Caius looks at me approvingly, and I can't help but think that this is how life should be. Me, Caius' wife...or soon to be, an immortal, here forever. A life eternally in Italy is a life most girls would kill for. But why do I feel like there is something missing?

"So," Aro muses, with that strange little smile of his, the one I see when he is about to take my hand and see my memories. "Might I see the proposal, dearest Gianna?"

I nod and obligingly hold out my hand. He takes it with a new sort of gentleness, but I can feel it so much better-the smooth and delicate skin, paper white like my own, so much so that I can hardly tell mine from his except for the position it is in. But yet, there is the roughness of a hand that has been through a lot, through eternity and back again, and not at all like the hand of the young. He is so complicated, a man that is so much older, so much wiser, and richer with the knowledge of the things I have not yet come to know. They all are.

Vastly different, with one similarity.

I am one of them.

"Ahhh...isn't that glorious?" Aro says, and I'm broken out of my reverie. He probably noticed the reverie, too, with my stupid luck.

"Indeed." Caius agrees, and I look at him, see his expression quirk in an almost smile, before receding into the brooding look I know so well.

"Aro," Marcus pipes up, and until then, I had almost forgotten he was there. "Perhaps Caius should know of the news we learned of recently?"

Aro nods. "Yes, yes, it's best he know, as she is to be close to him."

She? What does he mean, she? Close to him? No thank you! My husband. Mine. Back off. What the hell does he think he means, saying there's another girl that's going to be here, with Caius, with my Caius?

Sorry, darlings. I am far too bitter.

"We have hired a guard for you, Caius. Just as Aro has Renata, you shall have Jasmine."

I raise an eyebrow. "Oh...great." is all I can muster up. Damn me and my lack of grace.

"She will not interfere with you and him, only protect Caius." Marcus says.

I roll my eyes. "Good. Because I can eat her otherwise."

Caius squeezes my hand. "Shhh. I am all yours." he whispers in my ear, and slowly I let out the breath I no longer need. "Thank you, Aro. For keeping my dear Caius safe."

Aro smiles and stands, and kisses my hand as he steps away from the table. "I shall go and get the girl."

I wait for what feels like is an eternity, which it very well might be, before Aro comes back, leading a girl, a vampire, like the rest of us, with dark, cocoa colored skin and deep set eyes that match. She is the kind of girl I would hate if I had any sort of threat from her. But Caius is mine. And I know he won't pick her over me ever.

Caius gives her a polite smile. "It is very nice to meet you, Jasmine."

She smiles back. "And it is a wonderful pleasure meeting you, sir Caius." Her eyes fix on me for a moment. "You must be Gianna. I have heard so very much about you...though I was not aware that you were Caius' fiance...I had heard you worked here..."

"Well, we did not know she was, either, until a few minutes ago..." Aro comments, and my eyes snap to his with a murderous quickness. I can feel my temper flaring. I try and control it, but it seems to be getting worse. I look at Caius to help me, and he takes my shoulders.

"You're alright." he says. "I'll keep you in your seat."

I nod, closing my eyes and taking a few breaths to steady myself.

"I look forward to working with you." Jasmine says smoothly. "And I will keep your husband very safe."

I blink. "Thank you, Jasmine." my tone is so regal I almost laugh.

"Of course, my queen."

I look at Caius, unsure if I heard her right.

"Queen?" I murmur.

Caius nods. "Yes. As Marcus, Aro, and I are kings, we have wives...our queens."

Aro actually bows to me. Before I know it, Marcus has done the same, and Caius kneels and kisses my hand.

"Queen Gianna Volturi." Aro says.

Caius smiles, his back to everyone else, so nobody sees but me. "Long may she reign."