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you　called　me　here？　To　steal　from　me？〃　

Carlisle　sighed；　and　Benjamin　rolled　his　eyes。　

〃Yes；　Carlisle　picked　a　fight　with　the　Volturi；　endangered　his　whole　family；　just　to　lure　me　here　to　my　
death；〃　Benjamin　said　sarcastically。　〃Be　reasonable；　Amun。　I'm　mitted　to　do　the　right　thing　here—I'm　
not　joining　any　other　coven。　You　can　do　whatever　you　want；　of　course；　as　Carlisle　has　pointed　out。〃　

〃This　won't　end　well；〃　Amun　growled。　〃Alistair　was　the　only　sane　one　here。　We　should　all　be　running。〃　

〃Think　of　who　you're　calling　sane；〃　Tia　murmured　in　a　quiet　aside。　

〃We're　all　going　to　be　slaughtered！〃　

〃It's　not　going　to　e　to　a　fight；〃　Carlisle　said　in　a　firm　voice。　

〃You　say！〃　

〃If　it　does；　you　can　always　switch　sides；　Amun。　I'm　sure　the　Volturi　will　appreciate　your　help。〃　

Amun　sneered　at　him。　〃Perhaps　that　is　the　answer。〃　

Carlisle's　answer　was　soft　and　sincere。　〃I　wouldn't　hold　that　against　you；　Amun。　We　have　been　friends　
for　a　long　time；　but　I　would　never　ask　you　to　die　for　me。〃　

Amun's　voice　was　more　controlled；　too。　〃But　you're　taking　my　Benjamin　down　with　you。〃　



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Carlisle　put　his　hand　on　Amun's　shoulder；　Amun　shook　it　off。　

〃I'll　stay；　Carlisle；　but　it　might　be　to　your　detriment。　I　will　join　them　if　that's　the　road　to　survival。　You're　
all　fools　to　think　that　you　can　defy　the　Volturi。〃　He　scowled；　then　sighed；　glanced　at　Renesmee　and　me；　
and　added　in　an　exasperated　tone；　〃I　will　witness　that　the　child　has　grown。　That's　nothing　but　the　truth。　
Anyone　would　see　that。〃　

〃That's　all　we've　ever　asked。〃　

Amun　grimaced；　〃But　not　all　that　you　are　getting；　it　seems。〃　He　turned　on　Benjamin。　〃I　gave　you　life。　
You're　wasting　it。〃　

Benjamin's　face　looked　colder　than　I'd　ever　seen　it；　the　expression　contrasted　oddly　with　his　boyish　
features。　〃It's　a　pity　you　couldn't　replace　my　will　with　your　own　in　the　process；　perhaps　then　you　would　
have　been　satisfied　with　me。〃　

Amun's　eyes　narrowed。　He　gestured　abruptly　to　Kebi；　and　they　stalked　past　us　out　the　front　door。　

〃He's　not　leaving；〃　Edward　said　quietly　to　me；　〃but　he'll　be　keeping　his　distance　even　more　from　now　on。　
He　wasn't　bluffing　when　he　spoke　of　joining　the　Volturi。〃　

〃Why　did　Alistair　go？〃　I　whispered。　

〃No　one　can　be　positive；　he　didn't　leave　a　note。　From　his　mutters；　it's　been　clear　that　he　thinks　a　fight　is　
inevitable。　Despite　his　demeanor；　he　actually　does　care　too　much　for　Carlisle　to　stand　with　the　Volturi。　I　
suppose　he　decided　the　danger　was　too　much。〃　Edward　shrugged。　

Though　our　conversation　was　clearly　just　between　the　two　of　us；　of　course　everyone　could　hear　it。　
Eleazar　answered　Edward's　ment　like　it　had　been　meant　for　all。　

〃From　the　sound　of　his　mumblings；　it　was　a　bit　more　than　that。　We　haven't　spoken　much　of　the　Volturi　
agenda；　but　Alistair　worried　that　no　matter　how　decisively　we　can　prove　your　innocence；　the　Volturi　will　
not　listen。　He　thinks　they　will　find　an　excuse　to　achieve　their　goals　here。〃　

The　vampires　glanced　uneasily　at　one　another。　The　idea　that　the　Volturi　would　manipulate　their　own　
sacrosanct　law　for　gain　was　not　a　popular　idea。　Only　the　Romanians　were　posed；　their　small　
halfsmiles　ironic。　They　seemed　amused　at　how　the　others　wanted　to　think　well　of　their　ancient　enemies。　

Many　low　discussions　began　at　the　same　time；　but　it　was　the　Romanians　I　listened　to。　Maybe　because　
the　fairhaired　Vladimir　kept　shooting　glances　in　my　direction。　

〃I　do　so　hope　Alistair　was　right　about　this；〃　Stefan　murmured　to　Vladimir。　〃No　matter　the　oute；　
word　will　spread。　It's　time　our　world　saw　the　Volturi　for　what　they've　bee。　They'll　never　fall　if　
everyone　believes　this　nonsense　about　them　protecting　our　way　of　life。〃　

〃At　least　when　we　ruled；　we　were　honest　about　what　we　were；〃　Vladimir　replied。　

Stefan　nodded。　〃We　never　put　on　white　hats　and　called　ourselves　saints。〃　

Tm　thinking　the　time　has　e　to　fight；〃　Vladimir　said。　〃How　can　you　imagine　well　ever　find　a　better　



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force　to　stand　with？　Another　chance　this　good？〃　

〃Nothing　is　impossible。　Maybe　someday—〃　

〃We've　been　waiting　for　fifteen　hundred　years；　Stefan。　And　they've　only　gotten　stronger　with　the　
years。〃　Vladimir　paused　and　looked　at　me　again。　He　showed　no　surprise　when　he　saw　that　I　was　
watching　him；　too。　〃If　the　Volturi　win　this　conflict；　they　will　leave　with　more　power　than　they　came　with。　
With　every　conquest　they　add　to　their　strengths。　Think　of　what　that　newborn　alone　could　give　them〃—he　
jerked　his　chin　toward　me—〃and　she　is　barely　discovering　her　gifts。　And　the　earthmover。〃　Vladimir　
nodded　toward　Benjamin；　who　stiffened。　Almost　everyone　was　eavesdropping　on　the　Romanians　now；　
like　me。　〃With　their　witch　twins　they　have　no　need　of　the　illusionist　or　the　fire　touch。〃　His　eyes　moved　to　
Zafrina；　then　Kate。　

Stefan　looked　at　Edward。　〃Nor　is　the　mind　reader　is　exactly　necessary。　But　I　see　your　point。　Indeed；　
they　will　gain　much　if　they　win。〃　

〃More　than　we　can　afford　to　have　them　gain；　wouldn't　you　agree？〃　

Stefan　sighed。　〃I　think　i　must　agree。　And　that　means。。。〃　

〃That　we　must　stand　against　them　while　there　is　still　hope。〃　

〃If　we　can　just　cripple　them；　even；　expose　them　。。。〃　

〃Then；　someday；　others　will　finish　the　job。〃　

〃And　our　long　vendetta　will　be　repaid。　At　last。〃　

They　locked　eyes　for　a　moment　and　then　murmured　in　unison。　〃It　seems　the　only　way。〃　

〃So　we　fight；〃　Stefan　said。　

Though　I　could　see　that　they　were　torn；　selfpreservation　warring　with　revenge；　the　smile　they　exchanged　
was　full　of　anticipation。　

〃We　fight；〃　Vladimir　agreed。　

I　suppose　it　was　a　good　thing；　like　Alistair；　I　was　sure　the　battle　was　impossible　to　avoid。　In　that　case；　
two　more　vampires　fighting　on　our　side　could　only　help。　But　the　Romanians'　decision　still　made　me　
shudder。　

〃We　will　fight；　too；〃　Tia　said；　her　usually　grave　voice　more　solemn　than　ever。　〃We　believe　the　Volturi　will　
overstep　their　authority。　We　have　no　wish　to　belong　to　them。〃　Her　eyes　lingered　on　her　mate。　

Benjamin　grinned　and　threw　an　impish　glance　toward　the　Romanians。　〃Apparently；　I'm　a　hot　modity。　
It　appears　I　have　to　win　the　right　to　be　free。〃　

〃This　won't　be　the　first　time　I've　fought　to　keep　myself　from　a　king's　rule；〃　Garrett　said　in　a　teasing　tone。　
He　walked　over　and　clapped　Benjamin　on　the　back。　〃Here's　to　freedom　from　oppression。〃　

〃We　stand　with　Carlisle；〃　Tanya　said。　〃And　we　fight　with　him。〃　



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The　Romanians'　pronouncement　seemed　to　have　made　the　others　feel　the　need　to　declare　themselves　as　
well。　

〃We　have　not　decided7Peter　said。　He　looked　down　at　his　tiny　panion；　Charlotte's　lips　were　set　in　
dissatisfaction。　It　looked　like　she'd　made　her　decision。　I　wondered　what　it　was。　

〃The　same　goes　for　me；〃　Randall　said。　

〃And　me；〃　Mary　added。　

〃The　packs　will　fight　with　the　Cullens；〃　Jacob　said　suddenly。　〃We're　not　afraid　of　vampires；〃　he　added　
with　a　smirk。　

〃Children；〃　Peter　muttered。　

〃Infants；〃　Randall　corrected。　

Jacob　grinned　tauntingly。　

〃Well；　I'm　in；　too；〃　Maggie　said；　shrugging　out　from　under　Siobhan's　restraining　hand。　〃I　know　truth　is　on　
Carlisle's　side。　I　can't　ignore　that。〃　

Siobhan　stared　at　the　junior　member　of　her　coven　with　worried　eyes。　〃Carlisle；〃　she　said　as　if　they　were　
alone；　ignoring　the　suddenly　formal　feel　of　the　gathering；　the　unexpected　outburst　of　declarations；　〃I　don't　
want　this　to　e　to　a　fight。〃　

〃Nor　do　I；　Siobhan。　You　know　that's　the　last　thing　I　want。〃　He　halfsmiled。　〃Perhaps　you　should　
concentrate　on　keeping　it　peaceful。〃　

〃You　know　that　won't　help；〃　she　said。　

I　remembered　Rose　and　Carlisle's　discussion　of　the　Irish　leader；　Carlisle　believed　that　Siobhan　had　some　
subtle　but　powerful　gift　to　make　things　go　her　way—and　yet　Siobhan　didn't　believe　it　herself。　

〃It　couldn't　hurt；〃　Carlisle　said。　

Siobhan　rolled　her　eyes。　〃Shall　I　visualize　the　oute　I　desire？〃　she　asked　sarcastically。　

Carlisle　was　openly　grinning　now。　〃If　you　don't　mind。〃　

〃Then　there　is　no　need　for　my　coven　to　declare　itself；　is　there？〃　she　retorted。　〃Since　there　is　no　possibility　
of　a　fight。〃　She　put　her　hand　back　on　Maggie's　shoulder；　pulling　the　girl　closer　to　her。　Siobhan's　mate；　
Liam；　stood　silent　and　expressionless。　

Almost　everyone　else　in　the　room　looked　mystified　by　Carlisle　and　Siobhan's　clearly　joking　exchange；　
but　they　didn't　explain　themselves。　

That　was　the　end　of　the　dramatic　speeches　for　the　night。　The　group　slowly　dispersed；　some　off　to　hunt；　
some　to　while　away　the　time　with　Carlisle's　books　or　televisions　or　puters。　




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Edward；　Renesmee；　and　I　went　to　hunt。　Jacob　tagged　along。　

〃Stupid　leeches；〃　he　muttered　to　himself　when　we　got　outside。　〃Think　they're　so　superior。〃　He　snorted。　

〃They'll　be　shocked　when　the　infants　save　their　superior　lives；　won't　they？〃　Edward　said。　

Jake　smiled　and　punched　his　shoulder。　〃Hell　yeah；　they　will。〃　

This　wasn't　our　last　hunting　trip。　We　all　would　hunt　again　nearer　to　the　time　we　expected　the　Volturi。　As　
the　deadline　was　not　exact；　we　were　planning　to　stay　a　few　nights　out　in　the　big　baseball　clearing　Alice　
had　seen；　just　in　

case。　All　we　knew　was　that　they　would　e　the　day　that　the　snow　stuck　to　the　ground。　We　didn't　want　
the　Volturi　too　close　to　town；　and　Demetri　would　lead　them　to　wherever　we　were。　I　wondered　who　he　
would　track　in；　and　guessed　that　it　would　be　Edward　since　he　couldn't　track　me。　

I　thought　about　Demetri　while　I　hunted；　paying　little　attention　to　my　prey　or　the　drifting　snowflakes　that　
had　finally　appeared　but　were　melting　before　they　touched　the　rocky　soil。　Would　Demetri　realize　that　he　
couldn't　track　me？　What　would　he　make　of　that？　What　would　Aro？　Or　was　Edward　wrong？　There　were　
those　little　exceptions　to　what　I　could　withstand；　those　ways　around　my　shield。　Everything　that　was　
outside　my　mind　was　vulnerable—open　to　the　things　Jaspe