truth。　That's　the　way　things　are；　Bells。〃

〃I　do　not　like　the　way　things　are。〃

Jacob　freed　one　arm　so　that　he　could　cup　his　big　brown　hand　under　my　chin　and

make　me　look　at　him。

〃Yeah。　It　was　easier　when　we　were　both　human；　wasn't　it？〃

I　sighed。

We　stared　at　each　other　for　a　long　moment。　His　hand　smoldered　against　my　skin。

In　my　face；　I　knew

there　was　nothing　but　wistful　sadness—I　didn't　want　to　have　to　say　goodbye

now；　no　matter　for　how

short　a　time。　At　first　his　face　reflected　mine；　but　then；　as　neither　of　us

looked　away；　his　expression

changed。

He　released　me；　lifting　his　other　hand　to　brush　his　fingertips　along　my　cheek；

trailing　them　down　to　my

jaw。　I　could　feel　his　fingers　tremble—not　with　anger　this　time。　He　pressed

his　palm　against　my　cheek；　so

that　my　face　was　trapped　between　his　burning　hands。

〃Bella；〃　he　whispered。

I　was　frozen。

No！　I　hadn't　made　this　decision　yet。　I　didn't　know　if　I　could　do　this；　and　now

I　was　out　of　time　to　think。

But　I　would　have　been　a　fool　if　I　thought　rejecting　him　now　would　have　no

consequences。

I　stared　back　at　him。　He　was　not　my　Jacob；　but　he　could　be。　His　face　was

familiar　and　beloved。　In　so

many　real　ways；　I　did　love　him。　He　was　my　fort；　my　safe　harbor。　Right　now；

I　could　choose　to　have

him　belong　to　me。

Alice　was　back　for　the　moment；　but　that　changed　nothing。　True　love　was　forever

lost。　The　prince　was

never　ing　back　to　kiss　me　awake　from　my　enchanted　sleep。　I　was　not　a

princess；　after　all。　So　what

was　the　fairy…tale　protocol　for　other　kisses？　The　mundane　kind　that　didn't

break　any　spells？

M