Chapter 11

Tanya had done most of the talking. She explained all they knew about what had happened with Bella and the Cullen’s. She explained what they had come to believe was happening with Carlisle and Victoria and the attack that had happened as they tried to get to Voltera. All three queen’s eyes had turned black in their rage. While Eleazar had given some details, he hadn’t given nearly as much as Tanya. She was sharing everything.

They had originally planned for Bella to do part of the talking, to give her insight on what had happened because she was the protagonist in the story. But as soon as Tanya mentioned that Edward had problems being around Bella and had to escape to their home for a week to gain control, Jane lost it; which in turn made Kate lose it and then each of them fed off of each other.

Bella had taken to murmuring things to each of the vampires sitting next to her to get them to calm down. She had to tell them each that she was safe, that if something were to happen they would be there to protect her. She assured Kate that she was more than capable of beating Edward’s ass when she saw him next and she assured Jane that she wasn’t about to leave Voltura while a homicidal red-headed vampire was actively trying to kill her.

And that just set off the two blonde queens.

Athenodora, who had already been standing at that point, was likely trying to think of a way to get either Jane or Kate to move from their spots and not seem like the bad guy for forcing a human mate in danger to leave the side of their vampire mate, had moved as if to get closer to Bella, but Sulpicia’s hand stilled her.

“Let her stay with her mates, they need her more than we do.” Sulpicia softly said, just loud enough for Bella to hear. “They need her help.” She said as she gave her mate a soft smile.

Bella huffed at the assumption that they were her mates; wasn’t there supposed to be some sort of dual permission or acceptance or something that made someone mates? To Bella there ought to be because after Edward’s claims, she wasn’t sure she could believe what vampires told her. Before she could argue about it though, Tanya at that point was only to when the Cullen’s had left her, so while the story was almost over, it wasn’t quite finished, she was interrupted.

“I do not need her help; I’m helping her.” Kate said in a low volume, as if talking to the queens but not wanting them to hear but being kind enough to realize her mate was human and would want to feel included by not talking at a volume she couldn’t hear. The smirk Didyme gave Kate, of which the blonde didn’t see as she was focused on her hand that wrapped around Bella’s, let the rest of the Denali’s know Kate’s intentions were well read by the noir queen.

“She needs our help, not the other way around.” Jane hissed at the queen and then immediately went stiff as a board as she realized she had hissed at her queen and mistress, not just some random guard member that she outranked.

Athenodora snarled at the insolent guard, ready to unleash a torrent of harsh words that would call for immediate retribution… at least she would have if her new daughter hadn’t spoken up. And the little human hadn’t even spoken to her mates to provide some type of comfort, instead she chose to attack her own mother. The audacity. She shouldn’t expect any less from her daughter.

“I don’t see why you’re snarling at her; I doubt you wouldn’t be any less offended if you were in her shoes.” Bella said with a frown, offended on Jane’s behalf. “In fact, I would be willing to bet that you would be even more upset than these two.” Bella added with a roll of her eyes.

Sulpicia let out a joyous laugh at hearing her mate called out so spectacularly and by someone that she wouldn’t dare try to get retribution from. For as much as she loved her mate, she was more than aware of her mates anger issues and her defensiveness about her powers and strength. To have her child point out her dear wives’ faults, faults that have gotten Athenodora in a tight spot more than she could count, was absolutely priceless.

She quickly wrapped an arm around her mate’s waist as both a show of support at her wife’s embarrassment and as a way to restrain her in case she lashed out. Unfortunately, her wife’s early life was full of nothing but survival in a world where vampires were monsters and women were barely more than slaves. She spent all of her human life and a very decent amount of her vampire life doing nothing but surviving and she was more than aware that one didn’t lose those tendencies very easily if at all.

“Now, now younglings, why don’t we finish hearing all of this unfortunate business; then we can come up with a plan to defend our Bella and to be rid of the nuisances that are the Cullen’s and Victoria?”

Kate opened her mouth to do just that… and to possibly give the queen a piece of her mind about what she really thought about being made fun of by the queen, but Bella was quicker than her and Tanya was able to continue talking as the three on the couch went into their own little world.

“Just drop it Kate, it doesn’t really matter.” Bella whispered to the warrior blonde, knowing that it was really just Kate’s pride that was hurt than anything else. “You are big and bad and everyone knows it.” Bella said in the most unconvincing tone she could muster.

“Could you at least sound a bit more convincing?” Kate asked, all the muster she had completely left her as she practically deflated against her mate.

“She would have to actually believe what she was saying to sound convincing.” Jane hissed from Bella’s other side, still trying to pay attention and get as much information as she could. She knew she would be able to get more details later direct from her mate, but she wanted to hear Tanya’s and her coven’s thoughts on what was going on. It never hurt to get more information; especially when it came to her mate.

Kate leaned across Bella to get access to whisper yell at Jane; it also didn’t hurt that it allowed her to press against her mate in the most lovely of ways, “She is convinced. She’s seen me fight, she knows how strong I am.” Kate hissed, remembering her showing off as she had killed those vampires with her coven. They hadn’t stood a chance with her gift. She couldn’t help but smirk victoriously at the other blonde.

“I actually didn’t see anything because you moved too fast.” Bella said shoving Kate with her shoulder to at least get some space. She was well aware of what Kate was doing and her ulterior motives with less than noble intentions. “As far as I could see, Irina was the best.” Bella really couldn’t say who was the best she just picked someone that she knew would upset her the most and picking the sister that currently wasn’t talking and providing at least a little distraction was the best way to go.

“No one cares what you think you can or cannot really do, just be quiet so I can hear what they are saying.” Jane hissed again, annoyed the supposed thousand year old vampire didn’t know how to shut up.

Kate jolted back for just a moment like she had been slapped, clearly offended by what she was just told. She had long since stopped listening to her coven leader speak so she was more than okay with defending her pride.

“You shut up, you don’t even know how to fight as you rely too much on your powers.” Kate quickly insulted, just trying to get back at Jane’s insult. “Bella cares a lot about what I can do; she’s impressed by it.” In reality she just wanted to make sure Bella knew that if it came down to it, she would be able to defend her mate, regardless of how many vampires were out to kill her mate, Kate would protect her.

“I would be able to defend her a lot better than you could.” Jane angrily said, all pretense of paying attention forgotten as she defended her position.

Thankfully, Tanya had finished her speech and had stopped talking; but Jane and Kate weren’t paying attention. They hadn’t realized that everyone had turned their attention to their little argument that Bella really wished had started in the first place.

“Can you two please not?” Bella said, acutely aware of everyone’s attention on them. Unfortunately for her, the two vampires next to her were very much women with high ego’s and still had an unmarked mate that their instincts demanded they prove their worth to her. “I’m sure you both can kick everyone’s ass with no problem and it would be completely amazing to watch.” Bella added, trying to actually sound convincing if not to just get them to stop talking to each other.

“Yeah I would, I would be really impressive too.” Kate said as she sat back in seat, completely annoyed that her fighting skills were being blown off but also acutely aware of the disapproving look her coven leader was shooting her.

“I’m sure in time you will appreciate my abilities.” Jane neutrally said and then with a smirk quickly added, “In all areas.” The tone she used left next to Bella’s imagination what Jane was talking about and Kate’s near silent gasp meant she caught on too.

But Athenodora interrupted before they trio could continue their trivial conversation that really wasn’t accomplishing anything other than becoming a pissing match between the two. That would be her daughters’ problem when they weren’t all present to hear it.

“So then it’s simple: The Cullen’s and Victoria die. We can manage that.” Athenodora said with a smirk that spoke of the promise of fun that was about to come her way. Athenodora was a warrior just as Kate was and she was very much looking forward to good fight; especially one that would protect her daughter.

Bella felt a hint of fear grip her at that moment. While she was upset with the Cullen’s and truly didn’t want them punished; calling for their deaths was a far reach.

Well, that wasn’t quite right. Losing Carlisle and Jasper, even Alice wasn’t what sat wrong with her. She was very much upset with them and their manipulations and they were on their own to face their punishments for their actions. But Rosalie had always been adamant about following the laws from the beginning and Emmett had truly tried to not only respect her boundaries while also letting her have fun on her own terms. She couldn’t condemn them to the same fate as Carlisle when as far as Bella knew, they had done their best to follow the rules while following their coven leaders orders.

“Wait.” Bella said with slight panic in her tone, causing both Jane and Kate to tense and her arms in an attempt to calm her, “Don’t hurt Rosalie or Emmett. They didn’t do anything wrong.”

“Like hell they didn’t.” Kate said with a growl, a growl matched only by Jane.

“This will be interesting to hear why.” Didyme muttered as she watched her fellow queens silently battle with themselves on what to do. At least she knew their lives certainly weren’t going to be boring anymore.