Here's the beginning of the storm. I'm working on the fight now, so hopefully that will post next weekend. Man of Omerta will post the next chapter on or around 3/17. Also, the 15th is the last date to donate to Fandom for Hope and Relief to get the first part of my bromance fic, "Use Your Words." Info on that and all of my stories can be found in my FB group, AgoodWITCH Writes. Hope you enjoy!

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 23

The early morning held a lot of preparations, but now it was time to face the music. Rosalie stood in the tunnel, ready to open the trap door. Renata would use her power to make Rosalie open it, since she wouldn't be able to see a signal. The process had been tested and I was satisfied with our ability to get the children to safety.

We stood at the edge of town, looking to our people. "We ask you to guard the Rotunda first and foremost. From without and within. If the battle turns our way, they will try and strike the children. Your queen and I aren't asking you to join the combat unless the fight comes home."

Our people nodded, some moving back to the city center. Our fighters from home, the ones Garrett had gathered, followed us as we marched towards the place of the presentation. It wasn't used often, only for the announcement of the princes' heirs, but the other princes were informed that we would be following tradition by having it there. We had a few guards in the tunnel that ran between the rotunda and the presentation place to keep the path back to the children safe.

Nahuel, Benjamin, and Stefan were waiting for us, their smaller group of witnesses behind them.

"We stand with you, Edward, though there is news you need to know," Stefan said.

"What is so important that it needs to be heard now?"

"Laurent and Irina are dead. Victoria and her mate Riley have seized power. They are with Alec and Felix."

"You're sure of this?" I asked.

"Alec thinks that I will side with them, so he informed me that we now have the majority. Little does he know that I don't trust him or Felix. And Riley is crazy, always has been."

I nodded to them and we took our positions, my family in the center with my parents, siblings and their mates behind us. From there our people stood to witness the decision to punish those who would strike against us, and fight when they tried to take our power by force.

To our left stood Nahuel and his fighters, to our right stood Benjamin and his. Stefan and his people stood off beyond Benjamin when we noticed the movement before us. Alec and Aro marched out, a woman at Alec's side with blonde hair and an evil smile. Felix was to his left, Caius and their witnesses trailing behind. To Alec's right was Riley and Victoria, a girl with reddish-brown hair behind them. This had to be their daughter, Bree. The group of witnesses behind them was larger than Alec or Felix's, but we still had the numbers.

"This is quite the gathering you've brought from your homeland," Alec called across the field.

"Our people wanted to see the twins born to their prince," I answered.

"Twins?" Felix whispered, though we heard him clearly.

The children stepped out from behind us, and all eyes narrowed on us. The four of us walked forward, stopping on the trap door. When we were in position, I spoke. "Here is the heir to the Cullen line. My son, Marcus Jacob Cullen and his twin, Renata Elizabeth Cullen. They are my children, born of my mate, your queen. Do any here question this?"

It was quiet for a moment. So Bella and I took a few steps forward, away from the trap door that Renata would open on my signal.

"With that settled, there is one more thing that needs to be discussed. There has been treachery among the council for a while, so I would like to bring formal charges against Riley and Victoria for attempting to take a throne that is not theirs."

"My brother is dead, thanks to your sister and her mate, and now that my father is-"

"Your father was murdered by you both to give you power. You forget the way lineage works. A daughter cannot take the throne, nor can a male who isn't of the bloodline unless he is voted in by a majority. Neither of those things have happened. In that case, the next closest male relative would take the throne. That would be Jasper."

"We have the six remaining princes here, should we not vote?" Felix called out.

"You realize in the event of a tie, my vote would be the deciding one," I replied.

"Let us vote. All those in favor of Riley taking the place of the fallen prince say 'Aye', all those in favor of Jasper, say 'Nay'," Benjamin said.

"Nay," I called.

"Aye," Alec and Felix yelled in unison.

"Nay," came from Benjamin and Nahuel.

"Nay," spat Stefan.

"It has been decided. You are a prince of nothing, and you will pay for your crimes, along with your conspirators. Alec and Felix, you have conspired against a fellow prince and threatened the rule of this council. All the remaining princes have voted to remove you from power and banish you from our city."

"Over our dead bodies," shouted Aro.

I snapped my fingers and the woosh of the trap door opening and closing let me know the children were safe.

"So be it."