My Mate Saga (Twilight Fan Fiction)

Chapter Twenty-Two

Though he was unaware of the logistics, it was an unpleasant absence of warmth that had Edward's eyes springing open and rousing him from an otherwise deep and peaceful slumber. He threw his arm sleepily across his female's side of the plush bed, absently hoping to snare the little beauty in his arms. It wasn't until said limb met nothing but cold sheets did his mind wake up with a painful start.

The handsome male bolted upright, the blankets falling to expose his naked, broad chest and bunching over his equally unclothed groin. He quickly shifted his eyes around the room, relaxing only when they landed on Bella's gorgeous silhouette leaning against their den's entrance, outlined softly in red and purple hues of late afternoon light still flowing into the space.

Taking a small calming breath he sat back against the wooden headboard and smiled warmly as he watched his divine little creature. Her long curls ran wild down her back, small wisps fanning out behind her as she purred quietly in enjoyment of a fresh breeze. Her waist still appeared narrow and lean from his current angle and only when she shifted her weight slightly to one side could he see that her hand was resting protectively on the impressively large swell of his first child.

He had caught her once or twice over the last four weeks, sneaking back into her place in bed when she thought he was still sleeping. The babe inside her was growing too large for him to safely lie atop her like he once had to assure her protection while they rested but he trusted her explicitly. He had no reason to believe she was leaving the cave while he was asleep and she wouldn't have gotten far if she had tried; the Cullen males were still holding vigilant guard so that their second in command would be free to tend to his mate without worry as her pregnancy progressed.

So far they had seen no sign of Volturi or any other intruder.

The remaining members of the Denali clan had started their journey back to Alaska the day after the death of their sister. Irena hadn't taken Edward's particular method of justice well. The blonde had to be restrained as she snapped and hissed furiously at the vampire that was easily twice her size and several times as strong. Kate, who had better anticipated Tanya's demise, hastily forced her last remaining sibling out of Cullen territory before she was destroyed as well.

Even though the threats against her were now extremely minimal, Edward had still be overly cautious with his delicate female, trying to do his best to entertain her with human books and some of his before-Bella stories while essentially keeping her restricted to their den.

As he sat in his empty bed watching his angel gaze longingly out at the world beyond the little bubble in which he was keeping her locked away he realized he wasn't doing such a great job.

When he had first met the spirited female she had been going insane over the loss of her freedom at the hands of the humans. She had strongly voiced her displeasure to her oppressors at every opportunity, giving them more trouble than even her significantly larger male counterpart. Yet here she was now... trapped instead by the mate that adored her for the sake of a tiny being she'd yet to meet and still she hadn't uttered so much as a whispered complaint.

His Isabella was selfless and he was taking advantage of her kind heart.

The thick muscles over his shoulder blades flexed lithely when he pushed himself out of bed while trying to make as little noise as possible. Bella was very much in her own little world and didn't so much as blink as he pulled on a pair of boxers and stalked quietly behind her.

He didn't know if her ability to be so unaware of her immediate surroundings was endearing or disconcerting and hoped with everything in him that he'd always be around to be alert to such things for her.

The tiny female yelped, startled, when he pressed his lower chest against her petite back and wrapped both arms affectionately around her waist, his two large hands going to rest on her protruding tummy. He chuckled and bent his neck to kiss the crown of her head, taking a moment to breath in her perfectly balanced sweet scent.

"Hush, my love. It's just me," he grinned into her hair, rubbing his palms gently up and down her stomach. "Was I snoring?" he teased.

When Bella's head cocked curiously to one side he realized she wouldn't have a clue about the human breathing ailment, leaving him laughing awkwardly at his own joke.

Resting the bottom of his chin on her head, the couple enjoyed a few minutes of verbal quiet, taking in the rather remarkable view in front of them while wrapped around one another. The small day dwelling animals were scavenging for last minute meals before heading back to their shelters, colorful birds were soaking up the last rays of light and the sun was bounced softly off blades of rolling glass.

Bella sighed happily and craned her neck to turn and look at him. "Beautiful, isn't it?"

"If kept in perspective," he conceded, beaming down at the most beautiful thing in his world. He laughed when a light blush blossomed under the skin of her cheeks.

She smiled shyly at him and his chest puffed proudly. He wanted her to smile like that all the time.

"How would you like to hunt tonight?" The words were out of his mouth before he could stop them.

It frightened him like nothing else to think about her leaving the cave but his poor angel was growing restless and unhappy and with his luck he'd have the only female vampire to suffer from postpartum depression. She was already going to be a young mother; he didn't need to give her another reason to resent the child.

Despite Alice's constant insistence that they were up to no good, Felix and the Volturi had been gone for nearly a month and Edward was starting to push the line that separates the behavior of a cautious mate and that of a pretentious prick. As long as he was with her they'd be fine.

He knew he was making the right decision when his love span around to face him, her glorious golden eyes flashing with sheer excitement. "You mean I can go out with you?" she asked softly, obviously unwilling to get her hopes up.

Edward couldn't help but laugh. He pushed a lock of hair behind her ear and kissed her pink lips chastely. "No," he shook his head, his voice thick with amusement, "I was thinking I could catch and release an adult buck in our den and let you have a go at it."

Her face fell for just a fraction of a second before she realized he'd been joking. She jumped at him with a surprising amount of grace and squealed ecstatically. "Oh, Edward do you mean it?"

He nodded and scooped her up in his arms, walking with her across the room before depositing her on their bed. She was only wearing a light, nearly see through night cover and though he very much appreciated the view, there were a number of reasons why it wouldn't do for a hunting trip.

Jake crawled up from the foot of the bed to put his head in his master's lap, Bella lovingly rubbed her figures up and down his mussel. Edward swore the animal doubled in size with every passing day but didn't have the heart to tell Bella that he was too large to sleep at their feet still. Emmett was desperately trying to teach the wolf pup how to play fetch but Jake much preferred to spend his time following Bella around like she was god's gift.

Edward knew how he felt.

She chatted at him cheerfully as he dressed himself and put great care into picking her out a suitable outfit. He had become increasingly irritated with himself over the last few weeks. He had accumulated hundreds of things for Bella over the years and even though he was like all other males in that he had always planned on impregnating his mate soon after finding her he had failed to remember the importance of maternity clothing.

He had borrowed several pairs of loose fitting yoga pants from his mother and Rosalie who were about Bella's size and she had taken to wearing his shirts. Hardly the opulence he had hoped to provide his love but she was covered and comfortable and until he knew it was safe to travel into human territory and steal something better it was the best he could do.

Bella stood up and pulled off her nightdress so it could be replaced with outdoor clothing. Edward groaned, it was hard enough to keep his hands off her when she was fully covered but it became nearly impossible when she was displayed so beautifully in front of him. He let out a playful growl and made a show of stalking towards her.

"Sweetheart, please!" she whined, squirming a little with obvious anxiousness, "We can do that when we get back. I'm... thirsty."

Edward gave her a dubious look but could help but chuckle. He wasn't going to be able to keep her still long enough to make love to her after promising to take her out. She'd been complaining constantly about his instance that she feed daily and all of a sudden she was thirsty. He sighed and held out a warm top.

"Arms up, my little liar," he commanded. Bella rolled her lovely eyes but still did as she was told, allowing her male to pull one of his thick sweatshirts over her head. Edward carefully threaded her little arms through the large sleeves and pecked her nose as it appeared through the neck hole.

He knelt at her feet and held open a pair of loose fitting pants for her to step into. She would normally protest his micromanaging but wasn't about to risk her impromptu outing. He gently kissed her smooth thighs as he pulled the fabric up her legs.

"Can you feel him yet?" he asked hopefully, caressing her swollen abdomen while he was still at the lower level. He'd come to terms with not getting his little girl this time around; Bella had gotten much too large too quickly. He'd spent many nights waiting patiently for his son's first kicks but had yet to feel anything.

Bella smiled and put her small hand over his, "Not yet, baby. Alice said it's still too soon anyway. I shouldn't even be a big as I am with 3 months to go still." At half way through her vampire pregnancy she compared nicely to an expecting human female at five months along.

Edward grinned up at her and pressed his lips just above her belly button. "I can't wait to meet him," he mused with a happy hum.

"What will we name him?"

"Anthony," he answered without hesitation. "It's a family name. It should have been mine but my mother already had her heart set on names and put her foot down. Alice was the first out of us to have children and if she had birthed a son he would have been an Anthony."

Bella's eyes narrowed ominously, her hands landing on her hips in a poise Edward had seen Alice take numerous times. For a second he wondered if she had been taking other tips from his manipulative little sister. "I want to name him after my father," she huffed.

The prideful male grimaced. His first-born wasn't going to be called Charlie.

"You can name our second boy," he conceded, internally reluctant. He tried to dismiss the subject by standing and leaning over the bed to pet the dog.

She went a little pale, "Our second son. How many babies do you want?"

Her mate grinned slyly. "As many as you can give me, my love."

Bella groaned, wondering how much of her life she was going to spend as big as a house. Which led her to a question she should probably already know the answer to. She blushed, embarrassed. "How do we... you know..."she made a little gesture towards his groin and he snorted a laugh, "without making a baby?"

Edward shifted awkwardly, feeling a little guilty about keeping her in the dark. Carlisle and his mother had always been so insistent about educating Alice; it often slipped his mind that it was customary for vampire couples to leave their daughters generally naive about matters of reproduction and sex. It was up to her future mate to pick and choose what information he wanted to give her. For most vampires, a good mate was stupid and easy to control.

He sat on the bed and pulled her down on his lap, wrapping one arm around her and adoringly stroking her colored cheek with his free hand. He never wanted her to be afraid to ask questions.

"Once you've reached breeding age females are constantly fertile. Carlisle thinks its nature's way of insuring a quick physical bond between mates no matter when they find each other. When a male first claims his other half he's crazy with the need to defend her, protect her, but when she's carrying his offspring..." he shook his head absently, chuckling at the consuming feelings of devotion he had for Bella, "There's no comparison."

"After our first child is born you'll only go into heat a few days once or twice a year, and less frequently as the decades pass. By the time you're my father's age it'll be more like once every ten years."

Bella's nose scrunched cutely in mild outrage. "Like an animal?"

"Kind of," he shrugged, kissing said wrinkled nose.

He thought it was better to be like the animals then the humans. He could still remember the days when their methods of birth control were none existent or frowned upon, they would breed constantly until their wives grew too old or died in childbirth. If pregnancy had been as big of a risk to vampire females as it was for humans, Edward wouldn't dream of allowing Bella to bare him an heir. No matter how badly he longed for one.

She nibbled on her bottom lip, still curious. "How will we know when I'm... you know."

Edward laughed. She was the sweetest little thing on earth. "Fertile?" Bella nodded. He grinned at her, handsome and devious, "I obviously haven't experienced it myself, but from what I understand your scent will be incredible, I won't be able to keep myself off you." She blushed furiously

"It'll be uncomfortable for all unrelated males in scent range but if we don't want a pregnancy that year it would be wise for me to guard you from a distance once your scent starts giving me that itch. I won't be able to stop myself from pounding into your sweet little body if I stay too close," he ran his tongue up the curve of her neck, a low purr rumbling deep in his chest. His angel's eyes fluttered closed as a tiny shiver ran its way up her spin. "But then again, I already have you heavy with child and its still agony trying to resist you."

"Yeah, well it's always the quiet ones," Alice gagged as she bounced uninvited into the den.

Edward moaned and buried his head into Bella's shoulder, hoping futilely that the intruder would be gone when he reopened his eyes. No such luck.

The smallest Cullen female trailed Bella closer than the red wolf pup. The two girls clicked as though they were biological sisters and as much as Edward loved to see his female fitting in with his family, anything or anyone that took a bit of her attention away from him was less than welcome.

His mother teased him about how little of Bella he was going to see once the baby came but he was sure he couldn't possibly be envious of his own child... or that was what he kept telling himself.

"Go away, Alice. Just because Jasper's sick of you doesn't mean we want you in here." He hissed when Bella's small hand dealt him a sharp slap on the back of the head. It wasn't nearly as amusing as when Rosalie did it to Emmett.

Alice skipped towards Bella, completely ignoring her brother's less than warm greeting. She stopped short when Jake warned her with a low snarl, his jowls quivering to expose sharp, pointed puppy teeth.

"Why doesn't he like me?" she whined. Everyone loved her...and if they didn't they should.

"Blue booties." "Stupid haircut." The couple answered simultaneously.

Alice shot the animal a dirty look before zeroing in on Bella. She gave her sister a distasteful once over. "What are you wearing?" she frowned, "Those dresses all fit you still. Why are you clothed like a nomad?"

Bella's smile was breathtaking and Edward whimpered involuntarily, shifting her weight in his lap.

"Edward's taking me out to hunt," she beamed.

Alice looked like she was going to be sick. "You can't!" she glared at her brother like he was killing Bella with his bare hands right in front of her eyes. "I told you, Felix can't have gone far. He wants her, Edward. You didn't see the way he looked at her."

She looked to Bella for support but the brunette just gave a very unconvincing nod.

The beautiful female was frightened by the intense stare the huge Volturi male gave her, but when Edward told her about how he had denied his interest, she started to second guess herself. Had she overreacted? She didn't think she was nearly as desirable as everyone else seemed to believe she was, especially with her new swollen figure, so it was hard for her to insist that the other handsome male wanted her when he himself had so vehemently denounced her.

Edward sighed, pushing his hand through his long red hair, a younger version of his father. He had been less than pleased with Alice's point of view of Felix's visit; he lost a week of sleep over it, hovering anxiously over his mate and child, waiting for an attack. But as time went by and Felix managed to stay away he grew more and more certain that the oaf had been fucking with his head.

"It's been too long, Ali," he insisted, "I wouldn't have been able to deny the call of my mate for so long." He pressed his palm against his baby and held Bella and little tighter.

"You would if you had to," Alice growled, "He's not the brightest but he's not a moron either. No one's going to beat you one-on-one. If you're chance at claiming your mate hung on your ability to bide your time you'd find the discipline to stay away."

Bella's little face was falling with disappointment and Edward had heard enough. Though Alice's point made sense Felix himself hardly ever did. He probably thought it would be great fun to scare his rival's beloved mate. Edward had promised his angel some fresh air and he wasn't going to let a practical joke make her suffer any longer.

Bella giggled, delighted, when he swooped her up bridal style and made for the exit. He couldn't deny her.

"We aren't going far. They guys have been running our territory for weeks and have seen nothing," he called to a terrified looking Alice over his shoulder. "Watch the dog, please. I don't want to have to keep an eye on both of them while we're out."

"Edward..." she tried one last time.

He waved her off, "Don't worry, little sister."

...

Bella shot off like a bullet the moment her tiny feet hit the ground. Edward beamed proudly as his female streaked past him in a happy blur.

"Not too far, angel," he warned halfheartedly. He dug his heel into the ground and took off after her, leaping casually from trunk to trunk, keeping her in eye sight but intentionally allowing her a few yards of space. The darkening forest went completely still, small creatures acutely aware of the presence of two superior predators.

His little Bella was a force of nature. Sometimes... well, most of the time, he wished he could keep her in their den for the rest of eternity, safe and comfortable with no risk of her coming across any harm. But when she was like this, running barefoot through the trees, her beautiful hair splayed out behind her and a brilliant smile on her perfect face he could think of few things quite as gratifying as giving her the experience.

Before he could stop her, she went scurrying straight up the trunk of a mature oak, perching on a thick branch like large bird.

Edward groaned, looking up at her fearfully, "Get down here, Isabella!"

She leaned over to peer down at the fretting male, a big, cheesy grin teasing him. "Why?" she giggled, golden eyes sparkling.

"Because you might fall and last I checked you didn't have the ability to fly."

Her laugh grew further away as she climbed higher. "Won't you catch me?" her voice was light and lovely.

"I'll always catch you, my darling."

No sooner had the words left his mouth did the sound of a branch snapping far above his head crack through the forest. Bella dropped like a rock from twenty feet up, squealing all the way. Edward rolled his eyes and took a calculated step forward, positioning himself perfectly to swipe her out of the air.

She landed with a 'huff' in his arms, her eyes as wide as saucers. He shifted her weight so that she was cradled more comfortably, giving her a disapproving glare. He wasn't really angry; a mere fall from a tree wouldn't have harmed her or his little one. "I told you to be more careful," he kissed her forehead sweetly, "You're not as light as you used you be," he dropped her legs and smacked her plump behind.

Bella gaped at him disbelievingly and for a moment Edward felt awful about making a joke out of such a touchy subject. He went to apologize and and tell her how beautiful she was, baby weight and all but suddenly found himself face down in the leaf litter. His little minx had his legs kicked out from under him and was giggling like mad as she made a frenzied sprint to escape his retaliation.

He growled, amused and in love. Edward pushed himself of the ground and gave his silly female and few seconds head start by brushing pieces of forest floor off his clothes and out of his hair.

He felt them before he saw any tangible signs of their presence.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood straight up and before he could make a conscious decision to do so, his body was already lowered into a defensive crouch.

He knew in an instant his world was about to fall apart.

"BELLA, RUN!"

He looked frantically see if his mate had gained any distance but his vision blurred as he was knocked into a tree by something moving with the force of a semi-truck.

He felt pain.

Actually physical pain for the first time since his human captivity. It was the vaguely familiar sting of sharp teeth and agonizing venom and he realized with sheer panic that he was entangled with a male vampire who was currently gums deep in his shoulder, having obviously missed his jugular.

The massive tree that had absorbed the blow of two battling vampires splintered like a toothpick under the immense force and the deafening roar of tumbling wood gave Edward enough of a distraction to turn the tables and gain the upper hand. He wrapped his long fingers around throat of his unidentified attacker and ripped the males face painstakingly from the crook of his neck. He howled out as the set of teeth took a chunk of his shoulder with it.

Marcus.

He realized as he flipped the struggling Volturi on its back and bit into his throat with far better aim than the wound he'd suffered. He pinned his smaller adversary into the dirt as he made quick work of incapacitating him permanently. He didn't have fire available to burn the pieces but if he pulverized him enough there would be no hope of piecing him back together.

Aro's brother hardly fought back as Edward tore him limb from limb.

The Cullen male's face distorted in disgust as he hastily pried the portion of his own flesh from of Marcus's crushed mouth and pressed it back into place so it could start the painful process of mending itself.

He couldn't protect Bella in pieces.

"It seems like a waste of time to put yourself back together just to be torn apart."

Edward closed his eyes slowly because he didn't need them to know how incredibly fucked he was. They had set a trap and he had only made them wait a few weeks for him to walk right into it.

He should have brought his brother.

No. Two of them would have been overcome just as easily. He couldn't watch Emmett die or Jasper die for him... He was glad he was alone.

When he opened them his hopelessness was only further validated. He was completely surrounded. Felix, huge and smug in front of him, Caius to his right, poised to kill and Aro... Aro was staring down at the remains of his brother beneath Edward's feet.

"Your quest for your bitch just cost me another warrior," the leader snarled, actual drops of venom falling from his exposed teeth.

Felix snapped back at him, his posture severe, "My uncle's been begging for death since Didyme was killed. Don't blame this on my mate. It's hardly our fault the idiot rolled over and allowed Cullen to crush him. You just watched the same pathetic excuse for a fight as I did."

Edward bristled as he referred to Bella as his mate.

Aro looked as though he was about to pounce at his nephew but was distracted as Demetri came in through the trees dragging along a belligerent and pregnant female. Edward hadn't truly expected her to be able to outrun them but seeing her struggling with nothing he could do to protect her made him feel as though his heart was breaking right in his chest.

He was about to lose his life and the only thing he could manage to think was how badly it was going to hurt Bella to watch her mate die in front of her. He knew that his brother's would find her and avenge his death in time to save his unborn son but this was going to haunt his sweet Isabella for the rest of her life.

Edward went to snarl at the youngest Volturi male for manhandling his angel but Felix beat him to it.

"Yank her around like that again and I'll fucking kill you," he hissed at his own kin.

Demetri's face held obvious shock but he must have heard something in his big brother's tone that made him believe the threat because he dropped the female like she was on fire. "The whore bit me," he mumbled, nursing a still healing hand.

Bella didn't run. She knew it wouldn't do a bit of good. Her eyes locked with Edward's as her body rocked with dry sobs.

He took an automatic step forward but halted mid movement as a chorus of deadly growls broke out around him. "It's okay, my darling," he told her softly. He needed to comfort her, even if it meant his last words were nothing but lies, "There's nothing to be frightened of, my beautiful Bella. I love you so much... I love our little boy so mu-"

"Don't fucking talk to her!" Felix roared, talking a step between them. "You're nothing to her," he spat.

Aro rolled his eyes and straightened his stance. "Finish him, you imbecile. You're already a disgrace who can't fight for your rights to her like a real male. You can at least make it quick and stop embarrassing yourself and the Volturi name," he gave his blonde brother a decisive; "I'm going to retrieve the rest of the females and Alec so we can move on as soon as you've finished. It won't be long before they come looking for him," he sneered.

It was clear that he was more than a little unhappy at having to risk a confrontation with the Cullen clan but Felix was an essential part of the Volturi's muscle and whether he let his nephew face Edward alone or failed to allow him to pursue his mate he would lose that important part of his power altogether. "Do you think you can manage to take out one Cullen with the aid of two others or shall I fetch the females to help you as well?"

Felix went to snap a retort but his coven leader had already turned his back to walk away, "Meet us at the spot we specified. Don't fuck this up too, Felix."

"You're a fucking coward," Edward shouted at the male that was about to successfully steal his reason for living. "You knew you wouldn't be able to beat me for her, you son of a bitch."

Felix looked over at him impassively, his blood colored eyes shining with the satisfaction of a male that has the upper hand and is about to get everything he's ever wanted. "Haven't you ever heard about working smarter not harder?" he asked mockingly.

Demetri laughed with his brother and took a threatening step towards the defiant Cullen, just itching to deal the death sentence. "You have a smart mouth for someone who's about to lose his mate, his life, and the filthy little animal drinker she has growing inside her."

Bella whimpered, her hand flashing to cover her unborn child. Felix's eyes flashed to her, panicked. "Don't fucking talk like that in front of her, jackass," he snapped acidly without taking his soft gaze off Bella. "You're okay, kitten. Don't listen to him," he cooed in a tone so sweet in comparison to his previous growl it made her head spin.

She watched in horror as the Volturi males closed in on the love of her life. She had guilted her mate into taking her out and this time not even he could save them. She was about to lose her mate and her child's life in one unfair fight.

Her handsome male lowered himself into a defensive stance but there was no trace of confidence in his coal black stare. When his eyes flashed to her for the fraction of a second he could spare his sight he was saying 'goodbye'.

But she wasn't ready for goodbye.

Suddenly, the bushes began to rustle. And before any of the vampires could react, a flash of blond hair appeared in the middle of Edward and the Volturi brothers. Knocking the males back, Carlisle Cullen stood defensively in front of his eldest son. Snarls ripped from his throat as he growled dangerously at the enemy before him.

"You kill my son, and I will end all of your lives," the usual calm leader hissed, his fist tightening as he bared his teeth towards his fake friends.

Caius growled, jumping in front of his sons to snarl in the other leader's face. "You came alone," he observed. "You are still outnumbered dear friend."

Carlisle's glare narrowed his coal black eyes burning with such fire, the Volturi's deputy almost wanted to step back. "You misjudge my strength Caius; I will rip you to shreds before I ever let you touch my family. Now this is between your son and mine. So let us leave it to them to fight for the rights for this female."

"Father," Felix complained, his hands tightly placed on the tumbling vampire. "She is my mate."

Caius took a step back from Carlisle, his back straightening. "Then you will fight for her yourself. One-on-one. With Edward," he sneered the name. "If you win, Bella will be yours. Is that agreeable Cullen?"

"Agreed," Carlisle confirmed, his voice filled with authority.

"Until then, she will stay with us."

"No—!" Edward started.

"Fine, but the fight will happen at dawn. You have two hours to prepare. And don't even think about running, I have my warriors posted on the side of the territory," he warned, placing a firm hand over his son's shoulder.

Felix snarled, "I will end you Cullen."

Edward hissed back, venom drenching his canines. "If you harm her, I swear to god you'll be begging for the fire."

"So it's settled," Caius spoke, "at dawn our sons will battle."

"See you then," the leader barked, turning away to push his son in the opposite direction.

The Volturi deputy turned to his sons and shot out orders, "Take the girl back to camp, you need to get ready for the fight."

Demetri seemed more than a little uneasy as he nodded his compliance. "Aro's not going to be pleased."

Felix scooped up his stolen female and tucked her carefully against his chest, "I don't really give a fuck what Aro thinks."

With one last look back, Bella plead with her eyes for Edward to come back for her. The red haired vampire could only stare back with sad eyes as he let the one thing that mattered most in his life slip away with another male.

"Promise me you'll win," she whispered softly, knowing he could hear her.

"Locked in my heart, sealed with a kiss, never apart, I will keep my promise," he replied back with as much love and devotion he could muster before watching with heated eyes as she disappeared into the bushes.