I'm up to the battle in my writing, so this story will be wrapping up not too long after that is resolved. I'm thinking somewhere around 30 to 35 chapters total when I hit complete. My plan is once this one is done to use my commute time to write Wounded Hearts, and work on my other fics on my weekends. Man of Omerta, the fic I donated to the Babies at the Border, will have the first chapter posted momentarily.
Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 22
The next week passed with me anxiously awaiting my brother's return. I wanted to see the numbers he'd gathered in his time away. I wished we'd had more time, but as Alice had told me, we needed to control the situation.
The guard were keeping up a normal patrol of the outskirts of the city, so the arrival of our witnesses was relayed to us in the capital. Bella and I went out to meet the people who were willing to fight with us, my brother running out in front of Eleazar to greet me.
"It is good to see you, Brother. There's much we need to catch up on."
My father joined us and told those who had arrived that there was space for them in some of our properties, helping Eleazar to lead them to their lodgings.
A petite young woman with blonde hair and features similar to Tanya hung back behind my brother.
"You've been busy, Garrett, you've gathered plenty of our people to fight for us."
"Twenty eight not including Eleazar, Carmen, myself and my mate."
"Mate?" Bella asked behind me.
"Yes, Eleazar's niece, Kate." Garrett extended his arm behind him and the young vampire took his hand, stepping up to stand beside him. "Kate, this is my brother, Edward, and his mate, Bella."
"Majesties," Kate bowed her head slightly.
"None of that, you're family. Has the ceremony been performed?" I asked.
"Eleazar did before we left. Now where are my niece and nephew?"
"They're at the residence, come and we'll introduce you."
Bella led the way and we were soon entering the living area of the residence where Alice and Jasper sat with the twins. Garrett came bounding in, only to be spun around. I laughed, happy to see my daughter had found a new person to use her gift on.
"What in the hell?"
Renata's clapping gave her away and Garrett scooped her into his arms. "We've got another talented Cullen. What about our prince?"
"We think it is a mental gift but it hasn't fully presented itself," I explained.
"Marcus needs to practice more."
"Ren, stop," Marcus growled.
Marcus's hand came up to smack himself in the forehead. "You stop."
"This is awesome! Katie, can we have twins, Baby?"
"First, I don't think it works that way, second, no. Because when we do have a baby that means I'll have two children including you."
I couldn't hold in my laughter, but it was nice to see Garrett settle in and joke with my children. Maybe what we needed was a little relief from the tension of the coming battle.
I tried to keep the kids away from the practice, but Bella was adamant that they hear what was being shown in case they needed to defend themselves. Garrett also asked for permission to have Renata use her power to test people during the sparring. We didn't know what powers might be used by the other side, so I allowed it as long as she was safely on the other side.
Garrett's mate was another wonder. She created an electric current that hurt like a bitch. Bella was immune because the pain radiated from the nerve center of the brain after they were touched.
That led to Bella's training, which was as much about expanding her gift to possibly protect others as it was her combat.
This was Garrett's calling, that was for sure. He fit in well with the members of the guard, and he and Jasper were natural instructors.
After seeing Kate's gift, Alice got an idea to coat everyone's shoes in rubber for the battle. If a power could be projected or sent through the ground, this would be a buffer. We tested it and Kate's gift was barely felt when wearing those shoes.
The days passed with all sorts of preparations, knowing the news would be reaching the other princes soon. With just over a month until the presentation, my anxiety grew.
I noticed in the evenings Renata and Marcus would sit together quietly until one grew frustrated with the other.
Renata would often fall asleep in the living room, with someone carrying her up to her bed.
And they continued to grow too fast for my liking. Renata looked so much like Bella, except for her hair color, which was all mine. Meanwhile Marcus had Bella's chestnut hair and my features.
I wished that I could keep them out of the mess with the council, but this needed to end.
The tunnels were checked and rechecked, the guard pushing past their normal boundaries in case any princes arrived early.
"Edward, come with me."
I turned to see Bella leaning against the doorframe.
"Where are we going?"
"Someplace quiet, but still safe."
I took her hand as she led me down the streets until we arrived at my old house, the one we lived at before Bella chose me. Tanya was standing outside with a smile on her face.
"This area is secure, if anything happens, I'll let you know."
Bella led me up to my old bedroom and closed the door. "You need to stop worrying, my love. We have planned as best as we can, all there's left to do is continue to train and have faith that we will prevail."
"But at what cost, Bella? Alice had a vision months ago of me holding your necklace in front of a pyre. The thought of the people I love dying because of my choices is agony."
"Would you rather me be mated to Felix or Benjamin? For those beautiful babies back at the residence to not exist if it meant we were safe but apart? Because if it hadn't been our mating, something else would have set this in motion. I wouldn't give our life up for anything."
Her words drove my need for her forward, craving to feel the security of her surrounding me. "When did you sleep last?"
"A week ago, I'm ready."
My hands tore at her clothes at the same moment her hands tore at mine. I picked her up and held her close to my chest, reveling in the skin to skin contact after months of her recovering from the births and caring for the children.
I carried her to the bed, climbing onto it before lowering her to the surface and sinking into her.
"I could live a million years and this would never get old."
"I know what you mean. I've missed this."
Her moan when I thrust deeper stopped all conversation. I took my time with Bella, savoring the time we had in private, as every day brought us closer to this fight.
Bella met my thrusts, squeezing me and testing my resolve. Her hands tugged at my hair and I faltered. My orgasm rushed through me as Bella reached her peak with me. We collapsed onto the bed, Bella snuggling into me.
"In a few weeks this will all be behind us. Try not to worry day and night until then."
"I'll try."
Those weeks Bella spoke about came and went and soon it was the day before the presentation.
Benjamin and Nahuel arrived, along with a messenger from Stefan who said he would be arriving the following morning but he was with us. Knowing we had the majority made the day to come easier, but I wouldn't be happy until it was over.
That final night we spent as a family, Bella and I watching the twins sleep after we all fed. Tomorrow would decide everything, we just needed to have faith.
