jet of flame into the pyre。
With a small clicking sound； the fire shooting from Caius's hand disappeared。 A gasp rippled through the
mass of witnesses behind the Volturi。
We were too aghast to make any noise at all。 It was one thing to know that death was ing with
fierce； unstoppable speed； it was another thing to watch it happen。
Caius smiled coldly。 〃Now she has taken full responsibility for her actions。〃
His eyes flashed to our front line； touching swiftly on Tanya's and Kate's frozen forms。
In that second I understood that Caius had never underestimated the ties of a true family。 This was the
ploy。 He had not wanted Irina's plaint； he had wanted her defiance。 His excuse to destroy her； to
ignite the violence that filled the air like a thick； bustible mist。 He had thrown a match。
The strained peace of this summit already teetered more precariously than an elephant on a tightrope。
Once the fight began； there would be no way to stop it。 It would only escalate until one side was entirely
extinct。 Our side。 Caius knew this。
So did Edward。
〃Stop them！〃 Edward cried out； jumping to grab Tanya's arm as she lurched forward toward the smiling
Caius with a maddened cry of pure rage。 She couldn't shake Edward off before Carlisle had his arms
locked around her waist。
〃It's too late to help her；〃 he reasoned urgently as she struggled。 〃Don't give him what he wants！〃
Kate was harder to contain。 Shrieking wordlessly like Tanya； she broke into the first stride of the attack
that would end with everyone's death。 Rosalie was closest to her； but before Rose could clinch her in a
headlock； Kate shocked her so violently that Rose crumpled to the ground。 Emmett caught Kate's arm
and threw her down； then staggered back； his knees giving out。 Kate rolled to her feet； and it looked like
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no one could stop her。
Garrett flung himself at her； knocking her to the ground again。 He bound his arms around hers； locking
his hands around his own wrists。 I saw his body spasm as she shocked him。 His eyes rolled back in his
head； but his hold did not break。
〃Zafrina；〃 Edward shouted。
Kate's eyes went blank and her screams turned to moans。 Tanya stopped struggling。
〃Give me my sight back；〃 Tanya hissed。
Desperately； but with all the delicacy I could manage； I pulled my shield even tighter against the sparks
of my friends； peeling it back carefully from Kate while trying to keep it around Garrett； making it a thin
skin between them。
And then Garrett was in mand of himself again； holding Kate to the snow。
〃If I let you up； will you knock me down again； Katie？〃 he whispered。
She snarled in response； still thrashing blindly。
〃Listen to me； Tanya； Kate；〃 Carlisle said in a low but intense whisper。 〃Vengeance doesn't help her
now。 Irina wouldn't want you to waste your lives this way。 Think about what you're doing。 If you attack
them； we all die。〃
Tanya's shoulders hunched with grief； and she leaned into Carlisle for support。 Kate was finally still。
Carlisle and
Garrett continued to console the sisters with words too urgent to sound like fort。
And my attention returned to the weight of the stares that pressed down on our moment of chaos。 From
the corners of my eyes； I could see that Edward and everyone else besides Carlisle and Garrett were on
their guard again as well。
The heaviest glare came from Caius； staring with enraged disbelief at Kate and Garrett in the snow。 Aro
was watching the same two； incredulity the strongest emotion on his face。 He knew what Kate could do。
He had felt her potency through Edward's memories。
Did he understand what was happening now—did he see that my shield had grown in strength and
subtlety far beyond what Edward knew me to be capable of？ Or did he think Garrett had learned his
own form of immunity？
The Volturi guard no longer stood at disciplined attention—they were crouched forward； waiting to
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 m