"Princess." Emmett is beside me and he's urging me back to my feet. "He wouldn't murder anyone in cold blood, not even a human," he says, and I lean against him, absorbing his soothing voice and sturdy embrace. "I need you to be strong. For Edward. For your cubs."

Tears leak down my cheeks, but I don't allow them, or the heavy emotion tied to them, to control me. "I apologize for my lapse, Your Majesties. How can I help?"

"Nonsense," Esme says, standing and opening her arms.

I step into them, grateful to have found support from Edward's family when he can't be here.

After a moment, Carlisle clears his throat. "You said earlier you knew he wasn't dead," he remarks, his eyes shrewd. "Does that mean you can feel him again?"

"I can't," I reply, anger at Edward's choice to exclude me bubbling just beneath the surface. The bitterness leaks into my tone. "For some distressing reason, he's chosen to shut me out."

"So you can assure us he's alive how…"

His question hangs in the air as a wave of doubt moves over me. "His light still exists for me, but I'm unable to feel what he goes through or even where he's located."

"He is in the Kingdom of Forks," King Carlisle replies, and I'm unsure if his animosity is aimed at me or the situation, but it stings either way.

"Your tone, dear," Queen Esme admonishes. "I realize you're under a lot of pressure to respond to this calamity properly, but you cannot let it command your attitude."

He sighs, pinching the wide bridge of his nose. "I apologize, Isabella, if I hurt you in any way."

"No, Your Majesty," I rush to say. "I'm also frustrated and short-tempered."

He almost smiles. "Like two cats in a tree."

"That sounds about right." I don't quite know what the saying means, but he's including me as one of them, so I can only guess it's a compliment. "And it's also the reason I don't think you'll mind if we discuss tactical matters at this time. What exactly is your plan to get my mate back?"

"Bella." Emmett's beside me again, and judging by his rigid posture, I may have misinterpreted King Carlisle's level of camaraderie. "It is not appropriate to question the king."

"It's all right, Emmett," Carlisle says, sighing. "I've sent the messenger back to the Council with a resounding denial of the accusations and a demand that Edward be returned to Kingdom Cullen. Even if he's tried for this madness, I refuse to let my son stay in the Kingdom of Forks to be tortured and belittled by those disgusting primates."

A gasp escapes, and my stomach turns. "You think they're torturing him?"

"It is a possibility," King Carlisle replies.

My stomach revolts, causing me to turn away from the king and queen as I battle the urge to vomit.

"Bella," Esme says, and she's right there, holding me upright. "Deep breaths. In. Out." She follows her technique, requesting that I match my breaths to hers. "When I was pregnant with Alice, I was sick for the entire first half, and fresh air works wonders."

She leads me from the throne room, and Emmett and Rose meander behind us. By the time we arrive outside the castle, my stomach has stopped churning, but I still feel queasy, my skin clammy, and my body jittery.

"Could this be the reason he's cut me off?" I ask, my chest tightening.

Rose rubs my hack. "He'd do anything to shield you from the echo of torture."

My head spins, and I sway on my feet.

Emmett steps over, guiding me away from the two women. "I'm going to take the princess to her room so she can lie down," he says, giving the queen a quick bow. "Send someone to retrieve us if there is any word."

"Of course," Esme says to him before brushing her fingers down my cheek. "Don't lose hope, dear princess. Carlisle will not rest until his heir is back in our kingdom."

I nod once, but then I remember something crucial. "And the other kingdoms?" I ask. "Where do they stand?"

"We are a united front," she replies, shoulders stiff, chin high. "If war comes for one species, it comes for us all."

"Let us hope it doesn't come to that." I take another large gulp of air and nod for Emmett to lead me back to my home.

I return to my apartment no happier than I left. In fact, the news is quite distressing. Royce King has gotten his hands on my mate, and I fear he may attempt to trade him for my best friend.

It's an impossible choice.

With no satisfying answer.

And so much blame.

If it weren't for Rose and me coming here, Edward would still be going about his life. Royce King wouldn't know or care about the Prince of Kingdom Cullen. Sure, we'd still be on the run, but that's nothing in comparison to where we are right now.

"Knock, knock," Rose says, peeping in the door. Her sorrowful expression blends perfectly with my deep-seated guilt. "Can we talk?"

"Sure." I wave her in, already dreading the conversation to come. "I was just about to make some tea."

"Let me." She rushes over and puts a hand on my knee. "It's the least I can do."

"Rose," I say, grabbing her hand as she turns to walk away. "Please don't say things like that."

She pulls away, tears filling her eyes. "I've already caused so much grief, you can at least let me do my job."

"You don't have a job." I cross my arms over my chest. "You're my best friend, my sister, and all I need is you here with me."

"Even at the cost of Edward?" Her chin trembles. "Because that's what I've done, Bella. Royce took him because of me."

"Maybe," I concede, eyes stinging. "But Edward is a target because of his relationship with me. He refused to return you to Forks because of me. I begged for Edward to have you brought back."

She bursts into tears, flopping down beside me. "What have we done, Bella?"

I match her tear for tear. "I think the right question is what are we going to do about it?"

Okay, so we're going to stick with just Mondays for another week or two. I'm only a handful of chapters ahead of you and need to bank a few more.

See you nxt week :)