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〃We'll be together again in a few days;〃 he said; tightening his arm
around me。 〃Don't forget that this was your idea。〃
〃It was the best idea — of course it was mine。〃
His answering smile was bleak and disappeared immediately。
〃Why did this happen?〃 I asked; my voice catching。 〃Why me?〃
He stared blackly at the road ahead。 〃It's my fault — I was a fool to
expose you like that。〃 The rage in his voice was directed internally。
〃That's not what I meant;〃 I insisted。 〃I was there; big deal。 It didn't
bother the other two。 Why did this James decide to kill met There're
people all over the place; why me?〃
He hesitated; thinking before he answered。
〃I got a good look at his mind tonight;〃 he began in a low voice。 〃I'm
not sure if there's anything I could have done to avoid this; once he saw
you。 It is partially your fault。〃 His voice was wry。 〃If you didn't smell
so appallingly luscious; he might not have bothered。 But when I defended
you… well; that made it a lot worse。 He's not used to being thwarted; no
matter how insignificant the object。 He thinks of himself as a hunter and
nothing else。 His existence is consumed with tracking; and a challenge is
all he asks of life。 Suddenly we've presented him with a beautiful
challenge — a large clan of strong fighters all bent on protecting the
one vulnerable element。 You wouldn't believe how euphoric he is now。 It's
his favorite game; and we've just made it his most exciting game ever。〃
His tone was full of disgust。
He paused a moment。
〃But if I had stood by; he would have killed you right then;〃 he said
with hopeless frustration。
〃I thought… I didn't smell the same to the others… as I do to you;〃 I
said hesitantly。
〃You don't。 But that doesn't mean that you aren't still a temptation to
every one of them。 If you had appealed to the tracker — or any of them —
the same way you appeal to me; it would have meant a fight right there。〃
I shuddered。
〃I don't think I have any choice but to kill him now;〃 he muttered。
〃Carlisle won't like it。〃
I could hear the tires cross the bridge; though I couldn't see the river
in the dark。 I knew we were getting close。 I had to ask him now。
〃How can you kill a vampire?〃
He glanced at me with unreadable eyes and his voice was suddenly harsh。
〃The only way to be sure is to tear him to shreds; and then burn the
pieces。〃
〃And the other two will fight with him?〃
〃The woman will。 I'm not sure about Laurent。 They don't have a very
strong bond — he's only with them for convenience。 He was embarrassed by
James in the meadow…〃
〃But James and the woman — they'll try to kill you?〃 I asked; my voice
raw。
〃Bella; don't you dare waste time worrying about me。 Your only concern is
keeping yourself safe and — please; please — trying not to be reckless。〃
〃Is he still following?〃
〃Yes。 He won't attack the house; though。 Not tonight。〃
He turned off onto the invisible drive; with Alice following behind。
We drove right up to the house。 The lights inside were bright; but they
did little to alleviate the blackness of the encroaching forest。 Emmett
had my door open before the truck was stopped; he pulled me out of the
seat; tucked me like a football into his vast chest; and ran me through
the door。
We burst into the large white room; Edward and Alice at our sides。 All of
them were there; they were already on their feet at the sound of our
approach。 Laurent stood in their midst。 I could hear low growls rumble
deep in Emmett's throat as he set me down next to Edward。
〃He's tracking us;〃 Edward announced; glaring balefully at Laurent。
Laurent's face was unhappy。 〃I was afraid of that。〃
Alice danced to Jasper's side and whispered in his ear; her lips quivered
with the speed of her silent speech。 They flew up the stairs together。
Rosalie watched them; and then moved quickly to Emmett's side。 Her
beautiful eyes were intense and — when they flickered unwillingly to my
face — furious。
〃What will he do?〃 Carlisle asked Laurent in chilling tones。
〃I'm sorry;〃 he answered。 〃I was afraid; when your boy there defended
her; that it would set him off。〃
〃Can you stop him?〃
Laurent shook his head。 〃Nothing stops James when he gets started。〃
〃We'll stop him;〃 Emmett promised。 There was no doubt what he meant。
〃You can't bring him down。 I've never seen anything like him in my three
hundred years。 He's absolutely lethal。 That's why I joined his coven。〃
His coven; I thought; of course。 The show of leadership in the clearing
was merely that; a show。
Laurent was shaking his head。 He glanced at me; perplexed; and back to
Carlisle。 〃Are you sure it's worth it?〃
Edward's enraged roar filled the room; Laurent cringed back。
Carlisle looked gravely at Laurent。 〃I'm afraid you're going to have to
make a choice。〃
Laurent understood。 He deliberated for a moment。 His eyes took in every
face; and finally swept the bright room。
〃I'm intrigued by the life you've created here。 But I won't get in the
middle of this。 I bear none of you any enmity; but I won't go up against
James。 I think I will head north — to that clan in Denali。〃 He hesitated。
〃Don't underestimate James。 He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled
senses。 He's every bit as fortable in the human world as you seem to
be; and he won't e at you head on… I'm sorry for what's been unleashed
here。 Truly sorry。〃 He bowed his head; but I saw him flicker another
puzzled look at me。
〃Go in peace;〃 was Carlisle's formal answer。
Laurent took another long look around himself; and then he hurried out
the door。
The silence lasted less than a second。
〃How close?〃 Carlisle looked to Edward。
Esme was already moving; her hand touched an inconspicuous keypad on the
wall; and with a groan; huge metal shutters began sealing up the glass
wall。 I gaped。
〃About three miles out past the river; he's circling around to meet up
with the female。〃
〃What's the plan?〃
〃We'll lead him off; and then Jasper and Alice will run her south。〃
〃And then?〃
Edward's tone was d