Something cold and wet on her scalp. That was the first thing Bella felt as she awoke, unaware of her surroundings as she tried to open her eyes. The light was so bright. It sent a sharp stab of pain through her head. When she closed her eyes again, the pain settled into an almost tolerable dull throb. She groaned and brought her hand slowly to her head, keeping her eyes closed against the offending light.

"Shh. Lie still, love," said a low, soft voice.

Bella chanced opening one eye just a teeny tiny crack. The pain didn't get any worse, so she opened that eye fully and was greeted by the most beautiful face she'd ever seen. She was lying on something soft—so soft—and Edward was holding an ice pack to her head as he cradled the back of her neck in his hand. The situation was familiar, but in reverse.

"The fuck happened?" she mumbled.

An amused look flickered across Edward's concerned face before his brow furrowed again. Instead of answering, he looked up and scowled at something. Bella opened her other eye and hissed in pain as she tried to turn her head.

"Don't get up on my account."

She recognized the deep voice and the thick accent but couldn't quite place it.

"We wouldn't want anything to happen to our dear Bella, would we now, Edward?"

Edward only continued to scowl as he watched the owner of the voice approach the foot of the bed. Bella squinted, trying to focus on the face.

Liam.

Well, shit.

"What happened?" she repeated.

Liam nodded at Edward, who looked down at her with his lips drawn into a tight line.

"Feckin' Jane," Edward said.

That was all the explanation Bella needed. "Bitch," she muttered.

Liam chuckled, surprising her with what seemed to be the easy nature he'd first greeted her with at the tournament.

"Jane can be something of a…rascal."

"Rascal?" Bella repeated in a shrill voice that hurt her own head. "If we're not going with bitch, she-devil is what I'd call it."

Liam threw his head back in laughter then. "To each her own. This one's feisty," he said, turning his attention to Edward.

To Bella's amazement, one corner of Edward's mouth turned up in a sort of grin. She huffed. "Can I sit up, please?"

He looked down at her again. "Are ye sure? I don't want—"

"I'm fine." She sat up, waving him away even as a jolt of pain pulsed through her head. Another hotel room, she realized when she was able to scan her surroundings. A rather posh hotel room. Edward propped a plush pillow behind her back and handed her the ice pack. They both stared in anticipation at the imposing man standing at the foot of the large bed. How could such an intimidating man have such a kind face? Maybe it was just the fact that she had spent a good amount of time with him without knowing who he was, but Bella found that she wasn't afraid of him in the least. She knew somehow that he wouldn't hurt her.

Unless, that is, he hurt Edward.

That, she couldn't live with.

"Well, well," Liam said on a deep, long sigh. "What am I going to do with the two of you?"