rushing　somewhere　close　by　in

the　darkness。

〃Well—〃　I　struggled　to　find　the　right　way　to　phrase　it。　〃I　don't　trust　myself

to　be　enough。　To　deserve

you。　There's　nothing　about　me　that　could　hold　you。〃

He　stopped　and　reached　around　to　pull　me　from　his　back。　His　gentle　hands　did

not　release　me；　after　he'd

set　me　on　my　feet　again；　he　wrapped　his　arms　tightly　around　me；　hugging　me　to

his　chest。

〃Your　hold　is　permanent　and　unbreakable；〃　he　whispered。　〃Never　doubt　that。〃

But　how　could　I　not？

〃You　never　did　tell　me〃　he　murmured。

〃What？〃

〃What　your　greatest　problem　is。〃

〃I'll　give　you　one　guess。〃　I　sighed；　and　reached　up　to　touch　the　tip　of　his

nose　with　my　index　finger。

He　nodded。　〃I'm　worse　than　the　Volturi；〃　he　said　grimly。　〃I　guess　I've　earned

that。〃

I　rolled　my　eyes。　〃The　worst　the　Volturi　can　do　is　kill　me。〃

He　waited　with　tense　eyes。

〃You　can　leave　me；〃　I　explained。　〃The　Volturi；　Victoria　they're　nothing

pared　to　that。〃

Even　in　the　darkness；　I　could　see　the　anguish　twist　his　face—it　reminded　me

of　his　expression　under

Jane's　torturing　gaze；　I　felt　sick；　and　regretted　speaking　the　truth。

〃Don't；〃　I　whispered；　touching　his　face。　〃Don't　be　sad。〃

He　pulled　one　corner　of　his　mouth　up　halfheartedly；　but　the　expression　didn't

touch　his　eyes。　〃If　there　was

only　some　way　to　make　you　see　that　I　can't　leave　you；〃　he　whispered。　〃Time；　I

suppose；　will　be　the　way

to　convince　you。〃

I　liked　the　idea　of　time。　〃Okay；〃　I　agreed。

His　face　was　still　tormented。　I　tried　to　distract　him　with　inconsequentials。

〃So—since　you're　staying。　Can　I　have　my　stuff　back？〃　I　asked