Thank you for the wonderful response to this fic. To the few people who asked about the chapter length and posting schedule, because I'm writing this on the bus, shorter chapters work better for this story. They're like little smash and grabs, but this story is mapped out. I've got some banked chapters, but I also know that if I start posting multiple chapters, that bank will run dry, so until I complete this I'm doing one a week so you get a steady stream. Also, I was asked about BPOV. There will only be one time where we get her POV and it is driven by necessity, otherwise, this is Edward's world. Here's the first real meeting with Bella.

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 2

Each elder prince and my father as the current king approached Eleazar and took one of the proffered envelopes. They opened them to reveal the order for the first private meeting with the human. I looked to my father, seeing him display the number seven.

I was last.

The platform lowered and the ceremony was complete. My father and I left quickly, my need to be alone evident. We were home before the rest of my family and I could hear the words he dared not say.

Maybe this will be a good thing.

"How do you figure?"

"She will be more accustomed to our kind by the time you meet her. If you show her kindness it will be more than she will get from half your generation of princes. Show her the good heart we all know you have and all will be well."

The door opened and my family came in with all of their normal exuberance. Alice was wondering how long this process would take, because she wouldn't truly get any time with Jasper alone until the girl was changed.

My grandparents, Edward and Elizabeth were remembering the choosing he had been apart of. He wasn't chosen by Kira, who had mated with Aro's father, Trenton.

Garrett, of course was thinking how hot he thought the human was, which earned a growl from me.

I needed some solitude, so I decided to go for a run. I changed out of my royal attire and took off. I heard the pursuit, but knowing it was Emmett acting as my sentry, I didn't stop. I passed the capital city limits and kept going.

The dense forest was quiet, until I caught a change in the wind and found myself face to face with a pair of Wanderers.

The young woman was cowering behind the man, who had his arms out to his sides in a protective stance. A flick of his eyes back to her softened his expression before they returned to me.

She was his mate. It may not have been the term they used, but the sentiment was the same.

"Go, both of you. I won't give chase," I said.

His face contorted into confusion, but I simply waved my hand at them.

The man reached behind him to take her hand and the pair took off. I could hear Emmett catch up and turned to see his bewildered eyes studying me.

"What was that?" Emmett asked.

"They are mated, I cannot kill them," I explain.

"Edward, it isn't the same for them," Emmett tries to reason.

"What about the future queen? She is a Wanderer, do you believe she will not have the capacity to love as we do?"

"Vampirism expands one's abilities beyond what Wanderers are capable of in their human form. She will feel for her mate as he does-"

"As I do," I interrupted.

"Edward, you've not had a moment with her, you don't know her name-"

"I know what I feel, Emmett, and I need to be ready in two days time when I finally meet her."

"So we will hunt?" he asked.

"Yes, we hunt."

And for the next two days, we did precisely that. I had my fill, knowing it would strengthen my control.

In the early morning hours of the day I would meet our queen, Emmett and I returned to the capital so I could get cleaned up and dressed. I was anxious, but as I walked through the streets that led to the capitol building I felt a sense of calm wash over me. I would be with her soon.

I entered the building as was met by Rosalie, Tanya, and Jasper.

"Be careful, Edward, she's not adjusting well," Jasper offered me.

"Did something happen?" I asked, worried.

"No, but this is a big change for her. Just be patient."

Nodding, I knocked on the door before opening it. As I entered the room, it was shrouded in darkness, the shades mostly drawn so that only a small amount of light entered. It only took an instant for my eyes to adjust to the light, and when they did, I saw her crouched in the corner of the room.

"Are you the last one?" she asked in a tiny voice.

"I am, my name is Edward Cullen. What is your name?"

"Bella Swan."

I stepped further into the room and watched as she shrunk into the corner. I made my way to her corner of the room and stopped ten feet in front of her. When I got there I dropped onto my knees before her and bowed. I didn't move when I heard her clothing rustle, but the warm touch on my shoulder drew my attention.

"Why are you bowing to me?"

"Because you are my queen, and you seem terrified."

"It has been a very exhausting two days. Some parts were better than others, but I don't know what is expected of me."

It was in the silence that followed that I realized something I hadn't until that moment. "I can't hear you."

"I'm sorry, no one else had a problem-" Bella began in a louder tone but I cut her off.

"No, I'm sorry. I can hear you speaking, but I have the ability to read minds, except with you."

She looked at me curiously, before offering a tentative smile. "Good, because I don't know how I would feel if you could hear all the things going on in my head."