BEYOND CAIUS' REACTION TO MY VERY EXISTENCE IN THE CASTLE, THE REST OF MY DAY WENT SPLENDIDLY.

The best part is that I mean that when I say it. No part of me would allow some snappy, snobby, Chad-type ruin my time in Italy. Caius can go fuck himself while he sorts out his ongoing anger management issues.

Chrissy and I went in the pool, soaking up the sun while my guard watched from a distance. I hate to say it, but that guy is growing on me.

"Don't you have work to do, Rivs?" Chrissy asked as she splashed me from the side. "Cause as much as I love this water, I don't want us getting kicked out just yet."

"So now you're cool with us staying here? Wow, okay." She laughed and grabbed my hand, dunking me one last time before I rushed out in nothing more than my bikini. I blushed and giggled like a maniac as Afton handed me my towel so I could cover myself.

To my complete misfortune and dismay, Caius emerged from one of the many pillars keeping the building standing tall. I thought I wouldn't have to deal with his bratty behavior for a few more hours. Just my rotten luck.

"What the hell are you wearing?"

Unable to compose myself sooner, I let out a damning sigh. If Caius doesn't know what a bikini is, I'll damn explain the concept to him.

"It's called a two-piece swimsuit, better known as a bikini," I deadpanned. "Since I have open access to the pool when I'm not at work, I wore one to go inside. Better than getting your normal, workaday clothes soaked in chlorinated water. Now, I'm to go get ready to bring the old vinyl down to the storage room, so if you could move, that would be appreciated."

He gave me an unamused scowl.

"It's called a rhetorical question, Miss Acastia." Caius rolled his eyes judgmentally before skirting off to wherever he was supposed to be.

A long moment passed where I just sneered at him as he walked past, debating whether or not I would be a big baby and snitch on him to his brothers (which is always a move I'm willing to take, mind you). Instead of causing more drama and taking the chance of getting blamed for this event, I sighed deeply.

"Fuck his albino looking ass," I whispered under my breath.

Afton snorted.

---

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING COULD PUT CAIUS VOLTURI IN A GOOD MOOD TODAY.

Ever since his mate came crashing into his life, he hasn't known what to do with himself. He's been struck with painter's block, Athenodora suspects something is wrong with him, and his brothers won't shut up about their shared human mate.

Worst of all, he has to keep up appearances with the court. Vampires he couldn't care less about; listening to aired grievances while pretending to not want to throw himself into a volcano.

He couldn't perform with his wife anymore because of the bond being triggered, and the façade, a house of cards at this point, would fall. All parties involved will have their hearts broken.

After three thousand years of marriage, Caius had to admit that he was attatched to Athenodora. Even if in their private conversations they understood that their story would end the second one of them found their true mate, it would sting. It already stung. Caius felt his head and his heart fighting over what to do.

What he needed was a few weeks to figure all of this shit out. Maybe then it won't be so damn confusing. But he doesn't have that, does he? With Marcus and Aro already making moves on River, Caius will be in last place if he keeps up this act of rude boss with their mate.

Opening up isn't his thing. Nor is giving gifts.

For all intents and purposes, Caius is an amateur in love. Athenodora was mostly a political marriage between opposing covens, and though he loves her, it's not like he had much time to court her. The standards for courting have evolved greatly from his single days.

A wife to placate and a mate who thinks you're an ass. Caius groans at the reminder.

The attitude off of him wouldn't be accepted anymore, either. Lord, Aro had been uppity after the meeting ended. Barely contained fury, but Caius didn't show that it hurt to hear his brother cursing him out and threatening to set his room on fire.

So now he has to deal with the guards with his personal matters already taking up space in his head.

"Who moved the chore chart?" Caius questioned sternly.

The guards were in a little huddle in the back of the room, all of them bracing for Caius to swear or shout at them.

He was too stressed to find an insult for them today.

"It was here this morning," Santiago whispered.

"Yeah - no shit," Afton snarked.

"The chore chart is not to be moved under any circumstances." The blonde king pinched the bridge of his nose before letting out an exasperated noise. "This is the fourth time someone has misplaced my carefully thought out chore schedule sheet this month."

"I mean, il mio re, that's three less than last month," Demitri tried to reason.

"It's mid-March, child!" He snapped. "No excuses from you, guards. Where is it? I'm not making another one. You're going to find the chart or I swear to it you won't eat until you do, or until next month."

The entire Volturi Guard groaned at once as they began searching throughout the room for the notebook filled with their intricate schedules. Jane scowled at the floor as Alec accidentally bumped into her from under the table.

But to top it all off, there Caius was, watching them struggle like a sadist.

Under the mask, however, he was just too tired to move away from the scene. Rapid thoughts filled with self-doubt and horrid selfishness; he hated the intrusiveness of it all. Caius would give the world, his throne, to just have some damn peace.

For an hour the guards worked away around the castle, searching for those damned papers. Soon enough they regrouped in the main guard room.

Just as the last few guards were pooling into the room to await their final punishment, River finished her vinyl sorting job in the other room. At the sound of her heartbeat, Afton realized the missing piece of this puzzle.

"Wait a second." Afton let out an awkward cackle. "Awe, fuck me. I left it with the human."

Every guard in the room slowly turned their heads to face the brown-haired vampire.

"You're telling me I got my gown dirty," Jane began to shriek, "for nothing?"

Coming into the room to one of Jane's violent outbursts wasn't River's best idea. Call it bad timing.

"You stupid, useless creature!" Jane hissed at Afton, slapping him on the arm as hard as she could. "Die! Die! Die!"

Caius ignored the tantrum and gave a clearly fake smile to his mate.

"Do you have the schedule written down for yourself already?" Caius asked.

River could've sworn there were bags under his eyes. She ignored it and muttered a simple, "Yes," before handing the notebook to her boss.

"Now that this commotion is over," Caius let out a deep sigh and blinked slowly before continuing, "I just want to let you know that you make my life a living hell sometimes. Goodnight. Don't talk to me. River, stay in here for a moment."

"Sorry-"

"What did I just say, Afton?"

The king waved off the guards, leaving River in that room alone within minutes.

"What do you need to talk to me about, Caius?" River asked, her tone offputting to the blonde immortal.

This would be harder than he expected.

---

Well, Caius is going to try, so give him brownie points! Stressed angry baby. Honestly, even Twilight vampires can't be entirely perfect, hence the missing chore charts that Caius loathes replacing.

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