Family. Family. Family.
Of fucking course.
Neither her mother, nor her brother had any idea why she was given the visions she was. At least 4 of them, that is. Only one was a direct and blatant safety concern for the supernatural as a whole. The other 4 were only concerning for the Cullens and those who sided with them; but that was just it.
In each and every future, The Denali's side with the Cullens. The Denali's and the Cullens consider themselves Cousins.
Family.
She may not have known that Tanya was her mate until they met, but clearly her powers did.
And Tanya dies in one of those futures.
Daphne feels a sudden rage, panic, devastation... nearly making her forget how to breathe. She cannot lose Tanya. Time didn't matter, nothing mattered; her mother liked to explain the mate bond as the "Past, Present, and Future" effecting ones' heart and soul before their mind has a chance to catch up. If you try to rationalize it... it'll never make sense, if you realize that some things are simply just -- then it makes perfect sense.
Tanya is her past, present, and future .. even if neither of them knew it until today. And the thought of losing that... of losing her, was almost enough for her to pray for the destruction of the Cullen Coven... anything was preferable to losing her very soul... she can sympathize with Victoria in a way she couldn't before. Directly or indirectly, James was her mate, and James was killed protecting Bella. A mate for a mate seems incredibly justifiable when she compares losing Tanya, to Victoria losing James... in fact, she'd almost argue Victoria was thinking too small.
In her place, Daphne would destroy everything they love first, and save the one responsible for last. Or maybe Jacob had the right idea, take away what they love the most then make them live with it.
Cool hands slide along her neck. Cupping her cheeks, thumbs sliding along her jaw, a forehead pressed against her own. Her senses overcome with the scent of Tanya. Of summer peaches and vanilla, a hint of something like cinnamon, underneath.
"Come back to me, Milaya." Beloved in Slovakian. "You're safe, You're here, I have you ..."
Daphne could laugh; because of course her mate assumes she's human and fragile and needs protecting. As if she's afraid for herself. She isn't, never would be ... Henrick would burn the mortal world to the ground if there was anything here that could be a threat to her. Which is precisely why there is no threat.
But she doesn't laugh, instead she lets the words wash over her, ground her, soothe her... Tanya is here, Tanya is alive, and Daphne would ensure she remained that way.
Watery emerald-green eyes lock onto pools of melted honey. She has no idea when they moved but they're on the couch now; she's on Tanya's lap, straddling her. Was it her? Was it Tanya? Does she care?
"What is it, Milaya? Tell me what troubles you so..." Tanya almost begs. "Was it because..." She stops. Did she move too fast? Did she scare her? Even as she says it, thinks it, she can't stop herself, not truly. Her thumb tracing Daphne's lower lip.
Daphne swallows hard, shaking her head before Tanya can even finish asking; she forces herself to breathe, to remember that she was absent in all of those visions. Of course she was. She would never let Tanya die.
She grabs the back of Tanya's neck, leaning in -- Tanya's lips are surprisingly soft for how marble-like her entire body is meant to be. It helps her breathe, relax, feeling the way Tanya responds without hesitation, a low growl against her lips that makes Daphne shiver.
She tries to kiss her slowly, at first. A gentle, tender push and pull. Trying to convey all of the emotions she feels but hasn't said yet. I'm here, I'm yours, I need you, I love you, I'll protect you. Tanya kisses her just as slowly, but she can feel the way her breath is shaky, her hands trembling as she works to stay in control.
Tanya traces her fingers along Daphne's neck, her jaw, tracing her racing pulse (75 beats per second), tracing her way lower and lower until they land on Daphne's hips. Fingers dig, as gently as she can, into the warm soft flesh there...
Daphne sighs against her lips, a sound between a moan and a whimper. Tanya tastes undeniably good, sweet, addicting. Her fingers curl in silky strawberry blonde curls, the collar of her jacket; shivering when Tanya's hold tightens. Not enough but it's a start.
Daphne slides her tongue along Tanya's lower lip, begging for entrance. Nearly moans when Tanya opens her mouth and the kiss deepens. No longer soft and slow, but passionate and almost hungry.
Daphne responds near desperately. Tanya may not know why Daphne needs this, but she was absolutely more than willing to give her, anything.
And no one interrupted. Daphne could have cried just for that; for wherever the rest of the Denali's disappeared too, and whoever mercifully dragged Kate away with them before she could disturb them.
Tanya pulls away first, (assuming her mate needs to breath), and Daphne chases her lips. Tanya chuckles, her breathing heavy, pressing kiss after loving kiss to Daphne's lips but not deepening it again.
"I want to keep kissing you," Tanya whispers, assures, half-moan, half growl when Daphne bypasses her lips and nips her jaw, instead. "But we ..." She swallows hard, inhaling sharply when Daphne leaves an open-mouthed kiss where her pulse would be if she had one. ".. we should talk about why you were so upset first, Milaya."
Daphne presses her forehead against Tanya's shoulder, her fangs aching... she needs to feed, and she desperately wants to sink them into Tanya's pretty neck. Can she feed on these Vampires? She is so very willing to find out. She needs to rip off this band-aid, get it out in the open... the "Daphne is human", assumption was cute for the first hour, but she's over it now ... and that may or may not have to do with her currently elongated fangs.
"I'm not human." And if her voice is more of a growl than it's been since they met... it only proves her point, no?