rried　him　across　the　rooftops　back

to　my　home。

〃I　wasn't　sure　what　had　to　be　done。　I　settled　for　recreating　the　wounds　I'd

received　myself；　so　many

centuries　earlier　in　London。　I　felt　bad　about　that　later。　It　was　more　painful

and　lingering　than　necessary。

〃I　wasn't　sorry；　though。　I've　never　been　sorry　that　I　saved　Edward。〃　He　shook

his　head；　ing　back　to

the　present。　He　smiled　at　me。　〃I　suppose　I　should　take　you　home　now。〃

〃I'll　do　that；〃　Edward　said。　He　came　through　the　shadowy　dining　room；　walking

slowly　for　him。　His　face

was　smooth；　unreadable；　but　there　was　something　wrong　with　his　eyes—something

he　was　trying　very

hard　to　hide。　I　felt　a　spasm　of　unease　in　my　stomach。

〃Carlisle　can　take　me；〃　I　said。　I　looked　down　at　my　shirt；　the　light　blue

cotton　was　soaked　and　spotted

with　my　blood。　My　right　shoulder　was　covered　in　thick　pink　frosting。

〃I'm　fine。〃　Edward's　voice　was　unemotional。　〃You'll　need　to　change　anyway。

You'd　give　Charlie　a　heart

attack　the　way　you　look。　I'll　have　Alice　get　you　something。〃　He　strode　out　the

kitchen　door　again。

I　looked　at　Carlisle　anxiously。　〃He's　very　upset。〃

〃Yes；〃　Carlisle　agreed。　〃Tonight　is　exactly　the　kind　of　thing　that　he　fears

the　most。　You　being　put　in

danger；　because　of　what　we　are。〃

〃It's　not　his　fault。〃

〃It's　not　yours；　either。〃

I　looked　away　from　his　wise；　beautiful　eyes。　I　couldn't　agree　with　that。

Carlisle　offered　me　his　hand　and　helped　me　up　from　the　table。　I　followed　him

out　into　the　main　room。

Esme　had　e　back；　she　was　mopping　the　floor　where　I'd　fallen—with　straight

bleach　from　the　smell　of

it。

〃Es