Edward remained rooted to the spot, a monumental stillness overtaking him as his mind spiraled into chaos. His thoughts, once sharp and ordered, tumbled over one another, impossible to sort. He had lived centuries, honing himself into an embodiment of control and rationality. Nothing—not a battle, a crisis, or a brush with death—had ever shaken him so completely.
Yet here he stood, undone by a child. Not just any child, he corrected himself. Isabella. Her name carried a weight he didn't fully understand, echoing in his mind like a solemn vow. Her mere presence filled the space between them with something beyond comprehension, something instinctual and binding.
She was his.
Though the bond wasn't fully formed yet—Marcus's musings had made that clear—he felt it, faint but undeniable. It pulled at him, threaded through his being like an unspoken promise. He didn't yet feel the love a mate would, not in its entirety, but something else clawed at his chest—fierce protectiveness. It coursed through him with an urgency that unsettled him. The thought of any harm coming to her was suddenly intolerable.
Her happiness, he realized, mattered—more than his own. This was no ordinary bond; it demanded everything from him. Even now, as he stood silently watching her with Aro, the drive to protect, shield, and ensure her every comfort grew with each breath she took.
But what now?
Edward's mind grappled with the impossible situation unfolding before him. Should he tell Aro? The idea felt like walking into fire. How could he tell a man like Aro—ambitious, cunning, and unyielding—that the daughter he cherished above all else was bound to Edward in a way that defied all logic?
And what of Marcus?
Edward's gaze shifted to the elder vampire standing quietly in the shadows, his thoughts still hauntingly clear in Edward's mind. Marcus's understanding of their bond was acute, undeniable. He wouldn't need words to confirm it; he knew. Marcus's musings lingered like a faint echo, steady and unchanging.
He will see it. Aro must.
But Edward balked at the thought. Once Aro knew, everything would change. He couldn't imagine Aro relinquishing control over Isabella—his daughter, his prized hybrid. Aro's mind, sharp and calculated even in affection, would make it impossible to maintain any kind of natural progression between himself and Isabella.
And yet, Edward couldn't hide his instincts. Already, he could feel the cracks forming in his otherwise perfect façade of restraint. When Isabella was near, the urge to protect her was visceral, impossible to suppress. How long could he truly contain it before Aro noticed? Or worse, before his overprotectiveness exposed him?
Edward swallowed hard, his eyes drifting back to Isabella as she tugged playfully at the hem of Aro's sleeve. The trust in her gaze—so open, so innocent—nearly broke him.
I cannot fail her, he realized. Whatever choices he made now had to ensure her safety and happiness. No matter the personal cost, no matter what it demanded of him, he would not let her down.
But the answers still eluded him. How could he navigate this bond while ensuring Aro remained unaware, at least for now? Could Marcus truly keep this revelation to himself, or would he act on it, compelled by his loyalty to Aro?
Edward clenched his fists, his mind warring with the primal instincts and logical caution vying for control. One thing was certain: his life had irrevocably changed the moment Isabella smiled at him. Whatever came next would demand all his resolve, every ounce of restraint, and perhaps even sacrifices he wasn't yet prepared to make.
Edward's thoughts churned violently, his newfound awareness casting everything in a stark, overwhelming light. He couldn't tear his mind away from Isabella—the bond, fragile yet undeniable, searing through every part of his existence. She was his mate. The word pulsed in his consciousness, demanding attention, reshaping his priorities with alarming speed. His instincts roared to life, protective and territorial, and he knew with absolute certainty that her safety mattered more than anything else in his immortal life.
His spiraling thoughts were interrupted by a cheerful voice that pierced the tension like sunlight through storm clouds.
"Gianna!" Isabella exclaimed, her high-pitched, melodic voice bubbling with excitement.
Edward's sharp gaze snapped to the new arrival. Emerging from the shadows was a human woman in her late twenties, her heartbeat steady yet fragile compared to the stillness of the room. Recognition struck him instantly—Gianna, the Volturi's human receptionist, whom he had encountered years ago.
But Gianna was still human.
Edward raised an eyebrow, his instincts bristling. It was strange for the Volturi to keep a human around for so long, and even stranger still that she appeared unburdened, almost content. Her auburn hair was tied neatly back, her professional demeanor calm and measured, as though she had fully accepted her precarious role in their world.
"Gianna," Edward murmured, his voice almost inaudible.
Gianna dipped her head respectfully, directing her gaze toward Aro. "Master Aro," she greeted, her tone smooth and practiced. "It's time for Miss Isabella's lessons. Her mother is waiting."
"Ah, so it is," Aro replied with a paternal smile, his crimson eyes softening as they turned to his daughter. "Isabella, you know what to do. Off you go, my darling."
At the mention of lessons, Isabella's doe eyes lit up, brimming with enthusiasm. "Okay, Daddy!" she chirped brightly. Turning to her uncles, she offered quick smiles before spinning in place, her lavender dress billowing out like a delicate cloud. She skipped to Gianna's side, happiness radiating from her in waves.
Before she left, Isabella spun on her heel one last time, her grin dazzling. "Goodbye, Edward!" she called, her voice light and carefree.
Edward inclined his head slightly, the only acknowledgment he could muster. His chest tightened as he watched her go, her small frame vanishing into the hallway, humming an innocent tune as she linked arms with Gianna.
When the last echoes of her voice faded, Edward forced himself to swallow the protective snarl clawing at his throat. She was his mate, his responsibility—and she lived in a world filled with power, manipulation, and danger.
"She brightens the castle, doesn't she?" Aro mused, stepping closer to Edward, his expression one of pride, tinged with curiosity.
Edward's gaze remained on the door Isabella had disappeared through, his golden eyes darkening with suppressed turmoil. Aro had no idea what had just transpired between him and his daughter, no inkling of the bond that tied her to Edward. And Edward intended to keep it that way. But how long could he pretend? Already, he felt the weight of his instincts tugging at his composure.
"She's extraordinary," Edward said at last, his voice even but tense.
Aro smiled faintly, his expression unreadable. "I'm glad you understand," he said softly, almost as though they had reached an unspoken agreement.
As the sound of Isabella's distant humming faded, the atmosphere in the throne room grew heavy with unspoken tension. Edward stood, his figure unnaturally still as he continued to process the whirlwind of emotions Isabella had stirred within him. He turned his golden gaze back to Aro, who was watching him with a peculiar glint of amusement and calculation.
"Well," Aro began, his tone smooth and welcoming as he extended his hand, the invitation unmistakable. "Shall we begin in earnest?"
Edward's jaw tightened, his expression darkening. "No." His voice was sharp but measured. "I won't be sharing any information with you. Not now, not ever."
For a fleeting moment, the room stilled. Aro didn't withdraw his hand immediately but allowed the rejection to linger before letting it fall back to his side with a small, knowing smile. "As always, Mr. Cullen, your resolve is most impressive," he said lightly, though his tone carried an edge.
Marcus, seated quietly to the side, exchanged a brief glance with Caius, who merely smirked at Edward's Aro clasped his hands together, stepping closer with an air of authority. "Well then," he said smoothly, his tone laced with subtle tension. "Let us proceed with transparency on my part, if only to better align our interests." His demeanor shifted, the casual facade melting away to reveal something heavier, more calculated. "Surely you're curious as to why you were summoned."
Now Edward was damned glad he had come. If he had given in to his initial resistance and rejected Caius's demand, what might have happened? He wouldn't have met Isabella, wouldn't have known she was his mate. And worse, if the threats Aro hinted at had been realized, if harm had come to her before he'd even had the chance to know her… The thought clawed at his mind, raw and unbearable. The very idea of losing her made him feel like he was teetering on the edge of madness. How would he have lived with himself, knowing he could have been there, knowing he could have stopped it?
It wasn't merely about protecting her. It was the understanding that her existence, so innocent yet profound, was now inextricably tied to his. She was a light he hadn't known he needed, one he now couldn't bear to lose. His decision to come here had set the course for everything, and despite the precariousness of his situation, he felt an unexpected, fierce determination rising within him.
His golden eyes narrowed as they returned to Aro, now viewing the Volturi leader with a sharpened sense of purpose. He would play the game, for her sake—whatever it took to keep Isabella safe.
His thoughts sharpened as Aro's voice cut through the stillness.
"Our peace has been fractured over the past few months," Aro began, his tone layered with subtle frustration. "We've prided ourselves on discretion, particularly where Isabella is concerned. Her existence is not something we've paraded, and yet…" He trailed off, his eyes darkening. "It seems our enemies know of her and have seized upon her as a vulnerability."
Edward stiffened, his protective instincts roaring. He knew exactly what Aro meant. Isabella wasn't just Aro's daughter or a hybrid curiosity—she was a game changer. For Aro's enemies, targeting her meant undermining the Volturi's very foundation.
"The castle has been unusually quiet," Marcus interjected, his voice low and deliberate, "but the timing is suspect. Threats against Isabella have grown."
Edward stiffened. Aro's calculated words were dangerously close to sympathy, but there was something genuine in his tone, a crack in the usual veneer of control.
Aro stepped closer again. "If you require clarity, let me show you what I mean," he offered. Before Edward could respond, Aro raised his hand—not to demand, but as though presenting an olive branch. "See for yourself, through my own eyes, what she means to us. To me."
Edward knew there was no need of clarity and Aro into his mind was never an option, but receiving insight into Aro's thoughts? It was a different calculation entirely. Against his instincts, he reluctantly gave a sharp nod.
Aro pressed his hand to Edward's arm for the briefest moment. What Edward saw next, in vivid detail, was startling.
Flashes of memories swam before him—Aro holding a fragile, newborn Isabella in his arms, his expression unlike anything Edward had seen before: not cold and manipulative, but tender, almost disbelieving. He watched as Aro cared for the child, his hands uncharacteristically gentle as he combed her curls, taught her to read, and laughed with genuine delight at her innocent observations. It wasn't manipulation or obligation; it was affection, pure and sincere.
Isabella wasn't merely a means to an end. She had changed him.
"She was created," Aro's voice narrated as the images flickered, "yes, initially for my personal gain—a bold attempt to further what I believed was the Volturi's strength." His voice shifted, tinged with an uncharacteristic softness. "But the moment she was born… everything changed. She changed me."
The memories ended abruptly as Aro withdrew his hand. Edward blinked, disoriented, but the weight of what he'd seen pressed heavily against his thoughts. Aro's words came next, almost a whisper: "We would've not acted on these threats if they didn't involve Isabella. She's the game changer here, Edward. She is our everything."
Edward's gaze turned icy. "They're testing your limits," he said slowly, understanding dawning. "They know you'd do anything to protect her. It's a calculated provocation."
Aro inclined his head slightly, an admission of truth. "Precisely. And their underestimation of us will be their undoing."
Edward turned to Caius, his golden eyes narrowed. "Do you think it's Vladimir and Stefan?"
Caius let out a scoffing laugh, his tone laced with venom. "Oh, I don't think. I'm certain it's them." He leaned forward slightly, his pale hand gripping the edge of his seat. "Their jealousy of the Volturi's power has festered for centuries. If they learned of Isabella's existence, they wouldn't hesitate to exploit it."
Edward glanced toward the door once more, a storm brewing in his mind. Isabella's light, her innocence, was a fragile thing in the dark world around her. They might see her as a weakness, but Edward knew better.
She was strength—the strength he would fight for, no matter the cost.
His voice was low but steady as he turned back to Aro. "Then let's end this before they get another chance."
The app was down for a moment, so I couldn't upload this chapter sooner. But it's up now, so enjoy!
I guess you can keep some things from Aro for awhile. Please leave your reviews.