Seth Clearwater Imprinted With Trouble

Chap. 15

Seth POV

I’m going to be perfectly honest with you and tell you something you undoubtedly already know:

Waiting sucks.

Also, not knowing what is going to happen is terrible. And it makes me want to put my fist through someone’s face, even though both Clari and Carlisle have already told me explicitly not to do that, because it won’t help.

But damn, would it make me feel better.

We’d been waiting at the edge of the clearing for only twenty minutes — well, more like fifteen — (OK, TEN MINUTES, I’M SORRY, IT’S TERRIBLE) and there’s not a single vampire in sight. So we get to wait. Which is, as I’ve previously mentioned, terrible. But at least I could cuddle with Clari. So far the only highlight of the past two hours.

In a way, it soothed me. She was in my arms again, her head tucked under my chin, her curls tickling my neck. Her hands rested on my collarbones, tracing little designs onto my skin. We didn’t really need words right now, nor did we want them. We were content to simply, quietly, enjoy this one moment out of all the chaos. And I knew that, if I trusted Clari, that we would be able to have these moments forever. We would be able to cherish each other for eternity. But if something goes wrong, if something unanticipated occurs and her life is in danger, I will be more satisfied in my death than I will ever have been in my life, just to keep her alive.

Carlisle stood beside us, facing east — the direction where the Volturi have always appeared. And apparently will today. Sigh. Anyway, I saw him stiffen slightly, and I knew that they were here, even if I couldn’t see them immediately. I bet it was the guard surrounding us in the woods. Aro didn’t exactly appreciate the pack backing up Edward & Co. last time via the woods, so he probably forced his guard to scout. He probably expected none of them to survive. What a great guy. Good thing Clari left.

I saw black flutter at the very edge of my vision and turned to stare at the small group approaching from across the field. Aro, Marcus, andCaius. As soon as they were close enough to make out just who was waiting for them, Aro signaled to the tree line, and that sadistic psychopath girl Jane and her freaky brother, Alex or something, joined their ranks in the open. They came to a stop halfway across the field. Obviously feeling cocky and sure of themselves today.

Carlisle took a small step forward and nodded gently in their direction. “Aro, Marcus, Caius. It’s a — pleasure, to see you again so soon.”

Yep. That’s Carlisle. Polite to a fault.

Aro, the leading figure, let his hood fall onto his shoulders. Umm. He was not smiling. “Carlisle, I believe I can agree with the unspoken sentiments I hear in your voice, and not your words,” he said blandly. “Let us skip the formalities.” His gaze slid over Carlisle, ignored me, and went invariably to Clari. He said some sort of gibberish in Italian.

It must’ve been a greeting or something, because Clari simply responded with, “Aro.”

Aro frowned slightly and said something else in Italian, seeming almost frustrated when Clari continued to speak in English. “I would prefer you spoke in English. You see, I am attempting to learn it through full-submersion in American culture,” she said almost slyly.

“Would you not prefer to speak to your father in our native tongue, Clarianna?” he asked tightly, emphasizing “father” and “our”.

“Well, I noticed that the greater majority of the guard you brought with you today speaks primarily—and only—English, and I couldn’t help but feel as though you might feel tempted to use your polylingual tongue to your advantage. Not to mention that one of my own companions is limited, for now, to speaking and understanding English.”