Disclaimer: I don't own anything associated with the films or books, the only thing I do take credit for are any Ocs and mistakes ;p
Chapter Thirty Seven, Bella's POV.
"How about Fae peek-a-boo?, oh wait I gotta a better one, semi cute yet kinda disconcerting baby thing"
"That is the best you got?" I arched my dark eyebrow at Leah as my sister tried to create a name for the twin's new power.
"I like to see you come up with something better" Leah retorted with a smirk.
"Lucas and Ashley's power?" I traded. We were both stood in the laundry room. I was bundling the twin's dirty clothes into the washing machine while Leah lounged around in the doorway.
"That is creative" Leah drawled sarcastically.
"How do you go from the moodiest person on the planet to sarcastic in a century?" I muttered when I finally finished shoving the baby clothes into the wash.
"The same way you went from clumsy to graceful" Leah responded.
"You've been letting Alice bite you?" I smirked at the tall shifter over my shoulder.
"That is about the only thing she won't do" Leah pouted.
"TMI Lee" I made a face as I added the sweet scented detergent to the wash load, it was a random guess as to how much of the cleansing agent I would need, but here is hoping I didn't use too much or too less. It had literally been years since I did any kind of household chore, I know I practically did everything for Charlie when I was human, hell I could've done all of it wearing blindfold and one hand tied behind my back, it would've been dangerous given my awkward balance, but I could've done it. Now whenever I even thought about helping out, Esme was suddenly standing in front of me with that motherly smile and a 'Don't even think about messing with my cleaning routine' look on her face.
"What are talking about 'TMI'?, we live in a house where everyone can hear just about everything. Miss I haven't even done my mate up the-"
"LEAH!.." I snapped loudly.
"Hello?" The female shifter suddenly looked a little nervous. I grumbled beneath my breath as I turned the washer on, the sounds of rushing water echoed around the wide laundry room, it was easily about as big as my old bedroom back at the mansion in Forks, the rich fragrance of the detergent mixing with the water followed me as I walked towards my tall sister.
"Leah, sex isn't everything, besides we have the twins to watch over, even more so now that they turn invisible, not to mention I gotta focus on learning control so I can finally eliminate the last threat to our family. But this is more about your sex life isn't it?" I guessed.
"What do you think would happen if, in the heat of the moment..."
"Hey I don't wanna hear about you, Alice and heat..." I whined covering my ears with my hands dramatically.
"...This is a serious conversation isn't it?" I smirked a little, leaning my shoulder against the door frame. The warmth falling off Leah's lithe body in waves was little uncomfortable, like standing next to an open furnace but I stayed put.
"What do you think would happen if she bit me?. Because I can see that she wants to but she just won't..." Leah's voice dropped to a whisper. Clearly she didn't want Alice overhearing us, the pixie was in the newly furnished living room with my Rosalie and our twins.
"Well I don't know if I'm the right person to ask Lee, I mean we are the same age and I know about as much of our world as you do. Why not just ask Victoria?" I suggested with a partial shrug.
"Because I am not too certain if her pissing match with Akasha is over yet" Leah grumbled with a fond smile. I grinned gently, there was nothing more scary or endearing than a maternal Victoria.
"You did hear them yesterday right?" I tilted my head with a half smile, the loose strands of my long dark hair fell over one shoulder.
"Yeah but this is Victoria. C'mon Bells you've seen her at poker, she plays the losing game just to steal your villa in Greece the next round."
"You still hurting over that loss huh?" I teased.
"I liked that Villa, it was right next to my own private beach. I had acres of open space to let my wolf roam around without having to worry about humans spotting me. Even here in Alaska I have to throw cautious looks over my shoulder during a run" Leah sighed.
"Y'know she would give it back to you if you asked her"
"I will beat her one day" Leah promised.
"Fat chance..." I coughed, shooting my sister a sardonic smirk.
"Whatever. So you think its safe to ask V?" Leah murmured.
"If you really want my opinion. Your skin is just as impenetrable as a vampires even more so given you are the bane of their very existence so...I don't really see there being an issue. But like I said I am not exactly an authority on supernatural biology" I crossed my arms beneath my ample breasts, the soft white material of my grecian style top strained across my chest.
"And V is?" Leah arched her raven dark eyebrow quizzically.
"She knows more than we do" I pointed out.
"Yeah..." Leah agreed "...So say everything is fine. How do convince Ali of that because she is acting like something bad might happen."
"Like what?" I asked a little loudly.
"Exactly my point" Leah murmured.
"I'd say get her angry then push for make up sex but if you're anything like me, I can't do anything to upset my mate. So I guess you just have to talk to her" I shrugged again.
"So have you seen Jake and little miss Jane as of late?" Leah purred.
"No. Why?." I asked as she started smirking to herself.
"I haven't sensed so much happiness over our link since he was madly in love with you" I cringed slightly at the memory, that was one aspect of the past I did not need reminding of. Not one little bit.
"Its good to hear, I haven't really had a chance to talk to him since he got back, but I'm glad Jane is finally..."
"-Normal" Leah supplied.
"...Opening up" I corrected firmly.
"Yes. She is now 'normal'" Leah insisted with a wide grin.
"Sometimes Leah..." I grumbled with a mocking yet scolding look. I pushed past my sister and started for the living room, my pace gradually increasing as the little sounds of my mate and children grew louder, like the crescendo of a song designed to appeal only to me.
Demetri's POV.
I rubbed the back of my neck nervously as I slowly crept away from the Denali mansion, darting my eyes around the snowy landscape with each step I took. Instinct was a pretty powerful thing, and mine were yelling at me to back the hell away from the large house. I'd arrived in Alaska just over an hour ago thanks to the Volturi private jet, and I'd been camped out on the very tips of the mansion's outer parameter, just over a mile away from the actual building. My position was close enough to the house that I could just about catch a scent of the mansion's inhabitants but due to the wind direction they wouldn't easily catch mine. At least my years of experience as a tracker told me that. I had no idea if a Fae would be able to sense me. A slow shiver had the sensitive hairs on the back of my neck rise. I glanced around again. The dim light being cast from the hidden sun, being concealed by the stormy grey sky probably would've impaired a humans vision. As winter drew near, the days in Alaska grew shorter and the nights got increasingly longer.
I lifted my head a little, drawing in the surrounding scents. Rotten bark, small and large animals, clean white snow, even the light scent of a near by lake. Shaking my head to dispel my feeling of uneasiness I took off at a light run, I was staying in a crappy motel near the local town. Aro didn't like it when we wasted 'his' funds on luxuries for ourselves even when we were carrying out a task for him. As a vampire it wasn't like I needed much in the ways of 'indulgences' but even a vampire could enjoy a hot shower. The motel's cheap installations reminded me of my ex-husband. One minute it runs deliciously hot the next it runs ice cold.
My long legs ate up the distance between myself and the town, maybe it wasn't the brightest move to stay so close to the mansion but it boasted enough distance between my location and the mansion that I could claim to be pursuing other business the area if one of the Denali coven ever happened on me. I doubt it though. Every vampire in the coven, along with the three shifters, had stayed close to the house since I'd arrived and they never went anywhere alone, particularly while hunting. If I couldn't get one of them alone it made my side objective of restoring my former coven-mate's loyalties to their proper places more or less impossible. Now I wasn't an idiot, I'm sure that they know of my presence in the area, it just begged the question of why hadn't they confronted me. And where did Bella and that older Fae go that I couldn't pick up their scent, it was like they moved too fast for their scents to even consider lingering on the air for me to trace. I had far more questions than answers, which was sure to 'please' Aro when I called in with my hourly report. This was a pointless mission, more than pointless, it bordered on suicidal. If Bella or Rosalie thought I was endangering their children, I could kiss my ass goodbye, and why. So Aro could feel important while throwing out orders?.
I shook my head as I drew to a stop around the back of the motel, as to avoid human attention, it was a secluded area, a couple of metres away from the forest and the only main road leading through town. Reaching into the inside pocket of my bulky jacket I pulled out a plain black case holding a pair of tinted, wire rimmed, glasses. Slipping them into place, they more or hid my ruby red eyes from view and they drew less attention than a pair of black aviators in the middle of Alaska would. Dammed curious humans, why could they just mind their own business?. Sauntering around the side of the motel, snow crunching beneath my heavy, bulky boots. I ducked my head as I walked in through the entrance, rubbing my gloved hands together in that classical, 'I'm freezing kind of a way'. I headed towards the 'front desk' of the flea invested motel, it was really just a wobbly table with an ancient computer sat on top beside a couple of old framed photos and a particularly young human reclining in a worn patchy leather chair behind the desk.
"Hey Stan" I greeted the young teen with a convincing shiver. The seventeen year old boy stood up instantly as I drew near.
"Hey Mr Smith" I chuckled inwardly. Only in a small town like this one could someone check into such a sleazy place with a name like 'Smith' and not get an army of weird or knowing looks. If this was Vermont, Stan here, would've looked at my ring finger searching for 'evidence' the moment he saw my false signature. I needed to find my kicks somewhere right?.
"You got any messages for me Stan?" I arched a dark brown eyebrow at the boy. I suppose he must have had some luck with ladies or guys at school. 5Ft 10'' or so, shaggy blonde hair, light dusting of freckles over the slash of his nose, lightly muscular body clad in a simple black work shirt with the motel's 'logo' imposed on the right breast pocket. Not my type, the complete opposite actually.
"Three, ah they're around here somewhere" While the human played hide-and-go-seek with my three post-it notes I glanced around the small room I was stuck in. It was about the same size as my closest back in Volterra, the two shelves mounted on the wall behind the desk were ashamed to display so many tacky knick-knacks, the air was stale and the entire room from ceiling to floor was covered in a light layer of dust. Unsurprising, given the house keeping was a fifteen year old girl trying to pull off twenty one. Young Holly was Stan's sister if my nose was correct. It must be a family 'establishment' as I had only counted three members of staff including the owner.
"No rush" I muttered. Stan, who was on his knees, a position I liked any man, save for gangling blondes, in, accidentally bumped his head on the underside of the desk as he hurried to deliver my messages. They were probably all from Aro. 'Why hadn't I called him back?', 'Why was I so useless?', 'I better call him soon back or he was going to make his brother do bad things to me'. So on and so forth, I'd had it all before and I was damned tired of it, unfortunately for me though, once you were part of the Volturi, the only way one got a pink slip was when you were dead.
"Sorry Holly was 'cleaning' earlier" Stan blushed, handing the bright orange post-its to me.
"I can tell" I drawled sarcastically. Taking my messages without any further words, I turned on my heel and headed back out the main office, I took a right and stalked down the snow covered path, dozens of footprints proceeded my own, at least I would have an assortment of food to chose from if I got hungry. I arrived at the shoe box of a room I was renting for the week, and fished for the old rustic key in the back pocket of my pants. The only other item I carried on my person was a thick roll of hundred dollar bills, it was almost as wide as my wrist so I had no worries about cash shortages. Finally my gloved fingers closed around the old key to my room, pulling the rusted iron from my pants I slid the key into the lock and twisted. The sound of the door unlocking was accompanied by a sharp gasp, I growled under my breath, there was a fucking cockroach in my room and so I have to act like a human. I flung the door open to catch the half naked form of a painfully young girl attempting to pull her jeans on, besides her was an equally flustered boy verging on maybe twenty at a push. Unlike Stan the shitty receptionist though, this boy was definitely more my type. 6Ft 2' two inches shorter than myself', heavily muscled, dark curly hair locks framing a boyishly handsome face and naked as the day he was born.
"What the fuck are you kids doing in here!" I bellowed, feigning outrage when I was actually more interested in the very sizeable package in front of me. The girl wasn't exactly unattractive either, a little flat chested but I could work around that.
"We were ah, I-I...S-sorry sir" The boy mumbled searching frantically for his pants. The two began to shiver reminding me that I was standing in an open doorway. I stepped further into my room, pulled the key out the lock knowing exactly what I was going to be doing with it and shut the door firmly, the central heating was on full blast, it was about the only thing that worked in this damn place.
"You picked the wrong room to mess around in..." I drawled locking the door. The boy, having lost his will to stand in front of me in his birthday suit yanked the messy sheet off the bed and wrapped it around his lean waist. Holly, the young cleaning girl, blushed furiously refusing to meet my gaze, she was a little more presentable, wearing a lacy bra and matching underwear I could see through the open fly of her jeans.
"How old are you?" I rounded on the boy, playing the disgusted adult rather well if I did say so myself.
"Twenty next week" He swallowed hard. The rapid heartbeats across the room were making my mouth water with anticipation. I clamped down my hunger, I had another urge to sate on these two first, after that, who knows?.
"You really think her daddy is gonna let you live that long after I report your dumb ass?" I snapped. I felt heat pool in my stomach as I watched duel looks of pure fear cross over their faces, oh yeah, I missed the young and easily manipulated.
"Please Mr-" Tears cast a bright sheen over Holly's dull brown eyes. I held up my hand to silence them both.
"'Please' nothing you're under age Holly, this is statutory rape." The boy started breathing heavily, arousal suddenly burned through my body sending tingles of awareness over my muscular form straight down to my cock. I wonder what they would both look like, on their knees giving me head at the same time. An impressive bulge appeared at the front of my pants as my cock hardened.
"Please don't tell my dad, I'm in love with Rob, we're gonna get married once I finish school" Holly begged. Her lower lip quivered, I growled low in my throat, so low they wouldn't be able to hear me, I could already feel her lips wrapped around my aching shaft.
"I'm sorry there is nothing I can do, unless..." I pretended to think.
"We'll do anything" Rob insisted, nice name I suppose, not that I really wanted to know it. They were both good looking and I was horny that was all there is to it.
"I know..." I smirked wickedly, if only my brother Felix was here to enjoy this with me "...Drop the sheet" Aro's messages were going to have to take a back-seat for the next several hours.
Victoria's POV.
"Shouldn't we do something?" Akasha spat, a look of pure disgust marred her stunning face as a loud moans started assaulting our tender ears. We were crouched side by side on the edge of the forest by the crappy motel Demetri had lead us to.
"Like what?. Burst in there and tear Demetri to shreds while unveiling the existence of our world?" I snapped back at her. We both used reposeful tones but by the sounds of things the Volturi's favourite tracker was a 'little' preoccupied with his 'cocktail'.
"It would be preferable to listening to that sick bastard fuck a fifteen year old girl" Akasha growled.
"She isn't exactly a virgin..." I commented "...Besides, kill Demetri and we'll have to kill the humans to cover our tracks. Do you really want the blood of the innocent staining your hands?, because I grew tired of it a long time ago"
"You are right, but still..." Akasha shivered beside me. The thick layer of snow around us dampened our dark attires, not that the freezing temperatures truly had any effect on us.
"In my human days a girl was expected to be married with at least one child by the time they reached fifteen" I pointed out. The notion of sitting on my ass while Demetri defiled such a young girl mere metres away from my location was about as appetising as swallowing a glass of cold vomit. But my own words rang true in my ears, there was no way to get inside the hotel room and assassinate Demetri without alerting the humans. I had mind-fucked enough of them over my long centuries to know that peculiar occurrences, like the mysterious deaths right in front of them, were enough to drive a human over their fragile limits in to insanity. I had no intention of doing so to these humans. They were just going to have to 'play nice' with Demetri like they had with each other.
"With my abilities I could be in and out of there before they even have time to blink" Akasha mused. The moaning coming from room five grew louder as we lingered on the side lines.
"The human mind is a fragile thing Akasha..." I said in way of disagreement "...If he moves to kill them, then we will interfere. But I don't think he is stupid enough to kill two humans were he is sure to be found out, you don't survive this long if you're an idiot." I stressed.
"So what is Aro's excuse?" Akasha drawled. I smirked a little in response to her joke.
"No one has had the strength to go against him before, c'mon you're thousands of years old, you know what the score with Volturi is. Everyone has got a beef with them they just can't be asked to do something about it, because it means change" I murmured. The wind began to pick up slightly, for now it continued to carry mine and Akasha's scents downwind, I just hope that Demetri didn't catch them. I wanted a confrontation with the bastards who threatened my family just as much as the rest of my coven, but I wanted to find out what Aro's plans back in Volterra were first. I didn't do things half-cocked, when I played I did so with my cards close to my chest. Those messages that Demetri had received could be the aces I was looking for.
"Why does everyone look on change as a bad thing?" Akasha grumbled irritably.
"This coming from a being as old as you who still has a sodding accent?" I teased.
"You're fine one to talk, were you born in England by any chance?" Akasha teased right back.
"Piss off..." I snapped playfully. We both laughed a little "...Just out of curiosity, what kind of an accent do you have?"
"One that is long dead. I was born in a land and time that no longer exists, my accent is the last real reminder I have of home" Akasha sighed regretfully. I felt a twinge of sympathy in my chest for the taller woman, I shook it off by prompting myself to recall the reason why I didn't like the woman crouched beside me in the Alaskan snow.
"The world really has changed over the centuries" I murmured.
"Yes but you are still young. You haven't seen the rise and fall of nations and empires nor have you witnessed the swift flow of time" Akasha whispered distantly as thought she were remembering some of the ancient times.
"You have regrets then, besides the obvious of course" The barb wasn't intentional but to be fair she didn't seem to mind me brining up her relinquishment of Bella.
"I regret not standing my ground when Caius commissioned the Sicarii to hunt my kind, if I hadn't run, yes there would've have been more bloodshed but at least there would still be a place for Fae in the world. Besides Mea Elena, Bella and the twins I haven't seen another of my race for over four millennia..." Akasha's tone took one a remorseful hue.
"...I am truly sorry for what three members of my kind did to Caius's mate, but they were punished by my hand, I do not see why my entire race had to fall for one little mistake made by inexperienced younglings that were executed the very moment I discovered their crime" Akasha growled aggressively. The very air surrounding the Fae beside me seemed to heat dangerously.
"You can all claim the high ground one way or another" I clenched my jaw and locked my lithe muscles, it was the only way to prevent myself from instinctively putting space between myself and my companion.
"Caius lost a mate and I lost two daughters because of his grudge" Akasha snarled. Confusion gripped me in it's icy hand.
"'Two'?..." I frowned. Akasha's eyes darkened, the whites of her irises fading to a bottomless pool of blackness. I swallowed back the fear beginning to churn in my stomach and held my ground beside her, I would lose what respect she had for me if I fled now, besides the blonde Fae clearly needed someone to talk to. My beloved Esme would be dearly upset with me if she found out I let someone wallow in their misery when I had the opportunity to assist them vent out their sadness. And to be honest, if I was to decide that I could stomach her after all, we were going to be having long talks about family anyway.
"...Bella has a sister?" I continued wearily, fully preparing myself to leap away from the emotional woman beside me if needs be.
"Had" Akasha corrected gently.
"Sicarii?" I asked quietly. I was beginning to understand why Akasha had felt the need to give Bella over to adoptive parents, if the older Fae had lost her eldest daughter while they were together as a family. What inclination was there that Bella would be any safer?. I glanced at my companion, the dark sky above us emphasised the pure white strands of her thick hair, tied back from her ageless face in a long braid, a few rebellious tendrils brushed her pale forehead.
"Yes" Akasha breathed, a low growl rumbled low in her chest. I shivered subtly. For some reason I recalled when I had lost James, we had been friends since we were children and occasionally we were lovers. I didn't care for him nearly as much as I did for my Esme. But his loss had been great. I had felt truly alone for the first time in my life when he was taken from me.
"I don't really have the right to judge you for leaving Bella" I finally murmured. She had opened up to me, told me something that obviously plagued her and hurt her to this very day. I could do the same. If we were to feel some sort of camaraderie in our fight with the Volturi and Sicarii, it was essential.
"I find that very hard to believe, she loves you as her mother and you clearly feel the same for her" Akasha's jaw clenched somewhat.
"Now I do..." I continued after she cast a frown of confusion my way, knowing full well that I was about to have my ass handed to me "...A century ago I was going to kill her" I didn't even have a second to blink before I found myself being tackled into the snow. Cold, melted snow seeped through the back of my black tank top. That wasn't the worst of my problems though, The angry Fae straddling my hips with her hard hand wrapped around my throat was.
"What?" Akasha's hiss would've had a lesser vampire pissing in her pants, however I had already located a weakness in her coiled body. I might be able to get away if I timed it right.
"Get a hold over yourself numbnuts..." I gasped, her hand tightened around my windpipe, I didn't need to breathe but I did need to form words, her unbreakable hold was almost stopping me from doing that.
"...Its a...long time passed..." I panted. I couldn't get any words out, her strangle hold was too tight.
"Why?" Akasha growled. A definite promise that if she didn't like my answer I was going to be bidding the world goodbye. I was gonna be taken away from Esme for opening my mouth?. No fucking way. Anger suddenly raged powerfully at the core of my being, invigorating my muscles until I managed to raise my legs, thank the Gods for my flexibility, I hooked my long legs around her torso, so my crossed ankles were beneath her chin. I pushed with all my strength, she hadn't been expecting that, she went flying through the air, her strong hold on my throat roughly dragged me up onto my knees in the snow while she landed in a heap several feet away from me. We both shifted into aggressive crouches.
"Would you fucking listen to me for a second?..." I croaked. Rubbing my throat like an injured human would.
"...I was going to kill her...until I found her in a broken heap on the forest floor in Forks thanks to that piece of shit Edward. When she saw me standing over her, she looked resigned, like whatever I did to her wouldn't matter. Something clicked inside me that day, maybe it was maternal instinct or my conscience coming back to life. I don't know. What I do know is that I physically cannot hurt her"
"As comforting as that is, it doesn't answer my question" Akasha growled, her posture was beginning to look less agressive. I didn't relax though. A fight with us would be like a puppy trying to get the better of a Doberman. I might of gotten the best of her once but now she had a full view of my body, she'd see me coming a mile away. So to speak.
"Edward killed a very dear friend. I wanted revenge on him and him alone, but he was always hiding behind his daddy" I sneered. If I had the chance to got back in time I would've stuck around the first day I lay eyes on Esme, waited for the mating bond to grip me, so I would've been able to spare my mate the pain of a broken marriage and it repercussions. I was such a damned fool. Silence dawned over us for long minutes.
"Sorry about that. The thing that really matters is that you didn't hurt Bella when you could have" Akasha leaned her delicate weight back on her haunches, I followed suit a little hesitantly.
"So you see, we are not so different. We both hurt Bella a long time ago and we both want to make up for it now..." I murmured.
"I suppose you are right Victoria" Akasha stood gracefully and returned to her former perch, crouching in the snow, looking over the motel. During the commotion the desperate moans being elicited from the cheap room had grown in intensity.
"...And by that I mean you have making up to do. I earned her forgiveness ages ago" I drawled teasingly as I returned to crouch beside her.
"I am aware of that..." Akasha grumbled with a small smile "...And who knows, perhaps we can even be friends some day" I snorted as I looked from her to the me-shaped disturbance in the snow a few metres away from us. A slow smirk cured the left corner of my mouth upwards.
"Did you let me do that?" I tilted my head back towards the snow behind us.
"No" Akasha's eyes lightened.
"Good" I returned my attention to the motel. Loud screams erupted from Demetri's room.
"So..." Akasha prompted. I grinned, if she couldn't guess our change in relationship then I didn't see why I should point it out. Much more fun this way.
"What was your eldest daughter's name?..." I asked, ignoring her questioning gaze. A dark shadow dimmed Akasha's neon blue eyes, I nudged her shoulder with mine. A friendly gesture.
"...We will avenge her soon" I stated confidently. Esme was going to be so happy that I had finally found common ground with Akasha. I smiled as warmth constricted my around my heart. I couldn't wait to return home, to my mate, I had spent far to much time away from Esme for my liking.
"Dana. Her name was Dana" Akasha clarified softly.
"Nice name. I know Bella looks more like Elena so did Dana look like you?" I murmured.
"Yes. Only her eyes were different. The same colour obviously, but hers were more lively than mine" A pained expression painted itself onto Akasha's ageless face.
"Children are the greatest gift one can be given, even when they're being a pain in the derrière"
"So very true"
Rosalie's POV.
"...Where is Ashley?..." Emmett's baby voice carried through the living room "...There she is" In my bear of a brother's lap my daughter suddenly became visibly, I grinned widely as Ashley suddenly started gurgling and waving her little hands, apparently praising her uncle Emmy for finding her.
"That is so awesome" Emmett grinned as he lifted Ashley up in his massive arms earning him a happy squeal. I sighed a little, while I had expected the twins to form some sort of power early on, invisibility wasn't quite the result I wanted. When I had found their crib empty my heart had nearly restarted with the cold shock and acidic fear that washed over me.
"You okay?" I titled my head back, Bella and myself were both sprawled out on the leather couch, my mate leaned back against the armrest and I was laying between her long legs. Lucas was being pampered by Elena and Esme in the kitchen. I didn't know what the older women were doing but I was sure my little boy was safe with them. My acute senses would tell me otherwise.
"Why wouldn't I be?" I traded resting my head back on her warm shoulder. I felt her arms, wrapped around my slender waist, tighten gently.
"Should I take that as a no then?" Bella purred into my ear. Turning my head towards, I leaned up to brush my lips over hers, the soft velvety texture of her mouth against mine made me sigh as I pulled away.
"Nothing is wrong. Relax, enjoy the respite because they are going to want a feed soon" I mumbled, settling back against my mate.
"And then its bath time" The mock enthusiasm I could hear in my mate melodious voice made me laugh a little. It didn't matter which twin Bella tried undressing for a bath, they delighted in putting up the best fight they could.
"And they turn invisible now..." I patted Bella's light muscled thigh comfortingly as she began whimpering teasingly.
"...Have fun trying to get them outta their clothes now love" I smiled. Nuzzling my face in to the slender curve of her neck, the warmth of her body behind mine lulled my senses into a blissfully contented mess. When Bella was near nothing could go wrong in the world.
"How about you undress them while I run the bath?" Bella suggested. I pressed tiny kisses to the pale tender skin, laying so temptingly beneath my full lips.
"If you think that will save you" I agreed. Nipping at her skin gently with my teeth. I stopped when I felt her begin to squirm behind me.
"You guys will never guess what I just bought" Kate was suddenly leaning over the back of the couch, I looked up at my grinning sister.
"I don't see any bags" I commented, sensing Bella nod her accord behind me.
"That is because this baby would never fit in a bag..." Kate bit her lower lip to stifle a squeal. I shared a look with my mate. I hadn't gone shopping in so long, since having the twins, the closest I got to a spree was when I got onto the internet. But now really wasn't the time to worry about my lacking wardrobe, besides when this mess with the Volturi was over with I could go shopping in Milan.
"You didn't" Emmett suddenly perked up, looking at his mate with avid devotion brightening his golden eyes.
"I did" Kate nodded.
"Oh yeah this is a good day" Emmett grinned as he rocked Ashley back and forth in his bulging arms.
"Dude since when did you like shopping?" Bella asked.
"Since we spotted an Aston Martin DBR1 for sale. It isn't anymore..." Kate sang with a smile. She suddenly looked down at me with a frown "...You're a car buff Rose why aren't you glaring at me."
"Besides the fact I'm too relaxed to care?..." I smirked as I snuggled closer to my mate "...I already have one" Kate and Emmett both gasped as though I had just announced that their favourite football team had just lost a match.
"You never said!" Kate exploded.
"Why did I sign the divorce papers?" Emmett whined, settling Ashley in his lap. My daughter was beginning to get hungry, I could see the bruised purple hue of her eyes from across the glass coffee table.
"Because I would've killed you if I had found you were still married to my mate?" Bella growled possessively. Emmett chuckled nervously, realising that he had just invoked the jealousy of both my mate and his own.
"Nice one Em" I drawled sarcastically. Bella's eyes darkened dangerously as she glared at my fool of an ex-husband. Somehow managing to turn on my side, I did the only thing I knew was sure to gain my mate's heated attention. I pressed my ample breasts into her own, wincing gently as my soft mounds suddenly swelled against the confines of my plain, strapless, bra.
"I didn't mean that" Emmett tried to cover himself. I rolled my neon blue eyes fondly, I never did manage to convince Emmett of the merits involved when one thought before they spoke. I let a slow purr rumble from my chest when I found Bella's eyes glancing down at me, the dark tone remained. I could hear Emmett and Kate arguing, somewhere in the back of my mind, as I pressed my chest more firmly against my mate's. Bella's answering purr finally told me that she didn't want to kill Emmett any longer, just torture him for a couple days, but it was an improvement. Leaning up I licked the seam of my mate's mouth. I don't know which of us moved first, but our lips were crushed together and our tongues were tangling. Loud moans of blossoming arousal falling from both of our hungry mouths. Only the high pitched cry of my daughter was able to dominantly wrestle my attention away from my mate's sweet taste. I pulled away from Bella's succulent lips, placing my right hand flat against the top of her chest when she tried to follow, to prolong our kiss. Another squeal made us both turn our heads. Ashley was holding her tiny hands out towards us. I flashed across the living room, Emmett didn't even see me coming before I was lifting my daughter out of his arms.
"Cool it Kate. This idiot..." I gently slapped the back of Emmett's head with the flat of my free hand, barely hard enough to sting though his dramatic groan said otherwise
"...Is all yours" I sauntered back over to Bella. My mate's eyes cleared, literally glowing their usual gorgeous neon blue. Settling on the edge of the couch, I felt Bella's strong arms encircle my waist, the light scent of my mate's arousal drifted towards me. I licked my lips slowly and forced my attention onto the hungry bundle in my arms.
"Uh huh. C'mon dear lets take this domestic away from the happy couple and their hungry child shall we?" Even though Kate's tone was sardonic, still it left no room for argument on Emmett's end.
"Are you gonna kill me?" Emmett joked weakly.
"Not yet" Kate answered swiftly. I could tell she was only messing around but I still felt slightly sorry for him, he clearly wasn't going to be getting any for a while.
"Dumb ass" Bella accused once the door had shut behind the other mated pair. I smirked a little before I noticed that Ashley was nuzzling the side of my left breast, searching for my nipple even through the thin material of my crimson, strapless, top. The material was easy to stretch, the main reason why I'd worn it. Pulling my top down over my swollen breasts with one hand, I felt Bella shift behind me, pressing the softness of her chest into my back. I didn't have to move the cup of my strapless bra, Bella did it for me, baring my naked breast to the cool air. I tensed a little as Ashley latched onto my nipple, she started sucking instantly, it still felt a little weird when I fed my children. It wasn't too bad though, as least I wasn't sore.
"This is Emmett we're talking about, Bella he is entitled to be a little..." I shivered when I felt Bella subtly begin stroking the side of my breast with her knuckles.
"Idiotic?" Bella supplied helpfully.
"Thats one word for it" I agreed a little shakily. The warmth of Bella's breath on the back of my neck sent tingles over my skin.
"Mmm suicidal is another" The softness of my mate's lips fluttered against my shoulder, the sharp sting of her teeth quickly followed the tender caress.
"He didn't mean it" I shuddered. Bella latched onto my dormant pulse point as our daughter continued feeding. It felt wrong to enjoy my mate's touch while I fed our baby, I cringed away from my mate slightly.
"I know..." Bella finally sighed, resting her head on my shoulder, her hands trailed down to cup my hips.
"Good" I titled my head to kiss her forehead lovingly. Suddenly the living room door opened, Elena walked in ahead of Esme, the latter was holding my son in her arms.
"What in the world was Emmett talking about?, Bella isn't trying to kill him..." Esme stated when her warm golden eyes settled on us.
"...Silly boy" My mother declared with a fond smile.
Chelsea's POV.
"Why do I always find you in the most annoying of places?" I was unsurprised when Heidi crept up behind me.
"How is this annoying?" I turned to ask the younger vampire.
"Well you know how most people love the soothing sounds of waves gently brushing up on the shore?..." Heidi purred with a languid smile.
"Yeah?" I nodded. I had found a secluded beach near Forks on one of my pointless meanderings, it was a nice place to imagine what life would be like if I could just pluck up the necessary courage to tell Maria how much the Spanish vampire meant to me. What the bond between us meant.
"...I really fucking hate that sound" Heidi stated with a straight face. I burst out laughing at the blunt admission. Heidi chuckled a little as she drew closer to me.
"Where is Irina?" I asked. Normally the Russian vampire stayed protectively close to Heidi's side if my descendant decided to stray this far away from the mansion in Alaska.
"I convinced her to wait in town, then when we were done me and her would play hide and go screw" I grinned widely even as I shook my head. Heidi had always boasted a deathly high sex drive, but these days, now that she was mated, it was hard to find the younger vampire fully dressed and not with Irina's hand down her pants.
"Well aren't you the lucky one" I drawled. Looking out over the dull grey sea, so very different from the views in Italy, it bluer than blue seas all around. I wonder if Bella intended to stay at Volterra when all was said and done, it was her birthright. Then again Bella may decide that she wanted nothing to do with governing the vampire race after she'd killed Aro. Where would that leave us then, with another tyrant in the lead position?. I already knew Caius and Marcus had no intention of sticking around Volterra once they'd avenged Didyme. So what was next?.
"So this is where you've been hiding out huh?" Heidi's warm arm snaked around my compact shoulders, it really sucked to be so short. At 5ft 3'' my head didn't even reach the younger vampire's shoulder. My descendant was never without her four inch heels, adding even more unnecessary height to her already impressive and voluptuous 5ft 10''.
"I haven't been hiding" I denied the truth easily and uselessly it would seem, judging from the tightening of her arm around my shoulders.
"Bullshit..." Heidi drawled in a sing-song voice. I growled at her playfully "...would it make you happy to know that Maria has been trying to find you. Poor thing has been going out of her mind, because someone hasn't made it back to the house in three days."
"You found me easily enough" I muttered. Even as my unbeating heart almost restarted at the notion, my mate was looking for me. I wanted to turn on my heel and bolt through the forest until I found Maria, but I would be forced to play down my affections and I just didn't think I could do it anymore. Being so close to the one I was meant to be with, to provide for, to protect, to make happy. And know that she would deny my advances was torture. Every day the daggers inside of my chest grew that much sharper, hacking away at the organ in my chest, until I felt I'd go insane from the pain.
"Yeah but she has that unfortunate psyche keeping her at bay. She wants to find you, to be with you. But alas the memory of Rodrigo, her former lover, is keeping her from you. Her one true mate..." Heidi sighed dramatically.
"...Should've been a writer. I can rock this melodramatic love shit" I laughed helplessly. The storm in my chest abated a little now that I had Heidi doing her best to put a smile on my face.
"That you can sweetie" I agreed with a half-smile. As happy as my grand daughter, there was really no point to putting voice to how many generations there was between us, made me. I needed Maria.
"Seriously though. You two have danced around each other long enough, and I'm getting tired of seeing and saying it, but you really need to tango already" Heidi exclaimed in exasperation.
"What does that even mean?" I grumbled. I knew what I had to do, but I couldn't risk pushing Maria away from me. I wouldn't survive the loss.
"You need to get out there, because she is still looking for you, you need to grab her and do a lot of mushy stuff to her and then...when she finally realises that she loves you as much as you love her. You need to move your hand slowly down towards her-" Heidi's tone turned foxy.
"Enough of that!" I interrupted my raunchy companion.
"But it was just getting good" Heidi pouted down at me, a lively sparkle gleamed in her golden eyes.
"We are related you know" I reminded. I wouldn't feel comfortable thinking about Heidi and Irina and I didn't see how Heidi could possibly think about me and Maria. Maybe it was the difference in age.
"Eww yeah I forgot about that..." Heidi drawled with a shiver, I laughed even as I poked her hard in her exposed ribs, at least my lack of height let me get to anyone's sensitive areas with a lot more ease than a taller person.
"..Ow" Heidi leapt away from me cradling her 'abused' ribs.
"Oh please if that actually hurt I feel sorry for Irina, having such a weak mate" I teased.
"Grandma you are lucky I have a date or I would be grilling your ass right about now" Heidi purred.
"Whatever..." I sobered somewhat "...Speaking of that date you better be getting back to Irina." I started inching towards the green forest with Heidi's comforting presence beside me.
"And you?. What will you be doing this crappy evening?" Heidi asked. I glanced up to the grey sky, it looked as thought it was soon going to rain, unsurprising given how close we were to Forks.
"I'm gonna tango" I drawled determinedly. Maria was my mate, we both wanted each other, she wouldn't push me away. Why else would she come looking for me if she didn't feel something.
"Hey thats my Grandma..." I rolled my eyes as we continued walking through the forest, the scents of pine needles assaulting our sensitive nostrils.
"...I just hope for your sake, and Maria's, that you remember how to bust-a move" Heidi grinned at her innuendo.
"You're impossible" I complained.
"That is why you love me..." Heidi smiled. Swooping down to plant a kiss on my cheek before she took off at a jog towards the town, she looked like a Giselle with long legs and casual grace.
"...Happy humping!" She called over her shoulder.
"I could say the same thing!" I yelled after her. Her playful laughter drifted towards me on the light breeze. I rolled my eyes as I sent off in the opposite direction, as I ran I became more and more aware of the forest around me. The scents and sounds of the individual trees, the dew stained grass, the annoying little insects that liked to feast on unprepared hikers, the birds either flying effortlessly in the sky or settling into their nests high in the tall trees above me. One could almost lose themselves in natural aura of the forest. It was simple out here. Nothing to cause stress or heartache. Peaceful. But I wouldn't find peace until I held Maria safely in my arms. Suddenly I caught a scent, not just any scent, but the sweet intoxicating aroma of my mate. I skidded to a stop in the middle of the forest, if I had to guess I would say I was drawing close to the Canadian border. I glanced around, looking any tell-tale signs that Maria was close. I smiled gently, I should sense her about a half mile to the north-east. Eagerly I set off after my mate again.
"...Maria." I stopped just before I became visibly to the Latina vampire, the wind carried my scent away from her. She knew I was close, I could tell from the way she suddenly turned in a steady circle, looking for me. I bounded forth once her back was facing towards me. I stealthy sneaked forward on light feet. I paused for a moment before deciding that I wasn't about to waste this opportunity. Waiting patiently, I stood very close to her, her warmth merged with my own as I lay in wait. When she turned to face me once again, I reached out with my hands, gripping her slender waist.
This was it. The moment I had anticipated my entire life. I pulled her towards me without saying a word. She was taller than I. Trailing one hand up over her strong back, I cupped the warm back of her slender neck, pulling her down toward me. She didn't protest or resist. I smirked gently before I leaned forth, closing the distance between us. Lightning burst through me the second our lips met for the first time. Time drew to a stand still as I marvelled over the softness of her lips beneath mine. Never before, over my three thousand years, had something felt so right, so natural. I was born to kiss Maria.
"...No..." I didn't let her weak resistance deter me. She turned her head away from me only slightly. Leaving me with no choice but to brush my lips against the corner of her sweet mouth insistently. Her small whimpers and gasps made me growling huskily in answer.
"Mine..." I felt her fists press against the small of my back as I sought out the tender skin of her neck with my lips. If after this I was forced to live without her, then at least she would bare my mark for all to see. The painful twisting in my chest spurned me on, I lapped at the sweet tasting skin covering my mate's dormant pulse point. Groaning gently at the succulent taste, I nipped teasingly with my teeth. Her gasps turned to loud moans. She shivered in my arms, with my hand on her lean hip, I was jerked her against me forcefully. Pressing our bodies together tightly, our flat stomachs, our lean hips, ample breasts meshing together as one.
"...Mine" I repeated. Instinct demanded a claiming. I couldn't deny it. I didn't want to. Not anymore. As I sank my sharp teeth into the slender column of my mate's neck, Maria's loud cry sent bolts of arousal sharpshooting directly to my clit. My sensitive bundle of nerves pulsed demandingly as I increased the pressure I was exerting with my oval shaped jaw. Intoxicating venom seeped into my mouth as my teeth pierced my mate's tender flesh. Her hands flattened against the small of my back as I slowly began sucking at the small wound in her neck, just enough to make the mark permanent, just enough to convince me that there was nothing sweeter than the unique taste of my mate. I reluctantly released the soft skin between my sharp teeth. Bracing myself for her reaction. Her anger I could take. But not the response I found waiting for me when I gazed into her beautiful face. Her black eyes were glowing brightly with tears that didn't have the means to fall. I winced internally, feeling as though someone had just punched me in the sternum, I knew I should've have waited.
"I can't be yours" Maria whispered. Despite my guilt over rushing her, I couldn't contain my snarl of protest. I was done competing with a damned ghost. A ghost that held no claim to my mate.
Maria was my mate.
She bore my mark.
Signed, sealed, delivered.
Mine.
"This says otherwise..." I leaned forward to possessively swipe my tongue over my mark, displayed proudly on her neck. Her clipped moan and shiver of pleasure should have been enough to convince her that we were mates.
"...I love you Maria but I'm not waiting anymore" Damned if my inner animal would let me now that she wore my mark, I growled in primal satisfaction. The expensive silk of my clothes was too heavy, too uncomfortable against my overly sensitised skin. I needed to feel her naked body against mine. Now.
"Stop. We're not...We can't..." Her confusion pulled painfully at my unbeating heart. I slid my hand, cupping the nape of her neck, down to grip her hip.
"Tell me to leave and I will" I promised. I would be true to my word. But now that we were half bonded, she couldn't be without me anymore than I could be without her. It was the way of bonded mates. Her short nails dug into my back, through my black silk shirt, hard enough to sting pleasantly. That was enough for me to recapture her soft lips with my own. She remained unresponsive for a moment, until I pulled her full lower lip between my teeth, I traced the soft, sweet tasting flesh with the tip of my tongue. My eyes fluttered closed as her moan rang out around us. I let go of her lip with an insistent growl, her lips parted in answer. I plunged my tongue into her mouth, snarling at the heavenly taste of my mate. She tasted like sunshine. I could hear myself beginning to breathe heavily as she tangled her tongue with mine, hesitantly at first. But she gradually began kissing me back with more confidence. A loud snapping of a nearby branch caught my attention, I jerked away from Maria slightly, flashing my stunned mate to spot none other than Demetri standing several metres away from us, like a dear caught in the headlights of an oncoming truck. He was a skilled tracker, I could attest for that, so either he was getting sloppy or my new bond with Maria allowed me to pick up on the tiniest of sounds.
"...I got him!" Victoria's light English accent rang out of nowhere. Maria shifted closer to me as the redheaded matriarch appeared out of nowhere, bounding towards Demetri faster than a vampire her age should be able to. I tensed to join my sister, until a powerful gust of wind announced Akasha's presence.
"...Me first" The tall blonde Fae was suddenly grabbing Demetri by his throat, lifting him off his feet and three inches up in the air, he didn't stand a chance against her.
"Bloody Fae" Victoria cursed as she skidded to a stop beside Akasha.
"Don't be like that, you can have the next one" Akasha suddenly dropped Demetri onto his knees in the snow, I could scent his fear from here.
"Are you okay?" The rational side of me knew it was impossible for my mate to be hurt but I just needed to be certain on an instinctive level.
"Fine" Maria snapped harshly. I grimaced as she turned on her heel and stalked away. Maybe her anger over my rushed claiming had been a little delayed. I smiled lovingly despite the situation I found myself in. She was mine at last.
"I'd go after her" Victoria announced as Akasha drew back her fist and slammed her balled up hand into the side of Demetri's face, the young vampire slumped onto the ground, unconscious. The sound of Akasha's titanium hard skin connecting with the granite like flesh of Demetri's face echoed loudly through the forest.
"So would I" Akasha encouraged as she slung Demetri over her slender shoulder like he was a bag of grain and weight lighter than a feather.
"Show-off" Victoria accused. Akasha smiled brashly
"You wanna carry my catch for me?" Akasha raised her shoulder, making Demetri's slumped form sway.
"Don't push it" Victoria warned. I rolled my eyes before I turned on my heel and set off after my mate.
Alexia's POV.
"Here" I snapped tossing my brother a small box from Tiffany's, inside was the most showy, diamond engagement ring I could get my hands on. I'd even had the fucker engraved with ancient glyphs depicting Sicarii wedding vows. Call me sentimental.
"Thanks" Peyral said, catching the red velvet box in both hands. I returned my attention to the TV screen ahead of me. There wasn't much on, so I'd settled for watching the Saw collection on DVD. As amusing I as found these staged torture scenes I was beginning to get bored. The Volturi compound didn't offer much in the way of entertainment, especially since Corin had mysteriously disappeared.
"You're welcome..." I muttered disinterestedly, as he opened the jewellery box. "...With the amount that rock cost I could've bought an island to house a fifth of our younglings until they reached maturity. I hope you realise" I grumbled to divert the gratitude I could feel coming.
"We'll soon have all the land we need" Peyral murmured as he tucked the box into the inside pocket of his, three piece, suit jacket.
"Given to us by vampires, the fucking spawn of our enemies" I snapped with an aggressive hiss. Boredom only fuelled my frustrations, it had been far too long since I'd had a fight and I was getting irritated. Like a caged tigress.
"What are you going to do to the vampires once you've taken care of the Fae?" Peyral asked curiously, lingering in the doorway like a bee around pollen.
"Sit..." I patted the four seater leather couch beside me, Peyral moved forward like a dog being called by it's master "...What do you think I'm going to do to them?" I retorted once my brother was sat beside me.
"Is that a trick question?" Peyral smiled.
"They're the less worthy mirrors of Fae, I'm gonna exterminate them like the plague of locusts that they are. With you at my side of course" I murmured. Knowing that he would never help me in such a violent venture. He would probably be on the run in a year's time. He would be viewed as a disgrace if he didn't partake in our hunt. I knew he wouldn't. By right I should kill him. But he was my brother, I could no more hurt him than I could myself.
"Mmm..." Peyral murmured his reluctant agreement.
"That is a hunt for another time though, when our dear old dad is in his grave and I don't have to cater to his whims" I said gently.
"That'll be the day" Peyral sighed longingly.
"Yes it will..." I agreed "...I grow weary of this waiting, gather the others we're going to Alaska tomorrow" The powerfully unique venom running through my veins heated at the prospect of finally facing a worthy opponent in my old friend, Akasha.
TBC. . .