. Because I'm sure that at the time, if I had been alone, she wouldn't have had anything against making a meal of me. An irrational fear crept through me.

Lauren sighed. "Oh, Edythe, Beau…" she said in her French accent. "I cannot imagine what Joss put you through. I extend my sincerest apologies to both of you. Please know that I had begged her to let it go, but there was nothing I could do in the way of stopping her."

"It's really alright," I said, trying to sound convincing. "And I'm sorry you had to lose a friend."

"No, no… Joss finally got what was coming to her. I completely agree with you. You only did what you had to do. I was considering breaking off from her soon anyway. She was a little bit much for me. Besides, I've found a much better home. Thank you all for pointing me in his direction." She looked at Ivan now in a way I imagined I always looked at Edythe.

"I can see you've tried the new lifestyle," Edythe said, diverting from the awkward conversation.

Lauren smiled. "Yes, indeed. It was so strange at first, but I've managed to stay… sober for two months now." We all laughed. "I do enjoy the advantages; I've never stayed in one place for so long. The restrictions, however, are quite difficult. I don't know how any of you manage not to cheat every so often."

"We all owe it to Carine," Taran said. "She's changed all our lives for the better."

Lauren glanced across the expanse of the green lawn to Carine. "So Edythe, what made your mother decide to live like this anyway? It never would have crossed my mind, to think to feed on animals."

Edythe smiled. "Well, unlike the majority of us, Carine knew of our kind while she was human. She knew what she would become. I don't fully understand it myself, how she had the restraint to never feed… but I guess she's sort of circumvented the system in a way," she laughed.

"How so?" Lauren asked curiously.

"She likes to think of what we are as a sort of blessing with a curse. Everything is heightened, perfected in every way. But eternal life comes at the cost of taking life from others." She paused, then she laughed. "I guess she found a way to cheat the curse. It's her means of defying whatever force created this state of being."

I loved it when Edythe spoke about things like this. Her philosophies were always so intriguing. It reminded me of the time I'd asked her about the origin of vampires. Edythe had mentioned she believed that the force that created the human race was also likely responsible for creating our kind. It was the ultimate conundrum to me. And yet, the humans thought their origin was a mystery.

"Well, we've all been changed for the better. We owe it to Carine," Lauren said thankfully.

Then the question popped into my head. "Did Victor ever find you?"

Victor, who had hunted me with Joss and then disappeared, still felt like a threat to me. I couldn't be sure how strongly he had been attached to Joss, but I knew that he was surely unhappy with us.

"Yes," Lauren answered. "I actually came here as a favor to Victor, you see. He won't be happy about this…"

Edythe tensed.

Lauren was oblivious to her reaction. "In a way, I do feel sorry for dear Victor. He was so angry with you. He asked me to get the lay of the land for him, so to speak. He didn't imagine that you would be turned, that you wouldn't be so easy to get to, even without your protectors. Apparently, his plan is flawed. He won't get the revenge he imagined."

"I suppose he'll be angry all the same," Edythe said icily.

Taran attempted to change the awkward subject. "So Beau, I anticipate we'll be getting to know each other. We're going to have loads of time for that, after all." He laughed as he patted me on the shoulder. Then his family moved over to visit with Carine and Earnest.

After everyone had their share of harmonious reunion with one another, some started to present their brief congratulations to us in front of the small gathering.

Carine was the first to speak. "Let us gladly welcome my newest son to the family. Beau, you've changed our family in so many ways for the better. I can't express my gratitude for the happiness you've brought in Edythe's life."

"We will cherish this evening forever," Earnest said. "And we owe our sincerest grace to Beau's parents, who can no longer be with him, for bringing such a wonderful person into our lives. If only they could know how we will love and protect him as our own child forever."

My new siblings were next. My number-one fan eagerly jumped in after Earnest.

"Sure, Edythe has her other half now," Archie said gleefully. "But more importantly, I finally got the little brother I always wanted. That being said, Beau, now that you're my brother, I hope you're willing to say goodbye to you aversion of fashion."

Everyone laughed along with Archie.

"He isn't kidding. And please bring my sister back to us eventually," Jessamine added. "Don't keep her away too long."

Royal didn't speak, though he stood hand in hand with Eleanor as she gave the last salutation. "I hope you got enough sleep in those seventeen years… 'cause you won't be getting anymore for a while." She winked suggestively.

I could have died of embarrassment.

I think of all the gratitude and sincere expressions of love and joy, and something makes me shift. Something makes me brave. To my surprise, I felt no fear at all as I decidedly stood there in front of the small crowd.

Because saying anything about Edythe was worth saying to anyone—proclaiming to the entire world. In fact, I actually felt eager to share the way I felt about her.

"So I guess this is my toast, of sorts, to my lovely bride," I began, smiling as I held my hand up towards her. "As many of you may have noticed, I've always felt as though I was out of step. Like I was literally stumbling through life. Not once did I ever think of myself as normal… not even close. But now I know. I'm not normal. And I don't ever want to be."

I paused to look only at Edythe now. "In just a short few months, I've been faced with death… so much pain… and loss in your world. But at the same time, I've never felt more real, more alive. I've never felt stronger or better. And I know beyond the shadow of a doubt, that this is where I belong. Because now it's my world, too, Edythe. I didn't belong anywhere in this whole wide, wicked world except right here with you."

Edythe ran up to me, throwing her arms around my neck. And I could have sworn it looked like tears were coming from her eyes.

I went on. "But despite all of this… and what we are… Let's pretend it's 1918. I still like to think we'd be here. Because I would be that guy. The guy who would have, as soon as he'd discovered you were what he was looking for, would have gotten down on one knee, endeavored to secure your hand forever. I still would have wanted you for eternity, even if the word didn't hold quite the same meaning. So don't be sad for that guy despite the fact that's not the way things turned out. He's happy just the same. Today, he can finally begin. And I promise to tie myself to you in every way possible, and love you… for every moment of forever."

They all burst out into applause and cheers. Edythe wrapped herself around me even tighter. I brought my lips down to hers, and when the cheering died down she took a step back, still holding onto my arms. Her eyes never left mine as she spoke.

"I speak not to just my husband, but to all of you. It's a magnificent thing… something we don't have the words to describe, to meet someone whom you can bear your entire soul to, and accept you for what you are. I've waited over eighty years to get beyond what I am, and to accept myself. When I first knew I'd never be able to stay away from you, there were three things I knew for certain. First, I knew that you were a human, while I obviously was not; it was something I believed I'd never be able to reconcile. Second, there was a part of me that thirsted for your blood, a part that very well could have won against my feelings for you. But third and most importantly… I knew that I was unconditionally and irrevocably in love with you. And now, Beau I finally feel like I can begin as well… not only to love you even more, but to love myself. So I would like to propose this to you, my love… No measure of time with you will be long enough, but let's start with forever."

"I think I can accept that," I agreed. And I think I smiled wider than I had ever smiled before in my entire life. We slammed into each other again in the heat of it, and I lifted her up by the waist, bringing her face up to mine. There was applause again.

Later when Royal began playing softly at the piano again, I stopped and looked at Edythe and pulled her into my arms for the first dance. I went willingly, no longer insecure about things like this. I didn't even care we had an audience. I was just happy to have her with me. We shared in the effort as we twirled gracefully under the glow of the lights hung in the trees.

"Enjoying the party, Mister Cullen?" she whispered to me.

I laughed. "That's going to take a while to get used to."

"We have all the time in the world," she reminded me exultantly as she buried her face into my chest.

"What is it?" she asked as I stared intensely at her.

"Okay, don't tell me you don't realize how utterly, heartbreakingly beautiful you are tonight. I bet Taran was probably having inappropriate thoughts about a married woman. Am I wrong?" I smiled.

"Wildly inappropriate," she laughed. "But you're a little bit biased, you know."

I spun her around to the wall of glass and pointed at the angel in the reflection. "Just look at that! C'mon, everyone sees the same thing I do. I know you know that." I tapped my temples.

I gazed at the perfect duplicate form in the reflection. Her skin was a lavish cream, and her eyes were massive with excitement, framed by her thick lashes. The sheath of the glimmering white dress flared out subtly at the bottom. It was cut so skillfully it perfectly complimented her graceful figure.

And still, I wasn't used to seeing the person standing next to her. He filled the shape of me, but the details were somehow different than I always expected. His dark brown hair was full and straight. He had a wide forehead with a widow's peak, wideset eyes, prominent cheekbones, and then a thin nose and a narrow jaw with a pointed chin.

There were other things though that I still recognized. The things that made me me. His lips were a little out of proportion, a bit too full for his slim face. His eyebrows were strangely darker than his hair. He was tall and slender. Slightly lanky.

"You know what I do see?" she asked as she looked up at me in the reflection. "Remember the time I told you that I not only found you delicious, but beautiful? That's still true, but in a different way now. I see a girl who can't wrap her mind around the fact that this boy is hers. I think you were very aptly named, Beau, as it begins the word that describes you. Beautiful. Ever thought about a career in modeling?" she teased.

I laughed. "No one is going to think I'm beautiful with you hanging around. And besides, I think that would be cheating a little, don't you?"

"Like attending high school and performing well isn't?"

It's funny because she described the plight of our relationship exactly how I would have described it the other way around. I'm not sure how long we remained there like that under the fluttering petals of the garlands. It was a moment to revel in forever.

"Hey, you're monopolizing the groom," Eleanor said as she came up behind us. "Do I get a dance with my younger brother?" She laughed loudly. As it turned out, there were many people we'd yet to dance with. This gave me time to recompose myself while I anticipated what was to come next.

Archie interrupted us just moments later.

"Beau, it's almost time!" he said as he approached.

"Thank you, Archie," I said. "I don't know much about weddings, but I'm pretty sure this is the most amazing one anyone has ever had. You and your sisters should really go into wedding planning." We both laughed.

Edythe and I said our goodbyes to everyone who came.

All the guests made an aisle for us as we made our escape. I ran ahead and turned around in time for Edythe to spring into the air. I caught her and held her up above me, weightless. We spun around, and she sank down onto my back. I was the one doing the carrying this time, no longer the gorilla on the greyhound.

I leaped to the edge of the driveway next to our new car, a wedding gift from Carine, and opened the door. The others clapped as I got in the driver's seat, speeding us away down the long drive, into the next chapter of forever.

Edythe said I should stop to refuel halfway to the airport. I moved as if I were in a race when I got out of the eye-popping Mercedes. I got the cap off, the card scanned, and the nozzle in within a second. But there was no way to make the numbers on the gauge pick up their pace. I wasn't in a hurry to get to the airport. It was just that I didn't feel like drawing attention to us, and I felt out of place standing next to this luxury car.

There wasn't much light; it was a typical, rainy night in Washington, but I felt as if the car I stood next to was a neon sign that read: Look at me, look at me!

I guess it was stupid to be self-conscious about it. People weren't going to be judging me for it. They'd be impressed. But still, it made me uncomfortable to draw attention to someone when everything about him screamed vampire, as if the humans could make that conclusion.

"Uh, excuse me, sir?" a girl's voice said.

Here we go…

I turned, and two girls were outside of their car at the pump next to mine.

"Sorry to be nosy, but… is that a Mercedes Guardian?"

Personally, I didn't get it. It was just another shiny black car to me.

"Yeah, I believe so."

"Wow… They're not even supposed to be available in America yet. How did you—"

The pump clicked off.

"Sorry. I'm in a hurry," I said as I hung up the nozzle, trying to look down.

I got back in the massive tank of a car. I shot an accusing glance at Edythe. She was laughing silently.

"It seems people really fancy your new ride," she said teasingly.

"Ostentatious…" I quoted her.

"We have to indulge every once in a while."

"They probably think we're drug lords, or something," I said.

"Arms dealers, actually," she laughed. "They can't imagine what we'd be doing in the middle of nowhere."

As we waited at the gate in Sea-Tac International, I kept eyeing the flight schedule. Edythe elbowed me.

"Dallas?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

"No… Just a stop along the way," she laughed.

When we got to DFW, it felt painfully slow to move through the terminals at human pace. Several minutes later, Edythe led me up to the international counter to check in.

"Motu Mute?" I pronounced hesitantly. "Where the heck is that?"

"Nowhere," Edythe smiled. "Just another stop along the way."

The flight across the Pacific Ocean was so long, it was torture. I was too eager to get wherever we were going. But I had to admit, I could never be bored with Edythe no matter where we were. We sat in a wide, comfortable first class seat, with my arms wrapped around her the whole way.

Edythe must have noticed my impatience. "It's faster than swimming."

"No, I like this," I said. "We should do this all the time."

"Okay. I don't see any problem with that," she said.

And then I kissed her, and she didn't hesitate to kiss me back.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" Edythe asked, pointing to the small screen on the back of the seat in front of us. "I was thinking maybe something romantic."

I thought about it for a minute, then I shook my head. "No, I honestly hate romance movies."

"Oh, really? Since when?"

"Since now. Why would I want to watch other people kissing when I could be kissing you?"

Which I guess she couldn't argue with, because she pulled me closer and her kiss was even more urgent now.

A stewardess tiptoed down the aisle past all the sleeping passengers. "Can I get you two some pillows?" she asked as an obvious hint to quell our loud conversation.

"No, thank you," I said as I smiled up at her. The attendant's expression was dazed as she turned back the way she came.

"Trust me. We'll have plenty of time for that where we're going," Edythe said with a laugh. "But for now let's try to keep it appropriate for mortal eyes…"

When we got to the airport in Bora Bora, I was expecting us to connect to another flight. It was a stop along the way, but it was actually the last flight. When I questioned what we were doing, Edythe told me to trust her as we got into a taxi. We rode toward the edge of the city.

The car stopped at the docks. A small, unoccupied boat was tied up there, bouncing on the waves.

When the driver sped away, I started to load our things into the boat.

Edythe reached out to grab my arm, laughing. "That's not even our boat, Beau. It just happened to be here."

I smiled as I realized what we were about to do.

"But what about all this stuff?" I asked.

Edythe shrugged. "Time to ditch it. It was only a decoy anyway."

"If you say so."

We jumped off the dock into the black expanse. I had never been much of a swimmer, but I knew that would make no difference to this body. I hadn't even attempted it yet, but I knew it would be as effortless as anything else.

Edythe was graceful as ever as she strode through the dark water. I had no trouble keeping up with her.

"How far are we going?" I asked. "You know Hawaii has airports, right?"

She laughed. "I told you to trust me. No more questions." She disappeared beneath the waves.

A few minutes later, she grabbed me and stopped, pointing to something far in the distance. "See it now?" A small island rose out of the water on the horizon ahead of us, a brown silhouette in the moonlight. A few long strides later, and we were walking up onto the soft, pristine sand of the beach lined with palm trees.

"Where are we?" I asked, amazed.

"Isle Cullen," Edythe said as if the answer were obvious. "A remote island off Bora Bora. Carine and Earnest bought it when they married. They vacation here from time to time."

"Bought the island?" I asked, exasperated.

"Are you just going to stare at it, or are you going to take me inside?" she questioned holding her arms out.

I picked her up off the sand and started racing down the beach.

We reached the dark vegetation, and on the other side we came upon the warm light of a beach house. Without hesitation, I zipped up to the deck and came to a stop as I stepped with her over the threshold. The house was so large for the tiny island it was on, and it had a familiarity to it. It had wide, expansive windows that almost made the walls of the house similar to the Cullens' place. Though, it was more fitting here away from the cold and rainy climate. The inside was mostly white. In the center of the master bedroom was an enormous, white bed surrounded by a frame and mosquito netting. I sat Edythe on her feet.

"It's so much warmer here," I said.

"I know. It feels great, doesn't it?" Then she paused. "I think we should get out of these wet clothes… Don't you think?" She smirked at me.

Did my skin just burst into flames? I felt silly for doing it, but I had to look down and check.

She out of the house, disappearing into the night, and I followed her. I had to stop at the water's edge when I saw Edythe's clothes lying crumpled on the ground.

How did people do this? How could anyone be so vulnerable to someone else? I snapped out of the silly hesitation when I remembered Edythe was waiting out there for me. I unbuttoned my wet shirt, leaving it and my shorts behind with hers.

Everything was almost colorless in the light of the moon, but it was plenty to be able to see. I looked across the low ripples of the water and spotted her easily. She stood waist deep with her back to me. She was staring up at the magnificent full moon.

I stared as the waves broke around her like a stone statue rising out of the water. My eyes traced the smooth lines of her back, the flawless shape of her shoulders. A rush of heat burst through me again. The fire was deep within me now, as it seemed to smolder away all of the awkwardness and uncertainty.

"It's so beautiful," she breathed as I reached out and touched her hand under the water. She was still looking up at the moon.

"Yeah, but that's not the word I would use for it… Not with you standing here anyway," I said as I pulled her to me.

Her arms were tight around me, holding me against her, and every nerve ending in my body was a live wire.

"Forever?" she asked, sinking with me deep into the dark water. I nodded eagerly in anticipation.

I kissed her for real, like it was the very first time all over again, and her fingers laced through my hair. We moved as one, eclipsing the moonlight's glare on the water's surface. Heat surged wildly through my core as her hands moved down to curl around my back.

I lifted her up onto me, and her legs wrapped around my torso. I looked straight into the liquid gold of her eyes as she cupped my face. I pulled her face into mine to kiss her again. It was the thousandth time, yet we somehow found a way to make the experience new. There was no restraint… no slightest hint of caution left between us.

I don't know what this was, but nothing before was even in the same stratosphere. So many times I had fantasized this very moment, and it didn't even compare to what I felt now. The electrifying burning radiated through my every inch at this point. That's when my brain started to go fuzzy.

And the best part was that I knew she was feeling all of the same things I was.

"Beau…"

The word came out in a labored breath. And her fingers started to trail up across my stomach and chest. The tension was almost unbearable, like some unstoppable force of nature pulling us together. I tugged her body tightly up against mine, giving the gravity what it wanted.

My whole body melted as we disappeared under the waves.