25
ANCESTRAL MANOR, MORE CONFESSIONS, EXPANDING ABILITIES, AND STRENGTHENING BOND
EXCITEMENT SPREAD ITS WINGS INSIDE HER, Bella not panicking in the least, she knew they'd have everything ready, decided by then, the question on her tongue having nothing to do with planning, fretting. "I believe you, Husband, my love, that I was able to protect you, for I could feel, taste, and smell you, but one thing I understand not is how I was able to utilize my shield thus. According to what you told me, vampiric special abilities arise from the fact that everything gets enhanced once a person gets turned, for example, in your case, you were already pretty intuitive to people's thoughts around you and that translated into mind reading when Carlisle changed you, but I am not a vampire yet, my shield should have not been enhanced in such a way."
He sat them both up, brought her onto his lap, stroked a hand over her back, this man, strong and beautiful, who loved her, had well and truly lost control. He wouldn't kill her, for no part of him was capable of causing her harm, oh, no, his lapse of control had to do with the fact that he was no longer willing to wait seventeen days to marry her, and Bella knew that if they'd already been married he'd cancel the plans with his friends and his beloved mother, Elizabeth, tell them not to come, tumble her into the sheets. They made her womb clench, her thoughts, her body become soft with welcome.
Cold, hard, soft lips against her neck, moving delicately, lovingly, over her throat, the graze of very sharp teeth. "I can scent your arousal, wife of mine, and soon, in a week's time, I will tumble you into our marriage bed, make love to you, claim you as mine, even as you, too, claim me as your own. As for your question, yes, right you are, but you must remember,mon beau diamant, you and I, we are not akin to other vampires, for we have a piece of the other's soul inside, thus I reckon my soul reached out to yours, seeking protection and shelter, allowing you to utilize your shield as if you were a vampire."
A nod that was more thought than movement, his bronze hair, a beautiful shade of brown with notes of red, caramel, and gold, that was so rich and vibrant, it was inhuman—blown back by the wind as they flew through the skies in this incredible car Edward had built. "Yes, that makes sense, only," he shifted, lay down, placing Bella astride him, "abilities akin to ours usually have a distance limit so my soul must have linked to the part of it that is inside you, allowing me to tap into your shield, even as you, too, protected me, akin to a channel or mirror."
"Edward, my love, my beautiful fiance and future husband, I reckon that channel or mirror goes both ways." Bella had put it down to knowing her mother well at the time—that she'd discovered her and Phil we're planning to take her camping to an exotic island for a week for her birthday present within a couple of minutes while they were eating lunch, but she must have tapped into Edward's mind reading ability even as he was tapping into her shield. Yes, it made sense, the images she'd seen in her head . . . Bella was too cautious and responsible to even imagine to attempt such things so they must have been coming from her mother and Phil's thoughts.
"Hmm." Cold, honey-sweet kisses pressed along the line of her neck, Edward angling her head so he could have better access to her throat. "Could you read people's thoughts the day I tapped into your shield, even as you, too, protected me, ma belle lionne?"
"Yes, my mother and Phil's." Her eyes widened as she suddenly realized something. "That is why you can hear Charlie's thoughts clearly when you could not before, whatever his weak mental ability that would become stronger, a gift, were he turned into a vampire, may be, my shield must cancel it out, leaving him wide open for you to read, though, as this, you being able to hear Charlie's thoughts clearly, did not occur until after you and I became betrothed, I would say the fact that our souls are binding is also making the channel or mirror between us stronger."
Yet more kisses pressed along her throat, Edward unable to stop touching and kissing her, and his kisses . . . they made her ache, hope they would get home soon, for she wanted to feed from him, her husband and lover, even as he, too, fed from her, didn't want to do so in the car, not in the way she was thinking, lest they got it dirty with blood. "Yes, I reckon it is thus, and the channel, mirror, between us is bound to get stronger now that you and I are feeding off each other, however, I reckon not this is the total extent of our abilities, as mine are ever-changing, acquiring new facets and components ever since we became betrothed, you and I, ma belle mariée, I will show you what I mean when we get home, as it will be easier."
Bella's face fell, at first she'd thought it a gift, a blessing in disguise, but now that she understood things better . . . she looked down, press kisses to his collarbone and still heart, tears, hot and salty, cascading down her cheeks, falling on his shirt.
Cold, gentle fingers under her chin, tilting her head up to look at him, those incredible, beautiful, inhuman emerald green eyes that sometimes shifted to blue filled with concern. "What is the matter, mon doux ange, what is it that makes you cry thus?"
"I just—" she buried her face against his neck, pressed a kiss to his throat, where, if he'd been human, he'd have a pulse, "I do not wish to shield myself from you, use my shield to keep my thoughts hidden from you, not unless I wish to surprise you, you are my husband, should know every part of me possible, and as you can read minds that includes my thoughts, too."
He ran a hand over her hair, soft and gentle, careful not to ruin her hairdo, the blood kiss he took from her tender yet a claiming. "I will, ma belle sirène, I will know you as only a husband should know a wife, in every single way, humanly and inhumanly, possible, that includes your every thought, too. It is only a matter of learning to control it, your shield, learning how to keep the rest of the world out of your beautiful head while letting me in." Edward smiled a little, that beautiful half smile she loved. "And, because this channel, mirror, of ours goes both ways, you will be able to hear my thoughts, too, meaning we can have a conversation solely on the mental level, something which I am not able to do with anyone, even my beloved mother, Elizabeth."
"How," she couldn't keep the distress and anguish out of her voice, do you know that, Husband, how can you be so certain, my love?"
He didn't stroke her hair, but her face this time, his fingers, cold as ice, soft as satin, tracing the tiny, so small they were in perceptible to human eyes, pale blue veins on her skin. "Because, mon coeur, mon âme, it is something I had to learn how to do, too, control my mind reading ability, how else do you think I am able to tune into a particular person's thoughts while ignoring the rest for the most part, though I still get glimpses here and there, no matter how much I might not wish to, my vampiric mind has a lot of room, after all? For example, before that dog confirmed my secret, something which you already knew deep down, to you, those days when it was sunny and I could not go to school, at least not in a way people could see me, I hid under the shadow of trees, used the thoughts of people around you to watch you, make certain you were all right, that naught happened to you."
A pause, a little vee marring his forehead. She reached down, wiped it away, then pressed a kiss to that very spot, Edward taking her hand, placing a kiss to her palm and wrist in turn. "Speaking of our former High School career, do you wish to invite them to our wedding, your friends, Mike, Jessica, Angela, and Ben?"
"Not Mike and Jessica," she said, speaking too quickly, automatically, not even needing to think about it. When Edward raised an eyebrow, his beautiful, inhuman, emerald green eyes that sometimes shifted to blue glittering and curious, she explained, "When Mike looks at me, I reckon he is thinking of stripping me down to my skin, doing sexually perverted things with me, to me. As for Jessica, her envy of me is palpable though I did not notice it at first, for it was well hidden under a composed, polite mask—akin to Rosalie's, but less potent, for Jessica is not, thank God, a vampire. I think sometimes she wishes lightning would strike me or for something terrible to happen to me so she could be with you. Perhaps we should only invite Angela and Ben, they are quite kind, do not envy us."
Edward gave a choked laugh, as if he was surprised, but pleased by her answer. "That, what you described of Mike and Jessica, is quite right, though I did not tell you about it, for I did not wish to take your friends away from you. Tell me, mon doux, when did you become aware of this?"
A light shrug, heat and blood coloring her cheeks as she blushed. "The night of prom. The way they looked at us after you kissed me before you pulled me to the dance floor, it was beyond shock at our public display of affection, for it was envy, vicious and twisted, as if they wished to pull us apart." Now it was Bella's turn to ask a question of her own. "Will you invite them, your 'cousins', Tanya, Kate, Irina, Carmen, and Eliezer?"
He didn't answer her right away, instead sitting up, reaching for the screen in the center of the dashboard, pushing a couple of buttons, the car returning to normal . . . as normal as it could get, for they were still flying across the skies, the bed disappearing, being replaced by the passenger and driver seat. "Yes, Amour, however, I am not doing so out of loyalty to them or the Cullens, but so Tanya knows I am happily taken, a married man—know to not attempt to flirt or seduce me anymore."
They didn't speak again, not until Edward shifted her so her back was pressed to his front and he could take hold of the steering wheel, lowered the car to an altitude where even Bella, with her week, dim, human sight could see what they were flying over. "Bella, Amour, look down, mon précieux trésor."
She did . . . gasped.
Kilometers upon kilometers of land, lush, green fields, some of it being grazed by livestock, sheep, goats, rams, lambs, cows, dear, doe, fawns, some of it covered with agriculture—vegetables and fruits, both those that grew on trees and those that grew closer to the ground, some of it littered with flowers so beautiful, Bella'd never seen their like before. Other than the livestock, fruits, vegetables, and flowers, there was also a large vineyard that was verdant with life. She turned to him, this man who would be her husband in a week's time, was so beautiful, women coveted him, tears in her eyes. "You own this, my love?"
A shake of his head, Edward reaching out to wipe her tears away. "We own this, wife of mine, for what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine."
And it hit her. home, she was home. Sure, Phoenix, Forks, Chicago, they were home, too, and she and Edward had their own home both in Chicago and in Forks, but there was something about this place that made her soul feel at peace, whether it was the knowledge that she and Edward would live here for millennia, raise their children here, the fact that there were no werewolves anywhere in this country, the fact that they didn't have the Cullens at their backs, she didn't know, but she felt that she was exactly where she was suppose to be.
She lunged herself at him, attacking him, akin to how she'd done with their first kiss, fingers tangling in the cool, heavy, rich silk of his hair, pulling at it in just the way he liked, her mouth opening up beneath his, wanting him to stroke his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, into the warm intimacy of her mouth so she could taste his venom, drown in his scent, sweet, so sweet, it was addictive, intoxicating. He didn't react like the day of their first kiss, instead giving her what she wanted, before pushing her back gently, hands on her shoulders, burying his face against her neck. "You, ma belle sirène, are making me want to be selfish, push your human needs aside, take down your beautiful, glorious hair, tumble you into the sheets of one of our future marriage beds, kiss and hold you close even as I feed from you, you, too, feeding from me."
She sucked in a breath, her heart beating staccato fast, a rapid tattoo beneath her skin, lowered her voice just enough to appeal to Edward's male senses, looked at him through her lashes. "Then do it, Husband, push my human needs aside, be selfish." She bit at his throat, right over his artery, blood, hot and sweet and tailor-made for her, oozing into her mouth.
She didn't know whether it was how she'd pitched her voice, the fact she'd called him "husband," was feeding straight from his throat, his artery, or something else, but for the second time since they got into the car Edward lost control, and it was beautiful and chaotic, Bella feeling as safe as ever, for she knew, had always known, no part of him was capable of doing her harm, no matter that he was a vampire, a myriad times stronger than her. One second she was in the car, the other she was being gently pushed up against the wall, his lips, hard, but soft, insistent against her own, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, stroking into her mouth when she opened it. "You," another slow, languorous kiss, "will be my wife soon, in a week's time, and I will kiss every millimeter of your beautiful, soft body, but for your genitalia, caress your warm, soft skin, feed from you even as you feed from me as I make love to you on our wedding night."
Cold, gentle fingers in her hair, taking it down, massaging her scalp, even as he tumbled her into a bed, the mattress soft as a cloud under her back. Her fingers went to the buttons of his shirt, started undoing them, this bedroom already so hot, meaning he'd turned on the heating system at some point. The fact that he'd installed a modern heating system at some point, probably during his last trip to England, before he'd met her, it made her heart ache, fill with a love that was so deep, it binded, for Not only was it a sign of divine intervention, but also showed their souls knew they loved each other before they knew it themselves once more.
He tilted her head to the side, brushed all of her hair over her right shoulder, exposing her throat, ran his forefinger over the pale blue vein that was her artery. A gentle, cold kiss, then he bit into the soft flesh of her neck, right over her artery, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth. She gasped, arched her back, her body undulating against him, in time with the flicks and licks of his tongue, as he licked and sucked at her blood.
Cold, hard, yet soft skin pressed against her lips. She didn't hesitate, bit into his skin, blood, hot and sweet and tailor-made for her, oozing into her mouth. The taste of it—it made her back arch off the bed, her body ache, crave him.
All too soon, he drew back, withdrew his wrist. Cupping her face between his hands, he lifted her head, one hand shifting to the back of her nape, where he could feel her pulse, looked deep into her eyes, swallowing audibly, likely rinsing his mouth off with his venom so Bella didn't taste her own blood, Bella doing the same with her saliva. "I love you, Isabella Marie Masen, love you so much, I cannot wait to officially marry you."
He took her lips in a kiss that was tender, so tender, yet a claiming, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to take in the taste of her skin, stroke into her mouth when she opened it, letting him in. The taste of his venom, the feeling of it on her tongue, it made her back arch, fist a hand on the sheets, the other in Edward's hair, pulling hard enough that it would have hurt and probably bruised a human. She needed to feed from him again, taste his blood on her tongue, so she bit his lip, drawing blood. He bit her back, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, drawing blood, held the bite, took her bottom lip into his mouth, sucking at it gently, carefully, as if he was tasting rich, decadent chocolate, the most expensive wine. It made her eyes roll to the back of her head with pleasure, and she dug her nails into his back so hard, she'd broken skin, drawn blood, if he'd been human.
He drew back, caressed her cheek, and his eyes . . . they were glowing, incandescent, beautiful, inhuman, but Bella, she wasn't afraid, actually really liked it, for it meant she was doing something right. He leaned down again, bent so he could speak with his lips next to her ear, brushing the soft, fragile, sensitive skin. "Such hands you have, my Bella, mon précieux trésor, that you know how to touch and caress me to arouse such pleasure in me and we are not even wed? Tell me, what will you do then, tu, belle sirène à moi, when we are together as only husband and wife should be?"
He began to feed from her artery again before she could answer, pushing his wrist gently against her mouth.
They didn't speak for a long, long while after that, not until they stopped feeding from each other and Bella had satiated her human needs—always getting in the way, were laying back on the bed, Bella laying her head on his chest, tracing abstract patterns on his skin, Edward's arms around her, stroking up and down her arms, tracing gentle, loving, abstract patterns up and down her arms in much the same way she was doing to his skin. "Do you miss it, Husband, my love, going hunting, chasing down your pray, mostly mountain lions, as that was your favorite?"
He made a noise in the back of his throat, proped himself up with one elbow, one hand on his cheek, the other caressing her hair. "No, mon amour, not one bit. Actually, I never really liked it, part of the reason why I would always return from a hunting trip before the Cullens, the other being that I am way, way faster than they. It always felt wrong, to hunt my prey, drink animal blood, for not only did it satisfy me not, a burn permanently at the back of my throat, but the flavor of it, it was also wrong, for it held hints of dirt and acid, actually burned going down my throat."
He reached for a bite-size piece of honey cake, fed it to her, letting her lick the sticky honey syrup off his fingers, press kisses to his skin. "The acid and dirt flavor, the burn of it going down my throat, it actually intensified after I met you, did so again after I first tasted your blood, had to suck James's venom out." His fingers lovingly traced her skin, caressing her. "I have a confession to make, mon doux, should have told you this a lot sooner, when we were discussing what happened when James bit you at the Cullen household, but we were having luncheon with Charlie, Renee, Phil, Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, Esme, and my beloved mother, Elizabeth, and I had time to tell you this not."
He reached for another piece of honey cake, fed it to her, her lips brushing against his fingers, a sweet kiss. "When we first brought you back to Forks from Phoenix, admitted you to the hospital, Carlisle wanted to give you a blood transfusion, multiple, actually, for, according to him, 'though I had taken just enough blood to suck all of James's venom out and no more, we knew not how much he had taken before I ripped him off you, thus, you could have actually undergone and extreme amount of blood loss. I already knew this was not the case, of course, for I had felt your sweet, sweet blood being replenished as I drank, though when I brought you to Charlie's house when you got discharge from the hospital I felt extremely guilty, for I thought it wishful thinking on my part . . . at least until my beloved mother confirmed it, that your blood could, would be replaced even as I drank, when I drank from you for the very first time after we became betrothed."
His hand, strong, yet gentle, clenched in her hair, drawing her in for a deep, honey-sweet, sipping, blood kiss. "I forbid it, the thought of your sweet, sweet blood changing or being tainted in any way making me sick to my stomach, reiterated what I had told him in the ballet studio, you, your body, heart, soul, and blood were mine, and it was I and I alone who would take care of you, see to all of your needs, both medical and not, no matter if we had to pretend that he was your doctor in front of Charlie and Renee."
Again, Edward fed her another piece of honey cake, Bella again brushing her lips against his fingers. "When Carlisle was gone, had gone back to the Cullen household and I was certain no medical staff would come in, I would turn up the heater to the maximum, take off my shirt, lay down next to you, your head ending up on my chest, over my heart, then, every night before you went to sleep, I would crave for the intimacy again, the intimacy I felt when drinking of your sweet, sweet blood, so I would use the IV line, the same one I started back in Phoenix, draw a small quantity of your blood out, drink it, and while it gave me pleasure, pleasure akin to that which husband and wife feel when tangling in the sheets together, it wasn't nearly enough, for what I thought was the predator part of me, but I now recognize as my soul, ached to drink it straight from you, feed, akin to how I do now."
Her fingers stopped tracing abstract patterns on his chest, and she looked at him, shocked and pleased, her heart beating staccato fast. "That is why you took your leave of me not once while I was in the hospital, even to hunt, you took what you needed from me, Husband, my love?"
A nod, fingers stroking over her hair, her back, cold, honey-sweet kisses pressed along her arms. "When you got discharged from the hospital, it was hard, so very ,very hard, for me to go hunting again, drink mountain lion blood."
He gripped her wrist, bit gently into her skin, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to lovingly lick at her blood. "The first time I went, drank animal blood, I regurgitated all the blood I took from the first two mountain lions, only barely managed to keep the blood down from the second pair. Part of the reason why I went hunting so often after you got discharged was because the more mountain lion blood I drank, the more my soul craved your blood, to be intimate with you again. Still, each time I returned to you after hunting, all I wanted to do was to kiss and hold you close, feed from you as I do now, rinse out my mouth."
Happiness entered his voice, bright and incandescent. 'That day, when we were arranging things so Charlie could meet my beloved mother, Elizabeth, and you bit your lip so hard, drew your own blood, all I wanted to do was reach out, lick it off, kiss you, but I held myself back . . . at least until my beloved mother told me, mentally, of course, to give in to my desires, that I was not a monster because of what I wanted, would not harm you"
She shifted slightly, pressed a warm, open-mouthed kiss to the still organ that was his heart. "Do you reckon, my love, that it will taste different, my blood, after you change me, Husband?"
A smile in his voice, cold, gentle, strong fingers stroking the skin of her shoulder. "Yes, mon précieux trésor, akin to everything else, the flavor of your sweet, sweet blood will get enhanced, become even better, and, because your sense of taste will be enhanced, too, my blood will taste a myriad times better to you, too."
She shivered, anticipation, adrenaline, and heat building up in her stomach. "Can we marry tomorrow noon, Husband, my love? Your beloved mother, Elizabeth, and I, we can have my wedding outfit ready by then, and you already bought me a lot of clothes when we went shopping in Chicago, I do not need much more."
Soft, startled, male laughter, then a blood kiss that took her breath away, left her bereft when he pulled away. "If it was up to me yes, but do you not wish to say goodbye to Charlie and Renee?" Because, she knew without asking, once she and Edward got married she wouldn't be seeing much of her parents at all. "Besides, I wish for the Cullens, particularly Carlisle and Esme—to witness us getting married so that they may see that my beloved mother, Elizabeth, was always right."
She narrowed her eyes, glared playfully at him, then took a deep, sweet kiss, lowered her lashes, made her voice feather-soft. "Three days hence then, Husband, I do not wish to wait any longer, wish we were wed already."
This time it was Edward who took a kiss, biting gently at her lower lip, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, taking it into his mouth, sucking at it gently, slowly. "You need not convince me, ma belle sirène, for I long to marry you as much as you long to marry me. Three days sounds perfect." The happiness, love, and excitement pouring off the two of them was palpable. "Of course, I will have to ring Alice, let her know of the change of plans, and she will most likely throw a fit, as she saw it coming not, but I care not. I will do it after everyone has left and we are alone once more."
She suddenly thought of something, something that had nothing to do with their wedding, but had everything to do with the Cullens, Alice and Jasper in particular, her and Edward's future, their privacy. "Speaking of the Cullens, why is it, do you think, my love, that Alice is able to see my future and, by extension, yours, and Jasper is able to sense and manipulate our feelings, if I am a shield, and I was able to shield you from not only the mental attacks of the members of the Volturi coven when they tried to harm you, but physical ones as well, literally started tearing them apart when they tried to lay a finger on you without me having to be there?"
"An interesting question indeed, ma belle lionne." He tapped a finger against his lips, his eyes, such beautiful, inhuman, incredible emerald green eyes that sometimes shifted to blue shining as he thought, only doing so for a second, his mind a vampiric one. "Perhaps it is because your shield is focusing on direct attacks, the most common ones, physical and mental ones, not indirect ones, ones that more indirectly invade your privacy." He caressed her cheek when her heartbeat quickened at the thought that she might not be able to protect their privacy. "However, mon doux, because you are still human, coupled with the fact there is a channel or mirror between us and my own mind reading ability is changing , I reckon we can modify your shield to also stop Alice from being able to see our future, Jasper from sensing our emotions, we just need to practice."
Bella shuddered, was very, very glad the room was boiling hot, as her shudder wasn't from cold because of the cold temperature of his skin, but from vicious pleasure and relief. "Good." She shifted, went to straddle his thighs, her beautiful frock not sliding up despite the intimate position, Edward braising one arm behind his head, possessively curving the other on her hip. "I reckon," she leaned down, let her lips brush over his in a soft, intimate caress, and you can correct me if I am wrong, husband of mine, for you know Alice far, far better than I, now that Alice is not able to see our future as easily, for we are with your beloved mother more often than not, she will constantly be watching for it, searching for any crumbs of our future she can get, and I do not wish for her to see us being intimate, tangling in the sheets together as only husband and wife should, any more than you do."
He slid his hand out from behind his head, curved it around her other hip, sat up. "Yes, right you are, ma belle lionne. " A glance at his watch. "Perhaps it is best if we start practicing now, as we have a little while to be alone yet." He closed his eyes, pressed his forehead to hers, linked the fingers of his right hand with the fingers of her left hand. "Close your eyes, relax, mon doux ange."
She did.
She stood in a meadow covered in snow, the white iridescent, brilliant in the sun, for yes, it was sunlight, and her skin . . . it was sparkling in the sun, as if she was already a vampire, though she was still very much human. The snow covered the ground for kilometers and kilometers, was only interrupted by six roses, the color of them akin to blood, a splash of red on white. Those roses, three pairs, they were strange, so very strange, for they were leaning close together, two of them beginning to intertwine, though not quite fully yet.
Where was Edward? She expected him to be right next to her, but he wasn't. She turned in a full circle, saw him walking towards her, a smile on his lips, his eyes, those beautiful, inhuman, incredible emerald green eyes that sometimes shifted to blue dancing. When he was about to reach her, about two steps away, an invisible thing . . . it wasn't invisible, was a force field of shimmering white, diamonds trapped under moonlight, pushed him back. No, no, no, she thought, no one and nothing was going to keep him away from her, especially not some unfamiliar force field. She went to push at the thing that was keeping them apart, kick out, attempt to break it, then an invisible door began to form, its knob made of crystal, the shape of it that of a rose, Edward able to open it, step inside.
She didn't hesitate, went to him, her movements fast, fluid, like that of a vampire, her speed the same as Edward's when he ran fast like only he could, knocked him down, kissed him, deep and sweet and possessive. "Where are we? who is trying to keep us apart, keep you from me, Husband, my love?'
His hands went to her waist, fingers stroking over her lower back, the rhythm soft, soothing, gentle, and Bella was surprised the temperature of his skin wasn't ice cold, was actually warm. "Calm down, Bella, mon coeur, no one and nothing is attempting to keep us apart." He cupped her face, drew her down for a deep, sweet, sipping, blood kiss. "The force field that was repelling me, keeping me from reaching you, it was only your shield, but you let me in just as I knew you would, mon amour."
He stood up, brushed snow off his pants, held out a hand to Bella, helped her up, and that was when she realized how they were dressed, what they were wearing. Edward was in a suit, complete with a jacket and black bow tie, Bella wearing a wedding frock that was quite similar to the one she was designing with his beloved mother, Elizabeth, but different enough that when Edward did see her in it he'd be quite surprised. Her wedding veil trailed behind her, all the snow that got caught in the soft, delicate lace turning to diamonds. "As for where we are, ma belle mariée, this is a mental training arena, where vampires who have gifts such as my mind reading ability or your shield can come to learn how to use them, hone their skills."
Her heart started beating very rapidly, but she forced it to return to normal, because while this was a space for vampires, she knew he'd never, ever bring her somewhere dangerous, put her life on a precarious situation.
A squeeze of her hand, followed by a sweet kiss. "Such fear I sense in you, ma belle, fragile mariée. Relax your fearful heart, mon doux ange, each vampire has their own mental training arena and this one is mine, no one will come here, see you, or do you harm. I discovered this mental plane in 1921, while I was in England, away from Carlisle and Esme, and before you ask, for I may not be able to read your mind . . . not yet, but I know you quite well, no, the Cullens know about it not. I was able to bring you here, something which I was not certain I would be able to do, but I had to try, for I love you so—by linking my soul to the piece of it that is inside you."
Her eyes stung, tears, happy tears, tears of love, threatening to cascade down her cheeks, and she wrapped her arms about his neck, kissed him, soft and deep. "Oh, Edward, I love you, too, love you so much, Husband. What," she turned, pointed to the roses, the only point of color, not counting her and Edward, in this landscape of iridescent white, "are those?"
Confusion on his beautiful face. "I do not know. Come, belle reine de mon coeur, let us go find out."
He tugged her to the roses, and the closer they got, the thirstier she became, her throat feeling dry as parchment, burning. It seemed Edward, too, was being affected by this phenomena, for he turned her to face him, a hand on her shoulder, the other on her neck, tilting her head to the side. Bending his head, he pressed a small, open-mouthed kiss to her throat, then bit gently at her artery, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to slowly, lovingly, lick at her blood. Bella automatically fell to the ground, however, it wasn't from pain or blood loss, but from pleasure, Edward going with her, his body ending up over her own, pushing his wrist gently against her mouth, urging her to drink, feed from him even as he fed from her.
She didn't hesitate, and the pleasure when his blood, sweet, so sweet, tailor-made for her, hit her tongue, it was almost too much for her to handle, but then her heart expanded and she was able to absorb it all, crave more.
The snowy ground shook, the two roses that had began to intertwine becoming one, beautiful and strong and immortal, and she realized the three pairs of roses represented her and Edward, that the other two pairs would finish twining together on their wedding day and wedding night, when they made love for the very first time, Edward claiming her for himself and Bella claiming him for herself, and when Edward changed her, made her like him, a vampire, immortal, respectively.
He pulled back from her throat, doing so only after making certain her skin was healed, licked his lips, wiping her heart's-blood from his mouth, withdrew his wrist, swallowed, rinsing his mouth off with his venom, Bella licking her lips, wiping his heart's-blood from her mouth, swallowing, rinsing her mouth off with her saliva.
He kissed her, soft, deep, and honey-sweet, rose off the ground, lifting her with him, in his arms, as he went, before setting her down, shifting her so her back was pressed to his front, his arms coming about her waist, gathering her close to him. "Now, ma belle lionne, I can start teaching you how to utilize your shield properly. First thing is first, though, mon doux ange, you need to let me in completely, into your mind. Right now you are only partially letting me in, for you wrapped your shield around me even as you created another one to protect your beautiful, mysterious mind. Think of how much you love me, want me to know you, be intimate with you, know your every thought, let me in even as you keep out the rest of the world."
She did, felt her shield tightening around her, sliding over her body like a second layer of clothing or skin, then sliding over Edward's, the taste of him honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia, sweet and delicious on her tongue.
The ground shook, and this time it wasn't two of the roses binding together, but a bridge, beautiful, delicate, and majestic, made of crystal, glass, and ice, that formed, she and Edward ending up standing on opposite sides. She knew instinctively, without asking, she had to go to him, meet him in the middle in order for him to be able to read her mind, so she cautiously made her way across the bridge, Edward, too, making his way to her, taking her into his arms when they met each other in the middle. She heard a gasp escape his lips, saw his beautiful, inhuman eyes of emerald green light up, assumed he could finally, finally hear her thoughts, something which he'd wanted to do for so long—so she focused, thought of the first time she'd ever seen his face, of how much she loved him, how much she wanted to marry him, the way it felt when they kissed or fed off one another, lingering on the details, the heat pooling low in her stomach, the pleasure.
A growl, soft, hungry, desperate kisses pressed up and down her throat, her lips, Edward kissing her as he'd never kissed her before, as if he was a starving, drowning man and she was the food he needed to survive, the air he needed to breathe. Though she was distracted, her thoughts flying away like so many little butterflies, her shield didn't snap back into place, protect her from Edward's mind reading ability again, for Edward, he was her love, would be her husband in three days, and she didn't need to protect herself from him, keep her thoughts hidden . . . most of them, at least, for she still wanted to keep thoughts of her wedding outfit to herself, surprise him. Those thoughts, she found, they were automatically protected by her shield, as if she could choose what he could hear and what he couldn't.
Then came the most interesting thing, Edward's voice, however, it wasn't in her ear but in her head, the scent of him, honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia, all around her. You, mon amour, are the most dangerous, beautiful, sensual creature on the planet, and I, he took her bottom lip between his teeth, careful not to inject any venom, sucked it gently, lovingly, into his mouth—love you so much, cannot wait to marry you. His words came accompanied by a waterfall of images, all of them of her, showing her how much he loved her.
He broke the kiss, cupped her face, his eyes dancing, happy that not only could he finally hear her thoughts but she could hear his as well, for they would be husband and wife soon enough, equals. "You are doing very well, ma belle lionne, now comes the most important part, protecting our future and feelings from prying eyes, and fret not, for my beloved mother, Elizabeth, will still be able to see bits and pieces of our future, the whispers she hears on the winds, the visions she sees, coming directly from God through the angels as they do, in addition of the fact that you can choose to let her in, passed your shield, akin to how you are doing with me. Think the opposite of what you did when you let me into your shield, how violated and invaded you would feel if Alice and Jasper new things, be it of our future or feelings, only we should know about."
She did, felt her shield expanding, new layers, layers that were untouched, unexplored, before being added to it, the shield itself wrapping tight around her and Edward, her mind remaining open to him, his to her, though thoughts of her wedding outfit remained private. It made her wonder . . . she turned to face him, encircled her arms about his neck, threaded her fingers through the rich, heavy, cool, velvet silk of his hair. "Where are you taking me for our honeymoon, beautiful husband of mine?"
Images in her head, all of them of her, Edward's thoughts. Unfortunately, none of them gave her a clue as to what could be their honeymoon destination, what Edward's plans for their honeymoon were. A curve to his lips even as they brushed against her own, a sweet kiss. "Nice try, ma belle mariée, but it seems your shield instinctively knows when we are trying to keep a beautiful surprise for one another, is preventing us from hearing those kinds of thoughts, for I cannot hear any thoughts of your beautiful wedding outfit, either."
She pouted, jutting out her lower lip, laughed a little. "I had to try, Husband." She took a deep, soft kiss that was heartbreakingly tender. "How long do you think we, particularly I, can keep this up, hear people's thoughts even as I protect you with my shield outside this mental plane? I mean, I am not a vampire yet though this mental plane clearly sees me as one."
A shift in scenery, a bench carved of gold and Ivory, set with precious stones, blue sapphires, appearing in front of them.
Edward guided her over to it, sat down, shifted Bella so she was sitting sideways on his lap, Bella herself rapping her arms about his neck. "I reckon that it is not that simple, mon précieux trésor, for though you are not a vampire yet, you have a piece of my soul inside you, just as I have a piece of your soul inside me, thus I reckon that because you are not a vampire yet this channel, mirror between us is not completely unlocked yet, though we unlocked a very important part right now. I think that it will take a while, until I change you, for you to be able to start hearing everyone's thoughts, but you and I should still be able to hear each other's thoughts, speak mine-to-mind, and you should still be able to encompass me in your shield even while outside this mental plane."
He cupped her face, traced the tiny, so small they were in perceptible to human eyes, pale blue veins on her skin, ran his fourfinger over her lips, igniting a small fire there. "However, if you feel any pain or discomfort, are beginning to get a headache, drop it. I love hearing your thoughts, ma belle lionne, you hearing mine, but I do not wish for you to be in pain."
A sweet kiss, Edward drawing them out of the mental plane, back to the physical one. Opening her eyes, Bella saw they were still in the same position. She checked, found that she could still taste him on her every breath, smell his scent all around her, honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia, hear him, the love and joy pouring from him infectious, making her heart expand, beat faster. "I can still hear you, smell and taste you all around me., Husband."
He grinned, kissed her, soft and deep, images, Edward's thoughts, not her own, filling her head. They made her want to cry from happiness, the images, for they were all of her, of the two of them, of how he would protect their privacy, be it their future, their feelings, or something else, at all costs. "As can I, ma belle lionne." A thoughtful pause, his forefinger tracing her lips. "Alice must be really preoccupied, not paying attention to our future, else, she would have already realized we found some way to cut her off completely from being able to see our future at all, have rang me."
Bella shivered, and because Edward could hear her thoughts, know what she was thinking, he didn't mistake it for cold, wrapped his arms about her, pressed her closer to him, though he still waited for her to speak, because he loved the sound of her voice as much as she loved the sound of his. "Do you reckon, my love, she and Esme are busy buying me the new wardrobe they were thinking of when we saw them last?"
Edward laid her down on the bed, then laid down beside her, laying his head on her chest, careful not to touch her breasts, his ear over her heart. "Yes, mon doux, but you do not have to wear it, any of it, do not even have to go through the horror of seeing it. I will speak to Alice about it, either when I ring her to inform her of the change of plans, that our wedding will take place three days hence, or when she rings me, realizing that she cannot even see the barest hint of our future anymore, complains. Come, mon précieux trésor, I would finally take you to the kitchen, make some afternoon tea while we wait for everyone to arrive."
The kitchen was beautiful, a mixture of old-fashioned and modern, painted in neutral colors, soft white and beige, had a modern hob, a cooking range that seemed to be Victorian, though it could be a little older, and an area where to cook over an open fire, as well as a modern and very, very old, centuries upon centuries, looking oven, the fireplace hewed from local stone, which Edward told her came from a local quarry when this place was initially built, its color a brilliant white. "How old is this place, Husband?"
Edward placed the kettle over the modern hob so the water could heat up for their tea, came to stand in front of her, took her into the circle of his arms, pressed a kiss to her hair, her throat, over her pulse. "Construction began at the beginning of King Henry II's reign, at the end of 11:54, ended in the beginning of King Richard the first's reign, in 1189, though my ancestors, as well as my grandparents, parents, and myself, have made changes to it over the years, expanded it, I myself having made the most recent changes." He shuddered, pressed another kiss to her throat, then her lips. "I thank God for the divine intervention, that I decided to modernize the washrooms, put in modern showers, baths, and loos while I was here last. I love seeing you dressed thus, in beautiful frocks, as you would have been in my youth, but I do not wish for you to have to use chamber pots to alleviate yourself."
Bella's mouth dropped open, her heart beating staccato fast, a million miles per minute. "How?" It was all she could muster, but Edward, he didn't need any more information, it was pretty obvious, what she was asking, coupled with the fact that he could now hear her thoughts, read her mind. England, the United Kingdom in general, until the very recent past, perhaps a century or two ago, had been a kingdom of upheaval, danger everywhere you turned.
A shrug, Edward running his fingers, slow and easy, up and down her back, the gesture soothing, causing her heartbeat to slow. "Both sides of my family, the Masens and Evanses, always kept to themselves, never played any religious or political games, their belief in one God, without any physical form or substance, hidden, and though they didn't behave as the rest of the subjects or courtiers did, they always, for some reason, divine intervention, found themselves in a position of power, close to the Royal Family, the royal household, and the government, without their lives being ever at risk.
"I suppose Queen Elizabeth might summon us to the palace one day."
She said it half jokingly, not expecting Edward's light smile. "She might." Her heart started beating very, very fast at the thought of being in front of royalty, a reigning monarch no less. He took her face between his hands, gently, kissed her, soft, slow, and deep, her heart beating even faster, her breathing, too, speeding up, but for an entirely different reason. "Calm down, mon beau, précieux trésor, these days, whenever I receive a royal summons, it is because the queen wishes to hear of my work, what I have discovered—and, of course, I will prepare you for the eventuality that I get a royal summons, for you will certainly come with me—teach you what you need to know."
Before Bella could speak, there was a bright flash of light, Elizabeth already corporeal, her arms open, waiting for her beloved son to go into them, and, for some unknown reason, tears, which, Bella assumed, were of happiness and deep, motherly love, in her eyes. Edward went into his beloved mother's waiting, open arms, wiped her tears away with his cold thumb, even as he kept an arm round Bella, refusing to let her go even for a second. Bella didn't have to wait long at all to find out why Elizabeth, Edward's beloved mother, was crying thus, her voice soft, filled with love and pride for her beloved son. "Oh, my beautiful boy, my Edward, my son, you still remember?"
Bella watched him bend down, press a kiss to his beloved mother's forehead, didn't feel any envy or anger, for this, it was love between a mother and son, images, Edward's memories and thoughts, coming into her mind. Edward, who was human, walking into this very kitchen with his mother and a tall, strong, handsome man with hair whose color was similar to that of Elizabeth, perhaps a shade or two darker, blue eyes that were akin to glaciers, who she assumed was Edward's father, Edward senior, Elizabeth turning on the cooking range, beginning to make tea. "Of course I remember, Mama, how can I not? It was a tradition which was very near and dear to you, Papa, and myself, each time I came here, could not drink tea, for it tasted akin to dirt to me for so long, it pained me so."
This time it was Edwards beloved mother, Elizabeth, who kissed him on the forehead, Edward bending down to make it easier for her, Elizabeth taking advantage, stroking his hair as she must have done when he was a youngling. "Oh, my beautiful boy, let us reignite this tradition, then, a tradition which we will keep forever, and now you're beautiful bride can be part of it, too." She turned without warning, released Edward, took Bella into her arms, pressed a kiss to her forehead as a mother did her child. "How are you, my son's bride, his heart? I apologize, you must be very confused indeed."
Bella kissed Elizabeth on the cheek, this woman, a strong, beautiful butterfly, who treated and loved her like a daughter, her own flesh and blood. "I am very well, thank you." She drew back from the hug, though Elizabeth took one of her hands in one of hers, Edward's hand in the other—glanced at Edward, raised an eyebrow. "I am only mildly confused."
Laughing quietly, Edward placed his free hand, the one that wasn't holding his mother's, on Bella's lower back, fingers spread over her spine, running up and down lovingly, soothingly. "Each time we would arrive here, come home, to England, the first thing my beloved mother, Elizabeth, would do was to prepare a proper teapot of English tea for the three of us so we could 'shake off' America, realize that we were home, in England, where we felt the most comfortable, loving the traditions, could spend more time together, as a family, my father, Edward senior, coming home nearly every day for afternoon tea, something which he could not do in America . . . not without people thinking he was crazy. In fact, if it was up to my parents, we would not have spent any time in America at all, my father loathing the fact that he barely got to see my mother, even less so than when we were in England, having to stay late hours at the office, but he had clients in the United States,."
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, shook her head, let go of his hand to stroke his hair. "He loathed to be away from you, too, my beautiful boy, your Papa, for you grew up so fast in his eyes, as he barely got a chance to see you, saw you not as often as I did."
This new information, it made Bella wonder. "Why did you choose to go to Chicago then, not only England, when you needed time away from the Cullens?"
Edward didn't miss a beat, lifted her up for a soft, sweet kiss that was yet polite for company. "It was just easier, especially after Alice came along, you know how probing the Cullens can be, though more often than not I would end up in England in some capacity or another, especially if I was working on a project or some archaeological discovery was made."
So, it seemed Edward felt more at home, comfortable, in England than he did in Chicago, the United States, even now. That, it made her make a split second decision, tell him something she'd already been thinking of telling him.
She wasn't sure this would work, they weren't on the mental plane anymore, but she had to try, for she wanted to keep the fact that she could get pregnant and she and Edward could have children a secret, a surprise for Edwards beloved mother, Elizabeth. She tried to think, form words in her mind, send them to Edward. Let us move here right after our honeymoon, when I become with child for the very first time, there is no need for us to move to Chicago first, as I will not need to get my thirst under control after you change me, for the only blood I will truly thirst for will be yours, just as the only blood you truly thirst for is, and will always be, mine . . . unless you wish to move to Chicago first for sentimental reasons? And I think not that we will wish to bring Edward or Elizabeth Catherine to the Cullen household often or at all, especially if Emmett and Rosalie are there.
The answer came within a split second of her finishing speaking mentally, the scent of Edward, honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia, surrounding her, in her head. Yes, mon précieux trésor, I agree, there is no need at all to move to Chicago first, we should move here, to England, to this property, right away after our honeymoon, when you become with child for the very first time. As it is, both my beloved mother, Elizabeth, and my father, Edward senior, wanted her to give birth to me here in England, but that could not happen because of a case he was working on in America during her las trimester. And I also reckon we will not be bringing Edward, or Elizabeth Catherine, or any of our future children, for that matter, to the Cullen household often or at all, not only because of Emmett and Rosalie, but also because Alice would treat them like life size dolls as she does you, and Carlisle would want to run countless tests on them, you know how he is—and they are children, not toys or test subjects, living, breathing, precious beings, treasures which you and I shall protect and cherish for eternity.
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, glanced between Edward and Bella, a loving, knowing look on her face. "The two of you have gotten closer, made your bond stronger." Her words were neither a question, nor an observation, but a statement, a fact.
Bella blushed, blood rising to color her cheeks, Edward able to taste it, smell it in the air, feel the warmth of it, her left hand rising to lay over his still heart. "Can you still see bits and pieces of our future, mine and Edward's, I mean?"
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, let go of his hand, though only so she could take Bella's face between both of her hands, stroke her hair gently, lovingly, the touch motherly, press a kiss to her forehead. "I certainly can, Bella, beautiful, darling girl. Tell me, what is it that is making you ask such a question, fret so, puts such an expression of consternation and determination on your face?"
Though the question had been directed towards Bella, it was Edward who answered his beloved mother, Elizabeth, sliding his hand from Bella's back to her waist in a slow, soothing, languorous caress. "We discovered away to completely stop Alice from being able to see our future at all, Jasper from being able to sense and manipulate our emotions, Mama, my Bella and I, and she was fretting so, for she thought that we might be cutting you off, too, and we do not wish to do that. I already told her that she need not fret so, for even if we had been cutting you off, stopping you from being able to see bits and pieces of our future, all she need do is let you in, passed her shield, akin to how she is doing with me, and you would be able to see bits and pieces of our future once more."
"I see, my beautiful boy." Elizabeth's expression morphed from concern to happy and relieved, filled with deep, motherly love and pride. "I am very happy and relieved for the two of you indeed, that you have found such a thing, for there are things which should be privy only to husband and wife, things not even a loving, supportive mother such as myself should know of, your love life, what happens behind closed doors, in the bed chamber, your emotions, among other things, only for you and your beautiful bride to know."
Her face became serious as she looked at Edward, her beloved son, though her eyes remain filled with pride and love. "I know Alice that well not, but, I assume, my beautiful boy, she is none too pleased that I know more of your and Bella's future than she does, in addition of the fact that you have managed to keep so many Secrets hidden from her, from all the Cullens, over the years, and she cannot see your future as easily as she wants might have, for you and your Bella are with me more often than not, and she will be searching for any crumbs of your future she can get."
A nod from Edward, even as Bella shuddered, pressed herself closer to him, horrible thoughts of Alice seeing the two of them as only they should see each other, in their bed chamber, the throws of passion. Because Edward could hear her thoughts, coupled with the fact that this house was boiling hot, he didn't mistake her shiver for cold, pulled her closer to him, pressed a kiss to her temple, her hair, the tip of her nose, her lips. Stop fretting so, mon beau, doux ange, for what you are thinking will not come to pass, as I will not allow it—no one but I shall see you in the throws of passion in our marriage bed, just as no one but you will see me in the throws of passion in our marriage bed.
The words were inside her mind, which would take some getting use to, but, oh, did she love it, the fact that they could be intimate thus. Bella went to respond, but both Edward and his beloved mother cocked their heads to the side, clearly having heard something she hadn't, Elizabeth's face brightening. "I will go fetch the door while you finish preparing our tea, bring it, along with your beautiful bride, to the drawing room, my beautiful boy. Will it be only Gideon and his wife, Amelia?"
A shake of his head, Edward's excitement infectious, and Bella got the feeling she was getting the faintest of glimpses into what those lavish parties his parents used to throw looked like. "No, Mama, Liam, who has a girlfriend, Emily, as well as Henry, his wife, Charlotte, James, his girlfriend, Tessa, and Charles and his girlfriend, Lucy, will be coming as well, though I know not when the last three pairings will be coming, at what time, as Henry, James, and Charles must get off work first."
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, blinked, seemingly startled, but pleased. "Well, it seems the little rascals have matured at last."
Laughter in Edward's eyes, those beautiful, inhuman, incredible emerald green eyes that sometimes shifted to blue she loved so much. "Yes, Mama, but I am still more mature than they."
Elizabeth's eyes, so much like that of her beloved son, danced as she looked at him, touched her warm, motherly fingers to his cold cheek. "Oh, I have no doubt of that, my beautiful boy."
They parted ways, Elizabeth going to open the door, Edward going to the hob, turning off the burner, taking the kettle off, beginning to prepare their tea, Bella surprised when he pulled out a clear glass jar filled with black loose leaf tea, she expected it to have a label, proclaiming it to be Twinings English breakfast tea or Earl Gray, but there was nothing, not a single label in sight. Perhaps Edward had simply thrown out the box, packaging. She shook her head, no, that didn't make sense, Edward, he had no need for human sustenance, could not consume any human food or beverages without them tasting like dirt to him until very recently, and they hadn't gone to the supermarket yet, though Bella suspected they had no need to, they already seemed to have everything they could possibly need here. "I can hear your confused thoughts, ma belle mariée, is there something you wish to ask me?" Casual words, words that were softly spoken, lest anyone overheard, and Bella could sense the excitement behind them.
She blinked, startled, realizing Edward was walking back to her, meaning he'd likely already taken their tea to the drawing room. "The blend of tea you used, it is not Twinings English Breakfast tea or Earl Gray, Husband, my love?"
A soft, quiet snort even as he finally closed the distance between them, wrapped his arms about her, gathering her to him. "No, the three of us, my father, mother, and I, we never really did like those blends, mostly because they contain caffeine, and when we drank tea, we mostly did it to relax, not to stay alert. Of course, there are decaffeinated versions of both Twinings English breakfast tea and Earl Gray now, but this blend, an old family recipe, is much better, as we know exactly what goes into it, tastes exquisite."
Bella couldn't help but let her mouth drop open in shock even as she wrapped her arms about his neck, threaded her fingers through his hair, loving the feel of it, soft as silk. "You have an empire, Husband, my love?"
A shake of his head even as he bent that head to take a slow, sweet kiss, murmuring, "It is not I but we who have an empire, for what is mine is yours and what is yours is mine, Wife," as his lips moved gently, lovingly, over hers.
Oh, it made her want to bite at his lip, feed from him even as he fed from her when he spoke such words to her, but they couldn't do that, for they were not alone, were not only in the company of his beloved mother, Elizabeth, but other vampires as well.
She didn't know whether it was because he could hear her thoughts now, knew what she wanted, that he wanted to feed from her, too, or a combination of both, but he bit at her lower lip, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, drawing blood, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to lovingly lick at her blood, drink it, encouraging her to do the same, feed from him, heat pooling low in her stomach, to the hot, aching place between her thighs. She did, their blood kiss a mixture of hot and cold, slow and languorous and deep, was barely aware of Edward lifting her up, into his arms, like how a groom carried his new bride, moving fast like only he could, carrying her somewhere, likely the drawing room. She really didn't wish to, but she had to pull away for a moment, breathe—stupid human needs. "Edward, my love, much as we do not wish to, and I loathe to be the one to tell you this, you know me, I absolutely adore kissing you, but we must stop, everyone is bound to come in soon."
Sweet, open-mouthed, cold kisses pressed along her neck and throat. "No, ma belle sirène, you need not fret so, as no one will come in just yet, as my beloved mother, Elizabeth, is keeping everyone distracted, for there is something I wish to show you." He reluctantly pulled away from her skin, pointed to the wall directly in front of them, a wall right above the fireplace, likely hewed of the same stone as the one in the kitchen. "Look at the portrait over there, Amour."
She did . . . gasped, for it was a portrait of Edward's parents, Elizabeth and Edward senior, of that there could be no doubt. Elizabeth was dressed in a formal, long frock of a pale, pale green that bordered on blue that was either made of silk or satin, overlaid with lace, the detailing with white gold thread beautiful and elegant without being overbearing. She, of course, wore elbow-length white gloves, a necklace, and a pair of teardrop-diamond blue earrings which Bella immediately recognized, for they were the ones Edward had gifted her. Behind Elizabeth stood a man, who could only be Edward's father, dressed in a suit, arms about Elizabeth's waist, a matching smile to hers on his face.
The painter, whoever it had been, had skillfully captured a beautiful sunrise or sunset, Bella wasn't sure which, the way hundreds of different flowers, their colors and shades varied, suede in the breeze, for they were in some sort of meadow, Edward's parents, the artist also managing to capture the clear love between the couple.
She turned to Edward, who was no doubt monitoring her thoughts, watching them play out in her head, as he waited for her to speak. "It is very beautiful, Edward, my love." Bella's voice was full of awe and wonder.
"Yes, it is," he agreed, reaching up to wipe a tear of love and happiness away. "However," he bent his head, let his lips ghost over hers as he spoke, "now, wife of mine, it is time for a portrait of the two of us to be hanging up there, where it will remain forevermore,—for such is the tradition, that one's the oldest son inherits this place due to his parents passing away, moves in with his wife, it is their portrait that should be hanging above the mantle of the formal drawing room, the previous painting carefully moved to the family gallery"
Then there was no more time to talk, everyone, Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, followed by Gideon, Amelia, Liam, Emily, and a man and woman Bella didn't recognize, but that were certainly vampires, fed on animal blood, judging from their pale, pale, snow white skin, the gold color of their eyes, coming into the formal drawing room. Bella may not recognize them, but Edward certainly did, a huge smile spreading across his face, even as he greeted his male friend, who had a shock of red hair, was tall and evidently strong, but as with Gideon and Liam, Bella preferred Edward a myriad times over. "Hello, Henry, it is good to see you again."
Henry and his wife, Charlotte, who had wavy blonde hair with hints of pale, pale brown cascading down her shoulders and over her back in soft waves, her height taller than Bella's, even with heels, came over to where Edward and Bella were sitting on a setee, for, despite his greeting, Edward hadn't moved a millimeter, too content to remain with Bella thus, in his arms, on his lap, to move. Henry bent down to give Edward what was clearly a friendly hug, then kissed Bella gently on the cheek, his wife, Charlotte, greeting them the opposite way, by hugging Bella, giving Edward a kiss on the cheek, a greeting between friends or family. "It is good to see you, too, Mate." Soon as he finished speaking, Henry straightened, went to sit in another sofa, his wife, Charlotte, by his side, spoke to Gideon, Amelia, Liam, and Emily. "You really were kidding not, they truly are besotted with each other."
That, that she and Edward loved each other so, it wasn't anything to hide or be ashamed of, and, judging by the expression of Edward's friends and their partners, they were really, very happy for the two of them, Bella and Edward both, were only playing with him in a way only friends could play with one another, but before anyone could say anything, Edward's old phone, the one he hadn't invented, began to ring. Taking it out from wherever he'd had it on his person, he looked at the caller ID, lips twitching, then looked at Bella, guided her so she could look through his eyes, his mind, see for herself who it was, and when Bella did see, her lips twitched, too, for it was Alice, and they were expecting her call to come much, much earlier. Edward picked up, set the phone to his ear, though there was no point, as everyone, even Bella, connected to Edward's thoughts, his mind as she was—could hear both sides of the conversation. "Hello, Alice."
Alice didn't miss a beat after Edward greeted her, sounded really, very mad, as Edward and Bella knew she would, and what she said, it horrified Bella, made Edward furious. "What is it you and Bella think you're doing, Edward Anthony Masen? Whatever it is, you need to stop it, Esme and I, we are at the mall, and I can't see anything, not a peep of yours and Bella's future. How am I suppose to get her the things she needs to seduce you, things she may not be brave enough to get herself, if I can't see anything, not your wedding, the reception, not how you go to your honeymoon, where you choose to take her, the beginning of your honeymoon, the beginning of that first night when you will make love to her, nada?"
Edward pinched the bridge of his nose, began clutching the phone so hard, Bella heard tiny cracks beginning to form. She buried her face against his cold skin, seeking comfort, because this, it was one of her worst nightmares come true, Alice attempting to see what was only for Bella and Edward to know, how they were intimate, the slow, slow, loving, tender seduction of their wedding night, along with the first night they would spend on their honeymoon, and possibly more. Edward softened slightly, wrapped an arm around her, stroked her hair soothingly, holding the phone wedged between his shoulder and his ear. When he spoke, his voice was soft, velvet, menacing, dangerous. "Alice, you are really lucky I am not over there right now, that you are not in front of me, else, I would have torn you to tiny, tiny pieces, killed you—no matter that you are my favorite of all the Cullens, no one should see what you are attempting to see, my wife and I in the throws of passion, being intimate."
From the tone of her voice, Bella assumed Alice was rolling her eyes. "Oh, come on, Edward, don't be so mellow dramatic, protective, you know I will only spy on you, your love and sex life just long enough for Bella to learn how to dress herself, seduce you, because, I hate to break it to you once again, Loverboy, but, Bella, the love of your existence, she has no fashion sense, doesn't know how to dress herself properly."
Edward spoke slowly, pausing between each word as if it was a sentence, his voice remaining soft as velvet, though he was furious. "YES. SHE. DOES." A pause to draw breath though he didn't need it, was likely to calm himself. "In fact, not that it is any of your business, but she knows me better than all of you—the Cullens, combined, knows what buttons to push to drive me mad with longing, the clothing she bought in Chicago for the bed chamber making me want to bed her over and over, and you know what, Alice, I am so very tired of you treating Bella akin to your own, personal, life-size doll, it is why I was reluctant to let you talk to her in the first place. She is not a toy, but a living, breathing person, one of the two women I love most in the world, the other being my beloved mother, Elizabeth."
Esme's voice coming on the other side of the phone, trying to calm Edward down, gentle him, taking on the role of his mother, one which she had no right to take, not now, not ever. Through his thoughts, Bella felt his anger and pain, the way Esme's words caused figurative heart's-blood to spill forth from Edward. "Edward, you have no reason all right to get like this—"
Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, who had come to sit beside them at some point, snatched the phone from Edward so fast, Bella didn't even see her hand movements, her tone calm, but Bella could feel the simmering anger beneath. "No, Esme, my beloved son has every right and reason to become thus, no one should see what Alice is attempting to see, what happens behind closed doors, in the bed chamber, only to be known between a husband and wife and no one else. I suppose I cannot expect you to understand, after all, you Cullens seem to have no notion of the meaning of the words privacy and modesty."
Because Bella was still connected to Edward's thoughts, his mind, and he was able to hear both sides of the conversation, she heard Esme's soft gasp. "Elizabeth, I—"
Before Esme could finish, Alice snorted, clearly in a bad mood, mad that she couldn't see Edward and Bella's future anymore, not even the faintest glimmer. "Please, like you don't know what their wedding night will be like, how they'll be intimate."
Bella watched Elizabeth close her eyes, take a deep breath, her voice yet calm, remaining soft, though she was even more furious. "No, Alice, I do not. As I said before, what happens in the bed chamber should remain only between husband and wife."
She looked around the drawing room, at Edwards friends and their partners. Bella blushed, blood coloring her cheeks, Edward able to taste it, smell it in the air, feel the heat coming off of it, she'd forgotten they were there, that they were not alone, but as she looked at them, she saw they all bore expressions of anger, were scandalized, cradling each other close. Elizabeth shifted, took Bella's hand in one of hers, stroked Edward's hair soothingly, lovingly, her voice, when she spoke again, even softer, though her vexation grew even more, because, Bella knew, this was not the appropriate time to be having such a conversation, the fact that they had to have it at all making Elizabeth furious, cradle her and Edward close to her. "We will have this conversation later, as we are with company right now and I would not have this be a public quarrel, overheard by family friends."
