Adley pushed herself up from the soft bed she was unfamiliar with. She blinked a few times taking in the room before her. A open wood fireplace across the room, surrounded by a sitting area of dark brown Italian leather couches. On the right side of the room the walls had black curtains that were shut. She could see the shining light from between them however. The walls were mostly covered in ceiling to floor book shelves full of old tomes.

She'd been in this room, months ago. The one thing she noticed was that the flooring no longer the garish green carpet. The curtains black, and the floors now were a dark hard wood from what she could see. a few area rugs here and there. She scanned the room seeing Marcus was not with her. She pushed herself off the bed.

Her bare feet hit the cool wood. She padded over to the closet seeing her clothes were now hung up her suitcases stashed for later. She turned to the other door that was slightly ajar. Water was running, steam pouring out.

She slipped into the bathroom. There, behind glass door with two towels all too conveniently hung at the waist line of Marcus. She leant on the counter seeing his side.

His dark curls soaked black clung to his bare back. Ivory sculpted muscles flexed as he messaged the shampoo through his roots. Soap suds began to form. She watched it fall down his back sloping over the broad shoulders as he lifted his arms down to the small of his back.

She huffed. Damn towels blocking the show. That and condensation was beginning to fog the lower parts of her view regardless.

She pulled off her night gown tossing it next to his clothes. When she looked back to him he was turned facing her with a brow raised. She blushed, heat hitting her lower abdomen. He opened the glass barrier to her. She joined him under the waterfall over head.

She turned groaning at the hot water enveloping her bare form. Marcus closed the distance between them, his hands going to her hair and began finger combing the locks.

"Good morning," she hummed leaning back into him.

His erection already pressing into her back. Just above her bottom.

"It is nearly one in the afternoon Little one," he said softly.

"I'm still on Seattle time." She sighed.

"It will take sometime, though you slept nearly the whole trip here." He ran his hands down from her waves to her shoulders.

Cool fingers ghosted her upper arms dancing lower to her sensitive breasts. He cupped them gently before he finished over her rounded form. She sighed leaning her head to the right exposing her neck. He pressed open mouth kisses to the junction of her neck and shoulder.

"You try carrying two tiny beings trying to crush your organs constantly." She teased running her own hands over her very large and still growing stomach.

"Have I ever told you how utterly happy it makes me. Seeing you rounded with my children." He asked, grazing his teeth over her neck.

"Ah… once or twice…" she gasped.

His fingers brushed her clit gently. She arched back when his teeth bit down teasing her. Pleasure flooded her aura, swirling with the desire they both shared.

Adley finished eating after getting dressed in a simple long sleeved dress with an empire waist line. The dark burgundy dress with a v cut neckline she'd gotten before they left for Italy. Marcus let her walk the remaining few steps into the throne room. He'd mentioned the trials for the day were just ending. So a lot of the coven would be there.

The doors opened the moment they stepped close. In mere seconds she was wrapped in an embrace. A small figure held tight to her. She wrapped her arms immediately running her hands through shoulder length light brown hair.

"Jane." She greeted.

The smaller girl pulled back a bit. "Lady Adley,"

Jane had a smile breaking across her face causing small dimples in her cheeks. Bright red eyes bright just like her aura. A small bounce as she stood before Adley.

"You're glowing. How has your brother and your mate been?" She asked.

"Alec is watching over her right now…" Jane sighed. "It is his week with her in training. She's still fairly new to this life. We've been switching out as needed to not overwhelm her."

"A brilliant idea. Though I see it causes you longing, you'll be together soon enough I'm sure."

Adley pressed a kiss to the girl's forehead. She was greeted by a few more of the guard with welcomes and congratulations. Soon enough she was brought near his throne. Aro was the only one to remain sitting. The rest were down the dais to her and Marcus.

She caught sight of Athenadora, her light blonde hair was flowing in loose curls around her. Crimson eyes scrunched up at the sides as she approached. She was dressed in a sharp pencil skirt and burgundy blouse tucked in. A blazer held by one button to close it. Sulpicia was right behind her dark hair pulled back in a high pony tail. She was dressed in a form fitting pant suit nearly identical to Aro. Both women were dressed for trials she realized.

Adley waved to both of them. Athenadora ignored the out stretched hand.

"Come now, you're family young one." Athenadora assured. "Look at you Adley, positively radiant."

"Thank you Athenadora…" She greeted.

"Call me Athena dear," she requested while giving her a side hug careful not to impact the precious cargo. Sulpicia was the next one to welcome her.

"Sully is just fine," Sully didn't let her even try using her full name as she wrapped her in a tight hug. She pulled back to press a kiss to each of Adley's cheeks.

"See Little One, I told you they would love you." Marcus chuckled.

"Of course!" Athena balked. "You brought life back to our brother, how could we not welcome you to the family. Plus you extend our family even further."

Both women stayed close getting Adley to show off the dress she was currently in. She saw out of the corner of her eyes as Caius nodded to her. He passed by straight to Marcus to pull him into a quick embrace.

"Congratulations brother," she heard a few whispers between both men.

"Was the flight alright?" Sully questioned. "No jet leg, upset stomach?"

"Perfect as far as I was aware. I slept for most of it." She assured.

"Excellent," Athena said. "Now that you're here longer than a day, would you feel up to a tour of the castle?"

"I'd love to, I wouldn't want to get lost… I may need to go a little slower than you're used to."

"You're carrying two babies Adley, and you near your due date. It's expected." Athena waved it off. "If you get tired one of us can always carry you."

Adley blushed. "Oh I can always sit."

"We don't get impacted by weight dear. We may be smaller than Marcus but we can still lift you without issue." Sully assured an arm around her shoulders. "We are going to show our sister here the castle."

Adley didn't realize they were already moving towards the doors of the throne room. The door opened by Jane. The young teen followed the three women behind.

"Where would you like to begin? We can see the gardens, the main floors here. We can show you the kitchens and studios in the east wing on the second floor. The library is always a good place—"

"The library, is it as the ones all over the world?" Adley questioned.

"The Library in Volterra is strictly reserved for the Vampire world. Some exclusive just to us. The main library where there are librarians of different backgrounds is in Florence."

"Fascinating, who was behind the idea of the cross world libraries?"

"Aro of course." Sully answered. "His power is just a faucet of his personality. He has a thirst for knowledge that cannot be curbed. He wanted to know everything and anything. Originally it was just going to be some places he could keep his books throughout the centuries as the library got too full here."

"I was the one to convince him to open it up to others of the supernatural world. In exchange for their knowledge, they would have access to others. It was one of the earliest foundations to our Accords between worlds." Athena explained.

"When were the Accords founded?" Adley asked.

"It varies for each world. The earliest Accords were between us and the magical world. In four hundred AD we were barely the overseers of the vampire world yet. Covens and vampires had quite a few disputes that were quite violent. Caused a few wars amongst the two worlds and overflowed into the human communities. Last major squabble caused the fire of London in 1666."

"Damn… how many Accords exist?"

Athena paused a moment as they approached a large double set of doors. "Three thousand eight hundred and seventy two. Warlocks and Witches are a meticulous bunch."

"Lord do I know," Adley grumbled.

"Marcus told us of your little disagreement with the western coven." Sully chuckled. "You impacted them so much they sent an amendment home with you. I think we may have another with a temper to rival Caius."

"My temper isn't notorious…"

Both women looked at her brows raised. She blushed. She had been a little intense, the more she thought back onto the whole occurrence.

"I'm a little protective." She shrugged.

Sully opened the door revealing a large room that had ceilings that opened up three stories high. Adley's mouth fell slack as she looked over the room. Three levels of wall to wall books. Ladders and rows upon rows of books were all she could see. A few tables and a few computers were around a few pillars. The room has natural light filtering in from windows at the top of the ceiling.

They made their way over to a small wooden table with four chairs. Adley took a seat, the two women followed suit.

"Oh Gods above, I'm in heaven." She exhaled taking in all of the books around her.

"If you enjoy this wait until we take a trip to Florence." Athena teased her guiding her into the stacks.

"I'd like to see more of the city this time around," she said.

"Yes your last visit was quite abrupt." Sully hummed. "How is the young couple?"

"Engaged." Adley sighed. "It was going to happen eventually but it seems sooner was on the books. While I'm not the biggest fan of the boy he makes her happy and she's an adult."

"Teenagers make some rash decisions. How they never realize there is no need to rush." Athena chuckled. "I'm sure the twins will be giving us a lot to endure."

Adley ran her hands over her stomach. "I'm not even thinking that far into the future. They are barely developed."

"They will be here sooner than you think."

"Did you ever have children?" Adley blurted quicker than she wished she had. The women were immortal after all, frozen in their bodies.

"I was changed in my mid forties. Millennia ago I was seen as an old woman." Athena replied. "I had seven children live into adulthood and four die in childhood. Various causes. Mortality rates back then were high. Seven surviving out of eleven were quite good numbers. I met my first grandchild even before I 'passed'."

"How old—"

"I was an aristocratic woman. I was married at the age of fourteen to unite both of our noble homes. and bore my human husband's first child three years later. My eldest child and only daughter Gwendolyn was almost seventeen when she birthed her first child. My sons went on to have children however I had already been changed by then. When I saw them again three decades later they were already aged men." Athena stared off in memory a smile curling on her face. "I ran into Caius one night and the rest is history."

"Did you resent being taken from your family?" Adley queried.

Athen took a moment still looking off over Adley's shoulder. "I wish I'd seen them grow further. They went on to have grandchildren and so forth. The line went on for generations before I lost track. I was angry at Caius for immediately changing me not allowing me the choice. In the end I couldn't blame the man. When you meet your soulmate the chance of losing them is too great. I over came that though, in time my feelings began for him and the mating bond was completed."

Adley turned to Sully then.

"I cannot remember truthfully if I had children." Sully said. "It was so long ago when I was wandering away from my lodgings to get my family water from the well. The well was on the edge of town, my sister she'd been pregnant and going into labour. I remember being in a rush I wasn't paying much attention that night. I went directly to the well without a lamp or escort. There were always stories of people being taken in the night by the demons. I wasn't married in my human life from what I remember. Approximately I was any where from twenty to twenty six when I was turned. Aro met me when I was a nomad. He even cannot determine my age by my we met, I'd been wandering through Western India. I'd travelled from the Himalayan mountains. I'd been a vampire for a century or so when we met. He took me to meet his brothers after we had bonded."

"Caius said he swore he could hear their bonding for miles. The humans said it was a storm with no clouds." Athena laughed.

"We were passionate." Sully laughed. No hint of regret or embracement in her aura.

Adley shook her head a smile settling on her face. "Yeah, I wasn't able to avoid Marcus either."

"We see that dear," Athena snorted. "I for one am excited at the idea of babies. It has been so long. Will these be all the children you wish to have?"

"I'm not sure, we haven't discussed any more children. The fact I'm permanently human makes it so I can have children. How long I will be fertile only time can tell. I'm not even sure if I'll keep aging to look elderly or be like this forever. My body changes but my face hasn't changed since I was nineteen when I first died." Adley murmured.

She flipped through her memories, even now she didn't think she looked as old as twenty four. Her eyes were not surrounded by any wrinkles beyond the ones that formed when she laughed.

"Aro had mentioned your cells from the studies your Aunt has done. That they replace themselves so perfectly it is constant. The cells she has had from your first few blood tests and other samples have never disappeared or shown signs of death. They are the same as they've been since collected." Athena commented. "I will take a look at the samples and research Aro returned with. My theory would be you are at a perfect homeostasis within yourself since your first death experience."

"What as in I'm physically still nineteen?" Adley balked. "My body changes though… surely it's showing she…"

"Your body adapts that is clear. However have you noticed any aging symptoms? Or just changes that occur when routines change?"

"I used to be a bit thinner and fit. That change though is due to lack of fitness to the extremes I used to indulge in… my family in general has aged well for generations really we don't look any different from our twenties into our forties most of the time. It'll be hard to tell I'm aging for years I'm sure. Hell my sister looks the same as she did when she was twenty. She's nearing thirty this December…" Adley rubbed at her chin. "I don't even know if Anna is like me. Cole and I were IVF babies. She was natural."

"I'm sure we will find out surely," Athena assured. "You skirted the question though sister. Do you want more children?"

"Maybe." She shrugged.

Adley hadn't thought of the question in her time being pregnant she'd been focused on the twins currently in her. Would she and Marcus try for any more children? Maybe not for some years, give some age between the twins and any siblings. They would be immortal, so what was the rush?

Adley rubbed at her lower back. She carefully took a few shallow breaths as the day began to wear on her. Athena and Sully had shown up in her bedroom as the sun barely broke above the horizon. They got her dressed in a long dress and some comfortable flats. They had made the drive to Florence making it right as the mall opened.

She'd been touring the two story mall visiting each store and spending quite a hefty amount of money. Well Sully and Athena had been. Buying different shoes and dresses, making sure she had more than enough stuff for the twins. Demetri had already taken four trips to the car.

She looked up to both women each had four bags with them. "Sorry, we've been walking for a bit and standing. Twins are beginning to kick at my organs."

"Are you alright to make it into one more store? We can call it a day right after." Athena assured.

Big pleading dark eyes stared at her. That and the little jutted out bottom lip Adley sighed in defeat.

"Alright! One more store, then I would like gelato and fries. Don't ask."

Neither said a word and they made their way over to the closest store. She said nothing as she saw it was a goldsmith and gemologist. The two women began to spread out once they passed through the doors.

Adley looked through the few rows of the jewelry store. Many pieces surrounding them. All expensive from what she could make out. Little price tags showed a few thousand euros on some small ones. The stones were authentic from the ground according to the signs. Well what she could roughly translate.

Athena was looking at a lovely platinum dew drop necklace of a deep emerald with a few diamonds on smaller drops around it. Adley agreed it complimented the pale ivory skin of the Grecian vampire.

Sully had turned to look at a few circlets of gold and opal. Adley's teeth set in her bottom lip as she looked amongst the rings before her. Most diamonds from the thick settings to the classic round solitaires.

She continued on looking through the cases. "Afternoon Madam, have you been helped?"

"Ah no, I've just been looking." Adley stepped back.

"Sister, come now look, there are some pieces that would compliment your fingers." Sully came up a hand on her shoulder.

"Truly, it's a bit much…"

"You're looking, what harm is there?" Sully suggested. "Can we see that one that one… the whole row."

"Sully…"

"Have fun Adley,"

"My fingers are swollen currently though."

"What was your normal size?"

"Five." She replied.

"Well good news most display rings are size seven."

"Correct! These displays are seven to eight!" The sales woman beamed. "We can do sizing down if the need comes up, do you live in Volterra?"

"She and my brother are between America and here." Sully answered.

Adley gave in and pointed to the third ring in the row of the cushions the sales woman pulled up.

"A cushion cut one carat diamond with surrounding white sapphires. The metal a white gold. The ring can be customized to whichever sapphire colour you prefer."

Adley slid it on. It was snug around the base, other than the swelling she had to admit it looked quite nice. She liked the main stone surrounded by smaller halo stones. The white gold complimented her taupe skin tanned from time out in the sun during the summer.

"It is quite lovely sister,"

"I agree. This is an engagement ring isn't it?"

"It is however like I said the stones can be customized if you wish it for other occasions."

"I wouldn't ruin the artists work." She murmured.

"What of this one?" Sully lifted the biggest ring.

Adley pursed her lips seeing the baguette centre piece diamond with many marquise diamonds surrounding it like edges of a snowflake. The gaudy piece while beautiful wasn't to her taste. Sully slid it on her finger. It was from base to first knuckle.

"Whilst this is beautiful, it's definitely a no. It takes confidence to make sure the ring isn't wearing you." Adley replied taking her finger back.

She tried on a few more rings all had a feature she liked. But many she felt were not her. The sales woman paused after the twenty fifth ring.

"I have a piece that may interest you, it's in the safe. I will be but a minute."

"Oh don't waste your time. Please I'm not looking to buy—"

Sully patted her hand and leant over to the woman over the counter. Adley couldn't hear her, pushing her aura she could see something brewing. She mentally groaned for agreeing to go looking in a jewelry shop. The sales woman turned slipping behind a locked door.

Sully stepped back to her side a grin in place.

"You're up to something."

"When isn't Sully up to something?" Athena joined them with a good sized brown bag with the company logo on it.

The two sisters exchanged a few words in whispers Adley couldn't dream of hearing. Only slight movement in their lips alerted her that they were even speaking. She sighed. The sales woman returned with a tray with six new pieces upon it.

"Hand," Sully demanded.

Adley held out her right hand. The woman brushed it away and took her left hand. Two rings were slid on for but a moment and Sully didn't allow her to see. The third one she caught the platinum metal. Sully allowed her to see this one.

A flurry of white diamonds small began to crescendo towards the main stunning round cut centre diamond. The small diamonds staggered in like leaves on a plant to the centre. One at the edge then two small diamond then two slightly bigger stones placed diagonally from each other to the. The settings holding it gave some added difference. It was delicate upon Adley's hand. The band of platinum just as slim and delicate.

"Oh," Adley's stomach fluttered seeing the beautiful piece. "This is quite beautiful…"

"Indeed sister," Athena smiled. "Now come look at this beautiful necklace I wish to see on you."

The ring returned to the tray she brought her over to the next sales woman. Out was brought a few necklaces. On a gold thin chain two bands one lower than the other each had a beautiful pearl sitting on the centre.

"Pearls! My favourite." She commented.

The necklace came with a dainty choker matching gold chain. Adley looked it over. She slid her V off for now to try on a few more drop necklaces. A few in platinum with a leaf decor diamonds shaped sat beautifully just below her collar bone.

"Beautiful, we will take the four."

"Athena." Adley turned to the woman eyes wide. "It's a bit much…"

"Think of it as my treat as a welcome to the family." Athena waved her off and had her brought to the counter to pay.

Black card in hand she was rang up and handed the carefully bound matte black boxes with satin black ribbon to tie them together.

"Tell me how I have not seen Athena or Sully in the two hours since I have been up." Adley questioned leaning into Marcus' arm which she clung to.

They were currently making their way through the main level, out of the castle out a side door, into a walled off area where one of the many Gardens were. The grounds were beginning to change colour and she saw a few late blooming flowers in the bushes and gardens.

"They are busy in a quick trial that came up."

"You were not called in?" She looked up to him.

"I am on leave Little One, remember?" He smiled down to her.

"I just thought the fact you were here…"

"Does not take from the fact my brothers wish for me to focus on a few things." He met her questioning look. "You and the children."

"They aren't here yet."

"Any time they can come."

"Shh, only positive thoughts from you! Papi."

"I think I'd prefer them to call me Papa." He commented.

She giggled ignoring his admonishing look he shot her. She blamed herself for the issue with the name. She still enjoyed teasing him though. "Alright they won't call you Daddy. I'll reserve that name for myself."

"You are a brat, Little One," He growled playfully pausing in the garden, he cupped her cheek.

"Is that a promise of punishment?" She questioned her words coming out more breathy than she meant for them to.

"We'll see," he winked.

"How have my sisters been treating you?" He asked.

"They've been very welcoming. I feel like I am already family."

"I am glad to hear that." He took hold of her hands in his.

She looked up into his merlot coloured gaze. His aura swelled golden, rolling and enveloping over both of them. She smiled at the adoration and happiness that was there. A few sparks of green began to trickle in here and there. She tilted her head seeing them she followed them as they went into swirl around his middle.

"You're nervous? Are you up to something Marcus?"

He chuckled shaking his head. "You guess so well."

"I'm an empath, habit."

"My life a year ago, was a stagnant one. I existed in mere place with time passing me by. I had existed in such a foggy state in utter stillness for centuries. Whilst my body was here my mind had taken to slumber. One day a young man came in abruptly demanding to die. It was outlandish, however the pain in the bond I saw in him sparked me just a bit. A few days later you revealed yourself. A burning star in my utter empty sky. I never saw you coming. The moment I saw you passionately take on a being much more powerful than you, I swore my heart thundered in my chest for the first time in many millennia. The moment I saw your eyes I realized what you were. I hadn't realized how I was a shell of a being merely stumbling a long until you stood before me."

He lowered to his knee. Adley's heart stuttered.

"The golden thread shot through us wrapping so quickly. I knew then I would do anything to be the perfect Mate for you. I am in no way a perfect being, I have done things I regret snd wish I could change. You surprised me so quickly you knew who you were to me. These passed few months you have shown your compassionate soul, fierce, beautiful person

You are. Every moment with you again and again I fall more and more in love with you. I have been the luckiest man on this earth to have you accept me so easily, I still think it is crazy you feel the same way about me. Would you Adley Mae Choi, do me the honour and become my wife?"

Adley stared down at him with wide eyes. Tears prickled as he pulled out the ring she had recently seen with Athena and Sully. She sniffed while tears poured down her cheeks. She nodded.

"Yes, of course!" She leant in catching his lips in a quick kiss. Whilst he did this he took her left hand sliding the ring onto her ring finger.

"I love you Little One, thank you." He murmured pulling her up and wrapping her in his embrace.

"I love you too,"