What if...

Chapter 24 ~ Destiny

We stood, cornered by guards that prevented us from escaping the hideously elegant room, waiting for Aro to speak any words, but he kept silent. His head was tilted slightly; his short leafy fingers tapping against his pursed lips as his crimson eyes narrowly analyzed us.

Edward stood with his arm wrapped around my waist, pressing me tightly to his side as he stared right back at Aro with flat black eyes. His jaw was set, probably to keep him from talking, and his shoulders were tensed as if to spring at a moment’s notice.

Aro took a calculating breath, “You seem to have had a…accident?” Edward growled, clenching his hand into a fist.

“Felix.” He snarled, unable to speak more without care. Aro’s head tilted up, but his eyes remained on us, quickly flicking to Felix’s form that guarded the door behind Edward and I. Without a word, Aro held out his hand, making Felix sigh from behind us. My stomach dropped and my heart sped up as he waited for whomever he wanted to “see” to come forward. How did that person know it was them and not another? My brows furrowed before I saw Edward’s head move to look behind us. Edward pulled me into him more and out of Felix’s path as he angrily strode to Aro’s waiting hand, taking it roughly.

I let a shaky breath out, thankful that it wasn’t Edward who Aro silently asked for.

Felix wasn’t in Aro’s hold for long, but after he was released, Aro didn’t seem too confused, or quiet.

“Well, no wonder you are in such a sour mood Edward!” Aro exclaimed, gaining back his enthusiasm.

Edward took a deep breath next to me.

“Tanya, is he usually this moody?” Aro asked her, turning to face where she stood by Jane and Alec. I clenched my fists, angry. He knew she was never around Edward, she didn’t know him like I did. He was treating her like she was his true mate, not me. Edward seemed to be on the same thought path that I was on, because he growled, squeezing me gently.

I glared at Tanya, watching as she sneered at us, “Always,” she rolled her eyes, “ I have to take him regularly to keep him balanced…if you know what I mean…”

A sharp growl emanated from Edward as she said that, “You know she lies, yet you play along!” he directed at Aro, crouching as his nostrils flared, pulling me behind him slightly before letting me go.

Aro’s eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t seem surprised, “Now Edward, you know I would never do that,”

“Lies.” He growled, breathing hard. I touched his back, running my hand along his spine and up he shoulders then back down. His growling lessened, but he didn’t stop.

“Your reasons for keeping us here are pathetic and useless. None of the Cullen Family will join you, ever, so drop it and let us leave.” Edward tried, standing straighter.

“Edward,” Aro tsked, “we still have a problem on our hands—“

“There is no problem. No law is broken. She will be changed before the year is over.”

Aro contemplated this, “And how do I know this for certain Edward?”

I tried very hard not to roll my eyes, “You know what you want us to do and you know you will not settle for anything less than that.” Edward told him, reading his thoughts.

Aro smiled wickedly, “Yes, I do suppose you’re right dear Edward…and I will be expecting it, soon. I might even send someone to…check up on your precious family. Speaking of which: what of your Tanya?”

“She is not mine, nor will she ever be.” Edward stated, pulling me tight against him once more, tightening his hold on my waist. I wrapped one arm around his back and with the other I clenched his sweatshirt tightly. He looked down at me as I did so, exhaustion and love filling his eyes. I attempted to smile up at him, suddenly very tired myself.