Authors note: It took a while to write this chapter. I hate it when that happens, it always ends in my chapters being bad :( Please point out any mistakes you see, I may have missed some even though I edit my chapters at least 3 times.

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0okitteno0: Thank you for your suggestion! I've gone back and edited the past chapters so that you can tell what you are reading.

Amber Mint: I have seen that idea used in other stories, and if that would make reading easier for you then I'll start doing it.

Recap: Basically, the Cullens discover that Lucian is a witch, and want him on their side.

'Dearest cousin'

It seems that this is farewell for now. Don't get your hopes up in seeing us for at least another few decades. You know that it takes immense effort to track us down, especially with the help of our shifter friends.

Bella

Time soon flew by, and Lucian's relationships with the members of the Cullen coven deepened immensely, even though their time together had been short.

Finally, it was Bella's fated 18th birthday. The day she would later say everything had gone wrong. Honestly, Lucian felt like it was a good thing he was leaving for a while. He could see the obsession in her eyes when she looked at Edward, it was unhealthy and needed to be doused. As annoying as she may be, Lucian did not wish for his cousin to go down the path of fanatical love.

The day was spent like any other, both of them at the Cullens house, enjoying a calm morning until it was time to give Bella her presents. Lucian could hardly wait for the plot to get started.

" You first, Rosalie." Alice giddily handed over the present to her, who snatched it before shoving it at Bella.

" It's a necklace," Rosalie stated awkwardly. " Alice picked it out."

" Thanks."

Lucian went next, handing over a small box which Bella accepted wearily.

She opened it with caution, gasping at the sight of the expensive-looking bracelet nestled inside. Bella's head snapped to the side to stare with shock at her cousin. After the way she had treated him all their life, he still would gift her something like this?

" It's only something small, but you having this will make us less worried about you. It has a protection spell woven into it, which will react if you are ever in danger." He explained to her as she slides it on her wrist, giving him a grateful look.

" Ooh, how fancy!" Alice says as she yanks Edward closer to Bella. " Show me the love." She croons, snapping a quick photo before dashing off to grab another box. "This one is from Emmett."

Bella shakes said box, but frows in confusion when it seems empty.

"Already installed it in your truck. Finally, a decent sound system for that piece of crap-"

"Hey, don't, don't hate the truck." Bella chuckles as Alice comes skipping over.

" Open Esme and Carlisles."

" Just a little something to brighten your day"

" You've been looking rather pale lately," Esme comments as Bella begins to tear off the wrapping paper.

"Ouch!" Bella holds up her finger, huffing. "Paper cut." She explains dismissively.

It's as if time slows down. Lucian gets ready to intervene if needed as he sees Edward and Jasper lock gazes.

It happens before he can react.

Jasper charges at Bella, being caught by his brothers as she gets knocked to the side, setting off the protection charm. It stops Bella from getting injured as she had originally, but the damage had already been done.

Edward and his family had left last night, leaving behind a depressed Bella and an anxious Lucian. The events of the book were now underway, and there was nothing he could do to halt them.

Bella had been moping around the house ever since, acting as if she was a ghost.

Lucian did understand, your loved one leaving you is heartbreaking, but his only experience with love was from his wife in his previous life. They were together for over 60 years when she had died at the age of 88.

What he couldn't understand was that Edward and Bella seemed so utterly attached to each other, even going so far as to claim that they were mates. If they truly were, Edward would never have even tried to leave her. Mates can not spend an extended period of time apart. They die in painful agony if they do.

Lucian was all for breaking fate, but not when there was a person out there destined for you. Not when that unlucky person would be condemned to a half-life, one without their mate. Bella was Edward's blood singer, not his mate. For him to lie to her like that was despicable, it made Lucian's blood boil with anger, feeling more pissed off than he had ever been. Edward was deceiving her for his own selfish needs, lying to his family that they were meant for each other.

But he couldn't tell them that, he had no proof. It was another reason why he wasn't fighting against their trip to Volterra. Someone there had the ability to see peoples relationships, Marcus, one of the kings. This was the only way he could think of that would bring out the truth. Surely Marcus could be persuaded to tell them about their connection, that it was one borne from bloodlust, not love?

It wasn't a very reliable plan, seeing as Marcus rarely interacted with anyone he didn't need to, but it was the only one he could think of. Lucian wanted to help his wayward cousin, even if it ended in her hating him more.

Months flew by quickly, Bella was still in her zombie-like state and Lucian had carried on learning the ways of witchcraft more in-depth. He could now say that he was no longer an unreliable witch, able to complete spells with relative success nowadays. Which is an impressive achievement for a witch who had only been studying the craft for a year.

Samhain passed by, which Lucian celebrated by contacting his ancestors to learn more about their family history, and November soon arrived.

November the 25th, the day that marked Lucian's 17th birthday.

The day was mainly uneventful, Lucian having not bothered to make friends meant that the only people to celebrate were his family. A family that consisted of a busy police officer uncle and a currently comatose-like cousin. Not exactly the best of company to have on his special day.

Charlie had woken him up earlier than usual to give him a small box before heading off to work. He had gifted him a simple silver bracelet, having noticed the assortment Lucian wore on his wrists daily. Although, what he didn't know was that those bracelets weren't just accessories, but also smothered in layers of protection charms.

But that little bit of information isn't a necessity to know, Lucian appreciated Charlie's thoughtful present.

Bella hadn't gifted him anything, having not gone out of the house yet for anything but school. she did, however, wish him a happy birthday when she realised what the date was. It was more than he was expecting, especially since she said it so sincerely. Lucian had never once received a happy birthday from Bella, not even when they were younger.

It gave him hope that maybe, someday, they could have a close relationship with each other. Lucian had barely any known relatives alive in this world, so he wished to be on good terms with as many as possible.

The one out of the ordinary incident on that day was that he received a beautifully wrapped gift from none other than Alice, who wished him well. She had gifted him some very expensive ingredients, that were a rarity to obtain, and a stack of centuries-old witchcraft books. Lucian had stared dumbly at the collection for what could have been hours before he eagerly grabbed one to read.

Of course, Alice could somehow obtain ancient witchcraft grimoires, he should have foreseen something like this happening. Not that he was expecting anything from her at all, she wasn't supposed to contact Bella until March next year. His presence here was changing some things, he did not like the sound of that. Lucian didn't want to change too much.

(Time skip to March 20th- Italy)

' Well,' Lucian thinks to himself 'At least the timeline didn't change." He then proceeds to get slammed harshly into the car door, thanks to a sharp bend in the road.

" Alice, may I remind you that we aren't all immortal! Slow down this fucking car!" He shouts at her hysterically.

" If I don't go this fast, we'll never make it in time to save Edward. Just calm down, Lucian." She responds sweetly, speeding around another corner.

He lets out a sharp, breathless laugh. "We won't be alive to save Edward if you crash!"

" Relax, I haven't crashed in a few years."

" I'm going to throw up."

" Do it out the window, this car is expensive! Besides, didn't you cast a safety spell on the car before we got in? Surely you trust your magic to keep us safe."

" You think that little charm is going to save us from going off a cliff! I was thinking of small car crashes when I put it on, not falling hundreds of meters!"

Yeah, see, nothing changed too drastically. The story was still on course, and he would do his best to ensure that it only altered when Bella and Edward parted ways.

Luckily for Lucian, they soon arrived in Volterra, met by crowds of people, dressed in red for St Marcus's day. Alice wasted no time driving through them, honking her horn in impatience as Bella grew more and more anxious by her side.

Bella flung open the door of the car after Alice had reassured her, Lucian hot on her heels with a frown. He felt sick and now he had to run to save the vampire who hates him?

He didn't notice Alice's eyes widen as a vision hit her, or the troubled stare that followed him. In that moment, she wanted to stop him, get him away from Italy and safe back in America, but she couldn't. Alice wouldn't deprive him of meeting his fated, that would be condemning them all to an unfulfilling life.

She just hoped that their meeting wouldn't have harsh repercussions on her family.

A friend Lucian may be, but a threat to the ones she considered her family wouldn't be tolerated.

Annnnnd finally! A new chapter:) Lucian will be meeting the Kings in the next chapter, which will be a long one.