[Chapter Twenty-Five—marcus]

I sat watching a Netflix K-drama on my phone while finishing off the last of the pork ribs.

Embarrassingly, that was also the last of my food—I had eaten it all. If someone else had been here with me, I would have been more than happy to share, but I figured I might as well eat my feelings away since I was alone anyway.

That along with the fact that I was legitimately hungry enough to eat it all.

Just as the two main love interests were about to kiss, a breeze caught my attention. I did not need to turn around to know Felix loomed behind me.

"Hey, Felix..." I mumbled, turning my phone off and resting my head in my arms despondently.

He zipped so he was standing on the other side of the table in front of me, his arms linked behind his back properly. Although, his face was one of confusion as he stared down at me through crimson eyes.

"What is this? An after full moon depression stage?" He said, his tone lighter than normal as he made a joke, and though I did not realize it, the smallest of efforts to cheer me up.

I allowed my lips to quirk up just for a moment before they fell back into a frown. "You can call it that..."

It was not necessarily untrue—my emotions were always much more sensitive after the full moon. Not in terms of becoming upset with people, but rather in feeling self-conscious or having mild bouts of recession.

It only lasted a day or two after the full moon though, after which I was back to my normal deflecting and disassociated-from-my-real-feelings self.

Felix cringed when I responded, nodding his head awkwardly. It was obvious he meant it as a joke, he did not know that it was an actual thing.

"Anyway," He unnecessarily cleared his throat. "What has happened to make you so... glum? Was it the food? I presume it was bad...?"

I quirked a brow of amusement at the way the beast of a man glared at the empty containers that once held the food.

"Not so much the food as it is having no one to share it with..." I explained, choosing to be honest for once.

It's not like it mattered either way—no one in this catacomb castle digested real food apart from the workers. And there was no way that any of them ate here, I certainly would not be able to stomach eating here if I was not forced to stay here 24/7.

Felix suddenly pulled the chair out in front of me and sat down, his body looking almost comically massive with the way his muscles bulged from his black suit.

"Well, if I had known you were so sad about it, I would have brought a container of blood to dip... whatever that is into," He said almost warmly, but his voice was light, a clear indication that he was joking as he pointed at the remnants of an egg roll.

I knew that it was not a bad idea!

This is why Felix is hands down my favorite. Much kinder than his counterpart who I absolutely love driving up walls.

My head perked—emotions suddenly much lighter and happier as I grinned at Felix who gave me a small one back.

"Thanks, Felix," I said genuinely.

"Anytime, besides, it's nice to have you back—werewolf you was terrifying..." He shuddered. "Other than when you actually transformed and were rolling in the mud..."

I rolled my eyes. "Seeing as I don't remember that then it did not happen,"

Felix quirked a brow. "Next time I'll make sure to get photo evidence,"

"Aren't you like 1,483? Do you even know how to use a camera...?" My voice was dubious.

Felix blinked, doing a double-take. "That is remarkably accurate... but nevertheless, I keep up on the times as many of the others in our coven do," He expressed the last part proudly.

Crossing my arms, I leaned back in my chair and pondered his words. When truly thinking about it, I suppose he did have a point. For how old all of these vampires were—including the leaders who were over three thousand years in age—they were all caught up on the modern ages enough.

Especially considering the elderly people who were born 60-70 years ago can barely even use a computer. Then again, if the Volturi were frozen at the age they were turned and made absolutely no effort to at least sort of keep up with the changing times, that would be pathetic and no doubt get them overthrown as the world's leading coven.

I snorted, "And Demetri has a girlfriend..."

Felix shook his head at that. "Since he is not here to defend himself, I will defend him by saying that he certainly does not want one,"

Felix's words were returned by a major suspicious side-eye on my part, but I let it go not wanting to think too deeply about it.

"Where is Demetri anyway—isn't he meant to be my like keeper when he is not busy with more important things?" I asked, finding it odd that he was nowhere to be found seeing as where Felix was Demetri had a habit of popping up minutes later and vice versa.

I came to realize on my own that Demetri and Felix (but mostly Demetri) were my keepers of sorts when Caius was busy. And that was most of the day.

I noticed it seeing as they seemed to pop up far more than any other member of the coven—I presume Demetri was the one mostly in charge of keeping track of me seeing as he was the esteemed tracker.

Felix was around less as he was more the muscle—meant to restrain me when I got violent. And then if both of them needed help, that's when Alec would come take me down.

Thankfully, Jane was never needed.

"You answered your own question, Master Aro and Master Caius have sent Demetri, dear Santiago, and lovely Jane on a task to destroy a nomad pair in Tanzania," He explained, "They left nearly an hour ago."

"Jesus—destroy? Why? And you did not go with them? Aren't Demetri and Santiago your besties?" I asked, my voice ringing high in concern.

Jane was no one's best friend other than Alec and her masters.

"They are making spectacles of themselves, hunting in broad daylight... in Africa at that... rumors have already been spreading throughout the local villages, we are lucky to have caught it before it spread too far. Particularly in this modern age, vampire-kind has never had to be so cautious," He explained, shaking his head. "And they cannot send all of us at once, who would be left to protect our home?" Felix ended, explicitly ignoring the part about Demetri and Santiago being his besties.

Once again—social media came to mind. TikTok and Instagram sticking out, my mind making up images of Felix doing a TikTok dance with Jane or Demetri posting photos of himself posing on random alleyway walls.

That would be a sight indeed.

"I guess that makes sense, there would be nothing worse than a vampire spotting posted on Twitter, but isn't Aro meant to go with them to like read their minds as evidence? You know, so it doesn't look like they're killing with no evidence...?"

Felix pondered my words for a moment before performing a very human action and shrugging. "Sometimes he'll go if he's bored, sometimes he doesn't,"

Okay then.

"While I'm not surprised my opinion of Aro has definitely gone down for the second time today," I said while shaking my head, but there was humor in my tone.

Felix looked at me questionably. "What was the first thing he did that dropped your opinion of him?"

"He made a review about his own tour..." I explained, whipping out my phone and pulling up the review before shoving it in Felix's face, "See?"

Felix went crossed-eyed momentarily, his brows furrowing as he read through the two reviews posted.

"Wait, you posted about it?" He asked before reading through it. "Paintings that we pretend are centuries old but are from the modern age? The tour guide Heidi would rather shake her tits around?!" He guffawed a laugh, before looking to me. "I personally thought that the tour prices were more than fair,"

"For who?" I scoffed. "The wealthy, maybe, but for the working class, that is like a special event..."

"Perhaps you should talk to the masters about this," Felix suggested.

"Caius would only raise the prices if I said anything," I said. "I don't know about Aro though,"

"I believe that both would consider changing the prices, if not to make it easier to lure in more people," Felix said, his voice making it sound as though he trying to give me helpful information. However, he cringed when he saw the look I threw him. "I did like the part about Heidi 'shaking her tits', I am sure that she will absolutely love to read it as well,"

His tone of voice made it obvious that once he showed Heidi this, he would never allow her to live it down.

I laugh. "If you are to take a picture of anything, make it her face when you tell her that and show it to me later,"

"But, of course," Felix said while standing up, I looked at him quizzically. "I was tasked with fetching you for the masters, I presume that we have kept them waiting for long enough,"

"It's been a good twenty minutes—will Caius not be upset that we're so late?"

Felix shook his head. "They have been rather deep in discussion and planning—they would have called if they needed us to arrive any sooner," He explained. "Though I should certainly not make a habit of this otherwise I will be in jeopardy of their wrath,"

My eyebrow quirked, curiosity once again piqued. "Discussion and planning about what? The nomads in Tanzania? Is this what Caius and Demetri meant by them being busy earlier?"

Felix briefly had the slightest bit of hesitation written across his face, something I would have missed had been human. However, it wiped into a blank slate the next second.

"Masters Caius and Aro may tell you if you ask..." He paused before adding, "Politely. I, on the other hand, am forbidden to talk about it to even other coven members considering it is still a very new development..."

I all but jumped on Felix causing him to startle as I gripped his arm and hung from him.

"Felix, please, you have to tell me! What's the tea?" I was now more than curious, desperate for an answer about this 'new development' that I knew nothing about.

Felix tried shrugging me off, but even with my slightly weaker form than usual, I was stubborn. Also, the giant vampire was using the most minimal amount of force with me.

"Tea? What variety are you after?"

"What the hell? You know that's not what I meant!" I grumbled as we stumbled around together with him trying to pry me off and me acting even pushier.

"I assure you that if 'tea' now has a different meaning, I have not yet caught up on it..." He admitted through gritted teeth, managing to get out of my hold and darting every further attempt I made at grabbing him.

It almost reminded me of the way Emmett and I used to tussle around.

"It means gossip! The latest news about something! So what's the tea, sis?"

As I almost caught the end of Felix's robes, he just managed to dodge me but in turn, bumped into one of the tables causing the entire thing to splinter. We both froze, staring at the table with wide eyes before looking to the kitchen entrance.

I almost expected Aro to come barreling through and scold us about breaking yet another thing in his precious home. Thankfully, that did not happen, Aro was most likely too busy with Caius to notice the sound of one of the kitchen tables breaking from the other side of the castle.

"I will tell you who it has to do with and that is all! Nothing more!" Felix finally said, his tone lightly chiding.

"Deal," I crossed my arms.

Felix nodded before saying who was the center of this gossip. "Master Marcus, it has to do with him."

My mouth fell agape—of all the people! Marcus! I never would have seen that coming.

"What?" I gasped in shock. "Marcus? Is he dead—did he kill himself?!"

"By the Gods—no! He has simply chosen to take some time off due to a new development! He'll be away for a short while..."

"Like a vacation?" I put my hands on my hips while narrowing my eyes. "Where did he go—?"

"Jaclyn," Felix firmly cut me off. "I can say no more, please ask one of the masters to tell you if you wish to know—I am not permitted to say more..."

I rolled my eyes but begrudgingly shut my mouth. The last thing I wanted was to get him in trouble and so I understood.

"Fine," I sighed before motioning to him, "Lead the way,"

He looked relieved.

"Thank you," He said before turning on his heel and guiding me behind him.

It was silent for the first few moments of us walking through the corridors. However, that silence was broken by my voice.

"So," I cleared my throat, "Where is your room at?"

Felix looked at me incredulously before he shook his head with a knowing smirk. "The location of my personal quarters is none of your business..."

"What? I just wanted to drop in occasionally to say hi," I said innocently, looking down at my nails and picking at them.

I really need to get a manicure—even if the full moon transformation would destroy it eventually. Then again, Caius has all the money in the world and I will shamelessly help myself to it to get monthly manicures.

"You mean you want to drop by and play tricks on me?" He corrected and I did not deny the fact that if he told me where his room was I would without a doubt attempt to pull multiple pranks on him.

"I really do love you though!" I exclaimed and Felix cringed.

"Are you trying to get me beheaded? Please don't say that, let alone in hearing distance of Master Caius," He explained and I waved it off.

"Caius—Smaius, my mate needs to learn how to take a joke every once in a while." I paused watching a shit-eating grin unravel on Felix's face. "What?"

"I am glad to hear you finally refer to Master Caius as your mate, it truly is a step in the right direction," He said casually, but it was obvious that he was humored by the revelation.

"I'm telling Heidi that you're the one who told me to write that all she does is shake her tits." I deadpanned and Felix groaned loudly—something very unusual for a vampire—let alone one in the Volturi.

"Do not, she'll never let me hear the end of it!" He complained just as we turned a corner.

It was then that I realized we had actually made our way down a story or two and were now in the familiar drafty corridors that held the Volturi leaders' chambers. We were coming upon Caius's, in particular.

As much as I did not want to admit it, I was excited to be able to jump into that comfortable bed again.

Felix suddenly flitted in front of me, knocking on the door loudly—a stern sound that echoed through the eerie corridors. In the next moment, he placed both his hands on the large brass door handles and pushed them open.

I entered behind Felix, listening as the large vampire greeted the people inside.

"Masters... my lady..." He nodded.

Aro and Caius were standing next to each other looming over Caius's large study table. Sulpicia stood on the other side of the table, pointing to a few different things on the pages in an almost eager manner.

"Well, how about I perform the executions on Thursday?" She suggested only to be immediately shot down by her husband.

"How about not, my love..." Aro clicked his tongue, "You will only sit on Marcus's throne on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays..."

"Aro..." She started, her voice rising with complaint.

Aro placed a hand on her cheek, staring into her eyes lovingly. It was oddly domestic.

"Sulpicia..." He mocked back in the same voice, his tone held a tinge of playfulness that had the vampiric woman huffing but fighting back a smile.

Caius scowled and rolled his eyes at their display before his attention fell on me. I only stared back in annoyance for another second before my attention fell onto the rest of his ensuite.

We were currently in the outer seating areas, the bedroom portion was through the open doors to my right. A place I did not hesitate to move toward—unfortunately, I was stopped prematurely.

Not by Caius, however.

Sulpicia appeared in front of me, her crimson eyes bright as she greeted me in a friendly manner.

"Jaclyn," She did not hesitate in taking my arm, her eyes momentarily glossing over as she was no doubt overcome with all my thoughts. She laughed lightly barely a second later. "Heidi will not be pleased with you,"

I sighed tiredly in response, my hands running down my face.

"I could give two less fucks..." I laughed hoarsely, voice tinged with the utmost exhaustion and slight sadness.

This fucking full moon.

Sulpicia frowned at my tone, opening her mouth but was cut off by Caius before she could say anything.

"And what might be wrong with you?" Caius questioned calmly, though there was an undertone of annoyance hidden in his voice as he tilted his head and quirked a brow at me.

He did not move from his spot, staring at me along with Aro.

Felix took that moment to excuse himself, closing the double doors behind as he ditched the situation.

My shoulders slumped, "Nothing," I murmured. In an effort to change the subject as well as to satisfy my actual curiosity, I asked a question directly afterward. "Why is Marcus on vacay?"

Aro chose to answer it for me. "It is much more than a vacation, he has discovered a new development with his relations and so he will be stepping away for the month... we will carry on with his duties, with the help of Sulpicia until he returns," He explained easily, tilting his head in curiosity at me as well before throwing his wife a probing look.

It was then I noticed that Sulpicia had been staring at me in pity causing me to scowl and rip my arm away from her.

The last thing I needed nor wanted was any of their damn pity.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" Caius growled, clenching his fists by his side as he (unsurprisingly) became angry. "And why will Heidi be upset with you? What have you done?"

Sulpicia spoke before I could.

"Caius—you truly are a monster!" Sulpicia gasped dramatically, turning her gaze to him.

Caius gaped at his sister-in-arms, his eyes narrowed. Aro blinked, suddenly appearing weary.

"Don't be theatrical, my dear, we are all monsters," Aro easily corrected his wife who glanced back at him in an annoyed manner.

Caius, on the other hand, clasped his hand, staring down Sulpicia.

"And why pray tell am I any more of a monster than you or Aro?" He all but hissed his question.

My gaze was flicking back and forth between the two—eyebrows raised.

"Not only that, but you are thick! Jaclyn clearly wanted the company of you sitting next to her while she ate earlier—that's why she commented about you dipping food into blood! By the Gods, Caius! Instead, you left her alone!"

My mouth fell open as Sulpicia all but called me out. Aro's face remained impassive as he slowly turned his attention away from his wife and brother and back to the papers before him.

Caius was silent, his crimson eyes sliding from Sulpicia to me—locking gazes with me as I blushed furiously under the pressure of his look.

"Well, I did not realize that the wolf still craved my unyielding attention even as the full moon has passed—" Caius started snidely, but I did not let him finish, interrupting him and pulling my arm out of Sulpicia's grasp.

"I'm not doing this," I snapped at everyone, turning on my heel and angrily making my way toward the doors that led to the bedroom portion of Caius's chambers.

He was standing in front of me before I made it even five steps, red eyes gleaming down at me harshly. He put both his hands on my shoulders to stop me from storming away. Unfortunately for him, I was not in the mood.

"Don't touch me!" I cried, jumping away from his as though he had burned me. "Just leave me alone!"

Caius blinked in surprise before his face morphed into one of irritation.

"What are these dramatics? Get ahold of yourself..." He growled and I leaned back, my lips upturned in annoyance.

We stood in a stare-off, both of our gazes daring each other. It was interrupted moments later by Aro.

"Jaclyn, does the name Tsar Lunar sound familiar?" He asked, not even looking at me.

Caius turned to Aro angrily, his voice a hiss. "We agreed not to discuss this, we already know that she does not know the name..."

Aro pointedly ignored him and my brows furrowed as I answered.

"Should I?"

Aro smiled happily while Caius continued to scowl. "See brother! That was easy was it not? Now we have an official answer."

Caius said nothing, only mean-mugging his brother. For an ancient vampire, Caius sure did pout a lot. And Aro certainly knew how to press people's buttons. Not that I could judge seeing as I did both daily.

Sulpicia was quiet, the woman having flitted to sit at the chair across from Aro.

Before Caius could chime back, I cut him off.

"Does that name have anything to do with why Marcus is gone? Or did you both kill him?" I snidely remarked with crossed arms.

Caius turned his glare back to me while Aro looked frighteningly startled before he composed himself.

"No, no, my dear—not at all!" Aro was the first to speak, his voice lighter than usual as he smiled cheerily at me. "He is much too important!"

Caius looked to Aro. "He is also our family..." He deadpanned.

It was surprising that Caius was the one to call Aro out on something like that seeing as Caius did not come across as a sentimental person. Then again the ones who are the hardest on the outside are always the softest on the inside and vice versa.

Aro looked embarrassed. "That as well!" He chimed, but nevertheless, his voice held much joy.

I raised a brow in response, this guy was seemingly always in a good mood. A part of me wondered if he smiled like that even when he railed Sulpicia. I burned the image that came to mind as I thought that, internally cringing.

"Uh-huh," I clicked my tongue at the cold ones. "So where is Marcus then?"

Aro and Caius shared unsure looks with each other, Caius taking the slightest step away from me as he and Aro seemingly spoke with their gazes. At that moment, Sulpicia who had been momentarily forgotten by the men piped up.

"He found his mate!" She cheered loudly and appeared as though it had taken everything in her not to yell it louder. "After over a thousand years of endless and incurable despair—there is finally hope!"

"Sulpicia!" Aro and Caius both hissed in unison.

"We agreed to only allow this information to pass between us and the highest of guards," Caius angrily stated.

Sully brushed off his words. "She is your mate Caius and therefore on the same level as myself. Nevertheless, she was bound to find out anyway, Marcus is meant to be gone for the next month,"

If the 'No Chic-fi-la sauce' girl could embody people, she certainly embodied me with the face I made.

The way that my neck practically broke as I blinked and stared at them in shock was anything but kind.

Because ain't no way.

Caius stared down his nose at me, Aro looked concerned, and Sully put a hand over her mouth to stop a small laugh.

"A mate? I thought he fucked your sister or something?" I said in a totally out-of-pocket manner while pointing to Aro.

They all frowned at the way that I spoke about the late woman and somehow I had a feeling that if Marcus had heard then he would have chewed me out. Thankfully for him, Caius was here.

"Have some respect, you insolent child—!"

Before Caius could continue to scorn and insult me in a thousand different ways, Aro held up a hand that silenced him.

"Brother? Didyme was your sister, does it not anger you to hear Jaclyn speak so casually about her?" Caius almost scoffed, his voice unbelieving.

Aro expressed such an indifference that it even had Sulpicia raising a brow of surprise at him. The only one I sort of felt bad for when saying that was Sulpicia seeing as she was no doubt the closest with Didyme.

"She is long gone, brother, we have all had time to adjust. Regardless, Jaclyn is young and this new generation is much more..." He paused seeming to think of a word. "Informal in the way they speak..." He explained and I was surprised that Aro not only didn't care but also defended me.

Caius looked astonished as well; he and Sulpicia shared a long look with each other that did not go unnoticed by me or Aro.

"But to answer your questions, young Jaclyn; yes, my sister Didyme was Marcus's wife many years ago. But she was not his mate—very close, but not quite. Upon also sharing a very prominent bond, my sister had the ability to make people who were close to her feel inexplicably happy. As Marcus had always been a..." Aro clicked his tongue in thought. "Rather melancholic individual—Didyme provided a slice of happiness he had never before felt. Because of this, he grew addicted to her. When she died—while the rest of us were eventually able to move on—Marcus was never able to leave the hold of pain and grief he fell into..."

My eyes were wide by the end of it. Talk about a toxic attachment issue.

So Marcus was essentially going through the longest withdrawal anyone had ever gone through ever?

Caius scoffed suddenly. "Quite pathetic if you ask me," He muttered and Aro threw him a pointed look.

"No one has asked you, brother, and yet you constantly tell Marcus anyway," Aro lightly scolded Caius who deadpanned.

"Sometimes the truth hurts otherwise it would not be the truth," Caius said plainly, and I pursed my lips thinking he might have stolen the saying from Lizzo.

I doubt Caius even knows who Lizzo is.

"Imagine if the same thing happened to young Jaclyn, brother. You would be in a much similar state I am sure... if not then I envision a state of self-destructive anger that would either kill you or the rest of the world..." Aro piped, cringing at the end.

I placed my hands on my hips. "So he would be the same?" I quipped.

I was surprised when Caius turned to me with a smirk and head shake of agreeance. "Exactly, I would not be affected at all," He said in such a tone that I had no choice but to believe him.

I wonder how I would react if Caius died. I want to say I would give no fucks but I knew that was not the truth.

"Enough of this banter—Marcus has found his mate in a young human woman who attempted to sign up for the tour just this morning. Luckily for our brother, he managed to sense her just in time and led her away from the tour and to the gardens..."

"What? Did he propose?" I joked, not even able to imagine what the poor woman was thinking when some strange pale man led her into beautiful gardens.

Caius snickered—like actually barked a short mean laugh. "Yes,"

"Oh, Jesus," I balked. "What the fuck?"

Caius let out another cruel laugh while shaking his head. "You are telling me,"

"I thought it was rather romantic," Sulpicia defended Marcus.

Aro spoke up after. "Yes, you know our brother has always been a romantic at heart. In our prime—proposing to a woman seconds after meeting them was not only normal but encouraged,"

I looked at both of them in disbelief.

"This is not 3000 BC! People don't do that. That girl was probably so confused. What did she even say when this happened?"

Aro took over the story from his wife and Caius shook his head in annoyance at the approaching tale.

"She said no, but not for the reason you are thinking. According to the memories from Marcus, she appeared quite interested and fond of him as well. She is on an adventure, she explained to Marcus that she was bored with her life and chose to leave for many months while she backpacked throughout Europe. Something that your generation calls 'finding themselves'?" He explained and my mouth was hanging open at this story.

"Ludicrous," Caius sniffed, but I pointedly ignored him as did Aro.

"She told him that if he accompanied her on the remainder of her backpacking trip and successfully made her fall in love with him then she would consider marrying him and staying with him in Volterra before ultimately turning into a vampire. Therefore, as she only has a month left, Marcus and she have left to continue her journey... if everything goes well, we will be seeing them both next month... and hopefully, Marcus will be restored to the man he once was..."

Sulpicia placed a gentle hand on Aro's shoulder.

"My love, even if young Chiara indeed makes him happy... he will never be the exact same as he once was..."

This girl was obviously insane if she was willing just to come back with Marcus randomly.

"On that note—I'm going to bed. I don't have enough patience to deal with your weird vampire insanity," I rolled my eyes, turning and walking toward the room.

Unfortunately, Caius was once again quick to stop me—his arm wrapping my elbow and tugging me toward him.

"Before you leave to go into hibernation, we must discuss your dress code," He snarked.

"Dress code?" I stepped back, my hands on my hips as I stared him down.

"Yes, I have allowed you to get away with it for far too long—I am sure you have noticed that you are the only one to wear such outlandish garments. That will need to stop..."

"You mean have I noticed that I am the only one not to wear depressing blacks?" I scoffed in shock. "What the hell is the dress code? Black, like all your typical vampire souls?"

Caius snarled. "It matters not if you are a vampire—you adhere to the appropriate dress code. All are to wear business at a minimum if not the preferred business-formal in dark tones and shades. No yellow, no orange, and no bright shades. Women are prohibited from wearing trousers unless a special exception is made: dress and skirts that fall below the knee only..."

I pouted. "But I've never even seen you wear blue!"

Don't get it twisted—everything in me internally was screaming. I wanted to sock this man in the face if he actually tried to make me adhere to some stupid dress code. But the truth of the matter was that I am tired, and why go the long hard route when I can take the simple route?

AKA lying.

I was just going to tell him what he wanted to hear. Was I going to listen to him in any manner of the word?

Fuck no.

Does Caius need to know that at that moment? Also, fuck no. He would find out tomorrow when he saw me wearing something else that violated their ridiculous and outdated dress codes.

Caius looked annoyed. "I wear blue at least once a week, wolf."

I raised a suspicious brow.

"Uh-huh," I clicked my tongue, "Whatever you say—the dress code has been noted, now please let me go to bed in peace," I sighed dramatically, spinning on my heel to go to his bedroom.

Our bedroom.

The thought still made me shudder.

I could feel Caius's skepticism radiating for miles, so I was not surprised at his next question.

"You will follow it without complaint?" He questioned, not making a move to follow me.

I stopped, turning around tiredly, and subtly nodded my head. Caius did not notice my right hand hiding behind my back with my fingers crossed.

Before anything else could be said, Sulpicia piped up.

"Darling, do you even have such clothing that adheres to the dress code?"

While I certainly liked Sulpicia the most out of the core of the coven, I could kill her right now. And she no doubt saw that in the way I delivered a deadpan expression her way.

It did not go unnoticed by Caius who immediately roared.

"I suspected you were making empty promises!"

I rolled my eyes—another action that warranted Caius suddenly flitting in front of me and grabbing my chin tightly between his fingers. He glared down at me, tilting his head.

"And don't roll your eyes at me," He all but whispered, gaze intense as he stared into my eyes.

I swallowed harshly, the both of us silent for a moment before I pulled away from him and crossed my arms.

"What do you expect!" I cried in an exasperated manner. "You have insanely outdated dress code rules—I am literally a Gen Z baby, do I look like I walk around carrying an array of business clothing in only dark colors? The answer is NO, bat-boy, I don't..."

Okay, so boldly referring to Caius as 'bat-boy' might have been his tipping point.

Actually, not might, it definitely was seeing as he jumped at me as though to take me down. The only thing that stopped him was Aro and Sulpicia taking either one of his arms and fighting against him.

Caius's eyes remained on me as he fought to get out of their hold, snarls falling from his lips.

I truly was curious how far he would go if they let him loose. He more than knew that I was weaker because it was the day after the full moon; if he did try to pummel me that would be a new low even for him.

Whether it was the way that I tilted my head or some unknown emotion that appeared in my eyes as I looked at Caius—I could not be sure—but whatever the case was, he calmed down the next moment.

Pausing in his pursuit to the point that Aro and Sulpicia were confidently able to release him.

Nothing was said as we stared at each other. It was sad that I could not read him no matter how hard I tried, and I highly doubted that he could read me.

"I saw in your mind that you were watching short videos on outlet shopping—there is one that I rather enjoy... how about we go there tomorrow evening? And perhaps we can find some clothing that is a bit closer to the dress code but relaxed?" Sulpicia suddenly suggested, her eyes sparkling in kindness.

Fucking mind readers.

I was surprised by the suggestion, if not because I truly did not think any of them left this place unless forced.

"Sulpicia," Caius hissed, moving his gaze away from me. "I have not given Jaclyn such permissions to—"

"She does not need your permission, brother," Sulpicia cut him off, snapping her head to him in annoyance. "I will be with her as well as Felix and Corin, there is nothing to worry about. Less you have changed your mind about the dress code?"

Caius still had fire in his gaze as he looked to Sulpicia.

"I will accompany you all as well—I have been in need of a bit of shopping myself," Aro said with a smile, before turning to Caius with a frown. "Perhaps you should consider coming as well, brother, it has been many years since you've left the walls of Volterra..."

I muffled a snicker. Caius momentarily glared at me before turning it back on Aro.

"Are you mad? Marcus is gone—we cannot leave Volterra without a ruler for no true reason! And you," Caius pointed to Sulpicia. "She is a werewolf with the power to stop time; however brief it may be matters not—she could easily slip away!"

This is where I stepped in because I was not letting the first opportunity I had to leave this cold catacomb go to waste.

"You have threatened to kill my family if I leave, so don't worry, I won't be running away anytime soon," I deadpanned, pure disappointment leaking from my voice.

Caius stared at me blankly for a few minutes, an expression I could not decipher written across his face.

Aro broke the silence with a charming smile.

"See," He said easily while pointing to me, "She won't run away—even if she did, her power is limited, she would only make it so far before time would start and we would surely be able to get her,"

I huffed, eyes closing in irritation at Aro, but I did not dare say anything about it. Not that I noticed it, but the corner of Caius's lip twitched upward at the gesture.

"Very well," He said while walking to the exit of his suite, "I expect you to come back with appropriate clothing tomorrow, and Aro, Sulpicia—get out of my room," He ended before he himself left.

I wondered where he had run off to but did not question it.

Aro and Sulpicia shared a long look before both quickly bidding me farewell and flitting out as well.

I was swift in making my way to the bedroom—getting ready for bed before tucking myself into the comfortable sheets. It was incredibly warm, something that I loved; it made me feel as though I was wrapped in a hug without actually needing to be hugged by a real person.

The next few minutes were spent in the dark comfortable room—myself tucking deeply into the sheets while watching Netflix on my phone.

My eyes closed against my will when I was a quarter of the way through the first episode of Bridgerton.

My lips fell into a smile as I imagined Caius 200 years ago wearing those huge ridiculous wigs that the men in Bridgerton did. There was bound to be photographic evidence somewhere—tomorrow I would start my search.

Unfortunately, as sleep wrapped itself over me, my thoughts spun away from him in wigs to the both of us dressed as though we were in Bridgerton and doing the most unspeakable acts while dressed ever so properly.