Bella

I stare at myself in the full-length mirror, hardly recognizing the woman reflected to me. The dress the Volturi sent is the most impressive piece of clothing I have ever bore witness to. In my reflection, I behold a crimson corseted top. It's tight enough to bare the small breasts I have with voluptuous curves I would have never guessed possible. However, I will have to take breaths in small sips all evening. The full skirts of blood-red silk, black lace, and black tulle fill out the lower half of my figure. To complete the masterpiece, jewels of the same dark red are sewn in the fabric's length to resemble dripping blood. I spin again, looking at myself from every angle. I look like a dark, bloody bride, not a maiden on her coronation day.

Jess scurries back into the room, closing the door behind her and letting out a little sigh of relief. I raise an eyebrow and turn my head towards her. "Already out of breath and the party hasn't even begun?"

"Apologies, my la..Bella." She corrects herself right before I have a chance to react and quickly focuses on the next task of pinning up my hair. She twirls my long chestnut hair together to settle it on top of my head in a neat, but loose bun. Then she strategically pulls out tendrils to frame my face, each one curling slightly at the end. Next to adorn me are the scented oils for an aroma of strawberry and lavender and my crystal heels are the final touch. I feel as though Jess is getting me ready for auction instead of my own party. Dressing me up for the highest bidder to whisk me off into the night and across the border. While the thought doesn't sound too terrible compared to living each day locked up in this castle, an inkling of fear settles in my stomach at who might be doing the whisking.

Once I finally meet Jess' approval, she laces her arm through mine to help steady me in these shoes. They're a far cry from the boots and slippers I normally wear.

"Ready?" She asks, staring at me with wide eyes that are filled with more than just excitement.

"Would you call me a liar if I said yes?" I laugh and we head out the door together.

Even though I can hear the sounds of music and conversation at the party below, the sound of my heartbeat is overpowering. I focus on breathing slowly to keep myself from hyperventilating in this damn corset. Jess and I arrive in front of the door that leads to a large staircase down to the ballroom.

"This is where I leave you, Bella." Jess pats my hand encouragingly. "I'll be watching from the servant's entrance, though. As soon as I see you leave, I'll be right behind you."

I nod because if I say anything, I might lose the fragile hold I currently have over my emotions. She hurries around the corner and I'm alone. My hand trembles around the elaborate gold door knob. It's time, but despite all the excitement from earlier, dread fills me. Closing my eyes, I turn the knob and step through the door. A rush of sound bombards me and I gasp, forcing my eyes back open.

"Now announcing Lady Isabella Swan," Michael, our herald, calls out. Desperately trying to make his squeaky voice boom over the crowd's noise.

Then everyone falls silent and I swear my heart stops for a beat. Walk, I urge myself. Move. My body betrays me and freezes despite urging my feet to please continue down these steps.

Someone laces their arm through mine. I feel the coolness of their body even under the layers of fabric between us.

"Escorted by Lord Edward Cullen," Michael continues.

Edward Cullen. One of the Lords of Forkyrne. And apparently my escort for the evening, or at least down this staircase. I sigh with relief and turn my gaze to him.

He's at least a foot taller than me, and I need to look up to admire him. His tousled, yet styled, sandy brown entwined with blonde, hair sweeps over his eyebrows. He gazes back down at me and I'm immediately drawn in by his golden eyes. Time stops and I can't tell if I'm still walking down the stairs or simply floating.

Edward's lip curls in one corner, allowing me to see his perfect, white teeth. The canine is just slightly sharper than what a human one would be. Unease flitters around my stomach until he speaks and it melts into bliss from his smooth, sultry voice.

"Hello, Isabella." He brings my hand up to his lips and delivers a kiss that's cool on my skin, but spreads a warmth through my entire body. "I was very pleased to learn I'd be the first to escort you this evening. Shall we?"

"We," I whisper, struggling to get each word out. "We shall."

My father is waiting for me at the bottom of our descent. My mother, Lady Renee, is almost certainly off somewhere, acting inappropriately and indiscreetly with one of our many visitors. There's no love lost between her and Charles. Tradition and court expectations alone hold their marriage together.

Charles' hand reaches out for mine and time goes back to normal. Edward gives me a slight bow and disappears into the crowd. My father's hand feels like an iron pulled straight from the flame compared to Edwards.

"You're a vision, Bella." Charles mumbles. It's a compliment, but his tone also implies that he finds this all ridiculous, maybe more than I do. His mouth curls up in a gentle smile as he glances down at me and guides me to the center of the ballroom.

I wonder if he's just as scared as I am, below the surface of his sarcasm, or if he knew about the changes in plans well before I learned I was to be a spectacle tonight for the entire realm.

All eyes in the ballroom are on me as I step out onto the dance floor. I can feel them boring into me and heat suddenly floods my cheeks. As we begin our customary first dance, a pair of piercing deep brown eyes draw my attention in the crowd. The man's skin is a golden brown and his black hair sweeps across his forehead. He doesn't have the glow that all the blood magic wielding fae seem to share, which must make him one of the shapeshifters. Jacob Black. I'm sure this must be the suitor from the Black family of Quitanos. Heat radiates from his gaze, but another stranger steps between us as the first dance comes to an end and Charles steps away.

"Oh my, you look appetizing." The stranger purrs, his grin turning upwards, predatory and cunning. His pushed back blonde hair falls on his shoulders. His crimson eyes, the color of my dress, hold mine and my breath catches in my chest. But not in the way that it did with Edward. Instead of lust, I'm filled with fear and the urge to run as fast and far as I can. "I'm James, Lord of Laepesh and the Nomads."

James reaches for my hand, but before I can pull mine back Edward appears between us. His back to my chest, he pushes me back step by step until there's several feet between us and James. I swear I hear him give a low growl of warning as we retreat.

"You're simply here as a courtesy, James. You'll do well to remember that." Edwards spits out each word at James. But James just rolls his eyes dramatically and saunters away.

Edwards spins to face me and my heart skips a beat. His kind grin beams down at me. I let myself get lost in him as he grabs my hands and leads me into the next dance. My head naturally settles against his chest, disquieting at first because I immediately notice the lack of a heartbeat.

"Isabella," he whispers into my ear. "Don't worry yourself about these other suitors. Jacob and James are here only for tradition. Seala's borders have been closed for some time and it would be considered rude to not invite every province."

"You suggest that you hold some claim over me," I laugh quietly gazing up at him. I don't resist the idea. Our connection was instant. Edward is so comfortable and James is terrifying. Jacob though, something about his gaze upon me as I danced, left me wanting to know more.

"I plan to ask Lord Charlie for your hand tonight, so that I may announce it at the toast before dinner," Edward says matter of factly, without a hint of uncertainty. "Everything about you, Isabella, sings to me. I knew from the moment I saw you on the stairs."

A smile spreads across my face and he reaches up to cup my cheek. His cold fingers bring a soothing touch to my heated face. I shouldn't be falling for someone I just met. A complete stranger, other than what I've learned during my studies. But it feels like there's a thread between us. Connecting us without reason or logic.

A high pitched laugh and clapping breaks the spell between us. "Ah, Isabella." The voice sends a chill through every bone in body like it's freezing me from the inside out.

"Aro has arrived," Edward growls and locks me protectively to his body with his arms. Aro. The Volturi are here.