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until he spotted Irina lingering behind the wives。 〃You！ Come！〃
Irina stared at him uncomprehendingly； 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。
〃Well？〃 Caius snarled。
〃I。。。 I'm not sure；〃 she said； her tone perplexed。
Caius's hand twitched as if he wanted to slap her again。 〃What do you mean？〃 he said in a steely
whisper。
〃She's not the same； but I think it's the same child。 What I mean is； she's changed。 This child is bigger
than the one I saw； but—〃
Caius's furious gasp crackled through his suddenly bared teeth； and Irina broke off without finishing。 Aro
flitted to Caius's side and put a restraining hand on his shoulder。
〃Be composed； brother。 We have time to sort this out。 No need to be hasty。〃
With a sullen expression； Caius turned his back on Irina。
〃Now； sweetling；〃 Aro said in a warm； sugary murmur。 〃Show me what you're trying to say。〃 He held his
hand out to the bewildered vampire。
Uncertainly； Irina took his hand。 He held hers for only five seconds。
〃You see； Caius？〃 he said。 〃It's a simple matter to get what we need。〃
Caius didn't answer him。 From the corner of his eye； Aro glanced once at his audience； his mob； and
then turned back to Carlisle。
〃And so we have a mystery on our hands； it seems。 It would appear the child has grown。 Yet Irina's first
memory was clearly that of an immortal child。 Curious。〃
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〃That's exactly what I'm trying to explain；〃 Carlisle said； and from the change in his voice； I could guess
at his relief。 This was the pause we had pinned all our nebulous hopeson。
I feltno relief。 I waited； almost numb with rage； for the layers of strategy Edward had promised。
Carlisle held out his hand again。
Aro hesitated for a moment。 〃I would rather have the explanation from someone more central to the
story； my friend。 Am I wrong to assume that this breach was not of your making？〃
〃Therewas no breach。〃
〃Be that as it may； I will have every facet of the truth。〃 Aro's feathery voice hardened。 〃And the best
way to get that is to have the evidence directly from your talented son。〃 He inclined his head in Edward's
direction。 〃As the child clings to his newborn mate； I'm assuming Edward is involved。〃
Of course he wanted Edward。 Once he could see into Edward's mind； he would know all our thoughts。
Except mine。
Edward turned to quickly kiss my forehead and Renesmee's； not meeting my eyes。 Then he strode
across the snowy field； clapping Carlisle on the shoulder as he passed。 I heard a low whimper from
behind me—Esme's terror breaking through。
The red haze I saw around the Volturi army flamed brighter than before； i could not bear to watch
Edward cross the empty white spacealone—but I alsocould not endure to have Renesmee one step
closer to our adversaries。 The opposing needs tore at me； I was frozen so tightly it felt like my bones
might shatter from the pressure of it。
I saw Jane smile as Edward crossed the midpoint in the distance between us； when he was closer to
them than he was to us。
That smug little smile did it。 My fury peaked； higher even than the raging bloodlust I'd felt the moment the
wolves had committed to this doomed fight。 I could taste madness on my tongue—I felt it flow through
me like a tidal wave of pure power。 My muscles tightened； and I acted automatically。 I threw my shield
with all the force in my mind； flung it across the impossible expanse of the field—ten times my best
distance—like a javelin。 My breath rushed out in a huff with the exertion。
The shield blew out from me in a bubble of sheer energy； a mushroom cloud of liquid steel。 It pulsed like
alivingthing—I could feel it； from the apex to the edges。
There was no recoil to the elastic fabric now； in that instant of raw force； I saw that the backlash I'd felt
before was of my own making—I had been clinging to that invisible part of me in self…defense；
subconsciously unwilling to let it go。 Now I set it free； and my shield exploded a good fifty yards out from
me effortlessly； taking only a fraction of my concentration。 I could feel it flex like just another muscle；
obedient to my will。 I pushed it； shaped it to a long； pointed oval。 Everything underneath the flexible iron
shield was suddenly a part of me—I could feel the life force of everything it covered like points of bright
heat； dazzling sparks of light surrounding me。 I thrust the shield forward the length of the clearing； and
exhaled in relief when I felt Edward's brilliant light within my protection。 I held there； contracting this new
muscle so that it closely surrounded Edward； a thin but unbreakable sheet between his body and our
enemies。
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Barely a second had passed。 Edward was still walking to Aro。 Everything had changed absolutely； but
no one had noticed the explosion except for me。 A startled laugh burst through my lips。 I felt the others
glancing at me and saw Jacob's big black eye roll down to stare at me like I'd lost my mind。
Edward stopped a few steps away from Aro； and I realized with some chagrin that though I certainly
could； I should not prevent this exchange from happening。 This was the point of all our preparations：
getting Aro to hear our side of the story。 It was almost physically painful to do it； but reluctantly I pulled
my shield back and left Edward exposed again。 The laughing mood had vanished。 I focused totally on
Edward； ready to shield him instantly if something went wrong。
Edward's chin came up arrogantly； and he held his hand out to Aro as if he were conferring a great
honor。 Aro seemed only delighted w