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the would…be monster。
Here in his arms； it was so easy to fantasize that he wanted me。 I didn't want to think about his
motivations now—about whether he acted this way to keep me calm while we were still in danger； or if
he just felt guilty for where we were and relieved that he wasn't responsible for my death。 Maybe the time
apart had been enough that I didn't bore him for the moment。 But it didn't matter。 I was so much happier
pretending。
I lay quiet in his arms； re…memorizing his face； pretending…
He stared at my face like he was doing the same； while he and Alice discussed how to get home。 Their
voices were so quick and low that I knew Gianna couldn't understand。 I missed half of it myself。 It
sounded like more theft would be involved； though。 I wondered idly if the yellow Porsche had made it
back to its owner yet。
〃What was all that talk about singers？〃 Alice asked at one point。
〃La tua cantante；〃 Edward said。 His voice made the words into music。
〃Yes； that；〃 Alice said； and I concentrated for a moment。 I'd wondered about that； too； at the time。
I felt Edward shrug around me。 〃They have a name for someone who smells the way Bella does to me。
They call her my singer—because her blood sings for me。〃
Alice laughed。
I was tired enough to sleep； but I fought against the weariness。 I wasn't going to miss a second of the time
I had with him。 Now and then； as he talked with Alice； he would lean down suddenly and kiss me—his
glass…smooth lips brushing against my hair； my forehead； the tip of my nose。 Each time it was like an
electric shock to my long dormant heart。 The sound of its beating seemed to fill the entire room。
It was heaven—right smack in the middle of hell。
I lost track of the time completely。 So when Edward's arms tightened around me； and both he and Alice
looked to the back of the room with wary eyes； I panicked。 I cringed into Edward's chest as Alec—his
eyes now a vivid ruby； but still spotless in his light gray suit despite the afternoon meal—walked through
the double doors。
It was good news。
〃You're free to leave now；〃 Alec told us； his tone so warm you'd think we were all lifelong friends。 〃We
ask that you don't linger in the city。〃
Edward made no answering pretence； his voice was ice cold。 〃That won't be a problem。〃
Alec smiled； nodded； and disappeared again。
〃Follow the right hallway around the corner to the first set of elevators；〃 Gianna told us as Edward helped
me to my feet。 〃The lobby is two floors down； and exits to the street。 Goodbye； now；〃 she added
pleasantly。 I wondered if her competence would be enough to save her。
Alice shot her a dark look。
I was relieved there was another way out； I wasn't sure if I could handle another tour through the
underground。
We left through a tastefully luxurious lobby。 I was the only one who glanced back at the medieval castle
that housed the elaborate business facade I couldn't see the turret from here； for which I was grateful。
The party was still in full swing in the streets。 The street lamps were just coming on as we walked swiftly
through the narrow； cobbled lanes。 The sky was a dull； fading gray overhead； but the buildings crowded
the streets so closely that it felt darker。
The party was darker； too。 Edward's long； trailing cloak did not stand out in the way it might have on a
normal evening in Volterra。 There were others in black satin cloaks now； and the plastic fangs I'd seen on
the child in the square today seemed to be very popular with the adults。
〃Ridiculous；〃 Edward muttered once。
I didn't notice when Alice disappeared from beside me。 I looked over to ask her a question； and she was
gone。
〃Where's Alice？〃 I whispered in a panic。
〃She went to retrieve your bags from where she stashed them this morning。〃
I'd forgotten that I had access to a toothbrush。 It brightened my outlook considerably。
〃She's stealing a car； too； isn't she？〃 I guessed。
He grinned。 〃Not till we're outside。〃
It seemed like a very long way to the entryway。 Edward could see that I was spent； he wound his arm
around my waist and supported most of my weight as we walked。
I shuddered as he pulled me through the dark stone archway。 The huge； ancient portcullis above was like
a cage door； threatening to drop on us； to lock us in。
He led me toward a dark car； waiting in a pool of shadow to the right of the gate with the engine running。
To my surprise； he slid into the backseat with me； instead of insisting on driving。
Alice was apologetic。 〃I'm sorry。〃 She gestured vaguely toward the dashboard。 〃There wasn't much to
choose from。〃
〃It's fine； Alice。〃 He grinned。 〃They can't all be 911 Turbos。〃
She sighed。 〃I may have to acquire one of those legally。 It was fabulous。〃
〃I'll get you one for Christmas；〃 Edward promised。
Alice turned to beam at him； which worried me； as she was already speeding down the dark and curvy
hillside at the same time。
〃Yellow；〃 she told him。
Edward kept me tight in his arms。 Inside the gray cloak； I was warm and comfortable。 More than
comfortable。
〃You can sleep now； Bella；〃 he murmured。 〃It's over。〃
I knew he meant the danger； the nightmare in the ancient city； but I still had to swallow hard before I
could answer。
〃I don't want to sleep。 I'm not tired。〃 Just the second part was a lie。 I wasn't about to close my eyes。 The
car was only dimly lit by the dashboard controls； but it was enough that I could see his face。
He pressed his lips to the hollow under my ear。 〃Try；〃 he encouraged。
I shook my head。
He sighed。 〃You're still just as stubborn。〃
I was stubborn； I fought with my heavy lids； and I won。
The dark road was the hardest part； the bright lights at the airport in Florence made it easier； as did the
chance to brush my teeth and change into clean clothes； Alice bought Edward new clothes； too； and he
left the dark cloak on a pile of trash in an alley。 The plane trip to Rome was so short that there wasn't
really a chance for the fatigue to drag me under。 I knew the flight from Rome to Atlanta would be another
matter entirely； so I asked the flight attendant if she could bring me a Coke。
〃Bella；〃 Edward said disapprovingly。 He knew my low tolerance for caffeine。
Alice was behind us。 I could hear her murmuring to Jasper on the phone。
〃I don't want to sleep；〃 I reminded him。 I gave him an excuse that was believable because it was true。 〃If
I close my eyes now； I'll see things I don't want to see。 I'll have nightmares。〃
He didn't argue with me after that。
It would have been a very good time to talk； to get the answers I needed—needed but not really wanted；
I was already despairing at the thought of what I might hear。 We had an uninterrupted block of tirre
ahead of us； and he couldn't escape me on an airplane—well； not easily； at least。 No one would hear us
except Alice； it was late； and most of the passengers were turning off lights and asking for pillows in
muted voices。 Talk would help me fight off the exhaustion。
But； perversely； I bit my tongue against the flood of questions。 My re