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the four of us deserve that after what Irina has done now； after how we've failed you in the past—for her
sake that time as well。〃
Edward shook his head quickly。 〃We're not asking you to fight and die with us； Tanya。 You know
Carlisle would never ask for that。〃
〃Then what； Edward？〃
〃We're just looking for witnesses。 If we can make them pause； just for a moment。 If they would let us
explain 。。。〃 He touched Renesmee's cheek； she grabbed his hand and held it pressed against her skin。 〃It's
difficult to doubt our story when you see it for yourself。〃
Tanya nodded slowly。 〃Do you think her past will matter to them so much？〃
〃Only as it foreshadows her future。 The point of the restriction was to protect us from exposure； from the
excesses of children who could not be tamed。〃
〃I'm not dangerous at all；〃 Renesmee interjected。 I listened to her high； clear voice with new ears；
imagining how she sounded to the others。 〃I never hurt Grandpa or Sue or Billy。 I love humans。 And
wolfpeople like my Jacob。〃 She dropped Edward's hand to reach back and pat Jacob's arm。
Tanya and Kate exchanged a quick glance。
〃If Irina had not e so soon；〃 Edward mused； 〃we could have avoided all of this。 Renesmee grows at
an unprecedented rate。 By the time the month is past； shell have gained another half year of
development。〃
〃Well； that is something we can certainly witness；〃 Carmen said in a decided tone。 〃We'll be able to
promise that we've seen her mature ourselves。 How could the Volturi ignore such evidence？〃
Eleazar mumbled； 〃How； indeed？〃 but he did not look up； and he continued pacing as if he were paying
no attention at all。
〃Yes； we can witness for you；〃 Tanya said。 〃Certainly that much。 We will consider what more we might
do。〃
〃Tanya；〃 Edward protested； hearing more in her thoughts than there was in her words； 〃we don't expect
you to fight with us。〃
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〃If the Volturi won't pause to listen to our witness； we cannot simply stand by；〃 Tanya insisted。 〃Of
course； I should only speak for myself。〃
Kate snorted。 〃Do you really doubt me so much； sister？〃
Tanya smiled widely at her。 〃It is a suicide mission； after all。〃
Kate flashed a grin back and then shrugged nonchalantly。 〃I'm in。〃
〃I； too； will do what I can to protect the child；〃 Carmen agreed。 Then； as if she couldn't resist； she held
her arms out toward Renesmee。 〃May I hold you； bebe linda？〃
Renesmee reached eagerly toward Carmen； delighted with her new friend。 Carmen hugged her close；
murmuring to her in Spanish。
It was like it had been with Charlie； and before that with all the Cullens。 Renesmee was irresistible。 What
was it about her that drew everyone to her； that made them willing even to pledge their lives in her
defense？
For a moment I thought that maybe what we were attempting might be possible。 Maybe Renesmee
could do the impossible and win over our enemies as she had our friends。
And then I remembered that Alice had left us； and my hope vanished as quickly as it had appeared。
31。 TALENTED
〃What is the werewolves' part in this？〃 Tanya asked then； eyeing Jacob。
Jacob spoke before Edward could answer。 〃If the Volturi won't stop to listen about Nessie； I mean
Renesmee；〃 he corrected himself； remembering that Tanya would not understand his stupid nickname；
〃we will stop them。〃
〃Very brave； child； but that would be impossible for more experienced fighters than you are。〃
〃You don't know what we can do。〃
Tanya shrugged。 〃It is your own life； certainly； to spend as you choose。〃
Jacob's eyes flickered to Renesmee—still in Carmen's arms with Kate hovering over them—and it was
easy to read the longing in them。
〃She is special； that little one；〃 Tanya mused。 〃Hard to resist。〃
〃A very talented family；〃 Eleazar murmured as he paced。 His tempo was increasing； he flashed from the
door to Carmen and back again every second。 〃A mind reader for a father； a shield for a mother； and
then whatever magic this extraordinary child has bewitched us with。 I wonder if there is a name for what
she does； or if it is the norm for a vampire hybrid。 As if such a thing could ever be considered normal！ A
vampire hybrid； indeed！〃
〃Excuse me；〃 Edward said in a stunned voice。 He reached out and caught Eleazar's shoulder as he was
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about to turn again for the door。 〃What did you just call my wife？〃
Eleazar looked at Edward curiously； his manic pacing forgotten for the moment。 〃A shield； I think。 She's
blocking me now； so I can't be sure。〃
I stared at Eleazar； my brows furrowing in confusion。 Shield？ What did he mean about my blocking him？
I was standing right here beside him； not defensive in any way。
〃A shield？〃 Edward repeated； bewildered。
〃e now； Edward！ If I can't get a read on her； I doubt you can； either。 Can you hear her thoughts
right now？〃
Eleazar asked。
〃No；〃 Edward murmured。 〃But I've never been able to do that。 Even when she was human。〃
〃Never？〃 Eleazar blinked。 〃Interesting。 That would indicate a rather powerful latent talent； if it was
manifesting so clearly even before the transformation。 I can't feel a way through her shield to get a sense
of it at all。 Yet she must be raw still—she's only a few months old。〃 The look he gave Edward now was
almost exasperated。 〃And apparently pletely unaware of what she's doing。 Totally unconscious。
Ironic。 Aro sent me all over the world searching for such anomalies； and you simply stumble across it by
accident and don't even realize what you have。〃 Eleazar shook his head in disbelief。
I frowned。 〃What are you talking about？ How can I be a shield？ What does that even mean？〃 All I
could picture in my head was a ridiculous medieval suit of armor。
Eleazar leaned his head to one side as he examined me。 〃I suppose we were overly formal about it in the
guard。 In truth； categorizing talents is a subjective； haphazard business； every talent is unique； never
exactly the