The　witnesses　met　his　gaze　with　careful　faces。　One；　a　small　black…haired　woman；　looked　briefly　at　the
  dark　blond　male　at　her　side。
  〃Are　those　our　only　choices？〃　she　asked　suddenly；　gaze　flashing　back　to　Aro。　〃Agree　with　you；　or　fight
  against　you？〃
  〃Of　course　not；　most　charming　Makenna；〃　Aro　said；　appearing　horrified　that　anyone　could　come　to　that
  conclusion。　〃You　may　go　in　peace；　of　course；　as　Amun　did；　even　if　you　disagree　with　the　council's
  decision。〃
  Makenna　looked　at　her　mate's　face　again；　and　he　nodded　minutely。
  〃We　did　not　come　here　for　a　fight。〃　She　paused；　exhaled；　then　said；　〃We　came　here　to　witness。　And　our
  witness　is　that　this　condemned　family　is　innocent。　Everything　that　Garrett　claimed　is　the　truth。〃
  〃Ah；〃　Aro　said　sadly。　〃I'm　sorry　you　see　us　in　that　way。　But　such　is　the　nature　of　our　work。〃
  〃It　is　not　what　I　see；　but　what　I　feel；〃　Makenna's　maize…haired　mate　spoke　in　a　high；　nervous　voice。　He
  glanced　at　Garrett。　〃Garrett　said　they　have　ways　of　knowing　lies。　I；　too；　know　when　I　am　hearing　the
  truth；　and　when　I　am　not。〃　With　frightened　eyes　he　moved　closer　to　his　mate；　waiting　for　Aro's　reaction。
  〃Do　not　fear　us；　friend　Charles。　No　doubt　the　patriot　truly　believes　what　he　says；〃　Aro　chuckled　lightly；
  and　Charles's　eyes　narrowed。
  〃That　is　our　witness；〃　Makenna　said。　〃We're　leaving　now。〃
  She　and　Charles　backed　away　slowly；　not　turning　before　they　were　lost　from　view　in　the　trees。　One
  other　stranger　began　to　retreat　the　same　way；　then　three　more　darted　after　him。
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  I　evaluated　the　thirty…seven　vampires　that　stayed。　A　few　of　them　appeared　just　too　confused　to　make　the
  decision。　But　the　majority　of　them　seemed　only　too　aware　of　the　direction　this　confrontation　had　taken。　I
  guessed　that　they　were　giving　up　a　head　start　in　favor　of　knowing　exactly　who　would　be　chasing　after
  them。
  I　was　sure　Aro　saw　the　same　thing　I　did。　He　turned　away；　walking　back　to　his　guard　with　a　measured
  pace。　He　stopped　in　front　of　them　and　addressed　them　in　a　clear　voice。
  〃We　are　outnumbered；　dearest　ones；〃　he　said。　〃We　can　expect　no　outside　help。　Should　we　leave　this
  question　undecided　to　save　ourselves？〃
  〃No；　master；〃　they　whispered　in　unison。
  〃Is　the　protection　of　our　world　worth　perhaps　the　loss　of　some　of　our　number？〃
  〃Yes；〃　they　breathed。　〃We　are　not　afraid。〃
  Aro　smiled　and　turned　to　his　black…clad　companions。
  〃Brothers；〃　Aro　said　somberly；　〃there　is　much　to　consider　here。〃
  〃Let　us　counsel；〃　Caius　said　eagerly。
  〃Let　us　counsel；〃　Marcus　repeated　in　an　uninterested　tone。
  Aro　turned　his　back　to　us　again；　facing　the　other　ancients。　They　joined　hands　to　form　a　black…shrouded
  triangle。
  As　soon　as　Aro's　attention　was　engaged　in　the　silent　counsel；　two　more　of　their　witnesses　disappeared
  silently　into　the　forest。　I　hoped；　for　their　sakes；　that　they　were　fast。
  This　was　it。　Carefully；　I　loosened　Renesmee's　arms　from　my　neck。
  〃You　remember　what　I　told　you？〃
  Tears　welled　in　her　eyes；　but　she　nodded。　〃I　love　you；〃　she　whispered。
  Edward　was　watching　us　now；　his　topaz　eyes　wide。　Jacob　stared　at　us　from　the　corner　of　his　big　dark
  eye。
  〃I　love　you；　too；〃　I　said；　and　then　I　touched　her　locket。　〃More　than　my　own　life。〃　I　kissed　her　forehead。
  Jacob　whined　uneasily。
  I　stretched　up　on　my　toes　and　whispered　into　his　ear。　〃Wait　until　they're　totally　distracted；　then　run　with
  her。　Get　as　far　from　this　place　as　you　possibly　can。　When　you've　gone　as　far　as　you　can　on　foot；　she　has
  what　you　need　to　get　you　in　the　air。〃
  Edward's　and　Jacob's　faces　were　almost　identical　masks　of　horror；　despite　the　fact　that　one　of　them　was
  an　animal。
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  Renesmee　reached　for　Edward；　and　he　took　her　in　his　arms。　They　hugged　each　other　tightly。
  〃This　is　what　you　kept　from　me？〃　he　whispered　over　her　head。
  〃From　Aro；〃　I　breathed。
  〃Alice？〃
  I　nodded。
  His　face　twisted　with　understanding　and　pain。　Had　that　been　the　expression　on　my　face　when　I'd　finally
  put　together　Alice's　clues？
  Jacob　was　growling　quietly；　a　low　rasp　that　was　as　even　and　unbroken　as　a　purr。　His　hackles　were　stiff
  and　his
  teeth　exposed。
  Edward　kissed　Renesmee's　forehead　and　both　her　cheeks；　then　he　lifted　her　to　Jacob's　shoulder。　She
  scrambled　agilely　onto　his　back；　pulling　herself　into　place　with　handfuls　of　his　fur；　and　fit　herself　easily　into
  the　dip　between　his　massive　shoulder　blades。
  Jacob　turned　to　me；　his　expressive　eyes　full　of　agony；　the　rumbling　growl　still　grating　through　his　chest。
  〃You're　the　only　one　we　could　ever　trust　her　with；〃　I　murmured　to　him。　〃If　you　didn't　love　her　so　much；　I
  could　never　bear　this。　I　know　you　can　protect　her；　Jacob。〃
  He　whined　again；　and　dipped　his　head　to　butt　it　against　my　shoulder。
  〃I　know；〃　I　whispered。　〃I　love　you；　too；　Jake。　You'll　always　be　my　best　man。〃
  A　tear　the　size　of　a　baseball　rolled　into　the　russet　fur　beneath　his　eye。
  Edward　leaned　his　head　against　the　same　shoulder　where　he'd　placed　Renesmee。　〃Goodbye；　Jacob；　my
  brother。。。　my　son。〃
  The　others　were　not　oblivious　to　the　farewell　scene。　Their　eyes　were　locked　on　the　silent　black　triangle；
  but　I　could　tell　they　were　listening。
  〃Is　there　no　hope；　then？〃　Carlisle　whispered。　There　was　no　fear　in　his　voice。　Just　determination　and
  acceptance。
  〃There　is　absolutely　hope；〃　I　murmured　back。　It　could　be　true；　I　told　myself。　〃I　only　know　my　own
  fate。〃
  Edward　took　my　hand。　He　knew　that　he　was　included。　When　I　said　my　fate；　there　was　no　question　that
  I　meant　the　two　of　us。　We　were　just　halves　of　the　whole。
  Esme's　breath　was　ragged　behind　me。　She　moved　past　us；　touching　our　faces　as　she　passed；　to　stand
  beside　Carlisle　and　hold　his　hand。
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  Suddenly；　we　were　surrounded　by　murmured　goodbyes　and　I　love　you's。
  〃If　we　live　through　this；〃　Garrett　whispered　to　Kate；　〃I'll　follow　you　anywhere；　woman。〃
  〃Now　he　tells　me；〃　she　muttered。
  Rosalie　and　Emmett　kissed　quickly　but　passionately。
  Tia　caressed　Benjamin's　face。　He　smiled　back　cheerfully；　catching　her　hand　and　holding　it　against　his
  cheek。
  I　didn't　see　all　the　expressions　of　love　and　pain。　I　was　distracted　by　a　sudden　fluttering　pressure　against
  the　outside　of　my　shield。　I　couldn't　tell　where　it　came　from；　but　it　felt　like　it　was　directed　at　the　edges　of
  our　group；　Siobhan　and　Liam　particularly。　The　pressure　did　no　damage；　and　then　it　was　gone。
  There　was　no　change　in　the　silent；　still　forms　of　the　counseling　ancients。　But　perhaps　there　was　some
  signal　I'd　missed。
  〃Get　ready；〃　I　whispered　to　the　others。　〃It's　starting。〃
  38。　POWER
  〃Chelsea　is　trying　to　break　our　bindings；〃　Edward　whispered。　〃But　she　can't　find　them。　She　can't　feel　us
  here。　。　。　。〃　His　eyes　cut　to　me。　〃Are　you　doing　that？〃
  I　smiled　grimly　at　him。　〃I　am　all　over　this。〃
  Edward　lurched　away　from　me　suddenly；　his　hand　reaching　out　toward　Carlisle。　At　the　same　time；　I　felt
  a　much　sharper　jab　against　the　shield　where　it　wrapped　protectively　around　Carlisle's　light。　It　wasn't
  painful；　but　it　wasn't　pleasant；　either。
  〃Carlisle？　Are　you　all　right？〃　Edward　gasped　frantically。
  〃Yes。　Why？〃
  〃Jane；〃　Edward　answered。
  The　moment　that　he　said　her　name；　a　dozen　pointed　attacks　hit　in　a　second；　stabbing　all　over　the　elastic
  shield；　aimed　at　twelve　different　bright　spots。　I　flexed；　making　sure　the　shield　was　undamaged。　It　didn't
  seem　like　Jane　had　been　able　to　pierce　it。　I　glanced　around　quickly；　everyone　was　fine。
  〃Incredible；〃　Edward　said。
  〃Why　aren't　they　waiting　for　the　decision？〃　Tanya　hissed。
  〃Normal　procedure；〃　Edward　answered　brusquely。　〃They　usually　incapacitate　those　on　trial　so　they　can't
  escape。〃
  I　looked　across　at　Jane；　who　was　staring　at　our　group　with　furious　disbelief。　I　was　pretty　sure　that；
  besides　me；　she'd　never　seen　anyone　remain　standing　through　her　fiery　assault。
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  It　probably　wasn't　very　mature。　But　I　figured　it　would　take　Aro　about　half　a　second　to　guess—if　he
  hadn't　already—that　my　shield　was　more　powerful　than　Edward　had　known；　I　already　had　a　big　target　on
  my　forehead　and　there　was　really　no　point　in　trying　to　keep　the　extent　of　what　I　could　do　a　secret。　So　I
  grinned　a　huge；　smug　smile　right
  at　Jane。
  Her　eyes　narrowed；　and　I　felt　another　stab　of　pressure；　this　time　directed　at　me。
  I　pulled　my　lips　wider；　showing　my　teeth。
  Jane