hat
made rational sense。 I had to go see the Volturi； and I had to do it absolutely alone。
Even freed from old nightmares； from any dreams at all； it was impossible to forget the Volturi。 Nor did
they leave us without reminders。
Until the day that Aro's present showed up； i didn't know that Alice had sent a wedding announcement
to the Volturi leaders； we'd been far away on Esme's island when she'd seen a vision of Volturi soldiers
—Jane and Alec； the devastatingly powerful twins； among them。 Caius was planning to send a hunting
party to see if I was still human； against their edict （because I knew about the secret vampire world； I
either must join it or be silenced。。。 permanently）。 So Alice had mailed the announcement； seeing that this
would delay them as they deciphered the meaning behind it。 But they would e eventually。 That was
certain。
The present itself was not overtly threatening。 Extravagant； yes； almost frightening in that very
extravagance。 The threat was in the parting line of Aro's congratulatory note； written in black ink on a
square of heavy； plain white paper in Aro's own hand：
I so look forward to seeing the new Mrs。 Cullen in person。
The gift was presented in an ornately carved； ancient wooden box inlaid with gold and motherofpearl；
ornamented with a rainbow of gemstones。 Alice said the box itself was a priceless treasure； that it would
have outshone just about any piece of jewelry besides the one inside it。
〃I always wondered where the crown jewels disappeared to after John of England pawned them in the
thirteenth century；〃 Carlisle said。 〃I suppose it doesn't surprise me that the Volturi have their share。〃
The necklace was simple—gold woven into a thick rope of a chain； almost scaled； like a smooth snake
that would curl close around the throat。 One jewel hung suspended from the rope； a white diamond the
size of a golf ball。
The unsubtle reminder in Aro's note interested me more than the jewel。 The Volturi needed to see that I
was immortal； that the Cullens had been obedient to the Volturi's orders； and they needed to see this
soon。 They could not be allowed near Forks。 There was only one way to keep our life here safe。
〃You're not going alone；〃 Edward had insisted through his teeth； his hands clenching into fists。
〃They won't hurt me；〃 I'd said as soothingly as I could manage； forcing my voice to sound sure。 〃They
have no reason to。 I'm a vampire。 Case closed。〃
〃No。 Absolutely no。〃
〃Edward； it's the only way to protect her。〃
And he hadn't been able to argue with that。 My logic was watertight。
Even in the short time I'd known Aro； I'd been able to see that he was a collector—and his most prized
treasures were his living pieces。 He coveted beauty； talent； and rarity in his immortal followers more than
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any jewel locked in his vaults。 It was unfortunate enough that he'd begun to covet Alice's and Edward's
abilities。 I would give him no more reason to be jealous of Carlisle's family。 Renesmee was beautiful and
gifted and unique—she was one of a kind。 He could not be allowed to see her； not even through
someone's thoughts。
And I was the only one whose thoughts he could not hear。 Of course I would go alone。
Alice did not see any trouble with my trip； but she was worried by the indistinct quality of her visions。
She said they were sometimes similarly hazy when there were outside decisions that might conflict but
that had not been solidly resolved。 This uncertainty made Edward； already hesitant； extremely opposed
to what I had to do。 He wanted to e with me as far as my connection in London； but I wouldn't leave
Renesmee without both her parents。 Carlisle was ing instead。 It made both Edward and me a little
more relaxed； knowing that Carlisle would be only a few hours away from me。
Alice kept searching for the future； but the things she found were unrelated to what she was looking for。
A new trend in the stock market； a possible visit of reconciliation from Irina； though her decision was not
firm； a snowstorm that wouldn't hit for another six weeks； a call from Renee （I was practicing my 〃rough〃
voice； and getting better at it every day—to Renee's knowledge； I was still sick； but mending）。
We bought the tickets for Italy the day after Renesmee turned three months。 I planned for it to be a very
short trip； so I hadn't told Charlie about it。 Jacob knew； and he took Edward's view on things。 However；
today the argument was about Brazil。 Jacob was determined to e with us。
The three of us； Jacob； Renesmee； and I； were hunting together。 The diet of animal blood wasn't
Renesmee's favorite thing—and that was why Jacob was allowed to e along。 Jacob had made it a
contest between them； and that made her more willing than anything else。
Renesmee was quite clear on the whole good vs。 bad as it applied to hunting humans； she just thought
that donated blood made a nice promise。 Human food filled her and it seemed patible with her
system； but she reacted to all varieties of solid food with the same martyred endurance I had once given
cauliflower and lima beans。 Animal blood was better than that； at least。 She had a petitive nature；
and the challenge of beating Jacob made her excited to hunt。
〃Jacob；〃 I said； trying to reason with him again while Renesmee danced ahead of us into the long
clearing； searching for a scent she liked。 〃You've got obligations here。 Seth； Leah—〃
He snorted。 〃I'm not my pack's nanny。 They've all got responsibilities in La Push anyway。〃
〃Sort of like you？ Are you officially dropping out of high school； then？ If you're going to keep up with
Renesmee； you're going to have to study a lot harder。〃
〃It's just a sabbatical。 I'll get back to school when things。。。 slow down。〃
I lost my concentration on my side of the disagreement when he said that； and we both automatically
looked at
Renesmee。 She was staring at the snowflakes fluttering high above her head； melting before they could
stick to the yellowed grass in the long arrowheadshaped meadow that we were standing in。 Her ruffled
ivory dress was just a shade darker than the snow； and her reddishbrown curls managed to shimmer；
though the sun was buried deeply behind the clouds。
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As we watched； she crouched for an instant and then sprang fifteen feet up into the air。 Her little hands
closed around a flake； and she dropped lightly to her feet。
She turned to us with her shocking smile—truly； it wasn't something you could get used to—and opened
her hands to show us the perfectly formed eightpointed ice star in her palm before it melted。
〃Pretty；〃 Jacob called to her appreciatively。 〃But I think you're stalling； Nessie。〃
She bounded back to Jacob； he held his arms out at exactly the moment she leaped into them。 They had
the move perfectly synchronized。 She did this when she had something to say。 She still preferred not to
speak aloud。
Renesmee touched his face； scowling adorably as we all listened to the sound of a small herd of elk
moving farther into the wood。
〃Suuuureyou're not thirsty； Nessie；〃 Jacob answered a little sarcastically； but more indulgently than
anything else。 〃You're just afraid HI catch the biggest one again！〃
She flipped backward out of Jacob's arms； landing lightly on her feet； and rolled her eyes—she looked
so much like Edward when she did that。 Then she darted off toward the trees。
〃Got it；〃 Jacob said when I leaned as if to follow。 He yanked his tshirt off as he charged after her into
the forest； already trembling。 〃It doesn't count if you cheat；〃 he called to Renesmee。
I smiled at the leaves they left fluttering behind them； shaking my head。 Jacob was more a child than
Renesmee sometimes。
I paused； giving my hunters a few minutes' head start。 It would be beyond simple to track them； and
Renesmee would love to surprise me with the size of her prey。 I smiled again。
The narrow meadow was very still； very empty。 The fluttering snow was thinning above me； almost
gone。 Alice had seen that it wouldn't stick for many weeks。
Usually Edward and I came together on these hunting trips。 But Edward was with Carlisle today；
planning the trip to Rio； talking behind Jacob's back。。。。 I frowned。 When I returned； I would take Jacob's
side。 He should e with us。 He had as big a stake in this as any of us—his entire life was at stake； just
like mine。
While my thoughts were lost in the near future； my eyes swept the mountainside routinely； searching for
prey； searching for danger。 I didn't think about it； the urge was an automatic thing。
Or perhaps there was a reason for my scanning； some tiny trigger that my razorsharp senses had caught
before I realized it consciously。
As my eyes flitted across the edge of a distant cliff； standing out starkly bluegray against the
greenblack forest； a glint of silver—or was it gold？—gripped my attention。
My gaze zeroed in on the color that shouldn't have been