Next chapter, tying up a few loose ends before we move onto the next section of the story. It got a little long so had to cut it in half so the teaser has moved to next chapter but almost done with part 2! I'm hoping the updates will be fairly quick at the moment as I am back to my original draft of the story which gives me a good base of word count to work from. This is a bit of a filler but next chapter is nice and meaty and will be up before the end of the week.
Enjoy, x
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"There are many things this world holds that humans are not aware of. I will show you," Victoria joined the conversation, rather smugly her mates thought.
"I'm sure you will," Rose purred as she curled her body around both her mates in a more comfortable position. They reciprocated and became one mass of now satiated vampire as they watched the sun set and sky darken.
Xxxx
"Come," Victoria was the first to move, carefully removing her fingers from Bella who groaned, half in discomfort, half in disappointment.
"But I just did, for like the tenth time and it was spectacular," Bella smirked as she stayed exactly where she was, still looking up at the rapidly lightening sky, the night had passed in a blur of sexual excess and now the dawn approached whilst they basked in a blanket of soporific pheromones.
"Brat!" Rose grumbled but there was no malice in her tone.
"Yes, but that's one of the many reasons you love me," the newborn sing-songed.
"It is," Rose acquiesced gracefully, hand reaching out to clasp the newborn's, reaching over Victoria to do so. The nomad stayed silent during the exchange.
"Your thoughts are loud," Bella murmured, turning her head towards the ancient and studying the minute detail of her profile. Victoria frowned. Bella was right, she had many, many thoughts racing around her mind.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Rose questioned, propping herself up on an elbow so she was looking down on the red-headed vampire. She retracted her teeth blinked, eyes turning golden again. A grunt was the only response the younger vampires received which they assigned as a 'no' but their mate looked troubled.
"If the sex wasn't what you wanted we can go again?" Bella suggested, something about being mated to a true ancient with millennia of sexual experience was making her feel oddly insecure.
"No!" Victoria was suddenly sitting, she had moved so quickly that the movement was lost to both younger vampires. "No, it was very good. The best fornication I have ever experienced," she smiled shyly at her mates. "It is in here," she tapped her chest, "and in here," a tap to her forehead, "that is hard."
"It took Rose a long time to act on her feelings for me," Bella murmured. "She was scared that I would leave. I will never leave!" she added hurriedly as a look of panic crossed Victoria's face. "She just thought I would find another mate and leave, before we bonded, properly, with sex I mean -."
"Like we did?" Victoria questioned, for an ancient vampire she really knew very little about mating bonds, Rose thought.
"Yes, like we did. We are fully mated now, the three of us. No-one is going to leave, ever!" The blonde expressed vehemently.
"Never?" The ancient questioned so pitifully that her mates were on her in an instant, arms wrapping around the vulnerable vampire.
"No, never," Bella whispered into red hair as she kissed the top of Victoria's head.
"Never," Rose added her own reassurance and nuzzled the nomad's cheek.
"That pleases me," Victoria beamed, her emotions sometimes childlike and utterly charming her mates. "May I come with you to your home?" Followed by a shy peek from behind her hair.
"It can be your home as well, if you want?" Bella responded softly, not wanting to scare her mate away from such progress towards spending time with them.
"I know, Irina made the offer when I first arrived," Victoria replied in her usual blunt way. "She said I could stay with her as long as I wanted." A shrug. " But she meant to share her bed with me and I do not wish to anymore. I am yours."
"And we are yours," Bella replied, knowing how true her mate's words were.
"And I hope you never change the way you see the world," Rose chuckled. "Of course you can come with us. If we had a choice we'd have you there all the time but understand if that would be too much for you."
"I cannot say," Victoria shrugged. "The bond connects me to you, I miss you when I leave but-," red eyes gazed out into the forest.
"It's Ok, we understand," Bella pecked the nomad on the cheek. "We will always be here for you."
"Or come if you call," Rose added with a smile and that was all that needed to be said, the three mates curling around each other until they were disturbed. All three becoming alert when they heard an animal approach.
"Storm!" Bella greeted the young wolf enthusiastically, the pup pouncing on the pile of vampires and making herself a nest between their solid bodies, pausing to nuzzle each in greeting.
"You came a long way, wolf," Victoria addressed the animal in her usual serious tone, blinking when Storm decided to lick her cheek. The look of shock on the ancient's face causing Rose and Bella to burst into laughter and fuss over their pet, congratulating the wolf on her achievement. Last time Victoria had been introduced to the animal she had fled so to see her addressing Storm in her usual serious way was charming her mates.
Victoria blinked when a wet nose was nudged under her hand, the wolf begging to be petted. Tentative, impossibly strong fingers curled to touch the soft fur of the pup's head, the wolf pushing up into the caress and causing the nomad's fingertips to sink deeper into her fur. Bella and Rose watched intently as their mate explored the contours of the wolf's head, red eyes wide as the ancient marvelled the texture of Storm's fur and the way the animal responded to her touches.
"She likes you," Rose reassured the nomad who blinked at the blonde before turning her attention back to Storm who had taken the opportunity to wriggle so her belly was now exposed, a pink raspy tongue licking Victoria's hand to signal that she was ready and the petting should recommence.
"She is your pet?" Victoria asked, very curious about the young wolf.
"I watched her mother die and it seemed she wanted me to take care of her pup so I bought her home," Bella explained as her hand joined the red-head's, fingers brushing as they stroked the wolf together.
"She's not exactly a pet, she has free range to go where she wants but she usually stays close to us when we're home," Rose added her words and fingers to activity. "If we're not around she stays with Eleazar or one of the sisters, she is quite taken with Irina now she is home. But, she grows so fast it's hard to keep up with her. When we came back from Brazil she'd grown a hell of a lot."
"I do not remember if I ever had a pet," Victoria spoke softly. "I do not remember my childhood, only some points of my adulthood are clear, my naming banquet and the battle before I was turned. Sometimes I remember songs, but only parts." She fell quiet and bore the sympathetic looks of her mates.
"I wish I didn't remember," Rose whispered sadly but Victoria didn't push for more information, heeding Bella's previous warning that the blonde would share when she was ready.
The vampires were called out of their own personal reveries by a loud rumble from the wolf's stomach.
"Oh, Storm! When did you last get fed, huh?" Bella fussed as the wolf scrambled to her feet. "Shall we go back or do you need to feed, Rose?" The newborn queried, Rose usually bought her kills home and they were butchered for the young wolf but Bella knew she would oblige the youngster if needed. Rose considered the question before answering.
"No, I took enough from both of you to last me," she gave a half-smile. "I know it's hypocritical of me to enjoy your blood so much given where it comes from but-," she shrugged self-deprecatingly, indicating her weakness for her mates when they were humming after a kill as they both had been before their mating. "What can I say, it turns me on," the blonde purred, instantly getting the attention of her mates' but they were cock-blocked by another grumble from the wolf's belly.
"Alright!" Bella groaned, standing up and brushing herself off. "We get it, you need food!" The newborn held a hand out to each of her mates, helping them up even though they all knew it was unnecessary, unnecessary but chivalrous. Victoria blinked when a soft kiss was placed on her knuckles as Bella held her hand, a confused glare was met with a sultry wink from the newborn which sent the ancient's libido rocketing. Victoria was not used to having this reaction to any vampire, especially when one was being so -, so casually dominant.
"I'll carry Storm and we'll jog back," Rose spoke as she scooped the wolf up, Storm used to the position and making herself comfortable. The blonde led the way back to the Denali house the mates reaching the tree-line surrounding the house before Victoria came to an abrupt halt.
"It's Ok,come by soon?" Bella reassured her mate when she realised what was happening, the ancient looking both sorrowful and guilty, she had failed her mates again but knowing there were other vampires in the house and when she had so much to process from the mating -.
Storm became agitated by the delay and wriggled until Rose eased her carefully to the ground, the wolf stretching her legs and sniffing circles around the three vampires.
"A date?" Rose questioned hopefully, implicitly understanding Victoria's reluctance to enter their home.
"Yes, when? Tomorrow?" Victoria replied, sounding surprisingly eager, her obvious enthusiasm making Rose smile warmly at her mate.
"Of course, I can be ready by then," the blonde agreed, Bella silent but curious to know what Rose had planned, she had been rather unforthcoming on the subject. The newborn had been distracted by that thought and was surprised to find her lips covered in a firm but possessive kiss.
"Mine," The red-head growled before releasing the brunette and repeating the process on the blonde. "Yours," an emphatic slap of her fist against her chest demonstrated the feeling was not one way, as though either of the younger vampires had ever doubted it was, before the still naked nomad disappeared back into the forests she was so comfortable in.
"Well," Rose cleared her throat, still a little shocked by the waves of feeling emanating from Victoria and through the bond when they had been kissed.
"Yeah," Bella was equally lost for words, only the pawing of a persistent wolf bringing them out of the daze they had been left in. Storm then resorted to trying to push her vampires forward, small but strong body pushing against the back of Bella's legs, a pointless exercise but she was so hungry!
"Do you think they're Ok?" Kate asked of her sisters as she lay on Tanya's bed, Irina cuddled up against her sister, Tanya in her large leather chair with a book in her hands. They had heard the younglings return with their wolf but there was no sign of Victoria although a slight presence had made itself known before it left.
The sisters had felt the need to be together as soon as as they had detected the mating taking place between Victoria, Bella and Rosalie. It had not affected them as much as it had when Bella and Rose first consummated their bond. Tanya thought this was probably because the bond was already fully formed the day Edward had attacked Rose, each of the three had marked or been marked that day, forming the bond. The sexual element was the icing on the cake so to speak. That and the distance was lessening the effect it was having on the sisters, no incapacitating orgasms, they must be many miles away from the Denali house for the feelings to be so muted.
"They'll be fine," Irina reassured her sister, turning to face her and nuzzle into her neck. "Victoria is the most powerful vampire I have ever met, they will be safe, however far away she may go."
"Seriously?" Tanya questioned, it always intrigued her when Irina spoke of the ancient. Even though she had become a part of their lives they knew very little about her, except for her sexual prowess.
"Yes, can you not sense her strength? It goes beyond the physical, she's just -," Irina didn't have the words to describe the nomad. Nobody did.
"She has great power," Kate agreed, for once not adding any inappropriate innuendo. "I don't know where it stems from but she sure knows how to handle herself. We have nothing to worry about."
"I agree," and with Tanya's comment closing the conversation the sisters settled down to wait for the mates to seek them out.
Xxxxx
"Greetings," Victoria appeared on the balcony of the room rose and Bella shared. She had made no effort to hide her approach so her appearance was not the shock it could have been given her abilities.
"Hey!" Bella launched herself across the room in one inhuman leap, literally throwing herself into the nomad's strong arms where she was caught by a slightly stunned Victoria.
"She's missed you," Rose chuckled. "We both have," she added self-consciously.
"They've been moping around like lost children," Irina called from inside the house much to the young vampires embarrassment. Victoria looked to her mates in question, casually holding Bella on her hip with a single arm, the newborn happily nuzzling into red curls as she scented the nomad's neck. Rose was a little more restrained but she couldn't deny the pull she now felt to be close to her mate.
"Have not!" The blonde replied to Irina, scowling as she did. However, the cautious but pleased smile she received from Victoria soon brought the blonde close. "Ok, maybe we have," she admitted with a shy smile, the ancient touched by the words and dazzled by the golden eyes of her other mate.
"Oh, but before you leave me all alone," Bella pouted, "I have something I want to ask you." a tap on Victoria's shoulder and she was obligingly lowered to the floor.
"Yes, little one?" An inquisitive tilt of the head and Bella had the ancient's full attention, Rose equally as curious.
"Will you come and meet Charlie, my father?" Th newborn enquired, shyly.
"Oh!" Rose was not the only one startled by the question. Victoria was stunned.
"He is a human," was the inarticulate reply.
"Um, last time I checked, yeah," Bella gave a nervous half-smile, unsure of the reception to her question.
"He does not know about vampires? That you are one?" Victoria questioned.
"No, he doesn't. That is why we visit him at his home, my old home, as it's less risky than inviting him here. It could just be really short visit?" Bella added a little desperately.
"You want this? It is important to you, Isabella?" The nomad probed, trying to understand why she was being asked for this.
"Yes, I love him, Charlie, and now you're a part of my life I want to share that with him," Bella answered honestly as she chewed her lip and avoided eye contact with her mate.
"Look at me, little one," Victoria urged, a gentle finger tipping Bella's chin up so their eyes could meet. "I will do anything you ask of me, but understand that I am afraid."
"Afraid, why?" Bella frowned at the confession but Rose immediately understood and placed a comforting hand on the ancient's shoulder.
"I am afraid because I have problems communicating with you and Rosalie, my mates who understand me and know where I come from. How can I ever appear human when I remember none of what it entails?" Her answer gave Bella pause and she was quiet as she tried to think of a solution to the problem.
"It's not as hard as you may think," Rose stepped in to offer both her mates reassurance. "I will show you this today," she promised Victoria. "And we can always introduce you as a Scandinavian hermit who likes to hunt and doesn't talk much," she teased with a loving smile to take the edge off her words.
"I will try, for you," Victoria pledged, placing her palm over Bella's heart, her words backed up with such love through their bond that the brunette became a little overwhelmed.
"Thank you, I love you, So much," the newborn whispered as she hid against the ancient's neck, Victoria awkwardly bringing up a hand to rest on Bella's back, panicked eyes searching Rose's for some sign of how to deal with such affection.
"Just hold her," Rose volunteered and the red-head quickly brought her other arm around so that she was embracing Bella fully, the blonde watching indulgently as they both began to purr, nuzzling each other. It really was adorable, she mused but it was not a thought she would dare voice, knowing she was the physically weakest of the trio.
"Ok, enough! I'm on a schedule here!" She finally announced to break up the cuddle-fest she was witnessing. Ok, adorable didn't begin to cover the shy looks the two supposedly bad-ass vampires were now exchanging as they realised what they had been doing.
Rose wandered over to her stereo, only the highest class equipment would do for vampire hearing, and selected some music from a new play-list she had compiled, noting that Victoria seemed to have no objection to the music playing quietly in the background which served her purpose well.
"Press this to skip through to music you like," Rose handed Victoria the controller for the stereo. "Gently! Like it's one of your drawings" she added with a smile, the nomad looking a little sheepish at the reminder. "Sit," was her next command, gently pushing her mate into one of their comfy leather armchairs and kneeling in front of her. "I've missed you too," Rose purred as she leaned into kiss the ancient, lips meeting softly but the intensity building quickly as Bella looked on. The blonde pulled away, very reluctantly, and stood.
"I need to get dressed," she explained as she eyed Victoria's clothing, it was practical but would easily blend when they encountered humans, the dark tight jeans and combat style boots matched with a dark cotton shirt would not draw any attention to them. No more than their inhuman beauty would anyway. Rose walked to the bed where she had laid out her outfit for the evening. Knowing both her mates would be watching she took her time stripping out of her yoga pants and t-shirt before sliding on some scandalously sheer lingerie, a black silken top that was low cut both front and back then finally some skin tight leather pants and heeled boots.
A flit to the mirror and lipstick was applied and a short debate before she slipped her contacts in.
"Ready?" Victoria and Bella gaped when confronted with the perfection that was Rosalie Hale, blonde bombshell.
Xxxxxx
Next on Crimson Bonds
"I need to explain some things to you," Rose sighed as they came to rest at the top of the building, the blonde taking a seat on the very edge of the old stonework, from below she would appear to be just another shadowy gargoyle. "I think then you may understand why I am the way I am."