Sorry for the lack of a post last week, but time got away from me. Here's your chapter, I hope you enjoy this. Also, as a reminder, my facebook group has some BTS shenanigans if you'd like to join. It is called AgoodWITCH Writes. The link to that and the babies at the border are in my ffn profile. The link for the FB group is in all of my profiles.

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Chapter 9

I spent the afternoon moving my belongings to the Royal Residence while Alice went a little crazy making sure Bella would have everything she would need. It had been my mom's last official act as Queen, making sure her successor had everything they needed from clothing to the texts that would help her grow into her role.

The king ruled with the council of princes, the queen was the conscience of her people. A former Wanderer who would remind us of our obligations.

When evening came I reentered the rotunda and found it filled to capacity. Everyone was in place but my queen and I. The platform rose and I climbed to her this time, the white sheath dress as lovely as I remembered.

Bella turned to me but I spun her back around, moving the hair off her right shoulder so I had clear access to the place where her neck and shoulder met, I ran my nose along the delicate skin there and with a final breath I sank my teeth into the flesh there.

Bella arched against me, her body bowing to the pain my venom caused. My mother said it burned, which was why I didn't take a pull of her blood before letting my venom flow. I would not take pleasure from her blood while she was in pain.

Sealing the wound, I lifted her into my arms and with her guards, Emmett, and my family in tow, I returned to the Royal Residence.

My mother and Alice prepared the bed for her while I cradled her to my chest. The anguished sounds escaping her as she thrashed in my grip tore at me, but a small part of my brain reminded me it was only temporary.

"Set her down, sweetheart," my mother whispered.

I did as she asked, lying her on the pillows in the center of the bed. Bella's thrashing lessened and I turned to my mother, shocked.

"The most comfort I felt during my change was when your father would touch me, so I knew I wasn't alone, and when he used a cold compress to cool the burning. The pillows have all been chilled. We can continue to change them out to make her comfortable."

"Thank you, Mom," I said.

They left me alone for the early part of my vigil, coming by to check on one of us only as needed.

I could tell when Jasper was standing guard, because he would use his power to calm Bella, which would in turn nearly knock me into unconsciousness.

I felt the fog of his power lift and heard the footfalls of the guards retreat. I grew anxious until Alice's head popped in the door. "Can we talk? I've asked for some privacy."

"Come in Ali," I motioned. When she settled on the bed by Bella's feet and didn't move or speak, I instantly worried. "Alice, what's wrong?"

"When you were attacked, was James involved?"

"Most of what I know about it came from your vision after the fact, but from what I remember no, he was just an onlooker," I told her. "Why, has he done something else?"

"Not particularly, but he's creepy, and I feel like he's always watching us. I get snippets of visions, but he hasn't made up his mind yet, so I don't know what it is I'm seeing. It could be nothing, or it could be huge."

"If he's still in with Felix and Alec, he may be doing it on purpose to take center stage in your visions so that their movements are shielded. James has been creepy his entire existence. Becoming the prince for his family after Randall died only made it worse."

"Victoria would have been be a better choice." Alice said.

"Victoria couldn't be named to the council. Laurent could remain on until a child of Victoria's came of age in the next generation. Or if he wished to retire, he could present a successor and the council would vote on admitting them," I explained.

"I'm so glad I don't have to deal with all the council business."

"Either way, give James a wide berth. Soon things will calm down again," I told her.

"Yes, Your Majesty," Alice teased. "Only another day and a half, Edward."

I watched Alice retreat and smiled at Bella's prone form. "Hear that, Darling? We're halfway there."