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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