I shower quickly and then I dry my hair and put on a knee length skirt with a beautiful red shirt. I lay down on the bed and pick up a book Marcus recommended, but a light knock on the door interrupts me. I get up and open the door to reveal Karl. I look surprised at him and he bows politely.
"The kings have requested your company in the throne room." He says and turns swiftly. I follow him through the corridors. Why did Marcus send Karl? Isn't that odd? As we stop outside the throne room he gestures for me to walk ahead of him and I do. He opens the door for me and I freeze on the threshold. I smell blood and as I look around the room, in what feels like slow motion, I see the bodies. SHIT they are feeding. I begin to take a step back, but suddenly Karl throws me into the room and swings the door shut behind me. Oh no he set this up. My mind gets interrupted by a deafening growl and I look towards the sound to see Demetri. For a second my body relaxes at the sight of my big brother, but then I REALLY look at him. His nostrils are flared, his eyes coal back and he's crouched as if he's about to pounce.
"Dem nooo-" My febal protest got cut short by his marble body tackling mine into one of the stone walls. My head crashes painfully against the stone and instantly the room starts spinning and my vision turns blurry. My brother pins my arms by my side and pulls my head painful to the side as he lowers his teeth towards my jugular.
"MARCUS!" I yell in a quivering voice and then I hear a loud metal screech. My eyes catch up with my ears a second later and I see Demetri's head falling to the ground. Marcus is crouched protectively right in front of me, growling at everyone moving in on us. My knees give out so I cling to the back of his robe. He presses his back harder against me until I'm pressed firmly between him and the wall. Suddenly a second, protective, growl is added and I see Jasper protecting me at the right. Aro and Caius are here now as well, shielding us from the younger vampires. Marcus scoopes my up too fast for my mind to register and brings me out of the room, then he suddenly lays me down on our bed. He starts purring to soothe my pain. He begins to lick the back of my head, where I feel blood pooling down my neck. He is using his venom to heal my wound. I cling tighter to him, seeking the comfort and safeness in his embrace. I'm terrified. He purrs louder, stroking my hair to calm me. I surrender myself completely. He surrounds me completely, our bond becoming even stronger.
"Carlisle is here, he wants to look at Bella's wound." Alec's muffled voice is heard and Marcus growls threateningly.
"Brother, he is a doctor and he's mated. He has control and poses no threat." Aro assures and Marcus' growl quiets, but he continues purring and licking my wound.
"Let him in." Marcus grumbles roughly and a second later I feel a pair of cold hands, that isn't my mate's, on my head.
"Bella, can you hear me?" Carisle's soothing voice asks me and I whimper, holding slightly tighter to Marcus. Marcus growls as I whimper and I can almost feel Carlisle backing off.
"I can't do anything for her. His beast knows how to take care of her. We should leave them." Carlisle says and the door closes a second later. Marcus relaxes marginally and purrs louder.
"Are you hurt anywhere else?" He asks gently as he finishes licking the back of my head. I can feel the wound healing and the pain in my head lessening.
"I don't know." I whisper barely audible and he nuzzles my neck as his hands roam my body. After a few seconds, he licks the mark gently and rolls us around so I lay on his chest.
"You are otherwise unwounded." He murmurs into my hair and I inhale his scent deeply. His scent calms me down slightly, stills my jumbled mind. "You're mine." He assures me, rubbing his cheek against my hair to mark me with his scent and I sigh relieved.
"I'm okay." I whisper and he hums, continuing to purr.
"You're safe, mine, healed." He agrees and then we just lay there, embracing each other for what must have been several hours before he takes a deep breath. "What were you doing down there during a feeding? You know not to go down to the throne room unless escorted there." He asks in a tone somewhere between concern and anger. I cuddle deeper into his chest.
"Karl fooled me." I whisper and he growls.
"What. did. he. do?" He growls as he holds me almost painfully tight against him.
"He came and told me the kings wanted me in the throne room, then he led me down there and as soon as he opened the door I realised you were feeding… I was going to leave but then he pushed me inside and shut the door." I whisper, my voice quivers slightly in fear.
"You're safe, mine." He purrs, soothing my obvious distress and I nod, relaxing a little again. "There is going to be a trial for Karl and he is going to be punished badly for this, hopefully killed. I promise you that, my mate." He assures me and I nod relieved.
"Those in the room won't be punished, will they?" I ask, worried about my friends and family. Marcus sighs deeply.
"They tried to injure my mate, but it was also not their fault. Most of them in that room are still newborns." He whispers, troubled. I look up and seek his gaze.
"I don't want them punished." I whisper and he meets my eyes searchingly, then he sighs and nods.
"Then they will not be punished." He promises and I exhale relieved.
"How's my brother?" I ask and he sighs.
"His head is attached again and he feels very guilty…. Tell me, my mate, are you afraid of him now?" He asks, I look seriously at him and shake my head.
"I know it wasn't him, it was his beast." I say and he smiles reassuringly to me.
"Exactly, but until you are changed you are not allowed to go anywhere without me, one of my brothers, Jane, Felix or Alec. Do you understand?" He asks seriously, holding my gaze.
"Yes, Marcus." I mumble. He smiles sadly and pecks my lips.
"I don't want to give you trouble, but you are obviously not safe without us, will you forgive me?" He asks and I caress his cheek.
"There is nothing to forgive. I know why it's necessary and I sure hope our wedding is tomorrow and then we'll be alone until I'm changed." I say and he smiles pleased and purrs soothingly as he pulls me closer. "I want to see my brother." I whisper and he nods that it's okay. "Dem!" I yell and a second later there is a light knock on the door and it opens slowly. Demetri looks in hesitantly, ashamed, afraid. I smile a little to him and nod for him to come in. I sit up on the bed and Marcus reluctantly lets me detangle myself from him.
"Give me a hug, Dem." I order as I open my arms for him. He exhales relieved and pulls me into a tight hug, sobbing tearlessly in my embrace.
"I'm so sorry sis'. I couldn't stop it. I- I-" He sobs and I coe softly as I rub his back. I kiss his temple and run my fingers through his hair softly, just like I did when we were younger and he was scared of the thunder. I always protected him even though he's my big brother.
"I know, Dem. I know it wasn't you." I comfort him and pull him into bed beside me. He buries his head in my hair, clinging on me for dear life as I rock us both gently. Marcus slowly lays his arms around the both of us, causing Demetri to tense up momentarily but soon he relaxes again. "You're my brother. I could never fear you." I whisper softly and hug him a little tighter until he pulls away from my embrace. He looks down at me with tearfilled eyes and then he caresses my hair gently.
"You're not injured now, are you?" He asks and I shake my head. "I'm sorry, baby girl." He whispers as he hugs me again, then he gets up and bows politely to Marcus before he leaves the room.
"Marcus?" I ask softly as I'm resting my head on his chest. He rubs my arm a little and hums in answer. "I assume the Cullens are here?" I ask and he hums again. "Can we go down and see them?" I ask and he sighs gently.
"Can you wait until dinner? We are having a welcome meeting for them in the throne room-" He pauses and looks deeply into my eyes. "Darling, you're not afraid of the throne room now, are you?" He asks and I shake my head.
"No, I'm not scared of the others that were in the room either. I knew the second I saw it was a feeding- I knew what was going to happen. I also know it's not going to happen again." I say and he smiles relieved.
"If you ever feel unsafe tonight, just tell me and I'll be there, okay?" He whispers and I nod, then I yawn loudly.
"I think I need to get some sleep before tonight." I whisper and he starts rocking me gently. I slowly close my eyes and relish the security in my mate's arms.
