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uld be Ephraim s own progeny that would violate the treaty he d vowed to uphold。 A grandson； or greatgrandson perhaps。 How many years had it been？ Seventy？ I should have realized that it was not the old men who believed in the legends that would be the danger。 Of course； the younger generation those who would have been warned； but would have thought the ancient superstitions laughable of course that was where the danger of exposure would lie。 I supposed this meant I was now free to slaughter the small； defenseless tribe on the coastline； were I so inclined。 Ephraim and his pack of protectors were long dead He just thought it was a silly superstition； Bella said suddenly； her voice edged with a new anxiety。 He didn t expect me to think anything of it。 Out of the corner of my eye； I saw her twist her hands uneasily。 It was my fault； she said after a brief pause； and then she hung her head as if she were ashamed。 I forced him to tell me。 Why？ It wasn t so hard to keep my voice level now。 The worst was already done。 As long as we spoke of the details of the revelation； we didn t have to move on to the consequences of it。 Lauren said something about you she was trying to provoke me。 She made a little face at the memory。 I was slightly distracted； wondering how Bella would be provoked by someone talking about me And an older boy from the tribe said your family didn t e to the reservation； only it sounded like he meant something different。 So I got Jacob alone and I tricked it out of him。 Her head dropped even lower as she admitted this； and her expression looked guilty。 I looked away from her and laughed out loud。 She felt guilty？ possibly have done to deserve censure of any kind？ Tricked him how？ I asked。 What could she
I tried to flirt it worked better than I thought it would； she explained； and her voice turned incredulous at the memory of that success。 I could just imagine considering the attraction she seemed to have for all things male； totally unconscious on her part how overwhelming she would be when she tried to be attractive。 I was suddenly full of pity for the unsuspecting boy she d unleashed such a potent force on。 I d like to have seen that； I said； and then I laughed again with the black humor。 I wished I could have heard the boy s reaction； witnessed the devastation for myself。 And you accused me of dazzling people poor Jacob Black。 I wasn t as angry with the source of my exposure as I would have expected to feel。 He didn t know better。 And how could I expect anyone to deny this girl what she wanted？ No； I only felt sympathy for the damage she would have done to his peace of mind。 I felt her blush heat the air between us。 out her window。 She didn t speak again。 What did you do then？ I prompted。 I glanced at her； and she was staring Time to get back to the horror story。 I did some research on the inter。 Ever practical。 No； she said。 And did that convince you？ Nothing fit。 Most of it was kind of silly。 And then She broke off again； and I heard her teeth lock together。 What？ I demanded。 her？ What had she found？ What had made sense of the nightmare for There was a short paused； and then she whispered； I decided it didn t matter。 Shock froze my thoughts for a halfsecond； and then it all fit together。 Why she d sent her friends away tonight rather than escape with them。 Why she had gotten into my car with me again instead of running； screaming for the police Her reactions were always wrong always pletely wrong。 herself。 She invited it。 She pulled danger toward How was I supposed It didn t matter？ I said through my teeth； anger filling me。 to protect someone so so so determined to be unprotected？ No； she said in a low voice that was inexplicably tender。 me what you are。 She was impossible。 You don t care if I m a monster？ No。 If I m not human？ It doesn t matter to
I started to wonder if she was entirely stable。 I supposed that I could arrange for her to receive the best care available Carlisle would have the connections to find her the most skilled doctors； the most talented therapists。 Perhaps something could be done to fix whatever it was that was wrong with her； what ever it was that made her content to sit beside a vampire with her heart beating calmly and steadily。 I would watch over the facility； naturally； and visit as often as I was allowed You re angry； she sighed。 I shouldn t have said anything。 As if her hiding these disturbing tendencies would help either of us。 No。 I d rather know what you re thinking even if what you re thinking is insane。 So I m wrong again？ she asked； a bit belligerent now。 That s not what I was referring to！ My teeth clenched together again。 doesn t matter ！ I repeated in a scathing tone。 She gasped。 I m right？ It Does it matter？ I countered。 She took a deep breath。 I waited angrily for her answer。 But I am curious。 She knew I was inhuman； a I Not really； she said； her voice posed again。 Not really。 It didn t really matter。 She didn t care。 monster； and this didn t really matter to her。 Aside from my worries about her sanity； I began to feel a swelling of hope。 tried to quash it。 What are you curious about？ I asked her。 details。 How old are you？ she asked。 My answer was automatic and ingrained。 And how long have you been seventeen？ I tried not to smile at the patronizing tone。 A while； I admitted。 Seventeen。 There were no secrets left； only minor Okay； she said； abruptly enthusiastic。 She smiled up at me。 back； anxious again about her mental health； she smiled wider。 Don t laugh； she warned。 When I stared I grimaced。 But how can you e out during the daytime？ Her research had not ted her anything unusual； I laughed despite her request。 it seemed。 Myth； I told her。 Burned by the sun？ Myth。
Sleeping in coffins？ Myth。 Sleep had not been a part of my life for so long not until these last few nights； as I d watched Bella dreaming I can t sleep； I murmured； answering her question more fully。 She was silent for a moment。 At all？ she asked。 Never； I breathed。 I stared into her eyes； wide under the thick fringe of lashes； and yearned for sleep。 Not for oblivion； as I had before； not to escape boredom； but because I wanted to dream。 Maybe； if I could be unconscious； if I could dream； I could live for a few hours in a world where she and I could be together。 She dreamed of me。 I wanted to dream of her。 She stared back at me； her expression full of wonder。 I could not dream of her。 She should not dream of me。 I had to look away。 You haven t asked me the most important question yet； I said； my silent chest colder and harder than before。 She had to be forced to understand。 At some point； she would have to realize what she was doing now。 She must be made to see that this all did matter more than any other consideration。 Considerations like the fact that I loved her。 Which one is that？ she asked； surprised and unaware。 This only made my voice harder。 Oh。 That。 You aren t concerned about my diet？ She spoke in a quiet tone that I couldn t interpret。 Don t you want to know if I drink blood？ Finally。 She was understanding。 Yes； that。 She cringed away from my question。 Well； Jacob said something about that； she said。 What did Jacob say？ He said you didn t hunt people。 He said your family wasn t supposed to be dangerous because you only hunted animals。 He said we weren t dangerous？ I repeated cynically。 Not exactly； she clarified。 He said you weren t supposed to be dangerous。 the Quileutes still didn t want you on their land； just in case。 But I stared at the road； my thoughts in a hopeless snarl； my throat aching with the familiar fiery thirst。 So； was he right？ she asked； as calmly as if she were confirming a weather
report。 About not hunting people？ The Quileutes have a long memory。 She nodded to herself； thinking hard。 Don t let that make you placent； though； I said quickly。 keep their distance from us。 We are still dangerous。 I don t understand。 No she didn t。 How to make her see？ They re right to We try； I told her。 We re usually very good at what we do。 Sometimes we make mistakes。 Me； for example； allowing myself to be alone with you。 Her scent was still a force in the car。 I was growing used to it； I could almost ignore it； but there was no denying that my body still yearned toward her for the wron