XXXVIII. Enjoy the Company

"So you're saying that in order to get my memories back, I have to release my brother?" Edward prompted.

Relieved, I nodded. He'd listened so attentively and quietly as I'd explained everything that I was sure I'd finally gotten my old Edward back.

Then he snorted. "Forget it. I'm rather content with the way things are..." He inclined his head as someone's phone rang, a huge improvement from the way he'd jumped before. "And I learn fast."

My face fell.

"Edward," I said, leaning forward. "This isn't just about your memories. This is also about the nomads and the Ancients and—"

He waved a dismissive hand. "We'll kill them."

"We?" I said incredulously.

"The Volturi and I," he clarified. "You will stay hidden."

I stared. "Killing isn't the solution to everything."

"You're right," he said. "Perhaps burying them would be better. There's a lot of space next to Andronikh. He'll enjoy the company, I'm sure."

He hadn't lost his humour but I was too agitated to find anything funny. "I'm serious about this," I said. "We need to know what we're up against."

Edward sighed. "Listen, Isab— Bella. We're in control of the most powerful coven in the world. I've never lost a fight. You can glamour vampires. How can we possibly lose?"

"I can't tell you what I don't know."

"Then I will not release Andronikh," he said matter-of-factly.

"Why are you being so irrational?" I asked, frustrated.

"Irrational?" His eyes flashed. "My brother will stop at nothing to save his mate. He will bleed you dry if he thinks it will save Helen. No, Bella, he's far too dangerous. I won't set him loose upon the world. Not for something so uncertain."

"I have my glamour. And he did nothing to hurt us," I argued back, surprised at myself. If someone had told me I was going to take Andronikh's side a month ago, I'd have called them crazy.

"I didn't let him."

"You didn't let him do anything!" I threw my hands up. "Not even anything good! Maybe he changed. And even if he didn't, I have my glam—"

Edward slammed his fist on the table. "He left me to rot! After everyone I've killed for him, after everything I've sacrificed for our family, after all the times I've stood by him!"

Several people turned around to stare at us. If Edward noticed, he didn't care. He was wound tight, his eyes burning, but I could see that his anger was just a front for the hurt.

"If he can do that to me, imagine what he'll do to you." He leaned back against his chair, and I could see the spindly metal arms bending to his grip.

I kneaded my temples.

Having millennia-old vampire in-laws was something I was going to have to get used to. It seemed that blood and gore and revenge was a normal part of the family drama. The deep-seated resentment was just the icing on the cake. It was going to more than one afternoon to change his mind.

"So what's your plan?" I asked finally.

"I take the Guards with me and hunt them down one by one," Edward said. "It shouldn't be too difficult with Demetri and Philippe."

"And what are you going to say to your sister?"

"She'll come around," Edward said tightly.

Would she? I had mixed feelings about meeting her. On one hand, I hoped she would help me convince Edward, on the other hand, I was worried she was going to take Andronikh's side. After all, she'd chosen to remain in Volterra. She'd spent far more time with her other brother and Edward hadn't seen her in five hundred years. A lot of things could change in five hundred years, my own mate being the case in point.

From the set of Edward's jaw, pushing the issue wasn't going to help me right now. I decided to try a different angle. "Do you remember Carlisle?"

"Who?"

"Carlisle," I said. "You sired him."

"I sired a vampire?" Edward seemed astonished, which was a good thing because as much as I tried not to take it personally, dealing with his temper put me on edge.

"Yeah," I said. "Do you want to meet him?"

Edward was quiet for so long that I thought he wasn't going to answer. Finally, he said, "Not yet." He seemed exhausted. "Can we go back to the castle? I've had enough of the future for today."

"Sure."

I wondered if Philippe had returned with Ariadnh and how we were going to deal with all of her potential reactions. As we neared the castle, the sun was setting and the tourists were sparse. Edward relaxed visibly. His arm came around me and he pressed a kiss to my temple.

"Don't worry, Bella. I'm going to take care of you."

It was old-fashioned but very sweet.

I stood on my tiptoes and kissed him briefly on the lips. "I hope you'll let me take care of you too."

His eyes danced, surprised and pleased and bemused all at the same time, and I encircled his neck, burying my face in his chest and letting him carry me over the gates. He was taking all of this remarkably well considering the circumstances. All he needed was time. But there was so little of it. Maybe Philippe was right. Maybe I had to use my glamour.

Hey guys, sorry this took so long! I'm completely swamped. I had a 10km charity run, six different exams (three still on the way), my thesis, a last-minute performance coming up this Friday, a deadline for a short story, and three reports to write. I usually write before I sleep but the last two weeks I just KOed! I'll write more as soon as I get things under control.