–

The throne room was lovely, nothing like the dismal room I woke in earlier. The only discomfort? The many pairs of eyes focused on me all filled with some unknown expectation. I was beginning to wish that Aro would gather everyone I knew so I could deal with the whole memory lapse issue at once.

Dylan had settled himself by a woman of great beauty, her mahogany hair skimming over her lush hips. She automatically positioned herself in the crook of his shoulder and smiled at me like the Cheshire Cat. Dylan seemed uncertain, shooting an almost apologetic look at me.

On either side of Aro were two others that shared the same translucent skin and odd eyes which were fixed unblinkingly at me. I understood that they were all terribly ancient. Thousands of years most likely. I shifted anxiously under their scrutiny. You could clearly see how eager they were to meet the new and improved Bella.

It wasn’t until my eyes fell on the man just off to the side of the three thrones that Edward reacted. I could hear just a hint of a rumble emanating from him as I took in the man’s exquisite form. My body reacted to him almost as strongly as it had Edward and gauging Edward’s reaction, I’d have to say that that reaction was garnered from intimate knowledge. How intimate, I had no idea.

He paid no attention to Edward’s clear warning and crossed the room to embrace me. In more of an automatic gesture than anything, I released Edward’s hand and returned the hug taking in lungfuls of his aromatic scent that stirred things deep inside me. When his lips grazed mine in a quick greeting, I pulled back just as Edward pushed him away from me.

“You have no right, Demetri,” Edward snarled looking feral.

The man’s face twisted into an angry smile. “About as much right as you have.” They stalked toward each other sizing one another up. “On second thought,” Demetri quipped, “considering the night Bella and I-”

Edward’s fist lashed out so fast that I only noticed when Demetri crashed into the dais below Aro’s throne where Aro was sitting with an amused expression carved into his ancient face. The other two men looked bored and completely unconcerned by the events unfolding before them.