A/N: All rights go to Stephanie Meyers. I do not own anything except for any characters not originally in the Twilight Saga.
Chapter Twenty-One: Leandra
Marcus continues to stare at me in shock even when he hears Layla talking to me about what has happened since she was rescued from where she was being kept. Myra remains silent, watching us together after so long.
"Master, please say something," I say kindly.
"Did you birth her as a human or a vampire?" Marcus asks quickly.
"Neither, she was born to a human mother that died during childbirth. I promised to raise her as my own from the moment she was born," I say calmly. Marcus remains quiet as he thinks over what it is I had said.
"She is beautiful, but I am concerned about her being here since she is human," Caius pipes up after another minute of silence.
"She would not be remaining here with any of you. I plan to take my sister and my niece back home where we belong," Myra says sternly.
"That is not possible at all," Marcus snaps.
"And why is that? Is my sister a hostage here?" Myra growls.
"You know why, Myra, I am bound here now. We will find a way for us three to be together," I say. Layla looks at me with glistening eyes and I know that she likes the idea of her and I being together just I promised before she was taken from me. I nuzzle my little girl's cheek to get a giggle out of her and see Marcus' eyes give a hint of pain and fear of losing me.
"I missed you, mama," Layla says softly.
"I missed you too, my little bug," I say with a broken heart. "But there is someone I want you to meet that means the world to me and he is going to be your new papa."
"Is it that man that is looking at you with sad eyes?" Layla says, pointing to my hurt mate.
"Yes, my love," I giggle. Marcus steps a little closer to us and gives a small bow to Layla.
"It is a pleasure to meet you and to be your papa," Marcus says kindly. Before anyone can say anything, the doors open to let Aro in with Jane at his side and they look upset.
"What is a human doing here and who is this new person?" Aro demands.
"Master," I say with a gently curtsy. "Allow me to introduce my daughter, Layla, and my twin sister, Myra."
"A human daughter and a twin sister?" Aro hisses.
"I am here to take my sister home, sire, but since she is mated and bound to serve your family I am not able to. I would like to remain here with her and serve you any way that I can," Myra says obediently.
"And why should I take you in? What use will you be to me?" Aro growls softly.
"She is gifted just like me," I say quickly.
"And the human child?" Aro asks quickly.
"She will be raised as my own and we can turn her when she is old enough. I know she has some potential in her whether or not she has gifts," Marcus says.
"I do not trust this," Jane says quietly.
"We will have to find a place for Myra in the ranks then since everyone has a personal guard now," Aro says.
"I will take Myra as another guard to protect Layla, my new daughter," Marcus says firmly. I try to hide my smile when Marcus pulls Layla and I close to him to show his love for us. "Leandra has done well since she became my guard and I do not think having his sister join us will make her cause problems now."
"No, she has caused many problems since she has become your guard and even more problems since you declared her your mate. But it would seem that you have not sealed that proclamation since," Aro says with a small smile.
"It will be sealed, brother, you have my word," Marcus snarls.
"We shall see," Aro says and then turns to leave with Jane not far behind him. Caius motions for Myra to follow him to my room to rest and I let my little girl go with her aunt just for a little bit. My eyes drift to Marcus to see he still has a look of hurt on his face.
"Love, tell me what is the matter," I beg. Marcus remains silent as he pulls me close to him to give me a passionate kiss that makes my knees weak.
"You are mine and I don't like to share, but for the sake of your daughter I will share you. Vow to be mine from this moment on for the rest of eternity and let me take you in my bed as my wife," Marcus purrs.
"You have my eternal vow to be your mate for the rest of time and may take me as your wife," I groan softly. Marcus smiles widely as he scoops me up in his arms and carries me to his room to seal this bond between us at long last.
Marcus holds me close to him after our passionate lovemaking and he kisses the top my head when I lay it on his chest. I pull him closer to me, not wanting to let him go or leave this bed, but I know I must because I need to see my daughter.
"So, you made me your mate and a father all in one day," Marcus says softly, while playing with my hair.
"I am sorry for pushing that on you, but Layla would not have wanted to stay if she knew that she had to share me with a man that I did not want to make her papa. I promised never to bring a man into her life unless I thought he would want to be her papa," I try to explain.
"It is fine," Marcus chuckles. "I saw the bond you share with her and could see it connected to me as well. I am honored to be her papa and hope to be a great father."
"I know you will be," I say while looking up at him. There is a knock on the door and Heidi walks in before we can protest anyone coming in.
"Master, it would see Mistress Sulpicia has found your child and is demanding the human be removed or eaten," Heidi says. My maternal instincts take over and I bolt out of bed to dress to rescue my sweet girl from that vile woman. I arrive to see Myra blocking Sulpicia's way from Layla, who is crying out for me.
"Get away from my daughter!" I roar. Layla runs to me when I am close enough to her and Sulpicia glares at me.
"We do not keep pets here because we all share! Now you either eat the human or she leaves! I will not have exceptions made for a low guard such as you!" Sulpicia shrieks.
"I am afraid you are wrong about the child being a pet and that Lea is a guard," I hear Marcus says. Layla turns to look at him with her sad eyes and hear her whimper.
"Papa," Layla sniffles. Marcus walks over with a sweet smile and takes Layla into his arms.
"It is alright, my sweet girl," Marcus says. "Sulpicia, you will no longer treat my mate and our daughter with hatred no longer. They are now family to you whether or not you like it."
"How could you?! What if she breaks your heart or starts a rebellion?!" Sulpicia exclaims.
"No thing shall happen," Marcus states calmly. Sulpicia glares at me in anger and I can see the pain in her eyes, for I have taken the one man that she has truly loved and given something she could not. She storms off without another word, leaving me with Myra, Marcus, and Layla as a family.