Damn you, ever-nagging plot bunnies … I just can't get this one out of my head. I am focusing on one story, but I wanted to get a foundation on this new one. So, here we go … This will be similar to Buying Love, Friends with Benefits, Mafia Princess and The One That Got Away, with shorter chapters and weekly updates: Sundays with teasers on Thursday.

We're going to hear from Bella next chapter and we're going to find out more about this epic battle between good and evil, along with Edward and Bella's families.

Chapter Nine

BPOV

I was leaning against Edward's chest, finally feeling at ease in my skin for the first time in my entire life. Edward was almost purring with contentment as his fingers gently glided along my arms. His eyes were the most vibrant green, but swirling with love and protection. "Is it coming back to you?" I asked.

"Bits and pieces. Flashes of our history, but it's all muddled," he replied, his voice vibrating in my body and his accent making me tremble. "But, now, I'm just angry at what happened to you. To us."

"Why are your angry? You didn't trick me," I said, turning around and putting my hands on his face, my thumb tracing his tattoo. "Jacob is a part of the bigger problem. He wants us to be disorganized, sloppy." He frowned, taking my hand and kissing my palm, inhaling my skin. I bit my lip, wanting to feel his lips on mine. With a low snarl, he jumped back and curled up into a ball. "Why? I liked it."

"So did I," he growled. "Bella, you're still married. I can't … not until it's official. I'm still bound by my ethics as an attorney."

"I understand," I said. Though, the rejection stung. He got up and moved closer, taking my hands. "Edward, I don't want to make you uncomfortable."

"I don't want you to think that I don't want you," he whispered. "I felt that I hurt you."

"You didn't hurt me," I argued.

"Liar," Edward said, his fangs flashing and his eyes lightening, looking almost silver. "I felt your pain. The rejection." I felt my face flame and my hands shimmered with heat. He took my hands in one of his, cupping my cheek with his other hand. "I want you. Believe me."

"Okay," I said, the heat changing into something else, a burning desire deep in my belly for him. "This is surreal." He nodded, idly playing with my fingers and the quiet, rumbling purr came from him again. "I feel in control, but not. Does that make sense?"

"It does. I know that we will have to learn how to use our powers," Edward said, his fingers tracing the subtle markings along my arms. "Carmen can do that. At least, I hope she can."

"I want to know about my mother," I whispered, capturing his hand and seeing the slight scars along his wrists. They were not bite marks. "Did you …?" I looked up at him, holding his wrist.

"It was a part of the reason why I was hospitalized," he said. "I was overwhelmed, out of control and lost. I completely lost my cool in the courtroom and I left before the end of the day, before the judge called for a recess. I drove to my penthouse apartment, desperate to get away. In my apartment, I found a serrated knife. I started, at first, by cutting my skin just to see the blood and to feel anything other than anxiety, emptiness or fear. It gave me a sense of control. But, I didn't want to be there anymore. So, I pressed harder, causing the blood to flow freely. I was entranced as I watched it ooze out of my wrist. Alice found me."

"How bad was it?"

"Not too bad, physically. Mentally, I was admitted into a psychiatric ward and then into a private facility. I was diagnosed with depression, and anxiety disorder. In retrospect, I think that's when I began to feel off and out of control. That's when my skin began to feel cold and colder temperatures didn't bother me much," he chuckled. "But, my adoptive parents … they hated the perceived weakness. I was …"

"They are monsters," I growled. "You're their son, regardless of blood relationships or not. They agreed to care for you. Love you and they abandoned you?"

"I came to grips with their decision a long time ago," Edward sighed. "I just worry about my sister."

"You shouldn't," Carmen said, poking her head into the room. "Are you guys okay?"

"Fine," Edward said, standing up and smoothing his pants. "Why shouldn't I worry about my sister?"

"She's also a part of this. Not as much of a factor like you or Bella, but she's got powers of precognition," Carmen explained. "Bella, you and Rosalie will need to work with her."

"Do I need to release Rose's powers?" I asked.

"You can, but for now, she's flirting with Emmett," Carmen chuckled. "I know that you want to get used to these new bodies, but you cannot remain in them, especially if you want to leave this location. Now that your power has been released, you just need to think about it and you will be return to your fae forms. For now, you need to return to your human forms."

"Damn," Edward frowned.

"Your bodies will be human, but your minds and senses will maintain their fae strength," Carmen said. She held a shirt over her arm.

With a disgruntled look, Edward closed his eyes. His power swirled and he returned to his human shape. He was still shirtless, with his muscles rippling under his pale skin. There were no tattoos and his hair was back to its original length. I followed suit and was back to weak, petite human form. Edward looked at me, his green eyes still swirling with emotion. He hugged me tightly, clinging to me. I massaged his back, feeling the same way as him. He released me, weaving our fingers together as Carmen tossed him the shirt. "Come. You both need to eat. Magic depletes your energy reserves."

"That explains why I want to take a month-long nap and eat an entire cow," Edward snorted. I agreed, but I also felt energized. I felt whole. He slid his arm around me, keeping me close. "What's cooking?"

Carmen smiled, guiding us to the kitchen. "You're weaker because of the ceremony to release Bella's magic. You are eating a nice big steak. It's not an entire cow, but it's pretty damned big," she quipped. Eleazar, Carmen's husband had a table set. We sat down, tucking into our meals. "Once you're done, I want to talk to you about your families and this battle that we must prepare for."

"What about Alice and Jasper?" Edward asked.

"I'll send word to both, but you need to stay away from your adoptive parents, Edward," Carmen frowned. "I think they are in line with the believers and creators of dark magic. I think they knew about your history."

He stopped eating, the utensils falling onto the floor. The air around him chilled and his eyes were silvery green, hard and glittering with anger. "What?"

"It's only a guess, Edward," Carmen said, reaching out to touch him but he growled, making the room even colder. "Edward, you didn't know and I don't know for certain." He shot up, stomping away and disappearing. "He's truly a fae."

"What do you mean?" I asked.

"The anger, that temper," Carmen deadpanned. "He'll calm down, but the warrior within wants to pummel something."

"That's not it. He told me about his parents and how they abandoned him when he was sick," I frowned. "The perceived his mental breakdown and his suicide attempt as weakness."

"Oh, I'm definitely going to bat for him," Carmen snarled, her own body shaking with anger. "That child … he deserves more than those monsters …"

"Edward is not the only one who wants to pummel something," I snickered. Carmen smiled sheepishly.

"Well, I'll get him back his trust fund and a huge severance package for being terminated illegally," Carmen smirked. Her eyes glazed over, her smirk widening. "Done. Marcus is filing the paperwork on Edward's behalf and a nasty article about how they abandoned their son will bring Carlisle and Esme Cullen to their knees."

"What about Alice?" I asked. "Edward loves his sister and she needs to be protected from them, as well."

Emmett came in, back in his human form and holding Rose's hand. "Good timing, Detective McCarty," Carmen smiled. "I need you to pick up Alice and Jasper. I don't think they are safe where they are."

"Edward said the same thing and I'm going to check on them," Emmett replied. "He's beating a punching bag. I don't think it's going to survive."

"I'll go," I said. I used my new senses guide me to the workout room. There were human-sized machines, as well as specialty fae-sized machines. Edward was still in his human form, working the punching bag, his fist moving at inhuman speeds. "Edward … m'aarenne, please stop."

"My sister could be in danger. It's my fault," he said, rearing back and hitting the punching bag, causing it to burst open, covering him with a cloud of dust as the sand spilled from it. He looked down at the mess he'd made, his nose wrinkled. "Okay, it's not my fault, but I'm more aware of this bullshit. If my parents … they're not my parents." He scoffed, sitting down heavily on a bench. "The people who raised me, if they're involved with this, I don't know what to think."

"Emmett is going to pick up your sister, Edward," I said, kneeling in front of him. He was sweating, but the air around him was freezing cold. "If what Carmen said is true, she probably already knows he's coming and is packing her bags. And Carmen doesn't know if they're involved. They could just be bad people, with questionable morals."

"Where were you two years ago?" he asked, looking at me and his eyes impossibly sad. "Being near you, makes all of this bearable, sih'rena." He tentatively reached for my cheek, tracing my jaw. "I'm sorry about my temper. I never had this before. I'm usually pretty even-keeled. I have to be as an attorney. But now? I just want to …" He closed his eyes and huffed out a breath. "I'm not the guy you probably want to get involved with, especially after what happened with your ex-husband."

"I know you won't hurt me," I said.

"I can't. The thought of hurting you, touching you in anything other than reverence, tenderness, or love, it makes me sick," he whispered, sliding down to the floor and hugging me closely. I nestled into his embrace, reveling in the coolness of his arms and gentleness of his hold. It was the safest, most secure I'd felt in my entire life.

A/N: So, we'll find out about their families next chapter. We'll find out about Edward's father and Bella's mother, along with the history of the fae and this long-standing battle of good versus evil. Leave me some loving! ;-)