The Dark Princess 31

“Why have you gathered all of us here Marcus?”Caius asked his brother.He and his mate had a lovely day beating on the mind reader and were enjoying an evening spending time with their daughter.Due to Bella’s interest in warfare Caius and Athenodora had been showing her battle plans and explaining how they planned out some of their own battles.It was a nice chance for the family to bond so the king hadn’t been pleased when his brother sent word that he wanted to have a meeting.The fact that he requested Bella’s two mates to be there as well annoyed him even more because that meant that he wouldn’t have Bella’s complete attention.Although he was pleased that Bella hadn’t moved from her seat in-between him and Athenodora.

“I have found some records of humans with different types of materials embedded in their bodies when they were changed.The accounts also offered what the result was once they became vampires.”Marcus told them.

“Is Bella going to be ok?”Tanya asked.She had been happy that she was offered the invitation to be at this meeting.By the way that Bella’s parents acted around both her and Jane, Tanya figured they wouldn’t let them in on meetings that pertained to Bella.Tanya figured the only way to get any information would be from Bella herself.

Marcus nodded.”The reports I read are actually quite astounding.”

“How so?”Athenodora asked.

“Well it seems that when the unnatural material fuses with vampire venom it actually strengthens it to be stronger than human bones alone would be.”Marcus said.

“That means that Bella’s arm will be stronger than a regular vampires.”Aro concluded.

“Exactly.Not only does it make the part of the body stronger but it doesn’t affect the make up of the rest of the limb.So even though Bella’s forearm will have the metal in it it won’t cause the rest of her arm to be vulnerable to the point of being easily broken or removed.”Marcus explained.

“That’s a relief.”Jane had been worried that with the metal in her arm it would be more susceptible to being removed.

“It is indeed.”Sulpicia agreed.

“Does that mean we don’t have to wait to turn her?”After the flu incident not only was Didyme worried about Bella’s mortality but the rest of the castle as well.

“As soon as the surgery is over Bella will be completely safe to turn.”Marcus told them.

“Excellent.”Athenodora was beyond happy to hear that.They had all been planning on having to wait months but to know that it would only be days before Bella could be one of them was a relief.

“Now we just have to plan on how we want to do it.”Caius just like his mate was beyond please because not only would Bella be safer but once she was a vampire she would feel the bonds completely.That would erase all the doubts he had about Bella not seeing him as her father.

“It’s to bad we can’t do the surgery in the castle.”Jane would have preferred that Bella stay where she was safe.

“Just because she has to have it at the hospital that doesn’t mean we can’t take her home right away and change her.”Athenodora said.

“Bella what do you think?”Tanya asked.It was only right for Bella to have a say as they were talking about her future.

“I think it would be best if I am changed as soon as possible.Not only would it better for me to be more indestructible but not having to go through months of recovery for my arm would be nice.”Bella would do anything to skip out on the months of pain and discomfort that would come with her arm healing.

“Then it’s settled.We will have Bella’s surgery then she will come back to the castle where she will be changed.”Athenodora was pleased that things were turning out this way.

“Have you decided who will be changing her?”Sulpicia asked.

“Myself, Athenodora and her two mates will all be biting her.”Caius told them.

“So not only is she incredibly gifted but she has a familiar bond with both of you, she has two mate bonds now is going to have four sires.I’m very excited to see what kind of vampire you become.”Aro knew that Bella was going to be a remarkable vampire once she was turned.With her pedigree alone it would have been guaranteed.

“I’m sure no matter what happens Bella will exceed our expectations.”Tanya said.She wasn’t that comfortable with the interest Aro had in her mate.Tanya also wasn’t sure how to bring up her concerns without upsetting the royals.Maybe she could talk to Jane about it.Not only was she Bella’s other mate but she had been around Aro for thousands of years.She would know his intensions better than anyone.

“Any daughter of ours would be nothing less than extraordinary.”Athenodora proudly proclaimed.

“True she was predestine for greatness.”Caius agreed.

“You are so embarrassing.”Bella mumbled as she hid her blushing face in her mother’s shoulder.

Athenodora wrapped her arm around Bella and smiled when the girl snuggled into her side.“What have I told you?Never be embarrassed of being complimented.Especially when those compliments are genuine.”

“She’s so cute.”Didyme gushed.

“Auntie, I was wondering if tomorrow you could show me your gardens?”Bella asked changing the subject off of her.

Didyme smiled brightly at the title.”I would love that.”

“Are you well enough to go outside?”Jane wasn’t sure it was a good idea for Bella to be outdoors since she was still recovering.

“Fresh air is good for her recovery.As long as she is dressed according to the weather and doesn’t push herself to hard physically then she will be perfectly fine.”Athenodora was actually planning on taking Bella outside as she read that being exposed to the sun was good for a human body.

“Maybe myself and Jane could join you outside for lunch and we can have a picnic.”Tanya offered.She would prefer to have a private lunch with Bella but knew that it wasn’t a possibility.She invited Jane to be a kind of buffer as she had more of a relationship with the royals and could take some of the attention off of Tanya.

“That would fun.”Bella easily agreed.She would love to spend some time with her mates.

“Is that alright with you your majesty?”Jane asked Didyme.

“If that is what Bella wants then it is more than alright.”Didyme was somewhat disappointed to have her bonding time with Bella interrupted but she didn’t want to upset Bella by saying no.

“Then I will make sure I finish my duties in time to join you.”Jane had some things to do but if she didn’t finish her work she knew her brother would cover for her.

“Would you be interested in watching a movie with me after you are done with your picnic?I had our collection of silent movies pulled from storage for you.”Sulpicia wanted a chance to spend time with her niece now that she was feeling better.

“I would be happy to watch a movie with you.”Bella was excited to see what movies the queen owned.She knew she was going to find some rare films that she had never gotten the chance to watch before.

“Excellent.”Athenodora was upset that she wouldn’t be able to spend the day with Bella alone but was happy her daughter wanted to spend time with the other queens.

“How did it go with the mind reader?”Aro asked.

“It was actually kind of a let down.The boy is so unskilled that I am more than convinced that if Bella was in perfect health she couldn’t have beaten him.”Caius told them.

“It was nice to be able to work out some frustration on him though.”Athenodora said.

“I had fun.It was cool to see how a vampire could fight.Even if it was more like they were dismantling him instead of fighting.The fact that so much damage could be done to a vampire body and not kill them was amazing.”Bella had been able to see most of the fights because Edward had no defense which allowed those fighting him to set the pace of the fight.

“She was truly made to be your daughter.”Marcus told Caius and Athenodora with a chuckle.

“Of course and once she is turned she will be just as formable as myself and my mate.”Caius and Athenodora had already started planning Bella’s training.The king believed that Bella having two familiar bonds and two mates that she would be able to get through her newborn phase rather quickly.

“Speaking of prisoners, what are your plans for the others?”Sulpicia asked.

“We are keeping Carlisle and Esme alive so they can witness daily beatings of Edward.As for Bella’s parents..”Athenodora was immediately cut off by Bella.

“They aren’t my parents.You are.”Bella was never going to claim Rene and Charlie were her parents again.

Athenodora smiled brightly at the proclamation.It was always nice to hear her daughter denounce the humans and claim the queen and her mate.”My apologies darling.As I was saying for the humans we haven’t decided exactly what we want to do with them.We of course are going to keep them alive to find out all those who abused Bella but after that we aren’t sure.”

“I am not looking forward to reading their memories.”Aro had volunteered as he of course wanted to get justice for the princess but seeing Bella experience the abuse was going to be hard for him.

“I will forever be in your debt for doing that.”Caius wasn’t lying either.He knew how hard it would be for his brother and the fact that Aro would go through with it for his daughter made Caius love him more than he already did.

“How are you going to round up the perpetrators?”Didyme asked.

“We are going to leave Jane in charge of the mission.It’s only right as Bella’s mate that she be in charge of the kidnappings.”Jane was also the only one Athenodora trusted to do the job.It was too important to hand off to a lesser guard member.

“I would like to help as well.Even if I can’t go with you to get the humans I can help tracking them down.”Tanya never wished that she would ever be a part of the Volturi but she did now because she would be able to be involved in physically getting the people who hurt her mate.

“That will be fine.”Athenodora wanted Tanya to be more involved with Bella’s safety.Allowing her to be involved with the tracking of the humans was a good first step in the training the queen was going to insist she go through.

“Thank you your majesty.”Tanya was surprised that the queen agreed so easily.She thought that she would be denied because she was still new to the situation.

“I think we should summon them to the throne room tomorrow.They have been sitting in the dungeon for a couple days and I think they are properly afraid.”Marcus wanted to get the people who hurt his niece as soon as they could so he and the others could dole out their punishments.

“What have they been doing down there?”Sulpicia asked.

“The last update I got from the guards was the man was planning with Edward and Carlisle on how to break out of the castle and rescue Bella.Although I wonder if he still wishes to save her after she laughed and cheered on his opponents during the fights.”Caius said.

“I have known Edward for a long time.The boy is so full of himself he most likely believes that Bella is pretending to be on our side and is just waiting for the right moment to free all of them.”Tanya had no doubt that Edward still believed that Bella was his mate.His ego wouldn’t make him to think otherwise.

“Maybe you could send a guard that tricks them into thinking that I sent them to rescue them.Then once they are freed you guys can hunt them down in the castle.”Bella suggested.

Aro laughed loudly at the idea.”I fear for any enemies that you gain once you are turned.”

“I personally think it’s a wonderful idea.”Athenodora was proud of her daughter.Bella understood vampires urges and knew that vampires like to hunt their prey.By allowing them to hunt their enemies it would give them more fulfillment than just throwing them in the dungeon and killing them.

“I agree.It would nice to give into our instincts.We don’t have the chance often.”Caius was also proud of Bella.If she was thinking like this when she was human he had no doubt that when she became a vampire and felt like they all did she would be a formable foe to anyone who crossed her.

“May I be involved in this as well?”Tanya may have once thought of Carlisle as a friend but finding out that he not only encouraged a false mate bond but it being her mate pissed her off.That wasn’t his only infraction but it was the one that she was most focused on.It was because of Carlisle that Edward had put Bella in so much danger and had caused Bella’s injury.

“Of course.We wouldn’t leave you out.”Athenodora would prefer to just hunt them alone but knew that as her mate Tanya would want a chance to avenge Bella.The coven leader hadn’t had a chance at all since she found out about the bond.

“Then it’s settled.Why don’t we go work out how to plan for this.We need to find a guard member that is good at hiding their thoughts.”Aro said.

“That’s a good idea.Bella needs to go to bed.Who do you want to sleep with you tonight sweetheart?”Athenodora would like it to be her but she did have some work she had to do.

“Is it alright if Tanya stays with me?”Bella asked.

“I would love to.”Tanya was more than pleased that Bella chose her.It was the first time since Bella got ill that her mate had shown interest in spending time alone with her.

“That is fine.It will give the rest of us a chance to get some work done.”Caius had been putting off his duties due to Bella’s sickness.He knew that the other royals didn’t mind but he hated to be out of the loop.

“You’ll come for breakfast though right?”Bella didn’t like not seeing her parents often.She missed them terrible when they were gone.

“Of course sweetheart.”Athenodora cooed at her daughter.She loved when Bella asked to spend time with them.Especially in front of other people as it showed Bella’s devotion to them.

“I’ll be here when you wake up.”Caius told her.

Bella turned to Caius and gave him hug.”Thanks dad.”

“You’re welcome.”Caius easily returned the hug.He wasn’t known as a sensitive man but when it came to Bella he was more relaxed about showing his affections.

“Well we will take our leave now.See you tomorrow Bella.”Sulpicia stood and walked forward to give Bella a kiss on the cheek.

“Good bye Auntie.”Bella said.

Didyme followed Sulpicia’s example and kissed Bella’s cheek as well.”Let me know when you want to visit the garden and I will meet you there.”

“Ok.”Bella replied.

“I will see you for lunch tomorrow.”Jane refrained from kissing Bella on the lips and kissed her on the cheek instead.She was honestly surprised that the queen didn’t rip her head off for that much contact.

“Be good.”Caius said as he gave Bella one last hug and stood.

“I am always good.”Bella told him.

“You are to go to bed right away and not stay up.I will be checking in on you throughout the night so don’t get any ideas.”Athenodora may have said that to Bella but the threat to Tanya was quite clear.

“I will make sure she doesn’t’ stay up.”Tanya had hoped for some time to chat with Bella but wasn’t going to push the queen.

Bella stood from the couch and snuggled into her mother’s arms.”Good night mom.”

“Good night my darling.”Athenodora kissed Bella on the top of the head and released her from the hug.Glaring at Tanya one last time she took pleasure in the obvious fear in the vampire’s eyes.Hopefully that would make Tanya behave herself.The queen wouldn’t put up with any funny business between the coven leader and her daughter.She wished she could have a guard in the room as a chaperone but knew that wouldn’t go over well with Bella.Making her way out of the room Athenodora sighed.Being a mother was very stressful but totally worth it.