"Look at you, Momma," Angela says as she enters the waiting room. "Aren't you glowing?"

I smile, about to reply before noticing a heavily pregnant Cullenite exit the hallway. Angela sees my interest and turns to the other female. "Jessica," she calls, motioning her over. "Would you like to meet Princess Isabella?"

"Princess," Jessica gasps, hurrying over to bend the knee.

"Don't," I say urgently. "Please rise." I can barely picture myself dropping to one knee, much less when I'm as heavily pregnant as her. "I thought since we're the only two pregnant beings in the kingdom we should have a conversation."

"Of course, Princess," Jessica says. She's a tall feline, with yellow-blonde fur and dark green eyes. Much like the other females in Kingdom Cullen, she has no mane and a lean build. Her stomach protrudes like a watermelon from her trim waist.

"How many are you carrying?" Rose asks, ever the inquisitive one.

"Three." Jessica smiles fondly as she rests her hand on her stomach. "Two boys and a girl."

"How far along will I be when we can find out?' I ask, feeling nostalgic for the last appointment when Edward was here with me.

"We can tell in another two weeks," Angela says happily. "I'll make sure to book your next appointment sooner rather than later."

"I'm not quite ready," I say, fighting back tears. "I don't want to find out until Prince Edward has been returned to us safely."

Angela's smile falls. "Of course, Princess. Has there been any news?"

"We await word from the Council," Rose says before I have a chance. "As you can tell, it's a tender subject."

"The king will announce his return as soon as it has been granted," I throw in, knowing it will happen.

My biggest concern is when.

What condition will my mate be in when he returns?

I feel bleaker with every new day that passes.

No one knows this, probably not even Edward himself, but late at night, sometimes, he slips. The wall he's put up between us weakens, and the pain he suffers leaks through. I'm careful not to react for fear that he'll lock down even tighter, so I wallow beside him, unbeknownst to anyone else.

Not even Rose.

"Princess?" Jessica is looking at me strangely, and I realize I've missed her question.

"I'm sorry, what was that again?"

"I was wondering if you'd like to join me for tea one day?" she asks. "I could let you meet my older two cubs and show you a taste of what you might be in for. I imagine it may be a shock to a human just how rambunctious Cullenite little ones can be."

My brows lift as the picture she paints takes root in my mind. I hadn't given much thought to what mothering hybrid cubs might look like, and now my imagination is running wild.

Rose chuckles. "I take it you haven't thought that far ahead, Princess?"

"I hadn't actually," I reply, laughing myself, though there may be a touch of hysteria in my tone. "That would be lovely, Jessica. I'll have Rose get in touch with you soon."

"When are you due?" Rose asks her.

"Three weeks."

"Would before or after be better?" Rose looks between us.

Jessica looks at me, and I shrug. "If I'm going to see it firsthand, I might as well see how you juggle all five of your children."

"Perfect." Jessica smiles like she's hiding a secret. "Then I'll see you in a month or so."

"I'll be in touch," Rose tells her.

"That went well," Angela says, motioning toward the hall. "Now let's see how these royal cubs are coming along."

My appointment is routine. We don't do any new imaging, but Angela does take a blood sample for a battery of tests she says is perfectly normal at this stage of pregnancy. She makes notes of my weight gain and pushes me to eat more even if I'm not hungry.

And she's right.

With Edward missing, my appetite has diminished.

But our babies are paramount.

"Shall I have dinner delivered to your home?" Rose asks as Emmett shuttles us back toward the palace.

"No," I say, sighing. "Angela is right. I need to eat more, and a social gathering might encourage that habit."

"You mean the great hall?" She's surprised. I've never once shown my face there, even when Edward was here because we spent our spare time in other ways.

"I think so," I muse. "I'm the Princess of Kingdom Cullen, and it's time I start acting like it."

"That you are, my dear," Rose says, beaming. "Take us to the palace, Emmett."

He meets my eyes in the rearview mirror, and with a nod from me, he smiles and veers to the right instead of going straight to my home.

When we enter the castle, people bustle about, which is usual court life, and before I'm led into the great hall, Emmett puts out his hand for me to wait. "I'd like to introduce you, Princess. It's the usual way."

"That's fine." I nod, hooking elbows with my best friend.

Emmett's eyes trail to Rose, and he stares at her for a couple of long seconds before he shakes it off and disappears into the hall.

I huff a laugh. "So, what's going on there?"

Rose shakes her head. "Your guess is as good as mine."

"Okay," I say, rephrasing. "Do you want something to be going on?"

Rose purses her lips, considering her reply. "He's sexy as hell." She shrugs, unbothered by the idea of intermingling with another species. "But he's hostile to his attraction to me."

"So you admit there's an attraction?"

Emmett starts back toward us, his muscles flexing as he walks. "Oh, hell yeah," she says, giving him a once-over. "All he has to do is say the word."

I bark a laugh. "Jesus."

"Princess," Emmett says, eyes wandering to Rose. "Rosalie, right this way."

I smirk to myself at his use of her whole name as we follow him into the hall. I'm brought up short as everyone at the table stands and applauds my entrance.

My cheeks burn.

"Princess," King Carlisle calls. "We're delighted to see you at court."

"Thank you." I curtsey. "What a lovely welcome."

The king opens his mouth to say more, but a messenger rushes into the room and makes a beeline for His Majesty. My stomach flips. This could be the news we've been waiting for.

Word from the Council.

After a short conversation between himself, King Carlisle, and Queen Esme, the Cullentie hurries from the room. If possible, an already silent room quietens even more.

The king clears his throat. "Emmett, would you bring the princess to the throne room, please."

Without another word, Carlisle, Esme, and Alice leave the grand table. Nerves assault me. Good news would've been delivered right away, would it not?

I brace for the worst as Emmett leads Rose and me through the castle. I nearly pass him as the throne room comes into view, overly eager to hear the news. It's clear Edward isn't here, so the best-case scenario is another stall tactic, worst-case scenario… I refuse to even think it.

"Isabella," Carlisle says as soon as he sees me, his eyes flicking to Rose as she walks beside me. "The Council has ruled that Edward must be returned to Kingdom Cullen, but Forks has made a counteroffer to stall the order."

"No," I say forcefully. "Whatever it is, the answer is no."

"It's me, isn't it?" Rose says, stepping forward. "Will they drop his charges and release the prince with no conditions?"

"They will." The king nods. "But I have already declined the offer."

I release a relieved sigh.

Thank goodness the royal family agrees.

Okay, guys. I did finish ch 30 last week, but that's all. So we're going to skip a week. I'm going out of town on Thursday, so it's unlikely I'll get one done this week. I know it sux, but I assume you'd rather have something regular than us to catch up and then only erratic updates.

I'll admit that some of my time is spent on Blank Space, but it's easy, fun. This story just takes more effort to get it right, so I need to take the time to make sure it is.

See you in 2 weeks :)