"Rumour has it, you've got a problem."

Alec fixed the blond man, Garrow, with a deep frown. "You are mistaken."

The visitors wore the expected formal attire required in the castle, but there was something false in their formality. Like wearing a raincoat in the humidity of the Amazon. The men stood beside each other; the older one with stern but youthful features had his arms crossed over his chest while Garrow stuck his hands in his pockets; the relaxed posture only served to enhance the attractiveness of his features.

"Oh?" A singsong voice challenged with a naturally seductive lilt. "No vampire running around, causing trouble from the Baltic Sea to the Himalayas?" The young woman dropped gracefully into an armchair, her black dress failing to hide her long legs as they hung over the side. I waited for her to light a cigarette like some 1940s Hollywood actress.

Alec clenched his jaw, a flicker of annoyance crossing his face. The girl winked in triumph, sizing him up with a perplexing challenge in her eyes as if she hadn't just lost to Percy in five seconds flat.

"Your Masters knew to expect us."

Alec turned a dark glare on the more distinguished-seeming man.

"Atlas," Garrow revealed, and I realized Alec didn't know this one. Atlas nodded but did not speak. He was modestly Herculean in his build, but his slicked-back medium-length hairstyle made him resemble a dashing attorney. He looked neater than the other two, but perhaps that was what made Alec so uncertain. "He's been traveling with us for nearly a century."

"Which you would know, Al, if you kept in touch." I didn't like how she continued to address him, and Alec sneered, giving the impression he appreciated it even less. If I thought he hadn't liked Issa and Libby, something about this group must be uniquely complicated.

As patiently as he could, Alec finalized, "We have no use for you or your rumors."

Garrow had the nerve to cut him off. "Clearly, Aro doesn't think so." Oh, boy. "Respectfully." The catch just barely saved him from a wrathful Alec.

Talib joined in to steady the conversation. "And have you spoken with the Masters yet?"

"Thought it'd be more fun to find you first."

Talib pursed his lips, shooting Percy a glance. "Let's remedy that."

Garrow ignored him and jousted in a poor attempt to ease the tension, "Who's the heartbeat?" as I examined the group from Alec's side. I blinked, realizing he was already surveying me, not unlike a meal but heavy with intrigue. A little too much intrigue, in Alec's opinion, as a rumbling snarl made the other male back off – at least, I thought it would.

Thank the gods for Talib, who stepped in again before Alec's temper broke. "Our newest member."

"She's human."

I butted in, not liking the woman's tone. "Last I checked." She gave me a genuine smile, but the magnetic energy still radiated off of her.

My gaze switched to Atlas, who appeared to be observing our stances, my hand on Alec and the protective wave emanating from the twin. I made the strategic decision to separate from Alec and move closer to Percy.

The woman scanned me up and down with an enigmatic smize. She was gorgeous. "Will you not introduce us, Alec?"

They were obviously toying with him. As if they knew the exact buttons to push, and he was tolerating it. Why the hell was he tolerating their attitudes?

Alec folded his arms, "Saffiya, this is Garrow and Oakley. They are members of the Reserve Guard." I glanced up at the new title. With a pretentious smirk, he clarified, "They come when called."

"Ouch."

Alec cared very little. "I expect the Masters are waiting." He nodded at Talib and Percy, who maneuvered to get the others outside.

Oakley stood, "you're not coming?"

Alec threw her a glance as Percy urged her out, feeding her some excuse that had to do with my being human. Once they convinced the group to leave, my guards closed the door on their way out.

I turned on Alec immediately. "What the hell-freaking-o was that?"

Alec frowned at me as I put my hands on my hips. "I have little patience left to deal with any more disrespect today, Saffiya. Do not push me." Disrespect? Sometimes, I just wanted to push this boy into a river.

"Why did you let them talk to you like that? Who are they?"

He sighed, collecting his cloak. "I am unsure of the Masters' intentions. It is best to remain cordial until we know more."

I turned away, refusing to look at him. Something about his behavior bothered me, and the missing pieces made it ache more than it should. "Why wouldn't Aro mention them?"

Alec paused but didn't answer, expertly changing the direction of the conversation. "I am sure I do not have to tell you, but Garrow and Oakley are dangerous."

"I get it. Stay away from them."

"No, Saffiya," he took my chin gently, searching my eyes to ensure I understood. "Avoid them at all costs."

~•~

Alec and I slipped into the dingier, less grand throne room from the side after getting me more appropriate clothes for the meeting—specifically, something around my neck. Despite our attempt to enter unannounced, our arrival overwhelmed the previous topic in the room.

Oakley stood between the two men as they faced the Kings, but she was the only one to turn around. She lifted her chin and looked directly at me, raising her hand and moving her fingers in a quick wave. It felt a bit disparaging, but Prosper's body quickly blocked her from my view. He made brief eye contact with Alec before offering his arm and guiding me to the back of the room with the lighter cloaks.

I refrained from glancing back until we were in place. Alec was already facing his Masters in his usual position, but I know he felt my eyes on him. He was so far away.

Felix and Demetri stood on either side of the main doors, but I couldn't see them past Prosper as he settled me between him and Hamzah, who gave me a goofy smile before Prosper noticed. Dorian and Amaya mirrored us along the other side of the circular room. I wondered if this had been intentional, for so many of Alec's team to be present.

Except for Santiago and Xavier, who stood in the center, diagonal from one another. They were equally attentive to the conversation, or rather the guests, always prepared in case someone decided to move against the Masters, which happened more often than one would think.

I was quick to realize that I despised this location. I was spoiled by Alec and Jane's status and placement, allowing them to see the Kings expressions and the audience simultaneously. I, like anyone, relied on body language and facial expressions just as much as the words people chose. I felt blind. This sucked.

Maybe I could just go sit in that alcove, slowly – nope. Caius immediately turned a glare on me as if daring me to try it. I retreated the two steps I'd taken, mouthing a "shut up" to Felix.

Garrow addressed the court from where we had cut them off, seemingly oblivious to my attempt. "In addition to our skillsets, we believe we have key information that would provide an upper hand against your growing enemy." They didn't elaborate, so I assumed we'd missed the boring stuff. I could wait for Alec to explain any other unknowns – after he lectured me about the importance of always being prepared for court and arriving on time.

The three exchanged tempered looks, and Garrow continued. "We do not know Razin's current whereabouts." Caius and Alec rolled their eyes almost simultaneously – so blatantly, even I could see it from across the room. The Masters had grown tired of Razin as a topic, giving it less than thought save for Alec's updates. "But we can provide insight on the man himself."

Insight? On a man we'd never laid eyes on? The silence in the room suggested many of us shared the same suspicions, but I wasn't so definitive. If John could move around the human and vampire world with all he knew, and with the many nomads and covens, anyone could know anything. Maybe we just hadn't found the right people yet. I knew Alec was sending the others to locations, but he hadn't mentioned anything about tracking down specific vampires.

There was a glint in Aro's eye, and he waved his hand, offering the floor.

Garrow turned to Atlas, who took over. "I was contacted a year ago by my creator. He sought my support and, thereby, our coven's support for a regime change in the vampire world. For a man called Razin." Oakley and Garrow seemed bothered when the room failed to react, as the information was clearly not new to us, but Atlas remained undeterred.

"A few months later, we heard loose rumors that Razin's efforts were growing, but it was not until we crossed paths with Huda that we realized the significance."

Caius interrupted as if testing the validity of his story. "She did not speak of you."

Garrow nodded to confirm his friend's statement. "It was shortly after her last visit to Volterra in April. We knew the right side. So, we came to offer our assistance."

"You offer very little," Marcus warned.

"If I may, your majesties, I was not finished." Caius clicked his tongue, looking ready to positively annihilate the other man. He refrained, likely his and the other kings' egos winning out as they allowed him to continue. The fact that he almost got himself killed seemed not to register with Atlas, as he continued in the same laidback tone. "When I met with my creator, I was highly suspicious of the objectives Razin had set. But my creator had an unwaveringly philosophical, independent mind, and one not easily swayed by chaotic rhetoric."

I recalled the behavior of Razin's followers, those we had seen so far – specifically Zafir and Travis. It was almost manic, the way they spoke about Razin and his plans. Driven by a loyalty reminiscent of a cult to its leader.

"Get on with it," Caius pressed. He was certainly in a mood today. That is, more so than usual.

"Of course, forgive me." There was no way this guy was this polite and respectful on a regular basis. "My creator was adamant that their plans would succeed due to Razin's ability to see the future."

His words captured the attention of the entire room, reaffirmed by a round of murmurs from the few guards present. Prosper remained professional, giving me a look designed to remind me to stay quiet, as if he wasn't sure how I'd react. But even he seemed unsettled by the danger, giving himself away as he moved closer to me.

Caius hissed, "Silence."

Aro stood abruptly, flashing down the steps to take Atlas' hand, too desperate to know the end of the story before the rest of us. His face was half hidden behind Atlas' shoulder, but I was able to catch the glances he sent his fellow kings as he remained standing.

"Continue," Aro urged. Caius' patience was running thin as he shifted on his throne, but Marcus waited with an outward display of ease. But even he was unable to hide his intrigue. However, none of the Kings expressed any concern for the threat Razin might pose with this power.

"Razin sees a fixed future – the future," Atlas confirmed. "In any given moment, a person can make numerous decisions that might alter future events." Like Alice Cullen's gift. The way she explained it, nothing in the future was set in stone. If this was true, how would we know the difference between Razin's future and Alice's? Did it even matter?

"If we accept the validity of Razin's gift," he continued, "we understand that while these decisions can shape the path to the future, they do not have an impact on fixed events. It is a prophecy, in a way. Certain moments in time are destined to occur, and regardless of the choices made, these particular events that he sees, fixed events, are inevitable."

The lack of free will in this concept made my throat constrict, and the implication of powerlessness was almost enough to drive the world mad. From the look on Caius' face, it already was.

"Say, for example, that my arrival here is a fixed event." Atlas simplified, though I think the Masters understood. I, however, leaned back against the stone wall. Prosper set a hand on my shoulder, and I nodded as if to say I was okay. "Even if I had never met Garrow and Oakley, I would still arrive here to deliver this information."

Caius interjected with an underlying threat, questioning further, "And if you were never turned?"

"In that case, my presence here would not be essential to the event. You could be receiving this information from anyone."

"Fascinating," Aro determined thoughtfully before seeking further confirmation, "Then we were always meant to learn of his gift at this precise moment?"

"No, that was merely an example. You might have learned this information at any point, or not at all before the culmination of events, this fixed event that Razin has seen."

Then, it clicked.

A small breath zipped through my lips, but only Alec's concerned gaze left the scene to find me. The rest seemed to be waiting with bated breath. Waiting for what we already knew.

The day had been clouded, overtaken by the revelation that Alec and I were mates. But I could still see Zafir, the obedient puppet of a master with outrageous demands for the Volturi's surrender, offering us the unknown on a silver platter.

"Your threats are without foundation," Aro informed him. "Your coven may desire power, but any attempt to destroy the Volturi will fail."

"They are not threats, but rather a forewarning of the rebellion that is to come." Zafir began to stand but was shoved back down to his knees. "Razin will restore our kind to our former glory. His reign will become legendary and it will commence as he stands on your ashes in this very room."

Zafir's voice rang out in the chamber, "He has seen it."

"Razin claims to have foreseen the downfall of the Volturi – the exact moment that your reign ends, and his begins."

How did we miss it?

Caius leaned forward spitefully, though he was not addressing Atlas. "It could be a ruse. A lie to recruit." Aro raised a hand to placate his brother.

"It could." Atlas agreed, dark eyes filled with conviction, "but it is working."

Aro steepled his hands together, sitting back on his throne. "And what of your creator?"

"I refused his offer." Atlas said, "He reacted poorly, and so we parted ways."

Aro smiled tightly, congratulating him slowly. "The Volturi commends you for upholding your duties to the vampire world and our laws."

"Thank you," Atlas acknowledged. I frowned, finding the whole thing strange. Or maybe it was just my automatic dislike of authority that made Aro's comment and Atlas' response feel so empty. Or maybe I just felt empty after the information we'd just received.

Marcus was not one to miss the details, his deep voice intruding, "You spoke of rumours?"

"Only of their pillaging and overarching mission." Marcus stared forward blankly, so whether he would ruminate on the subject could be up to debate. Atlas seemed to notice there was a second part to the question and briefly glanced over his shoulder. "The human we had not heard of."

I could feel the eyes of the guards on me, but my eyes never strayed from Alec. He was motionless, a gargoyle's stoic companion. I wondered whether this news would please or distress him. There was no guarantee that this group of three had heard every rumour out there in the vampire gossip mill.

Marcus echoed my thoughts, "Perhaps you have not heard all the rumours."

"Perhaps," Oakley acknowledged slyly.

Leaving the matter alone for the moment, Aro seemed to accept their offer. "Can you assure us of your self-control?"

Oakley answered for the group. "We can." Were they talking about me, I mean, my blood? What kind of a question was that? Like, sure, just take their word for it, Aro.

"Very well." He was actually doing it. Not even a warning? Who were these guys? "As members of the Reserve Guard, you are welcome to stay until the matter is resolved. I am sure Alec can find some use for your…talents on his task force."

Aro somehow managed to insult the group's value and forcefully order Alec to make them useful at the same time. I might have been amused if the situation didn't make me uncomfortable.

Alec nodded – an action so small I almost missed it with the distance. I could sense his animosity, but he knew better than to argue.

"Dorian will show you to temporary accommodations," Aro concluded.

They were dismissed with the rest of the guard, many of whom shot questioning glances at me that they never would have dared if Alec was beside me. It seemed to piss Prosper off because he glared some of them down until they averted their gaze.

Back up front, Alec stepped up to the thrones. Prosper moved to join Alec and the Kings once the last of the guard had parted, leaving the room oddly empty. This, too, must have been planned. I hesitated but followed my friend.

"Yes, Alec?" Aro had spoken, but Caius rested his chin on his hand to express his disdain for the upcoming conversation.

"Permission to speak candidly, Master?" Aro waved permission, already anticipating Alec's concerns. "While their information is useful, it does not contribute to the task force's efforts to uncover the current status of Razin's efforts or his location. Their involvement will give the impression that we have nothing substantial on our own and raise suspicion amongst the rest of the guard without proper cause."

Caius was almost too delighted to put Alec in his place. "And do you have anything substantial at this time?"

It was the first time I saw Alec completely balk in front of the Masters. But he held his head high, swallowing the shame.

"You should be grateful to the cousins' and their companion." Alec's jaw tightened, but he submitted to Caius' admonishments. "Without their information, you would no longer have a task force to lead."

"Yes, sir." Alec did not move, and Caius huffed, sensing he had more to discuss.

"What else, boy?"

"I have reservations about the cousins' judgment," Alec voiced. Cousins? I assumed he could only be referring to Garrow and Oakley.

His words hung in the air, carrying a sense of caution and wariness. The Masters each turned their attention towards Alec, their expressions betraying a mix of curiosity and expectation.

Caius suddenly seemed more willing to entertain the idea. "You trusted them once before."

A shadow passed over his eyes, but he did not disagree. "There is more at stake now than ever."

"Very well." Aro determined with a quick nod from Caius. "Adjust your orders as you see fit – within reason, my child."

"Yes, Master."

I expected the discussion to end, but Alec and Prosper remained in place. I wanted nothing more than to leave and ask Alec every question that plagued my mind. But I realized they had stayed because we had not been dismissed. The shift in the group sent a wave of uneasiness through me as we waited for more.

"With this in mind, we should consider the safety of your mate," Aro began as if he and the men beside him had already discussed and closed the matter. Alec didn't meet my gaze, but I sensed his desire for reassurance mirrored my own. "Their thoughts indicate a lack of awareness regarding your mateship, but it would be wise to preemptively reaffirm their loyalty. Your bond is not a secret we can maintain for long."

There seemed to be more concern about the danger my relationship with Alec put me in than the bloodlust of these new vampires. The two topics had always been an issue, but I had put less weight in one over the other, unlike this.

"As is the nature of secrets," Marcus rasped, staring Alec downwith a look that could be construed as disappointment. But as far as I knew, Alec had not done anything wrong. He would never lie to the Masters and swore the same to me. I must have been overthinking it. Marcus barely had three expressions, and he was probably just stressing the importance of Aro's message.

"We informed them that Saffiya is a new member yet to be turned."

Caius grunted, disapproving of the half-truth, "Which suggests we are willing to harbor a human."

"We are already harboring a human, Caius," Marcus sighed with the barest hint of exasperation coloring his bored drawl.

Aro returned to the matter, eyeing me before looking to Alec again, "It would be prudent to assign someone, in addition to Saffiya's current guards, to protect her in your absence."

Stunned and uneasy, Alec reluctantly questioned, "In my absence?"

They wanted to separate us.

I almost mistook Marcus' sudden scrutiny to be sympathy as Aro continued. "My dear boy. You have responsibilities to attend, and it will be…" he paused for dramatic effect, "difficult to also handle the accommodations that must be made in regards to your mate."

He had a point, especially with the added stress of not fully trusting their visitors while simultaneously giving them access to Alec's inside group. After that first incident with Dorian, the team members had learned to come to each meeting prepared to sit in a room with a human for two hours. Though they initially did this out of fear for retribution if an accident occurred again (I didn't ask if Dorian had received punishment for nearly losing control and attacking me), I think there was a growing respect for Alec's leadership. Then again, I was biased.

However, if I was what we were claiming me to be – just a human set to join the Volturi without a personal connection to Alec, even I knew damn well that Alec would be the little shit he always was to a random human. His old friends likely knew him to despise humans, a bias anchored in his thousands of years that my humanity had not and probably never could change. No matter how difficult the cognitive dissonance had been for him.

With Garrow and Oakley's experience with and expectations of the powerful twin, even if the Masters were grooming me as a human to join the Volturi, all three reserve members would likely be suspicious of any inch of leeway or patience Alec might show me. At least, I assumed that was the idea.

I understood it. I hated it – but it made sense.

The guards' decision to attend the meeting after recent meals could be considered an accommodation. One that Alec still needed to consider anytime I was around other vampires. I wondered how many aspects of his life were being held back because of me. Me and my humanity.

Alec's glare could burn through the stone floors, his tilted head appearing to submit. But he was teetering with rage. I could feel it. I had to resist the urge to go to him, and Prosper shot me a look that kept me rooted in place.

Almost petulantly, Alec contested, "I can fulfil my duties and protect my mate at the same time."

Prosper's body stiffened on my other side. The silence from all three Kings was deafening, filling the air with its own warning as we waited for the whistle of a lashing or the clap of a slap. Some punishment befitting the disrespect of a foolish and emotional teenage boy.

I winced as Aro's voice emerged, cold and toneless,

"We say you cannot."

Alec still had not looked up – doing so would almost certainly be a challenge. But the Masters were acutely aware as he balled up his fists.

Someone said Prosper's name – Marcus, I think, but I closed the two steps to my mate before the guard could pull me away from what they were convinced was a vampire steadily losing control. Alec bared his teeth at Prosper for it but allowed me to grab his bicep and redirect his focus back to the Masters. My friend backed off.

Alec's eyes softened as he took me in, and I'm not sure whether my concern or disappointment was more pronounced.

"Perhaps this is part of a bigger problem," Caius murmured. My eyes widened at the insinuation and the potential ramifications if the Kings believed the boy would choose me over his duties. I spun around, standing like a barrier in front of Alec.

"No, he's okay. It's my fault. I…err…I tripped this morning and bruised myself, as usual. We had a bit of a disagreement, tensions ran high – but it's all good now." Alec's hand found mine behind my back, squeezing it to calm me down as I kept running my mouth. It was an obvious lie, but just plausible and stupid enough for them not to care. "I think he's just a little hyper-aware right now, but I promise I will be extra careful over the next few days. He won't let you down."

I couldn't tell what they actually expected from him, but I was almost always missing a piece of the puzzle in these conversations. By the grace of Pluto, Aro sighed in a perplexing contentment, clasping his hands.

Thankfully, Alec's respect for the Masters won out. "I apologize, Masters," he capitulated whether he believed it or not, "I acknowledge that my mate would be well-suited by a temporary guard while I attend to my duties - in light of our guests."

"And whom would you like to nominate, dear boy?" All appeared to be forgiven – until,

"My sister," Alec grunted, making it clear that the only other person he trusted with my safety was definitively unavailable.

What the hell-o was wrong with him? I half expected Caius to smite him for his impertinence, but the older vampire simply grumbled under his breath. I missed the words, but it was evident he was quickly losing the patience to deal with us for much longer.

My heart was beating a thousand miles a minute. Mediating or whatever I was doing between Alec and his leaders made me want to crawl into a corner and disappear until I remembered how to breathe. But I couldn't. So I had to think fast.

"Prosper." I cut in before anyone else could, sending Alec a pointed look to stick the snarky attitude in his back pocket. It was clear to me that members of the High Guard would not be a reasonable option. But then, by our present company, I had to assume the Kings had already made their decision for my new temporary bodyguard. As they often did.

A giddy smirk grew on Aro's face at my amenability, even if it was in place of Alec on the edge of a teenage rebellion.

"Alec?" Marcus was offering him another chance.

Alec looked at me before scrutinizing Prosper. "I would request your Honors to consider Prosper."

Despite how long it took his ward to return to a somewhat acceptable disposition, Aro seemed satisfied. "Very well. Prosper is relieved of his duties for the time being. Saffiya will return to her own room, and your contact will be limited."

"For her safety," Caius reiterated, glaring at me.

Alec and Prosper nodded respectfully and began to pivot around as if we had been dismissed. This time, I was the one who knew better.

"Prosper and Saffiya should spend time with the other guards in this time – allow her to experience the mundane." There was an edge to Aro's voice now, an underlying dominance masquerading patiently as a silvery swallow. "How does that sound?"

The man was scowling at us, making his intention quite clear. Alec had frozen, literally frozen in place. He had done his absolute best to keep me away from the lower guards for reasons beyond safety but had yet to be explained to me. And now the Kings wanted to throw me into the fire to remind him of his place.

It was my turn to share my mate's punishment, and I needed to answer so he didn't have to. I took a breath, calming my mind and trying to catch the briefest memory of Jane's energy when she spoke to the Masters.

But Alec had officially lost his mind, stepping past me with a plea. As if he wasn't one of their most powerful and respected soldiers, but a mere teenage boy. "Masters, I must implore you –

"I am grateful," I interrupted sharply, faking a gracious smile. What would Jane say? "For the opportunity to gain a greater understanding of the Volturi that will allow me to foster a deeper respect for the coven." The words felt empty, like answering a job application, but Caius had sat up straighter. My eyes flickered to Marcus, who leaned into the arm of his chair and turned away. I prayed that this shift meant I'd convinced them enough to back off for now.

I ended on Aro, whose face had become stoic, the intensity of his stare exposing what I would later identify as an unmistakable expression of avarice.

"I did say, Caius," he gave a honeyed sigh as he watched a tamed Alec wrap an arm around my stomach and pull me in. "A lovely match."

What the fuck.

~•~•~•~

A/N: The reveals in this chapter have been so long coming you guys have no idea.

There's a lot of elements to this chapter, so a thousand and one thanks to Wattpad readers Liv0mikaelson, lana1110, and RockaRosalie for pre-reading it. This chapter was barely 2,500 words, of which they received 1,000, and somehow it's now 5,000 words so thank them for inspiring me to write 3,500? (math) words that they did not get to read until now!

Show of hands, who thinks Alec and Fiya can pull this off?

Raise your hand if you're mad cause they finally somewhat made it and now there's all these strangers coming in and fucking stuff up.

Hand up for, I dunno...[fill in the blank].

Happy Birthday! Whoo! I need sleep.

Ro