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sure。 You look strong； though。 Perhaps you could withstand my gift。〃 She stretched her hand out to him；
palm up—a clear invitation。 Her lips twitched； and I was pretty sure her grave expression was an attempt
to hustle him。
Garrett grinned at the challenge。 Very confidently； he touched her palm with his index finger。
And then； with a loud gasp； his knees buckled and he keeled over backward。 His head hit a piece of
granite with a sharp cracking noise。 It was shocking to watch。 My instincts recoiled against seeing an
immortal incapacitated that way； it was profoundly wrong。
〃I told you so；〃 Edward muttered。
Garrett's eyelids trembled for a few seconds； and then his eyes opened wide。 He stared up at the
smirking Kate； and a wondering smile lit his face。
〃Wow；〃 he said。
〃Did you enjoy that？〃 she asked skeptically。
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〃I'm not crazy；〃 he laughed； shaking his head as he got slowly to his knees； 〃but that was sure
something！〃
〃That's what I hear。〃
Edward rolled his eyes。
And then there was a low commotion from the front yard。 I heard Carlisle speaking over a babble of
surprised voices。
〃Did Alice send you？〃 he asked someone； his voice unsure； slightly upset。
Another unexpected guest？
Edward darted into the house and most of the others imitated him。 I followed more slowly； Renesmee
still perched on my back。 I would give Carlisle a moment。 Let him warm up the new guest； prepare him
or her or them for the idea of what was coming。
I pulled Renesmee into my arms as I walked cautiously around the house to enter through the kitchen
door； listening to what I couldn't see。
〃No one sent us；〃 a deep whispery voice answered Carlisle's question。 I was immediately reminded of
the ancient voices of Aro and Caius； and I froze just inside the kitchen。
I knew the front room was crowded—almost everyone had gone in to see the newest visitors—but
there was barely any noise。 Shallow breathing； that was all。
Carlisle's voice was wary as he responded。 〃Then what brings you here now？〃
〃Word travels；〃 a different voice answered； just as feathery as the first。 〃We heard hints that Volturi were
moving against you。 There were whispers that you would not stand alone。 Obviously； the whispers were
true。 This is an impressive gathering。〃
〃We are not challenging the Volturi；〃 Carlisle answered in a strained tone。 〃There has been a
misunderstanding； that is all。 A very serious misunderstanding； to be sure； but one we're hoping to clear
up。 What yousee are witnesses。 We just need the Volturi to listen。 We didn't—〃
〃We don't care what they say you did；〃 the first voice interrupted。 〃And we don't care if you broke the
law。〃
〃No matter how egregiously；〃 the second inserted。
〃We've been waiting a millennium and a half for the Italian scum to be challenged；〃 said the first。 〃If there
is any chance theywill fall； we will be here to see it。〃
〃Or even to help defeat them；〃 the second added。 They spoke ina smooth tandem； their voices so similar
that less sensitive ears would assume there was only one speaker。 〃If we think you havea chance of
success。〃
〃Bella？〃Edward called to me ina hard voice。 〃Bring Renesmee here； please。 Maybe we should test our
Romanian visitors' claims。〃
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It helped to know that probably half of the vampires in the other room would come to Renesmee's
defense if these Romanians were upset by her。 I didn't like the sound of their voices； or the dark menace
in their words。 As I walked into the room； I could see that I was not alone in that assessment。 Most of
the motionless vampires glared with hostile eyes； anda few—Carmen； Tanya； Zafrina； and
Senna—repositioned themselves subtly into defensive poses between the newcomers and Renesmee。
The vampires at the door were both slight and short； one dark…haired and the other with hair so ashy
blond that it looked pale gray。 They had the same powdery look to their skin as the Volturi； though I
thought it was not so pronounced。 I couldn't be sure about that； as I had never seen the Volturi except
with human eyes； I could not make a perfect comparison。 Their sharp； narrow eyes were dark burgundy；
with no milky film。 They wore very simple black clothes that could pass as modern but hinted at older
designs。
The dark one grinned when I came into view。 〃Well； well； Carlisle。 You have been naughty； haven't
you？〃
〃She's not what you think； Stefan。〃
〃And we don't care either way；〃 the blonde responded。 〃As we said before。〃
〃Then you're welcome to observe； Vladimir； but it is definitely not our plan to challenge the Volturi； as
we said before。〃
〃Then we'lljust cross our fingers；〃 Stefan began。
〃And hope we get lucky；〃 finished Vladimir。
In the end； we had pulled together seventeen witnesses—the Irish； Siobhan； Liam； and Maggie； the
Egyptians； Amun； Kebi； Benjamin； and Tia； the Amazons； Zafrina and Senna； the Romanians； Vladimir
and Stefan； and the
nomads； Charlotte and Peter； Garrett； Alistair； Mary； and Randall—to supplement our family of eleven。
Tanya； Kate； Eleazar； and Carmen insisted on being counted as part of our family。
Aside from the Volturi； it was probably the largest friendly gathering of mature vampires in immortal
history。
We all were beginning to be a little bit hopeful。 Even I couldn't help it。Renesmee had won over so
many in such a brief time。The Volturi only had to listen for just the tiniest second___
The lasttwo surviving Romanians—focused only on their bitter resentment of the ones who had
overthrown their empire fifteen hundred years earlier—took everything in stride。 They would not touch
Renesmee； but they showed no aversion to her。 They seemed mysteriously delighted by our alliance with
the werewolves。They watched me practice my shield with Zafrina and Kate； watched Edward answer
unspoken questions； watched Benjaminpull geysers of water from the river or sharp gusts of wind from
the still air with just his mind； and their eyes glowed with their fierce hope that the Volturi had finally met
their match。
We did not hope for the same things； but we all hoped。
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33。 FORGERY
〃Charlie； we've still got that strictly need…to…know company situation going。 I know it's been more than a
week since you saw Renesmee； but a visit is just not a good idea right now。 How about I bring
Renesmee over to see you？〃
Charlie was quiet for so long that I wondered if he heard the strain beneath my fagade。
But then he muttered； 〃Need to know； ugh〃 and I