"Aro requires your presence," Bria, the most recent Volturi secretary, informed the twins from the entrance of the grand library.
Jane looked up at Bria with disinterest, while Alec continued to study the chess board in between them. The twins were in the middle of a lackluster round, but they considered almost anything to be a better use of their time than entertaining whichever human who occupied the front desk.
"We will be there in a moment," Jane said, for no reason but to be difficult.
"It's pertinent that you go now," Bria said strongly, refusing to budge.
Jane stood up and sighed loudly. "If you insist," she drawled.
Alec stood, as well. Unlike his sister, he welcomed the potential distraction. It'd only been a month since he left Forks, Washington, but every day since then had been pure agony. He left his heart behind in Forks - his mate, Violet.
As much as he stubbornly tried to let her go, he couldn't. She was the most exquisite creature he'd ever seen. His whole world stopped the moment he laid eyes on her. Every breath he breathed was for her.
But he couldn't go back. She had made it perfectly clear that she didn't want him, and he wasn't willing to stick around long enough to experience the humiliation of being formally rejected.
Alec remembered the verbal lashing Caius had given him and his sister when they returned from the United States empty handed.
"Are you two out of your minds?" Caius had spat. "That child is a massive liability!"
"Now, now, brother. There's no need to fret," Aro had said to Caius with confidence. "The human will return to us. She is our Alec's mate, after all. She will follow him here."
Alec was hopeful, at first. Surely, Aro was right. What he predicted made complete sense. Alec's bond with Violet was unique and irreplaceable. Where else would she go?
But as time wore on, Alec began to grow doubtful. It occurred to him that Violet could have just as well joined the Cullen coven in his absence. She and Renesmee, the Cullen's half breed golden child, were as thick as thieves. What if Violet was able to find happiness there without him?
He'd even had an invitation to the upcoming Yule Ball delivered to her by one of the lower ranking members of the guard. Sure, it had only been a few weeks since it was initially sent, but Alec had expected a prompt response.
Unfortunately, he still hadn't heard from her.
"Come on, brother," Jane nudged him as she passed. She and Alec were still on shaky ground after their big blow out over Violet, right before they returned to Italy, but they were working through it. They were more powerful together, and power meant status in their coven. Neither of them were willing to tolerate the risk of falling down the ranks. Status meant everything.
Alec complied and allowed Bria to slowly lead them to the chamber Aro occupied at the time, the throne room.
The throne room was a large, round room with high ceilings and slender windows that lined the walls far above them. On the opposite side of the room was a small set of stairs that led to a large elevated area that housed the three thrones, which were currently occupied by the Volturi leaders, Aro, Caius, and Marcus.
Two lower ranking soldiers stood at attention on either side of the large, arched doorway when Alec, Jane, and Bria entered the room.
In the center of the room, Demetri was conversing pleasantly with a guest.
At first, all Alec could see was the large, glossy black curls that tumbled down her back. Then he saw the shape of her nose, and her soft lips moving as she spoke to Demetri.
"Mr. Aro, I've brought the twins," Bria announced as they came to a halt several paces away from Demetri and the woman.
The woman turned at Bria's words.
Her curls rustled as she peered over her shoulder at him, her dark green eyes bright with curiosity. A thick scar that he didn't recognize caressed the left side of her face and crossed across her neck, disappearing underneath her white blouse, which was tucked loosely into a taupe pleated skirt. Heat blossomed in her lovely cheeks like roses as her eyes met his.
Alec was rendered speechless.
Violet had returned.
YOU ARE READING
Something Bolder (Book Two)
FanficViolet Forsythe has been through hell. Her entire family is dead, her daywalker best friend hates her guts, and her vampire boyfriend is giving her the silent treatment all the way from Italy. But Violet is anything but a quitter, and she has a few...