Edward's POV:

'Oh Great Obsidian, keep my arse from getting any more scars.' I silently pray as we morph back to our human selves, and land on the eastern watch tower.

A new set of clothes had been placed on one of the wooden benches. I refrained from looking at anyone in the eye as I picked up my clothes, moving to an obscured spot before I began to pull on my clothes.

Our father was pissed as he led us down the stairs, and in the direction of his office, near the library.

I was sure that the gold still present in his eyes as he stared us all down, more like glared.

"Put your damn clothes back on." He snarled as he shook his head at all three of us, as he waved his hands and his clothes appeared on him.

Smooth.

I turned away as I finished pulling everything on, once fully dressed, I turned to look at everyone else. I could see the new scar on Jasper's back of where Kal had torn part of his wing off. His leg was still bleeding slightly from where Kal had scratched.

The right side of my face stung as I stared at him. And I knew my head was going to hurt tomorrow morning, and so was my back from the whacks Jasper had given me with his tail.

I noticed Emmett also had a large gash on his arm, one on his back, and neck.

I shook my head at our stupidity, let out a frustrated long breath, and focused on getting this over with so I could get back to tending to Isabella and my son, all while ignoring the looks I was receiving from Jasper and Emmett.

Emmett winced at our father's tone before quickly pulling his clothes on. While Jasper huffed.

I could still see Volthor present in his sharp, dark yellow colored eyes. He was still pissed off from the ass-kicking I gave him earlier. I knew that he was, but what else was I supposed to do? He left Isabella and our youngling, which I now knew was a son, defenseless.

Emmett had to turn into his dragon in order to get me off of Jasper, who never bothered to transform.

Fafnir was very well dormant in Emmett's eyes. The violet had turned back to the light blue it usually is as he stared ahead.

We were all wincing as he moved to follow my father to his office.

We expected him to give us a tongue lashing after destroying part of the northeastern wing for the umpteenth time this year but as we walked in, he managed to lock the doors behind us.

He turned to give us all a thundering look before shaking his head, "Whuh- Hah- Do you have any idea what your idiocy could have done?" He finally asked.

Emmett opened his mouth but both Jasper and I elbowed him and shook our heads at him.

Our father glared at us as he stood behind his desk. "Well?"

Before either of us could stop him, Emmett spoke, "Well, what? I mean. We sort of did a lot today. What exactly are you mad about?" He asked, causing Jasper to let out a defeated sigh, and shake his head before smacking Emmett upside the head.

Our father's eyes turned an alarming shade of gold as he glared at us. "Yes, I am well aware of that, son." He sighed, slamming his eyes shut and taking a slow, deep breath, "What I am referring to is you three crossing into another realm without permission. Do you three have any idea what could have happened had I not caught wind of it and gone to save your hides? Do you have any idea what could have happened?" He asked as he looked over at me.

I flinched under his stare, shame blooming in my chest. His eyes spoke legions as he stared me down. I wasn't going to say I regret it, because I absolutely didn't, but the fact that I had crossed into another realm without permission from my father was a stupid thing to do. I not only placed myself in danger, I had placed Jasper and Emmett in grave danger, had my father not arrived as I was preparing to make my way into the Swan's castle, we would have all been captured.

I had been stupid. I'm supposed to lead by example, I am their superior and should have been thinking straight. But the fact that Isabella had left had given me little to no time to process this before I had arrived and started kicking his ass.

"It wasn't Edward's fault." Jasper finally spoke.

Our heads turned sharply in his direction. Our father raised a brow in his direction.

"It was my fault. Isabella ran as I was trying to communicate with Edward. I only realized what was happening because I heard a portal being opened. I take full responsibility for what happened. " He states.

I huffed. "That is a lie. I am the one who realized it. Did I not tell you to not leave her side? She disappeared under the noses of everyone. What were you thinking?" I retorted.

He dropped his head in shame. "Forgive me, brother. I was overconfident." He mumbled.

'Damn right you were, you little shit.' I think towards him.

He snickered but kept his head down.

"Enough! You three went into Elysianth, without backup. Without informing me of anything. You broke half a dozen laws, to which you all have to answer to. How are you all going to fix this?" He demanded, after slamming his hand on the desk, cracking it from the force, causing us to flinch.

He looked down at it and blinked, 'Shit, Esme is going to kill me for breaking another desk when she finds out.' He thinks.

We bit back our laughter as we saw the fear on his face before he masked it with anger.

Kaldrak's anger suddenly filled my head as he glared in our father's direction.

'He can't lay a hand on our offspring. I will kill him myself. I won't allow anyone near my mate or offspring.' he snarls in my mind.

'Neither will I.' I replied, tensely.

"Relax son, I only said that to keep Charles at bay. You two were marked already. That is what no one realizes. There's a loophole in the concordance." Our father says with an eye roll.

I frowned, "How did you-" I began to say.

"Your scent has changed, son. So has hers. You have to be blind and stupid to not notice that. You two are marked, are you not?" He asked me.

I blinked, I hadn't noticed my scent had changed. "How-?" I began to ask only to trail off.

"She smells of flowers, something fruity and a lingering sweetness. You now have that mixed into your scent. She smells of you too. Mint… seabreeze, ashwood." He explained.

I frowned, as I reached up to rub the dainty handprint she left on my peck.

"You need to complete the bond, a fortnight is too long to wait. I know your dragon is desperate to protect both your mate and offspring. Do it. It'll only get worse if time ends. You've already broken one law. I'm sure it won't matter now if you solidify the bondmate call." He reassured me.

I shook my head at him. "I won't touch her until she is my wife. I need to give her that." I told him.

They huffed in unison.

"You already have a son, Edward. Being intimate with her will not change that." He pointed out.

I shook my head adamantly. "I don't care. Our union is going to be witnessed by all the realms. I will not have them questioning her maidenhood or our intentions and commitment." I tensely said.

Our father sighed, "No one will breathe a word, Edward. You're not the first couple to do this…" He finally sighs.

I blinked, "What? But… all of history… states… that all offspring born out of wedlock…" I stuttered. "You annihilated Carmichael for doing so with Aryna." I added, accusingly.

He shook his head, "Carmichael committed treason. He was not mated to Aryna, and he was trying to kill both Triton and I. The difference is that you are mated, the child is your biological son, and you are betrothed. Every other time this has happened the couple were copulating and aspiring against the realms. You were not. Your actions were pure of heart, son. Charles and I can see that." He stares before waving his hand.

I frowned, "What about Damario of Ucisos and Endora of Aerwyna?" I asked. "Luna of Accenara and Magnus of Nylander?" I asked.

"Damario and Endora are well and living in Accenara." He informs me. "Luna and Magnus are living in Estrade. They've chosen to live without their power in order to keep their offsprings safe." He states.

"Why was word spread that they were executed?" I asked, tensely.

He sighed, "Because they asked the elders and leaders of all the realms to help them disappear. They did not want anyone knowing of their location. A witch and mermaid bonding isn't something anyone expects, neither is a mermaid and a demon. Dozens of cases like these have happened and been kept under wraps, son. All except… your mother and mine." He informs me.

I frowned, "Wait, I thought mom was of the Elvan…" I began but trailed off when he shook his head.

"Your mother is the youngest daughter of Triton and Odina," he informs me.

"That explains why we can smell the sea breeze when you're near us," Emmett comments.

I frowned, "But… you've…" I began.

Our father nodded, "Always told you to never bond with someone who is not of our species. That statement stands. No one besides your destined bondmate should get to touch you, be so close to you." He says as he walks around his desk to me.

I had a feeling that Jasper and Emmett's expressions were mirroring my own.

"What about us finding our mates? Are we not allowed to mate before him?" Jasper finally asked.

Our father sighed, "You don't look. They find you when you least expect them to." He explained.

Their shoulders sagged, but they nodded in response.

"Now, onto the prior issue. Your punishments." He states.

We winced and straightened as he looked between us.

"Shortly before I was informed of your idiotic actions, I was informed of a village being burned down in the Witches Realm. Oclitria. They believe the fire wasn't forged but magically forged. I need you to investigate this occurrence. I want this matter contained and kept under wraps." He informs us.

Jasper frowned, "What does this mean?" He asked.

Our father sighed. "I will not jump to conclusions just yet. But we will prepare for the worst. Until we know for sure what has truly happened, but this matter does not leave this room." He tells us.

Jasper and I exchanged a look of confusion, as we realized that this hardly seemed like a punishment, and held back a smile as we stared at him.

Emmett nods with a frown, "That hardly seems like a punishment." He points out.

Jasper and I sigh, both reaching in unison to smack him in the back of the head.

"Were you dropped on your head as a youngling? What is wrong with you?" Jasper quietly asked, annoyed.

Our father rolled his eyes, "No, the punishment is that you will help restore that sector to its prior condition." He clarifies.

"Again. That seems like something is missing there." Emmett says, moving his hands in front of him in a 'continue' motion.

"No using your powers unless absolutely necessary." Our father adds. "Now get your asses out of my sight before I have you restore the wing you tore down." He snaps as motions for us to leave.

We nodded in response as Jasper wrapped an arm around Emmett, and I pulled him by the arm out of the room.

He lets out a muffled scream from under our holds, as we make it down the hall and let him go, glaring at him.

"What did I do?" He asks as Jasper smacks him upside the head again.

"You couldn't keep your mouth shut, that's what," Jasper growls, smacking him again.

"Do you have any idea how long a sector takes to restore? Without powers?" I retort, smacking him too.

"Sector, what about them?" Our mother suddenly asked.

We stiffened. "Uh… yes?" I said as Emmett and Jasper scurried to hide behind me to avoid our mother's gaze.

Cowards.

"I asked a question." Our mother states in a commanding tone, placing her hands on her hips.

I sighed, "Our father has us investigating something that happened in a different realm. We are to help restore the sector but are not allowed use our powers to do so." I explained.

Her eyes flashed in anger.

Oh shit.

We take a step back as we see our mother's face glow red.

"Absolutely not." She growls.

"It's our punishment for what we did earlier today," I tell her as I try to stop her from moving.

She smacks my hands away, and waves her hand, causing a wave of water to smack me in the face.

Before a cuff of ice surrounds my wrists, pinning me and my brothers to the wall.

"Where is he?" She asks, a bit too calmly.

"Off-Office," I respond, wide-eyed.

She nods. "Those are not going to leave you until I am through speaking to your father." She says as makes her way down the hall.

She walks a few steps and stops short, and turns slowly, "By the way, your mate has been relocated to my wing. You stay away from her until first light. She placed a protection charm and locked the doors magically as soon as I walked away. You won't get past either if she is not awake." She adds amused as she walks away.

I sigh and look down at the cuffs on my wrist.

Kal huffs in amusement in my mind. 'I see what the attraction to a strong woman is. She kicked your ass without even touching it.' He snips.

'Fuck off, we're in this mess because your ass can't differentiate between two friends coming to visit and a fucking stranger posing a threat.' I snapped.

'They were a threat to our youngling. Volthor and Fafnir may be your brothers' counterparts but they are no friends of mine. I don't trust anyone besides those deemed worthy of my trust.' He growls back.

'We've grown up with them. Your lack of trust is in yourself. Stop being idiotic and focus on what's important. We need to keep our mate and youngling safe. Not fight against family.' I reasoned.

He huffed in response before transferring the heated breath to me.

Without hesitation, I melt the ice from all our hands.

"Where are you going?" Jasper asked as I moved in the direction of my wing.

"To bed. I have an early morning. Not to mention we now have an investigation pending in the other realm." I told him.

He nods, "Right. Well, that is true. Why don't we meet in the courtyard?" He asks.

Emmett and I nod before dispersing.

I made my way to the room that was destroyed.

Half the wall was missing from the north side of the room. Rumble was littered on the ground along with my clothes from earlier.

Fuck, I had morphed in front of Isabella and my son standing a few feet from me.

They could have been hurt.

'Caspian.' Jasper's voice suddenly rang in my mind. 'That is the name your Isabella chose for your son.' He adds before closing the link.

"Caspian Thackeray Cullen." I muse, as I get to work on repairing the room.

It ended up taking more than half the night to fix the wall and window.

My mother came in sometime during the night and sighed as she sat down and watched me work.

"Your father is angry at me for interfering but he admits that you do need your powers, especially if you are going to be scouring through magically burned cinders and ashes." She informs me.

I nod, before turning back and flexing my shoulders as I finish the last of the room's ceiling, a tired sigh escaping my lips as I do.

"Get some rest, son. You're going to need it, especially if you're leaving in a few hours' time." She said, as pats my shoulder and turns to leave.