No one's point of view

Caius and Claire kept standing the way they had long after Bella and the Cullen siblings had disappeared out of the castle.

Claire didn't seem to cry any longer but she still kept her face pressed against his chest, as if hiding from the world.

Caius didn't mind, he would gladly hide her away from all her problems, the whole universe if she wished, and having her so close to him, feeling the warmth of her body and the softness of her skin underneath his own cold fingertips made the possessive side of his vampire-self thrive with contentment. If this was all she ever would be willing to give him, it would be enough, just to feel like this.

The selfish side of him hoped that it wasn't all of course. There were so many other things he wished to show her and share with her. Not until she was ready, naturally. But some day …

It was the growling of Claire's stomach that brought them both back to reality. Claire looked up from his chest, her cheeks pink with embarrassment.

"Oh. I … I forgot. I haven't eaten anything since lunch yesterday. I just had time for a whey protein drink before I went to the airport last night."

Caius frowned and made a quick calculation in his head. It was evening now, which meant his mate must have been without real food for more than a day. He barely remembered what human hunger felt like anymore but he did know that humans had to eat regularly to stay healthy. He bit back a growl since he knew it wasn't his mate's fault.

Edwards and Isabella's maybe, or even Alice's, as she hadn't provided the humans with food on the way here. But he couldn't do anything to punish them for that now. Instead, he hoisted Claire up into his arms, making her squeal in surprise.

"Hold on, amare. The kitchen is in another part of the castle, it will go faster this way."

"What …?"

Claire didn't have time to get any more words out before she shrieked in horror. The environment around here was suddenly not clear any longer, but blurred, swishing past her eyes at the same time as airspeed was ringing in her ears.

She suddenly realized that Caius was running with her in his arms. Way faster than any human she had ever seen, even faster than the Greyhound breeds that were doing professional racing.

She quickly closed her eyes. Traveling like this on an empty stomach was not something she would recommend to anyone!

"You alright?" Caius asked her just a moment later when he came to a halt. "I'm sorry amore mio, I didn't think about how unusual it would feel to you."

"It's alright," Claire said as he put her down on the floor. She had to hold on to him a few second more to steady herself since her head was still spinning before looking around.

"Wow," she said, admiring the richly equipped kitchen with many generous surfaces. She turned to Caius again when a thought hit her:

"Do you have more human servants than just that secretary? I mean, you can probably cook a Thanksgiving dinner for 50 in here and I know you don't eat food, so …"

Caius smiled and nodded at her. "Yes, we do. Our gardeners are humans since they can tend to the plants and trees on sunny days too without arising suspicion," he paused to see if she caught the meaning and continued when she nodded in understanding. "We also have a cleaning staff, a couple of laundresses and kitchen staff to feed them all."

Claire just blinked at him. They really were the royalty of the vampire world and clearly living like that as well. She of course had friends that had had butlers or housekeepers growing up and she didn't think anything about it.

She and Bella had both been horrified though, when Renee suggested they should get a housekeeper so they wouldn't have to take care of the many chores themselves.

Claire didn't want a stranger dig around in her dirty laundry, not to mention opening up her drawers, where she kept most of her private stuff to put away clean ones.

Bella had mostly been against letting someone else have free reins in their home – considering how absentminded their mother could be – things could disappear and she would probably not even notice it.

But thinking about it, she doubted any human with even a half brain would dare stealing anything from the Volturi or snooping in their private things.

"You can sit down, amare, I'm going to call the cook here so she can make you something to eat," Caius said, rousing her from her thoughts.

"No!" Claire said, shaking her head. "No, that's not necessary, I can do it myself."

Caius looked confused." Amore, it's no problem …"

"Caius, I promise, I can do it myself. I just … I don't want to meet someone else tonight. It's been a long day."

Caius got completely still, almost looking sad for a moment before he nodded, stroking her cheek tenderly.

"Very well, amore mio."

Claire quickly threw some Mac n' cheese together while Caius watched her, seeimngly fascinated. When it was all done she scooped it over in a bowl and poured herself a big glass of water so to not get dehydrated too.

Caius sat down beside her as she was eating, which made her a little self-conscious about eating but the hunger soon took over, making her wolf it all down in less than ten minutes.

"Sorry," she told Caius after she had finished her water as well. "I usually have better table manners but I have not eaten anything in a day …"

Caius just laughed, shaking his head. "Don't fret amore mio. I'm just happy to see you get some nutrition."

He suddenly looked serious again. "However, I have some … things I need to take care of. Should I follow you back to my chambers first? You can take a bath and relax a little while I'm gone as I'm sure this day has been tiring to you."

Claire nodded. "Yes, I'd like that."

After Caius had followed Claire back to his chambers he headed off to find his brothers. He wanted to learn what had happened at the two Cullen brats' trial. He also needed to feed since he had been with Claire when Heidi arrived with the mortals and by that missed out. But he thought that his brothers should have put some aside for him. At least he hoped so.

His first stop was therefore Aro's study. When arriving he opened the door without knocking and strode inside.

Aro was sitting at his desk with a bunch of papers in front of him and raised his gaze with a scowl.

"Ah, brother. I see that meeting your mate still hasn't taught you anything about courtesy. Like the art of knocking – very courteous thing."

"Not in my nature, brother," Caius answered. "Which you already knew. Where's Marcus?"

"Off sulking somewhere, would be my guess," Aro mused, resting his chin against his hands. "It's hard for him to see another of his brothers finally find his mate when his own is gone. He is happy for you, though, I assure you that. We both are."

Caius offered his silent gratitude by nodding his head. "I saw that you let the young Cullen and his pet go. That's not like you, Aro. Getting soft?"

Aro just smiled secretly at him. "The little seer let me see her visions and memories. Isabella will be one of us and now they know it's a time limit as well. I can't doll out punishments when there's no crime, Caius. Not even to satisfy you, dear brother. Besides, I thought your dear Claire asked us not to hurt her sister, or have you forgotten?"

Caius snarled at his brother, lips drawn from his teeth. "I forget nothing when it comes to my mate. Not that I understand why she would ask that of us, considering how that little tart treats her."

Aro raised his eyebrows. "I assume something happened when the sisters said their goodbyes?" He held out his hand for Caius to take so he could see for himself.

Caius hesitated just a short moment before he took Aro's hand. He would have preferred to keep his and his mate's moment in his chambers to himself but he knew he would inevitably have to touch Aro, sooner or later and then he would see it anyway, so he might as well do it now.

"Hmm," Aro mused as he let his hand go. "Isabella sure seems to hold some resentment against her sister. I wonder why that is … too bad I can't see anything when it comes to her …"

"You can't?" Caius asked, astonishment in his voice.

Aro growled low in his throat. To admit it was embarrassing, but everyone that had been in the throne room already knew so it was no use to keep it from Caius.

"No. I saw nothing when I held Isabella's hand. Young Edward can't hear her either."

"Interesting," Caius said, even though disgust was clear in his voice. "May that be why you spared the little tart? You hope that she will become gifted and join us?"

"I think it's quite certain that she will be gifted whenever she's turned," Aro said, getting up from his desk. "But I doubt that she will be joining the Volturi as long as she and Edward are a couple. Isabella is quite smitten with him – and I don't even need my gift to know that or Marcus' for that matter."

"Yet they aren't true mates," Caius said, a cruel smile twisting his beautiful features.

"Not according to Marcus and he would know, wouldn't he?" Aro asked rhetorically, wiping some invisible dust from a book shelf.

"You don't always need a true mate bond to be infatuated though. Speaking of which, what are you going to do with dear Dora now?"

Caius rose to his feet, a hissing breaking through his lips, eyes turning black as he glared at Aro, who remained stoic.

"Easy, brother. I'm merely curious."

"I'm going to handle it. I don't want her around Claire," Caius spat out, voice hoarse with irritation.

"Understandable. I will miss the dear lady, however," Aro said, sounding regretful. "Although I'm sure Claire is a lovely person. Oh, and Charles Manson is a quite deranged human that is locked away for life. The only reason why he isn't dead is because it's not allowed in the state where's he's imprisoned. I like your mate's humor, brother."

Caius just snorted and walked toward the door. "Did you save some dinner for me?"

"Oh yes, don't worry about that. They're in the dungeon. I assumed you wouldn't want Claire to hear about it until you're ready to tell her?"

Caius growled again and walked out of the study, slamming the door behind him. Aro may be his soul brother but he sure had a way to get on his nerves.

He started running toward the dungeon, thirst burning in his throat. First he would feed then deal with his soon to be ex-wife.

After that he could finally be with his mate again.

Caius slowly walked the stair up to the tower where his wife stayed, along with Aro's mate, Sulspicia and their guard, Corin.

He wished he had done this sooner, but he hadn't believed there was a mate for him out there. He always thought that the Gods were punishing him for the cruel beast he was, withholding his mate from him.

Athenodora was his wife; she had been a faithful companion to him for nearly 3000 years. Yet he hadn't felt anything romantic toward her for a long time.

Caius cared for her, like a member of the Volturi coven and as someone he had known for nearly all his immortal life.

But even the love and desire he had once felt for her held nothing to what he now felt toward Claire – and that was only after a day together.

He didn't want Claire to know about Athenodora. He didn't want her to think that she was not the only one to him – perhaps thinking that she was the mistress while Athenodora was the wife.

Caius inwardly cringed. No, he would do anything to make sure Claire knew what she meant to him. Athenodora had to go.

He slowly knocked on the door to the tower and then opened it without hesitation. Better get this done sooner rather than later.

Corin came toward him from one of the rooms, nodding her head in greeting.

"Master Caius," she said.

Caius nodded back, and then gestured with his hand for her to come closer. He spoke with Corin in the rapid speed of vampires for a few seconds, making sure that they were the only ones that knew about it.

Corin looked surprised and a bit sad when he finished but she nodded again, ever the obedient.

"Of course, master. I will see to it."

"Good," Caius said. "Now I need to see Athenodora."

As if summoned a strikingly beautiful female vampire appeared in the door. She smiled warmly toward Caius, walking toward him with her hands outstretched.

"Oh, my love, what a surprise!" she said. "To what do I owe this pleasure?"

Athenodora suddenly stopped when Caius raised his palm upward, like a stop sign, making it clear he didn't want her to touch him.

"Is something wrong, Caius?" Athenodora whispered, almost sounding afraid.

She knew who her husband was; she had been with him for over two millennia's. But his cruelty had never extended toward her.

Caius was a fierce and ruthless ruler – that fierceness could and had affected both males and females. But Caius was never cruel without a reason. The ones that suffered his wrath were either traitors, enemies to the coven or risks that had to be taken care of.

He enjoyed punishing the guilty, there was no mistake about that – making an example out of them. Yet Athenodora knew that he had never raised his hand to hurt someone weaker than him, like a younger vampire for example, to feel superior. Caius considered it beneath him.

"If you need to feel superior then it's a true sign you aren't," he used to say.

It was these small things that made Athenodora love her husband so much. She still did even though it wasn't exactly a romantic relationship anymore.

This was the first time in nearly six months that Caius had visited her. They had not been intimate with each other in nearly two years. But they were still husband and wife.

Now she waited anxiously as Caius stood before her, an unreadable expression on his face.

"I've found my mate, Athenodora," he finally said.

Athenodora blinked, thinking she had misheard him, even though she knew she hadn't, since her vampiric hearing was excellent.

"Y-your mate, Caius?" she stuttered. "Oh … t-that's wonderful. Congratulations!"

She was happy for him. They both knew they weren't true mates and that this could have happened. She was just anxious about what this meant for her.

"Thank you," Caius said, face still totally expressionless. "This means that our marriage has come to an end, though. I will have it annulled as soon as possible."

Athenodora nodded, nearly breathing out a sigh of relief. That wasn't so bad.

"I've also had Corin prepare for your departure. She is to provide you with anything you need – setting up new bank accounts, get you the necessary papers … I want you gone by tomorrow night at the latest."

Athenodora suddenly felt faint. "Gone?" she whispered.

"Gone," Caius said, his voice stern. "I will not have you in the same castle as my mate."

"But I won't hurt her!" Athenodora pleaded. "We don't even have to meet …"

"It's not up for discussion, Athenodora," Caius snarled. "I've finally found her after all these years but our relationship is still new and fragile. The risk of her running into my ex wife is one I will not take. That's my last word."

"But … but Volterra is my home!" Athenodora sobbed, venom gathering in her eyes instead of the tears she couldn't let out.

"I'm sorry," Caius said, walking toward the door. "Not anymore it isn't. Good luck, Dora."

And with that the door to the tower closed with a click, Athenodora falling down onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably until Corin found her.

Claire had taken a long bath, making her finally relax after this 48-hour day. Caius' bathroom was bigger than her dorm room back in London and the bathtub, proudly standing on clawed lion paws could probably have room for two more persons than her.

After bathing she dressed in her pajamas, a pair of pink cotton shorts and a shirt with a print of Princess Peach from Super Mario, along with the text: This princess can save herself.

She unlocked the bathroom door and stopped dead in her tracks when she found Caius sitting in the same couch they had been on earlier. Claire hadn't heard the door to the chamber open!

"Oh, you're back," she said feeling stupid.

Caius didn't answer. His eyes had suddenly gone black instead of their ruby read, whatever that meant. His eyes roamed over her form and lingered on her bare legs and feet.

Claire thought she heard a quiet growl but wasn't sure.

"Y-you okay?" Claire said, suddenly feeling a bit uncertain.

His eyes snapped up to her face and he smiled. "Yes, I'm fine. You look absolutely ravishing, I must say."

Claire blushed, fighting the instinct to hide her face in her hands. "Thank you."

"What does that mean?" he wondered, nodding toward her shirt.

"Oh, it's from a video game me and Bella sometimes played when we were kids," she told him. "Super Mario. It's about this little Italian plumber guy that has to go through several ordeals to save a princess that's trapped in castle. But you go through at least six castles before you actually get to the princess. The ones before that just have a man that says 'thank you Mario, but our princess is in another castle'. Bella always thought it was so romantic that Mario did everything to save the princess while I was convinced she actually didn't want to be saved, considering she seemed to change castles all the time."

Caius stared at Claire as if she had grown a second head before he tossed his head back and laughed. Claire had never heard him laugh before and the sound made all her nerve endings tingle. His laugh made her think of syrup melting on top of hot waffles.

"And this is what young children do to amuse themselves nowadays?" Caius asked after he had finished laughing.

"Hey, it was the 90s," she said, winking at him before she yawned loudly. Caius was on his feet instantly.

"Let's get you to bed, principessa," he said, folding down the covers on the bed for her.

Claire couldn't speak Italian but she understood what that meant at least and smiled wildly at him.

"Am I your princess?" she teased.

"Oh yes. My fair princess that doesn't need an Italian plumber to save her."

"Nope," Claire grinned. "I have the Italian vampire."

Caius suddenly seemed as if someone had lit a candle inside him. "That you do amore mio."

She crawled under the covers and leaned her head back against the soft pillows, sighing with contentment. "Caius, will you stay with me? I … I don't think I can sleep otherwise …"

"Of course I will, amore mio."

Caius took of his suit jacket and shoes, only left in a pair of dress pants and a black shirt underneath before he laid down on top of the covers, carefully wrapping his arms around Claire.

"Sleep well, principessa," he whispered, leaning closer to press a kiss to her forehead. Claire chose that particular moment to move her head so she could look him in the eyes. The kiss landed on her lips instead.

It was impossible for Claire to describe that moment without going into the world of power ballads. It was fireworks, puzzle pieces fitting together, and where have you been my entire life?

When they finally withdrew from each other Caius' eyes had gone black again and Claire was panting, out of breath.

They looked at each other in silence for a moment before Claire spoke:

"C-can we do that again?"

Caius smiled, a bit of mischief in his eyes. "Oh yes, my little mate. Tomorrow. Now I want you to sleep."

"You're evil," Claire pouted.

"That I am, Claire, amare. But if I'm going to show you just how … evil I can be then you need your rest first …"

A/N: Dun, dun dun ...! It's heating up a little. Thank you everyone for your reviews and following!

Italian translations:

Amare: Love

Amore mio: My love

Principessa: Princess