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The murderer stared past Rosalie's shoulder at me； its gaze more focused than any newborn creature's
gaze should be。
Warm brown eyes； the color of milk chocolate—the exact same color that Bella's had been。
My shaking jerked to a stop； heat flooded through me； stronger than before； but it was a new kind of
heat—not a burning。
It was a glowing。
Everything inside me came undone as I stared at the tiny porcelain face of the half…vampire； half…human
baby。 All the lines that held me to my life were sliced apart in swift cuts； like clipping the strings to a
bunch of balloons。 Everything that made me who I was—my love for the dead girl upstairs； my love for
my father； my loyalty to my new pack； the love for my other brothers； my hatred for my enemies； my
home； my name； my se/f—disconnected from me in that second— snip； snip； snip—and floated up into
space。
I was not left drifting。 A new string held me where I was。
Not one string； but a million。 Not strings； but steel cables。 A million steel cables all tying me to one thing
—to the very center of the universe。
I could see that now—how the universe swirled around this one point。 I'd never seen the symmetry of
the universe before； but now it was plain。
The gravity of the earth no longer tied me to the place where I stood。
It was the baby girl in the blond vampire's arms that held me here now。
Renesmee。
From upstairs； there was a new sound。 The only sound that could touch me in this endless instant。 A
frantic pounding； a racing beat。。。
A changing heart。
BOOK THREE
bella
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CONTENTS
PREFACE
19。 BURNING
20。 NEW
21。FIRST HUNT
22。 PROMISED
23。 MEMORIES
24。 SURPRISE
25。 FAVOR
26。 SHINY
27。 TRAVEL PLANS
28。 THE FUTURE
29。 DEFECTION
30。 IRRESISTIBLE
31。 TALENTED
32。 COMPANY
33。 FORGERY
34。 DECLARED
35。 DEADLINE
36。 BLOODLUST
37。 CONTRIVANCES
38。 POWER
39。 THE HAPPILY EVER AFTER
Personal affection is a luxury you can have only after all your enemies are eliminated。 Until then；
everyone you love is
a hostage； sapping your courage and corrupting your judgment
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Orson Scott Card Empire
PREFACE
No longer just a nightmare； the line of black advanced on us through the icy mist stirred up by their feet。
We're going to die；I thought in panic。 I was desperate for the precious one I guarded； but even to think
of that was a lapse in attention I could not afford。
They ghosted closer； their dark robes billowing slightly with the movement。 I saw their hands curl into
bone…colored claws。 They drifted apart； angling to come at us from all sides。 We were outnumbered。 It
was over。
And then； like a burst of light from a flash； the whole scene was different。 Yet nothing changed—the
Volturi still stalked toward us； poised to kill。 All that really changed was how the picture looked to me。
Suddenly； I was hungry for it。 I wanfed them to charge。 The panic changed to bloodlust as I crouched
forward； a smile on my face； and a growl ripped through my bared teeth。
19。 BURNING
The pain was bewildering。
Exactly that—I was bewildered。 I couldn't understand； couldn't make sense of what was happening。
My body tried to reject the pain； and I was sucked again and again into a blackness that cut out whole
seconds or maybe even minutes of the agony； making it that much harder to keep up with reality。
I tried to separate them。
Non…reality was black； and it didn't hurt so much。
Reality was red； and it felt like I was being sawed in half； hit by a bus； punched by a prize fighter；
trampled by bulls； and submerged in acid； all at the same time。
Reality was feeling my body twist and flip when I couldn't possibly move because of the pain。
Reality was knowing there was something so much more important than all this torture； and not being
able to remember what it was。
Reality had come on so fast。
One moment； everything was as it should have been。 Surrounded by people I loved。 Smiles。 Somehow；
unlikely as it was； it seemed like I was about to get everything I'd been fighting for。
And then one tiny； inconsequential thing had gone wrong。
I'd watched as my cup tilted； dark blood spilling out and staining the perfect white； and I'd lurched
toward the accident reflexively。 I'd seen the other； faster hands； but my body had continued to reach； to
stretch___
Inside me； something had yanked the opposite direction。
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Ripping。 Breaking。 Agony。
The darkness had taken over； and then washed away to a wave of torture。 I couldn't breathe—I had
drowned once before； and this was different； it was too hot in my throat。
Pieces of me shattering； snapping； slicing apart___
More blackness。
Voices； this time； shouting； as the pain came back。
'The placenta must have detached！〃
Something sharper than knives ripped through me—the words； making sense in spite of the other
tortures。 Detached placenta —I knew what that meant。 It meant that my baby was dying inside me。
〃Get him out！〃 I screamed to Edward。 Why hadn't he done it yet？ 〃He can't breathe！ Do it now！〃
〃The morphine—〃
He wanted to wait； to give me painkillers； while our baby was dying？！
〃No！ Now—；〃 I choked； unable to finish。
Black spots covered the light in the room as a cold point of new pain stabbed icily into my stomach。 It
felt wrong—I struggled automatically to protect my womb； my baby； my little Edward Jacob； but I was
weak。 My lungs ached； oxygen burned away。
The pain faded away again； though I clung to it now。 My baby； my baby； dying___
How long had passed？ Seconds or minutes？ The pain was gone。 Numb。 I couldn't feel。 I still couldn't
see； either； but I could hear。 There was air in my lungs again； scraping in rough bubbles up and down my
throat。
〃You stay with me now； Bella！ Do you hear me？ Stay！ You're not leaving me。 Keep your heart beating！〃
Jacob？ Jacob； still here； still trying to save me。
Of course；I wanted to tell him。 Of course I would keep my heart beating。 Hadn't I promised them both？
I tried to feel my heart； to find it； but I was so lost inside my own body。 I couldn't feel the things I should；
and nothing felt in the right place。 I blinked and I found my eyes。 I could see the light。 Not what I was
looking for； but better than nothing。
As my eyes struggled to adjust； Edward whispered； 〃Renesmee。〃
Renesmee？
Not the pale and perfect son of my imagination？ I felt a moment of shock。 And then a flood o