Major's Queen {J. Hale} SLOW UPDATES

Chapter III

Talia heard Bella's voice before she fully crossed the threshold into the cafeteria. The doors swung open on a wave of noise—metal trays clattering, students laughing, conversations overlapping beneath the fluorescent hum—and through it all, Bella was already asking questions about the Cullens.

Rosalie and Emmett entered first, moving through the cafeteria with an effortless presence that made people look before they realized they were staring. Talia's gaze flicked toward Bella's table just in time to see Jessica Stanley glance back over her shoulder. The brunette's back had been to them before, but the moment the Cullens appeared, curiosity pulled her attention like a magnet. A second later, Jessica turned back to Bella, ready to answer.

Talia already knew she needed to speak to Edward before the day spiraled any further. Bella was watching, asking, digging—exactly as Talia had expected. Her sister's curiosity was a match waiting for the wrong spark, and Edward Cullen had already become the flame. Before Talia could move, Alice nudged her lightly to draw her attention, her voice bright over the cafeteria noise. "You can walk in with Liam and me."

Talia smiled at the vampire, grateful for the easy opening. "Okay, thanks, Alice." That being said, Liam opened the door again and held it for both girls. Alice moved with playful grace as Liam spun her once before she linked her arm through Talia's. Together, they walked past Bella's table, close enough for Jessica's words to cut cleanly through the noise. "I don't know how your sister managed that, Bella; they usually keep to themselves and don't interact with anyone else." The envy in Jessica's voice was impossible to miss, sharp beneath the casual tone, before she slipped back into explaining the Cullens like they were a secret everyone wanted and no one could touch.

Alice and Liam took their seats while Talia crossed to get food, aware of every curious glance trailing after her. When she returned, she claimed the empty seat to Alice's left. Minutes later, Edward and Jasper joined them. Jasper sank into the seat beside Talia, close enough that the strange calm she brought him settled over his shoulders again. She smiled at him, and Alice's gaze flicked between the two of them with a knowing look that was far too pleased to be innocent.

Edward's attention drifted across the cafeteria toward Bella, and Talia noticed immediately. She lowered her gaze and closed her eyes, letting her mental shield loosen by the smallest degree. It was not surrender. It was an invitation with a locked door behind it. Red light flickered faintly behind her lids as the barrier around her mind parted just enough for Edward to hear the thought she wanted him to hear—and nothing more. When she opened her eyes again, Edward was staring at her, surprise sharpening his expression. The rest of her mind remained buried behind that crimson mist, guarded and untouchable.

"I wouldn't bother getting involved with my sister; she is annoyingly persistent when she wants to know something, and you've already piqued an interest in her, not that she would admit it out loud, though. She knows that something is different, and she won't stop until she knows what it is. There is also the fact that it will turn into a big mess... just trust me on this one; you don't want that. It's not worth it; it will turn toxic, and that is not healthy for anyone. Just don't give her a reason to be more curious about you."

Edward stared at Talia for several silent beats, his golden eyes narrowed with questions he could not ask in front of the others. His gaze flicked briefly toward Bella, then back to the redhead beside Alice. How did she know? Talia gave him no answer. She simply looked down, sealed the shield back into place, and the connection vanished. Once again, Edward found only red mist wrapped around her mind like a warning he could not penetrate.

That only made the telepath more curious. Talia had spoken directly into his thoughts as if she knew exactly what he was, exactly what he could do, and exactly how to control what he heard. She caught the look he was giving her and answered it with a small smirk before turning away, leaving Edward with more questions than before as she began talking to Jasper.