ld；　powerful　family—like　royalty。　That　you　didn't

antagonize　them　unless　you

wanted　to　die；〃　I　whispered。　The　last　word　was　hard　to　choke　out。

〃You　have　to　understand；〃　she　said；　her　voice　slower；　more　measured　now。　〃We

Cullens　are　unique　in

more　ways　than　you　know。　It's　abnormal　for　so　many　of　us　to　live　together　in

peace。　It's　the　same　for

Tanya's　family　in　the　north；　and　Carlisle　speculates　that　abstaining　makes　it

easier　for　us　to　be　civilized；　to

form　bonds　based　on　love　rather　than　survival　or　convenience。　Even　James's

little　coven　of　three　was

unusually　large—and　you　saw　how　easily　Laurent　left　them。　Our　kind　travel

alone；　or　in　pairs；　as　a

general　rule。　Carlisle's　family　is　the　biggest　in　existence；　as　far　as　I　know；

with　the　one　exception。　The

Volturi。

〃There　were　three　of　them　originally；　Aro；　Caius；　and　Marcus。〃

〃I've　seen　them；〃　I　mumbled。　〃In　the　picture　in　Carlisle's　study。〃

Alice　nodded。　〃Two　females　joined　them　over　time；　and　the　five　of　them　make　up

the　family。　I'm　not　sure；

but　I　suspect　that　their　age　is　what　gives　them　the　ability　to　live　peacefully

together。　They　are　well　over

three　thousand　years　old。　Or　maybe　it's　their　gifts　that　give　them　extra

tolerance。　Like　Edward　and　I；　Aro

and　Marcus　are　talented。〃

She　continued　before　I　could　ask。　〃Or　maybe　it's　just　their　love　of　power　that

binds　them　together。

Royalty　is　an　apt　description。〃

〃But　if　there　are　only　five—〃

〃Five　that　make　up　the　family；〃　she　corrected。　〃That　doesn't　include　their

guard。〃

I　took　a　deep　breath。　〃That　sounds　serious。〃

〃Oh；　it　is；〃　she　assured　me。　〃There　we