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〃Well； I wasn't going to live without you。〃 He rolled his eyes as if that fact were childishly obvious。 〃But I
wasn't sure how to do it—I knew Emmett and Jasper would never help… so I was thinking maybe I
would go to Italy and do something to provoke the Volturi。〃
I didn't want to believe he was serious； but his golden eyes were brooding； focused on something far
away in the distance as he contemplated ways to end his own life。 Abruptly； I was furious。
〃What is a Volturi？〃 I demanded。
〃The Volturi are a family；〃 he explained； his eyes still remote。 〃A very old； very powerful family of our
kind。 They are the closest thing our world has to a royal family； I suppose。 Carlisle lived with them briefly
in his early years； in Italy； before he settled in America—do you remember the story？〃
〃Of course I remember。〃
I would never forget the first time I'd gone to his home； the huge white mansion buried deep in the forest
beside the river； or the room where Carlisle—Edward's father in so many real ways—kept a wall of
paintings that illustrated his personal history。 The most vivid； most wildly colorful canvas there； the largest；
was from Carlisle's time in Italy。 Of course I remembered the calm quartet of men； each with the
exquisite face of a seraph； painted into the highest balcony overlooking the swirling mayhem of color。
Though the painting was centuries old； Carlisle—the blond angel—remained unchanged。 And I
remembered the three others； Carlisle's early acquaintances。 Edward had never used the name Volturi
for the beautiful trio； two black…haired； one snow white。 He'd called them Aro； Caius； and Marcus；
nighttime patrons of the arts…
〃Anyway； you don't irritate the Volturi；〃 Edward went on； interrupting ray reverie。 〃Not unless you want
to die—or whatever it is we do。〃 His voice was so calm； it made him sound almost bored by the
prospect。
My anger turned to horror。 I took his marble face between my hands and held it very tightly。
〃You must never； never； never think of anything like that again！〃 I said。 〃No matter what might ever
happen to me； you are not allowed to hurt yourself！〃
〃I'll never put you in danger again； so it's a moot point。〃
〃Put me in danger！ I thought we'd established that all the bad luck is my fault？〃 I was getting angrier。
〃How dare you even think like that？〃 The idea of Edward ceasing to exist； even if I were dead； was
impossiblypainful。
〃What would you do； if the situation were reversed？〃 he asked。
〃That's not the same thing。〃
He didn't seem to understand the difference。 He chuckled。
〃What if something did happen to you？〃 I blanched at the thought。 〃Would you want me to go off
myself？〃
A trace of pain touched his perfect features。
〃I guess I see your point… a little；〃 he admitted。 〃But what would I do without you？〃
〃Whatever you were doing before I came along and complicated your existence。〃
He sighed。 〃You make that sound so easy。〃
〃It should be。 I'm not really that interesting。〃
He was about to argue； but then he let it go。 〃Moot point；〃 he reminded me。 Abruptly； he pulled himself
up into a more formal posture； shifting me to the side so that we were no longer touching。
〃Charlie？〃 I guessed。
Edward smiled。 After a moment； I heard the sound of the police cruiser pulling into the driveway。 I
reached out and took his hand firmly。 My dad could deal with that much。
Charlie came in with a pizza box in his hands。
〃Hey； kids。〃 He grinned at me。 〃I thought you'd like a break from cooking and washing dishes for your
birthday。 Hungry？〃
〃Sure。 Thanks； Dad。〃
Charlie didn't comment on Edward's apparent lack of appetite。 He was used to Edward passing on
dinner。
〃Do you mind if I borrow Bella for the evening？〃 Edward asked when Charlie and I were done。
I looked at Charlie hopefully。 Maybe he had some concept of birthdays as stay…at…home； family
affairs—this was my first birthday with him； the first birthday since my mom； Renee； had remarried and
gone to live in Florida； so I didn't know what he would expect。
〃That's fine—the Mariners are playing the Sox tonight；〃 Charlie explained； and my hope disappeared。
〃So I won't be any kind of company… Here。〃 He scooped up the camera he'd gotten me on Renee's
suggestion （because I would need pictures to fill up my scrap…book）； and threw it to me。
He ought to know better than that—I'd always been coordinationally challenged。 The camera glanced off
the tip of my finger； and tumbled toward the floor。 Edward snagged it before it could crash onto the
linoleum。
〃Nice save；〃 Charlie noted。 〃If they're doing something fun at the Cullens' tonight； Bella； you should take
some pictures。 You know how your mother gets—she'll be wanting to see the pictures faster than you
can take them。〃
〃Good idea； Charlie；〃 Edward said； handing me the camera。
I turned the camera on Edward； and snapped the first picture。 〃It works。〃
〃That's good。 Hey； say hi to Alice for me。 She hasn't been over in a while。〃 Charlie's mouth pulled down
at one corner。
〃It's been three days； Dad；〃 I reminded him。 Charlie was crazy about Alice。 He'd become attached last
spring when she'd helped me through my awkward convalescence； Charlie would be fore'ter grateful to
her for saving him from the horror of an almost…adult daughter who needed help showering。 〃I'll tell her。〃
〃Okay。 You kids have fun tonight。〃 It was clearly a dismissal。 Charlie was already edging toward the
living room and the TV。
Edward smiled； triumphant； and took my hand to pull me from the kitchen。
When we got to the truck； he opened the passenger door for me again； and this time I didn't argue。 I still
had a hard time finding the obscure turnoff to his house in the dark。
Edward drove north through Forks； visibly chafing at the speed limit enforced by my prehistoric Chevy。
The engine groaned even louder than usual as he pushed it over fifty。
〃Take it easy；〃 I warned him。
〃You know what you would love？ A nice little Audi coupe。 Very quiet； lots of power…〃
〃There's nothing wrong with my truck。 And speaking of expensive nonessentials； if you know what's
good for you； you didn't spend any money on birthday presents。〃
〃Not a dime；〃 he said virtuously。
〃Good。〃
〃Can you do me a favor？〃
〃That depends on what it is。〃
He sighed； his lovely face serious。 〃Bella； the last real birthday any of us had was Emmett in 1935。 Cut us
a little slack； and don't be too difficult tonight。 They're all very excited。〃
It always startled me a little when he brought up things like that。 〃Fine； I'll behave。〃
〃I probably should warn you…〃
〃Please do。〃
〃When I say they're all excited… I do mean all of them。〃
〃Everyone？〃 I choked。 〃I thought Emmett and Rosalie were in Africa。〃 The rest of Forks was under the
impression that the older Cullens had gone off to college this year； to Dartmouth； but I knew better。
〃Emmett wanted to be here。〃
〃But… Rosalie？〃
〃I know； Bella。 Don't worry； she'll be on her best behavior。〃
I didn't answer。 Like I could just not worry； that easy。 Unlike Alice； Edward's other 〃adopted〃 sister； the
golden blond and exquisite Rosalie； didn't like me much。 Actually； the feeling was a little bit stronger than
just dislike。 As far as Rosalie was concerned； I was an unwelcome intruder into her family's secret life。
I felt horribly guilty about the present situation； guessing that Rosalie and Emmett's prolonged absence
was my fault； even as I furtively enjoyed not having to see her Emmett； Edward's playful bear of a
brother； I did miss。 He was in many ways just like the big brother I'd always wanted… only much； much
more terrifying。
Edward decided to change the subject。 〃So； if you won't let me get you the Audi； isn't there anything that
you'd like for your birthday？〃
The words came out in a whisper。 〃You know what I want。〃
A deep frown carved creases into his marble forehead。 He obviously wished he'd stuck to the subject of
Rosalie。
It felt like we'd had this argument a lot today。
〃Not tonight； Bella。 Please。〃
〃Well； maybe Alice will give me what I want。〃
Edward growled—a deep； menacing sound。 〃This isn't going to be your last birthday； Bella；〃 he vowed。
〃That's not fair！〃
I thought I heard his teeth clench together。
We were pulling up to the house now。 Bright light shined from every window on the first two floors。 A
long line of glowing Japanese lanterns hung from the porch eaves； reflecting a soft radiance on the huge
cedars that surrounded the house。 Big bowls of flowers—pink roses—lined the wide stairs up to the
front doors。
I moaned。
Edward took a few deep breaths to calm himself。 〃This is a party；〃 he reminded me。 〃Try to be a good
sport。〃
〃Sure；〃 I muttered。
He came around to get my door； and offered me his hand。
〃I have a question。〃
He waited warily。
〃If I develop this film；〃 I said； toying with the camera in my hands； 〃will you show up in the picture？〃
Edward started laughing。 He helped me out of the car； pulled me up the stairs； and was still laughing as he
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