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〃Leave in peace； Aro；〃 Carlisle said stiffly。 〃Please remember that we still have our anonymity to protect
here； and keep your guard from hunting in this region。〃
〃Of course； Carlisle；〃 Aro assured him。 〃I am sorry to earn your disapproval； my dear friend。 Perhaps； in
time； you will forgive me。〃
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〃Perhaps； in time； if you prove a friend to us again。〃
Aro bowed his head； the picture of remorse； and drifted backward for a moment before he turned
around。 We watched in silence as the last four Volturi disappeared into the trees。
It was very quiet。 I did not drop my shield。
〃Is it really over？〃 I whispered to Edward。
His smile was huge。 〃Yes。 They've given up。 Like all bullies； they're cowards underneath the
swagger。'7He chuckled。
Alice laughed with him。 〃Seriously； people。 They're not ing back。 Everybody can relax now。〃
There was another beat of silence。
〃Of all the rotten luck；〃 Stefan muttered。
And then it hit。
Cheers erupted。 Deafening howls filled the clearing。 Maggie pounded Siobhan on the back。 Rosalie and
Emmett kissed again—longer and more ardently than before。 Benjamin and Tia were locked in each
other's arms； as were Carmen and Eleazar。 Esme held Alice and Jasper in a tight embrace。 Carlisle was
warmly thanking the South American newers who had saved us all。 Kachin stood very close to
Zafrina and Senna； their fingertips interlocked。 Garrett picked Kate up off the ground and swung her
around in a circle。
Stefan spit on the snow。 Vladimir ground his teeth together with a sour expression。
And I halfclimbed the giant russet wolf to rip my daughter off his back and then crushed her to my
chest。 Edward's arms were around us in the same second。
〃Nessie； Nessie； Nessie；〃 I crooned。
Jacob laughed his big； barky laugh and poked the back of my head with his nose。
〃Shut up；〃 I mumbled。
〃I get to stay with you？〃 Nessie demanded。
〃Forever；〃 I promised her。
We had forever。 And Nessie was going to be fine and healthy and strong。 Like the halfhuman Nahuel；
in a hundred and fifty years she would still be young。 And we would all be together。
Happiness expanded like an explosion inside me—so extreme； so violent that I wasn't sure I'd survive it。
〃Forever；〃 Edward echoed in my ear。
I couldn't speak anymore。 I lifted my head and kissed him with a passion that might possibly set the
forest on fire。
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I wouldn't have noticed。
39。 THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
〃So it was a bination of things there at the end； but what it really boiled down to was。。。 Bella；〃
Edward was explaining。 Our family and our two remaining guests sat in the Cullens' great room while the
forest turned black outside the tall windows。
Vladimir and Stefan had vanished before we'd stopped celebrating。 They were extremely disappointed
in the way things had turned out； but Edward said that they'd enjoyed the Volturi's cowardice almost
enough to make up for their frustration。
Benjamin and Tia were quick to follow after Amun and Kebi； anxious to let them know the oute of
the conflict； I was sure we would see them again—Benjamin and Tia； at least。 None of the nomads
lingered。 Peter and Charlotte had a short conversation with Jasper； and then they were gone； too。
The reunited Amazons had been anxious to return home as well—they had a difficult time being away
from their beloved rain forest—though they were more reluctant to leave than some of the others。
〃You must bring the child to see me；〃 Zafrina had insisted。 〃Promise me； young one。〃
Nessie had pressed her hand to my neck； pleading as well。
〃Of course； Zafrina；〃 I'd agreed。
〃We shall be great friends； my Nessie；〃 the wild woman had declared before leaving with her sisters。
The Irish coven continued the exodus。
〃Well done； Siobhan；〃 Carlisle plimented her as they said goodbye。
〃Ah； the power of wishful thinking；〃 she answered sarcastically； rolling her eyes。 And then she was
serious。 〃Of course； this isn't over。 The Volturi won't forgive what happened here。〃
Edward was the one to answer that。 〃They've been seriously shaken； their confidence is shattered。 But；
yes； I'm sure they'll recover from the blow someday。 And then 。 。 。〃 His eyes tightened。 〃I imagine they'll
try to pick us off
separately。〃
〃Alice will warn us when they intend to strike；〃 Siobhan said in a sure voice。 〃And we'll gather again。
Perhaps the time will e when our world is ready to be free of the Volturi altogether。〃
〃That time may e；〃 Carlisle replied。 〃If it does； we'll stand together。〃
〃Yes； my friend； we will；〃 Siobhan agreed。 〃And how can we fail； when will it otherwise？〃 She let out a
great peal of laughter。
〃Exactly；〃 Carlisle said。 He and Siobhan embraced； and then he shook Liam's hand。 〃Try to find Alistair
and tell him what happened。 I'd hate to think of him hiding under a rock for the next decade。〃
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Siobhan laughed again。 Maggie hugged both Nessie and me； and then the Irish coven was gone。
The Denalis were the last to leave； Garrett with them—as he would be from now on； I was fairly sure。
The atmosphere of celebration was too much for Tanya and Kate。 They needed time to grieve for their
lost sister。
Huilen and Nahuel were the ones who stayed； though I had expected those last two to go back with the
Amazons。 Carlisle was deep in fascinated conversation with Huilen； Nahuel sat close beside her； listening
while Edward told the rest of us the story of the conflict as only he knew it。
〃Alice gave Aro the excuse he needed to get out of the fight。 If he hadn't been so terrified of Bella； he
probably would have gone ahead with their original plan。〃
〃Terrified？〃 I said skeptically。 〃Of me？〃
He smiled at me with a look I didn't entirely recognize—it was tender； but also awed and even
exasperated。 〃When will you ever see yourself clearly？