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like she might actually be touching his back。 Was this the other shield； Renata？ I wondered； as Eleazar
had； if she would be able to repel me。
But I would not waste my life trying to get to Caius or Aro。 I had more vital targets。
I searched the line for them now and had no difficulty picking out the two petite； deep gray cloaks near
the heart of the arrangement。 Alec and Jane； easily the smallest members of the guard； stood just to
Marcus's side； flanked by Demetri on the other。 Their lovely faces were smooth； giving nothing away；
they wore the darkest cloaks beside the pure black of the ancients。 The witch twins； Vladimir had called
them。 Their powers were the cornerstone of the Volturi offensive。 The jewels in Aro's collection。
My muscles flexed； and venom welled in my mouth。
Aro's and Caius's clouded red eyes flickered across our line。 I read disappointment in Aro's face as his
gaze roved over our faces again and again； looking for one that was missing。 Chagrin tightened his lips。
In that moment； I was nothing but grateful that Alice had run。
As the pause lengthened； I heard Edward's breath speed。
〃Edward？〃 Carlisle asked； low and anxious。
'They're not sure how to proceed。 They're weighing options； choosing key targets—me； of course； you；
Eleazar； Tanya。 Marcus is reading the strength of our ties to each other； looking for weak points。 The
Romanians' presence irritates them。 They're worried about the faces they don't recognize—Zafrina and
Senna in particular—and the wolves； naturally。 They've never been outnumbered before。 That's what
stopped them。〃
〃Outnumbered？〃 Tanya whispered incredulously。
〃They don't count their witnesses；〃 Edward breathed。 〃They are nonentities； meaningless to the guard。
Aro just enjoys an audience。〃
〃Should I speak？〃 Carlisle asked。
Edward hesitated； then nodded。 〃This is the only chance you'll get。〃
Carlisle squared his shoulders and paced several steps ahead of our defensive line。 I hated to see him
alone； unprotected。
He spread his arms； holding his palms up as if in greeting。 〃Aro； my old friend。 It's been centuries。〃
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The white clearing was dead silent for a long moment。 I could feel the tension rolling off Edward as he
listened to Aro's assessment of Carlisle's words。 The strain mounted as the seconds ticked by。
And then Aro stepped forward out of the center of the Volturi formation。 The shield； Renata； moved
with him as if the tips of her fingers were sewn to his robe。 For the first time； the Volturi ranks reacted。 A
muttered grumble rolled through the line； eyebrows lowered into scowls； lips curled back from teeth。 A
few of the guard leaned forward into a crouch。
Aro held one hand up toward them。 〃Peace。〃
He walked just a few paces more； then cocked his head to one side。 His milky eyes glinted with
curiosity。
〃Fair words； Carlisle；〃 he breathed in his thin； wispy voice。 〃They seem out of place； considering the
army you've assembled to kill me； and to kill my dear ones。〃
Carlisle shook his head and stretched his right hand forward as if there were not still almost a hundred
yards
between them。 〃You have but to touch my hand to know that was never my intent。〃
Aro's shrewd eyes narrowed。 〃But how can your intent possibly matter； dear Carlisle； in the face of what
you have done？〃 He frowned； and a shadow of sadness crossed his features—whether it was genuine or
not； I could not tell。
〃I have not mitted the crime you are here to punish me for。〃
〃Then step aside and let us punish those responsible。 Truly； Carlisle； nothing would please me more than
to preserve your life today。〃
〃No one has broken the law； Aro。 Let me explain。〃 Again； Carlisle offered his hand。
Before Aro could answer； Caius drifted swiftly forward to Aro's side。
〃So many pointless rules； so many unnecessary laws you create for yourself； Carlisle；〃 the whitehaired
ancient hissed。 〃How is it possible that you defend the breaking of one that truly matters？〃
〃The law is not broken。 If you would listen—〃
〃We see the child； Carlisle；〃 Caius snarled。 〃Do not treat us as fools。〃
〃She is not an immortal。 She is not a vampire。 I can easily prove this with just a few moments—〃
Caius cut him off。 〃If she is not one of the forbidden； then why have you massed a battalion to protect
her？〃
〃Witnesses； Caius； just as you have brought。〃 Carlisle gestured to the angry horde at the edge of the
woods； some of them growled in response。 〃Any one of these friends can tell you the truth about the
child。 Or you could just look at her； Caius。 See the flush of human blood in her cheeks。〃
〃Artifice！〃 Caius snapped。 〃Where is the informer？ Let her e forward！〃 He craned his neck around
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until he spotted Irina lingering behind the wives。 〃You！ e！〃
Irina stared at him unprehendingly； her face like that of someone who has not entirely awakened
from a hideous nightmare。 Impatiently； Caius snapped his fingers。 One of the wives' huge bodyguards
moved to Irina's side and prodded her roughly in the back。 Irina blinked twice and then walked slowly
toward Caius in a daze。 She stopped several yards short； her eyes still on her sisters。
Caius closed the distance between them and slapped her across the face。
It couldn't have hurt； but there was something terribly degrading about the action。 It was like watching
someone kick a dog。 Tanya and Kate hissed in synchronization。
Irina's body went rigid and her eyes finally focused on Caius。 He pointed one clawed finger at
Renesmee； where she clung to my back； her fingers still tangled in Jacob's fur。 Caius turned entirely red in
my furious view。 A growl rumbled through Jacob's chest。
〃This is the child you saw？〃 Caius demanded。 〃The one that was obviously more than human？〃
Irina peered at us； examining Renesmee for the first time since entering the clearing。 Her head tilted to
the side； confusion crossed her features。