Here's the latest chapter. I've got a good bit on my next one so hopefully it will post next week. This is beginning to move and I'm excited to see where it is going.

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 16

The morning that Garrett was set to leave, Alice and I spent some time with him. He was anxious to be a part of the army we were building.

"How will you know when is the right time?"

"It will be whenever the council reconvenes. My guess is it will be after the birth of an heir. So there will be time to warn you and fill the city with our supporters. When we move to remove them from power, they will strike."

"How will we be in contact?" Garrett asked.

"We will send someone to you. Just don't believe anyone who does not first tell you the secret word."

"If you receive word of the presentation of an heir before you hear from us, hurry. That means it wasn't Bella and I and we will have less time to prepare."

"Fair enough."

The rest of our family entered and my mother was as near tears as was possible. "Be safe."

"I will, Mother."

They embraced and then it was my father's turn. Jasper and Alice were next, and then Garrett stood before Bella and I.

"Take care of my brother, Majesty."

"You fool, come here," Bella commanded and he scooped her up into his arms.

After their display, he turned to me. "We will defeat them."

"I know, but I hope our pain doesn't eclipse our victory."

Garrett hugged me, one final squeeze before he stood back. "We'll be reunited soon."

Garrett took his bag, packed with the possessions he couldn't live without, and left the residence.

It was a tense few hours before we received word that he'd left the continent without incident.

From there, Alice and I began our own strategizing. I would think of scenarios, making decisions and then she would tell me what she saw. She was also watching the decisions of the council members and Aro and Caius.

We spent two weeks running every possibility to determine the best strategy. Tanya was keeping a closer eye on Bella for me, which allowed me to focus on the plan.

Our best chance was out in the open, the twisted streets of the city would leave too much to chance. So we would have the declaration of the heir outside the city limits under the guise that it would allow for more witnesses.

I was lost in my own thoughts when I heard Alice gasp.

"What is it?"

She was blocking me, which she hadn't done since we began our planning.

"What did you just think? What decision did you make?"

"Alice, it's nothing."

"Is this nothing?"

Her mind opened to me and I was exposed to my worst nightmare. A pile of mangled limbs, my parents, Garrett, Jasper, and our guards among them. The pyre was lit and I turned from it, Bella's necklace hanging from my fingers.

The vision shifted and I saw my beautiful Bella fading. Refusing to hunt or to move without me.

"I wanted to give us more time to plan. We haven't been intimate since Garrett left."

"You're pulling away from her, and her instinct will be to wait for you and she will begin to fade. As for the battle … the heir needs to be yours. If she is still pregnant when the fight comes they will focus on your pregnant mate and we will lose many trying to protect her. We will win, but at a mighty cost."

"I need to go."

"Take care of her, Edward. We will speak again when we know more."

I ran through the house, finding Bella curled up on the couch in our bedroom, Tanya was with her.

"My love, let's go for a hunt."

"Thank goodness," Tanya whispered.

"How long has it been?"

"Six days," Tanya admitted.

"Tattle tale."

"It is my job to protect you, My Queen, even from yourself."

"Come, we're going alone. Tanya, if you need to hunt, please give us a wide berth."

"I hunted yesterday. And we have guards on patrol but the area has been clear since they departed. You should be fine."

I took Bella's hand and led her out of the house and then out of the city. We ran in the outlying areas and stumbled across a small group of Wanderers. It was magnificent to watch Bella hunt, something I'd rarely done since her change. Another sin to atone for.

Once we had our fill, we disposed of the bodies in one of the trenches that were dug. It was still new so we didn't need to burn the bodies yet, which gave us more time to explore.

Bella turned to me, the tiniest trace of her meal on her chin. I pulled her close and licked it off, earning a growl.

"Edward."

"If you don't want me to have my way with you out here in the open, tell me now. But I will have you."

"Take me home."

She needn't say another word. I scooped her up and sprinted through the hills until we had returned to the city. From there it was only a short distance until I carried her over the threshold and up to our room.

Our clothes were shreds on the floor and I was inside her. Nothing felt as right as being with Bella and I can't believe I'd made it these last few weeks without her.

I pounded into her and she met my thrusts with her hips crashing against mine. I didn't last long and thankfully she fell over the edge with me.

Bella was still clinging to me once I had calmed down, but when I tried to pry her hands off my neck, I felt her body shake.

"Bella, Love, let go. I want to look at you."

She clung tighter, an odd sound rattling around in her chest.

"BELLA!"

My shout did something as she released her hold on me and fell to the bed. I looked down at her as she choked on air she didn't need and I didn't know how to help her.

"Did I hurt you? Should I call my mother to access the injury."

Her head shook violently, so I leaned in closer.

"Just hold me."

"Oh, My Queen, that is easily done."

I lay down and pulled her close, my hands stroking her back as she calmed. When she didn't shake with her tearless sobs, I finally got an answer to her agony.

"I thought you had changed your mind."

"Changed my mind about what?"

"Me."

"I don't understand?"

"You've distanced yourself from me. We have rarely hunted together and that was our first time together since Alice and Jasper's mating ceremony. If I did something wrong, you have to tell me. I know I'm new to this life so I might not realize-"

"Bella, stop. You did nothing wrong. I was trying to buy us more time. I assumed that our heir would be the one to bring the council together and allow us to strike against our enemies. But Alice saw something when I thought about delaying it."

"What did she see?"

"If you aren't the first to conceive, you will likely be pregnant when the attack happens."

"Alice saw my destruction." Bella said it so matter of factly.

I pulled her impossibly closer, needing to feel her with me. "I will not let that happen. I won't risk you. And in making decisions for us and not consulting you, I could have lost you."

"So we're doing this together?"

"I'm pretty sure to make a baby that is the only way."

Bella laughed and I didn't realize how much I had missed the sound. I had a lot to make up for.