Portrait of a Volturi Mate - Aro

First Person POV

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I'm the human mate to an arrogant son-of-a-bitch who happens to be a vampire, and I could not love him more.

I ignorantly accepted a free tour of a very old castle of sorts while vacationing in Tuscany Italy, and nearly lost my life. How was I to know the group of tourists on this tour were tagged to be lunch to a bunch of vampires, me included. The doors were opened and we walked into the slaughterhouse, waiting for something magical to happen. For me it did.

The red eyes of a man I saw as so beautiful, it literally hurt my heart, focused on me and pulled me from the sudden and bloody fray with a burst of speed that made me dizzy. When he put me down in an outside corridor, I gazed at him, confused as hell. "What was that all about?" I cried out.

"This is the thanks I get for saving your life. I am Aro, leader of the Volturi, and you now belong to me."

Of course, when I heard those words, and looked into those ruby eyes, what else could I do. I fainted dead away.

When I woke up, I was lying on a bed, plush with velvet blankets and matching cushions. Red Eyes was looking down at me, an enigmatic grin on his otherwise flawless face. I jumped off the bed and headed for a door, only to find I was in a rather ornate bathroom. I left that room and went toward another door, only to find myself in a huge walk-in closet filled with clothes and accessories. I stomped my foot, angry as sin. "Damn, how do I get out of here?" I demanded. I saw one more door and ran for it, but Red Eyes beat me to it and blocked my way. "You are so effing fast," I accused him. All I got in return was a smirk.

"My dear, I meant what I said. You are mine, for all eternity. On the other hand..." He walked up to me and reached out with pale fingers, stroking my cheek. His fingertips were ice cold and I got goosebumps up and down my arms and back. "...I am yours as well."

"Is that supposed to make me happy?" I questioned, using my "unhappy glare" face all my friends knew. However, Red Eyes stepped back from me, seemingly confused.

"Your fate was sealed the moment you entered this castle. You're to be my mate, dear one."

Now I was the confused one. I backed up slowly until the backs of my legs hit a piece of furniture. I sat down on the sofa behind me and looked up at him with enquiring eyes. He obliged me and sat next to me.

"This is the home of the Volturi coven of vampires, and I am Aro, it's leader. When you entered the throne room, you were about to be devoured by one of my Guard, that is until I saved you. When I heard the beating of your heart, I knew why you were here."

When I felt his hand clasp mine, I didn't pull away. I didn't want to. "I suppose I should thank you for saving me, Aro. The rest I don't understand, I'm sorry."

"May I read you, my dear?" Without question, I let him hold my sweating hand, hoping he wouldn't notice. After a couple of minutes, he let it go and merely looked at me. "I understand now. To put it as simply as possible, I am your mate and this castle will be your home. Our fates are bound together."

I rose from the sofa and shook my head slowly. "This can't be." But even as I said the words, I knew he was right. I felt it in my heart. I wanted to touch him, but my instincts betrayed me and I ran for the door again.

He sped across the room and grabbed me by the arms, taking me into an iron-tight embrace. His eyes flashed while he bared his teeth at me. With one hand, he pulled my hair from my neck and I felt cold breath on my skin. His teeth scraped over my tender flesh until I stopped breathing. Then I heard him laugh. "I'm not going to harm you, dear heart. You are one very brave little human."

I was suddenly released, and when I pulled away from him, I swung my arm as if to hit him, but he caught my wrist, then shook his head. "That will hurt you more than me."

I looked him in the eyes and leaned into him, pressing my lips against his. My arms encircled his neck while I tasted him, felt his hard body against me. It all made sense to me now. It really did.

For his part, he joined in the kissing, running the tip of his tongue over my lower lip, his cool hands on my back. "It makes sense to me as well, little one."

I smiled at him. "You're not that much taller than me."

"True," he said. "But I could break you with one hand." There was no threat in the statement, only the truth.

And that is how I, a human, met a vampire who took me into his heart and home, and loved me. Sometimes we argue, neither of us willing to give in. We're both stubborn, but then we enjoy showing each other how much we need the other.

Aro can be an arrogant SOB, but he is my arrogant SOB, and no one else will ever have him.