A/N: Lots of M rated stuff in this chapter. You've been warned...

Chapter 25

I'm not sure how long I laid there in Aro's arms, feeling our relieved emotions bounce back and forth between us. It could have been minutes, or hours or even days.

However long it was, all too soon I felt Aro's hunger flair. And not the hunger I'd hoped for.

I jumped up, panicked – finally remembering his all too fragile state.

"Shit, I forgot about the humans. Come on, babe. I've got a couple more people for you to eat in the sitting room."

I reached my hand out to steady him, and unsurprisingly – Aro needed my assistance to get up.

I cursed myself for forgetting how bad off he truly was.

"Don't fret, sweetheart. I'll be fine."

I tried to tamp down the irritation I felt at his calm words. He had been torn to fucking pieces! Did that sort of thing happen to him so often he could just brush it off?

It really wasn't the time to ask. And I really didn't want to know the answer.

Instead, I just held his hand and tugged him toward the sitting room, with an urgency I wished he'd mirror.

Ah, but stately King Aro was not to be rushed, apparently. He dragged me toward the closet instead.

I'd forgotten in the state of emergency that I was in, about his now all too apparent nudity.

Caius had lain a robe over him after his reassembly was complete, and I hadn't been preoccupied with anything below the waist during our emotional reconnection enough to notice how bare he was.

I laughed a little at myself, and waited for him to don one of his signature suits and tried to will away my impatience.

He emerged a full 10 minutes later, looking much more like his usual self – beyond his need to clutch at the wall like a newborn.

I rushed to his side, and situated myself under his shoulder, so he could lean on me.

We made our way slowly out to the sitting area, where Jane continued to monitor the remaining Partridges.

I'd saved the best for last – and it was only the Mom and Dad that waited.

I commanded them to come forward, so Aro didn't have to reveal to Jane how weak he was, and I felt his gratitude through our bond.

I smiled at him, and pushed Momma Partridge over to him.

He wasted no time, sinking his teeth deeply into her neck, and gulping her blood in huge swallows. She was drained in less than 2 minutes.

He was a bit more careful with Poppa, breaking the man's neck mercifully and drinking him more sedately.

His deep red eyes twinkled when he was done, and I felt his relief – so I knew he felt better.

He dropped the man's body to the floor carelessly, and stepped over him to get to the loveseat, grabbing my hand on the way and tugging me down to sit next to him.

"Now," he began, "tell me everything."

And I did, leaving nothing out except my few weak moments, sobbing over him.

He didn't really need to know that... it would just fuel his already enormous ego.

Jane had stayed throughout the retelling, and I could tell she wanted to mention my hysteria, but a sharp look in her direction and her face was once again expressionless.

Aro must have felt my deceit, or my warning to Jane because he gave me a look afterward...

"Was there anything else?"

"No, of course not. The prisoners are waiting for you. Should we go have a reading, now? The innocent ones are probably hungry, I'd hate to be insensitive to those that were just duped by Chelsea."

He nodded, "Yes. Let's head to the dungeons, now."

I stood and waited for him, examining his actions and emotions closely to look for any lingering discomfort or lethargy.

Pleased to see none, and rolling my eyes at his smugness over my concern – I turned and walked to the door.

Never one to have a question unanswered, I should have expected what happened next.

A gasp was my only warning that Aro was reading Jane.

Worry, anguish and admiration pulsed through the bond, and I turned - resigned to the fact that he now saw how badly I'd freaked out over his abduction.

Not that he shouldn't already have known that... we were fucking mated. What did he expect? That I would be only mildly concerned, and search for him only in my free time?

I turned to him, a mutinous expression already showing on my face, just waiting for the tirade...

That never came.

He reached out and hugged me hard; respect, admiration, love and sadness pouring into me.

I hugged him back just as hard, relishing in the firmness of his embrace. The knowledge that he would never be taken from me, ever again.

I would glue myself to his side, and he would sit in a constant protective bubble for eternity, before I let this fiasco occur again.

I kissed my way up his neck, across his throat and chin to his lips – protectiveness, and possessiveness my constants.

But when my lips touched his, lust was quickly added into the mix.

His lips were so smooth and soft, I wanted to spend the rest of my days with them pressed to mine.

Hmmm... MINE.

I licked his bottom lip, and he opened his mouth rubbing the tip of his tongue across mine... the sensation was indescribable.

I swallowed and when his taste registered, a frenzy set in.

My arms went from his shoulders to his hair, my tongue stroked all along his, and I jumped up without conscious thought to wrap my legs around his hips.

A faint click registered to me, but I couldn't be bothered to seek out it's source.

Aro tore his mouth from mine, and licked his way down my neck to my mating mark, grazing his teeth across it, causing me to hiss in need.

Our desire was being bounced back and forth and I honestly felt I might die if I didn't have him soon.

He ripped my tank top down the middle, and made a noise of dissatisfaction before shredding my bra as well.

"Yes,"I hissed out, returning the favor by ripping at his suit jacket, and cursing him internally for putting on so many clothes.

I didn't feel us move, but I felt the pressure of a wall at my back, right before I was sidetracked yet again by the delicious pressure of his cock rubbing against my center.

We both growled at the feeling.

He pinned me against the wall with his hips and shrugged out of his shirt, before leaning down and sucking my nipple into his mouth.

The cool sensation along with the slight pressure of his teeth caused my pussy to throb, and I pressed my needy center harder against his tented pants.

"Bedroom," I gritted out to him, when my faculties returned a little after he'd moved on to licking back up my neck.

"Yes," I heard vaguely before the softness of the bed registered against my naked back.

I pushed him back from me and ripped at the button and fly of my jeans, desperate to feel his skin pressed against my naked flesh.

He just stared at me for a second, before I prompted him, "Take off your pants fucker, before I rip them off."

He laughed, a little – only managing a chuckle before I sent him a violent look.

He composed himself quickly, and hopped up to divest himself of his suit pants.

I got my pants off first, and he groaned when he saw me completely naked.

I spread my legs open to tease him, but I actually managed the opposite – the heated look he gave me made me even wetter.

"Christ, hurry the fuck up before I have to touch my damn self. I want you so much it fucking hurts."

His desire quadrupled with that statement, and a tendril of concern teased me.

He knelt between my spread legs, pressing his lips to mine in a deep kiss before working his way slowly down my body.

I wasn't sure where he was going with this but I was aggravated when his cock got further away from where I wanted it, and I growled at him in annoyance.

"Patience, sweetheart. I promise you'll get everything you want soon enough."

I sighed, and writhed on the bed when his lips and tongue made their way across my chest to my nipples, and his fingers ran the length of my body to my core.

I whined when his fingers ran over my clit, until his teeth bit down on my nipple and his fingers drove themselves deep inside my body.

I clenched my fists in his hair, holding his mouth to my breast and tried to impale myself further onto his hand.

"More," I growled.

His thumb rubbed my clit while his fingers plunged in and out, his teeth alternating between both my nipples.

"Ugh, YES." I screeched out, tossing my head back and forth and trying not to writhe in ecstasy.

He moved himself further down my body placing open mouth kisses to every square inch of skin he passed along the way, until he got to my pussy.

The first touch of his tongue against my clit caused me to clench down so hard on his fingers I thought I might have broken them.

I hissed, and pushed my hips harder against his face – feeling nothing but his overwhelming desire through our bond.

I knew rationally that I should be embarrassed or ashamed of my shameless actions, but all I could feel was the overpowering urge to mate, to assuage this terrible desire, to come.

All that rationality fled me when he sucked on my clit. I was officially mindless in my pursuit of an orgasm.

I pulled his hair, I dug my heels into his back, I ground my hips in to his face, I demanded he do it again, but harder, rougher.

I was an animal.

And I don't think I'd ever felt so much lust as what was coming off Aro.

"More!" I demanded again, when he went back to licking me – and mercifully his tongue sped up – sped up so much it felt like my clit was vibrating and he rammed three fingers into my sex.

I screamed when the orgasm hit. Screamed so loud I was certain humans down the street could hear me.

The euphoria that burst through me would have stopped my heart if it still beat, it was so intense, and reciprocated by Aro who was incredibly pleased to have provided it to me...

His pleasure flooded me with desire, again – and I pulled him up and kissed him, twining my tongue with his and tasting myself.

Strangely, that turned us both on, and suddenly I couldn't wait.

I wrapped my legs around his waist, grabbed his cock with my hand, lining us up and used my legs and hips to push him into me.

Even with our previous activities, my sex was still so tight around him, we both gasped at the sensation of our joining.

Aro slammed himself into me roughly, and the pleasure-pain of it caused me to tighten further.

He growled, and the feeling as well as our circuited emotions – caused me to orgasm again.

"Yessss, baby. Ohhh, you feel so fucking good. Give it to me harder, I want it to hurt - " I babbled.

Aro growled some more, before pulling himself up to sit back on his knees and pulling me over his lap.

He spread his legs, which spread mine and when he thrust and ground me down into his lap, he was so deep I would feel the ache of it for days.

He put his arms around my back, wove his fingers through my hair, and pulled. It stretched my body, bowing my back and thrusting my chest into his face. He bent his head forward to suck and bite at my nipples, and I was in nirvana.

The combination of all three sensations set me off and I orgasmed again, clenching down as hard as I could.

He groaned and licked up my chest to my neck and bit deeply into my mating mark – making my orgasm go on and on and on...

He let go of my hair and I wasted no time in returning the favor, sinking my teeth into his shoulder and suckling frantically at his venom.

The moment it hit my taste buds I felt an unadulterated relief that spread from my heart all the way through my body in a shudder that shook us both.

It was enough for him, he growled and his cock jerked over and over with his orgasm.

Relief, euphoria, happiness, and love slammed into us both. And we clutched each other tightly, rocking and grinding into each other as we clenched and contracted in the aftermath.

We stayed like that for at least an hour, teeth firmly lodged in each other, lapping at the venom that trickled out and reaffirming our bond. Running our hands along every bit of the others exposed skin that we could reach.

I pulled my teeth from him first, licking the bite at his shoulder lazily, and scratching his scalp with my nails.

He retracted his teeth a few moments later, and did the same for me and I cuddled him closer, burrowing my face into his neck and breathing in his scent.

Fucking Christmas.

I did not want to move, ever. I was a selfish creature that was suddenly struck with the urge to beg Aro to come away with me. Away from this danger, these duties, and all the BS that went along with him being a Volturi leader. In fact, with all his guard gone, it seemed like the perfect time to disband completely and tell Caius to fuck off.

I just wanted to sequester myself somewhere incredibly remote and fuck my mate for a few years.

Was that so wrong?

Aro pulled back from me and smoothed my hair out of my face, looking at me intensely before he whispered, "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

I shook my head and told myself to grow up – Aro had enough going on without adding a whiny mate to the mix.

I shelved my selfishness, determined not to make him feel like I wasn't happy with what we had.

I wanted to feel happiness, wanted to manufacture it right now, so I could smile in Aro's face and keep my angst to myself.

I had never envied Jasper so much as I did in this moment.

Emotions on demand was a pretty awesome fucking talent.

I felt Aro's confusion and anxiety and I burrowed myself further into his embrace, turning my thoughts to happier topics to bring the mood back up.

I thought about how much I loved being with him, how much I enjoyed his incredible sexual skills, how hilarious I found his cheapness, and his obsession with his huge desk. How pretty he looked, how delicious his scent and taste were.

Every single positive thing there was about being his mate.

I poured all my concentration into flooding him with my happiness, adoration, longing, desire, humor, contentment, and joy.

And I felt his answering happiness.

It was enough for now.

I untangled myself from him, shuddering only a little with a sense of loss when our skin stopped touching, and held my hand out for his.

"Let's shower and get down to the dungeon before there's another mutiny."

He smiled and took my hand.

Our shower was all business, even if we did rub against each other a bit more than strictly necessary.

I was the first one out, and I wrapped myself in a towel before grabbing one for him.

"I've got to go to my room, babe. I'll meet you back here in 15 minutes, okay? Leave without me and doom yourself to living in a bubble for the rest of your eternity. You hearing me, baby? FOREVER. It won't take much to convince me – I'm seconds away from doing it anyway, just for my peace of mind."

He could probably feel my fervor and protectiveness, bordering on the obsessive.

He climbed out of the shower quickly, and wrapped me in a hug even though he was still dripping wet.

"I'm not going anywhere without you, honey. Not ever again, I swear it."

My eyes stung as venom welled up in them, and I squeezed them shut hard to keep him from seeing.

A single bloody tear streaked down my face and I knew I couldn't hide it.

I looked up at him, feeling his shock and sadness and whispered, "See that you don't," before letting him go and teleporting back to my room.

I landed on my bed with a thump, and a deep sigh.

Loving that man was a lot of hassle.

I flipped over and jumped to the floor heading for the closet, wondering what I'd find today, when I was suddenly hit with anxiety, pain and bewilderment.

Aro's pain.

Without thinking twice, I teleported back to his room and willed a shield around him.

"What the fuck?" I demanded, when I looked around the room and only found him and Caius.

"Goddamn it, Aro – reel that shit in. I did not just feel that all the way in my room, and you're just having a friendly chat with Caius. What the fuck is it going to be like if you're actually attacked! Unless..." and I turned to scrutinize Caius, "you are a threat. In which case you should kiss your ass good bye right now, fucker."

"Sweetheart," Aro's voice was muffled by the shield which I'd managed to only put around him and not myself, but the exasperation in his tone was clear.

"Yes?" I turned and gave him a threatening look, daring him to berate me for my response to his pain.

"You're naked," Caius supplied, dryly.

"Aaah!" I screamed. I covered myself with my arms as best I could, and threatened him again anyway.

"One more hint of discomfort and you're ass is grass, dickhead. Just remember." I even went the extra mile and did the I'm watching you gesture with my fingers pointed at my eyes and then at him.

"Oh, I'm watching too, princess. Nice rack, by the way." He replied, sarcastically.

"Asshole," I muttered as I teleported back to my room.

The explosion of mirth through the bond did not go unnoticed, but I decided to ream Aro about it after I found something to wear.

"Dickhead," I muttered to myself as I pulled on panties and dug around for a bra, to no avail.

I pulled on the first dress I saw, a tight red mini-dress that clung to me, but fit nevertheless – and provided support for my chest.

And stomped over to my mother's room. Listening carefully, I detected only one heartbeat, so I pushed the door open without knocking.

"Men are such assholes..." I began, heatedly.

My mother laughed, coming out of her room in a robe, and nodding enthusiastically.

"That they are, baby. All of them – prince, pauper, next door neighbor. Don't ever doubt it, even if they seem okay when you first meet them."

I laughed involuntarily, and nodded my head.

"You and Aro arguing already, baby? Or is this about some other asshole?" She questioned.

I sighed, "Not arguing, not really. I'm just a little neurotic after my experience with his kidnapping. I mean, it's totally normal for me to be a little freaked over his safety after all that... but he's being condescending. Like being ripped apart by your enemies is an everyday occurrence! Well, it better not fucking be. He has no idea who he's fucking with here. Swear to God, I will steal that bastard's will, and the next thing he knows we'll be living in an igloo in the fucking Arctic." I wound down when I realized that might not be a terrible idea, before another deep sigh escaped me – and I admitted to my mother, "People really hate him, Mom. He freely admitted if he came across anyone who recognized him while he was out on his own, he was likely to be attacked. He's never going to be safe. And he can't use his talent if I have him trapped him a shield for the rest of his existence... Don't you have anything witchy you can help me do to protect him? What fucking good are all these powers if I can't protect my mate?"

I finally ceased my ramble, and begged her with my eyes. I just couldn't be with Aro all the time, and I couldn't worry about him every second we were apart, either. It wasn't going to make for a pleasant eternity.

"Aww, honey. Don't stress yourself out. We can make him an amulet, like the ones you're wearing from your grandmother. The strength of the magic in the person casting determines how effective they are, and with all your abilities it's clear you're now the strongest witch quite possibly ever. Let's try, go get something he keeps with him all the time, and we'll spell it to protect him."

I nodded, before teleporting back to Aro's room.

When I arrived, Aro was waiting – just like he promised. I gave him a look, still a little displeased at his inability to empathize.

Dick.

I scanned his form, looking for something I knew he wouldn't ever be without, and decided his Volturi necklace was the only thing he really wore everyday.

"Hand over your necklace, babe. My mother and I are going to spell it to protect you."

He looked dubious, but reached up and removed it anyway.

I walked closer to get it from him, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek – before shielding him again.

"Sorry, you're going to have to stay in the bubble until I finish. Be back soon, babe."

I disappeared before he could protest, but I felt his displeasure through the bond.

Didn't fucking care, though.

When I got back, my mother was flipping frantically through one of her many books.

"Okay, I got it." I said, referring to the necklace.

"Good. Now, I don't think you really need to say the traditional words – the general idea is to will your strength and desire to protect into whatever item you chose. The more fervently you wish for it to work, the more of your power the item will be able to draw on in protection of the person or thing it's guarding. Hold whatever you're using in your hands, close your eyes, and say the words 'I will' to yourself, before thinking hard about how much you desire to keep Aro safe, how much you would give to make it happen, how strong you want the," she leaned around to see what I was holding, "necklace to be."

I shook my head at how fucking hokey my life had become, and took a deep breath.

I closed my eyes and imagined what I wanted the amulet to do. I willed it to put Aro in a shield if anyone with negative intentions approached him, I willed it to alert me to his peril, I wished wholeheartedly for it to take my strength and use it to protect my heart. I wished and wished and wished. I rocked back and forth a little in my frenzy.

Dear God, please let this work.

Finally, when I felt like I'd done all I could – I looked back up at my mother.

"Anything else?"

"Say the words, 'as I will so mote it be.' It can't hurt."

I whispered them over the necklace and teleported back to Aro.

He wasn't in his bedroom anymore, but with my shield on him – I really couldn't care less if he wandered around the castle. He was safe enough.

I found him in the throne room talking to Caius, they both stopped speaking when they saw me arrive and then restarted when I just gave them a small smile in greeting.

I walked over, dissipating the shield as I went and plunked myself down in Aro's lap – leaning forward to put his necklace on him.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I need you two to test this for me. If it works, I'll spell yours too, Caius. Stand up for me for a second." I instructed.

They both rose and walked down off the dais, and turned to me with intrigued expressions.

I looked at Caius, "I need to you to decide to attack Aro, and then try to punch him. It's important that you decide first, I want to try it both ways."

He nodded, and screwed his face up into a scowl before lunging forward – a shield appeared over Aro and Caius bounced right off him.

I felt a shudder and a rush of urgency – my warning system that Aro was in trouble.

My smile was mega watt, and the disbelief I felt was echoed right back by Aro.

I can't believe that shit worked.

I cackled a little. Being a witch was officially the coolest shit ever.

I calmed myself and instructed, "Now, I want you to clear your mind, focus on benevolence, you don't really want to hurt Aro, you just want to touch him in a friendly way, and try again."

Caius's face went blank, and then he moved forward again and managed to land a light pat to Aro's shoulder – the amulet didn't react at all.

"Perfect," I purred.

I turned back to Caius, and held my hand out - "Give me yours, and I'll do the same for you."

He took his Volturi crest off, and handed it to me immediately – apparently eager to see what I did to it.

Sadly, he wasn't going to see much.

I sat in Aro's throne and held the necklace in my hands and repeated the process, wishing with my entire being for Caius to be safe.

I whispered the last words a silent minute later, "As I will so mote it be."

I handed it back, and instructed Aro to repeat the previous process in reverse.

Aro's necklace didn't react to his attack at all, but Caius's did. Aro bounced off the shield that appeared – and the shudder I felt this time, included a small hint of Caius's scent.

Hell yeah! I was worried I wouldn't be able to differentiate between the warnings to know who had been attacked. This was fucking awesome!

My happiness and relief skyrocketed and Aro let out a loud purr when he felt it.

Both Caius and I turned to look at him in disbelief but he just smiled happily, shaking his head.

"Right, well. Let's go interrogate some traitorous pricks, shall we?" I asked, standing from the throne and making my way to the door.

A/N: Is my lemon writing getting better? I honestly can't tell. I'm trying my hardest to make it more vampiric. Tell me what you think! A