know how they get distracted…〃 I was beginning to babble。 I had to work to shut myself up。
〃Hmm；〃 he said again。 〃The house smelled like it had been vacant for a while…〃
〃You must lie better than that； Bella；〃 the voice urged。
I tried。 〃I'll have to mention to Carlisle that you stopped by。 He'll be sorry they missed your visit。〃 I
pretended to deliberate for a second。 〃But I probably shouldn't mention it to… Edward； I suppose—〃 I
barely managed to say his name； and it twisted my expression on the way out； ruining my bluff 〃—he has
such a temper… well； I'm sure you remember。 He's still touchy about the whole James thing。〃 I rolled my
eyes and waved one hand dismissively； like it was all ancient history； but there was an edge of hysteria to
my voice。 I wondered if he would recognize what it was。
〃Is he really？〃 Laurent asked pleasantly… skeptically。
I kept my reply short； so that my voice wouldn't betray my panic。 〃Mmhmm。〃
Laurent took a casual step to the side； gazing around at the little meadow。 I didn't miss that the step
brought him closer to me。 In my head； the voice responded with a low snarl。
〃So how are things working out in Denali？ Carlisle said you were staying with Tanya？〃 My voice was too
high。
The question made him pause。 〃I like Tanya very much；〃 he mused。 〃And her sister Irina even more…
I've never stayed in one place for so long before； and I enjoy the advantages； the novelty of it。 But； the
restrictions are difficult… I'm surprised that any of them can keep it up for long。〃 He smiled at me
conspiratorially。 〃Sometimes I cheat。〃
I couldn't swallow。 My foot started to ease back； but I froze when his red eyes flickered down to catch
the movement。
〃Oh；〃 I said in a faint voice。 〃Jasper has problems with that； too。〃
〃Don't move；〃 the voice whispered。 I tried to do what he instructed。 It was hard； the instinct to take flight
was nearly uncontrollable。
〃Really？〃 Laurent seemed interested。 〃Is that why they left？〃
〃No；〃 I answered honestly。 〃Jasper is more careful at home。〃
〃Yes；〃 Laurent agreed。 〃I am； too。〃
The step forward he took now was quite deliberate。
〃Did Victoria ever find you？〃 I asked； breathless； desperate to distract him。 It was the first question that
popped into my head； and I regretted it as soon as the words were spoken。 Victoria—who had hunted
me with James； and then disappeared—was not someone I wanted to think of at this particular moment。
But the question did stop him。
〃Yes；〃 he said； hesitating on that step。 〃I actually came here as a favor to her。〃 He made a face。 〃She
won't be happy about this。〃
〃About what？〃 I said eagerly； inviting him to continue。 He was glaring into the trees； away from me。 I
took advantage of his diversion； taking a furtive step back。
He looked back at me and smiled—the expression made him look like a blackhaired angel。
〃About me killing you；〃 he answered in a seductive purr。
I staggered back another step。 The frantic growling in my head made it hard to hear。
〃She wanted to save that part for herself；〃 he went on blithely。 〃She's sort of… put out with you； Bella。〃
〃Me？〃 I squeaked。
He shook his head and chuckled。 〃I know； it seems a little backward to me； too。 But James was her
mate； and your Edward killed him。〃
Even here； on the point of death； his name tore against my unhealed wounds like a serrated edge。
Laurent was oblivious to my reaction。 〃She thought it more appropriate to kill you than Edward—fair
turnabout； mate for mate。 She asked me to get the lay of the land for her； so to speak。 I didn't imagine
you would be so easy to get to。 So maybe her plan was flawed—apparently it wouldn't be the revenge
she imagined； since you must not mean very much to him if he left you here unprotected。〃
Another blow； another tear through my chest。
Laurent's weight shifted slightly； and I stumbled another step back。
He frowned。 〃I suppose she'll be angry； all the same。〃
〃Then why not wait for her？〃 I choked out。
A mischievous grin rearranged his features。 〃Well； you've caught me at a bad time； Bella。 I didn't e
to this place on Victoria's mission—I was hunting。 I'm quite thirsty； and you do smell… simply
mouthwatering。〃
Laurent looked at me with approval； as if he meant it as a pliment。
〃Threaten him；〃 the beautiful delusion ordered； his voice distorted with dread。
〃He'll know it was you；〃 I whispered obediently。 〃You won't get away with this。〃
〃And why not？〃 Laurent's smile widened。 He gazed around the small opening in the trees。 〃The scent will
wash away with the next rain。 No one will find your body—you'll simply go missing； like so many； many
other humans。 There's no reason for Edward to think of me； if he cares enough to investigate。 This is
nothing personal； let me assure you； Bella。 Just thirst。〃
〃Beg；〃 my hallucination begged。
〃Please；〃 I gasped。
Laurent shook his head； his face kind。 〃Look at it this way； Bella。 You're very lucky I was the one to find
you。〃
〃Am I？〃 I mouthed； faltering another step back。
Laurent followed； lithe and graceful。
〃Yes；〃 he assured me。 〃I'll be very quick。 You won't feel a thing； I promise。 Oh； I'll lie to Victoria about
that later； naturally； just to placate her。 But if you knew what she had planned for you； Bella…〃 He shook
his head with a slow movement； almost as if in disgust。 〃I swear you'd be thanking me for this。〃
I stared at him in horror。
He sniffed at the breeze that blew threads of my hair in his direction。 〃Mouthwatering；〃 he repeated；
inhaling deeply。
I tensed for the spring； my eyes squinting as I cringed away； and the sound of Edward's furious roar
echoed distantly in the back of my head。 His name burst through all the walls I'd built to contain it。
Edward； Edward； Edward。 I was going to die。 It shouldn't matter if I thought of him now。 Edward； I
love you。
Through my narrowed eyes； I watched as Laurent paused in the act of inhaling and whipped his head
abruptly to the left。 I was afraid to look away from him； to follow his glance； though he hardly needed a
distraction or any other trick to overpower me。 I was too amazed to feel relief when he started slowly
backing away from me。
〃I don't believe it；〃 he said； his voice so low that I barely heard it。
I had to look then。 My eyes scanned the meadow； searching for the interruption that had extended my life
by a few seconds。 At first I saw nothing； and my gaze flickered back to Laurent。 He was retreating more
quickly now； his eyes boring into the forest。
Then I saw it； a huge black shape eased out of the trees； quiet as a shadow； and stalked deliberately
toward the vampire。 It was enormous—as tall as a horse； but thicker； much more muscular。 The long
muzzle grimaced； revealing a line of daggerlike incisors。 A grisly snarl rolled out from between the teeth；
rumbling across the clearing like a prolonged crack of thunder。
The bear。 Only； it wasn't a bear at all。 Still； this gigantic black monster had to be the creature causing all
the alarm。 From a distance； anyone would assume it was a bear。