The two sisters stare at the new mates in amusement. They find Bella to be endearing with how she makes Irina shy and bold at the same time. Now the two of them are getting to know each other, one is sipping freshly brewed tea made by Esme while the other is just trying her damn best not to repeat the same mistake of capturing her mate's lips again.
Tanya discover just how spoiled Bella is by Esme.
She makes a mental note to give Carmen a heads up about this bond so no mother hens become territorial over the soon-to-be-newborn. Carmen, likes Esme, loves doting on the sisters especially Irina. She really helps to fill the hole on their youngest sister's heart after Sasha. Irina wasn't the same again after Sasha's execution. Carmen's addition to their coven brought back Irina to life by half and she can see now how Bella could help bring joy and happiness to her younger sister again. Irina too is broken by a past lover.
No one's more relieved than Kate when Bella confessed her desire to be turned to a vampire. At least that's one less issue to dwell on. The other one is still intricate. Even if Bella is turned now there's no guarantee there won't be pain or heartache between Bella and her sister due to Bella's lingering feeling on the broody Cullen. Also, she needs to talk the other blonde about their closeness in order to calm down her sister. The sooner the better.
"I'll be right back," she informed Tanya, to which Tanya raises her eyebrow in warning. Those raised eyebrows signify a warning. Kate raises her hands up in surrender and a mock offense.
Alice blocks her path before she could leap out and head to the garage, "It's best if you two go hunting at least 20 minutes away from here. I already told Rosalie so she'll join you after she gets changed."
The little pixie can be quite useful at times and Kate waits for the other blonde near the forest clearing. "I'd prefer not to talk during. Let's go," and she sped off.
Kate shakes her head and mutters, "Kinky. But you're not my type," corrected the succubus.
"I heard that! And please, you're not my type either," Rosalie spat back.
Kate easily catches up to her and knows the one thing to irritate the blonde, "Of course not, I'm not a brunette am I?" Rosalie huffs at Kate's snide.
Jokes aside, they've gone hunting before and when no one tries to get under the other's skin, they can move and work well in sync. Rosalies does have some similar traits to a Denali; driven, stubborn and strategic when she wants to. She's just often overlooked in her family because she prefers it that way. Edward's always been the golden boy but she doesn't mind it sometimes. She likes being an underdog. And the Denali sisters know this. That's why they've allowed her to come stay at Denali once every year for some Denali training.
After they're done feeding, they head to this abandoned lake.
"So you and Bella?"
Rosalie huffs and glares at her cousin.
"Not you too? I thought Irina's bad enough."
"Easy. I know it's nothing romantic but something's there, isn't it?"
Rosalie shifts on her feet, something she hasn't done for quite a long time in her vampire years. Rosalie takes a deep breath, even though she has no need for it. Kate, despite her jokes and lewd comments had always been very observant.
"I'm very much in love with my mate."
Kate remains still, expecting more.
"But I still am fond of Bella, though I do not understand why."
"Let's be sure then. Does her blood sing to you as well?" Kate thread carefully. One wrong word and she'd be dealing with a monstrous Rosalie. And a monstrous Rosalie is not a pleasant vampire to deal with.
"Never!" Her answer was immediate it stunned both of them.
"Why the need to touch her?" Kate probed again.
It hasn't escaped her that Rosalie likes to keep in frequent physical contact with the human, whether a peck on the cheek, a brush of the hair, hand-holding, etc... Rosalie's eyes widen at being caught. Alice is affectionate with everyone so it's not a wonder for her to do the physical gestures with Bella. But everyone in the family knows Rosalie isn't the affectionate type, even with Emmett. The rest of her family doesn't notice. Kate's the first one to point it out. So she has to build her walls right up to defend herself somehow.
"I just do! Okay?"
Kate takes a step back, trying to anger her cousin but the playful smile is still carved on her lips.
"Was there ever a desire to kiss her on the lips?"
Kate expected retaliation at her question but it never comes. Instead, Rosalie for the first time looks down to her feet, her trace of arrogance gone. At this she knew, Irina actually had bases to her jealousy. It's not at all unfounded after all.
"What could she have been in your life?"
Rosalie tilts her head, displaying the venom in her eyes, reminding her once again how not human she is. Her mouth doesn't move. It's not due to the fact that she doesn't have the answer for it. No, it's the complete opposite. She knows the answer because it's the same question she asked herself again and again, when she's not in the same room as a mind reader, a seer or her husband.
She looks away in shame and regret.
"You know I won't judge you. And this will never reach Irina or Tanya or any other Cullens. You have my word," Kate assured her.
"I think in another life, she would have been my mate."
Kate suspected it but brushed the thought quite easily seeing as Rosalie has always been in love with Emmett. But something does appear different with the blonde Cullen and she notices it right away. Rosalie didn't look as miserable as the last time they met. And she seems lighter now, as if glowing. The only thing that's different in the Cullens' lives is the new anomaly; the human.
Tanya and Kate had seen it before, where vampires have more than one mate. But it had not seem that the bond between Bella and Rosalie had reached that stage yet so she'll cross it when they or if they get there.
"What do you think?" Rosalie sighed, a pained look was obvious written on her face. She's conflicted and feels guilty. For a moment, Kate sympathises with her.
She thinks her younger sister deserves this more than Rosalie. Honestly, she does not know if the three of them could ever work. And the human is far too fragile for this sticky situation. Talk about being the most misfortunate being in the universe, she smirked, amused at her soon-to-be-sister.
"It could be a possibility but no one really knows. I just need to know one thing; will you stand in their way of happiness?"
It's what she's been itching to ask. She needs the answers so she could advise her sister better. Irina's the most affectionate out of three of them and she does not want this to get in the way of the love between Bella and Irina.
Rosalie smiles, a genuine and pure smile, which shocked Kate to the core. She had never sported that smile before.
"I really believe Irina will make her happy, in ways that I can't. And I think Bella would be good for her too. So no, I would rather go through the whole ordeal with Royce again rather than hurt Bella in that sense," her eyes turned steel in her conviction.
Everybody knows Royce and the damage he inflicted upon Rosalie, even after hundreds of years have passed. So to hear such comparison, Kate becomes wary of how deep Rosalie's feelings for Bella truly is. But, she also believes her. She remembers when the Cullens had the intense discussion of just upping and leaving Bella out on her own. Rosalie stood her ground and refused. She remembers well that night when they received Rosalie's call, asking for their guarantee that they shall help her incase the redhead's problem gets out of control since half of the Cullens voted to leave.
She had heard that Emmett, her favourite cousin of them all, stood his ground and voted to stay too, even if it means getting kicked out of the coven.
It seems Bella Swan has all the Cullens wrapped up around her fingers and she doesn't even know it yet.
Their talk ended and they returned to the house. Rosalie searching for her Emmett and Kate looking for Irina. Both of them stumble upon the new pair of mates still engrossed in their conversation.
"If it's true that the human skills might get converted into vampire powers after the turning, I think I'm screwed," Bella scrunched her nose at the thought.
Irina being the gentle vampire soothes her mate but humours her nonetheless, "Why is that, Isabella?"
"I mean you've seen it yourself, I'm very clumsy it's unnatural. I think I'd be the most useless vampire there is," she frowned, hating the thought.
Irina's smiles drop instantly as she senses her mate's sorrow. She brushes Bella's baby hair behind her ears and sincerely looks onto those warm hazel eyes, "Hey, that's not true at all. I'd need Eleazer to confirm this but Isabella, you already have a gift. Edward is unable to read your thoughts."
"Maybe it's just a coincidence."
"I firmly believe not. And hey, don't ever understimate yourself. Give yourself more credit. No being in this world is really useless, especially not you."
Irina's the second person after Rosalie to have comforted her like this. Overwhelmed by Irina's concern and kind words, she could feel the lump in her throat and her eyes watering. Kate notices Rosalie's halted movement.
Bella's sadness had reached Rosalie and she wanted to comfort the human but she consciously stops herself as it seems. And when Irina gets up and holds Bella in her arms, Rosalie has a bittersweet smile etched on her face. She quickly wipes the smile off her face, remembering Kate can see her vulnerability. As discreet as she can, Rosalie runs out of the kitchen and off to her precious garage.
Kate is proud with all three of them and decides her new baby sister needs all the cheering up she could get.
"Hey genius, did you remember to feed the human?"
Irina's eyes bulged at the reminder she scrambles to her feet in search of Esme.
"It's okay, I can cook for myself you know," Bella grinned.
Rosalie reappears in the kitchen and shakes her head no at Bella's decision, "Esme is out with Carlisle and won't be getting back anytime soon. Alice texted the rest of us to not let you cook. So I'm the chef tonight."
Bella holds her breath and turns to Irina for help. The look on her face is so comical Kate had to stifle her laughter. It's when Rosalie laughed that Kate lets hers loose too.
"I'm kidding. Irina, there are few 24/7 restaurants nearby. You should drive her there," Rosalie tossed Irina her car key.
Bella's face lights up, "Yes! Midnight food hunting!" Probably all too happy to escape Rosalie's disastrous cooking, which she is excited about to share with Irina. Kate decides to tag along to spend more time with both of them but not before shooting Rosalie a grateful smile.
Things will turn out okay, she believes.
