New Love, New Life
by Momma2fan
Chapter 17
Carlisle stared at the ashes of what was left of his mate. However, he wasn’t feeling like someone was wrenching his dead heart from his chest. Was his whole life a lie? His marriage? Was Esme even his mate?
“Marcus?”
“I’m sorry, Carlisle, she was your mate, although your bond was damaged severely by her actions. Whether you were aware or not remains to be seen. You must allow Aro to read you.”
Nodding, the vampire held out his hand to Aro, watching as the dark haired king closed his eyes; every thought Carlisle ever had ran through Aro’s mind. When he was done, the king patted him on the hand before releasing his hold.
“He knew nothing,” Aro began as he turned to his niece. “He’s a victim of Esme just like the others.” He walked toward the dias, “He also never wanted to leave you behind in Forks. Esme convinced them all. You’ve always been the daughter he wished he’d had.”
Looking at Marcus, “Are his mating bonds to Esme broken?”
“He’ll always feel the loss of his mate, but since the lines were frayed, it won’t be as painful. He will be able to find another companion, if he chooses.”
Nodding, Bella turned to Carlisle, “I forgive you for what you put me through. You’re as innocent as Emmett and Jasper, a pawn in Esme’s game.”
“Thank you, Bella. You’re more gracious than I deserve.” Carlisle smiled sadly at her.
Turning to her uncle, “What of Rosalie?”
Aro looked at the blonde, holding out his hand for her to take. Cautiously, Rose reached out a shaking hand, allowing herself to be read for the first time. She whimpered when she heard Aro’s hiss at the reasoning behind her change, but didn’t remove her hand from his grasp.
“I’m sorry you had to endure such pain, my dear. No one woman should have to live with that kind of memory. However, I do wish you had used your trauma in a different way.” Letting go of her hand, Aro continued. “You’re a very angry and spiteful woman -understandable, of course- but you have acted as though the vampire world owes you something. You’ve been rude and harsh to a man who only tried to love you, even if you aren’t his mate. You’ve been hateful to your sire, who only did what his instincts were telling him, to save you the way he had been coerced to. Plus, you’ve been jealous of a girl who would have offered you friendship -the love of a true sister- with nothing expected in return.”
Rosalie hung her head in shame, knowing Aro was right in all he had said. “I have much to atone for, but I don’t know how to let go of the anger I still feel. After all this time, it still burns just as brightly as the day I awoke to my new life.”
Marcus leaned forward, “We have vampires who can help you, Ms. Hale. Carlisle isn’t the only medically talented vampire in our midst. He is just the one devoted to humans. You will find there are several counselors and psychiatrists here in Volterra who would be willing to speak with you.”
Rosalie nodded, “I would appreciate that, Master Marcus. It would mean remaining in Italy for a time. Where would I stay?”
“I’m sure we could find a place for you in the castle. We could also find you a job when you’re ready.”
“Only if it’s okay with Bella. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”
Bella looked at Demetri, who smiled down at her. “It’s your call, Gatáki.”
She turned once more and looked at the woman who had been cruel to her for no other reason than she was jealous. Bella was a forgiving woman and though the words hurt, she’d never been physically harmed by her. It was time to let it go.
“Rosalie is a fabulous mechanic. Perhaps someone would be needed to tend to all of the vehicles in the garage?” Bella looked over at Caius.
“Yes, I’m sure we can make use of her skills there,” Caius agreed with his daughter.
Turning back to Rosalie, “I have no problem with you staying, Rosalie. I’m sure you’ll find friends here. Maybe someday I will be counted among them.”
Nodding, Rosalie stepped back and waited to see what would happen next.
Aro steepled his fingers, tapping two against his lips. As much as he wanted to get everything over with, he also wanted to speak with Emmett Cullen about broadcasting Edward’s trial. The vampire race needed to know what happened if laws were broken. The ruling body could not and would not tolerate disobedience.
“I believe we will take a break and reconvene tomorrow. Everyone needs to be well fed and calm before we have the trial of Edward and Alice Cullen.”
Demetri reached a hand out to his mate, “Let’s go for a run.”
~NL*NL~
When Demetri and Bella returned to the palace, they headed straight to their suite to clean up from their run. Demetri chuckled as he pulled branches and leaves from her hair.
“Ugh,” Bella looked in the mirror. “The only way to get them out is to shower.” Turning, she wrapped her arms around Demetri’s waist, “Join me?”
“Isn’t that how you got the bracken in your hair?”
Bella reached up and nipped at his chin, “Well, since it’s your fault, you should help clean it up.”
With a growl, Demetri tore her clothes from her body, the scraps littering the bathroom floor. Bella returned the favor, adding more fabric to the scrap pile. He picked her up by the backs of her thighs, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist, lining her core up with his hardening member.
Reaching into the shower, Demetri turned on the water and stepped under the spray with his mate wrapped around him. Slanting his mouth over hers, Demetri angled his hips and thrust inside her, eliciting a low moan from deep within Bella’s chest. Pulling his hips back, he pushed forward again and again until he felt his mate’s walls quivering and squeezing him.
“Yes, Demetri!”
Bella’s orgasm brought forth his own and he sank his teeth into her neck, marking her again as he filled her with his cold seed. Removing his teeth from her neck, he brought his lips to hers. The passion between them built again and he began moving inside her once more.
A couple hours later, Bella was curled up on the sofa in their sitting room, reading a book while Demetri lay with his head in her lap. She was absently running her fingers through his hair, when a knock sounded on their door.
“Come in, Caius,” Demetri said without moving from his position.
The blonde king crossed the threshold and noticed his daughter’s position with her mate, biting back the growl which wanted to come out. He remembered Demtri’s threat about not keeping mates apart and wisely kept his comments to himself.
“Aro wants to commence with the trial of the remaining Cullens. Alice is to be read first, followed by Edward.”
Sitting up, Demetri nodded, “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Nodding, Caius left just as quickly as he arrived. Turning his head to look at Bella, Demetri chuckled.
“I don’t think he liked the fact I was lying in your lap.”
“Lucky for him, he wasn’t here a couple of hours ago.” Bella leaned toward him, a cheeky grin on her face. “He would have really hated seeing your cock inside me and hearing the noises I was making.”
“Why you...” Demetri lunged at her, but she moved away at vampire speed and ran to their closet, her laughter trailing behind her.
He followed her to the walk-in and found her in a black lace bra and matching boyshorts, pulling a black dress up her legs. Once she had it pulled over her shoulders, he stepped forward and zipped up the back, his fingers gently brushing her skin.
Bella shivered at his touch and turned to look up at him. “Don’t start anything now, amante, we have somewhere to be.” She leaned up on her toes and placed a gentle kiss to his lips, before turning to get her black, peep toe heels and cape. Demetri pulled on his black slacks, black button down and black shoes, before fastening his watch to his wrist. Grabbing his crest and his cape he turned to see his mate standing before him, looking breathtakingly beautiful.
Carlisle stared at the ashes of what was left of his mate. However, he wasn’t feeling like someone was wrenching his dead heart from his chest. Was his whole life a lie? His marriage? Was Esme even his mate?
“Marcus?”
“I’m sorry, Carlisle, she was your mate, although your bond was damaged severely by her actions. Whether you were aware or not remains to be seen. You must allow Aro to read you.”
Nodding, the vampire held out his hand to Aro, watching as the dark haired king closed his eyes; every thought Carlisle ever had ran through Aro’s mind. When he was done, the king patted him on the hand before releasing his hold.
“He knew nothing,” Aro began as he turned to his niece. “He’s a victim of Esme just like the others.” He walked toward the dias, “He also never wanted to leave you behind in Forks. Esme convinced them all. You’ve always been the daughter he wished he’d had.”
Looking at Marcus, “Are his mating bonds to Esme broken?”
“He’ll always feel the loss of his mate, but since the lines were frayed, it won’t be as painful. He will be able to find another companion, if he chooses.”
Nodding, Bella turned to Carlisle, “I forgive you for what you put me through. You’re as innocent as Emmett and Jasper, a pawn in Esme’s game.”
“Thank you, Bella. You’re more gracious than I deserve.” Carlisle smiled sadly at her.
Turning to her uncle, “What of Rosalie?”
Aro looked at the blonde, holding out his hand for her to take. Cautiously, Rose reached out a shaking hand, allowing herself to be read for the first time. She whimpered when she heard Aro’s hiss at the reasoning behind her change, but didn’t remove her hand from his grasp.
“I’m sorry you had to endure such pain, my dear. No one woman should have to live with that kind of memory. However, I do wish you had used your trauma in a different way.” Letting go of her hand, Aro continued. “You’re a very angry and spiteful woman -understandable, of course- but you have acted as though the vampire world owes you something. You’ve been rude and harsh to a man who only tried to love you, even if you aren’t his mate. You’ve been hateful to your sire, who only did what his instincts were telling him, to save you the way he had been coerced to. Plus, you’ve been jealous of a girl who would have offered you friendship -the love of a true sister- with nothing expected in return.”
Rosalie hung her head in shame, knowing Aro was right in all he had said. “I have much to atone for, but I don’t know how to let go of the anger I still feel. After all this time, it still burns just as brightly as the day I awoke to my new life.”
Marcus leaned forward, “We have vampires who can help you, Ms. Hale. Carlisle isn’t the only medically talented vampire in our midst. He is just the one devoted to humans. You will find there are several counselors and psychiatrists here in Volterra who would be willing to speak with you.”
Rosalie nodded, “I would appreciate that, Master Marcus. It would mean remaining in Italy for a time. Where would I stay?”
“I’m sure we could find a place for you in the castle. We could also find you a job when you’re ready.”
“Only if it’s okay with Bella. I don’t want to make her uncomfortable.”
Bella looked at Demetri, who smiled down at her. “It’s your call, Gatáki.”
She turned once more and looked at the woman who had been cruel to her for no other reason than she was jealous. Bella was a forgiving woman and though the words hurt, she’d never been physically harmed by her. It was time to let it go.
“Rosalie is a fabulous mechanic. Perhaps someone would be needed to tend to all of the vehicles in the garage?” Bella looked over at Caius.
“Yes, I’m sure we can make use of her skills there,” Caius agreed with his daughter.
Turning back to Rosalie, “I have no problem with you staying, Rosalie. I’m sure you’ll find friends here. Maybe someday I will be counted among them.”
Nodding, Rosalie stepped back and waited to see what would happen next.
Aro steepled his fingers, tapping two against his lips. As much as he wanted to get everything over with, he also wanted to speak with Emmett Cullen about broadcasting Edward’s trial. The vampire race needed to know what happened if laws were broken. The ruling body could not and would not tolerate disobedience.
“I believe we will take a break and reconvene tomorrow. Everyone needs to be well fed and calm before we have the trial of Edward and Alice Cullen.”
Demetri reached a hand out to his mate, “Let’s go for a run.”
~NL*NL~
When Demetri and Bella returned to the palace, they headed straight to their suite to clean up from their run. Demetri chuckled as he pulled branches and leaves from her hair.
“Ugh,” Bella looked in the mirror. “The only way to get them out is to shower.” Turning, she wrapped her arms around Demetri’s waist, “Join me?”
“Isn’t that how you got the bracken in your hair?”
Bella reached up and nipped at his chin, “Well, since it’s your fault, you should help clean it up.”
With a growl, Demetri tore her clothes from her body, the scraps littering the bathroom floor. Bella returned the favor, adding more fabric to the scrap pile. He picked her up by the backs of her thighs, allowing her to wrap her legs around his waist, lining her core up with his hardening member.
Reaching into the shower, Demetri turned on the water and stepped under the spray with his mate wrapped around him. Slanting his mouth over hers, Demetri angled his hips and thrust inside her, eliciting a low moan from deep within Bella’s chest. Pulling his hips back, he pushed forward again and again until he felt his mate’s walls quivering and squeezing him.
“Yes, Demetri!”
Bella’s orgasm brought forth his own and he sank his teeth into her neck, marking her again as he filled her with his cold seed. Removing his teeth from her neck, he brought his lips to hers. The passion between them built again and he began moving inside her once more.
A couple hours later, Bella was curled up on the sofa in their sitting room, reading a book while Demetri lay with his head in her lap. She was absently running her fingers through his hair, when a knock sounded on their door.
“Come in, Caius,” Demetri said without moving from his position.
The blonde king crossed the threshold and noticed his daughter’s position with her mate, biting back the growl which wanted to come out. He remembered Demtri’s threat about not keeping mates apart and wisely kept his comments to himself.
“Aro wants to commence with the trial of the remaining Cullens. Alice is to be read first, followed by Edward.”
Sitting up, Demetri nodded, “We’ll be there in a few minutes.”
Nodding, Caius left just as quickly as he arrived. Turning his head to look at Bella, Demetri chuckled.
“I don’t think he liked the fact I was lying in your lap.”
“Lucky for him, he wasn’t here a couple of hours ago.” Bella leaned toward him, a cheeky grin on her face. “He would have really hated seeing your cock inside me and hearing the noises I was making.”
“Why you...” Demetri lunged at her, but she moved away at vampire speed and ran to their closet, her laughter trailing behind her.
He followed her to the walk-in and found her in a black lace bra and matching boyshorts, pulling a black dress up her legs. Once she had it pulled over her shoulders, he stepped forward and zipped up the back, his fingers gently brushing her skin.
Bella shivered at his touch and turned to look up at him. “Don’t start anything now, amante, we have somewhere to be.” She leaned up on her toes and placed a gentle kiss to his lips, before turning to get her black, peep toe heels and cape. Demetri pulled on his black slacks, black button down and black shoes, before fastening his watch to his wrist. Grabbing his crest and his cape he turned to see his mate standing before him, looking breathtakingly beautiful.
“Are you ready, Agapiménos?”
“Let’s finish this.” Hand in hand, they left their suite to join the others in the throne room, ready to put an end to her past and continue on with her future.
AN: What will Aro read from the twisted twins? Stay tuned....
“Let’s finish this.” Hand in hand, they left their suite to join the others in the throne room, ready to put an end to her past and continue on with her future.
AN: What will Aro read from the twisted twins? Stay tuned....