more than just an opportunity to witness—they wanted to help tear and burn。
We didn't have a prayer。 Even if we could somehow neutralize the Volturi's advantages； they could still
bury us in bodies。 Even if we killed Demetri； Jacob would not be able to outrun this。
I could feel it as the same comprehension sunk in around me。 Despair weighted the air； pushing me
down with more pressure than before。
One vampire in the opposing force did not seem to belong to either party； I recognized Irina as she
hesitated in between the two companies； her expression unique among the others。 Irina's horrified gaze
was locked on Tanya's position in the front line。 Edward snarled； a very low but fervent sound。
〃Alistairwas right；〃 he murmured to Carlisle。
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I watched Carlisle glance at Edward questioningly。
〃Alistair was right？〃 Tanya whispered。
'They—Caius and Aro—come to destroy and acquire；〃 Edward breathed almost silently back； only our
side could hear。 〃They have many layers of strategy already in place。 If Irina's accusation had somehow
proven to be false； they were committed to find another reason to take offense。 But they can see
Renesmee now； so they are perfectly sanguine about their course。 We could still attempt to defend
against their other contrived charges； but first they have to stop； to hear the truth about Renesmee。〃 Then；
even lower。 〃Which they have no intention of doing。〃
Jacob gave a strange little huff。
And then； unexpectedly； two seconds later； the procession did halt。 The low music of perfectly
synchronized
movements turned to silence。 The flawless discipline remained unbroken； the Volturi froze into absolute
stillness as one。 They stood about a hundred yards away from us。
Behind me； to the sides； I heard the beating of large hearts； closer than before。 I risked glances to the left
and the right from the corners of my eyes to see what had stopped the Volturi advance。
The wolves had joined us。
On either side of our uneven line； the wolves branched out in long； bordering arms。 I only spared a
fraction of a second to note that there were more than ten wolves； to recognize the wolves I knew and
the ones I'd never seen before。 There were sixteen of them spaced evenly around us—seventeen total；
counting Jacob。 It was clear from their heights and oversized paws that the newcomers all were very；
very young。 I supposed I should have foreseen this。 With so many vampires encamped in the
neighborhood； a werewolf population explosion was inevitable。
More children dying。 I wondered why Sam had allowed this； and then I realized he had no other choice。
If any of the wolves stood with us； the Volturi would be sure to search out the rest。 They had gambled
their entire species on this stand。
And we were going to lose。
Abruptly； I was furious。 Beyond furious； I was murderously enraged。 My hopeless despair vanished
entirely。 A faint reddish glow highlighted the dark figures in front of me； and all I wanted in that moment
was the chance to sink my teeth into them； to rip their limbs from their bodies and pile them for burning。 I
was so maddened I could have danced around the pyre where they roasted alive； I would have laughed
while their ashes smoldered。 My lips curved back automatically； and a low； fierce snarl tore up my throat
from the pit of my stomach。 I realized the corners of my mouth were turned up in a smile。
Beside me； Zafrina and Senna echoed my hushed growl。 Edward squeezed the hand he still held；
cautioning me。
The shadowed Volturi faces were still expressionless for the most part。 Only two sets of eyes betrayed
any emotion at all。 In the very center； touching hands； Aro and Caius had paused to evaluate； and the
entire guard had paused with them； waiting for the order to kill。 The two did not look at each other； but it
was obvious that they were communicating。 Marcus； though touching Aro's other hand； did not seem part
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of the conversation。 His expression was not as mindless as the guards'； but it was nearly as blank。 Like
the one other time I'd seen him； he appeared to be utterly bored。
The bodies of the VolturFs witnesses leaned toward us； their eyes fixed furiously on Renesmee and me；
but they stayed near the fringe of the forest； leaving a wide berth between themselves and the Volturi
soldiers。 Only Irina hovered close behind the Volturi； just a few paces away from the ancient females
—both fair…haired with powdery skin and filmed eyes—and their two massive bodyguards。
There was a woman in one of the darker gray cloaks just behind Aro。 I couldn't be sure； but it looked
like she might actually be touching his back。 Was this the other shield； Renata？ I wondered； as Eleazar
had； if she would be able to repel me。
But I would not waste my life trying to get to Caius or Aro。 I had more vital targets。
I searched the line for them now and had no difficulty picking out the two petite； deep gray cloaks near
the heart of the arrangement。 Alec and Jane； easily the smallest members of the guard； stood just to
Marcus's side； flanked by Demetri on the other。 Their lovely faces were smooth； giving nothing away；
they wore the darkest cloaks beside the pure black of the ancients。 The witch twins； Vladimir had called
them。 Their powers were the cornerstone of the Volturi offensive。 The jewels in Aro's collection。
My muscles flexed； and venom welled in my mouth。
Aro's and Caius's clouded red eyes flickered across our line。 I read disappointment in Aro's face as his
gaze roved over our faces again and again； looking for one that was missing。 Chagrin tightened his lips。
In that moment； I was nothing but grateful that Alice had run。
As the pause lengthened； I heard Edward's breath speed。
〃Edward？〃 Carlisle asked； low and anxious。
'They're not sure how to proceed。 They're weighing options； choosing key targets—me； of course； you；
Eleazar； Tanya。 Marcus is reading the strength of our ties to each other； looking for weak points。 The
Romanians' presence irritates them。 They're worried about the faces they don't recognize—Zafrina and
Senna in particular—and the wolves； naturally。 They've never been outnumbered before。 That's what
stopped them。〃
〃Outnumbered？〃 Tanya whispered incredulously。
〃They don't count their witnesses；〃 Edward breathed。 〃They are nonentities； meaningless to the guard。
Aro just enjoys an audience。〃
〃Should I speak？〃 Carlisle asked。
Edward hesitated； then nodded。 〃This is the only chance you'll get。〃
Carlisle squared his shoulders and paced several steps ahead of our defensive line。 I hated to see him
alone； unprotected。
He spread his arms； holding his palms up as if in greeting。 〃Aro； my old friend。 It's been centuries。〃
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The white clearing was dead silent for a long moment。 I could feel the tension rolling off Edward as he
listened to Aro's assessment of Carlisle's words。 The strain mounted as the seconds ticked by。
And then Aro stepped forward out of the center of the Volturi formation。 The shield； Renata； moved
with him as if the tips of her fingers were sewn to his robe。 For the first time； the Volturi ranks reacted。 A
muttered grumble rolled through the line； eyebrows lowered into scowls； lips curled back from teeth。 A
few of the guard leaned forward into a crouch。
Aro held one hand up toward them。 〃Peace。〃
He walked just a few paces more； then cocked his head to one side。 His milky eyes glinted with
curiosity。
〃Fair words； Carlisle；〃 he breathed in his thin； wispy voice。 〃They seem out of place； considering the
army you've assembled to kill me； and to kill my dear ones。〃
Carlisle shook his head and stretched his right hand forward as if there were not still almost a hundred
yards
between them。 〃You have but to touch my hand to know that was never my intent。〃
Aro's shrewd eyes narrowed。 〃But how can your intent possibly matter； dear Carlisle； in the face of what
you have done？〃 He frowned； and a shadow of sadness crossed his features—whether it was genuine or
not； I could not tell。
〃I have not committed the crime you are here to punish me for。〃
〃Then step aside and let us punish those responsible。 Truly； Carlisle； nothing would please me more than
to preserve your life today。〃
〃No one has broken the law； Aro。 Let me explain。〃 Again； Carlisle offered his hand。
Before Aro could answer； Caius drifted swiftly forward to Aro's side。
〃So many pointless rules； so many unnecessary laws you create for yourself； Carlisle；〃 th