Thanks for the great reviews/fols/favs again, they really make my day when they ping into my inbox. And some of you leave such heart-warming messages. Simply knowing that you guys like it and want to hear more means so much. Thanks a million for your support.
For those who have asked about the relationship between the Clans and werewolves, the short explanation: Clanfolk are all descended from shapeshifters and were once able to change shape, however they have lost the ability to do so now, through evolution. They retain some of the traits of their forefathers, speed and strength, with some having other specialist abilities, such as animal calling or enhanced hearing. They also continue to live in the same social structures as in the past - the Clans.
Please note that in this world, mates are mates, love is love, regardless of gender.
Most characters belong to S. Meyer. The rest belong to me.
ACCEPTANCE
Bella
"Isabella? Are you in there?"
I heard Tia's voice outside the chamber and quickly tied my robe before going to open the door.
"I was just heading to dinner." I said.
"Actually, I was hoping to speak with you before dinner." She said smiling easily. I sighed.
"Uh oh. What now?" I looked at her askance. "I'm always uneasy when someone says they want to talk. Especially these days."
"Can I come in?" She said gently. "I'd rather not talk about this in the corridor." I looked at her for a moment and then sighed again as I let her in.
Once we were comfortably seated at the alcove, a mug of elderflower cordial in hand, she looked at me appraisingly.
"What?" I asked. "Is this about my health? I'm eating. You're there, you know I do."
"We'll get to that. I'm not here about that, though."
"Well?"
"Edward came to see me."
I stiffened.
"Now before you go off on him, let me finish. He came to ask me if I had anything that might help deal with bad dreams. He made it appear as if he was the one with the dreams, made up some very ridiculous stories about the dreams, in fact. He didn't once mention you." Tia said.
"But you guessed."
"I told him I'd get back to him. And then I came looking for you."
"Why'd you think it was me?" I prevaricated.
"You're the one who's had the shock to her system." She said simply. "And who else would Edward ask for?"
"Subtle." I groaned, but there was a strange warmth in me that I didn't want to think too much about.
"You should have heard the dreams he fabricated. Very imaginative, your mate." Tia said with a grin. "Now. Tell me about these dreams."
"They're just bad dreams, Tia."
"And you've been having them regularly since you..got back." She said. I shrugged.
"You didn't mention them during your check up."
I gave her a look.
"You and I both know there's no treatment for bad dreams."
"You also know that we have Healers for mental Healing." Tia said quietly. "And if you talk to one, it might help. Unless you want to keep dreaming those bad dreams?"
I took a sip of the cordial.
"They'll stop when I've come to terms with this." I said eventually. "You know that's the problem. I don't know that I need a mental Healer for that."
She sat back in her chair, drinking from her mug as she regarded me.
"Let's talk about the eating, shall we?"
"What about it?" I set my mug down. "You've seen me. I'm trying."
"You're losing weight. You're thinner than you were when you got here. Your nails have changed colour. Only one thing could be happening." She pinned me with her gaze.
I said nothing, but glanced at my nails. She was right, they had become a pale yellow, not noticeable to the average person but any Healer worth their salt would spot it.
"You're right. You do have to come to terms with this." She said seriously. "Your body is reacting and rejecting things because your mind and heart are. You're right. We can't treat the body symptoms, not without Healing your inner wounds."
I shifted uncomfortably in the chair.
"Promise me you'll think about it at least." Tia said quietly. "I'm trained in mental Healing, I'd be happy to work with you. Or if you prefer someone you don't know, there are others I'd recommend. Just give it some thought."
I nodded slowly.
"That's all I'll say." She rose and smiled. "Let's get to dinner before Edward comes looking. He's got a mild protective streak about you."
"Mild?" I raised an eyebrow as I followed her out. She chuckled.
"Tia." I stopped her as we stood at the entrance of the dining room.
"Yes?"
"Don't tell him. About the food. Please." I pleaded. "It would...hurt him." I could see her thinking about it.
"For now."
"Thank you." I glanced over at the table where we sat, where Edward was talking with Eric.
I realised something in that moment.
I was beginning to think of him as my mate.
OOOOOOOOOO
"Cai Isabella."
I turned, mop in hand, to see the female whose shift I'd taken over for the past four days.
She had the window cleaning materials in hand and her face, though tired, did not look as drawn and anxious as it had done.
"How is your mother?" I asked.
"Recovering, thank you." She said as she came to stand in front of me. "Cai Isabella, I...I didn't know who you were, I'm so sorry."
"Who I am is another female, a fellow Clan." I forestalled her apologies. "That is all."
"I cannot thank you enough-" I interrupted her thanks by handing her a packet I'd carried with me in case I met her.
"Some herbs and teas that will help ease things for your mother. I don't know what exactly ails her, but these won't harm her." I had been nauseous as hell retrieving them from Healer's, but I was trying to get past this reaction.
"You're a Healer, of-course." She said as if she had suddenly remembered. I nodded. "Would you...could you...could I ask you to see my mother? If that's not-"
"Hasn't she seen a Healer?" I asked, frowning.
"I haven't been able to afford it." She said, pain in her voice. "I've had the town Herbalist call a few times. But I can pick up some extra shifts and work, I'd find a way. Please." She looked at me pleadingly.
She looked so desperate, so tired. Before I could stop myself, I spoke.
"I will come see her as soon as they drop the seclusion order, Mena."
What the fuck was I doing?!
I wanted to take it back, but the look of grateful relief on her face made me bite my words back.
"In the meantime, give her those. And let me know if you need more. And Mena-" I put my hand on her arm. "I don't want any payment. I only have one condition. You can't tell anyone. Is that clear?" She looked surprised but then nodded vigorously.
If I was going to fuck this up by fainting or throwing up, I'd do it without an audience.
OOOOOOOOOO
For the first time in days, I was back in the library. The Archivists greeted me with affection, rather to my surprise, asking where I'd been and even bothering with small talk. I was glad to be back in the library. They'd started allowing me to work on some of the older tomes, restoring those that could be restored and scribing some of the ones that were past retrieval. It was a relief to get back to that work. While service work helped tire me out, this work made me lose track of time.
As I carefully inked over a page, I heard shouts and the sounds of bustle from the courtyard before.
"I'll get the earmuffs." One of the younger Archivists got up with a long suffering sigh.
"Preparations for the Games." The Elder Archivist caught my look, shaking her head grumpily.
"It gets noisy around here this time of year, Cai Isabella." Another Archivist said wincing as loud banging came from outside.
"Bloody Warriors." The Elder muttered, taking the earmuffs being held out to her.
I accepted my pair and wore them, astonished at how effective they were. It was like I was under water, all sound had been cut off. From where I sat, I peered out of the window. The courtyard was a hive of activity. I watched in fascination for a few minutes. Forks had Guard competitions every so often, but Forks was smaller and the Warriors were a different story altogether. I was strangely looking forward to this - and I firmly told myself it had nothing to do with Edward's participation.
Speak of the devil.
He was walking across the courtyard, Jasper and Emmett in his wake, approaching someone. And he was wearing his Warrior leathers and nothing on top.
My brain seized.
That muscled back, so lithe, like a carved statue, defined beautifully. I wanted to run my hands over that back, I wanted to leave teethmarks on it, I wanted to mark it as he Claimed me.
His hand went to the mate mark on his neck and he turned sharply, looking up directly at me.
I didn't look away.
I let my eyes travel over his chest, down his body and then back up again. And then, with nonchalance, I shrugged my shoulders at him.
His lips twitched. He turned back to the person he'd been talking with, but rubbed his mark with his hand, tracing his fingers over the pattern. I flinched as my mark began to tingle and my body reacted. He glanced over his shoulder at me, smiling mischievously at me.
Work, Isabella, work.
I moved my things to another table, well away from the window and got on with my work.
But the mark continued to tingle for a good long while after that.
OOOOOOOOOO
"I'll be sleeping on the windowbed tonight." He said as we entered the chamber after the usual night walk.
Why on earth was I feeling confused and disappointed?!
"Not that I'm complaining about having the bed to myself," I said, ignoring his knowing smile as he caught my expression, "But why?"
"I have to be in full form for the Games." He began setting up the window bed.
"And sleeping on the bed will prevent you from doing that?" I watched him, confused. He finished up and then turned to look at me.
"Sleeping on the bed with you in my arms will prevent me from doing that. It's that little problem I keep having when our skin touches." He said teasingly. I knew he meant his constant state of arousal when we were in bed together. I flushed. "And ordinarily, I like that problem. But I need to be calm not...excited...tomorrow. That wouldn't happen if your lovely firm ass is pressed against me or that silky soft skin or-"
"I get it, I get it." I said hurriedly, as my face flamed even more. I could hear his soft laughter as I headed for the bathroom to collect my night robes. And I had a very naughty idea.
I left my night robes in the bathroom and went across the room, stopping just outside the curtains of the bed area. My back to him, I began untying my robe and then unwrapping it from my body slowly, so that he could hear the cloth rustle. I heard his swift intake of breath and smiled. Very slowly, I inched the robe down off my shoulders, then over my waist and hips and then bent to shed it completely, so I was left in my thin shift. In the moonlight, it must be practically transparent, I thought. His shallow breathing told me I might be right.
"It's hot tonight, isn't it?" I said, pushing the bed curtain aside. I glanced over my shoulder. His emerald-green eyes were black as he stared at me. I smiled.
"Goodnight, Edward."
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