ɪ'ᴍ ꜱᴏ ꜱᴏʀʀʏ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴛʜɪꜱ ᴛᴏᴏᴋ ꜱᴏ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴛᴏ ɢᴇᴛ ᴏᴜᴛ. ᴛʜɪꜱ ꜱʜᴏᴜʟᴅ ʙᴇ ᴍʏ ꜰɪʀꜱᴛ ᴘʀɪᴏʀɪᴛʏ, ʙᴜᴛ ɪᴛ ɪꜱɴ'ᴛ ᴀɴʏᴍᴏʀᴇ. ɪ ʟᴏᴠᴇ ᴀɴɴᴀ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴏɴᴇ ɪɴ ʜᴇʀᴇ, ʙᴜᴛ ꜰᴏʀ ɴᴏᴡ ᴛʜᴇ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇꜱ ᴡɪʟʟ ʙᴇ ꜱʟᴏᴡᴇʀ. ɪ ᴡɪʟʟ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛᴏ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ᴀᴛ ʟᴇᴀꜱᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ᴡᴇᴇᴋ, ʙᴜᴛ ʀᴇᴍᴇᴍʙᴇʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴍᴀɴʏ ᴏᴛʜᴇʀ ꜱᴛᴏʀɪᴇꜱ. ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴡᴀɴᴛ, ʏᴏᴜ ᴄᴀɴ ʀᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴏꜱᴇ ᴀꜱ ᴡᴇʟʟ, ꜱɪɴᴄᴇ ꜱᴏᴍᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ɢᴇᴛ ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴀʟᴍᴏꜱᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ. ꜰᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴡᴀɴᴅꜱ ʜᴀꜱ ꜱᴜᴘᴇʀ ʟᴏɴɢ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀꜱ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ꜱᴏʀᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜɪɴɢ. ʟᴀꜱᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴏᴠᴇʀ 4ᴋ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴡᴀꜱ ᴏᴠᴇʀ 5ᴋ ᴡᴏʀᴅꜱ.

Anora's POV

It wasn't like I wanted to make everyone angry, it was just what I managed to do. While I could have blamed my fiery temper on Afton and his ridiculous antics, I knew well that I was my fault for reacting to his attacks.

Being reactive was just so easy for me. I noticed everything that he did and he would just act like it was nothing. Maybe it was nothing to him, but it meant something to me. Those books were given to me by my mate. How would he like it if I took all of Chelsea's gifts away? Plus, even she isn't trying to stop him! Even if they are mates, he's being an ass!

Getting up off my bed, I walk with Auntie Anna and Heelie down the hall and into the guard room where we could see Afton looking annoyed at the world. Auntie gave him a good glare before saying, "Son get your ass over here."

Afton looked a bit terrified as his mother called him over, giving him a good glare of her own that outmatched mine. Only a mother could give that kind of dead stare that could scare the living hell out of you.

Some of the guards snickered, including his soul brother Santiago. Jane gave me a knowing sadistic smile and Alec did the same, although he did give Heelie a much kinder smile once he turned to him. My mate stayed quiet and waited for Afton to come closer to us so his mom could lead us all out of the guard room.

By the time that we did make it out of that room, I could feel the anxiety dripping off of Afton and Heelie through our bonds. Both of them were terrified of what was to come, but Afton's fear outweighed my mate's. This is what happens when you mess with a princess, Afton.

"We have a lot to talk about," Auntie Anna said, looking unimpressed. "Afton, I just want to let you know now that I am not happy that you've been taking Anora's books, if it was a joke or not doesn't matter. Anora loves the books that Heelie gets her and mate gifts are special anyways. If someone were to take away things that Chelsea gave you I know you would be throwing a fit and ripping their heads off. Due to that, I am not mad that Anora pulled at your bonds the way she did, as you did deserve it for your behavior. That discomfort is your punishment. Have I made myself clear?"

The brown-haired vampire gulped down some venom before nodding quietly.

"What you did was wrong and you know it. I get that you meant it all in good fun but know that once someone tells you that they don't find it funny you don't do it again. It makes you look like an ass," I could sense the pure annoyance in Auntie's voice as she spoke to her son. She wasn't a woman to mess with and she wouldn't raise an asshole, not if she had any say in the matter.

"I'm sorry mom," Anna was still not pleased, shaking her head at him. "I'm sorry, Anora. I shouldn't have taken your books and I won't do it again."

"Good, now hug it out because I hate it when you all fight," I smiled and hugged him, willing to forgive him if he was really sorry for what he had done. It wasn't like we hadn't gotten into fights before. Sometimes those fights were much worse than this one, with one of us blowing up at each other and starting some really, really bad stuff. It was better to get along with your covenmates than to not, especially when your auntie wants you to.

"Come on, Nora, we have more training to do with you," still smiling, Heelie takes my hand and leads me into the training room.

It was good when things went your way.

____________________________________________

Three years later

Anna's POV

Life had gotten much easier. No longer did I have the hunger of a newborn, or the strength of one. I was in fact quite normal and less special than I had been, but that was okay.

Things were great inside of the castle. No large fights had broken out between our covenmates or between other covens. The Romanians had been killed three years ago, on that new years day. 2010 wasn't as bad as I would have expected.

I still looked seventeen, just as was expected from a vampire who couldn't age. Helios and Anora looked to be about thirteen now, with their aging now slowing down. It almost seemed as if they had not aged this past year.

"Amore, what are you doing out here?" I turned around to see my blonde mate, who had turned up behind me as I walked through the gardens. "We should be getting ready for the party. You know how our son gets on his birthday."

"And yet he's only three," I muse, remembering my motherly responsibilities, "God he's aged so fast. Nora as well. I... I can't believe that they'll be fully grown by the time they're seven. I would do anything to have them as babies for a little while longer."

"Anna," he whispered, moving behind me as I gazed into my favorite pond. "Is everything alright, cara mia? You've been a bit distant lately."

"Oh, sorry. I guess I have been a little trapped in my own thoughts these days," I chuckled, turning to face my handsome mate, "I'll do better, I promise."

"That isn't the problem, cara mia, I don't want you to do better. I wan't you to be okay and happy," I sighed, knowing where he was going with this conversation. We had this one almost once a month, mostly when we had some sort of social event to attend. I was not a very sociable person, even with my own family. Being like that would never be a part of my nature. "I know we have asked you many times, but as your mates we just want you to be happy and well. Being a queen can be hard and we're here for you."

"Look, we can talk about this after the party. As you said, we need to get ready," It was an awful feeling, having to direct the conversation elsewhere, but I wasn't ready to spill what had been bugging me yet.

Caius sighed but nodded, not pressing me further. He was good like that. He pushed me when I needed to be pushed, but also knew when to stop. We balanced each other out just like any good mated pair would.

My dress for the ball was similar to the one that brought me into the Volturi coven. Layered with hints of gold covered up with royal purple, my dress screamed royalty. Ever since I had gotten here my mates spoiled me rotten, buying me multiple dresses that I could wear for the rest of eternity if I didn't ruin them.

With a golden tiara on my head, I finally made my way down the hall, Caius holding onto my arm.

Our ballroom had become one of the most important places in the castle during my time. Yearly balls were now held, sometimes even occurring a few months after each other. Vampire life was now one of luxury. The Volturi were no longer feared, but rather revered, although some still held some panic whenever they saw our wax seal.

"Mamma!" Heelie called out, wrapping his arms around me. "Finally. You and dad took so long to get here. Everyone else is already here. Nahuel even came!"

Prince Helios Volturi had become a social butterfly, chatting up whoever he could, whenever he could. My son was growing to become a handsome young man, his black hair having soft curls that entranced Anora to no end. The two of them were an amazing couple.

"Amore," my son called out across the ballroom. I watched as Anora smiled from across the room, starting to walk over with the cookies she had taken for herself. "God she looks beautiful."

"Take your mate to dance, son," Caius smirked, taking my hand, "I'll dance with mine."

Giggling, Caius brought me to the dance floor. My heels clicked as we danced to the music. Thankfully Helios hadn't completely broken Volturi code for parties and had allowed Aro to pick out some of the music that we would dance to. It seemed that Helios had a taste for pop and rock, sometimes both. His mate liked the same, but preferred the same music as my raven-haired mate.

We danced for hours, never tiring. Vampire stamina had proven its uses, even if I had to give up things I used to love like sleeping and resting during my free time.

"You look bellissima, mia regina," Caius complimented, a hand brushing my cheek and we moved away from the dance floor, "Assolutamente divino."

"Always the flirt," I muttered, making him chuckle.

"Simply the truth, mia divina regina," If I were still a human, I would have blushed at his tempting words. "Let's go find my brothers. I felt them staring about ten minutes ago. You know how Aro gets with his jealousy."

"You two are always trying to one up each other. Poor Marcus," he laughed.

"He isn't as innocent as you make him out to be. You forget all of the walls he breaks during our fun," I slapped his hand. "Don't be mean to me, Anna."

"This is our son's birthday party. Talking about our sex lives won't do you any good," he frowned, kissing my head. "Aro, take me away from the heathen."

"Now what has he been doing this time, il mio amore?" Aro asks, placing a kiss to my hand, "Truly a heathen."

"Everyone's ganging up on me now?" Caius huffed. "You're all going to regret how you've treated me tonight. I do everything for this mate bond and you-"

"Don't be so dramatic," Marcus groans, "It's getting late and our son and his mate should be getting into their bed for the night. What an age, three. I don't even remember being three. Remember thirteen. What a year. I think Alexandros fell off a few trees with us, Aro. It was unpleasant to carry him whenever he decided to be more of an idiot than usual."

"Good thing he isn't here to throw you into a wall for saying that," Aro muttered.

"Like he would try to throw his king," Marcus paused before sighing, "He would throw me into a wall, wouldn't he? Oh, whatever, that's fine. Its not like I'm a vampire and can't be harmed by something as miniscule as a wall. I mean, I've had enough experience with walls-"

"What is it with you three today?" I questioned, sighing exasperatedly. "Truly, you three are acting so weird."

"Our mate thinks we're being weird," Caius whispered to Aro. I gasped as I realized that the three of them smelled a bit different than usual. "Am I weird, Aro?"

"You three, get your butts back into our room and stay there until you sober up," all three of them groaned. "Didn't think I would notice? You smell weird, you're acting weird, and everyone is talking about sex. Come on, this is a birthday party, set an example."'

"Why did you have to out us like that?" Aro asked, kissing my head, "Let us have our fun."

"Outing you means something different in this century, Aro," my mate stiffened, "Usually you're so good about keeping with the times, babe, what happened? Oh wait, alcohol happened. I love you,but you three have to stop drinking at the most random of times."

I didn't let any of them speak, taking them back to our nest at once.

____________________________________________

The next day was filled with questions posed by our covenmates. Just the usual things. The Volturi always had things that needed to be done, with most of our time being spent dealing with criminals. Things had become quite stagnant, barely ever leaving the castle. It wasn't too bad, with some of our trips being memorable, but we never truly did anything new.

"Anna what's wrong?" This time it was Marcus to ask me. "We just want to know what's been going on with you. Aro can't piece it together for us all of the time. All we ever ask is honesty, you know that."

"It's been bugging me for a while," I admit, "It just doesn't make any sense."

"What's been bugging you, tesoro?"

Taking in a deep breath, I turn to face Marcus, a fake smile creeping it's way onto my face.

"It's about Maeve."

"What about her, tesoro?"

"She's gone."