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〃Interesting company you keep；〃 Demetri murmured to Edward。
Edward didn't respond； but a low growl slipped through Jacob's teeth。
We stopped a few yards from Aro。 Edward ducked under Aro's arm and quickly joined us； taking my
hand。
For a moment we faced each other in silence。 Then Felix greeted me in a low aside。
〃Hello again； Bella。〃 He grinned cockily while still tracking Jacob's every twitch with his peripheral vision。
I smiled wryly at the mountainous vampire。 〃Hey； Felix。〃
Felix chuckled。 〃You look good。 Immortality suits you。〃
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〃Thanks so much。〃
〃You're welcome。 It's too bad 。。。〃
He let his comment trail off into silence； but I didn't need Edward's gift to imagine the end。 It's too bad
were going to kill you in a sec。
〃Yes； too bad； isn't it？〃 I murmured。
Felix winked。
Aro paid no attention to our exchange。 He leaned his head to one side； fascinated。 〃I hear her strange
heart；〃 he murmured with an almost musical lilt to his words。 〃I smell her strange scent。〃 Then his hazy
eyes shifted to me。 〃In truth； young Bella； immortality does become you most extraordinarily；〃 he said。 〃It
is as if you were designed for this life。〃
I nodded once in acknowledgment of his flattery。
〃You liked my gift？〃 he asked； eyeing the pendant I wore。
〃It's beautiful； and very； very generous of you。 Thank you。 I probably should have sent a note。〃
Aro laughed delightedly。 〃It's just a little something I had lying around。 I thought it might complement
your new face； and so it does。〃
I heard a little hiss from the center of the Volturi line。 I glanced over Aro's shoulder。
Hmm。 It seemed Jane wasn't happy about the fact that Aro had given me a present。
Aro cleared his throat to reclaim my attention。 〃May I greet your daughter； lovely Bella？〃 he asked
sweetly。
This was what we'd hoped for； I reminded myself。 Fighting the urge to take Renesmee and run for it； I
walked two slow steps forward。 My shield rippled out behind me like a cape； protecting the rest of my
family while Renesmee was left exposed。 It felt wrong； horrible。
Aro met us； his face beaming。
〃But she's exquisite；〃 he murmured。 〃So like you and Edward。〃 And then louder； 〃Hello； Renesmee。〃
Renesmee looked at me quickly。 I nodded。
〃Hello； Aro；〃 she answered formally in her high； ringing voice。
Aro's eyes were bemused。
〃What is it？〃 Caius hissed from behind。 He seemed infuriated by the need to ask。
〃Half mortal； half immortal；〃 Aro announced to him and the rest of the guard without turning his
enthralled gaze from Renesmee。 〃Conceived so； and carried by this newborn while she was still human。〃
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〃Impossible；〃 Caius scoffed。
〃Do you think they've fooled me； then； brother？〃 Aro's expression was greatly amused； but Caius
flinched。 〃Is the heartbeat you hear a trickery as well？〃
Caius scowled； looking as chagrined as if Aro's gentle questions had been blows。
〃Calmly and carefully； brother；〃 Aro cautioned； still smiling at Renesmee。 〃I know well how you love
your justice； but there is no justice in acting against this unique little one for her parentage。 And so much
to learn； so much to learn！ I know you don't have my enthusiasm for collecting histories； but be tolerant
with me； brother； as I add a chapter that stuns me with its improbability。 We came expecting only justice
and the sadness of false friends； but look what we have gained instead！ A new； bright knowledge of
ourselves； our possibilities。〃
He held out his hand to Renesmee in invitation。 But this was not what she wanted。 She leaned away from
me； stretching upward； to touch her fingertips to Aro's face。
Aro did not react with shock as almost everyone else had reacted to this performance from Renesmee；
he was as used to the flow of thought and memory from other minds as Edward was。
His smile widened； and he sighed in satisfaction。 〃Brilliant；〃 he whispered。
Renesmee relaxed back into my arms； her little face very serious。
〃Please？〃 she asked him。
His smile turned gentle。 〃Of course I have no desire to harm your loved ones； precious Renesmee。〃
Aro's voice was so comforting and affectionate； it took me in for a second。 And then I heard Edward's
teeth grind together and； far behind us； Maggie's outraged hiss at the lie。
〃I wonder；〃 Aro said thoughtfully； seeming unaware of the reaction to his previous words。 His eyes
moved unexpectedly to Jacob； and instead of the disgust the other Volturi viewed the giant wolf with；
Aro's eyes were filled with a longing that I did not comprehend。
〃It doesn't work that way；〃 Edward said； the careful neutrality gone from his suddenly harsh tone。
〃Just an errant thought；〃 Aro said； appraising Jacob openly； and then his eyes moved slowly across the
two lines of werewolves behind us。 Whatever Renesmee had shown him； it made the wolves suddenly
interesting to him。
〃They don't belong to us； Aro。 They don't follow our commands that way。 They're here because they
want to be。〃
Jacob growled menacingly。
〃They seem quite attached to you； though；〃 Aro said。 〃And your young mate and your。。。 family。 Loyal〃
His voice caressed the word softly。
〃They're committed to protecting human life； Aro。 That makes them able to coexist with us； but hardly
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with you。 Unless you're rethinking your lifestyle。〃
Aro laughed merrily。 〃Just an errant thought；〃 he repeated。 〃You well know how that is。 We none of us
can
entirely control our subconscious desires。〃
Edward grimaced。 〃I do know how that is。 And I also know the difference between that kind of thought
and the kind with a purpose behind it。 It could never work； Aro。〃
Jacob's vast head turned in Edward's direction； and a faint whine slipped from between his teeth。
〃He's intrigued with the idea of。。。 guard dogs；〃 Edward murmured back。
There was one second of dead silence； and then the sound of the furious snarls ripping from the entire
pack filled the giant clearing。
There was a sharp bark of command—from Sam； I guessed； though I didn't turn to look—and the
complaint broke off into ominous quiet。
〃I suppose that answers that question；〃 Aro said； laughing again。 〃This lot has picked its side。〃
Edward hissed and leaned forward。 I clutched at his arm； wondering what could be in Aro's thoughts
that would make him react so violently； while Felix and Demetri slipped into crouches in synchronization。
Aro waved them off again。 They all returned to their former posture； Edward included。
〃So much to