The Doctors Assistant | Carlisle Cullen x OC

Chapter 20 | Bonds Revealed

Caius's voice cut through the tension in the throne room, his words laced with suspicion and authority. Ashley felt a shiver run down her spine as she met the intense gaze of the ancient vampire, his crimson eyes glinting with an unsettling hunger.

But despite the fear that threatened to consume her, Ashley refused to show any sign of weakness. With a defiant tilt of her chin, she met Caius's gaze head-on, her resolve unwavering.

Carlisle stepped forward, his posture calm and composed as he addressed the Volturi leaders. "There are no laws broken," he asserted firmly. "I never told Ashley about the existence of vampires. She already knew."

Aro's brows furrowed in confusion as he turned his gaze toward Ashley, his piercing stare seeming to delve into the depths of her soul. "But how?" he inquired, his voice tinged with curiosity.

Carlisle's revelation hung in the air like a heavy fog, the implications of Ashley's true nature casting a shadow over the room. With all eyes on her, Ashley took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

"Ashley is a witch," Carlisle stated matter-of-factly, his voice unwavering.

Caius's reaction was immediate, his face contorted with rage as he leaped to his feet, his eyes ablaze with fury. "A witch!? Don't you know how dangerous she is? Kill her!" he bellowed, his voice echoing off the stone walls.

Panic surged through Ashley's veins as she pleaded for her life, her heart pounding in her chest. "No! Please! Let us explain!" she implored, her voice trembling with desperation.

Aro exchanged a meaningful glance with Caius, silently urging him to reconsider. With a resigned sigh, Caius reluctantly sank back into his throne, though the fire in his eyes remained unabated.

As the tension in the room eased slightly, Ashley breathed a sigh of relief, her hands trembling with adrenaline. But she knew that their ordeal was far from over, and as she met Carlisle's reassuring gaze, she silently vowed to fight for their survival, no matter the cost.

A tense silence settled over the throne room as Marcus rose from his throne, his gaze fixed upon Ashley with a mixture of curiosity and apprehension. Aro and Caius exchanged a glance, silently acknowledging the unexpected turn of events.

"That would be me," Marcus replied, his voice low and measured, betraying none of the emotions swirling within him.

Ashley took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come. "You can see relationships between people, right?" she asked, her voice steady despite the turmoil churning in her gut.

Caius's sharp intake of breath was met with a warning glare from Aro, who silenced him with a raised hand. "Shut up, Caius. We'll ask her after this," Aro commanded, his voice firm with authority.

Marcus nodded in response to Ashley's question, his eyes never leaving hers. "Yes," he confirmed, his tone guarded.

Ashley took a moment to gather her thoughts before pressing on. "Well, what do you see when you look at me?" she inquired, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

The air in the throne room grew heavy with anticipation as Marcus focused his ancient gaze upon Ashley, his eyes narrowing in concentration. With a silent nod of permission from Ashley, Marcus delved into his gift, allowing the unseen currents of fate to guide him.

A soft, pink-hued aura began to envelop Marcus, casting a warm glow around him as he peered into the depths of Ashley's soul. His expression shifted from curiosity to astonishment as the truth unfolded before him, his features contorted with disbelief.

"You are the mate of Carlisle, and you're my... daughter," Marcus declared, his voice trembling with emotion as the weight of the revelation settled upon him.

But his astonishment quickly gave way to confusion as he struggled to make sense of the inexplicable bond that now bound them together. "But how?" he questioned, his voice tinged with bewilderment.

In response, Ashley reached into her bag and retrieved her mother's book, holding it out for Marcus to take. "This was my mother's," she explained softly. "I don't know if you know Latin, but this is how I found out about you."

Marcus approached Ashley with cautious steps, his hands trembling slightly as he accepted the ancient tome. With reverence, he flipped through the pages, his eyes scanning the intricate Latin script with a mixture of wonder and trepidation.

As Ashley directed him to a specific page, Marcus's gaze fell upon the words that revealed the truth of their shared past. Tears welled in his eyes, a silent testament to the depth of emotion stirring within him, emotions that had long remained dormant beneath the surface.

Wordlessly, Marcus returned the book to Ashley, his hands trembling with emotion. Ashley secured the precious tome back in her bag, the weight of their shared history hanging heavy between them.

In the silence that followed, Caius and Aro exchanged glances, their expressions a mixture of shock and disbelief. But beneath the surface, there was a flicker of warmth in Aro's eyes, a glimmer of hope for the unexpected turn of events that had brought them to this moment.

As the truth of their intertwined destinies unfolded, Ashley couldn't help but feel a sense of awe at the intricacies of fate. And as she stood alongside Marcus, her newfound father, and Carlisle, her steadfast mate, she knew that together, they would navigate the challenges that lay ahead, bound by the unbreakable bonds of love and family.