JUST AS EDWARD PULLED AWAY, pulled on a shirt, Bella a robe—there was a bright flash of light, his whole family appearing. They didn't say anything for a moment, any of them, their eyes taking in the tiara on Bella's head, then the jewelry box, then the leather-bound book, and finally the vault within their walk-in closet. When the silence was broken after a minute or two, it was his beloved mother, Elizabeth, who spoke, tears in her voice, her eyes that were so much like that of her beloved son, but so very different. "Oh, my beautiful boy, my precious, beloved son, you reclaimed our kingdom, are King now, truly forgot your past and your ancestors not?"
A nod, Edward reaching for his beloved mother, Elizabeth, wiping her tears, happy tears, tears of pride and love, away with his thumbs, pressing a loving kiss to her forehead. "Yes, I did. Forgive me for not telling you of it sooner, Mama, but I did not wish to overwhelm my Bella with the thought of becoming queen."
His grandfather's, James's voice—thick with emotion, tears in his eyes, too. "It is all right, Beloved one, completely understandable, but you must tell us how it is that you reclaimed the kingdom and the throne later, when you and your beautiful bride return from your honeymoon."
Edward laughed, rich, emotional, and his laughter, it wrapped about Bella, stroked over her skin, the finest of silks. "I will." Bella knew, from his thoughts, he wanted to say more, but he stiffened, pushed her behind him, as if there was some sort of imminent danger, the sound of two different pairs of footsteps getting louder and louder as two people, probably Alice and Esme, came closer and closer. "You have a minute to tell me what it is that he is doing here." Edward's voice was calm, soft as velvet, though, Bella knew, from his body language as well as his thoughts, that he was furious, but not why, as he was keeping that part of his thoughts hidden from her, likely to protect her, so she didn't Panic for no reason.
"Edward—" they began.
More footsteps, four distinctive pairs this time, followed by, "Edward, Your Majesty, our apologies for interrupting, Mate, for we know you are about to be wed, but we found this one tearing out a young human, female's throat, draining her of her blood, and this one is just as culpable, for she did not do anything to stop him, simply watched." That voice, she recognized it, it was Liam, but she didn't know the "him" and "she" he was speaking of, her view blocked by the way Edward was holding her protectively behind him.
She sneaked a glance about his shoulder, gasped, for she saw someone who she hoped never to see again.
Laurent.
He was just as she remembered him, tall and strong, his hair a glossy black, what some women would describe as beautiful and soft, a slight olive undertone to his pale skin, his eyes a vivid crimson, no dark circles under them, indicating he'd fed, killed a human, quite recently. She remembered the way he, along with James, and Victoria, had looked at her with vicious, predatory hunger, only the way Edward had stepped in front of her, threatened the three of them, preventing her from being killed right then and there, though later James and Victoria managed to lure her to the ballet studio she used to go as a kid, and James had nearly killed her, and Bella had no doubt, if Edward hadn't gotten there in time, ripped him off her, he'd have shared her blood with Victoria.
Liam's words played over in her head, and she's staggered back, pressed herself into Edward, having unconsciously stepped forward, and her beautiful fiance and future husband, he wrapped his arm lovingly, protectively, about her. She was too stunned to think to Edward, speak to him mine-to-mind, spoke so low , it would have been inaudible to a human. "What is he doing here, Husband, my love? I do not want him in our wedding or our kingdom, I have not forgotten, nor will ever forget, what he attempted to do to me, along with James and Victoria, that he nearly killed me in the middle of the forest where you were playing baseball with the Cullens."
Edward turned away from everyone, cupped her cheek, brushed his lips over her own in a slow, comforting kiss. "This I do not know, beautiful queen of mine, but fear not that I will allow anything to happen to you, as he is a dead man walking, remember what I just finished explaining, the laws?"
A nod, Bella starting to relax, then Alice let out an exasperated sigh, the words she spoke making all the tension seep back into Bella's body. "Calm down, Edward, Laurent is with Irina now, trying to become like us, the Cullens and the Denalis—a vegetarian. Sure, he may have recently slipped, lost control, but we all have multiple times . . . except for you and Carlisle, that is."
Edward ignored Alice and Esme, strode forth, towards Laurent, Bella by his side, her hand in his, all the while he spoke words of love, comfort, mine-to-mind. He stopped when he was mere centimeters away from Laurent, his voice, though calm, one of a warrior and king who would not tolerate the slaughter of his people, no matter who they were, their social or economic background. "Do you know, Laurent, what I do to those vampires who kill my own?" It was a rhetorical question, of course, Bella knew, for Laurent didn't know the answer, Edward only waiting for a second before he spoke again. "I execute them, and your execution, tearing you into tiny, tiny pieces, skin from muscle, muscle from bone, bone from cartilage, watching as those pieces are caught aflame—it is one I shall enjoy very much, have been looking forward to, for even had you not killed today, I would not have allowed you to live, would have hunted you down at some point, for I will not allow anyone who attempts to harm or kill my Bella to live."
Manic, harsh, female laughter that was strangely confident. Bella turned to the sound, saw a female vampire, Irina, her skin white and pale, her stature tall, especially as she was wearing heels, her eyes golden, her blonde hair gathered into a graceful knot atop her head. She was dressed elegantly, of course, in a long, slim-fitted, silver gown that brought out the color of her eyes and hair, made her skin, already pale, white as snow, even more so. "Edward, you can't behave like this, you're not the Volturi. Besides, our kind kill humans all the time, one more, one less, what does it make a difference to you?"
Edward kept his voice calm, though everyone, except for Alice and Esme, who were confused, and Bella, who was too afraid, was furious. However, just because his voice was calm, it didn't mean it wasn't as sharp and lethal as a sword. "You are right, Irina, I am certainly not the Volturi, but I am the king here, an absolute monarch, and my word is the law. Now, I would quiet if I were you, do not make your penalty any worse."
Irina opened her mouth, as if to respond, but just then, the door opened again, a woman with brown hair, gray eyes, and a tear-stained face, who seemed to be in her early thirty's, walking in, followed by Liam, who must have left at some point, but Bella hadn't noticed. She was surprised to see her stomach was round and heavy with child, see her waddle her way to Edward, too, stopping a respectful distance away, giving him a curtsy. "Your Majesty," her voice was scraped raw, as if she'd been crying and screaming for hours and hours on end, "my daughter—"
Edward held up a hand, his look kind and gentle, though it was platonic, of a ruler who actually cared and loved his people, naught compared to the way he looked at Bella. "I know, Isabelle, and be assured that justice will be carried out." His lips curved slightly, and Bella knew, from his thoughts, it was because he'd found a way to comfort the woman. "Although you lost a child today, and that, it is something a mother should never, ever have to go through, find comfort in the fact that you have twins growing in your womb, and they will grow strong and true, though, of course, no one and nothing can replace the child you lost today. Go, tend to your daughter, bury her, get the seven-day period of intense mourning started, and may God be with you as you mourn."
The woman nodded, and though she was still very deeply saddened and ashen, she looked comforted, then her eyes slid from Edward to Bella, the way he was holding her, and she blinked, taken aback. "Is she to be our queen, Your Majesty?"
A nod, Edward brushing a kiss to Bella's temple, the crown of her head, her lips. "Yes, Isabelle. I will throw a banquet, introduce her to the kingdom after our return from our honeymoon, but please keep it quiet for now, as I do not wish to overwhelm her."
A quick nod, then an actual, soft smile. "Of course, Your Majesty." She turned to Bella. "I can tell that you will make our king very happy."
Bella felt a slow blush spread to color her cheeks, for it was clear Edward was loved and held in high regard by his people, and now she would be, too. "I thank you, Isabelle. Go tend to your daughter now."
After the woman left with another curtsy, this time both for Edward and Bella, Esme turned to Edward, voice soft and pleading. "Edward, can't you make an exception just this time? Laurent is family now, with Irina, I'm sure you can find a way to pardon him. Besides, you don't want to carry out an execution right before your and Bella's wedding, do you?"
The look on Edward's face, that of a warrior and ruthless leader, one who would not, under any circumstances, tolerate the harming of his people, it was one none of the Cullens had ever seen before, as evidenced by the complete and utter shock on Esme and Alice's faces, made Bella hot, tingle all over, very, very glad they were going to be wed soon, within a couple of hours, for she wanted him to take her to the sheets, make love to her. "I am not the Volturi, Esme, I will not twist nor bend, not for anyone, you break my laws, you suffer the consequences, it is that simple. And I will not tolerate the presence of anyone who has tried, will try, or is trying, to harm or kill my Bella within my kingdom, will not even let him so much as breathe."
Irina smiled, and it was a grotesque kind of smile, dark and twisted, though it was beautiful, too. "So if Bella accidentally kills a human once she is a newborn, a vampire, like us, you'll execute her, too?"
Bella stepped back, into Edward, as if slapped, began dry heaving at the thought of drinking human blood, any kind of blood that was not Edward's—Irina probably believing her remark had hit home, that Bella was about to step in, beg Edward to spare Laurent as he would her. All the food she'd eaten began to churn in her stomach, come up her throat. She needed something to soothe the nausea, but water and food, they wouldn't do.
Cold, hard, yet soft, smooth skin against her lips, Edward pushing his wrist against her mouth, urging her to feed, drink his blood, sweet, so sweet, that was tailor-made for her, take what she needed from him. She looked up at him, not needing to speak, either verbally or on the mental level, for him to know why she was hesitating. The scent of him washed into her mind, honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia. I care not of everyone else, you are, and will always be, my first priority. Drink, my Bella, feed, ma belle reine, ma lionne, take what you need from me. I would take you somewhere private, where we can be alone, only you and I, while you do so, but, alas, I cannot do so, not this time, as I need to stay here, monitor everyone's thoughts, for Laurent might try to escape, and I cannot permit that.
She didn't hesitate after that, bit into his wrist, blood, warm, so warm, hot, sweet, oozing into her mouth. The sheer pleasure, the strength and potency of it, it threatened to bring her to her knees, make her moan. It was as if his blood adjusted to give her just what she needed and wanted, which, of course, it did. Edward caressed her hair, his voice feather‐soft, sharp steel wrapped in velvet, his words directed not towards her but towards Irina. "My Bella will never drink anyone's blood but my own, Irina, and do not compare her to Laurent, a monster who has killed and tortured countless women, ever again. I will warn you one last time, it is best for you if you quiet, for you are making your penalty worse with every word you speak. Do not attempt to continue this with your thoughts, as it will have the same result as if you were speaking out loud."
"Where should we take them to for his execution and her sentencing respectively, Your Majesty?" It was both Liam and Henry, both of them sounding shocked and cross. The shock, it came from the fact that Bella was yet feeding from Edward, drinking his blood, and they had never seen such a thing before, known it was even possible, the anger, on the other hand, it was because of what had transpired, the fact that they had lost a citizen.
Bella remembered that they were not alone, was about to pull away, stop feeding, though she didn't want to, not yet, self-conscious, but Edward shook his head infinitesimally, only so she could see, told her to continue feeding for as long as she needed to mine-to-mind. "Le carré de l'incendie et des cendres," he answered Liam and Henry out loud. "I will be there soon, I only need to speak to my Bella first, explain things to her."
Liam and Henry left without saying a word, quietly, taking Laurent and Irina with them, and it wasn't until some minutes later that Bella pulled away, stopped feeding. "Have you gotten all you needed, ma reine, ma belle mariée?"
A nod, Bella licking her lips, wiping his heart's‐blood from her mouth, swallowing, rinsing her mouth off with her saliva. "Yes . . . for now."
He laughed, soft, rich, musical, silk wrapping about her, stroking over her skin, kissed her, soft, sweet, deep, but all too brief. "You can have more later, after our wedding ceremony." His next words we're not spoken out loud, but in her mind, his scent, sweet, addictive, intoxicating, surrounding her. And remember what I told you, I will feed from your femoral artery even as I make love to you once we are wed. He spoke out loud again, cupped her cheek, fingers spread over her skin, the heat in her body, concentrating in the hot, aching place between her thighs, increasing. "I apologize, queen of mine, I did not wish for your first Royal Engagement to be an execution, but, alas, it is how it must be, for I cannot do anything about it."
"Do you have another tiara for her, my beautiful boy, my precious son? she should not have to wear the same tiara for both an execution and your wedding, for they are vastly different events, with vastly different connotations." Elizabeth's voice startled Bella, made her jump a little, she'd forgotten she and Edward were not alone, Edward having flawlessly constructed a web of pleasure and privacy about her.
"Yes, Mama, I do." Edward darted into the vault, came back holding a tiara nearly identical to the one Bella was wearing now, except the blue sapphires were replaced by blood red rubies. Bella knew, without asking, from his thoughts, those rubies represented blood, as though vampires didn't have blood of their own . . . except for Edward, death would be meted out before she and Edward would be wed. He carefully removed the tiara she was wearing, placed it in the jewelry box, then replaced it with the one he had brought out of the vault. "You look so beautiful, my Bella, mon doux ange, no matter which tiara you wear, but I especially love to see you wear the one you will wear as you walk down the aisle, for it has blue sapphires. Soon, in a couple of hours time, when we are wed, you will officially become queen."
Desperate, panicked sighs, both from Alice and Esme. "Edward, you can't be serious? Come on, just give him one more chance. Yes, Laurent messed up, yes, he did a terrible thing, but so did all of us when we were first adjusting to a diet of animal blood . . . except for you and Carlisle."
Edward didn't even bother turning, caressed Bella's hair, her face, as he spoke. "I told you, I am not the Volturi, I will not twist nor bend, not for anyone, you break my laws, you suffer the consequences, it is that simple. Even had Laurent not killed today, he was already a dead man walking, just as Victoria is a dead woman, I will not permit anyone who attempts to harm my Bella to live. How you thought you could bring him here, to our wedding, and Bella and I would accept him, welcome him into the fold as if he did naught, is beyond me, quite ludicrous."
His beloved mother set a hand on his shoulder, and Edward turned, went into her embrace, bringing Bella into it, too, for his beloved mother, Elizabeth, she knew he needed comfort, was boiling with wrath. She stroked their hair, pressed a kiss to their foreheads, then pulled away, the look of pride on her face unmistakable, incandescent. "Oh, my precious son, you are such a wonderful, young man, a wonderful king, too, uncorruptible, as I knew you would be. Go get ready, dressed for the execution you have to carry out, your grandmama Charlotte and I will help Bella get ready. Then, afterwards, when the execution is done, you and your beautiful bride will come back here, where you will get ready to be at last wed."
"Mama." The word was an emotional one, Edward pushing his cheek into his beloved mother's hand, closing his eyes for a second, then turned to Bella. "I will return to you, have you in my arms, sooner than you think."
She could still feel the shadow of his kiss, taste him on her tongue, as Edward's beloved mother, Elizabeth, and his maternal grandmother, Charlotte, helped her get ready, though it was Elizabeth who did most of the work. They helped her get ready so fast, she only had to blink three times, and she was ready, though she couldn't see her frock, covered as it was by what Bella could only describe as royal robes, which she had only ever seen on television and in movies.
Before Bella could ask why they had dressed her thus, Edward came back, his father and grandfathers, who had gone with him, nowhere to be seen, took her into his arms, kissed her, soft, sweet, deep, but quick, for they were not alone, had things to do. "That was quite fast," she said breathlessly.
'Hmm," sweet, cold kisses pressed along her throat, "I did tell you you would be in my arms faster than you thought."
She took him in, saw that he was wearing a suit, but no royal robes. She reached out, traced patterns on his skin through his shirt. "Where are your royal robes, husband of mine?"
He kissed her as he took off running, answered her on the mental level. At the executions site.
The execution site, what Edward had called "le carré de l'incendie et des cendres" turned out to be deep, deep in the forest, far from civilization, any humans. This, Bella thought, it must be because it was mostly, if not solely, vampires who were executed, and probably only outsiders at that, for the woman, Isabelle, she didn't seem to be afraid though she had been the only human, other than Bella, in the room. The grass, green and lush, was all about them, interrupted only by a small section that was covered with stone, most likely limestone, judging from the shimmering white color of it. However, it bore scorch marks, the stone blackened in some places, so this must be where the pieces of the vampires that were executed were burnt.
She turned her head, there were two massive thrones made of wrought iron, covered in yellow gold, on the opposite side. The site, it made her swallow, her heart filled with all sorts of emotions, all of them having to do with love and happiness. "When—" she swallowed, happy tears pricking at her eyes, "did you put in a second throne?"
He looked at her with so much love, it made her want to reach up, pull him down for a passionate kiss. He shifted her weight so he held her with naught but one arm, caressed her face, traced the full shape of her lips with his forefinger. "At the same time as I put in the first, shortly after I reclaimed the kingdom in 1921, for I never forgot what my beloved mother, Elizabeth, said, that one day I would find a great love of my own, and I wanted us to be equals even as I knew I would take care of her as only a husband should take care of his wife."
Oh, that's it, she lost the internal battle she was fighting, pulled him down for a honey-sweet, deep kiss that was all too brief. "Forgive me for keeping you waiting for so long, Husband." The words were teary, filled with emotion, love.
He wiped, then kissed away her tears. "There is no need to apologize, mon précieux trésor, only never leave me."
"Never,' she vowed.
He carried her to the thrones, set her down atop one, then dawned his royal robes, pretended to look around, search for Liam and Henry, though he already knew they weren't there, or anywhere in the vicinity, for that matter, for he could hear their thoughts so long as they were within a five mile radius, though Bella wasn't certain that held true anymore, his ability had changed so much, so perhaps he could hear people from further out now. "Well, Liam and Henry have not gotten here with Irina and Laurent yet. Whatever shall we do while we wait so we get bored not?" He didn't wait for an answer, was already bending his head, shifting her royal robes aside, his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, flicking out to lick along the length of her artery.
She arched her neck, pressing her skin further into his tongue, wanting more of her skin to come in contact with his venom. If it had been saliva or another liquid it would have been disgusting, but his venom . . . it was akin to chocolate or wine, an aphrodisiac. "Oh, God, more!"
Kisses along her throat, the graze of very sharp teeth. "So sensitive you are to me, my Bella, and tonight we will find out just how much when I make love to you." He bit gently at her neck, careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, began to feed as she done earlier, her eyes rolling to the back of her head, her body awashed in pleasure.
All too soon, though, he pulled away, for Liam and Henry would arrive soon, along with Irina and Laurent. He licked his lips, unwilling to let a single drop of her heart's-blood go to waste.
Footsteps, Liam and Henry arriving, along with Irina and Laurent. They stopped on the opposite side of the thrones, near the white limestone that was scorched and blackened in some places, where Laurent would be executed. Edward let out a reluctant sigh, and his reluctance, Bella knew, from his thoughts, it wasn't because he was reluctant to carry out the execution, as he was actually quite looking forward to it, especially as he hadn't gotten a chance to kill James himself, but because he didn't want to leave her side, even if it was only for a second. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, the crown of her head, her lips. "I will return to you in naught but a moment, ma belle reine."
She watched him walk to Liam and Henry, his steps, though slow, akin to that of a human, for he was reluctant to leave her even as he walked, full of purpose. "Will you carry out the execution or sentencing first, Your Majesty?" It was Liam, who had a vice grip on Laurent that was so tight, he'd been choking him if he'd been human.
"Execution, as I wish to speak to her first, before I sentence her." Edward took Laurent by the neck, threw him into the limestone.
What happened next, Bella didn't see, for it was too fast, but she heard the loud, screeching, high-pitched sound of a vampire being torn apart, the next thing she saw a burning heap of vampire flesh, the pieces so small, they were akin to thousands of pieces of shattered glass, a thick column of black smoke rising in the air, Edward walking back to her.
She rose from the throne, and Edward came to life, moved fast like only he could, as if he'd been waiting for her reaction, to make certain she wasn't afraid of him after witnessing the execution, the speed with which he carried it out—silly man. His arms came about her, palms on her back, pressing her to him, fingers stroking over the long, thin bones of her spine. She stretched up even as he bent his head, kissed her, soft, deep, but all too brief. He turned, sat on the throne, bringing Bella into his lap, positioning her sideways, fingers stroking softly, gently, slowly, over her throat, his question soft as velvet but sharp and lethal as a sword, that of a ruler and a king. "Why, Irina?"
A shrug . "I love him."
Edward closed his eyes, buried his face against Bella's neck, inhaled the scent of her skin, her blood, to calm himself, let his lips ghost over her artery in a shadow of a kiss. "You must know," another kiss, this one accompanied by the graze of teeth, a very discreet lick of his tongue, for he was so very furious, Bella could feel his whole body vibrating with anger, yet he had to remain calm, for he was a king, a monarch passing judgment, "what he is capable of, what he has done. You, Tanya, and Kate, you decided to change, feed on animal blood—become vegetarians, because you were tired of sleeping with men, kill them in the process, wanted to find true love."
A nod, anger, but no hatred in Irina's eyes. "I thought he would change for me, he was trying."
Laughter, harsh and bitter, thousands of very, very sharp knives sinking into Irina's skin, creating a myriad cuts. "No, Irina, he was not changing, was only using you so he can learn how Alice's ability to see the future works, the loopholes and blind spots, was going to tell them to his only coven mate left, Victoria, so they could then use the information to their advantage, attempt to kill my Bella. You see, Victoria is furious, vengeful, for I tore James, her mate, off of Bella, as he attempted to drain her of her blood, harmed him badly, would have torn him to tiny, tiny pieces, too, as I did Laurent, but my Bella was in pain and I needed to take care of her, so I allowed Emmett and Jasper to finish them off, and now she would take what I love most from me, kill my Bella, so I, too, will feel the same pain."
Bella shivered, pressed herself closer to Edward at the mention of Victoria, what she wanted to do, couldn't help but reach out with her mind, speak to him. I thank God Alice can no longer see our future, and Victoria's plans are completely foiled, even had you not killed Laurent just now.
His scent surrounded her, honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia, seeming to reach down to her very soul, the very core of her. Indeed, ma belle reine .
Shock, then a slow realization on Irina's face, for she knew Edward wasn't lying, was telling her the absolute truth. "I'm sorry. "
Edward stroked his fingers, slowly, gently, over Bella's throat, pressed a sweet kiss to her artery. "Be that as it may, you still committed not one, but two crimes. I hereby vanish you from my kingdom for eternity, return only on pain of death. And Irina," Edward added, voice soft as velvet, menacing, "do not attempt to get a foreign army to invade my lands, be it the Volturi or an army of your own, it will not work, will be unsuccessful, only chaos, total and utter death for your side."
Complete and utter shock, the punishment seeming too harsh, brutal, Irina taking several slow steps back, then she was gone within a blink, moving fast like a vampire. Bella didn't say anything afterwards, simply watched the smoke rising from the pile of burning vampire flesh that had been Laurent, the scent of it sickly sweet. Eventually, though, when Edward didn't say anything after what must have been minutes, though he continued to stroke her hair, press kisses to her skin, she swiveled around to face him, wrapped her arms about his neck, fingers interlocking at the back. "Are you feeling better?"
The kiss he took from her . . . it was hard, but soft, desperate, but polite for company, for they were not alone. "No." His face was hard, the lines of him brutal, and still, to her he was the most beautiful man in the world. "I must make certain the Cullens did not take the liberty to invite any additional, unwanted guests, I will not permit anyone to ruin our wedding." He stroked his hands over her back, played his fingers over her spine. "The friends the Cullens have . . ." A pause so he could press a kiss to the pulse on her neck, feel her blood beneath his lips. "I would not allow them near my people, and certainly not you, ma belle reine."
At this, Liam and Henry came forth, stood in front of the thrones, probably sensing Edward was about to give them an order, because they would always remain his friends, but at this moment they were not such, but his courtiers first and foremost. They spoke out loud, probably only doing so for Bella's sake, so she, too, could hear, for she was their queen, it was only a matter of time—a couple of hours, before it was official. "What do you wish us to do, Edward, Your Majesty, Mate?"
He looked up, away from Bella's eyes, his own blazing with power, continued to touch and caress her as he spoke, gave a Royal Order. "Go to wherever the Cullens are staying, I am certain it is somewhere within the kingdom, track them down, see if they brought any more unwanted guests with them, guests with crimson eyes. If they have, drive those guests out of the kingdom. Take some of the royal guard with you if you have to, take all measures, do whatever you have to—I care not."
Liam and Henry set a hand on Edward's shoulders each, the touch that of friends, but also that of warriors to their league, then turned to Bella. "Fret not, Bella, your wedding, it will not be delayed because of this." Then they were gone, were deep, deep in the forest, tracking the rest of the Cullens down.
He didn't say anything, took off running with her in his arms, took her somewhere she didn't expect, judging from the rock, hard against her back, for he had set her down only after seconds of running. Now, he was kissing her, kissing her akin to a drowning, starving man, pulling at her clothes and Royal robes, exposing more and more of her skin to himself while still keeping her decent and modest. Oh, dear heavens, was he trying to drive her mad? She arched her neck when he flicked his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom—over her throbbing and straining artery that was just begging him to bite down, feed, giving him further access. "Edward, bed, Husband," was all she could muster, her mind filled with too much pleasure to speak, either verbally or otherwise.
He pulled away from where he was kissing and sucking at her neck, paying special attention to her artery and pulse point, his eyes wild and shining with power. She swallowed, anticipation building in her gut, deep in her stomach, for she didn't know what he would do, though she knew he wouldn't make love to her . . . not for a couple of more hours, but it was clear he'd well and truly lost control. He wouldn't kill her, oh, no, but she had no idea of the scale and magnitude of the pleasure that awaited her.
Again, he picked her up, like how a groom carried his new bride, carried her to a cloud-soft bed, where he proceeded to kiss every millimeter of her body that he could, was appropriate. "I," he panted, though he didn't need to breathe, "will never allow anybody to harm you or our children, our family. I will sure up our borders, do whatever I have to do—kill whoever and whatever I have to, to keep you safe, by my side forever."
She stroked his hair, panting, too, for he had kissed her breathless. "What on earth has possessed you , my love? Not that I am complaining, I love it when you kiss me, lose control, but . . ."
"That the Cullens had the gall to allow Irina to bring Laurent to our wedding after what he attempted to do to you . . .' Edward slid down the length of her body, pressed a kiss to her navel through her clothes. He loved to do that, she thought, to kiss and suck at her navel, mostly through her clothes for now, as they were not wed yet, and she couldn't help but wonder if he would love to kiss and suck at her breasts and nipples, too. The thought made her blush, heat pooling low in her stomach, to the hot, aching place between her thighs, and, judging from the way he lifted his head, eyebrow raised, likely because of a change in her scent, he didn't know what she was thinking about, meaning her shield was keeping those kind of thoughts hidden from him . . . for now.
He pressed another kiss to her navel through her clothes, sensing she couldn't tell him what she was thinking, not yet, not until they were wed—slid his way back up her body, pressing kisses as he went, careful to avoid her breasts. "It makes me beyond furious. there is a blatant difference between compassion and stupidity. The fact that they did not even think to ask us if it was all right if Laurent came to our wedding, for they knew what my answer would be, what our answer would be, it speaks to the fact that they knew it was wrong, yet they chose to do it anyway."
She shivered with a cold that was bone deep, a cold that had naught to do with the cold temperature of Edward's skin, but everything to do with the way she needed him, needed him to comfort her. She pushed off his suit jacket, unbuttoned his shirt, traced patterns on his skin. "Which," she leaned in, pressed a kiss to the center of his chest, slightly to the left, where his still heart laid hidden within, "friends, vampires with red eyes, are you worried about the Cullens having brought here, to our kingdom, our wedding?"
Edward didn't chastise her or pull away, though there was either no heating system here or it wasn't on, Edward having had no time to turn it on, instead pulled her even closer, cradled her to him, wrapping his power about her, a power that tasted of him, honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia, to keep her warm. "There are a variety of options, all of them nomads, of course, as they are not akin to the Cullens, feed not on animal blood, but human blood. Carlisle, he talks to them once every decade or so, for they issue modern commodities such as the phone, however, Carlisle is not the only one in the Cullen family who has such friends, as Alice and Jasper do, too."
He shivered, fear and protectiveness washing over him. "Sometimes, Peter and Charlotte, friends of Alice and Jasper, who, unlike Carlisle's friends, avoid modern conveniences, the phone, technology, etcetera, not, go to visit the Cullens, specifically Alice and Jasper. They come from the same place Jasper does, Maria's newborn army, yet feed on human blood, have terrible self-control, an appalling record of killing humans to satisfy their thirst no matter where they are. The last time they went to visit the Cullens, it was some months ago, when you and I had already met."
She wiggled, shivering with fear, pressed herself closer to Edward, who kissed her, kissed her until she went slack against him, was moaning and mewling with pleasure, stroking his tongue into her mouth, letting her taste his venom. "No, ma belle, fragile amour, you need not fear so, for you were never alone during the time they were in Forks, I was always with you, though you saw me not, for it was sunny and you had not confronted me about my secret, the fact that you knew I was a vampire, then—hiding in the shadows. In fact, you know what, I will tell you two things, secrets which I have not told you yet, told anyone, for that matter. Peter and Charlotte, they thought me mad, that the animal blood was making me ill, for I was so very anxious to get to you, leave you alone not, but Alice convince me to at least stay to say hello to Peter and Charlotte, spoke to them not. The second secret I want to tell you, it might make you a bit cross with me, for I let my insecurities and Esme and Carlisle get in the way, so forgive me, ma reine."
A pause so he could take a sweet kiss, and Bella knew it for an apology kiss. "The second I knew of Peter and Charlotte's imminent arrival in Forks, after Alice had the vision, the first thing I did when getting to the Cullen household was to pack, purchase some clothes for you, though not the essentials, of course, panties and such, for I wanted to take you not only out of town, but out of the country, the whole continent, bring you here, to our kingdom, where I knew I could protect you, tell you the truth, how much I loved you. However, Carlisle, Esme, and Alice, who, and this is according to their thoughts, not my own assessment of myself, saw me running around like a maniac, all around the house, preparing things to leave, bring you with me, stopped me as I was packing."
Another kiss, this one accompanied by a gentle bite of her lower lip, Edward careful not to inject any venom with his teeth, though he let his tongue, cold as ice, soaked with venom, lick at the wounds he'd created, licking at her blood. "They sat me down in the drawing room, as if I was a child, a child who was throwing a tantrum, was going to do something 'stupid', needed to be stopped. They told me that what was I going to do, steal you from your bed, have you wake up somewhere strange and unfamiliar, for Alice knew not where I was taking you, could not see, as it was a split second decision thing, and I was planning things as I went, tell you our secret, about the existence of vampires, and expected you to be all right with it, for you to stay with me? Still, I was undeterred, seconds away from going to fetch you, my heart and soul screaming at the thought of having you in the same vicinity as other vampires, vampires who fed on human blood."
She pressed herself even closer to him, started placing honey-sweet, warm kisses to his skin, his chest, trying to comfort him anyway she could. Edward stroked her hair, let her climb atop him, the sheer heat of his power keeping her warm despite the cold temperature of his skin. "They tried a different tactic then, mentioning the Volturi, that I was going to put them, the whole Cullen family, at risk, just because I could not stand the thought of other vampires in the same town is you, but the thought or mention of the Volturi, it was never going to stop me, for the Volturi already knew not to come near me or my own. Seeing this, that the mere mention of the Volturi was not stopping me, though they knew not why, they tried one last tactic, the 'Charlie' tactic, telling me that if you disappeared overnight, Charlie, the chief of police, would launch a manhunt for you."
A shrug, and Bella thought Edward looked rather embarrassed. "That one worked, for I knew not how to bypass Charlie entirely. Still, I left you alone not for a second, followed you everywhere you went, though I stayed in the shadows."
She glared, then nudged him playfully on the shoulder, stole a kiss just because she could. "I would have gone with you, you know, weather Charlie approved it or not. Besides, I already knew your secret, the part of your soul that is inside me told me."
He moved, fast like only he could, rolled them over so it was he who was atop her, pressed sweet kisses to her neck, the hollow at the base of her throat. "I know that now. Again, forgive me, mon précieux trésor, never again will I allow the Cullens to get in the way of what I and we, you and I, believe is best for you, for the two of us, our children, our family."
She cupped his face, kissed him, soft and sweet. "I forgive you, Husband, you need not fret over it." A pause, her face becoming serious. "Are these vampires, Peter and Charlotte, the ones you worry the Cullens may have brought with them? "
A nod, but before he could speak, explain things further, for his thoughts were akin to rapid fire, too fast for her to understand, his phone, the one he'd made from scratch, began to ring. He pulled it out from somewhere on his person, Bella didn't know from where, picked up, set it to his ear, having no need to put it on speaker, as she would hear both sides of the conversation regardless, connected to his mind as she was, he to hers. "Yes, Liam, what is it?"
Liam's voice was a mixture of frustration and anger, none of those emotions, Bella knew, directed towards Edward, but towards whatever it was that was going on. "Edward, Your Majesty, where are you?"
Edward moved at the tone of Liam's voice, clearly having heard something Bella hadn't, worry, shifted them so he could cradle her close to his side, play his fingers over her shoulders and back. "At le Palais des Roses."
A deep breath on the other side of the phone, then, "Henry and I will be there in around five minutes, as it would be better . . . faster, if you see this yourself."
They hung up, and he turned to look at her, the lines of his face hard, but soft, filled with love, for he was a warrior and a king, but he was also her lover, would be her husband in just a couple of hours time. He cupped her cheek, the power of him, warm, so warm despite the cold temperature of his skin, sinking into her skin. She closed her eyes, leaned into his touch, turning her head so she could press a soft, warm kiss to his wrist. "It seems, queen and wife of mine, we have got one last situation to handle before we get ready for our wedding nuptials, are at last wed."
She opened her eyes, finally took a look around the room, a bedroom, and her breath caught, for it was a beautiful room, fit for a royal couple, luxurious, but not overbearing or over the top, romantic. The windows, they were massive, large and rectangular, hung with expensive curtains made of silk, their colour white touched with gold. So large were the windows, in fact, that they were only interrupted by several columns of stone. That stone, it was, again, most likely limestone, for it shimmered white, the work carved into each column, tiny, tiny roses, so intricate, it seemed to be on 3D, each petal perfectly defined.
All of this, it was just one wall, the wall on her current side of the bed. The wall on Edward's side of the bed, by comparison, it was entirely made up of limestone, set with candle holders that were made up of pure, solid yellow gold, the craftwork so intricate and detailed, Bella couldn't even begin to describe it. Other than the candle holders, though, this wall was empty, a blank canvas, waiting to be decorated. She noted a few other details, such as the fireplace and the closet, but her mind, it was preoccupied, trying to figure out why this room, though beautiful, seemed so empty.
She turned to Edward, found him watching her carefully, stroking her hair, waiting for her to take everything in. There were so many questions on the tip of her tongue, but the first Thing that came out of her mouth was, "Will you whisk me away, bring me here after the wedding reception, make love to me, claim me as yours?"
Soft, rich, musical, male laughter, silk stroking over her skin, wrapping about her, the kiss he took from her one that left her breathless and wanting more. "Yes, of course, ma belle reine, it is why I had this palace built in the first place, for I wanted it to be a home yet also a place from where my future queen and I could rule our people. I have not lived here before, in this building, used this bed or furniture, though it was completed decades back, as I was waiting for my future queen, you, mon beau diamant."
Her mouth dropped open, happy tears, tears of love, in her eyes. "That is why this looks so empty, Husband, my love?"
A nod, accompanied by yet another kiss that left her breathless. "This is the master suite, and I wanted it to be filled with portraits of us, of you, my future queen, a private bubble." He paused to trace her lips, the tiny blue veins on her skin. "I know what you are thinking, for I can hear it in your thoughts, so very confused, but fret not, as we will live in our country houses, too. In days long since passed, the days of my ancestor, William, it was customary for the monarch to have multiple castles built all about the land, so the enemy thought twice before attacking. These days, however, for most monarchies about the world, having multiple homes and residences is a commodity rather than to keep enemies out. In the case of our monarchy, however, it is so that our people know that I am here, will never again leave them to be ruled by a foreigner."
He buttoned his shirt back up, put on his suit jacket and royal robes, taking way longer than necessary, Bella getting the sense that he did not yet wish to rise, leave this bed, this bedroom that would be their private bubble. Letting out a reluctant sigh, he readjusted her tiara and clothing, touched his fingers to her cheek, the power of him, warm, so warm and familiar, honey lilac with a hint of lavender and freesia, seeping into her bones, her very soul. "Come, mon coeur, we must go outside, for Liam and Henry will be here soon."
Again, he picked her up, like how a groom carried his new bride, carried her outside, fast like only he could, and her breath . . . it was taken away, they were surrounded by roses of different sizes, different colours, too, purple, champagne, pink, white, and blood red. They weren't the only flowers, however, for there were peonies, too, the colours and shades of them matching that of the roses. She reached out, went to run her fingers over a delicate petal, but Edward stiffened, cradled her even closer to him, protective and loving at once. She did not yet know what this danger was, but she did know it was within a five mile radius, perhaps a bit further out. From the way he started placing kisses to her hair, her face, her throat and neck, the thoughts he was picking up, they must be familiar and unwanted.
