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decision。〃
Makenna looked at her mate's face again； and he nodded minutely。
〃We did not e here for a fight。〃 She paused； exhaled； then said； 〃We came here to witness。 And our
witness is that this condemned family is innocent。 Everything that Garrett claimed is the truth。〃
〃Ah；〃 Aro said sadly。 〃I'm sorry you see us in that way。 But such is the nature of our work。〃
〃It is not what I see； but what I feel；〃 Makenna's maizehaired mate spoke in a high； nervous voice。 He
glanced at Garrett。 〃Garrett said they have ways of knowing lies。 I； too； know when I am hearing the
truth； and when I am not。〃 With frightened eyes he moved closer to his mate； waiting for Aro's reaction。
〃Do not fear us； friend Charles。 No doubt the patriot truly believes what he says；〃 Aro chuckled lightly；
and Charles's eyes narrowed。
〃That is our witness；〃 Makenna said。 〃We're leaving now。〃
She and Charles backed away slowly； not turning before they were lost from view in the trees。 One
other stranger began to retreat the same way； then three more darted after him。
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I evaluated the thirtyseven vampires that stayed。 A few of them appeared just too confused to make the
decision。 But the majority of them seemed only too aware of the direction this confrontation had taken。 I
guessed that they were giving up a head start in favor of knowing exactly who would be chasing after
them。
I was sure Aro saw the same thing I did。 He turned away； walking back to his guard with a measured
pace。 He stopped in front of them and addressed them in a clear voice。
〃We are outnumbered； dearest ones；〃 he said。 〃We can expect no outside help。 Should we leave this
question undecided to save ourselves？〃
〃No； master；〃 they whispered in unison。
〃Is the protection of our world worth perhaps the loss of some of our number？〃
〃Yes；〃 they breathed。 〃We are not afraid。〃
Aro smiled and turned to his blackclad panions。
〃Brothers；〃 Aro said somberly； 〃there is much to consider here。〃
〃Let us counsel；〃 Caius said eagerly。
〃Let us counsel；〃 Marcus repeated in an uninterested tone。
Aro turned his back to us again； facing the other ancients。 They joined hands to form a blackshrouded
triangle。
As soon as Aro's attention was engaged in the silent counsel； two more of their witnesses disappeared
silently into the forest。 I hoped； for their sakes； that they were fast。
This was it。 Carefully； I loosened Renesmee's arms from my neck。
〃You remember what I told you？〃
Tears welled in her eyes； but she nodded。 〃I love you；〃 she whispered。
Edward was watching us now； his topaz eyes wide。 Jacob stared at us from the corner of his big dark
eye。
〃I love you； too；〃 I said； and then I touched her locket。 〃More than my own life。〃 I kissed her forehead。
Jacob whined uneasily。
I stretched up on my toes and whispered into his ear。 〃Wait until they're totally distracted； then run with
her。 Get as far from this place as you possibly can。 When you've gone as far as you can on foot； she has
what you need to get you in the air。〃
Edward's and Jacob's faces were almost identical masks of horror； despite the fact that one of them was
an animal。
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Renesmee reached for Edward； and he took her in his arms。 They hugged each other tightly。
〃This is what you kept from me？〃 he whispered over her head。
〃From Aro；〃 I breathed。
〃Alice？〃
I nodded。
His face twisted with understanding and pain。 Had that been the expression on my face when I'd finally
put together Alice's clues？
Jacob was growling quietly； a low rasp that was as even and unbroken as a purr。 His hackles were stiff
and his
teeth exposed。
Edward kissed Renesmee's forehead and both her cheeks； then he lifted her to Jacob's shoulder。 She
scrambled agilely onto his back； pulling herself into place with handfuls of his fur； and fit herself easily into
the dip between his massive shoulder blades。
Jacob turned to me； his expressive eyes full of agony； the rumbling growl still grating through his chest。
〃You're the only one we could ever trust her with；〃 I murmured to him。 〃If you didn't love her so much； I
could never bear this。 I know you can protect her； Jacob。〃
He whined again； and dipped his head to butt it against my shoulder。
〃I know；〃 I whispered。 〃I love you； too； Jake。 You'll always be my best man。〃
A tear the size of a baseball rolled into the russet fur beneath his eye。
Edward leaned his head against the same shoulder where he'd placed Renesmee。 〃Goodbye； Jacob； my
brother。。。 my son。〃
The others were not oblivious to the farewell scene。 Their eyes were locked on the silent black triangle；
but I could tell they were listening。
〃Is there no hope； then？〃 Carlisle whispered。 There was no fear in his voice。 Just determination and
acceptance。
〃There is absolutely hope；〃 I murmured back。 It could be true； I told myself。 〃I only know my own
fate。〃
Edward took my hand。 He knew that he was included。 When I said my fate； there was no question that
I meant the two of us。 We were just halves of the whole。
Esme's breath was ragged behind me。 She moved past us； touching our faces as she passed； to stand
beside Carlisle and hold his hand。
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Suddenly； we were surrounded by murmured goodbyes and I love you's。
〃If we live through this；〃 Garrett whispered to Kate； 〃I'll follow you anywhere； woman。〃
〃Now he tells me；〃 she muttered。
Rosalie and Emmett kissed quickly but passionately。
Tia caressed Benjamin's face。 He smiled back cheerfully； catching her hand and holding it against his
cheek。
I didn't see all the expressions of love and pain。 I was distracted by a sudden fluttering pressure against
the outside of my shield。 I couldn't tell where it came from； but it felt like it was directed at the edges of
our group； Siobhan and Liam particularly。 The pressure did no damage； and then it was gone。
There was no change in the silent； still forms of the counseling ancients。 But perhaps there was some
signal I'd missed。
〃Get ready；〃 I whispered to the others。 〃It's starting。〃
38。 POWER
〃Chelsea is trying to break our bindings；〃 Edward whispered。 〃But she can't find them。 She can't feel us
here。 。 。 。〃 His eyes cut to me。 〃Are you doing that？〃
I smiled grimly at him。 〃I am all over this。〃
Edward lurched away from me suddenly； his hand reaching out toward Carlisle。 At the same time； I felt
a much sharper jab against the shield where it wrapped protectively around Carlisle's light。 It wasn't
painful； but it wasn't pleasant； either。
〃Carlisle？ Are you all right？〃 Edward gasped frantically。
〃Yes。 Why？〃
〃Jane；〃 Edward answered。
The moment that he said her name； a dozen pointed attacks hit in a second； stabbing all over the elastic
shield； aimed at twelve different bright spots。 I flexed； making sure the shield was undamaged。 It didn't
seem like Jane had been able to pierce it。 I glanced around quickly； everyone was fine。
〃Incredible；〃 Edward said。
〃Why aren't they waiting for the decision？〃 Tanya hissed。
〃Normal procedure；〃 Edward answered brusquely。 〃They usually incapacitate those on trial so they can't
escape。〃
I looked across at Jane； who was staring at our group with furious disbelief。 I was pretty sure that；
besides me； she'd never seen anyone remain standing through her fiery assault。
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It probably wasn't very mature。 But I figured it would take Aro about half a second to guess—if he
hadn't already—that my shield was more powerful than Edward had known； I already had a big target on
my forehead and there was really no point in trying to keep the extent of what I could do a secret。 So I
grinned a huge； smug smile right
at Jane。
Her eyes narrowed； and I felt another stab of pressure；