AN: In order to accommodate those who preferred a 'fade-to-black' the detailed lemon portion of the chapter is clearly marked. If you don't wish to read the sexually detailed part of their mating, simply skip over it and keep going.
Aro's POV follows Bella's POV after the lemon.
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Chapter 51 - Major Mating
Bella POV
It's time to claim my mate, to take the final step in our bonding, I thought to myself.
"Now that everything is somewhat settled, the Major and I need to go for a hunt," I coolly announced, gliding over to him and taking his hand. I didn't even attempt to hide my emotional state from him, and his eyes instantly faded to black. "Come, my mate," I purred seductively.
Hastily ending his conversation with Carlisle and Peter, Jasper eagerly started for the door, bringing me along with him.
"Wait!" Carlisle protested. He looked deeply in my eyes, as if searching for something. He must have found whatever he was looking for, as he calmed and nodded. "You're ready now. I won't interfere."
He released my arm, and smiling weakly, he gestured for Jasper and me to leave. I felt everyone's eyes on us and tried to hide behind Jasper to escape their gazes. Are they curious, approving, judgmental? I know they have an opinion - they always do.
Jasper's hand on my lower back was all I needed to calm myself and restore my self-confidence. I have a mate to seduce. Let's not lose sight of the goal here. Nobody else matters right now, I reminded myself. Jasper smiled down at me indulgently, easing my nerves.
We ran out into the forest and did proceed to hunt, wanting to be in top form, full of energy for what lay ahead. Jasper finished before I did and tracked me down. Just as I drained the bear dry, he pounced, knocking me away from my prey. We rolled for a few yards, and I ended up flat on my back in the snow with him nestled on top, my legs wrapped around his waist.
Looks like seduction won't be difficult, Nstnx purred with satisfaction.
Indeed, I agreed. I smirked up at him. "Well, hello there, Major Whitlock. Fancy meeting you here."
He growled, grinding his groin against mine. "It seems I've caught a little vixen on my hunt."
"Oh, my," I purred playfully. "Are you going to eat me now?"
His eyes flared and he grinned mischievously. "Absolutely!"
His hands moved to my jeans, but before he could tug on them, I shouted, "Wait!"
He froze and looked up at me in confusion. He opened his mouth to ask me what was wrong, but I forestalled him by blurting, "Clothes! I don't want us going back in our birthday suits, so can we just take them off first?"
He laughed and pulled up onto his knees. "Sure, darlin'. Next time we'll bring a change of clothes, just in case. Or we could do what the other couples do, well, Rose and Emmett and Peter and Char at least. We just find a hollow tree or dig under a rock, some small place we can claim for ourselves and keep a few outfits in there at all times, so we don't have to worry about spontaneity."
"Is that what they do?" I asked incredulously. Actually, it sounded like a good idea to me.
"Sure," he chuckled. "You never noticed they rarely ever return from hunting in the same clothes they were wearing when they left?"
I thought about it for a second. "Now that you mention it, I did notice that when I was younger, but nobody else seemed to notice, so I just thought it was no big deal."
"Ah, the sweet naiveté of youth," he teased.
I rolled my eyes. "Shut up and strip, Major!" I ordered.
His eyes widened and both eyebrows shot up to his hairline, then he smirked and saluted.
"Yes, ma'am, Colonel, your wish is my command," he purred seductively. I felt my body responding in kind and hastily removed my own clothes, setting them aside, so they wouldn't be damaged.
Detailed Lemon Warning xxxxxxx Detailed Lemon Warning
Major went over every square inch of my body with his lips, teeth, and tongue, making certain there weren't any injuries from the battle, before settling himself comfortably between my legs. Holding my labia apart with his fingers, he began licking up my slit, wrapping his arms around my thighs to hold me in place when I started squirming. Gently retracting the hood with his thumb, he lightly licked my clit directly before suddenly latching on and suckling. The feelings were intense - my clit was so sensitive, the sensations were bordering pain and pleasure, confusing my neurons. I wanted to both pull him closer and push him away at the same time, the internal struggle sapping my rationality.
As soon as he used his two fingers to thrust in and out of me, making a come hither motion inside on the way out, the sensual overload tipped firmly into the pleasure zone. I felt the tension building in my abdomen, my pussy so swollen with venom it ached and throbbed, clenching down on his fingers as if trying to keep them inside, increasing the pulses of pleasure shooting up from my core to somewhere deep inside me.
"Please," I whimpered. "Please, Major."
He had been quickly flicking my clit with his tongue as he suckled it, his free arm across my hips, holding me in place, but upon hearing my pleas, he began purring. The subsequent vibrations encompassing my clit sent me flying over the edge into climax, my vaginal muscles rhythmically clenching and releasing against his fingers, squeezing him tightly. He groaned in pleasure, undulating his hips, seeking friction where he needed it most.
As soon as I recovered, I pounced on him, rolling him over onto his back. I proceeded to check him over for injury just as carefully as he'd done for me. I quickly realized it was unnecessary to be so thorough, as my nose would easily detect the scent of leaking venom. This was more about building anticipation, mildly torturous foreplay. Sure enough, he groaned each time I bypassed where he wanted me most. There was such a sense of power, having him there at my mercy, helpless and begging, wanting and needing, longing for whatever I'm willing to give him.
I could turn and walk away right now and though it would drive him utterly insane, he wouldn't stop me. He wouldn't force me to keep going. It's quite heady, knowing I have all the power right now as to whether or not I will grant him release and how I'll go about doing it.
Just remember, turnabout is fair play, Nstnx warned. If you toy with him, he will do the same with you . . .
I mentally winced at the thought of him bringing me close to orgasm, then turning and walking away. No, I won't play that game. I definitely don't want to be on the receiving end.
So put him out of his misery already, Nstnx encouraged.
I smirked to myself and stroked my cheek along his length. He moaned appreciatively and his cock twitched against my face. I proceeded to grip it firmly, careful not to squeeze too tightly, then took the head in my mouth, swirling my tongue around it and occasionally dipping my tongue into the small divot from which his venom seeped. Carefully cupping his balls in my other hand, I rolled the skin of the sack over the testes with several of my fingers, while pressing and rubbing his perineum with the pad of my middle finger, not allowing my claws to dig into his sensitive skin.
Opening my hand from around his shaft, I let my venom dribble out of my mouth, dripping down his shaft and coating it. After spreading the lubricant all over his cock, I gripped him again at the base and began pumping up and down, causing him to groan my name. Encouraged by his sounds, I took the top half of his cock in my mouth as deeply as I could, feeling it bumping against the back of my throat. I moved my head up and down at the same rhythm as my hand, sucking lightly on the way up to cause my cheeks to rub against the sides of his shaft.
"Mmm, Bella, you feel so good, darlin'," he murmured, thrusting a bit, causing his cock to slip even deeper. His praise made me purr, and just as it had done for me, the vibrations against his most sensitive body part instantly pushed him over the edge. He grabbed my head, holding me in place as he shot his come down my throat. I was glad I didn't need to breathe, as his climax lasted longer than the average human would have been able to handle.
He cuddled me close as he allowed his breathing to calm, recovering from his climax. I remembered reading somewhere that each orgasm is equal to running up three flights of stairs, for humans anyway. I had shown the article to Emmett, who then wondered why humans would bother taking aerobics classes when there was a much more pleasurable way to exercise. I certainly didn't have an answer for him.
After a few minutes, I felt Jasper's hands roaming over my body, one seeking out my breast and the other my rear. He fondled my breast, rolling and twisting my nipple, which quickly hardened. He began adding a small pinch after each twist, shooting bolts of pleasure down to my core, causing my juices to start flowing. He inhaled deeply, purring as he smelled the unmistakable scent of my arousal. His other hand was kneading my ass cheeks, his fingertips lightly brushing my pussy, spreading my lubricant. His mouth came down to my other breast, sucking on my breast to stimulate my nipple to harden. As soon as it swelled with venom, becoming a tight bud, he began flicking it with his tongue and occasionally nipping at it with his lips and teeth.
I heard myself mewling like a kitten, writhing under his ministrations. He hitched one of my legs up around his hip, opening me up to him. Thanks to my level of arousal producing copious amounts of lubrication, he slid easily inside me halfway, before pulling back out and pushing in again. He did this several more times, going further in each time until he was able to plunge in to the hilt. I was delighted it didn't hurt at all, though the sensation of being filled was unique and unexpected. It was significantly different than having his fingers inside me, though both experiences were pleasant.
He got up on his knees, sitting back on his heels, and lifted my lower body up to meet his. He supported my weight with his hands on my lower back, holding me up off the ground, which allowed him to go deeper. He took my hand in his long enough to teach me how to touch myself, to rub my clit with my middle and ring fingers in a circular motion. As soon as I had the hang of it, he put his hand back underneath of me, though he could easily have supported me with only one hand.
I understood his reasoning when he began pulling me toward him at the same time he thrust into me, bumping us together more forcefully in a very gratifying way. I watched him, as he watched himself thrusting into me, seeming engrossed in the spectacle of his cock moving steadily in and out of my pussy over and over again. He licked his lips, and his eyes drifted to my fingers moving enthusiastically around my swollen clit, moving the skin around it, causing the skin to rub against it rhythmically. We both increased speed as our climaxes neared, driving each other closer to the edge with our instinctive movements.
Lemon Details Over xxxxxxx Lemon Details Over
He leaned forward and moved his hands further up my back, pulling me up with him so we were both upright, me straddling him as he knelt there. A few moments later, we were both coming, purring and roaring together, both biting down on our mating marks at the same time.
This only drove us higher, extending and expanding our orgasms until it felt like our souls were floating above the earth, tangled together in a beautiful dance. Time seemed to stretch like taffy, drawing out the moment endlessly until it finally snapped, bringing us back down to earth, to our surroundings, back to our bodies again.
Looking up into his expressive golden eyes, I knew something more profound than I could previously have comprehended happened between us. We were fully connected now, our souls intertwined, making him a necessary part of me. I needed him like I needed blood. He was essential to my existence, undeniably, irrevocably. Neither of us would ever be the same again, but why on earth would we want to be? I was home, complete, ecstatic, blissful. In my Jasper's arms, all was right with my world. If only we could stay that way forever.
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Aro POV
This pathetic, sniveling nomad was no match for my dry wit and Caius's caustic comments. Of course, he was only idle entertainment while waiting to hear from Chelsea and the twins. I really expected to hear from them hours ago. I can't imagine any vampire who could overpower all three of them with their gifts. They're virtually indestructible. If I didn't have Renata safely in my clutches, I'd be very afraid of them. I knew they'd never risk Alec's mate though. She was my insurance against their rebellion.
It just proves I was right to get rid of Didyme all those years ago. Chelsea is weak because of her children. She does whatever I want for fear of what I'll do to her children if she doesn't comply. She'd endure the torture and final death in defiance of me if I only punished her, but she can't stand the idea of her children suffering for her sake. It just proves that emotional ties make you weak.
I couldn't let anyone use my blood sister against me, plus she was convincing Marcus to leave. I had worked too hard to build up my position of power just to have them tear it down. There must be three kings. One is too easily deposed, and two can create a stalemate if they disagree. Three is the perfect number. Besides, not only did I get to keep Marcus after I killed my sister, but the loss of his mate caused him to become a shell of himself. With Chelsea's bonds in place, Marcus is nothing more than my puppet, appeasing the masses, making them think no one man has all the power. Even Caius is unaware he has no real power against me. I am the ruler of the world, the most powerful being on earth, a god in my own right! Nothing and no one can stop me now!
After seeing what happened to Marcus, I took careful precautions with my own mate. She rarely ever leaves her tower room and is tightly guarded at all times. She will never have the freedom to go anywhere alone or with just one other vampire, not even Caius's mate. It was much too easy to get Didyme off on her own and dispose of her without anyone the wiser. Of course, it helped that I made sure to be the first one on the scene so there would be no question as to why my scent was all over the area. That would've given me away. I also read my mate's guards' minds daily to make sure there is not even a hint of betrayal. I never would have gotten away with the murder if either of my 'brothers' had MY talent. That's why I deserve to be above all others. No one is more powerful than me! I thought, feeling smug.
Looking over at the weak, pathetic creature on his knees, cowering before us, I sighed. Really, he was too easy to break. What is with vampires these days? They just don't make them like they used to, do they? It used to take days, not hours, to make them crumble. There's hardly any sport in it anymore. These young vamps are nearly as weak-willed as humans. I need a challenge.
Alec is supposed to be bringing me the infamous 'God of War'. Hopefully he'll be more of a challenge, having survived numerous newborn battles. Assuming Carlisle's perverted way of feeding hasn't made him too soft. I'll have to get him back on our natural diet first, so he'll be strong enough to withstand whatever we throw at him. I wonder how long he'll last . . .
"Is there a law against being boring?" I asked Caius facetiously.
"If there isn't, there should be," Caius sneered. "We can name it after this pathetic excuse of a vampire. What's your name? Timid, Timmy, Timothy?"
"T-t-Thomas," the heap stuttered, shaking with fear.
"Right, the Tommy law," Caius snarled. "Any vampire so boring he makes watching stone erode sound exciting in comparison, shall be immediately put to death for the benefit of all vampirekind."
Our victim blanched, becoming even whiter than a sheet, which one would think isn't possible, but amazingly enough is. I've seen it numerous times in my long existence. In fact, I'm usually the cause for it. I snickered, enjoying his discomfort.
I could see Caius's malicious amusement in his eyes, though his face was in the same mask of disapproving condemnation he usually wore. Marcus, the wimp, had left hours ago. No doubt he's staring at the wall, watching paint dry, or mold grow, or something equally dull.
"What about being stupid? Or ugly?" I suggested. "Surely those too are a crime against vampirekind."
"Of course!" Caius instantly agreed. "Since vampires are all supposed to be gorgeous and highly intelligent, then any one who does not measure up to those standards are an example of inferior venom. We simply cannot allow inferior venom to infect our species, causing us to revert closer to our food source. Heaven forbid we should start looking and behaving like humans." He shuddered to emphasize his horror at the prospect.
"So you would recommend any vampires showing evidence of inferior venom be put to death?" I queried slyly.
"Absolutely," Caius insisted. "Inferior venom is a plague on vampirekind. Any who have it must be immediately quarantined and eradicated to keep it from perpetuating. Any vampires changed by the inferior one should meet the same fate, as well as the mate, for being attracted to inferior venom shows weakness in and of itself. Not to mention, the sire of those vampires and any other vampires their sires have sired, as it was most likely the sire's venom causing the problem in the first place, and if the sire created one bad vampire, he might well have created others."
I clapped my hands and rubbed them together. Caius was familiar with the gesture and knew I was planning something wickedly interesting.
"I have noticed as well, dear brother, this inferior venom infecting the vampire stock of the past few centuries. They are much weaker than they were back in our day. I believe we must cure this weakness, weeding out the infected from amongst us. It shall be survival of the fittest. I think all vampires shall have to pass a series of tests we design to prove their competency and their worth. All those who fail any of the tests shall be put to death, unless they have a significant talent making them worthy of exception. What say you, brother?" I recommended gleefully. Caius will go along with my diabolical scheme. He always does, and though Marcus will severely disapprove, he will not stand in my way.
A creepy, sadistic smile inched its way across Caius's face as he considered my words. His eyes lit up with an inner glow. He was in his element now. "Oh, brother, you are correct, as always," he proclaimed dramatically. "This weakness IS a plague on our kind, like the Bubonic Plague was for the humans. We have an obligation to our fellow vampires to keep them safe from the horrors it can wreak! I shall be honored to head up a task force to eradicate this sickness from among us and stop the evil perpetrators who have been spreading their disease to others."
My eyes gleamed with interest as I considered all the possibilities, the opportunities to easily rid myself of any opponents to my rule and procure for myself any gifted vampires being kept hidden from me. "I believe every vampire in the world shall have three months to present themselves to us to be tested for this infectious disease," I decided.
Caius chuckled and tapped his fingertips together. "I do think pain tolerance should be one of the tests, don't you? When is the lovely Jane going to be back, brother? Interrogations are so much more entertaining with her around to participate."
I furrowed my brow in frustration. "I should have heard from them hours ago, but no doubt there is a perfectly good reason for the delay in contacting me."
Caius sneered, "I hope so, for their sake."
I heard Renata's breathing increase in pace after this exchange. She was so nice and quiet, thanks to me and my foresight, that I usually forgot she was even there. She didn't exist to me as an individual. She was simply an object for my use. Her shield was intended for my benefit, much as my throne was, or my cloak. A very useful object indeed.
"Do I have reason to be concerned, Renata?" I asked, my tone icy and unyielding. She knew I was not a forgiving Master. Any slight would be repaid tenfold, though I was quite fond of the phrase 'Revenge is a dish best served cold.' I've been known to wait decades, a century even, before delivering my blow. Nobody knew that better than her, privy to almost all my secrets and my work behind the scenes.
She quickly shook her head, then shrugged her shoulders, too afraid to even look in my direction. I briefly touched her hand, noting she'd been feeling uneasy for the past few hours, but had nothing concrete to report. If any mischief was afoot, she had no part in it.
"Dispose of this dud," I commanded Felix with a dismissive wave, referring to the cowardly Thomas. "He's spoiling my view."
"Yes, sir," Felix agreed, easily lifting the other vampire over his shoulder and striding out of the room.
I was just about to knock around a few heads, namely Edward's and Alice's, when the phone beside my throne began to ring. Finally!
"Alec, my boy! How are you?" I cheerfully greeted.
"Aro," the boy whispered in a grief-stricken voice.
Why is he grieving? What has happened? I had a sick feeling in my abdomen, dread consuming me. This is bad, very bad. I'm not going to like what he tells me. I just know it.
"What's wrong, Alec?" I demanded, the cheer gone from my voice.
"They're dead, Aro. They're all DEAD," Alec moaned fearfully. "I couldn't help them, couldn't see, couldn't hear! Mom, Jane, gone. Ashes in the wind. Why Aro? Why couldn't I save them? Why didn't you know what was going to happen?"
"What?" I exclaimed. "The Cullens killed Chelsea and Jane?" How could they? Carlisle was more peaceful than Ghandi! Perhaps the Major did it?
"No, not them. They're dead too. The newborns, the Cullens, the Denalis, the gifted, everyone! Everyone but me!" he wailed, panicking.
"Calm down!" I ordered into the phone. I heard him take several slow, deep breaths, forcing himself to calm.
"I'm the only survivor," he sobbed.
What? That doesn't make sense unless HE killed everyone. Or maybe he killed whomever killed everybody else.
"What do you mean you're the only survivor? Who killed Chelsea and Jane? Why didn't you stop them?" I growled. "What happened?"
He whimpered. Stupid crybaby. "I don't know! We had it all under control, both sides under the influence of my gift, ready to start waking the leaders for interrogation, when I was attacked out of the blue. I was beheaded and lost all my senses, except my sense of touch. My head was thrown through the air a few times and passed around, while my body was left behind to fend for itself. A vampire ripped my body apart while others were still fighting over my head. I could tell it was a female by the size of her hands. Then somehow my mother got my head back and put me back together, with the help from another vampire, a male. I could smell them on me after I regained control of my senses again, along with the female who tore me apart. I didn't recognize the male, but the one who dismembered me and nearly burnt me was Tanya Denali. The male was someone she sired, and by the concentration of his scent, I could tell he was a newborn, very recently turned. I felt the heat of the fire before my mom got to me, so it was a very near thing. After putting me back together, she left me lying there on the ground for a little while, then came back and put me up high in a tree to keep me safe while I healed. I was still in the tree when my senses returned, but when I returned to the clearing, there was a huge pile of ashes, still smoldering, with her and Jane's scents wafting up from there. I found her locket with the picture of us I gave her a few years ago and Jane's charm bracelet amongst the ashes, as well as a few wedding rings, a couple of Cullen crests, and a few other pieces of jewelry."
They can't be dead! They're supposed to be invincible! It must be a trick. "Why did you lose your senses, Alec? That doesn't usually happen when someone is beheaded," I prodded, seeing a glaring discrepancy in his story. He must never have been beheaded before and doesn't know what really happens. Foolish boy!
"I know, Master. Caius includes beheading in his training so we don't panic if it ever happens to us in battle, knowing what to expect and that we can be put back together. I didn't lose my senses in training. I can only imagine it was the werewolf saliva that contaminated my eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. They took me out first, causing my gift to wear off of the others, and proceeded to butcher both armies, my mother, and my sister. Their scents are the only ones that lead away from the clearing. I can only guess they didn't get me because wolves can't climb trees."
Is he pulling my leg? Seriously? He expects me to believe this nonsense? "Werewolves, Alec? You were attacked by werewolves?"
I saw Caius's alarm at the word and shook my head disparagingly. No need for him to get worked up about it yet. Not until I have some proof. After all, Alec would be incredibly foolish to lie to me while I hold his mate's fate in my hand. That thought caused me to become concerned, thinking perhaps he really was telling the truth.
"Two werewolves, Master. I only saw the one who attacked me. These aren't normal werewolves, sir," he replied, his voice trembling with fear. "It was daytime, and it's nowhere near time for the full moon. It was unaffected by my gift and Jane's too. Maybe that's why the psychic didn't see them. Maybe that's why her vision when black."
Werewolves, out during the day? Oh, the Quileutes, I remembered, from reading Edward's memories. The shape shifters who turn into wolves at will and can kill vampires. They have a treaty with the Cullens. Were they there with them, fighting on their side? "They were shape shifters, Alec, able to change form at will. They simply happen to turn into wolves. It seems the tribe has maintained its ability over the years, instead of dying out like Carlisle believed. We'll wipe out the tribe, every man, woman, and child and remove that threat from the earth."
"Um, Master, I know this is hard to believe, though you'll see the truth in my thoughts," he hesitantly hedged. "but these things are incredibly dangerous. I have no idea how to stop them. They're essentially ghosts with teeth."
"Ghosts?" I interrupted, scoffing. "Have you been smoking some bizarre, vampire strength peyote? Has someone discovered the vampire equivalent of catnip?"
"My hands and arms passed right through its body, Master! So did my mom's! We couldn't pry it off my neck as it tore off my head, because we couldn't even touch it! Not only that, but the scents disappear into thin air. I checked every possibility in every direction within a mile radius of where the scents began and ended. They didn't take to the trees or the water. They simply stopped existing, right smack dab in the middle of the forest! It literally attacked out of nowhere too! How do you fight something that can appear or disappear at will, that no gifts work on, and that you can't touch, but it can still touch you?" He wailed. "What if this wasn't a one time occurrence? What if they decide to attack vampires at random? What if they come to Volterra?"
"Enough!" I barked, needing him to calm down and focus before he blew his cover. "Come here as quickly as possible."
"Yes, sir," he responded, pulling himself together. I hung up, needed to think about what I'd just heard. Caius was watching me in state of alarm. I reached into the box beside my throne and tugged on Edward's hair to get his attention. The self-loathing prick had been too caught up in his own misery to be of much use to me lately, and so was the psychic.
"Tell me everything you know about the Quileutes," I ordered him. I listened carefully to his memories, but saw no evidence of the odd qualities Alec described. On the contrary, Edward's gift had worked just fine on them. There was nothing intangible about them, and their scent could not be mistaken. Other shape shifters, perhaps? A different tribe putting out 'protectors'? One of the Alaskan tribes maybe?
I knew Caius had overheard my conversation with Alec, and I wondered who else had heard it. "Open up your mind," I commanded Edward in a mere whisper. "I want to hear the thoughts of the castle's inhabitants."
I wonder what kind of tests Aro and Caius are going to create to test strength and prowess. That Tommy guy was much too easy. I hardly even enjoyed taking him apart and burning him.
I'm getting hungry. When will Heidi be back with dinner?
I should have left when Terrance did. Why should I stay here? Then again, where would I go?
I wish Aro would spend more time with me. It's so lonely up here by myself.
Ah, my Didyme. You were always so beautiful. Always laughing and finding joy in the simplest of things. I miss you so much.
I hate werewolves! How can we fight ghost wolves? We need to destroy them all!
I have a feeling things are about to get really interesting around here. Finally!
I bet I'm going to get a promotion! Aro will finally see my true worth and grant me a leadership position in the guard! Those others were so short-sighted.
This place sucks. I hate it here. I just want to go home.
There were only half the number of thoughts as there should have been. Why is the castle so empty? Where is everybody? I worried.
"Afton!" I shouted. He quickly raced through the castle to get to the throne room. He presented himself, front and center, and bowed respectfully.
"Yes, sir?"
"Where is everybody? Why is the castle so empty?" I demanded.
"At least half the guard packed their bags and left several hours ago," he informed me.
"What? Why didn't anyone stop them?" I asked incredulously.
"Did they not have permission to leave?" he wondered, frowning.
I rolled my eyes and sighed. "We're in danger. There's a new breed of werewolves killing vampires, so we need to make a united front. Call them all back please."
"I would be glad to, sir, but they all left their phones here," he admitted.
I stared at him wide eyed. "They did?" Why would they do that?
He nodded, watching me expectantly.
I paused to think. "Send Demetri after them then," I decided, pleased with myself. They can run, but they can't hide!"
"Demetri and Heidi were the first to go," Afton confessed. "Their connection finally morphed into a mate bond."
Their connection finally morphed into a mate bond? How did that happen? Marcus! I need Marcus. Shooting out of my throne faster than I had in centuries, I raced down the hallway, up the stairs, and through the corridors, before throwing open the door to Marcus's library. He was sitting there peacefully, looking through the journals Didyme had written when she was still alive. I couldn't bring myself to get that close to them, to such intimate pieces of her, her innermost thoughts, knowing I was the cause of her demise, the source of Marcus's pain.
"Marcus!" I barked. He startled and turned to look at me with his empty eyes. "Focus, Marcus. I need you to look at everyone's relationships. The connection between Demetri and Heidi morphed into a mate bond. How did that happen? They've known each other for ages. Why now?"
Marcus shook himself, as if arousing from a deep meditative state. It was normal for him to drift off into lala land for hours and even days at a time, rendering him oblivious to his surroundings. He looked around as if just noticing where he was for the first time. "Hmmm, that's odd," he murmured.
"What? What's odd?" I demanded, wanting to shake him.
"All the bonds Chelsea created are gone. Is she dead?" he asked in a bored tone of voice.
"What? They're gone? The bonds are gone?" I asked tremulously, dread gripping me. This is bad. This is very bad. That's why everybody left! Without Chelsea's bonds, there's nothing keeping them here and without Demetri, I can't threaten to track them down no matter where they go!
"Yes, they're all gone," Marcus confirmed. "Is she dead?"
"Yes, yes, she's dead and so is Jane. They were killed by a new breed of shape shifters, ones that take the form of wolves. They have the properties of ghosts, but can still kill vampires," I answered, running my fingers through my hair and pacing distractedly. I raced out of Marcus's room without a second glance. That old fool can't help me now. It's every man for himself, and I'll gladly throw him to the wolves to give myself time to escape.
I need Renata! She can keep me safe! But what if her gift doesn't work on them? If Alec's, Jane's and Chelsea's gifts didn't work, then why would hers? She'd be useless to me then! She's good for keeping Alec in line, but if his gift doesn't work, then he's useless to me too. Felix! Felix is one of our best fighters, and the best of the ones still here. Plus, his strength is inherent, not enhanced by a supernatural talent, so he should be able to protect me. Wait, Alec said his arms passed right through the wolf, that he couldn't touch him! If we can't even touch them, then what good is strength? Oh, no! Who can protect me?
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AN: Hmmm, maybe Aro shouldn't have wished for a challenge, eh? 'They' always say, 'Be careful what you wish for', right? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter . . .
For those of you who read the lemon, was it good? Did you like it? Too much, not enough?