Victoria observed them from afar.
They were taking a walk down the driveway, traversing through the long line of ancient oak trees. She couldn't hear them, but she could see.
Molten good orbs taking in every minute expression that passed over their faces, and every small change in body language.
It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that Raven and Eden had always loved one another.
Before, in the normal, flamboyant way of young teens. Unable to hide it.
Now, it was more mature and subtle, but powerful to watch.
The question was, could it be something more.
Deep down, Victoria hoped so.
She knew and trusted Eden with her mate's heart and well being. She knew the young vampire would never and had never done anything to harm Raven.
Victoria only hoped that Jane would be able to accept it. Although the blonde acted as if she didn't mind, she could sense her apprehension and territorial instinct peeking through.
However, Victoria also knew she could be horribly wrong.
The thought caused a lump in her throat.
There was no one better for Raven than Eden.
"You've noticed it as well," Rosemarie said wistfully, her eyes still focused on the pair.
Victoria hummed, leaning over the guard rail of the balcony lazily.
"I should have guessed Eden could be her mate, seeing as she was Ray's first love. But they haven't acted any different towards each other. Other than their shared passive agitation over being separated."
Rosemarie nodded slowly, gathering her thoughts.
"I've never witnessed a succubus who met her bondmate before the awakening. I am utterly clueless as to how this particular situation will unfold," she said, a small smile twitching at her lips. "But I must say, if Eden is the one, I shall be quite intrigued to see how it plays out. As both of them our already mated to vampires. Your kind tend to be rather possessive. No offense, cher."
Victoria chuckled. "None taken. I concur, Mademoiselle. I'm just as ignorant and excited. Although, Jane worries me."
Rosemarie frowned as her daughter left a crestfallen Eden to her own devices, not noticing the young vampire's sullen mood.
"This may end badly."
"What do you mean?"
The succubus sighed, tilting her head in deep thought. "I know that I only just met my eldest daughter, but one thing I've gleaned from her is a stubborn personality."
The redhead pursed her lips and nodded.
"Please make sure that Raven knows you are okay with her bonding with Eden...if she is her bondmate," Rosemarie stated sternly. "I fear she may reject the bond, in favor of remaining true to you."
Victoria frowned. "Why?"
"She is young and inexperienced in the ways of her own kind. All she knows is that you are her one and only, Victoria. I'm certain she fears hurting you in any form or fashion. Even if you give her your blessing, it would be difficult for her to accept it."
With that, Rosemarie left.
Leaving Victoria undoubtably worried.
The smell of bacon roused Raven from her sleep. Without a second thought, she left her mate to find the tasty morsels.
She was wandering around the massive mansion, searching for the origin of the delectable scent when someone bumped into her hard. She grunted from the impact of it and felt anger boil inside.
"Kaka, are you blind," her attacker grumbled, rubbing their shoulder.
"No, are you," Raven snarked back, crossing her arms. "You almost knocked me out."
"No freaking way! You came around the corner like a bat outta hell."
"What? No. That was you!"
"I didn't even see you comin'"
"Maybe you need glasses then."
"Femèl chen," the shorter girl growled.
Raven sneered. "Did you just call me a bitch?"
Hélène chuckled as she walked up to the two bickering young women. They looked like they were ready to start throwing blows.
"How fitting," she said, making both of them turn and glare at her. "Celeste, this is your sister Raven."
Celeste frowned and then stared at her sister with wide eyes.
"Of course. You look just like dad," she said, rolling her eyes. " Aren't you supposed to be dead or something?"
Despite her cruelness, a smile pulled at Raven's lips as she took in her sister's face. They looked very similar, but Celeste looked more like their mother and was slightly darker of skin. Her hair was cut into a short, curly afro that fit her face perfectly. Her eyes were green, like her father's were when he was human.
"You're beautiful, little sister. It's nice to finally meet you," Raven said, grinning at her. The younger girl fought the blush that rose up her neck.
"Don't little sister me. I don't even know you," Celeste grumbled, crossing her arms.
"If you'll excuse me, I'm hungry."
Raven frowned, watching her storm away.
"Rude..."
"Don't take it personally, cherie. I'm sure it's difficult for her to accept that she isn't the only child anymore," Hélène reassured her.
"Yeah...I don't know why I thought we would hit it off immediately or something," Raven said, shaking her head.
"Don't worry. I'm sure she will warm up to you in no time."
"Well, at least now I know loving bacon runs in the family." Raven laughed to herself.
An hour later, Jane frowned as she walked passed the teen's room. Her door was open and she looked like she was on the verge of tears.
She wanted to ignore her and continue on her path to find Rosemarie, but she felt bad. Victoria was out hunting and Eden was speaking with Étienne about something or other.
Not to mention, her conversation with Victoria the night before still echoed in her brain. There were so many questions that only Raven would have the answers to.
And here she was, alone.
"You look sad. Would you like to talk," Jane called from the doorway.
Raven wiped her eyes and looked at the vampire curiously. "No, I'm fine. I'm just watching a movie," she said, chuckling.
"Have you ever heard of the Fox and the Hound?"
Jane glanced at the television, taking note of the two animals frolicking about, but she couldn't understand why the teen would be crying over this.
"No, I can't say I have."
"Well, it's the saddest movie ever. Eden and I used to watch this together actually."
As Raven explained the synopsis of the children's movie, Jane listened as if she were explaining quantum physics. The teen found it hilarious.
"Now I understand why you would become emotional," the blonde frowned, watching the ending of the movie take place.
When Raven sniffled and nodded, she decided to steer the conversation elsewhere.
"Your mother has asked that Eden and I remain here as your personal guard until further notice," Jane said, watching the girl's reaction closely.
"What? Aro really went for that," Raven asked in disbelief. "I wonder why she would do that."
The smile on her face said she was quite relieved, but it faltered after a moment.
"I'm sorry she forced you to stay here. I'm sure you would rather be in Volterra. I can tell her to let you guys go."
Jane frowned, taking note of her increased heart rate and perspiration.
The girl was afraid of her, and judging by the subtle scent of arousal, she was attracted to her.
That was to be expected. Especially from a young succubus with very little control over her baser impulses. Although, she was unsure if Victoria would be okay with it.
"No, I don't mind at all. Your family is a delight to be around and I consider Victoria a friend," Jane said, surprising the teen. "I also know that Eden is loathe to be away from you so soon after reuniting."
"Does that bother you," Raven said, looking at her nervously.
Jane pursed her lips. "Not as much as it used to, but her separation anxiety seems more extreme now that she is a vampire and I find that interesting."
"Oh...I wonder why."
She thought about the theory Victoria proposed the night before. She didn't want to go behind the vampire's back, but keeping her mouth shut was almost impossible. She needed to know if it was true. If it was, her life was going to change drastically.
"Raven, may I ask you a question," Jane began, keeping her tone as friendly as possible.
The teen looked at her oddly, but nodded anyway. She wasn't sure what the vampire could possibly want to ask her, of all people.
"Could Eden possibly be your bondmate?"
Raven laughed loudly and then quieted when she noticed the blonde wasn't joking.
She swallowed thickly, gathering her wits.
The question took her off guard.
"We're just friends."
"She could still be your mate," Jane gently pointed out. "I won't be angry. I just need to know the truth. If she is, there is alot that needs to be changed in order for you both to be together. I doubt you and Victoria would want to join the Volturi. That, in itself, is an issue."
Raven spluttered for a moment, frazzled by the sincerity of the vampire's words. She paused and took a deep breath to gather her thoughts.
Her first instinct was to deny it, but when she opened her mouth to do so, it felt wrong.
How could Raven know for certain?
She didn't feel any different about Eden than she had before her awakening.
Well, sort of.
Eden was still one of her favorite people to be around. No one made her feel more comfortable and at peace than Victoria or Eden, although Rosalie and Irina came close.
She still found her extremely attractive. Her vampiric enhancements only served to make that natural beauty more apparent. A fact that she dutifully and skillfully ignored.
Raven didn't feel any sort of life changing feeling when they met again after her awakening. Just a deep sense of relief at knowing she was okay.
Most importantly, she still loved Eden unconditionally.
That hadn't, and seemingly would not change.
"I honestly don't know."
Jane nodded slowly, noting how truthful Raven was being. She couldn't detect any sort of deceit.
"I implore you to figure it out," Jane said in a low tone. Her intense gaze never left the teen's.
"If she is your mate, that would make things very complicated, but I would not be...angry with you. I need to know and our mates need to know for the well-being of everyone involved."
Raven watched her leave, feeling anxiety building in her stomach.
However, more than anything, she was afraid.
Not for herself, but for Eden.
If she was the one, how would that affect Jane?
How would that affect Victoria?
Jane regarded her mate thoughtfully as she finished her meal. Feeding was one of their favorite pasttimes together.
However, tonight, she seemed rather distracted.
"Damn, I really liked this shirt," Eden growled, glaring at the blood stains.
"Is something bothering you tonight," Jane asked, keeping her tone neutral.
She sighed. "Raven has been avoiding me, I think. I don't know if I did something to upset her."
The blonde sighed, wondering if this was her fault. Had she sent the wrong signal and scared the girl away from Eden? Maybe Raven could see her unease with this whole situation.
"I'll speak with Victoria and see if she knows what's going on with her."
"No. I think I'll just give them some space. With Raven spending time with her parents and me being here, maybe I'm taking too much of her time away from Victoria. I'm sure she doesn't appreciate that."
Jane chuckled. "Trust me. Victoria doesn't mind."
"Well, I'm under the impression that she still kind of resents me for dating Ray in the first place," Eden said, frowning.
"She doesn't. Don't ask how I know, just trust me. Okay? Victoria cares about you and she respects your relationship with Raven. Don't question that."
Eden nodded, releasing an unneeded breath she didn't know she was holding.
"Raven might be a little overwhelmed with everything right now, but she couldn't stay away from you if she tried," Jane said, looking away from her.
Eden pulled her into a hug, surprising her. She leaned into it, smiling sadly as lips gently pressed against her forehead.
"I love you, Jane."
She squeezed her tightly.
"And I love you."
Raven slowly approached her mother and sister as they spoke. For a moment, she considered turning around, but they already spotted her.
"You haven't shown any signs of awakening, yet, Celeste. I cannot and will not allow you to do that. We have our rules, and so do other factions," Rosemarie stated plainly.
"What other factions are you talking about?"
"It is not my place to tell you, as you are not fully apart of my world yet."
Celeste groaned in frustration.
When she noticed Raven had joined her, she scowled and began walking away.
"Let me give you and the golden child some privacy. Because it seems like I don't matter to y'all anymore."
"That isn't true, Celeste," Rosemarie called to her, but she was long gone. "Teenage girls frighten me more than newborn vampires."
Raven looked down, feeling slighted by her sisters rudeness once again.
"Celeste has the only child syndrome, mon amour. Do not take her attitude personally," she reassured her. "She isn't used to being without our undivided attention."
Raven could understand that.
She had been an only child of sorts in her coven. She probably would have been irritated by suddenly having another sibling as well.
"What were you two talking about? Or is that none of my business?"
Rosemarie chuckled, thoroughly amused by her youngest daughter's plight.
"Your sister is smitten with one of the vampires in my guard, so I had to send him on another assignment. Because she fancies herself to be smarter than me, she asked her father to visit the family he is now protecting and I overruled his decision. I don't trust the boy not to tell her what he is before she has awakened, and if she doesn't, he will have to turn her. That, too, is unacceptable."
Raven frowned, knowing that she and Victoria had broken every rule imaginable. She also wondered if her mother knew she was going to be turned. She thought twice about bringing that up for the foreseeable future.
"Did you need to speak to me about something specific, my child," Rosemarie asked, noting the waves of fear and anxiety coming from her.
"Yes, actually. It has to do with mating bonds," Raven began, her brows scrunched together.
"Ah, yes. I wondered when you would approach me with your queries. Take your time."
She took a deep breath and thought over her question carefully.
"How exactly do I know when I've met my bondmate? I was young when I met Victoria, but I remember it was like...a deep calmness came over me when I saw her. I knew she was my person. Will metting my bondmate be similar? And what if I've already met them and I don't know it? How can I recognize the bond?"
Rosemarie hummed, pondering how she should go about this sensitive topic.
She knew her daughter was refering to Eden and the problem with that was she needed to take Jane and Victoria into consideration.
"I believe the best way to go about solving this problem is to speak plainly and clearly," Rosemarie said, the authority in her voice peaking through. "You suspect young Eden of being your bondmate. Correct?"
Raven swallowed thickly, not expecting her mother to call her out. She wondered how she knew, but then again she was the leader of the succubi for a reason.
"Yes."
The older woman smiled.
"Very good. Admitting is the first step," she chuckled. "Now, my next question is why? Think about that for as long as you need to."
And she did, feeling her clouded mind become crystal clear as she basked in her mother's comforting and loving aura.
Raven paced, rubbing her chin and thinking about how to explain her jumbled feelings to her mother without sounding ridiculous or childish.
She could have told her that she had always loved Eden. That if Victoria was not her mate, she and Eden would have never broken up.
Even if Raven never met her mate and she never knew anything about vampires, somehow, someway, she believed she would have found her way to Victoria. With that same amount of confidence, she believed she would have found Eden as well.
However, that did not mean Eden was her mate.
Her soul did not sing for Eden the way it sang for Victoria.
Rosemarie watched her daughter exhale deeply and sadly nod to herself. She felt she could read her mind as if she'd known Raven for years.
"Ah, she is not the one? Is she," Rosemarie said, softly. She shook her head. "I must say, I am surprised."
Raven looked down, silently agreeing.
"Don't worry, mon cher. You still have time."
