Teaser Tuesday! UC Chapter 25

OK Unexpected Circumstances fans!  Here's the teaser you may or may not have been waiting to read...

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Edward pulled me against his chest, and I felt his lips on top of my head.  I had no words to speak and tried to instead comprehend what had been told to me.  It was clear Edward needed to secure his successor as quickly as possible for the good of all of Forks, but why did he take such a route to that end?

“I had no time to really think on it,” he said, his voice again strained.  “I should have, but again my lack of forethought has harmed us.”

I reached up and placed my hand against his jaw, my fingers working their way into the strands of hair at his neck.  I turned my head to press my lips to his chest where his robe fell open.

“The only other option I could see before me was that of concubine,” he finally whispered.  “Your place as my wife would remain secure, and Aro would not be able to begrudge me the alternative.  I told them I would take Angela as such, and she would provide us with the children we must have.”

I finally spoke.

“Why Angela?”

“You love her,” Edward said, his voice husky in his throat.  “You will love the children she bears as if they were your own.  They will be your own.  No one but you will raise them.”

“Does she know?”

“She does by now,” he responded.

“Has she any say in the matter?”

“Of course,” he replied.  “And…if you would prefer…if someone else was…”

Edward’s voice trailed off, and his hand left my back to cover his own eyes.

“I cannot believe I am speaking to you about such a thing,” he said.

“What if she refuses?”

“I will not…I would not…if she did not agree,” Edward said softly and shook his head.  “But if she does not come willingly, the other option placed before me is Princess Jessica.”

“She would become your concubine?  A princess?”

“No,” he said softly, “she would not.”

The meaning of his words hit me harder than the original news.

***

There are rocks, there are hard places, and then there's the place these two are stuck.