〃She's with us。〃 Carlisle's firm rebuff was directed toward James。
Laurent seemed to catch my scent less powerfully than James; but
awareness now dawned on his face。
〃You brought a snack?〃 he asked; his expression incredulous as he took an
involuntary step forward。
Edward snarled even more ferociously; harshly; his lip curling high above
his glistening; bared teeth。 Laurent stepped back again。
〃I said she's with us;〃 Carlisle corrected in a hard voice。
〃But she's human;〃 Laurent protested。 The words were not at all
aggressive; merely astounded。
〃Yes。〃 Emmett was very much in evidence at Carlisle's side; his eyes on
James。 James slowly straightened out of his crouch; but his eyes never
left me; his nostrils still wide。 Edward stayed tensed like a lion in
front of me。
When Laurent spoke; his tone was soothing — trying to defuse the sudden
hostility。 〃It appears we have a lot to learn about each other。〃
〃Indeed。〃 Carlisle's voice was still cool。
〃But we'd like to accept your invitation。〃 His eyes flicked toward me and
back to Carlisle。 〃And; of course; we will not harm the human girl。 We
won't hunt in your range; as I said。〃
James glanced in disbelief and aggravation at Laurent and exchanged
another brief look with Victoria; whose eyes still flickered edgily from
face to face。
Carlisle measured Laurent's open expression for a moment before he spoke。
〃We'll show you the way。 Jasper; Rosalie; Esme?〃 he called。 They gathered
together; blocking me from view as they converged。 Alice was instantly at
my side; and Emmett fell back slowly; his eyes locked on James as he
backed toward us。
〃Let's go; Bella。〃 Edward's voice was low and bleak。
This whole time I'd been rooted in place; terrified into absolute
immobility。 Edward had to grip my elbow and pull sharply to break my
trance。 Alice and Emmett were close behind us; hiding me。 I stumbled
alongside Edward; still stunned with fear。 I couldn't hear if the main
group had left yet。 Edward's impatience was almost tangible as we moved
at human speed to the forest edge。
Once we were into the trees; Edward slung me over his back without
breaking stride。 I gripped as tightly as possible as he took off; the
others close on his heels。 I kept my head down; but my eyes; wide with
fright; wouldn't close。 They plunged through the nowblack forest like
wraiths。 The sense of exhilaration that usually seemed to possess Edward
as he ran was pletely absent; replaced by a fury that consumed him and
drove him still faster。 Even with me on his back; the others trailed
behind。
We reached the Jeep in an impossibly short time; and Edward barely slowed
as he flung me in the backseat。
〃Strap her in;〃 he ordered Emmett; who slid in beside me。
Alice was already in the front seat; and Edward was starting the engine。
It roared to life and we swerved backward; spinning around to face the
winding road。
Edward was growling something too fast for me to understand; but it
sounded a lot like a string of profanities。
The jolting trip was much worse this time; and the darkness only made it
more frightening。 Emmett and Alice both glared out the side windows。
We hit the main road; and though our speed increased; I could see much
better where we were going。 And we were headed south; away from Forks。
〃Where are we going?〃 I asked。
No one answered。 No one even looked at me。
〃Dammit; Edward! Where are you taking me?〃
〃We have to get you away from here — far away — now。〃 He didn't look
back; his eyes on the road。 The speedometer read a hundred and five miles
an hour。
〃Turn around! You have to take me home!〃 I shouted。 I struggled with the
stupid harness; tearing at the straps。
〃Emmett;〃 Edward said grimly。
And Emmett secured my hands in his steely grasp。
〃No! Edward! No; you can't do this。〃
〃I have to; Bella; now please be quiet。〃
〃I won't! You have to take me back — Charlie will call the FBI! They'll
be all over your family — Carlisle and Esme! They'll have to leave; to
hide forever!〃
〃Calm down; Bella。〃 His voice was cold。 〃We've been there before。〃
〃Not over me; you don't! You're not ruining everything over me!〃 I
struggled violently; with total futility。
Alice spoke for the first time。 〃Edward; pull over。〃
He flashed her a hard look; and then sped up。
〃Edward; let's just talk this through。〃
〃You don't understand;〃 he roared in frustration。 I'd never heard his
voice so loud; it was deafening in the confines of the Jeep。 The
speedometer neared one hundred and fifteen。 〃He's a tracker; Alice; did
you see that? He's a tracker!〃
I felt Emmett stiffen next to me; and I wondered at his reaction to the
word。 It meant something more to the three of them than it did to me; I
wanted to understand; but there was no opening for me to ask。
〃Pull over; Edward。〃 Alice's tone was reasonable; but there was a ring of
authority in it I'd never heard before。
The speedometer inched passed owenty。
〃Do it; Edward。〃
〃Listen to me; Alice。 I saw his mind。 Tracking is his passion; his
obsession — and he wants her; Alice — her; specifically。 He begins the
hunt tonight。〃
〃He doesn't know where —〃
He interrupted her。 〃How long do you think it will take him to cross her
scent in town? His plan was already set before the words were out of
Laurent's mouth。〃
I gasped; knowing where my scent would lead。 〃Charlie! You can't leave
him there! You can't leave him!〃 I thrashed against the harness。
〃She's right;〃 Alice said。
The car slowed slightly。
〃Let's just look at our options for a minute;〃 Alice coaxed。
The car slowed again; more noticeably; and then suddenly we screeched to
a stop on the shoulder of the highway。 I flew against the harness; and
then slammed back into the seat。
〃There are no options;〃 Edward hissed。
〃I'm not leaving Charlie!〃 I yelled。
He ignored me pletely。
〃We have to take her back;〃 Emmett finally spoke。
〃No。〃 Edward was absolute。
〃He's no match for us; Edward。 He won't be able to touch her。〃
〃He'll wait。〃
Emmett smiled。 〃I can wait; too。〃
〃You didn't see — you don't understand。 Once he mits to a hunt; he's
unshakable。 We'd have to kill him。〃
Emmett didn't seem upset by the idea。 〃That's an option。〃
〃And the female。 She's with him。 If it turns into a fight; the leader
will go with them; too。〃
〃There are enough of us。〃
〃There's another option;〃 Alice said quietly。
Edward turned on her in fury; his voice a blistering snarl。 〃There — is —
no — other — option!〃
Emmett and I both stared at him in shock; but Alice seemed unsurprised。
The silence lasted for a long minute as Edward and Alice stared each
other down。
I broke it。 〃Does anyone want to hear my plan?〃
〃No;〃 Edward growled。 Alice glared at him; finally provoked。
〃Listen;〃 I pleaded。 〃You take me back。〃
〃No;〃 he interrupted。
I glared at him and continued。 〃You take me back。 I tell my dad I want to
go home to Phoenix。 I pack my bags。 We wait till this tracker is
watching; and then we run。 He'll fol
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