compunctions；　at　the　time；　against　making　a　meal　of　me。　Of　course；　he　must　have　changed；　because　he'd
  gone　to　Alaska　to　live　with　the　other　civilized　coven　there；　the　other　family　that　refused　to　drink　human
  blood　for　ethical　reasons。　The　other　family　like…　but　I　couldn't　let　myself　think　the　name。
  Yes；　fear　would　have　made　more　sense；　but　all　I　felt　was　an　overwhelming　satisfaction。　The　meadow　was
  a　magic　place　again。　A　darker　magic　than　I'd　expected；　to　be　sure；　but　magic　all　the　same。　Here　was　the
  connection　I'd　sought。　The　proof；　however　remote；　that—somewhere　in　the　same　world　where　I　lived—
  he　did　exist。
  It　was　impossible　how　exactly　the　same　Laurent　looked。　I　suppose　it　was　very　silly　and　human　to　expect
  some　kind　of　change　in　the　last　year。　But　there　was　something…　I　couldn't　quite　put　my　finger　on　it。
  〃Bella？〃　he　asked；　looking　more　astonished　than　I　felt。
  〃You　remember。〃　I　smiled。　It　was　ridiculous　that　I　should　be　so　elated　because　a　vampire　knew　my
  name。
  He　grinned。　〃I　didn't　expect　to　see　you　here。〃　He　strolled　toward　me；　his　expression　bemused。
  〃Isn't　it　the　other　way　around？　I　do　live　here。　I　thought　you'd　gone　to　Alaska。〃
  He　stopped　about　ten　paces　away；　cocking　his　head　to　the　side。　His　face　was　the　most　beautiful　face　I'd
  seen　in　what　felt　like　an　eternity。　I　studied　his　features　with　a　strangely　greedy　sense　of　release。　Here　was
  someone　I　didn't　have　to　pretend　for—someone　who　already　knew　everything　I　could　never　say。
  〃You're　right；〃　he　agreed。　〃I　did　go　to　Alaska。　Still；　I　didn't　expect…　When　I　found　the　Cullen　place
  empty；　I　thought　they'd　moved　on。〃
  〃Oh。〃　I　bit　my　lip　as　the　name　set　the　raw　edges　of　my　wound　throbbing。　It　took　me　a　second　to
  compose　myself。　Laurent　waited　with　curious　eyes。
  〃They　did　move　on；〃　I　finally　managed　to　tell　him。
  〃Hmm；〃　he　murmured。　〃I'm　surprised　they　left　you　behind。　Weren't　you　sort　of　a　pet　of　theirs？〃　His　eyes
  were　innocent　of　any　intended　offense。
  I　smiled　wryly。　〃Something　like　that。〃
  〃Hmm；〃　he　said；　thoughtful　again。
  At　that　precise　moment；　I　realized　why　he　looked　the　same—too　much　the　same。　After　Carlisle　told　us
  that　Laurent　had　stayed　with　Tanya's　family；　I'd　begun　to　picture　him；　on　the　rare　occasions　that　I　thought
  of　him　at　all；　with　the　same　golden　eyes　that　the…　Cullens—I　forced　the　name　out；　wincing—had。　That
  all　good　vampires　had。
  I　took　an　involuntary　step　back；　and　his　curious；　dark　red　eyes　followed　the　movement。
  〃Do　they　visit　often？〃　he　asked；　still　casual；　but　his　weight　shifted　toward　me。
  〃Lie；〃　the　beautiful　velvet　voice　whispered　anxiously　from　my　memory。
  I　started　at　the　sound　of　his　voice；　but　it　should　not　have　surprised　me。　Was　I　nor　in　the　worst　danger
  imaginable？　The　motorcycle　was　safe　as　kittens　next　to　this。
  I　did　what　the　voice　said　to　do。
  〃Now　and　again。〃　I　tried　to　make　my　voice　light；　relaxed。　〃The　time　seems　longer　to　me；　I　imagine。　You
  know　how　they　get　distracted…〃　I　was　beginning　to　babble。　I　had　to　work　to　shut　myself　up。
  〃Hmm；〃　he　said　again。　〃The　house　smelled　like　it　had　been　vacant　for　a　while…〃
  〃You　must　lie　better　than　that；　Bella；〃　the　voice　urged。
  I　tried。　〃I'll　have　to　mention　to　Carlisle　that　you　stopped　by。　He'll　be　sorry　they　missed　your　visit。〃　I
  pretended　to　deliberate　for　a　second。　〃But　I　probably　shouldn't　mention　it　to…　Edward；　I　suppose—〃　I
  barely　managed　to　say　his　name；　and　it　twisted　my　expression　on　the　way　out；　ruining　my　bluff　〃—he　has
  such　a　temper…　well；　I'm　sure　you　remember。　He's　still　touchy　about　the　whole　James　thing。〃　I　rolled　my
  eyes　and　waved　one　hand　dismissively；　like　it　was　all　ancient　history；　but　there　was　an　edge　of　hysteria　to
  my　voice。　I　wondered　if　he　would　recognize　what　it　was。
  〃Is　he　really？〃　Laurent　asked　pleasantly…　skeptically。
  I　kept　my　reply　short；　so　that　my　voice　wouldn't　betray　my　panic。　〃Mm…hmm。〃
  Laurent　took　a　casual　step　to　the　side；　gazing　around　at　the　little　meadow。　I　didn't　miss　that　the　step
  brought　him　closer　to　me。　In　my　head；　the　voice　responded　with　a　low　snarl。
  〃So　how　are　things　working　out　in　Denali？　Carlisle　said　you　were　staying　with　Tanya？〃　My　voice　was　too
  high。
  The　question　made　him　pause。　〃I　like　Tanya　very　much；〃　he　mused。　〃And　her　sister　Irina　even　more…
  I've　never　stayed　in　one　place　for　so　long　before；　and　I　enjoy　the　advantages；　the　novelty　of　it。　But；　the
  restrictions　are　difficult…　I'm　surprised　that　any　of　them　can　keep　it　up　for　long。〃　He　smiled　at　me
  conspiratorially。　〃Sometimes　I　cheat。〃
  I　couldn't　swallow。　My　foot　started　to　ease　back；　but　I　froze　when　his　red　eyes　flickered　down　to　catch
  the　movement。
  〃Oh；〃　I　said　in　a　faint　voice。　〃Jasper　has　problems　with　that；　too。〃
  〃Don't　move；〃　the　voice　whispered。　I　tried　to　do　what　he　instructed。　It　was　hard；　the　instinct　to　take　flight
  was　nearly　uncontrollable。
  〃Really？〃　Laurent　seemed　interested。　〃Is　that　why　they　left？〃
  〃No；〃　I　answered　honestly。　〃Jasper　is　more　careful　at　home。〃
  〃Yes；〃　Laurent　agreed。　〃I　am；　too。〃
  The　step　forward　he　took　now　was　quite　deliberate。
  〃Did　Victoria　ever　find　you？〃　I　asked；　breathless；　desperate　to　distract　him。　It　was　the　first　question　that
  popped　into　my　head；　and　I　regretted　it　as　soon　as　the　words　were　spoken。　Victoria—who　had　hunted
  me　with　James；　and　then　disappeared—was　not　someone　I　wanted　to　think　of　at　this　particular　moment。
  But　the　question　did　stop　him。
  〃Yes；〃　he　said；　hesitating　on　that　step。　〃I　actually　came　here　as　a　favor　to　her。〃　He　made　a　face。　〃She
  won't　be　happy　about　this。〃
  〃About　what？〃　I　said　eagerly；　inviting　him　to　continue。　He　was　glaring　into　the　trees；　away　from　me。　I
  took　advantage　of　his　diversion；　taking　a　furtive　step　back。
  He　looked　back　at　me　and　smiled—the　expression　made　him　look　like　a　black…haired　angel。
  〃About　me　killing　you；〃　he　answered　in　a　seductive　purr。
  I　staggered　back　another　step。　The　frantic　growling　in　my　head　made　it　hard　to　hear。
  〃She　wanted　to　save　that　part　for　herself；〃　he　went　on　blithely。　〃She's　sort　of…　put　out　with　you；　Bella。〃
  〃Me？〃　I　squeaked。
  He　shook　his　head　and　chuckled。　〃I　know；　it　seems　a　little　backward　to　me；　too。　But　James　was　her
  mate；　and　your　Edward　killed　him。〃
  Even　here；　on　the　point　of　death；　his　name　tore　against　my　unhealed　wounds　like　a　serrated　edge。
  Laurent　was　oblivious　to　my　reaction。　〃She　thought　it　more　appropriate　to　kill　you　than　Edward—fair
  turnabout；　mate　for　mate。　She　asked　me　to　get　the　lay　of　the　land　for　her；　so　to　speak。　I　didn't　imagine
  you　would　be　so　easy　to　get　to。　So　maybe　her　plan　was　flawed—apparently　it　wouldn't　be　the　revenge
  she　imagined；　since　you　must　not　mean　very　much　to　him　if　he　left　you　here　unprotected。〃
  Another　blow；　another　tear　through　my　chest。
  Laurent's　weight　shifted　slightly；　and　I　stumbled　another　step　back。
  He　frowned。　〃I　suppose　she'll　be　angry；　all　the　same。〃
  〃Then　why　not　wait　for　her？〃　I　choked　out。
  A　mischievous　grin　rearranged　his　features。　〃Well；　you've　caught　me　at　a　bad　time；　Bella。　I　didn't　come
  to　this　place　on　Victoria's　mission—I　was　hunting。　I'm　quite　thirsty；　and　you　do　smell…　simply
  mouthwatering。〃
  Laurent　looked　at　me　with　approval；　as　if　he　meant　it　as　a　compliment。
  〃Threaten　him；〃　the　beautiful　delusion　ordered；　his　voice　distorted　with　dread。
  〃He'll　know　it　was　you；〃　I　whispered　obediently。　〃You　won't　get　away　with　this。〃
  〃And　why　not？〃　Laurent's　smile　widened。　He　gazed　around　the　small　opening　in　the　trees。　〃The　scent　will
  wash　away　with　the　next　rain。　No　one　will　find　your　body—you'll　simply　go　missing；　like　so　many；　many
  other　humans。　There's　no　reason　for　Edward　to　think　of　me；　if　he　cares　enough　to　investigate。　This　is
  nothing　personal；　let　me　assure　you；　Bella。　Just　thirst。〃
  〃Beg；〃　my　hallucination　begged。
  〃Please；〃　I　gasped。
  Laurent　shook　his　head；　his　face　kind。　〃Look　at　it　this　way；　Bella。　You're　very　lucky　I　was　the　one　to　find
  you。〃
  〃Am　I？〃　I　mouthed；　faltering　another　step　back。
  Laurent　followed；　lithe　and　graceful。
  〃Yes；〃　he　assured　me。　〃I'll　be　very　quick。　You　won't　feel　a　thing；　I　promise。　Oh；　I'll　lie　to　Victoria　about
  that　later；　naturally；　just　to　placate　her。　But　if　you　knew　what　she　had　planned　for　you；　Bella…〃　He　shook
  his　head　with　a　slow　movement；　almost　as　if　in　disgust。　〃I　swear　you'd　be　thanking　me　for　this。〃
  I　stared　at　him　in　horror。
  He　sniffed　at　the　breeze　that　blew　threads　of　my　hair　in　his　direction。　〃Mouthwatering；〃　he　repeated；
  inhaling　deeply。
  I　tensed　for　the　spring；　my　eyes　squinting　as　I　cringed　away；　and　the　sound　of　Edward's　furious　roar
  echoed　distantly　in　the　back　of　my　head。　His　name　burst　through　all　the　walls　I'd　built　to　contain　it。
  Edward；　Edward；　Edward。　I　was　going　to　die。　It　shouldn't　matter　if　I　thought　of　him　now。　Edward；　I
  love　you。
  Through　my　narrowed　eyes；　I　watched　as　Laurent　paused　in　the　act　of　inhaling　and　whipped　his　head
  abruptly　to　the　left。　I　was　afraid　to　look　away　from　him；　to　follow　his　glance；　though　he　hardly　needed　a
  distraction　or　any　other　trick　to　overpower　me。　I　was　too　amaze