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spring the counterstrike the moment we attacked。
Behind them； fortythree witnesses watched with very different expressions than the ones they'd worn
entering the clearing。 Confusion had turned to suspicion。 The lightningfast destruction of Irina had shaken
them all。 What had been her crime？
Without the immediate attack that Caius had counted on to distract from his rash act； the Volturi
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witnesses were left questioning exactly what was going on here。 Aro glanced back swiftly while I
watched； his face betraying him with one flash of vexation。 His need for an audience had backfired badly。
I heard Stefan and Vladimir murmur to each other in quiet glee at Aro's disfort。
Aro was obviously concerned with keeping his white hat； as the Romanians had put it。 But I didn't
believe that the Volturi would leave us in peace just to save their reputation。 After they finished with us；
surely they would slaughter their witnesses for that purpose。 I felt a strange； sudden pity for the mass of
the strangers the Volturi had brought to watch us die。 Demetri would hunt them until they were extinct；
too。
For Jacob and Renesmee； for Alice and Jasper； for Alistair； and for these strangers who had not known
what today would cost them； Demetri had to die。
Aro touched Caius's shoulder lightly。 〃Irina has been punished for bearing false witness against this
child。〃 So that was to be their excuse。 He went on。 〃Perhaps we should return to the matter at hand？〃
Caius straightened； and his expression hardened into unreadability。 He stared forward； seeing nothing。
His face reminded me； oddly； of a person who'd just learned he'd been demoted。
Aro drifted forward； Renata； Felix； and Demetri automatically moving with him。
〃Just to be thorough；〃 he said； 〃I'd like to speak with a few of your witnesses。 Procedure； you know。〃
He waved a hand dismissively。
Two things happened at once。 Caius's eyes focused on Aro； and the tiny cruel smile came back。 And
Edward hissed； his hands balling up in fists so tight it looked like the bones in his knuckles would split
through his diamondhard skin。
I was desperate to ask him what was going on； but Aro was close enough to hear even the quietest
breath。 I
saw Carlisle glance anxiously at Edward's face； and then his own face hardened。
While Caius had blundered through useless accusations and injudicious attempts to trigger the fight； Aro
must have been ing up with a more effective strategy。
Aro ghosted across the snow to the far western end of our line； stopping about ten yards from Amun
and Kebi。 The nearby wolves bristled angrily but held their positions。
〃Ah； Amun； my southern neighbor！〃 Aro said warmly。 〃It has been so long since you've visited me。〃
Amun was motionless with anxiety； Kebi a statue at his side。 〃Time means little； I never notice its
passing；〃 Amun said through unmoving lips。
〃So true；〃 Aro agreed。 〃But maybe you had another reason to stay away？〃
Amun said nothing。
〃It can be terribly timeconsuming to organize newers into a coven。 I know that well！ I'm grateful I
have others to deal with the tedium。 I'm glad your new additions have fit in so well。 I would have loved to
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have been introduced。 I'm sure you were meaning to e to see me soon。〃
〃Of course；〃 Amun said； his tone so emotionless that it was impossible to tell if there was any fear or
sarcasm in his assent。
〃Oh well； we're all together now！ Isn't it lovely？〃
Amun nodded； his face blank。
〃But the reason for your presence here is not as pleasant； unfortunately。 Carlisle called on you to
witness？〃
〃Yes。〃
〃And what did you witness for him？〃
Amun spoke with the same cold lack of emotion。 〃I've observed the child in question。 It was evident
almost immediately that she was not an immortal child—〃
〃Perhaps we should define our terminology；〃 Aro interrupted； 〃now that there seem to be new
classifications。 By immortal child； you mean of course a human child who had been bitten and thus
transformed into a vampire。〃
〃Yes； that's what I meant。〃
〃What else did you observe about the child？〃
〃The same things that you surely saw in Edward's mind。 That the child is his biologically。 That she grows。
That she learns。〃
〃Yes； yes；〃 Aro said； a hint of impatience in his otherwise amiable tone。 〃But specifically in your few
weeks here； what did you see？〃
Amun's brow furrowed。 〃That she grows。。。 quickly。〃
Aro smiled。 〃And do you believe that she should be allowed to live？〃
A hiss escaped my lips； and I was not alone。 Half the vampires in our line echoed my protest。 The sound
was a low sizzle of fury hanging in the air。 Across the meadow； a few of the Volturi witnesses made the
same noise。 Edward stepped back and wrapped a restraining hand around my wrist。
Aro did not turn to the noise； but Amun glanced around uneasily。
〃I did not e to make judgments；〃 he equivocated。
Aro laughed lightly。 〃Just your opinion。〃
Amun's chin lifted。 〃I see no danger in the child。 She learns even more swiftly than she grows。〃
Aro nodded； considering。 After a moment； he turned away。
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〃Aro？〃 Amun called。
Aro whirled back。 〃Yes； friend？〃
〃I gave my witness。 I have no more business here。 My mate and I would like to take our leave now。〃
Aro smiled warmly。 〃Of course。 I'm so glad we were able to chat for a bit。 And I'm sure we'll see each
other again soon。〃
Amun's lips were a tight line as he inclined his head once； acknowledging the barely concealed threat。 He
touched Kebi's arm； and then the two of them ran quickly to the southern edge of the meadow and
disappeared into the trees。 I knew they wouldn't stop running for a very long time。
Aro was gliding back along the length of our line to the east； his guards hovering tensely。 He stopped
when he was in front of Siobhan's massive form。
〃Hello； dear Siobhan。 You are as lovely as ever。〃
Siobhan inclined her head； waiting。
〃And you？〃 he asked。 〃Would you answer my questions the same way Amun has？〃
〃I would；〃 Siobhan said。 〃But I would perhaps add a little more。 Renesmee understands the limitations。
She's no danger to humans—she blends in better than we do。 She poses no threat of exposure。〃
〃Can you think of none？〃 Aro asked soberly。
Edward growled； a low ripping sound deep in his throat。
Caius's cloudy crimson eyes brightened。
Renata reached out protectively toward her master。
And Garrett freed Kate to take a step forward； ignoring Kate's hand as she tried to caution him this
time。
Siobhan answered slowly； 〃I don't think I follow you。〃
Aro drifted lightly back； casually； but toward the rest of his guard。 Renata； Felix； and Demetri were
closer than his shadow。
〃There is no broken law；〃 Aro said in a placating voice； but every one of us could hear that a
qualification was ing。 I fought back the rage that tried to claw its way up my throat and snarl out my
defiance。 I hurled the fury into my shield； thickening it； making sure everyone was protected。
〃No broken law；〃 Aro repeated。 〃However； does it follow then that there is no danger？ No。〃 He shook
his head gently。 〃That is a separate issue。〃
The only response was the tightening of already stretched nerves； and Maggie； at the fringes of our band
of fighters； shaking her head with slow anger。
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Aro paced thoughtfully； looking as if he floated rather than touched the ground with his feet。 I noticed
every pass took him closer to the protection of his guard。
〃She is unique。。。 utterly； impossibly unique。 Such a waste it would be； to destroy something so lovely。
Especially when we could learn so much 。。 。〃 He sighed； as if unwilling to go on。 〃But there is danger；
danger that cannot simply be ignored。〃
No one answered his a