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a hint of something different； a faint trail to the east___
My eyes flashed open； but my focus was still on sharper senses as I turned and darted silently eastward。
The ground sloped steeply upward almost at once； and I ran in a hunting crouch； close to the ground；
taking to the trees when that was easier。 I sensed rather than heard Edward with me； flowing quietly
through the woods； letting me lead。
The vegetation thinned as we climbed higher； the scent of pitch and resin grew more powerful； as did the
trail I followed—it was a warm scent； sharper than the smell of the elk and more appealing。 A few
seconds more and I could hear the muted padding of immense feet； so much subtler than the crunch of
hooves。 The sound was up—in the branches rather than on the ground。 Automatically I darted into the
boughs as well； gaining the strategic higher position； halfway up a towering silver fir。
The soft thud of paws continued stealthily beneath me now； the rich scent was very close。 My eyes
pinpointed the movement linked with the sound； and I saw the tawny hide of the great cat slinking along
the wide branch of a spruce just down and to the left of my perch。 He was big—easily four times my
mass。 His eyes were intent on the ground beneath； the cat hunted； too。 I caught the smell of something
smaller； bland next to the aroma of my prey； cowering in brush below the tree。 The lion's tail twitched
spasmodically as he prepared to spring。
With a light bound； I sailed through the air and landed on the lion's branch。 He felt the shiver of the wood
and whirled； shrieking surprise and defiance。 He clawed the space between us； his eyes bright with fury。
Half…crazed with
thirst； I ignored the exposed fangs and the hooked claws and launched myself at him； knocking us both
to the forest floor。
It wasn't much of a fight。
His raking claws could have been caressing fingers for all the impact they had on my skin。 His teeth
could find no purchase against my shoulder or my throat。 His weight was nothing。 My teeth unerringly
sought his throat； and his instinctive resistance was pitifully feeble against my strength。 My jaws locked
easily over the precise point where the heat flow concentrated。
It was effortless as biting into butter。 My teeth were steel razors； they cut through the fur and fat and
sinews like they weren't there。
The flavor was wrong； but the blood was hot and wet and it soothed the ragged； itching thirst as I drank
in an eager rush。 The cat's struggles grew more and more feeble； and his screams choked off with a
gurgle。 The warmth of the blood radiated throughout my whole body； heating even my fingertips and
toes。
The lion was finished before I was。 The thirst flared again when he ran dry； and I shoved his carcass off
my body in disgust。 How could I still be thirsty after all that？
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I wrenched myself erect in one quick move。 Standing； I realized I was a bit of a mess。 I wiped my face
off on the back of my arm and tried to fix the dress。 The claws that had been so ineffectual against my
skin had had more success with the thin satin。
〃Hmm；〃 Edward said。 I looked up to see him leaning casually against a tree trunk； watching me with a
thoughtful look on his face。
〃I guess I could have done that better。〃 I was covered in dirt； my hair knotted； my dress bloodstained
and hanging in tatters。 Edward didn't come home from hunting trips looking like this。
〃You did perfectly fine；〃 he assured me。 〃It's just that。。。 it was much more difficult for me to watch than it
should have been。〃
I raised my eyebrows； confused。
〃It goes against the grain；〃 he explained； 〃letting you wrestle with lions。 I was having an anxiety attack the
whole time。〃
〃Silly。〃
〃I know。 Old habits die hard。 I like the improvements to your dress； though。〃
If I could have blushed； I would have。 I changed the subject。 〃Why am I still thirsty？〃
〃Because you're young。〃
I sighed。 〃And I don't suppose there are any other mountain lions nearby。〃
〃Plenty of deer； though。〃
I made a face。 〃They don't smell as good。〃
〃Herbivores。 The meat…eaters smell more like humans；〃 he explained。
〃Not that much like humans；〃 I disagreed； trying not to remember。
〃We could go back；〃 he said solemnly； but there was a teasing light in his eye。 〃Whoever it was out
there； if they were men； they probably wouldn't even mind death if you were the one delivering it。〃 His
gaze ran over my ravaged dress again。 〃In fact； they would think they were already dead and gone to
heaven the moment they saw you。〃
I rolled my eyes and snorted。 〃Let's go hunt some stinking herbivores。〃
We found a large herd of mule deer as we ran back toward home。 He hunted with me this time； now
that I'd gotten the hang of it。 I brought down a large buck； making nearly as much of a mess as I had with
the lion。 He'd finished with two before I was done with the first； not a hair ruffled； not a spot on his white
shirt。 We chased the scattered and terrified herd； but instead of feeding again； this time I watched
carefully to see how he was able to hunt so neatly。
All the times that I had wished that Edward would not have to leave me behind when he hunted； I had
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secretly been just a little relieved。 Because I was sure that seeing this would be frightening。 Horrifying。
That seeing him hunt would finally make him look like a vampire to me。
Of course； it was much different from this perspective； as a vampire myself。 But I doubted that even my
human eyes would have missed the beauty here。
It was a surprisingly sensual experience to observe Edward hunting。 His smooth spring was like the
sinuous strike of a snake； his hands were so sure； so strong； so completely inescapable； his full lips were
perfect as they parted gracefully over his gleaming teeth。 He was glorious。 I felt a sudden jolt of both
pride and desire。 He was mine。 Nothing could ever separate him from me now。 I was too strong to be
torn from his side。
He was very quick。 He turned to me and gazed curiously at my gloating expression。
〃No longer thirsty？〃 he asked。
I shrugged。 〃You distracted me。 You're much better at it than I am。〃
〃Centuries of practice。〃 He smiled。 His eyes were a disconcertingly lovely shade of honey gold now。
〃Just one；〃 I corrected him。
He laughed。 〃Are you done for today？ Or did you want to continue？〃
〃Done； I think。〃 I felt very full； sort of sloshy； even。 I wasn't sure how much more liquid would fit into my
body。 But the burn in my throat was only muted。 Then again； I'd known that thirst was just an
inescapable part of this life。
And worth it。
I felt in control。 Perhaps my sense of security was false； but I did feel pr