Tenebrous ↠ Volturi Kings {1} ✓

041

I hadn't always been so damn dramatic. Judge, jury, and executioner, honestly. But I suppose living in Volterra had brought it out in me. That didn't make the nervous looks on their faces any less satisfying, however. No one seemed completely sure of what to say, especially with Emmett staring daggers at them from over my shoulder, and so my eyes flicked from Cullen to Cullen before finally settling on Bella.

"Bella," I said, my voice losing some of its sharpness, "I've heard the story from Emmett. But I want to see what you have to say. Ness is your daughter, after all."

"When we first found out I was pregnant, after everyone here found out, the next person I wanted to tell was you," Bella said, the words tumbling out of her mouth in a near-tangled mess. "I think everyone was in agreement until Edward said that with our divided reaction towards the baby there was no telling what the Volturi would do after hearing the story from you."

"I would have hid it. If you had asked," I said quietly.

"I know. And that's what I said. But Carlisle and Esme agreed with Edward after hearing his argument, and Rose just wanted the baby safe, so she agreed with him, too. Alice said that keeping this from you was a bad idea, and she, Jasper, and Emmett were with me in opposing not telling you anything. But I guess my vote didn't count, or something, because it was decided that you would be kept in the dark." She paused, glancing at Edward with something close to resentment, and continued. "I wanted to tell you so badly. I mean, you're my best friend, of course I didn't want to keep this from you! But I couldn't tell you without everyone hearing and stopping me before I could spill the whole story, and I knew that a phone call would be the only way to truly explain everything. I was pregnant, weak, and backed into a corner. But that's not much of an excuse. I should have tried to tell you in spite of what everyone else thought. I'm sorry, Rowan. Really, I am."

Bella's story lined up perfectly with Emmett's, and I knew she was telling the truth; she had always been an awful liar. I nodded. "I believe you, Bella. But what about after Ness was born?"

"That was my fault. Again." Edward had his hands shoved in his pockets and a guilty gleam in his eye. "I was nervous about how the kings may react to the news of a hybrid child. It was something no one ever had encountered before. So I convinced Bella to keep the secret for Renesmee's protection, and the rest of my family followed our wishes."

"You mean your wishes?" I asked, taking a couple steps forward. "This whole thing could have been avoided if you had just trusted me as your sister, Edward! Because that's what I am! I am part of this family just like you! We are equals! I forgave you when you forced us to move after Bella's birthday. I forgave you after we had to travel to Italy to prevent you from killing yourself. But I am not sure..." I trailed off, my fingers curling into a fist. "I'm not sure I can forgive you for this, Edward."

"I understand," he said quietly, his eyes dropping to the floor as he refused to meet my gaze.

"As for the rest of you, well... I expected better. Alice, Jasper, either of you could have reached out to me without getting caught, unlike Bella. And Rose..." I met her eyes, which were brimming with sadness and regret. "You know what you did."

I turned on my heel and strode out of the room. Demetri and Felix were waiting on the other side of the door and fell in step beside me as I exited.

"The masters are still discussing, but if you would like us to bring you to them, I doubt very much that they would mind," Demetri said, making no comment to the conversation that had just taken place.

"No, thank you. I need to be on my own for a little while," I said, zipping up my coat as I walked out the back door. Now that I was away from everything, my anger slipped away and all I could feel was the stinging hurt of my family's betrayal.