Disclaimer: These are not Stephanie's vampires.
Chapter Twenty Seven
Isabella Swan
The Queen and Alice had gone through great pains to prepare me for my wedding day, but my imagination was lacking – even though I remembered every word they said and all the plans we'd made, I was still surprised by how ethereal my surroundings were.
Had it not been for Edward's tight grip and the fact that I knew he adored every inch of me, my self-esteem would have severely plummeted.
I hadn't ever seen so many beautiful people in one space.
Never mind that those people were vampires.
Never mind that the soft twinkling lights suctioned to the walls, stair railings and ceilings gave everyone a certain glow.
Never mind that most of my own guests probably wanted to have me for a snack.
I was overwhelmingly…overwhelmed.
I had no words to describe my emotions.
Happy, I suppose, even though the greetings were passing too fast for even me to remember every person I was introduced to; faces whipped by along with names and all I could do was smile and grip Edward's hand.
Each guest was dressed impeccably; the year before I started high school, I indulged and watched the Oscars on television and that was exactly how the vampires, and the few humans, were dressed. One blond in particular was dripping with rubies and diamonds and, after a moment, I recognized her.
Rosalie.
The mate of Edward's brother was stunning, almost too beautiful to keep my eyes on, but it didn't make me feel insecure – rather, I felt an unexpected swell of anticipation.
As a vampire, I'll look that gorgeous, too.
The thought, which came out of nowhere, was certainly a surprise.
When had I decided on that?
Of course, I did want forever with Edward and I figured, somewhere down the line before I was covered in grey hairs and wrinkles, Edward would change me.
But I felt a sense of urgency – I needed to be changed soon.
I shake the thought off, making a mental note to speak with Edward about it.
This was a decision that involved him, too.
A too-sweet voice draws me out of my idle thoughts. A short, platinum blond woman in a depressingly black dress is standing before Edward and I, her head held arrogantly and her eyes breathing fire, though the smile on her face never faded. She sinks into a quick bow, as if showing her respect to the royal house was beneath her.
"Prince," she says, completely ignoring me.
"Duchess Jane," Edward answers, his voice completely neutral.
The Duchess clears her throat primly, her eyes narrowing. "On behalf of Maine, I wish you a happy union."
I blink, confused by her obvious hostility.
"Thank you," Edward replies coolly. "This is my mate, Isabella."
Jane makes a small noise in the back of her throat. "She is not your mate yet."
Edward growls, a menacing sound that sends a domino of silence throughout the room and draws every eye to him. "You would do well to show respect."
"For a blood bag? I think not."
His fangs click down as he pushes me behind his body. His hand reaches for his sword just as Rosalie and Emmett step between the Duchess and the enraged Prince.
Rosalie aims an impressive glare at the shorter vampire as Emmett pushes Edward back by his shoulders.
Growling, my Prince snaps his fingers at a few of the servants. "Get that bitch out of my site," he demands, motioning to the Duchess.
As she is escorted out, though, I see a flash of triumph in her eyes that instantly sets me on edge. There was something distinctly planned about what just happened.
Drawing my attention away from the dramatic scene, Rosalie leans towards me. "I hope you are ready," she whispers, her lips barely moving from the soft smile on her face – and I understood the slight act, especially with all the eyes on us. "Smile now while Edward calms down. Show your strength. Vampires like that."
I force a smile and hold my head high, my back straight, careful not to make direct eye contact with any unfamiliar vampires.
As if my show of strength is somehow a sign, attention is drawn away from our little group, towards the front where the Queen and King are sitting on ornate thrones, which had been moved from the throne room. In front of their platform is a simple silver pedestal holding a single, wide silver cup and the black casing of the ceremonial knife I picked earlier. The Queen is standing from her seat, holding a goblet of blood, her fingers tapping against the glass. "The sun has set. The ceremony shall begin."
I had expected a flash of nerves but with one glance in Edward's direction, my mind was instantly calmed.
This was right.
This was meant to happen.
This should have happened two hundred years ago – though, I am glad it's me who gets to have him, instead of Isobel.
I did speak English, after all.
Edward takes my hand gently, leading me through the parting cloud and towards out new destiny.
We stand on opposite sides of the pedestal, our hands held over the bowl.
Edward utters words to me, making his pledge and vow to me in his ancient vampire language; and I repeat the words back as best as I can, having memorized the phrase earlier today from Alice.
Once the last word falls from my lips, a shock of electricity flows through Edward and I, almost melding our hands together as we hold our wrists over the wide silver cup.
Edward uses our ceremonial knife first, the blood an odd contrast to the eerily beautiful silver and white bone hilt, the thin polished blade. With a steady hand, I take my turn, wincing slightly as the blade cuts into the delicate skin on my wrist, allowing my blood to mix with Edward's.
My Prince comes to stand behind me, wrapping me up in his strong arms as I hold the cup up to my lips, draining half of it before handing it off to Edward. He takes my left hand, gently sliding on an intricate princess cut silver ring dotted with bloodstones and a single diamond. The taste of our combined blood is strangely sweet and leaves me feeling heady – giddy, almost.
The crowd erupts into polite clapping and low bows, offering respect to me, the new Princess.
And when they are through, Edward and I separate, bowing to the King and Queen, who wave us away with indulgent smiles.
I knew Edward had to be fast – but I didn't truly realize how fast he was.
My scenery blurred until we come to a stop in his personal chamber, the door locking heavily behind us.
His lips are hot on mine, coaxing a hot flush up my neck as he breathes his cool breath into me, his hands running over every inch of my body that he can reach. He stops, inhaling deeply at the crook of my neck. "Princess," he groans, pushing his lower body against mine.
"Yes," I gasp, arching against him.
Closer.
I've got to get closer.
I wasn't sure if it was our combined blood affecting my body, but I didn't truly care. My short time with Edward had been leading up to this.
"I need to know," he starts, stopping to breathe me in again.
My head is foggy. "Know what?"
Edward pulls back. "Your scent…your body is prepared to conceive. I need to know if…"
He needs to know if he should pull out, I surmise with an embarrassed blush. We'd had a brief conversation about this – Edward knew exactly when I could get pregnant by scent alone and he'd alluded to the fact that there was no birth control that vampires used, mostly due to the fact that only mates could get pregnant.
Through our thriving, complete bond, I can feel his eagerness, his lust, his want, his sheer love for me – and I know there is no way I can deny him.
My arms wrap tightly around his neck, pulling my face closer to his. "If it happens," I breathe, pressing a slow kiss to the side of his mouth. "It happens. Edward, I just need you."
He understands.
He doesn't waste any time.
Edward is careful with my dress, gentle when he plucks the pins from my hair – but as soon as I am freed from those constraints, he literally rips off the pure white lingerie I am wearing.
My body is human – sensitive.
Edward doesn't care one bit.
He brings me to sweet completion several times – with his fingers, with his mouth, his eyes on me, his own lust burning through me, making all of my emotions more intense.
By the time I am mindless, he is naked, sliding his skin against mine, bathing his thick, throbbing manhood against my twitching core, his lips attached to my fluttering pulse.
"I love you," he murmurs, growling, scraping his fangs against my skin when my hips buck.
As relaxed as I am from all of Edward's careful preparation, it still hurts when he breaks through my virginity, sealing me as his. He holds himself still, a rumbling growl in his throat.
"Mine."
Fingers plucking at my nipples, he presses himself impossibly closer, as if he can crawl into my body, before slowly pulling out all the way.
He looks down as he presses in again.
Pulls out.
In halfway.
Out again.
"My princess," he snarls, his eyes never leaving the center of our bodies. "Mine. Perfect."
Then, so slowly it's torture, he presses forward all the way, keeping a torturously slow rhythm until I am clawing at his back, bucking my hips, arching my back in an effort to bring him ever closer.
I cry out when he hits something deep, deep inside – and let out a scream when he begins a relentless pace, his angle making him hit that spot on every thrust.
My body erupts twice before Edward is close; his fangs scrape against my neck again, sinking into my skin, sending me into another tailspin orgasm that feels everlasting. He's buried to the hilt, twitching deep inside me as my body milks him of everything.
I lose track of how long Edward stays hovered over me, softly kissing any skin he can reach without moving. My eyes are closed – both of us are completely exhausted, though I am getting a strong feeling of smug arrogance from Edward.
If I wasn't so tired, I would roll my eyes at him.
When he does pull out of me, I feel a short gush of liquid and squeeze my legs together.
For his part, Edward looks pleased as he walks towards his bathroom, coming back with a hot washcloth that cleans me of our…fluids. I blush as he does so and Edward pretends not to notice, throwing the washcloth into a trashcan and spooning up behind me. He kisses the back of my head as my eyes flutter shut.
Sometime later, just as dawn is breaking over the white landscape outside, there is an urgent knock at the door that pulls Edward from me; Emmett and Jasper are on the other side, quickly and quietly informing Edward of something. He closes the door, turning to me with an impassive face, though I sense a great deal of alarm through our bond. His panic sets me on edge, my hair standing up on end.
"What? What is it?"
Edward's hands find purchase in his hair and he tugs harshly on the strands as he speaks. "The Duchess," he spits. "Jasper has been searching for the identity of the ferry operator and he just found it."
My mind works quickly, trying to keep up. "You're saying that the Duchess was his Master?"
Edward shakes his head. "I'm not saying that, exactly. He works in her home, specifically. It would be fitting-"
"If I owned him," the Duchess finishes coolly.
I let out a short scream, completely startled – and then completely worried for Edward's life when Duchess Jane saunters up behind him, holding our ceremonial knife. There was a reason vampires used certain knives; only one distinct mixture of metal could cut a vampire's skin and Jane was wielding the very tool that could easily kill Edward, if that was her goal.
How did she get in? We have guards-
But this isn't a human home, is it? It's Edward's. He's a vampire. She's a vampire. The silent invitation is open because he's not human.
She easily snuck in.
Still naked, I pull the sheets up tightly around my chest, Edward's emotions blaring through me – his anger, his shock, his worry for me.
Jane laughs, waving the knife at Edward when his body twitches in my direction. "No, no, Prince," she sneers. "Leave the little human whore alone. This is between me and you."
I bristle at her description of me but quiet myself – Jane wasn't the least bit concerned about me. She didn't know about my gift.
Which meant that I could do something about this.
I just needed the right moment.
Clenching my jaw, I focus my mind on Jane's third eye, which is churning black and angry red.
"Ah, Edward," she sighs, circling him, drawing the tip of the knife lightly around his torso, pausing in front of him with the edge over his heart. "You should listen to your blood bag. She's right. I was Alec's Master. He failed me, the weakling. I should have known it would take me to finish this."
Keeping his face as neutral as possible, Edward replies. "Finish what?"
Jane blinks. "My plan, of course. I started it about two hundred years ago. There was a party," she hints. "And then, it went boom."
I ignore the painful swell of agony Edward sends me – keeping my focus on Jane and her mind aura, waiting for the perfect time.
"It was you," Edward says softly.
She laughs with malice. "I was stupid then, relying on human technology to kill a vampire. But," she pauses. "I did accomplish something. I killed your first blood bag. That's worth a lot in my book."
A wave of protectiveness and possessiveness washes over me as Edward snarls. "I should kill you for treason."
Jane laughs again. "Oh? Kill me?" She presses our ceremonial knife into Edward's skin, drawing blood. "I doubt it. I've been waiting for this day for years."
"Why?"
Jane smiles, looking completely deranged. "Isn't it obvious? I want power. Being a Duchess in Maine is nothing compared to being a Queen."
Edward lifts his chin. "Then why me?"
She makes her bottom lip pout out. "Not just you. I did try to blow up you and your brother last week. Remember? You hurt your shoulder," she sighs. "No, you are just the heir to the throne. If I kill you first, then I can get to the King and Queen. And then I can get to your brother. And then, North American will be mine," she laughs.
I grit my teeth, opening the pathway of her mind.
Take the knife, I order ruthlessly. And kill yourself.
A/N: So, had finals this week. New classes start on Monday – gotta love accelerated online programs! Lots happened in this chapter, I know. Who guessed Jane as the villain?
Shout out to the first ten reviews of the last chapter (plus guests)
boo1414 – Fangs in action? Woooo!
NorthmanCullen – As hard as online classes can be, I kind of love them because they're that difficult lol Nice 'brow wiggle!
Debslmac - Love you!
Flavia Ribeiro – Keep loving it!
emily444 – Thank you!
LunaDiSangue85 – Men are assholes lol Edward can be one too! But that's okay because he's so hunky ;)
Le Crepuscule – I'm awesome? You're awesome!
Pumpkinmykitty – Right? I love the idea of an Edward with a weapon ;)
jafr86 – Thanks!
Superspecial shout out to the first review of the last chapter, LadyCinnia – I hope you enjoyed the ceremony!
As always, be brutally honest. I can take it.
~cupcakeriot