Late the next morning, after making sure she fed again, Marcus escorted her to Aro's rooms. He said he simply wished to extend their time before they separated, but she had a feeling he was there to run interference in case they ran into Caius.

Marcus rapped on the large doors to Aro's office. "Come in, Marcus," Aro called.

"I have a delivery," Marcus announced as he opened the doors. He kissed Lily's head and then was gone in a blink.

The moment he saw his mate, Aro was on his feet. A wide smile covered his face as he took her in. "You look lovely, cara mia. I have missed you."

As she studied him, Lily realized that she could feel his joy and his hesitation. She could also feel his anger at Caius, his worry over whether she would accept her new life. And the beginnings of love for her. She'd never been able to do this before, only getting a general idea of emotions from her bonds. Interesting. She'd have to experiment later. Right now, she wished to speak with her mate.

"Can I talk to you?" she asked.

His expression quickly became more serious. "Of course."

Instead of sitting in one of the chairs in front of his desk, she moved around it. She motioned for him to sit then she leaned against the desk beside him, almost touching but not quite. "Marcus told me that you wouldn't touch me unless you were wearing gloves while I was turning."

His gaze softened when he smiled. "I did not want you revealing anything that you did not wish to. It was unknown if your block would remain in place while you were unconscious. I would not violate your trust that way, Liliana."

She nodded to let him know she understood then held out her hand. He looked between it and her face with a frown.

"You do not owe me anything, cara mia. Do not feel as if you must do this."

She ran a hand through his hair and he closed his eyes at the sensation. Just the joy of being touched by his mate. "I'm doing this because I want to, Aro. I want you to feel comfortable touching me. I want to be able to hold your hand without worrying about a stupid block."

He grinned at that and took her hand in his. She watched him as he dug through her memories, her thoughts. His scruff had progressed into light beard territory, but it suited him. His hair was a mess and it made her want to run her fingers through it again. She wondered how she had gotten so lucky as to have these three as her mates. They were gorgeous and kind and so much more than she ever thought she would have. She didn't deserve them. Didn't think she could ever possibly measure up to what she needed to be, but she was damn sure going to try.

Aro was on his feet the instant he released her hand. His hands cupped her face as his lips found hers. He fed at them hungrily as his tongue danced with hers. While Marcus' kisses were tempered and patient, Aro's were needy, longing. When they finally pulled apart, Aro was grinning.

His hands continued to frame her face. "I am sorry, cara mia, but I was overwhelmed when I read your thoughts concerning me. Even those I consider friends, fear me. Think poorly of me. And I see it all. But you have never feared me. Never thought poorly of me. You defended me to your family before you even knew me. Thank you. Thank you."

She smiled. "You have never given me reason to fear you or think poorly of you, Aro. In fact, I'm rather fond of you if you didn't figure that out."

He kissed her again. "I am yours until midnight. What would you like to do?"

"I just want to spend time with you." He took her hand in his. Seeing what she had in mind, he led her through the door and into his room. Lily looked around as they moved through the room draped in reds and browns.

When they reached the bed, he kissed her head. "Get comfortable. I'll be right back."

He zoomed into his closet and she crawled into the bed. When he returned he was wearing sweats and a t-shirt. She licked her lips causing him to grin again. He got into the bed with her and once he was comfortable, she curled up against his side. One arm wrapped around her stomach to hold the hand of the arm he'd looped around her back.

Lily sighed in contentment and sank into him. This was perfect.

Aro kissed her head with her thought.

"Talk to me," she said.

"What would you like to know?" Happiness radiated from him, only serving to make her more content.

"Anything. I want to know everything about you."

So, he began to tell her of his life. And about how dull he found it all now that he had her.

***

Liliana spent all of her time over the next three days with Marcus or Aro, sometimes both. The few times Caius had attempted to join, she'd left the room and one of the others would follow not far behind.

Caius was heartbroken and full of remorse but she wasn't ready to end his suffering just yet. He needed to understand how much he'd hurt her. She needed to know he wouldn't act so rashly again. Sometime in the midst of the morning of the fourth day, Caius's regret and remorse shifted to self-loathing and hatred. That was too far. Her blond mate had been punished enough.

Knowing there was an afternoon full of trials scheduled, Liliana dressed herself accordingly. She pinned her hair up and slid into the first pair of shoes she'd worn since she turned. A glance in the mirror showed her looking every inch the queen she was supposed to be. She entered Marcus's room with a light knock. Both he and Aro had been trying to get her to quit knocking but it was an ingrained habit. She was raised to be polite, damnit.

Marcus smiled when he saw her and ran his gaze over her from top to bottom. "You look lovely. What's the occasion?"

She looped her arms behind her back. "I thought I might attend the trials today."

His smile fell instantly. "I am uncertain that is a good idea, Lily. You remember what happened last time."

"Last time I was human. And I was also fine."

As he opened his mouth to argue again, Aro stepped into the room. "What are we discussing?"

Marcus sighed. "Liliana wishes to sit the trials today."

Aro frowned and his brow furrowed. "Why?"

She reached over and grabbed his hand so he could see her plans. He grinned. "I believe we should allow it, brother. It might prove most entertaining."

Marcus's gaze moved between the two of them before he gave a small shake of his head. "Far be it for me to interfere with your plotting."

He left the room and Aro turned to her. "Do have a blood bag before you come, cara mia, just in case there are any human witnesses."

She wanted to argue. She had impeccable control after all. A combination of her gift and who her mates were she assumed. But it was a small thing and she did as he asked without complaint. When she arrived at the throne room, the guard opened the door and she handed them her empty blood bag with a smile.

The kings stopped talking and Aro was on his feet in an instant. He came over to her and took her hand in his to make sure she fed. When he saw that she did as he asked, he smiled and kissed her cheek. "I'm so pleased you are joining us today. Come."

He released his hold on her and returned to his throne. Lily felt Caius' eyes on her, but she didn't even glance at him. Instead, she walked over to greet Marcus. "Hello, my love," she told him with a wide smile before bending down to place a kiss on the corner of his lips. He narrowed his gaze at her teasing as his lips twisted into a smirk.

She turned from him and walked over to Aro, letting him take her hand as she passed by. When she continued past him to approach Caius, the blond king straightened in his throne. It was the first attention he'd had from her since he so royally fucked up. Hope radiated from him, softening her heart even more. Rather than greeting him, she simply sat on his lap like she belonged there. And, truth be told, she kind of did.

His hands immediately found her hips to hold her steady even though she could feel a slight tremor. She turned her head and kissed his cheek before placing her lips beside his ear. "May I sit here today, my king?"

His grip tightened. "Please." His voice broke on the word that was both permission and a plea.

Turning back to face the front, she leaned into his chest. His arms shifted to wrap around her. He buried his face in her neck and breathed her in as he vibrated with need. The bond told her that he was barely restraining himself from saying everything he had been dying to say to her for days. There were only four trials. Once they were finished, she would give him all her attention.

They were only ten minutes into the first trial when Marcus looked over at the two of them. "Liliana, Aro and I can handle court today if the two of you would like to go."

Before she could even ask if he was sure, or check that Aro agreed, Caius had swept her up in his arms and flashed to his rooms. All she felt from her other mates was amusement. Caius' rooms hadn't been cleaned from his tirade so they stood in the midst of broken furniture and torn paper.

Caius dropped to his knees and wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her against him. He pressed kiss after kiss to her stomach as venom tears ran down his face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm so fucking sorry."

Lily made shushing noises and ran her hand through his hair while the other rested on his shoulder. He shook his head. "No. I don't deserve your comfort. I'm...god, I'm just so sorry. I don't know how else to say it. I will spend eternity trying to make amends. Please don't hate me. I couldn't stand it if you hated me. You don't have to love me, just don't hate me. Please."

"Caius—"

He kept his forehead pressed against her belly as he shook his head. "I started to fall in love with you the day after we found out you existed. Carlisle sent us those pictures. The ones of you dancing. And despite my annoyance with your humanity, I knew that you would be the center of my universe. Then we talked. Then I met you. Liliana, Sei la miglior cosa che mi sia capitata. Tu sei il mio tutto." (You're the best thing that ever happened to me. You are my everything. - Italian)

Lily grabbed his hair and tugged lightly so he'd look up at her. Venom still flooded his eyes. "Cai, baby, feel the bond. I was hurt, but I don't hate you."

He studied her for another moment before surging to his feet. He placed his hands on either side of her neck and tugged her forward to press his lips to hers. His kiss was hesitant, testing, afraid that she'd reject him, push him away. When she looped her arms around his neck as she returned the kiss, tension flowed from him. The kiss remained soft, searching.

When Caius pulled back, he kept his forehead pressed against hers as his eyes slid shut. "Ti amo, Ti amo, Ti amo." (I love you - Italian)

She laid a hand along the side of his face with a smile. "I love you, too, my king."