Playlist:

Beyonce - Formation

Carrie Underwood – Renegade Runaway

Taylor Swift – Eyes Open

Evanescence – Everybody's Fool

Down – Marian Hill

Disclaimer: I own nothing but the words. Stephanie Meyer owns the Twilight series, and the songs belong to their respective people.

Formation

Bella wiped sweat from her forehead as she extended a hand to help Nhamo stand from where she lay gasping in the dirt. "Congratulations. You are the sixth and final member of this team. Welcome to the Core."

Nhamo was a woman of few words. She simply nodded, allowing Bella to pull her up from the ground.

Nikki flashed to her side with water for both of them, and Risa's young voice rang over the clearing. "Dang, Nhamo, remind me never to piss you off. That was the longest I've seen anyone stand against Isabella."

Nikki laughed. "Even Kaedra quits once Izzy starts throwing lightning from her hands. That's the scariest shit I've ever seen."

Their group reached the rest of her elite soldiers standing at the edge of the private field. "Well, I'm glad to hear you have so much respect for her, ladies, because Nhamo is going to be the commander of this team."

Nhamo raised an eyebrow at her. "I'm honored, your majesty. Of course, it would be easier to lead this team if I knew what its purpose was."

"I know I have been vague until now. That stops today. You six will be spying on the Cullens. That is your primary mission and your purpose. Let me be clear: you are not guarding them. You are not to interfere with any action they undertake, nor interact with them in any way. You are watching them. I want you to see something. You will follow them whenever you have no active orders on the battlefields."

The general uproar was only what Bella had expected.

"What? Why?"

"Are they treacherous?" Nikki's eyes narrowed.

"Not in the least. Watch closely, Nikki. You have much to learn from your charge. You will be tailing Carlisle."

Nhamo cut her hand through the air, silencing her new comrades. Bella smiled at her.

"Why are we watching them, Isabella? And there are seven Cullen vampires."

"Edward will not be followed. You will watch each of the others carefully, including when they are with me. When Edward and I are alone, I expect us to be alone. Is this clear?"

She got nods from the girls, some of them still grumbling slightly at the ridiculous command. Bella eyeballed them, her best soldiers, and sighed. "For the next three days, I will accompany each of you as you tail your charge. I will tell you more of what you are looking for, then."

"You have not answered why, Isabella."

"You'll see. Watch them until the end— then do as your conscience bids you. I expect full reports daily, and those will include your observations as well as your reactions. Look closely, ladies. I do not tolerate fools in my Core."

A few days later, Bella approached where Nikki watched Carlisle at work in the medical wing. Before she could speak, Nikki did.

"You know, I thought this would be boring. But he's fucking fascinating. The other girls think so of their charges too. You couldn't pry Risa away from Alice with a spatula, even if it means she has to spend so much time with Jasper's watcher. Zia and Risa might actually start to get along. Why are all of them so sad? They look for you, you know. Everywhere they go."

"I see I don't need to tell you why anymore."

"We aren't watching them for their sake, we're watching them for ours. Carlisle...he's ridiculous. I've never seen a man so compassionate. I'd break my own arm just to have him heal it."

"You know you aren't to interfere."

"Maybe not. But I can interfere with you all I like. They're so sad. They love you. Why are you pushing them away?"

Bella heaved a deep sigh, her eyes on the child with the broken arm that Carlisle was healing. Her vampire didn't even notice the awed smile on his Fae-partner's face. "Because I must. If you see their love so clearly after only days in their company, others will see it too. It is a weakness, one that can be used against Camp. Think of the end, Nikki. Think of all that is yet to come and tell me what I should do."

"You must ensure these creatures survive. No. You must ensure they live."

"There you go. Do you still wonder why I must distance myself from them?"

"No. But that doesn't mean I agree with it. It may be smart to gain distance, but it is not wise. You know of my love for you, Bella. You know that each of us on this team would give you the world, were we able. You need them. You deserve them."

"You just called me Bella."

"Yeah, well. It's your name. You aren't Izzy anymore. You aren't Isabella either. You're Bella. Their Bella."

"Yeah." Bella watched as the child Carlisle was healing laughed at something Carlisle said, all trace of pain gone from his expression. "Let's hope it's not that obvious to everyone else."

Renegade Runaway

Though Bella had spent the last three days watching the Cullens every spare hour she had and taking reports from her soldiers about every second she missed, she had avoided interacting with them directly. Esme had watched the toll Bella's sudden absence had on her family and felt the toll it took on her.

Esme hadn't laid eyes on her newest daughter even briefly, which was quite a feat considering the Castle was abuzz with last-minute preparations to welcome the bloodline nobles to the upcoming gala. She would have been impressed that Bella was able to pull it off if Bella's avoidance hadn't turned the world foggy and gray.

The only Fae who had noticed her family's moroseness were Kaedra and Marcos, but Bella's command team hadn't asked questions. In fact, Kaedra had gotten stuck as the go-between for Esme to Bella about official decisions for the celebration. The regent pulled Esme aside on day two, after Lizzie had cheerily asked Esme to show Bella some fabric swatches in the attic that evening.

Her face must have given her away, because Kaedra had hugged Esme roughly with a deep sigh.

"She's sleeping in her office, mostly, but Marcos and I can usually get her to stop working for a few hours. She drinks more than usual, but she's holding together. I'm sorry, Esme. She's already lost one family, you know? She loves you guys, but family is a whole different level. Izzy's not one to make promises she doesn't keep. I wish I could say it will work out, but...that's asking a lot, Esme. She's not sure she can ask you guys for that, if she can give anyone that power over her again. She couldn't give it to Marcos and me. If it helps, I think she wants to give it to you."

Esme stayed busy, trying desperately to avoid thinking about Bella's panicked flight from the attic and succeeding only in thinking of nothing else.

When the nobles finally arrived, the Arena was packed full for the occasion. Esme's first sight of her daughter in days was from the closest platform to Bella's, standing with an impassable distance between them. She was surrounded by strangers who were all reminiscing about an Isabella Swan that Esme had never known.

The Shaman head-of-house, Matthias, chuckled as he spoke to Lizzie next to her. "Oh, I suppose you are too young to remember when Isabella was born. I thought the School's council room would explode from the tempers alone. I mean, imagine. Fiore Salem was just turning one, and the Smith heir had just been orphaned. And when Isabella came to the School! I always knew she'd be Queen; it was obvious the power she held. I was there, at her testing. What I wouldn't give to be gifted in so many affinities! There are even rumors that Isabella is gifted in the Spirit realm as well. Perhaps she is a goddess. Perhaps they all were gods. They were supposed to be competing for the throne, you know. Those three took my defense class the last year they were in School. I tell you as sure as I breathe; it was unnatural the way the Royal Three fought together. Well, when they bothered to show up to class."

Her family around her shared her surreal detachment, she could see it on their faces. Every single head-of-house around them was talking about Bella in some form or another: awed whispers of her affinities, gossip about her childhood and "The Royal Three", pity for all that Bella had lost, speculation about what she would do next in this war. Edward looked nauseous from where he was gazing longingly at where Bella stood. Marcos stood next to him, trying vainly to distract the head of the Spellman house from his probing about the Cullens' place in Bella's life.

Josephat and a skinny man with wild white hair and a bushy beard joined Esme's group as Bella started her speech.

"Esme, I would like for you to meet Aphroditus. He is the current head-of-house for the Salem family. Aphroditus, meet Esme Cullen. She is Bella's...um, well. She's a Cullen. She's one of Bella's vampires."

"Ah, I see." Aphroditus shook Esme's hand warmly. "Do not fear, beautiful Esme. I was once one of Isabella's "um, well" friends too."

Josephat belly-laughed at his friend's comment. "For quite a while there, actually. Trust me, she is even more possessive of the Cullens than she was of you. Bella will be so pleased to see you, old friend. Perhaps you can shake her from her mood."

Aphroditus looked concerned. "In a mood, is she? Well, she certainly has the right, poor thing. I can only imagine how much she misses them. I mourn for Adeline and Fiore every day. To tell the truth, sometimes I mourn Isabelle too. She is so different now."

"I was surprised she did not call you to Camp upon her return."

"I would have come, and gladly."

Josephat glanced at Esme as though suddenly remembering she was there. "Aphroditus was Bella's mentor at the School. Each teacher is assigned up to five children to monitor, and the children choose who mentors them. When it became clear that the Royal Three would not be separated, there was fierce competition for who would mentor Fiore, Adeline, and Bella. They chose Aphroditus, and for a while he was going to adopt Adeline officially. What was it they called you? 'Tuss' wasn't it?"

Grief crossed the wild man's face, and his voice went quiet. "Yes. It was quite my favorite nickname. Those kids. They were always getting into mischief. It was them against the world, I just had the pleasure of being someone they trusted. I remember, once the three of them had to admit their adventures and all of that came into the light, I was so mad at them. They apologized by turning my floorboards into their raw forms." He turned to Esme. "I couldn't hold on to my anger once the floor of my office exploded into a forest as soon as I opened the door. You should've seen our queen's face: she was so proud of herself. I could do nothing but laugh."

Josephat turned to Esme as well. "You never got to know that side of her, dear Esme. Bella hasn't known how to be playful for a long time. The closest I have ever seen her come is when she is with you and your family."

"Really?" Esme tried to imagine Bella, playful and full of pranks like Emmett. She couldn't really see it. "I guess she grew out of it."

Aphroditus and Josephat shared a look. "She didn't grow out of it. It was taken from her. Bella was not always so jaded, so guarded. There was a time when she was trusting and innocent. Bella was a sunshine-child." Josephat's words were bitter and angry. "The Master took it from her when he killed Adeline."

"And Fiore." Aphroditus cut in. "He killed Fiore too, Josephat. The Master may possess Fiore's body, but his soul is long gone. That alone should have broken Isabelle beyond repair. It is a miracle she is as great a Queen as she is, that is not up for debate. But I cannot imagine she will love again after what the Master did. I don't think she's capable of it. I knew she wasn't, when I heard of her return and received no word from her. She would be the greatest Queen that Havana had ever known, if only the Master had not been released. He hurt her too badly, she will never be that way again."

"I don't know, my friend. You have not seen her around this vampire of hers. Isabella and Edward are very close..."

Josephat's voice faded out of focus as Esme drowned in anger and shock. The Master possessed Fiore's body? Esme had always been led to believe that Fiore had died. For just a moment, all she could feel was the horror at the thought of Bella's torturer wearing the face of someone Bella had loved.

Then her thoughts snapped back to the present and she opened her mouth to tell Josephat and his smug friend that her daughter was the greatest Queen Havana had ever known, and would be, too, once she won this war. That Bella may have changed but she was still sunshine, and Esme knew that because she saw in color when Bella was around. That Bella was not broken in any way and could do anything she put her mind to. Before she could speak, she heard a familiar voice come from behind her.

"Well, I guess some things never change. Nice to know I'm still a hot topic. Hello, Aphroditus. Fancy seeing you here. Esme, I think Lizzie needs to speak to you. Now."

Bella grabbed Esme's arm roughly; her grip would have bruised a human. Her face was a wall of ice. When she tugged harshly, pulling Esme away from Jo and his friend, Aphroditus stopped her by grabbing her shoulder. Bella's eyes narrowed and her nostrils flared, but her voice was smooth and quiet, pitched so as not to carry.

"Isabelle, wait."

"You wanna keep that hand? 'Cause if so, I would remove it from my person."

Bella's old mentor pulled back as though burned, a hundred contradictory emotions flying across his face. Esme wished for her son's empathic abilities as the air grew thick with unsaid words. Bella's eyes were flashing lazily golden as she took in the white-haired man, but she didn't speak to him again.

"Come on." Bella pulled on her arm more gently this time, guiding them across the platform towards the rest of her family. When they reached the small pocket of space next to the banister, Bella jerked her hand away from where she touched Esme, her face turning vitriolic.

"I don't care that you apparently talk about me behind my back, Esme, but you should watch who you lend an ear to. That man is a snake, and you stood there and listened to his poison. You didn't even say anything. I should've known better than to think you would defend me. Hell, I've given you enough proof, you might even believe him. Jo does. I am not broken."

Esme opened her mouth to tell Bella that she couldn't be more wrong if she tried, that it had taken all she could manage not to punch Josephat and his smug friend, but Bella put up her hand. "No. You know what? Don't bother. Fuck this. Fuck all of this."

Bella shifted, leaving the Cullens blinking at where she had stood a moment ago.

What had just happened?

Eyes Open

"How did you find me?"

Bella peered at Carlisle from her hiding spot in the royal gardens. It had taken him longer to find her than he would have liked, but the reward for his perseverance had come in the form of Bella's slim figure silhouetted in a lotus pose against a low wall surrounded by wildflowers. The small natural alcove she had hidden in was formed by the curved slope of the basement meeting the cavern wall and had only one easily-overlooked path that led to it.

"You like the gardens when you need to think. You find them calming, that's why you brought Kaedra out here to confront her and came to them when Forks was attacked. I, too, find them peaceful."

"Do you think you know me so well?"

"No, but you fooled me and my family once. I have learned to pay closer attention. Esme sent me, but I would have come anyway."

Bella was silent at the reminder of what had just transpired, and Carlisle perched lightly on the wall next to his Fae daughter. He had to work to keep himself from taking her hand. Bella would not accept his comfort right now. It would be better to keep a clinical distance.

"I have some thoughts on our current situation."

"No doubt you plan to share them."

"Indeed. I wish to speak with you about your behavior since we declared you our family. You owe my wife an apology."

Bella sighed her defeat, shifting uncomfortably. "Damn. I was betting on Rosalie being the one to call me out. I underestimated you, Carlisle— again. Quit being clever, it's starting to freak me out."

"I require an explanation, Bella. Who was that man?"

Bella looked at him closely for a long moment, but Carlisle simply looked back, unafraid. He had nothing to hide. She ran a hand through her hair and got up, starting to pace.

"It's good that you're angry. It'll make things easier, in the end. Esme is hurt, you all are. I can't give you what you want of me. It's better if you get over it quickly. I need to enforce distance, or it'll hurt worse. I cannot be part of your family, Carlisle. I can't change that. Esme is too gentle; she lets herself care too much. She won't let it go."

"I do not have any intention of letting it go, either, and I assure you the rest of my family feels the same. We care for you. We want you to be a part of our family."

"You really, really don't."

Carlisle felt his eyebrows climb his forehead. "Why wouldn't we want that?"

"You and your family are precious to me, the best thing that has ever been mine. I will always care for you to the best of my ability. But family...family is different. Family is a promise you share, and I can't ask you guys to love me like that. I've made mistakes, Carlisle. I can't—" Bella choked. She swallowed blood and sighed resignedly before she shrugged at him. "Besides, it's dangerous."

"For who?"

"Everyone. Me. You. There can be no misunderstanding here, Carlisle. Family means that you will never let go. I know what that promise is worth, intimately. I watched my family die because we made that promise without knowing the cost. I can't… I need to provide you guys with a way out, you need to have the choice to walk away. Look how much danger I've already put you in!"

"You care for us too, then."

"I know it's wrong. I can't help it. I'm sorry, I've tried. When you left, I really tried. You must know my feelings for you are just a mistake. I didn't mean to feel this way. I knew it with James. I didn't know, before then. You must believe me. I knew I had damned Edward with my love; I've made my peace with that, and I will do anything to keep him safe from the consequences of that love. I knew I liked you guys, but you were just my boyfriend's family. And then..." She threw up her hands helplessly.

"You all came after me. You didn't even know me. Hell, you had only met me once! Your whole family planned that insane little run-around. For three days! You didn't even give me a second to divert you so I could go light him on fire. Did you know you guys are a little insane? Who the hell does that? I mean, how am I supposed to not care about people like that?"

"You love us." It had been a long time since Carlisle had been so confused. The realization that Bella loved them too made his head spin with questions, but he couldn't help but leap at the opportunity. His next words were eager and rushed. "Let us love you. Let us share your burdens."

"No."

Carlisle knew she could see his hurt. "Why?"

"Because my burdens are heavy, Carlisle." Bella's shoulders sagged and she came to sit by him on the low wall once more. She took his hand in both of her own, the dry warmth emanating from her skin comforting him.

"It's dangerous, for me to be so devoted to you. My loyalties should lie with my people, my focus should be on defeating the evil that threatens them. It costs the Fae for me to love you. I am a Queen, Carlisle. I have pledged my life in service of the Fae. Have you considered that any family of mine would have to swear those oaths as well? With this war, you would make powerful leverage. And what of the Volturi? What of the lives you have led, before you knew me? It costs too much to love me."

"It costs you to love us as well."

Bella snorted. "Loving Edward and your family will never be anything but the greatest pleasure. No, my price is paid in other places. And I am bought and paid for, twice over. Once for the Fae, once for the family the Master destroyed. No, Carlisle. Do not let your care for me obscure the truth of the matter. I have no right to a family. It's the cost of the things I've done. I am who I am, and I don't know how to be anyone else."

"Why must you always love and never be loved? Why must those you love always add to your burdens? Let us carry what loads we can. You will find us strong forgave me for my sin, why do you think we cannot forgive you? I would not have you be anyone but who you are. You bring us life, my daughter. We do not want you to die for us; we would have you live."

"I can't give you that."

"We want it for you all the same. Edward was right, you know. Our love won't end just because you can't love us back."

Bella's face changed, melting into dead-faced blankness. "I pray that is not true. And so should you. You had life long before I met you, Carlisle, and you will have it long after I am gone. I am not your daughter."

Carlisle felt his shoulders slump in defeat. Taking the dismissal for what it was, Carlisle laid a cold kiss on Bella's hand in his and released her, watching her face twist in sadness and hoping she could see the heartbreak he felt.

He stood and left his daughter to her lonely thoughts.

Everybody's Fool

Carlisle isn't sure what made him do what he did next. He was headed up the path out of the gardens when he saw Jo's white-haired friend stumbling down the narrow path towards where Bella had taken refuge. The appropriate response would have been to warn Bella of the man's approach, or perhaps to merely keep walking. But Carlisle did not do either of those things. Instead, he admonished himself silently and slipped behind the curve of archway where he could hear but not be seen. After all, Bella had deftly avoided telling him about this man who had upset her so deeply.

When the man came into Bella's view, she sighed deeply. Carlisle felt his posture stiffen as Bella stood up, attack-ready. Should he get someone? Bella's voice was mocking and cynical, but she didn't sound like she was preparing to fight.

"Well, someone's been at my liquor cabinet. Jeez, it's the middle of the day. So much for all your preaching about keeping composure."

"I had to find you. You have to know I'm sorry."

Bella's shoulders slumped and she ran a hand through her hair. Her eyes closed briefly as she sagged with exhaustion. Carlisle spared a moment for the thought that he would do just about anything to wipe that look from his daughter's face.

"Don't tell me that. We both know you don't mean it. I am so sick of you trying to manipulate me. Make up your mind already. You want me to forgive you? Fine. You know what to do."

"I was in shock, I was grieving. I acted rashly, but what you're asking of me would ruin both our lives. What's done is done. I need to know you forgive me. I still have love for you."

Disgust showed on Bella's face, and she spat at the man's feet. "I thought so. I don't give a damn. If this is what your care looks like, I can do without it. You betray me, even now. It's been three years, Aphroditus. At first, I kept thinking you would come. That you would find me and make things right. God, I was a fucking idiot to ever think you gave a damn."

"Maybe you have another reason to deny me. You seem awfully cozy with those Cullens of yours. You know you're food to them, right? They won't love you; you're too broken. They don't know you like we did."

Bella's voice was bitter and hateful. "And whose fault is that?"

"They can't replace the family you lost. I'm the only one who could even come close. Don't tell me you're suddenly content with a consolation prize."

"You have no idea what you're talking about, and the fact that you think the Cullens could ever be second-best to you proves it. You're lucky I don't kill you for having the audacity to speak with Esme. She won't believe your lies, won't drink your poison. She won't."

Carlisle's heart broke at the sudden vulnerability on Bella's face, but Aphroditus was still focused on himself. Bella's face went hard at the man's next question.

"Why am I still breathing anyway, if I'm so worthless to you?"

"Don't get it twisted. You're nothing to me but a leftover of memories that are more precious than your life could ever be. Don't think you will ever be anything but my enemy, or that I would ever choose you over the Cullens. There is no forgiveness for you here."

"I don't deserve that. Every father makes mistakes."

"You are not my father. I spent so long wondering when you would come, when you would make things right. And then I gave up, and you became just another in a long fucking list of people I wish I'd never met. You're no one to me, and I sure as hell don't owe you a goddamned thing."

Bella glared at Aphroditus for a long moment, during which Carlisle tried to process that this man had once possessed what Carlisle wanted so badly. Carlisle pushed down his wicked satisfaction that this stranger had apparently lost his hold on Bella. Bella had all but wiped this man from her history. What mistakes had he made? Who was he to challenge Carlisle's rightful place in Bella's life?

"You've given one hell of a performance since I've been away." Bella clapped slowly, mocking. "Five stars. Take a bow. Imagine my surprise, returning to Havana to find out you've added "Father of the Year" to your collection of trophies. Hell, your performance this afternoon was exquisite. Excuse me for interrupting the encore, I feared if I watched much more I would actually vomit."

"My grief is every bit as real as yours. I cared for Adeline and Fiore. And you."

Bella's laugh was cold and terrible. "You've got a funny way of showing it."

"What can I do to be forgiven?"

"Leave and stay gone."

"Ma belle, please. Be reasonable."

Bella was suddenly in Aphroditus' face, snarling with one hand on his throat, squeezing hard. She pushed him backward, pinned him against the low wall. "Don't you ever call me that again, you sack of shit. Don't you fucking dare. The royal three were nothing but a game to you, and I hate that we even tried to make you a part of our family. You kicked me to the curb without a second's hesitation. They died thinking you loved them." He was blue before she released him, reduced to batting uselessly at Bella's forearms.

Aphroditus coughed, but he caught his breath before Bella could walk away from him. "And whose fault is that? "The Royal Three." What a joke. You were ruined before I ever met you, ruined the moment you first saw each other. Surely you know by now that it was nothing but wishful thinking, a child's fantasy. I had to cut ties, or you would have dragged me down with you. I never should have encouraged you."

"You never should have dug up that goddamned book. The only "wishful thinking" I ever did was hoping you would help us." Bella's face was a brick wall, no expression at all.

"I didn't do this to you, Isabella."

Bella forced herself to take a step back, her hand balled into a fist at her side.

"You certainly didn't make it any better. Pathetic old man. You'll leave directly following the gala, and I'll let you continue this farce of pretending you mean something. You keep pushing this and I'll slit your throat and spit on your grave."

Aphroditus swallowed, but his indignation outweighed his fear. "Is that a royal decree?"

"Yeah, it is. And here's another one. Stay the hell away from my vampires. And me."

"Your vampires. These Cullens sure do hold a lot of sway over you. I think you love them."

"My patience is waning quickly, daddy-dearest. Don't use words you don't understand. If you so much as— "

Bella cut herself off quickly as Josephat came down the path. The healer stopped a few feet away from the pair, his eyes widening as he processed the threatening tension in the air.

"Just what is going on here?"

Aphroditus and Bella were silent, their eyes locked. The moment seemed to stretch as the air crackled and Bella spit blood to the floor. She took another step backwards, away from her once-father.

"Nothing, Jo. Did you need something?"

Josephat's face turned annoyed and peevish. "Yes, actually. Matthias and Marcos got into a fight, something about the Shaman line having no honor. I was hoping you could convince them to at least pretend to get along until after the gala."

"I'm on my way. Please, go tell them that. It'll give Marcos a head start, and he's much more fun when he has a few minutes to think."

Jo nodded and left as Bella pointedly turned her back, looking over her shoulder and already walking away. "Well. I think things are quite clear here, Aphroditus Salem. If you will excuse me, I have more important things to be doing."

Carlisle wrestled with his possessive side for a long moment, striving to think clearly. Bella had made it clear she did not consider him a father. This man had once held that role, but Bella apparently regretted her trust in Aphroditus. No doubt that was part of why Bella had denied him his claim on her, but why his family too? Carlisle couldn't help the feeling that he was missing something, some important bit of knowledge that would make this convoluted situation clearer.

Alone in the gardens, Carlisle could still feel the remnants of heat on his hand where Bella had held it. She couldn't let them be her family, she had said. She wouldn't survive it again. Carlisle's determination turned to iron in him. His family loved Bella. She loved them. Carlisle would not allow his daughter's loss to prevent what it could become. He would simply have to find a way.

Down

Bella walked down the hallway towards her office, vainly trying to deafen the sound of drums in her head. This was getting to be a little much. First it was Nhamo and the Shades, and oh goodie, the air blessing had viciously opened a whole batch of old wounds that she had no choice but to let fester for now. Then it was Carlisle's confession and her vampires' declaration. Now it was Aphroditus and all the complications he brought with him. She would gladly beat a battalion to the ground right now, just for distraction from her thoughts. Dear god, she needed to get the hell out of here.

Marcos and Kay could help. She headed that way, but soon she felt Edward's nearness. Everything in her aura and her soul pulled in his direction before she even laid eyes on him, and she had no place to run in the gilded hallway. Kaedra and Edward were rounding the corner from the entrance to Castle HQ. They stopped talking as soon as they saw her, and Bella sighed internally as she forced herself to ignore Edward's presence and focus on her regent. "Really, Kay? You know, I'm getting sick of interrupting conversations about myself."

"I heard. I could tell you what I think about your insane treatment of Esme instead, if you like. I'm happy to repeat myself, maybe repetition will knock some sense into your skull."

Bella felt her rage spike harshly and thanked the Lord above that Jasper wasn't there. She pinched her nose, hiding the fact that she was wiping a black tear from the corner of her eye. When she raised her head, Kay's face had changed; her eye was widened, and her mouth twisted in compassion as she spoke.

"Of course, sometimes sense is hard to achieve when things are coming at you from all sides. Methinks, perhaps, our dear Queen is sick of a lot of things at the moment. You look like I need a drink. Where you headed?"

Bella was painfully aware of Edward standing silently next to her regent, even as honesty wrenched its way out of her throat. The word dragged itself across her vocal cords reluctantly. "Marcos."

Kay narrowed her eye at Edward's almost inaudible growl before her gaze settled back on her Queen. "I see. I don't suppose it is a social call, then?"

Really? Bella felt her temper stretch a bit thinner as Edward's growling stopped and confusion grew on his face. Kaedra had just dropped a completely unnecessary hint about her state of mind to her lover. Edward didn't need to know about her arrangement with Marcos about her cravings for the Glow.

She glared at Kaedra. "With friends like you, who needs enemies? I'm fine. Marcos will take care of it. Say another word. I dare you." Kaedra's compassionate face turned wickedly gleeful, and her regent brought up her elbow, taking a defensive stance.

"Kay, I won't warn you twice. You're out of line."

Kay's smile just grew wider. "Junkie."

Any other day, Bella would have rolled her eyes. At any other moment, she would have reminded herself that Edward did not like violence and kept walking. But Bella was tired and stressed out and craving like a motherfucker. Her bullshit tolerance had maxed out twenty minutes ago, and Kay knew it. Her regent didn't even look surprised when Bella threw her into the wall telekinetically.

The same could not be said of Edward. His eyebrows shot up and he placed himself between them. "Bella!"

Kay's laughter bounced off the walls as she sprung forward to pinch Bella's cheek, darting around Edward's shocked form.

"Woah, Izzy has reached maximum capacity. Dear lover-boy, if you knew what you were in for, you'd let her kick my ass. Oh man. Izz, this is going to be so much fun!" she threw a careless arm around Bella. "Marcos is still catering to those stuck-up parasites that line our wallets. Come on, momma will take care of you. I've got just the distraction you need."

Bella felt her desperation for release grow. Kaedra's distractions were always good for an adrenaline rush, and she knew just when to push.

But Edward was standing right there! She couldn't. She shouldn't. She really, really shouldn't. Edward had that jealous streak, and he was old-fashioned. It was a terrible idea.

She sighed as she felt her shoulders slump, and hid the motion by wrapping an arm around Keadra's clinging form as she gave in. "You're a bitch."

"You're shy. It's adorable. Come on, Izzy. I know this great little place; the boys won't know what hit them. Marcos can join us later." Bella glanced at Edward's form from under her eyelashes as he realized what was happening. Edward was tense like a taut rubber band, all feral energy wrapped in control. She had to refocus on Kay before she started drooling.

She caught the tail-end of the gleam in Kay's eyes, but it was too late. "Of course, Marcos could stay here, too. Edward could come with us instead!" Kaedra was going to regret that. Bella intended to ensure it.

Edward's eyes held his desperate question, but his voice was tightly controlled. "I could. If that's okay with Izzy."

Bella dug her nails into Kay's ribs, a warning that she would pay for her sneaky plotting. Then she turned her focus to her lover, reading him more closely. Edward was looking at her with a hungry expression, as though he wanted nothing more than to know this side of her.

Her resistance faltered when she realized that; her determination to keep Edward at arm's length was evaporating like it had never been there. What would it be like, losing control with her Edward beside her instead of hiding in the shadows? To play in the dark with her lover by her side? She let Edward see her desire, her raw want for him to come with her and escape. Kaedra shuddered responsively in her embrace and Bella felt heat bloom under her ribs.

Her voice was pitched low and quiet when she spoke to him. "Edward, lover, you don't like to party."

Edward rewarded her with a voice of velvet and beseeching amber eyes. "I like anything I get to do with you."

Bella made her decision. She kept her eyes on Edward as she released her regent. She reached for Edward's face, stroking from his forehead to his jaw before stepping into his body and pressing herself against him, finally surrendering her composure as his arm wrapped her waist. "Well then, lover. Don't let go."

The world blinked, Kay pulling the three of them into sultry night.