hand clamped down on my mouth。
〃It's Emmett！〃
He released my mouth； and wound his arm around my waist。
〃It's okay； Bella；〃 he promised。 〃You're going to be safe。〃
We raced through the quiet town toward the north highway。
〃I didn't realize you were still so bored with smalltown life；〃 he said
conversationally； and I knew he was trying to distract me。 〃It seemed
like you were adjusting fairly well — especially recently。 Maybe I was
just flattering myself that I was making life more interesting for you。〃
〃I wasn't being nice；〃 I confessed； ignoring his attempt at diversion；
looking down at my knees。 〃That was the same thing my mom said when she
left him。 You could say I was hitting below the belt。〃
〃Don't worry。 He'll forgive you。〃 He smiled a little； though it didn't
touch his eyes。
I stared at him desperately； and he saw the naked panic in my eyes。
〃Bella； it's going to be all right。〃
〃But it won't be all right when I'm not with you；〃 I whispered。
〃We'll be together again in a few days；〃 he said； tightening his arm
around me。 〃Don't forget that this was your idea。〃
〃It was the best idea — of course it was mine。〃
His answering smile was bleak and disappeared immediately。
〃Why did this happen？〃 I asked； my voice catching。 〃Why me？〃
He stared blackly at the road ahead。 〃It's my fault — I was a fool to
expose you like that。〃 The rage in his voice was directed internally。
〃That's not what I meant；〃 I insisted。 〃I was there； big deal。 It didn't
bother the other two。 Why did this James decide to kill met There're
people all over the place； why me？〃
He hesitated； thinking before he answered。
〃I got a good look at his mind tonight；〃 he began in a low voice。 〃I'm
not sure if there's anything I could have done to avoid this； once he saw
you。 It is partially your fault。〃 His voice was wry。 〃If you didn't smell
so appallingly luscious； he might not have bothered。 But when I defended
you… well； that made it a lot worse。 He's not used to being thwarted； no
matter how insignificant the object。 He thinks of himself as a hunter and
nothing else。 His existence is consumed with tracking； and a challenge is
all he asks of life。 Suddenly we've presented him with a beautiful
challenge — a large clan of strong fighters all bent on protecting the
one vulnerable element。 You wouldn't believe how euphoric he is now。 It's
his favorite game； and we've just made it his most exciting game ever。〃
His tone was full of disgust。
He paused a moment。
〃But if I had stood by； he would have killed you right then；〃 he said
with hopeless frustration。
〃I thought… I didn't smell the same to the others… as I do to you；〃 I
said hesitantly。
〃You don't。 But that doesn't mean that you aren't still a temptation to
every one of them。 If you had appealed to the tracker — or any of them —
the same way you appeal to me； it would have meant a fight right there。〃
I shuddered。
〃I don't think I have any choice but to kill him now；〃 he muttered。
〃Carlisle won't like it。〃
I could hear the tires cross the bridge； though I couldn't see the river
in the dark。 I knew we were getting close。 I had to ask him now。
〃How can you kill a vampire？〃
He glanced at me with unreadable eyes and his voice was suddenly harsh。
〃The only way to be sure is to tear him to shreds； and then burn the
pieces。〃
〃And the other two will fight with him？〃
〃The woman will。 I'm not sure about Laurent。 They don't have a very
strong bond — he's only with them for convenience。 He was embarrassed by
James in the meadow…〃
〃But James and the woman — they'll try to kill you？〃 I asked； my voice
raw。
〃Bella； don't you dare waste time worrying about me。 Your only concern is
keeping yourself safe and — please； please — trying not to be reckless。〃
〃Is he still following？〃
〃Yes。 He won't attack the house； though。 Not tonight。〃
He turned off onto the invisible drive； with Alice following behind。
We drove right up to the house。 The lights inside were bright； but they
did little to alleviate the blackness of the encroaching forest。 Emmett
had my door open before the truck was stopped； he pulled me out of the
seat； tucked me like a football into his vast chest； and ran me through
the door。
We burst into the large white room； Edward and Alice at our sides。 All of
them were there； they were already on their feet at the sound of our
approach。 Laurent stood in their midst。 I could hear low growls rumble
deep in Emmett's throat as he set me down next to Edward。
〃He's tracking us；〃 Edward announced； glaring balefully at Laurent。
Laurent's face was unhappy。 〃I was afraid of that。〃
Alice danced to Jasper's side and whispered in his ear； her lips quivered
with the speed of her silent speech。 They flew up the stairs together。
Rosalie watched them； and then moved quickly to Emmett's side。 Her
beautiful eyes were intense and — when they flickered unwillingly to my
face — furious。
〃What will he do？〃 Carlisle asked Laurent in chilling tones。
〃I'm sorry；〃 he answered。 〃I was afraid； when your boy there defended
her； that it would set him off。〃
〃Can you stop him？〃
Laurent shook his head。 〃Nothing stops James when he gets started。〃
〃We'll stop him；〃 Emmett promised。 There was no doubt what he meant。
〃You can't bring him down。 I've never seen anything like him in my three
hundred years。 He's absolutely lethal。 That's why I joined his coven。〃
His coven； I thought； of course。 The show of leadership in the clearing
was merely that； a show。
Laurent was shaking his head。 He glanced at me； perplexed； and back to
Carlisle。 〃Are you sure it's worth it？〃
Edward's enraged roar filled the room； Laurent cringed back。
Carlisle looked gravely at Laurent。 〃I'm afraid you're going to have to
make a choice。〃
Laurent understood。 He deliberated for a moment。 His eyes took in every
face； and finally swept the bright room。
〃I'm intrigued by the life you've created here。 But I won't get in the
middle of this。 I bear none of you any enmity； but I won't go up against
James。 I think I will head north — to that clan in Denali。〃 He hesitated。
〃Don't underestimate James。 He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled
senses。 He's every bit as fortable in the human world as you seem to
be； and he won't e at you head on… I'm sorry for what's been unleashed
here。 Truly sorry。〃 He bowed his head； but I saw him flicker another
puzzled look at me。
〃Go in peace；〃 was Carlisle's formal answer。
Laurent took another long look around himself； and then he hurried out
the door。
The silence lasted less than a second。
〃How close？〃 Carlisle looked to Edward。
Esme was already moving； her hand touched an inconspicuous keypad on the
wall； and with a groan； huge metal shutters began sealing up the glass
wall。 I gaped。
〃About three miles out past the river； he's circling around to meet up
with the female。〃
〃What's the plan？〃
〃We'll lead him off； and then Jasper and Alice will run her south。〃
〃And then？〃
Edward's tone was deadly。 〃