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