The Dark Princess 36

“How was the movie?”Tanya asked Bella. The pair along with Athenodora and Caius were in the royals’ sitting room spending time with Bella while she ate dinner. They were sitting at the small table the royals had set up for Bella to have her meals. Tanya had been lucky enough to get a seat next to Bella with Athenodora on the other side of the human. Initially being around Bella’s parents was somewhat uncomfortable and made Tanya nervous but as time passed she was able to relax. It was obvious that they would do anything for Bella even if that meant having to accept an animal drinker as Bella’s mate. Tanya was expecting her diet was something that would be discussed in the future. Then again the queen had allowed the Cullen children to go hunting and provided guards. Hopefully they wouldn’t demand Tanya change to humans. She really didn’t want to do it.

"We watched the silent film Seventh Heaven and it was amazing. So tragic and uplifting at the same time. Aro tried to brush it off but even he got teary eyed by the end of it.”Bella told her.

“I’m going to have to watch it.”If the film brought out such extreme emotions in Aro Tanya knew it was good.

“We should set up a time to watch some movies. Maybe with your family and the Cullens.”Bella suggested.

“I’m sure they would like that.”Tanya was positive they would all jump at the chance to spend time with Bella. It would also fulfill Tanya’s wish for Bella to spend some time with her family to get to know her mate better.

“We will have to plan that before your surgery.”Athenodora told her.

“After you are changed I doubt you will have the patience to sit and watch a movie with a group of vampires. Especially three unmated ones.”Caius said.

“I didn’t even think of what the repercussions of Bella already being mated when she was turned would be.”Tanya wondered how Bella would react to being around unmated vampires when her emotions were going to be so unpredictable.

“I have never been around a newborn who was turned with a mate before so this will be a learning experience for all of us.”Athenodora predicted a lot of fights were going to break out in Bella’s first few months as a vampire. They would have to be careful of who they let interact with the triad until Bella had better control.

“I hope I won’t cause to many problems for you guys.”Bella would feel horrible if she lost control and did something like ruin the castle or kill someone.

“Don’t worry little one we have dealt with newborns before we will be more than able to keep you under control.”Caius assured her.

“With the two mate bonds and the familial bonds I think you will be able to be managed just fine.”Athenodora wasn’t worried about Bella’s newborn period. It didn’t matter to her if Bella tore down the castle in a fit of rage. As long as Bella was safe and happy the queen would allow it.

“I think you are right. If it were just one bond it probably wouldn’t make a difference but since she has bonds with four people all of which are going to sire her if we came together we could calm Bella down.”Tanya was positive she and Bella’s bond mates would be able to prevent Bella from getting out of control.

“How are you feeling about being turned?”Caius asked.

“I’m excited to finally be able to feel the full effects of the bonds.”Bella told him.

”We are excited for that as well.”Even though Bella saw her as a mother Athenodora would be more secure in that role when Bella was a vampire and experienced the bond.

“What will happen once Bella is turned?”Tanya thought now was the perfect time to ask.

“She will stay at the castle where she will be trained to step into her role as Volturi princess.”After hearing Aro’s plan to give Bella a throne Caius had Marcus set up lesson plans so Bella could learn everything she needed to be a proper queen. Caius and his mate would be in charge of her military training.

“Where in the castle am I going to stay?”Bella hadn’t been told where she was going to live once she was a vampire.

“Until we remodel the castle to add your own wing you will stay in our rooms.”Athenodora would prefer Bella just live in parent’s wing but with two mates that wasn’t going to be feasible.

Tanya didn’t like the sound of that.”Will I or the rest of my family be getting our own rooms?”

“It hasn’t been discuss but it is my plan to offer your coven the same deal as the Cullens. Each of you will get your own private room with Eleazar and Carmen sharing.”Athenodora knew if Tanya went back to Alaska Bella would insist on going with her and the queen wasn’t going to allow that. That meant she had to play nice with more animal drinkers. It wasn’t that much of a sacrifice if it kept Bella in the castle.

“Thank you.”Tanya felt better about things now that she was going to have her own room. It would give her a place to have some privacy with Bella. Something that would definitely be needed when she was changed. Tanya wondered if Bella was a virgin. Her vampire side like the idea of her being untouched. It preened at the idea of being the first one to claim Bella. That would be something she would need to discuss with Jane. Tanya wouldn’t be selfish in this relationship even if she wanted Bella all to herself.

“Have you talked to Jane?”Bella hadn’t reached out to Jane because she was on a mission and Bella didn’t want to distract her.

“They landed an hour ago and are on their way to scout the reservation.”Caius had been pleased when Bella showed her support in them kidnaping the wolves. They didn’t tell her about what her father had planned just that the wolves were involved in scheme to hurt her. That seemed to be enough of an explanation and Bella didn’t push for any details.

“How long do you think it will take them to get everyone involved?”Tanya asked.

“From what we know of the wolves they and their people hardly leave their lands. That will make it easy to round up all the suspects. I expect her and the others to be on their way home in less than six hours.”Athenodora was confident that the team that went with Jane would complete the mission quickly. The wolves were no match for them. Nor were the humans they were getting either.

“I hate when Jane is away.”Bella said.

“Once you are turned Jane will be with you until you get through your newborn phase. Then we are going to reevaluate her role in the guard.”Caius didn’t want to lose Jane but by being Bella’s mate she wouldn’t be able to go out on as many missions as she usually did. It wouldn’t be fair to keep Jane away from her mate when other guard members got the option of bringing theirs with them. Bella would not be allowed to leave the castle let alone go on missions so Jane would have to cut back her travel time.

“What are you going to do with all of them when they get to the castle?”Bella was curious about what they would do with a bunch of shifters. She didn’t know what crime they committed but was told it had to do with her. That meant that whatever the punishment they were going to get was going to be severe.

“We are going to give them a proper trial. It’s just a formality though because Aro already has proof of their wrongdoing. We just need to find out exactly who knew what and if anyone made any attempts to stop the perpetrators.”Caius told her.

“What are you going to do to the ones that are guilty?”Bella asked.

“Our plan is to give them to the guard to train with. Only a few of them had ever fought a shifter or any children of the moon so getting a chance to fight the wolves will be good for them. We of course are going to take a turn as well but that is what they are going to used for.”Athenodora was looking forward to beating on the wolves. She was going to make it extremely painful for each one of them. They deserved no less for what they had planned for Bella.

“What about the humans?”Bella was happy that something positive would come out of this. The guards would get to know how to fight shifters and that would allow them to protect her family better.

“I think we are going to include them in the hunt.”Caius said.

“Speaking of the shifters. Not only do my sisters and myself want a chance with them but the Cullen children would like a turn as well.”Tanya thought this was the perfect time to ask.

“That’s a good idea. Then they would be able to learn to defend themselves. I don’t know what kind of training you and your sisters have Tanya but other than Jasper the Cullens have very little.”Bella was worried for her friends now that were just a coven of four. Yes Edward, Carlisle and Esme weren’t that formable but they at least gave them some support.

“We were going to bring up having the Cullens and the Denali train. If you all are going to be spending time with Bella then you need to be able to protect not only yourselves but Bella as well.”Bella would always have guards with her but Athenodora wanted anyone that spent time with her daughter to be able to fight off any attack on Bella.

“I’m sure all of them are more than willing to put in the effort to better their skills.”Tanya was beyond relieved that the king and queen wanted them to train. Not only was it something the others wanted to do but it would help them keep Bella safe.

“I’ll work out a schedule with the guards. I want all of you to begin soon.”Caius knew that it was going to take some time to get the group up to his standards and wanted them to get started right away. Bella’s safety was at sake.

“I will make sure they are ready when you call on them.”Tanya said.

Bella finished the last bite of her dinner.“I’m finished.”

“Are you still hungry?”Caius asked.

“No, I’m fine.”Bella told her.

“You have two hours before bed what do you want to do?”Athenodora hoped that Bella wanted to spend some time with her.

“I was wondering if you would let me buy some books online?”Bella hadn’t had a chance to check out the library but wanted to replace some of her favorites that had been lost or left behind when she came to the castle.Plus she had noticed with all the threats against her they had found about her bond mates were obviously feeling protective. That meant they needed to do things for her to sooth their vampire side.”And some movies we can watch together?”

“You can have anything you want sweetheart.”Tanya would be more than willing to buy some things for Bella to enjoy.

“Why don’t you fire up your laptop and we can pick out some stuff.”Caius was happy that Bella felt that she could ask them for things.

“Alright.”Bella stood for her chair, went to her parents bedroom and grabbed the laptop Caius had bought her. Walking back into the sitting room she took a seat on the couch.”I also need some new headphones. Mine got broken on the way to the castle.”

“Those are easy to get.”Tanya said as she took a seat on the couch next to Bella.

“I’ll research the best quality ones.”Caius pulled out his phone and began searching for headphone reviews.

“How do you like your phone? Is it good enough or do want a different one?”Athenodora asked sitting on the other side of Bella.

“I love my phone. Not only is my first one but it’s special because it was the first gift dad bought for me.”Bella told her.

Caius shared a smile with Athenodora. It was comments like that that made Caius melt a little inside. Not that he would ever admit it to anyone. He had a reputation to uphold.”You should keep that phone then.”

“What else do you need?”Tanya asked.

“That’s all for now but I’m sure I’ll think of stuff in the future.”Bella would have to because Jane would feel like she let her down if Bella didn’t let her buy stuff for her as well.

“Then let’s start with movies.”Athenodora happily snuggled into her daughter’s side as she watched Bella pull up a website on her computer. She was extremely happy Bella was allowing them to buy her things. Not only had Athenodora been on edge but her mate and Bella’s two mates had been as well. With all the things they found out from not only the Cullens but Bella’s humans parents and now the wolves their beasts were in protective mode. That meant that they needed constant reassurance that not only was Bella safe but that all her needs were taken care of. Buying things for Bella’s comfort helped take the edge off that urge and the queen once again thanked whoever was responsible to putting Bella in her life that the human understood vampires so well. Athenodora didn’t want even think of what would have happened if Bella wasn’t receptive to their help. Luckily it wouldn’t be an issue. Her daughter had great instincts and the queen felt blessed that she was chosen to be Bella’s mother.