"The fact that you cannot track Rowan when she is employing her gift is troubling." Marcus had his fingers steepled together, deep in thought. "We were hoping to rely on your gift should all else fail."

"As long as only her mind is shielded, I can still track by scent," Demetri said, his hands clasped neatly behind his back.

We were in the throne room, where Demetri had taken me to inform the kings of the blind spot in his gift as soon as court was through. Aro had ceded his throne to me, and was perched on the arm of it as he processed this new information.

"I have no intentions of hiding myself from Demetri," I said, gaining identical looks of worry from each of my mates.

"Just because you have no intention of doing so does not mean that it may not be, at some point in time, necessary. Or that you may lose control and do so subconsciously," Caius said, long legs carrying him back and forth in front of the three thrones. "This makes Demetri's failing all the more troubling."

"Okay, first of all, that's never happened," I pointed out. "Second of all, none of this is Demetri's fault."

"None of us are blaming Demetri, love. We're being realistic. It's not outside the realm of possibility," Aro said. "You could not control your gift when you were young and it hid you as a byproduct of your fear."

"And there's the crux: when I was young, before I learned control. I have control now."

Marcus leaned back in his throne. "We are not saying you do not, tesoro. We are simply examining every possibility. You will understand in time. You are still young, and optimism is bright in you. We do not have such a luxury anymore."

I remembered Didyme and was silent. In his wake, Demetri spoke. "I can work with her, see if it would help. Perhaps with practice this can be remedied. At the very least, growing familiar with her scent will make tracking her all the more easy."

"It is the best option we have for the time being," Aro ceded, though he did not look happy. "Does Rowan's gift make her completely invisible to you, or is it a different sort of effect? Young Edward described her hidden mind as murkiness rather than as nothing at all. Perhaps that can serve as an indicator to her presence."

"I know that I did not sense her. But I will certainly observe further when the opportunity is next presented," Demetri said.

"We would expect nothing else," Caius said, finally settling back down in his throne and closing his eyes. Despite the fact that vampires could not get headaches, he rubbed his fingers against his temples. I suspected it was stress.

"Thank you, Demetri. You are dismissed," Marcus said.

Demetri nodded and strode off, exiting the court room through a side door that I hadn't noticed until now. With his leaving only myself and my three mates still remained in the room. All three were wearing expressions of varying degrees of stress or worry.

"What an interesting gift you have, my dear Rowan. I did not consider the effect it would have on Demetri's gift," Aro mused.

I sighed, letting my head to fall against the back of Aro's throne with an audible thump. It didn't really hurt, but I saw all three vampires grimace. "Look, you can just say that my gift is troublesome. I know that's what you're thinking."

"That most certainly is not what we're thinking," Marcus said.

"Your gift has saved your life, it is the opposite of troublesome," Caius said. "We're not mad at you for something that is out of your control. We are just concerned about the implications that Demetri's shortcoming may have."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," I said, sitting straight up. "I said this before and I'll say it again. It's not Demetri's fault that he can't track me when I'm hiding. We already know that both Edward and Aro couldn't use their gifts on me when I was hiding either, and I'd be willing to bet that it is the same way with Jane and Alec. It's not his fault just like you say that it's not mine."

Caius looked like he wanted to disagree, but refrained. "Very well. I still want him working with you, however, to see if he can work around it, or at the very least grow so familiar with your scent that he could pick it out in a crowd, much like we can."

"You can?" I asked.

"You're our mate. Of course we can," Marcus said, smiling. "Let's talk of other things, yes? You can make arrangements for a training session with Demetri at some other time."

"I agree. What are your plans for the rest of the day, carissima?" Aro asked, looking down at me with eyes that were closer to black than red.

"I don't have anything set, I was really just going to read and perhaps hang out with my guard, but that was before you got out of court earlier than I expected."

"You seem to be getting along quite well with them," Marcus said.

I smiled. "Yeah. They've all been very kind. I hope it's not just because I'm the queen."

"I highly doubt that is the only reason," Caius said, catching my eye with a loving smile. "It is quite impossible to dislike you, in my opinion."

"Not that you're biased or anything," I quipped, earning a laugh from all three.

"No, not at all," Aro said with a chuckled, capturing my hand within his and pressing a kiss to my knuckles. I smiled at him, remembering his reaction the night previous to witnessing the kiss Caius and I shared within my memory. He was quite put out about it - as was Marcus, to be fair - but seemed to understand that all would come in time.

"So what would you like to do? We have the rest of the afternoon to spend," Caius stated, leaning back in his throne, fully relaxed now.

"Actually, I had something I would like to show Rowan, if you don't mind," Aro said. Marcus nodded and Caius muttered something that sounded suspiciously close to "if you must" before Aro turned to me. "Shall we, my dear?"

"Of course." I stood much less gracefully than he did and took his hand. He pulled me lightly towards one of the doors situated by the throne.

"I really think you're going to like this," he said once we passed out of the throne room.

"Where are we going?" I asked curiously as we started up a spiral staircase.

"You'll see," he said with a mysterious smile as we climbed ever upwards.

By the time we reached the top my legs were jelly, but I had been fiercely determined to make the climb myself. "How many stairs was that?"

"Roughly one hundred," He said, pushing open the door we reached at the topmost landing. "I can carry you back down if you would like."

"Please," I said, my tired legs forgotten when I saw what was outside. While I suspected he was leading me to the rooftop, my imagination didn't do justice to what it truly looked like. It was a hanging garden, sheltered from prying eyes by the thick foliage that grew as a sort of natural rooftop and the half-wall that bordered the entire roof.

"This is amazing," I said, looking around with wide eyes, as if that could let me take in more things at once.

"It was Heidi's idea, actually," Aro revealed as we walked about. It was mostly shaded, which warded away the worst of the heat and kept things surprisingly cool. "She enjoyed gardening in her human life and thought it was a pity that our rooftop was going to waste a majority of the time."

"You grow food up here?" I asked curiously.

"Yes. Our human staff are welcomed to help themselves to it, as we cannot use it. Now, we save a portion for your use as well," Aro said. "We have a few gardeners that care for the plants here and the gardens behind the castle, as Heidi's duties often take her far from Volterra."

"She's your fisher, isn't she? She brings in your prey?" I asked curiously. It didn't bother me that the Volturi drank from humans the same way it bothered the Cullens. Maybe it was due to the fact that humans had always failed me where vampires hadn't, but I knew the only reason I had agreed to animal blood was because of the loyalty I had to my family.

"Yes. She ranges far and wide. We usually feed every two weeks or so. Human blood sustains us much longer than animal blood," he told me. "In fact, she's returning tomorrow. I'll ensure that you meet her then."

I smiled at him. "That sounds good. I thought your eyes looked darker than usual."

"Yes, it's been several weeks since my brothers and I have fed." Upon catching my concerned look, he squeezed my hand. "Do not worry, mia cara. Our control is exceptional. We could go for months and be of no danger to you, it goes against our very being."

"I believe you. No example needed," I said. "When did you last feed?"

"A week before your graduation. Heidi was scheduled to bring in a party the day before we departed, but since we completed our necessary duties early we left without feeding. Don't be worried, we've gone much longer before. Marcus especially, but that's his story to tell," Aro said.

I nodded and we continued walking around the rooftop. "Can I look over the edge?"

"By all means," he said, and I let my hand slip from his arm in order to lean over the half-wall that wasn't blocked by ivy walls. I gasped, realizing I was looking down at the garden below. "This is amazing."

"Yes, it is. I come up here often when I need to think. I believe I'm the only one of my brothers that does so," Aro said, joining me in leaning on the wall. He looked completely relaxed, and I didn't realize until then just how much stress leaving me with the Cullens must have been causing him.

After another few minutes I felt myself begin to sweat and posed the suggestion that we head back inside. "I'm sure Marcus and Caius are getting impatient."

"They will live, I assure you," Aro said, smiling, though he took my hand and we walked back into the castle regardless. My eyes adjusted quickly to the dark, much quicker than someone's without my affinity with shadows would have, and upon seeing the stairs again I knew I was not about to walk back down them again.

"Shall I carry you, then?" Aro questioned, responding to my thoughts.

"Please?"

"Your wish is my command," he said, crouching down so I could hop onto his back, wrapping my legs around his torso and my arms around his neck. "Hold on."

"Of course," I said. This wasn't my first time running with a vampire - in fact, Emmett used to do it with me all the time - so I didn't get motion sickness from the sheer speed. I enjoyed the breeze that buffeted my face, but closed my eyes so they wouldn't dry out. That was something I had learned the hard way.

By the time we arrived back in the throne room, I was laughing and my hair was in complete disarray, though I couldn't find it in myself to care. Caius and Marcus were no longer occupying the throne room, but the twins were there with equal looks of amusement on their faces, which smoothed into polite detachedness as soon as Aro's gaze fell upon them.

"Jane, Alec! Where have my brothers gone?"

"To their private wings, I believe, Master Aro," Alec said. "Shall I alert them that you are looking for them?"

"No, that isn't necessary. However, could you fetch Felix for me, please? I have a task for him," Aro requested.

Alec nodded and disappeared. I glanced at Aro, who smiled at me. "I think I may go speak to Demetri about that training session, if you don't mind?"

"Not at all, darling. Go ahead, but do take Jane with you," He said as Alec and Felix reappeared. "And Alec too, of course."

I nodded and walked towards the main exit of the throne room. "Jane, Alec, do you know where Demetri is?"

"In the guard's lounge," Alec piped up. "I saw him as I was retrieving Felix for Master Aro."

"Thanks," I said.

"Of course."

After several minutes of walking in silence and struck with sudden curiosity, I asked them, "How old were you when you were changed? If you don't mind me asking, of course."

"Not at all, my queen. We were thirteen," Alec said.

"Master Aro changed us as our village was burning us at the stake," Jane added.

I stared at them, horrified. "You were burned alive?"

"Well, they clearly didn't succeed," Alec quipped, "but they certainly tried."

Jane bobbed her blonde head. "They believed we were witches."

"That's horrible! You were just children!"

Alec simply shrugged. "That's how things were. We wish they were different, though."

"Humans are always scared of what they don't understand," Jane scoffed, before her eyes widened. "No offense meant, my queen."

"None taken, Jane. And you really can just call me Rowan," I insisted.

They both shook their heads as Alec pulled open a door. "Here's the guard lounge. If we're not on duty, this is where we spend a majority of our time."

It was a large room, nearly as large as the throne room, and currently housed several vampires of the higher and lower guard alike. They all turned to look at me as I entered, and I couldn't help the self-conscious blush that rose to my queen.

"My queen," rumbled through the room, and I ducked my head.

"The queen has requested to see Demetri," Alec said. Almost instantly, Demetri materialized in front of me, and it took all of my years being around vampires not to jump.

"Welcome to the guard's lounge. What can I do for you, my queen?" he asked me with a smile, leading me further inside. I was distinctly aware of multiple sets of curious red eyes on me until Demetri barked out an order that everyone was to stop staring.

"I wanted to come talk to you about that training session the kings discussed earlier," I told him.

"Certainly. We can start whenever you'd like. As you are human, we'll likely need more than one session for me to hopefully get over my mental block," he said.

"That's okay. I don't mind." There was a pause, during which he looked like he wanted to say something but wasn't sure if he should. "What's on your mind?"

"I just wanted to thank you for earlier," he said after another moment's hesitation.

I furrowed my brow. "Huh?"

"When you defended me in front of the masters. I really- I appreciate it. Usually the only people we have to look out for us are our fellow guard," he revealed.

"Yeah, of course. Any time. It's not like this was your fault," I said. "It's more mine than anything."

He nodded. "It really isn't. But still. Thank you. When would you like to start our sessions?"

"How about now? I mean, if you're not too busy," I told him.

Demetri looked faintly surprised at my consideration. "Not at all. I'll call Afton with us too, as his gift seems to work similarly to yours. It is your gift's opposite, in a way."

"How so?"

"He is able to make himself invisible to attackers, however his gift is not constrained by lighting. It has a similar effect on my gift but is much easier to see through than I suspect yours will be," Demetri explained. "He's not here, so I will fetch him and meet you in the sparring room if that's suitable?"

"Sure," I said. Demetri disappeared and I turned back to the twins. "Could you show me to the sparring room Demetri's talking about?"

"Of course, my queen," said Jane, and they flanked me as we walked back out of the room. "I had forgotten that much of the guard still has yet to meet you. Your reputation precedes you."

"My reputation?"

"Title may be more apt a word," Alec said. "Nearly all the guard knows the masters have found their mate, but they've been strictly ordered to leave you alone unless addressed."

"Why?"

Jane looked like she wanted to smile at the question, but refrained. "You are still human, my queen. The masters do not want to put you in any unnecessary danger, though most of the guard's control is impeccable. It is only the newer members that have any sort of trouble, and they learn quickly."

"Oh. Right. I never thought of that," I said.

"Additionally, the masters did not want you to feel like you were some sort of exhibit on display," Alec added. He and Jane pushed open two thick, heavy wooden doors with the barest effort. We were most certainly underground, with how damp and cool the air had become, and this section of the castle looked older than the other sections I had been in.

"These are the training rooms," Alec said. "This room here used to be the throne room but has since been repurposed for sparring. There are other areas for our guard to practice use of their gifts."

"I had the rooms emptied, so we have the place to ourselves," Demetri said. He was standing beside another vampire who was a few inches shorter than him but just as lean. This vampire, who I presumed to be Afton, wore an easy smile and inclined his head toward me respectfully.

"It is an honor to meet you, my queen. My name is Afton," he said, hands tucked lazily into the pockets of his pale gray robes. "Demetri says your power has a similar effect over his gift as mine."

"Yeah. Demetri you could turn yourself invisible, which is super cool," I told him.

"Thank you, I'd like to think so. It has its uses. I can hide another person if they stand behind me, but it only takes focus to break through the illusion. Not quite so powerful of a gift as your guard here possesses," Afton said, motioning towards Jane and Alec.

"It could probably be strengthened with time. It took me years to make the shadows hide me at will, and I never thought I could do it at first," I said.

"Now your shadows, that is where my interests lie. Could you, for example, disappear here, with this lighting?" he asked. The room was lit by bright florescent lights and I shook my head. "Hmm. Perhaps the change will give you that ability. For now, though, I will dim the lights so that Demetri can work with you."

"Thank you, Afton," Demetri said. Once the lights had dimmed so that we were in near-darkness, Demetri nodded towards me. "Let's get this started, then, my queen. Whenever you're ready."

"Good luck," I said with a grin, and let myself dissolve into the shadows.

Edited 4/19/2021