shoulders　hunched　under　the　onslaught　of　information。
  Every　secret　thought；　every　strategy；　every　insight—everything　Edward　had　heard　in　the　minds　around
  him　during　the　last　month—was　now　Aro's。　And　further　back—every　vision　of　Alice's；　every　quiet
  moment　with　our　family；　every　picture　in　Renesmee's　head；　every　kiss；　every　touch　between　Edward　and
  me。。。　All　of　that　was　Aro's　now；　too。
  I　hissed　with　frustration；　and　the　shield　roiled　with　my　irritation；　shifting　its　shape　and　contracting　around
  our　side。
  〃Easy；　Bella；〃　Zafrina　whispered　to　me。
  I　clenched　my　teeth　together。
  Aro　continued　to　concentrate　on　Edward's　memories。　Edward's　head　bowed；　too；　the　muscles　in　his
  neck　locking　tight　as　he　read　back　again　everything　that　Aro　took　from　him；　and　Aro's　response　to　it　all。
  This　two…way　but　unequal　conversation　continued　long　enough　that　even　the　guard　grew　uneasy。　Low
  murmurs　ran　through　the　line　until　Caius　barked　a　sharp　order　for　silence。　Jane　was　edging　forward　like
  she　couldn't　help　herself；　and　Renata's　face　was　rigid　with　distress。　For　a　moment；　I　examined　this
  powerful　shield　that　seemed　so　panicky　and　weak；　though　she　was　useful　to　Aro；　I　could　tell　she　was　no
  warrior。　It　was　not　her　job　to　fight　but　to　protect。　There　was　no　bloodlust　in　her。　Raw　as　I　was；　I　knew
  that　if　this　were　between　her　and　me；　I　would　obliterate　her。
  I　refocused　as　Aro　straightened；　his　eyes　flashing　open；　their　expression　awed　and　wary。　He　did　not
  release　Edward's　hand。
  Edward's　muscles　loosened　ever　so　slightly。
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  〃You　see？〃　Edward　asked；　his　velvet　voice　calm。
  〃Yes；　I　see；　indeed；〃　Aro　agreed；　and　amazingly；　he　sounded　almost　amused。　〃I　doubt　whether　any　two
  among　gods　or　mortals　have　ever　seen　quite　so　clearly。〃
  The　disciplined　faces　of　the　guard　showed　the　same　disbelief　I　felt。
  〃You　have　given　me　much　to　ponder；　young　friend；〃　Aro　continued。　〃Much　more　than　I　expected。〃　Still
  he　did　not　release　Edward's　hand；　and　Edward's　tense　stance　was　that　of　one　who　listens。
  Edward　didn't　answer。
  〃May　I　meet　her？〃　Aro　asked—almost　pleaded—with　sudden　eager　interest。　〃I　never　dreamed　of　the
  existence　of　such　a　thing　in　all　my　centuries。　What　an　addition　to　our　histories！〃
  〃What　is　this　about；　Aro？〃　Caius　snapped　before　Edward　could　answer。　Just　the　question　had　me　pulling
  Renesmee　around　into　my　arms；　cradling　her　protectively　against　my　chest。
  〃Something　you've　never　dreamed　of；　my　practical　friend。　Take　a　moment　to　ponder；　for　the　justice　we
  intended　to　deliver　no　longer　applies。〃
  Caius　hissed　in　surprise　at　his　words。
  〃Peace；　brother；〃　Aro　cautioned　soothingly。
  This　should　have　been　good　news—these　were　the　words　we'd　been　hoping　for；　the　reprieve　we'd
  never　really
  thought　possible。　Aro　had　listened　to　the　truth。　Aro　had　admitted　that　the　law　had　not　been　broken。
  But　my　eyes　were　riveted　on　Edward；　and　I　saw　the　muscles　in　his　back　tighten。　I　replayed　in　my　head
  Aro's　instruction　for　Caius　to　ponder；　and　heard　the　double　meaning。
  〃Will　you　introduce　me　to　your　daughter？〃　Aro　asked　Edward　again。
  Caius　was　not　the　only　one　who　hissed　at　this　new　revelation。
  Edward　nodded　reluctantly。　And　yet；　Renesmee　had　won　over　so　many　others。　Aro　always　seemed　the
  leader　of　the　ancients。　If　he　were　on　her　side；　could　the　others　act　against　us？
  Aro　still　gripped　Edward's　hand；　and　he　now　answered　a　question　that　the　rest　of　us　had　not　heard。
  〃I　think　a　compromise　on　this　one　point　is　certainly　acceptable；　under　the　circumstance。　We　will　meet　in
  the　middle。〃
  Aro　released　his　hand。　Edward　turned　back　toward　us；　and　Aro　joined　him；　throwing　one　arm　casually
  over　Edward's　shoulder　like　they　were　the　best　of　friends—all　the　while　maintaining　contact　with
  Edward's　skin。　They　began　to　cross　the　field　back　to　our　side。
  The　entire　guard　fell　into　step　behind　them。　Aro　raised　a　hand　negligently　without　looking　at　them。
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  〃Hold；　my　dear　ones。　Truly；　they　mean　us　no　harm　if　we　are　peaceable。〃
  The　guard　reacted　to　this　more　openly　than　before；　with　snarls　and　hisses　of　protest；　but　held　their
  position。　Renata；　clinging　closer　to　Aro　than　ever；　whimpered　in　anxiety。
  〃Master；〃　she　whispered。
  〃Don't　fret；　my　love；〃　he　responded。　〃All　is　well。〃
  〃Perhaps　you　should　bring　a　few　members　of　your　guard　with　us；〃　Edward　suggested。　〃It　will　make　them
  more　comfortable。〃
  Aro　nodded　as　if　this　was　a　wise　observation　he　should　have　thought　of　himself。　He　snapped　his　fingers
  twice。　〃Felix；　Demetri。〃
  The　two　vampires　were　at　his　side　instantaneously；　looking　precisely　the　same　as　the　last　time　I'd　met
  them。　Both　were　tall　and　dark…haired；　Demetri　hard　and　lean　as　the　blade　of　a　sword；　Felix　hulking　and
  menacing　as　an　iron…spiked　cudgel。
  The　five　of　them　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　snowy　field。
  〃Bella；〃　Edward　called。　〃Bring　Renesmee。。。　and　a　few　friends。〃
  I　took　a　deep　breath。　My　body　was　tight　with　opposition。　The　idea　of　taking　Renesmee　into　the　center
  of　the　conflict。。。　But　I　trusted　Edward。　He　would　know　if　Aro　was　planning　any　treachery　at　this　point。
  Aro　had　three　protectors　on　his　side　of　the　summit；　so　I　would　bring　two　with　me。　It　took　me　only　a
  second　to　decide。
  〃Jacob？　Emmett？〃　I　asked　quietly。　Emmett；　because　he　would　be　dying　to　go。　Jacob；　because　he
  wouldn't　be　able　to　bear　being　left　behind。
  Both　nodded。　Emmett　grinned。
  I　crossed　the　field　with　them　flanking　me。　I　heard　another　rumble　from　the　guard　as　they　saw　my　choices
  —clearly；　they　did　not　trust　the　werewolf。　Aro　lifted　his　hand；　waving　away　their　protest　again。
  〃Interesting　company　you　keep；〃　Demetri　murmured　to　Edward。
  Edward　didn't　respond；　but　a　low　growl　slipped　through　Jacob's　teeth。
  We　stopped　a　few　yards　from　Aro。　Edward　ducked　under　Aro's　arm　and　quickly　joined　us；　taking　my
  hand。
  For　a　moment　we　faced　each　other　in　silence。　Then　Felix　greeted　me　in　a　low　aside。
  〃Hello　again；　Bella。〃　He　grinned　cockily　while　still　tracking　Jacob's　every　twitch　with　his　peripheral　vision。
  I　smiled　wryly　at　the　mountainous　vampire。　〃Hey；　Felix。〃
  Felix　chuckled。　〃You　look　good。　Immortality　suits　you。〃
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  〃Thanks　so　much。〃
  〃You're　welcome。　It's　too　bad　。。。〃
  He　let　his　comment　trail　off　into　silence；　but　I　didn't　need　Edward's　gift　to　imagine　the　end。　It's　too　bad
  were　going　to　kill　you　in　a　sec。
  〃Yes；　too　bad；　isn't　it？〃　I　murmured。
  Felix　winked。
  Aro　paid　no　attention　to　our　exchange。　He　leaned　his　head　to　one　side；　fascinated。　〃I　hear　her　strange
  heart；〃　he　murmured　with　an　almost　musical　lilt　to　his　words。　〃I　smell　her　strange　scent。〃　Then　his　hazy
  eyes　shifted　to　me。　〃In　truth；　young　Bella；　immortality　does　become　you　most　extraordinarily；〃　he　said。　〃It
  is　as　if　you　were　designed　for　this　life。〃
  I　nodded　once　in　acknowledgment　of　his　flattery。
  〃You　liked　my　gift？〃　he　asked；　eyeing　the　pendant　I　wore。
  〃It's　beautiful；　and　very；　very　generous　of　you。　Thank　you。　I　probably　should　have　sent　a　note。〃
  Aro　laughed　delightedly。　〃It's　just　a　little　something　I　had　lying　around。　I　thought　it　might　complement
  your　new　face；　and　so　it　does。〃
  I　heard　a　little　hiss　from　the　center　of　the　Volturi　line。　I　glanced　over　Aro's　shoulder。
  Hmm。　It　seemed　Jane　wasn't　happy　about　the　fact　that　Aro　had　given　me　a　present。
  Aro　cleared　his　throat　to　reclaim　my　attention。　〃May　I　greet　your　daughter；　lovely　Bella？〃　he　asked
  sweetly。
  This　was　what　we'd　hoped　for；　I　reminded　myself。　Fighting　the　urge　to　take　Renesmee　and　run　for　it；　I
  walked　two　slow　steps　forward。　My　shield　rippled　out　behind　me　like　a　cape；　protecting　the　rest　of　my
  family　while　Renesmee　was　left　exposed。　It　felt　wrong；　horrible。
  Aro　met　us；　his　face　beaming。
  〃But　she's　exquisite；〃　he　murmured。　〃So　like　you　and　Edward。〃　And　then　louder；　〃Hello；　Renesmee。〃
  Renesmee　looked　at　me　quickly。　I　nodded。
  〃Hello；　Aro；〃　she　answered　formally　in　her　high；　ringing　voice。
  Aro's　eyes　were　bemused。
  〃What　is　it？〃　Caius　hissed　from　behind。　He　seemed　infuriated　by　the　need　to　ask。
  〃Half　mortal；　half　immortal；〃　Aro　announced　to　him　and　the　rest　of　the　guard　without　turning　his
  enthralled　gaze　from　Renesmee。　〃Conceived　so；　and　carried　by　this　newborn　while　she　was　still　human。〃
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  〃Impossible；〃　Caius　scoffed。
  〃Do　you　think　they've　fooled　me