She's Mine Chapter 6

Irina sat with a smug smile on her face as she listened to her mate and Sulpicia argue. Well, it more like Sulpicia ranting about what Bella was or wasn’t doing and Bella just sitting there, letting Sulpicia talk but not changing her mind. Irina wasn’t about to say anything but she honestly felt like this was how she and Kate sometimes argued; Kate always getting loud and spewing whatever she thought would get Irina to cave and Irina just sitting there with a giant smile on her face because she knew it would piss Kate off. It was amusing to watch the sibling dynamic playout. She idly wondered how many people saw Sulpicia act this way.

“There have got to be some things you want Bella.” Sulpicia said with an exasperated sigh as she paced in front of where Bella was sitting.

Sulpicia had started their conversation with all but demanding Irina move to Italy. Bella said no.

Sulpicia then tried to say Irina should at least move to one of the Volturi’s safe places that was closer to their main stay in Italy, preferably in Europe. Bella said no.

Sulpicia tried to get Irina to commit fidelity to the Volturi to ensure the Denali coven didn’t try to pull a fast one on Bella and get her hurt; that one didn’t make much sense to Irina. But Bella still said no.

Sulpicia’s last big ultimatum, not really an ultimatum since by then Irina was sure Bella wasn’t going to blindly agree to anything Sulpicia wanted, was for Irina to live every other year with the Denali and the Volturi alike. Bella said no.

“All I want is Irina.” Bella said, sending Irina a shy smile, her cheeks with a slight blush on them. Irina had to restrain herself from cooing at how adorable her mate was; she didn’t want to attract the ire of the queen. Although, she was sure if Sulpicia did get mad at her, Bella would keep her safe.

She still needed to talk with her mate but for the moment, it was entertaining to watch her mate so nonchalantly ruffle the feathers of one of the feared queens of the Volturi. She would wait until either things lost their entertainment for her, or she was brought into the conversation. Until then, she would just sit and watch the show.

“I know that.” Sulpicia said with a sigh, “But to make this union equitable, there must be something given on Irina’s side. Do you not realize how much being mated to you gives Irina? The protection of not only a shifter that likely is as old as dirt, but also the protection of the Volturi. What do you get out of this?”

Bella gave her sister an odd look before talking, “I actually think Athenodora might be near my age.” She said with a scrunched up look. Neither of them knew how old they were but a lot of the things Athenodora had seen when she was younger reminded Bella of things she had seen her youth as well. They were both the oldest known of their species, so it could be possible they were around the same age.

“That’s not the point Bella!” Sulpicia all but yelled in exasperation.

Irina couldn’t wait to tell Kate how out of character Sulpicia was acting. Her sister would never believe it.

“I only want Irina.” Bella said with a firmer voice, starting to get annoyed with her sister of the circles she was talking in. Bella didn’t understand what her sister wasn’t understanding; it was the same with vampires as it was with shifters. The more established mate with the safest location would be where the newly mated pair lived. Did her sister forget that?

Irina decided to take pity on her mate and finally step in, even if the queen’s ire would be directed at her. It was the least she could do for her mate.

“I think Sulpicia, Bella is saying she would be happy wherever I am.” Irina tried to explain.

“I know that.” Sulpicia nearly hissed at the younger woman. Did the blonde think she was dense or something? “Bella has so much to offer you, what do you have to offer her in exchange?”

“I don’t…” Bella started to talk, but Irina cut her off.

Irina was insulted and if it wasn’t for all the practice from living with Kate at not reacting to the bait, Irina would have lashed out. But the queen had nothing on Kate, so Irina kept her cool, even if on the inside she was boiling.

“I think Bella is saying she is happy with just my presence and doesn’t seem inclined to make me do anything in order for her to be happy to be my mate.” Irina explained, knowing it wouldn’t really do anything.

“You’re everything.” Bella said, then turned to her sister to give a look that had Sulpicia closing her mouth from the retort she was about to give, “I don’t want her to move, I don’t want her to pledge to you or anyone else, I don’t want her to do anything but be around me.” Bella said with thick emotion that had Irina wondering how often the ancient shifter showed her emotions, “I just want her. Nothing else.”

Irina, with a giant smile on her face, moved closer to her mate and put a hand on her shoulder to gain her attention. “I am yours, just as you are mine.” Irina said with a smile, utterly enchanted with Bella’s declaration.

“I know.” Bella said with a smile as she stared in Irina’s eyes. If Bella could have her way, she would be allowed to just sit there and stare at Irina’s eyes, she wouldn’t need anything else and she would be entirely happy with her life.

“Good, now that we’re all on the same page.” Sulpicia said with a clap of her hands, earning a little jump from her sister and a quickly disappearing glare from the blonde, “I believe now would be a good time to take my leave and get something to much on.” Sulpicia said, her demeanor a complete one-eighty from how it was barely a minute ago.

“You’re not upset Bella doesn’t want to have us move to Italy?” Irina asked, confused by the queen’s new behavior. Wasn’t she just fighting for Bella to take Irina and live mostly in Italy?

“Oh, no dear.” Sulpicia waved off the idea with her hand, “Bella hardly comes to the castle anyways; I usually end up meeting her someplace when she deigns me important enough to tell me where she is.”

“More like when you pester me enough to go someplace you can hide easily.” Bella mumbled with a frown, remembering all the messages and calls she dutifully ignored, mostly because she wasn’t entirely sure how to actually check them on all the phones her sister would get her, and would eventually call her when she was in a bigger city.

“Yes, well. Sisterly duties and all that.” Sulpicia said with a smirk, “I just wanted to make sure you weren’t easily persuaded, my dear husband and mate will certainly do his darndest in the near future to do just that.” Sulpicia said with a frown, her mate really was too obsessed with people with gifts. She wondered how upset he would be if she told people he wanted everyone with a gift in his coven, not because he was hoarding gifted people, that was only a bonus. But secretly, Aro just wanted to live vicariously through the different people with gifts; he just genuinely thought they were all ‘cool’ and ‘shiny’ and loved to watch everyone’s memories using them. He was like a giant kid trying to become a superhero and this was the closest he could get. Perhaps if Aro pisses her off enough, she may just share that tidbit.

“This was a test?” Irina asked with a skeptical look, she really hadn’t said much, if anything. It was just Sulpicia and Bella doing the talking.

“Of sorts.” Sulpicia said with a smile that warned Irina that while the queen was their guest, there may be more of these ‘tests’ in the near future.

“She’s just trying to be a good sister.” Bella defended, not all surprised by her sister’s actions. Bella was sure Sulpicia was just trying to rile Irina up and seeing as the blonde hadn’t so much as nipped at her bait, had passed whatever test Sulpicia was making this out to be.

Her sister just didn’t like not getting her own way; she was just as bad as her mate… not that Bella would ever tell her sister that of course.

“Sure.” Irina said, just barely avoiding rolling her eyes. She was more than used to having sister’s step in to try and ‘protect’ her from things/people using tactics that were… not something she would have thought to use herself… Kate was certainly a unique individual. Irina was just happy she passed whatever pseudo test she was put through.

“I’ll leave you two be, just keep in mind your sisters are with in hearing range and I will be soon.” Sulpicia said as she slowly made her way towards the front door, “I really don’t want to have to hear my sister having sex, you both can either get that out of the way before I get back or after I leave for home. Choose wisely.” Sulpicia practically sang before she bolted out the door, very happy to smell her blushing sister. Truthfully, she was more than old enough and seen more than enough to care if she walked in on her sister and Irina mid-act, she just wanted to embarrass her sister. And she had accomplished that. She gave herself a mental pat on the back and raced off towards where she knew there would be a lot humans to find a snack or two.

“I um, I don’t think she really meant that.” Bella awkwardly said, struggling to not look away from her mate in embarrassment. Truthfully, if there hadn’t been so many people around, Bella would have wooed her mate into bed a while ago; but that wasn’t the case. She wanted at least her first time with her mate to at least a little special, without an audience at the least.

Irina smirked, absolutely adoring how embarrassed her mate looked. She took a few, very slow steps, making sure her hips had just enough swing in them, closer to her mate.

“Do you not want to become so close?” Irina purred, leaning down to get closer to her mate.

Before she could get her nose near her mate’s cheek, she was brutely slammed into the cough next to her wide-eyed mate.

“You guys are so boring.” Kate said as she settled next to both Bella and Irina, ignoring the hissing from her sister and doing her best to not get clawed as Irina tried to retaliate, “I would have already jumped Tanya’s bones by now; witnesses be damned.”

“You did.” Tanya said, “And there were.” She said with a smile as she casually walked in, “Sorry Irina, Bella, I couldn’t keep her away any longer.” Tanya said as she sat down on an armchair, at least Eleazar and Carmen had decided to make a trip into town to stock up on food for their resident shifter, so at least it wasn’t a full house yet.

“I would never jump Irina.” Bella tried to defend, not wanting to seem bad towards Irina’s sisters. She wanted to make a good impression, especially since she would likely be living with them for now on. Hopefully; as long as her sister didn’t ruin it for her.

“It’s okay if you do.” Kate said with a shrug of her shoulders, “But it’s too late for that now. Now, we’re going to be doing some bonding, sisterly stuff.” Kate said as she grabbed the remotes and turned on their electronics.

“Sisterly stuff?” Bella asked, giving Irina a quick look to see if she was walking into a trap or not. Irina was still focused on glaring at her sister for interrupting Irina’s attempt at seducing her mate.

“Yeah, gaming!” Kate cheered, giving Bella a wide smile. She would have someone on her side about gaming in general if it killed her; she couldn’t always rely on Emmett to game when she wanted because he went to school. But if she could get someone in her own coven to enjoy, she’d be set! Mostly she’d be set to annoy her mate about someone else liking this brain rotting addiction, Tanya’s words not hers, but she’d take it!

“Gaming? Like hunting?” Bella asked as she was handing a black, pronged looking item with several buttons spewed around it.

Kate gave her a confused look, finally taking in how confused Bella looked as she took in the remote.

“Don’t you know what gaming is?” Kate asked, sounding offended for both of them. How did she not know?

“I don’t really spend a lot of time with people, at least not enough to learn most of the new technology. I usually just meet the shifters, train them and leave.” Bella admitted with a small smile towards her mate, hoping Irina didn’t think less of her.

“Aw, you are adorable.” Irina said as she melted into her sister. Her nurturing side just wanting to take Bella and walk her through all the things humans had accomplished in the last century or so.

“Adorable? That’s depressing!” Kate declared.

“Be nice Kate.” Tanya said, not bothering to look away from her book, more than aware her warning would be ignored.

“I need to fix this immediately!” Kate declared as she stood up, dragging Bella with her, “Welcome to gaming 101, I’ll give you a crash course and then you’ll play and love it. I promise!”

Irina wanted to object, but the excited look on Bella’s face made her stop. If her mate was happy to be learning from Kate, then she wouldn’t interrupt. She would just come up with more… personal and one-on-one lessons to do in private, later of course.