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like she might actually be touching his back。 Was this the other shield； Renata？ I wondered； as Eleazar
had； if she would be able to repel me。
But I would not waste my life trying to get to Caius or Aro。 I had more vital targets。
I searched the line for them now and had no difficulty picking out the two petite； deep gray cloaks near
the heart of the arrangement。 Alec and Jane； easily the smallest members of the guard； stood just to
Marcus's side； flanked by Demetri on the other。 Their lovely faces were smooth； giving nothing away；
they wore the darkest cloaks beside the pure black of the ancients。 The witch twins； Vladimir had called
them。 Their powers were the cornerstone of the Volturi offensive。 The jewels in Aro's collection。
My muscles flexed； and venom welled in my mouth。
Aro's and Caius's clouded red eyes flickered across our line。 I read disappointment in Aro's face as his
gaze roved over our faces again and again； looking for one that was missing。 Chagrin tightened his lips。
In that moment； I was nothing but grateful that Alice had run。
As the pause lengthened； I heard Edward's breath speed。
〃Edward？〃 Carlisle asked； low and anxious。
'They're not sure how to proceed。 They're weighing options； choosing key targets—me； of course； you；
Eleazar； Tanya。 Marcus is reading the strength of our ties to each other； looking for weak points。 The
Romanians' presence irritates them。 They're worried about the faces they don't recognize—Zafrina and
Senna in particular—and the wolves； naturally。 They've never been outnumbered before。 That's what
stopped them。〃
〃Outnumbered？〃 Tanya whispered incredulously。
〃They don't count their witnesses；〃 Edward breathed。 〃They are nonentities； meaningless to the guard。
Aro just enjoys an audience。〃
〃Should I speak？〃 Carlisle asked。
Edward hesitated； then nodded。 〃This is the only chance you'll get。〃
Carlisle squared his shoulders and paced several steps ahead of our defensive line。 I hated to see him
alone； unprotected。
He spread his arms； holding his palms up as if in greeting。 〃Aro； my old friend。 It's been centuries。〃
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The white clearing was dead silent for a long moment。 I could feel the tension rolling off Edward as he
listened to Aro's assessment of Carlisle's words。 The strain mounted as the seconds ticked by。
And then Aro stepped forward out of the center of the Volturi formation。 The shield； Renata； moved
with him as if the tips of her fingers were sewn to his robe。 For the first time； the Volturi ranks reacted。 A
muttered grumble rolled through the line； eyebrows lowered into scowls； lips curled back from teeth。 A
few of the guard leaned forward into a crouch。
Aro held one hand up toward them。 〃Peace。〃
He walked just a few paces more； then cocked his head to one side。 His milky eyes glinted with
curiosity。
〃Fair words； Carlisle；〃 he breathed in his thin； wispy voice。 〃They seem out of place； considering the
army you've assembled to kill me； and to kill my dear ones。〃
Carlisle shook his head and stretched his right hand forward as if there were not still almost a hundred
yards
between them。 〃You have but to touch my hand to know that was never my intent。〃
Aro's shrewd eyes narrowed。 〃But how can your intent possibly matter； dear Carlisle； in the face of what
you have done？〃 He frowned； and a shadow of sadness crossed his features—whether it was genuine or
not； I could not tell。
〃I have not mitted the crime you are here to punish me for。〃
〃Then step aside and let us punish those responsible。 Truly； Carlisle； nothing would please me more than
to preserve your life today。〃
〃No one has broken the law； Aro。 Let me explain。〃 Again； Carlisle offered his hand。
Before Aro could answer； Caius drifted swiftly forward to Aro's side。
〃So many pointless rules； so many unnecessary laws you create for yourself； Carlisle；〃 the whitehaired
ancient hissed。 〃How is it possible that you defend the breaking of one that truly matters？〃
〃The law is not broken。 If you would listen—〃
〃We see the child； Carlisle；〃 Caius snarled。 〃Do not treat us as fools。〃
〃She is not an immortal。 She is not a vampire。 I can easily prove this with just a few moments—〃
Caius cut him off。 〃If she is not one of the forbidden； then why have you massed a battalion to protect
her？〃
〃Witnesses； Caius； just as you have brought。〃 Carlisle gestured to the angry horde at the edge of the
woods； some of them growled in response。 〃Any one of these friends can tell you the truth about the
child。 Or you could just look at her； Caius。 See the flush of human blood in her cheeks。〃
〃Artifice！〃 Caius snapped。 〃Where is the informer？ Let her e forward！〃 He craned his neck around
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until he spotted Irina lingering behind the wives。 〃You！ e！〃
Irina stared at him unprehendingly； her face like that of someone who has not entirely awakened
from a hideous nightmare。 Impatiently； Caius snapped his fingers。 One of the wives' huge bodyguards
moved to Irina's side and prodded her roughly in the back。 Irina blinked twice and then walked slowly
toward Caius in a daze。 She stopped several yards short； her eyes still on her sisters。
Caius closed the distance between them and slapped her across the face。
It couldn't have hurt； but there was something terribly degrading about the action。 It was like watching
someone kick a dog。 Tanya and Kate hissed in synchronization。
Irina's body went rigid and her eyes finally focused on Caius。 He pointed one clawed finger at
Renesmee； where she clung to my back； her fingers still tangled in Jacob's fur。 Caius turned entirely red in
my furious view。 A growl rumbled through Jacob's chest。
〃This is the child you saw？〃 Caius demanded。 〃The one that was obviously more than human？〃
Irina peered at us； examining Renesmee for the first time since entering the clearing。 Her head tilted to
the side； confusion crossed her features。
〃Well？〃 Caius snarled。
〃I。。。 I'm not sure；〃 she said； her tone perplexed。
Caius's hand twitched as if he wanted to slap her again。 〃What do you mean？〃 he said in a steely
whisper。
〃She's not the same； but I think it's the same child。 What I mean is； she's changed。 This child is bigger
than the one I saw； but—〃
Caius's furious gasp crackled through his suddenly bared teeth； and Irina broke off without finishing。 Aro
flitted to Caius's side and put a restraining hand on his shoulder。
〃Be posed； brother。 We have time to sort this out。 No need to be hasty。〃
With a sullen expression； Caius turned his back on Irina。
〃Now； sweetling；〃 Aro said in a warm； sugary murmur。 〃Show me what you're trying to say。〃 He held his
hand out to the bewildered vampire。
Uncertainly； Irina took his hand。 He held hers for only five seconds。
〃You see； Caius？〃 he said。 〃It's a simple matter to get what we need。〃
Caius didn't answer him。 From the corner of his eye； Aro glanced once at his audience； his mob； and
then turned back to Carlisle。
〃And so we have a mystery on our hands； it seems。 It would appear the child has grown。 Yet Irina's first
memory was clearly that of an immortal child。 Curious。〃
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〃That's exactly what I'm trying to explain；〃 Carlisle said； and from the change in his voice； I could guess
at his relief。 This was the pause we had pinned all our nebulous hopeson。
I feltno relief。 I waited； almost numb with rage； for the layers of strategy Edward had promised。
Carlisle held out his hand again。
Aro hesitated for a moment。 〃I would rather have the explanation from someone more central to the
story； my friend。 Am I wrong to assume that this breach was not of your making？〃
〃Therewas no breach。〃
〃Be that as it may； I will have every facet of the truth。〃 Aro's feathery voice hardened。 〃And the best
way to get that is to have the evidence directly from yo