Previously: Bella - BPOV

I quickly discard the underlying darker meaning of his words and whisper a heartfelt 'thank you' to Marcus as Alec carries me to the couch. I smile as my grandfather walks over to help me with the blanket while Jane, Demetri, and Charlie take up their place next to the couch. Caius and Aro smile at Marcus as he moves to his throne after helping me, and I can suddenly feel my nerves rising as Aro claps his hands and says: "Let's get this meeting started, shall we? Felix, please bring Edward Cullen to us first."

Alec - APOV

I quickly pull Bella closer to me as her heart rate increases when Aro orders Felix to collect Edward. She relaxes instantly and gives me a thankful smile as she leans her head against my shoulder. I place a soft kiss on her head as I hear her whisper that she loves me, and I smile as I say: "I love you too, Luna. You don't have to worry; I'm not leaving your side."

I can hear her smile as she snuggles even closer and says: "I don't know what I would do without you." I shake my head as I place another kiss on her head and say: "You never have to find out, amore mio. I will always be there for you. I'm yours for eternity."

The sound of footsteps rushing down the hall draws my attention to the big wooden doors, and I can feel Bella tense slightly as they swing open to reveal Felix, Edward, and Carlisle. I place a soft kiss in her hair as they make their way to the middle of the throne room and quickly stifle a low growl as Edward briefly glances our way with longing in his eyes. That boy must have a genuine dead wish.

Everyone's attention is pulled to the dais as Aro claps his hands and says: "Young Edward, if it were up to my brothers, you would have already been turned into a pile of ashes. I haven't read the thoughts of my guards yet, but I don't doubt that they want to handle this in the same way. Consider yourself lucky that your sire is one of the few vampires I consider a friend. We are here at his request. He believes that you were led astray and that you will see the error of your ways if given the chance. Let's hope for your sake, he's right."

Edward nods as his eyes flick across the throne room while reading the thoughts of everyone present, and I smirk as he cringes the moment his eyes connect with Charlie's. A dark chuckle from Charlie makes me wonder what he is thinking as Edward quickly returns his attention to Aro, who is slowly waking his way while saying: "Why is it, Edward, that after seeing the truth about Alec's bond with Bella in his thoughts when he came to collect her in Forks, you still let Alice persuade you to come on this foolish endeavor? What made you believe her visions and doubt the words of my brother?"

Edward takes a deep breath as he lowers his eyes to the ground to evade Aro's stare and says: "Alice was continuously checking Bella's future. Alice and I are close. That's why I was with her most of the time as the visions washed over her. That's how we saw a vision of how Bella and Alec discovered the pregnancy. Alice freaked out after that vision. She claimed that we had to come to Volterra to save Bella. If we didn't the pregnancy would kill her.

I tried to calm her down and thought about telling Carlisle, but he left before I had the chance. We knew where he went because Alice had a vision when he decided to come and help with the pregnancy. After that, Alice's visions only featured Alec and the twins. Bella never showed up in any of them, so when she once again said that Bella wouldn't survive the birth, I believed her."

Aro shakes his head as he turns to look at Bella and smiles as he says: "Bella has quickly become the heart of our coven, Edward. She has given my brother a reason to live after more than two thousand years of sorrow. Losing her would devastate not only her mate but our coven as a whole. We would never willingly put her in harm's way. Carlisle is here to ensure her health during the pregnancy, and Alec will turn her when the twins are born. She will be what she is supposed to be: a vampire like us."

Edward opens his mouth to replay but stops as Marcus rises from his throne and says: "You rely too much on your gift, Edward. It has made you complacent, and you forget to watch the world around you. If you did, you would have seen the love between Bella and Alec because you have to be blind to miss it. But seeing that you are having trouble acknowledging what we all know to be the truth, I will help you. I will show you the bonds that Alec and Bella share, not only with each other but also with their children. After that, I hope you realize what for a fool you are."

With that said, Marcus turns to look at Bella and me with a soft smile on his face while Edward keeps staring at Marcus intently as he waits for Marcus to show him our bond in thought. It's not difficult to pinpoint the exact moment that Marcus reveals it to him, and I bite back an evil smile as Edward drops to his knees and gasps for unneeded air as the beauty of our bond hits him. Let's hope he gets the message and leaves us alone from now on.

Marcus nods approvingly as Edward gets back on his feet and says: "To see their bond was an honor I did not deserve. I will never bother her again. She is right where she is supposed to be: home with Alec by her side. I can never apologize enough, and I most certainly don't deserve your forgiveness."

Aro nods in agreement as he moves to stand in front of Edward and says: "Words are easily spoken, young Edward. You know as well as I do that a person's mind can hold different thoughts than the ones that were spoken out loud. And that's why you'll understand better than anyone why I must insist on reading your mind."

Edward nods as he lifts his hand so that Aro can take it and says: "Of course, Master Aro. You will find my thoughts to be an exact copy of my words." Aro smiles softly as he grabs Edward's hand and says: "I do hope so, for Carlisle's sake."

Carlisle looks tense as Aro takes his time to read every thought Edward has ever had and shifts to looking rather panicked as Aro starts to shake his head while reading Edward's mind. What did Aro see? We all wait in suspense for Aro to finish; the only sound in the throne room is the steady heartbeat of Bella and the twins.

Suddenly Aro lets go of Edward's hand, and I can see the pity in Aro's eyes as he looks at Edward and says: "Edward, I believe Alice took advantage of your dream to find your true mate. She played you, and I doubt that her intentions were selfless. I'm certain that she will reveal her true motives to abduct Bella and murder the twins when we interrogate her. I'm relieved that you acknowledge the bond of true mate between Bella and Alec and the bonds between the twins and their parents. You won't find your true mate here, Edward, but she is out there somewhere. Don't let Alice tell you otherwise."

Edward bows his head in submission at Aro's words as he retakes his place next to Carlisle, who looks utterly relieved. Aro returns to his throne at human speed and briefly touches the hands of his brothers before focusing his attention back on Edward and saying: "Your connection with Carlisle saved you, Edward. Your remorse is genuine. We won't kill you, but we can't leave your actions unpunished. You tried to abduct the true mate of a Volturi guard, and you conspired to murder their children. We can't change those facts. We will decide your punishment after we meet with your sister. You are dismissed until then. Santiago, please escort him to Carlisle's quarters, and make sure he stays there."

Edward shakes his head vigorously as he looks from Aro to Carlisle and back and says: "Please, let me stay. Alice is my sister; she will worry if I'm not here. I won't interfere, I promise." Aro snorts as he rolls his eyes and says: "No, Edward. I'm afraid I must insist. You tend to do stupid things when your sister is there to guide you, so you can't be here for her questioning. She will have seen my decision to have you escorted out. She knows you're fine. We'll send someone to collect you if need be. Now, go."

Bella - BPOV

I smile softly as Santiago leads Edward out of the throne room. Carlisle looks very relieved, and I'm happy for the vampire that has been so caring toward me and the twins ever since he got here. Edward's hearing, however, raised more questions than it gave answers. I always thought Alice was my friend, but I'm starting to believe that it was all a ruse from her side. I can't help but wonder why? What did I ever do to deserve to be lied to by Alice Cullen?

My attention is pulled back to the present as Marcus appears right in from of me and says: "Do you need anything, dear one? Something to eat or drink?" A low growl of my stomach answers his question before I can even open my mouth, and he snickers as he looks up to Jane and says: "Jane dear, would you mind getting Bella some biscuits and a cup of blood?" Jane smiles as she shakes her head and says: "Of course not, Master. I'll be right back."

I smile as Jane rushes from the room and sigh happily as Alec leans down to place a kiss on my head. I shift in my seat so that I can look into his eyes, and my heart skips a beat as he strokes a loose strand of hair behind my ear and whispers how much he loves me before leaning in and kissing me softly. I giggle as Jane materializes next to him a second later and says: "We know that you love her, Alec. Now scoot; she needs to eat."

Alec mutters something about annoying sisters, but I can see the twinkle in his eyes as he moves a bit so that Jane can put the tray on my lap. Jane just rolls her eyes at her brother as she moves back to stand next to Demetri and says: "Love you too, Alec." Marcus simply smiles at their antics as he motions for me to start eating and says: "Eat up, Bella. We will wait for you to finish before starting again. You need to keep up your strength."

Marcus returns to his throne as I start to eat my biscuits and sip my blood. I lean into Alec as I continue to eat while listening to the Masters as they discuss the most important thoughts that Aro saw in Edward's mind. It seems that they have the same questions as I have, and I can't wait to hear what Alice has to say.

Marcus nods approvingly as I finish my last biscuit, and I smile as Jane takes the tray from my lap and rushes it off to the kitchen. Aro claps his hands enthusiastically when Jane returns and says: "Felix! Bring Alice Cullen to us. She has a lot to answer to."

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