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residence nearby。 There's another permanent settlement like ours up near
Denali。〃
Laurent rocked back on his heels slightly。
〃Permanent？ How do you manage that？〃 There was honest curiosity in his
voice。
〃Why don't you e back to our home with us and we can talk
fortably？〃 Carlisle invited。 〃It's a rather long story。〃
James and Victoria exchanged a surprised look at the mention of the word
〃home；〃 but Laurent controlled his expression better。
〃That sounds very interesting； and wele。〃 His smile was genial。 〃We've
been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario； and we haven't had the
chance to clean up in a while。〃 His eyes moved appreciatively over
Carlisle's refined appearance。
〃Please don't take offense； but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from
hunting in this immediate area。 We have to stay inconspicuous； you
understand；〃 Carlisle explained。
〃Of course。〃 Laurent nodded。 〃We certainly won't encroach on your
territory。 We just ate outside of Seattle； anyway；〃 he laughed。 A shiver
ran up my spine。
〃We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us — Emmett and Alice；
you can go with Edward and Bella to get the Jeep；〃 he casually added。
Three things seemed to happen simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking。
My hair ruffled with the light breeze； Edward stiffened； and the second
male； James； suddenly whipped his head around； scrutinizing me； his
nostrils flaring。
A swift rigidity fell on all of them as James lurched one step forward
into a crouch。 Edward bared his teeth； crouching in defense； a feral
snarl ripping from his throat。
It was nothing like the playful sounds I'd heard from him this morning；
it was the single most menacing thing I had ever heard； and chills ran
from the crown of my head to the back of my heels。
〃What's this？〃 Laurent exclaimed in open surprise。 Neither James nor
Edward relaxed their aggressive poses。 James feinted slightly to the
side； and Edward shifted in response。
〃She's with us。〃 Carlisle's firm rebuff was directed toward James。
Laurent seemed to catch my scent less powerfully than James； but
awareness now dawned on his face。
〃You brought a snack？〃 he asked； his expression incredulous as he took an
involuntary step forward。
Edward snarled even more ferociously； harshly； his lip curling high above
his glistening； bared teeth。 Laurent stepped back again。
〃I said she's with us；〃 Carlisle corrected in a hard voice。
〃But she's human；〃 Laurent protested。 The words were not at all
aggressive； merely astounded。
〃Yes。〃 Emmett was very much in evidence at Carlisle's side； his eyes on
James。 James slowly straightened out of his crouch； but his eyes never
left me； his nostrils still wide。 Edward stayed tensed like a lion in
front of me。
When Laurent spoke； his tone was soothing — trying to defuse the sudden
hostility。 〃It appears we have a lot to learn about each other。〃
〃Indeed。〃 Carlisle's voice was still cool。
〃But we'd like to accept your invitation。〃 His eyes flicked toward me and
back to Carlisle。 〃And； of course； we will not harm the human girl。 We
won't hunt in your range； as I said。〃
James glanced in disbelief and aggravation at Laurent and exchanged
another brief look with Victoria； whose eyes still flickered edgily from
face to face。
Carlisle measured Laurent's open expression for a moment before he spoke。
〃We'll show you the way。 Jasper； Rosalie； Esme？〃 he called。 They gathered
together； blocking me from view as they converged。 Alice was instantly at
my side； and Emmett fell back slowly； his eyes locked on James as he
backed toward us。
〃Let's go； Bella。〃 Edward's voice was low and bleak。
This whole time I'd been rooted in place； terrified into absolute
immobility。 Edward had to grip my elbow and pull sharply to break my
trance。 Alice and Emmett were close behind us； hiding me。 I stumbled
alongside Edward； still stunned with fear。 I couldn't hear if the main
group had left yet。 Edward's impatience was almost tangible as we moved
at human speed to the forest edge。
Once we were into the trees； Edward slung me over his back without
breaking stride。 I gripped as tightly as possible as he took off； the
others close on his heels。 I kept my head down； but my eyes； wide with
fright； wouldn't close。 They plunged through the nowblack forest like
wraiths。 The sense of exhilaration that usually seemed to possess Edward
as he ran was pletely absent； replaced by a fury that consumed him and
drove him still faster。 Even with me on his back； the others trailed
behind。
We reached the Jeep in an impossibly short time； and Edward barely slowed
as he flung me in the backseat。
〃Strap her in；〃 he ordered Emmett； who slid in beside me。
Alice was already in the front seat； and Edward was starting the engine。
It roared to life and we swerved backward； spinning around to face the
winding road。
Edward was growling something too fast for me to understand； but it
sounded a lot like a string of profanities。
The jolting trip was much worse this time； and the darkness only made it
more frightening。 Emmett and Alice both glared out the side windows。
We hit the main road； and though our speed increased； I could see much
better where we were going。 And we were headed south； away from Forks。
〃Where are we going？〃 I asked。
No one answered。 No one even looked at me。
〃Dammit； Edward！ Where are you taking me？〃
〃We have to get you away from here — far away — now。〃 He didn't look
back； his eyes on the road。 The speedometer read a hundred and five miles
an hour。
〃Turn around！ You have to take me home！〃 I shouted。 I struggled with the
stupid harness； tearing at the straps。
〃Emmett；〃 Edward said grimly。
And Emmett secured my hands in his steely grasp。
〃No！ Edward！ No； you can't do this。〃
〃I have to； Bella； now please be quiet。〃
〃I won't！ You have to take me back — Charlie will call the FBI！ They'll
be all over your family — Carlisle and Esme！ They'll have to leave； to
hide forever！〃
〃Calm down； Bella。〃 His voice was cold。 〃We've been ther