toria's　returning　for　you　seem　like　such　an　inconsequential

matter　in　parison？〃

〃How　about　the　second　greatest？〃　I　hedged。

〃All　right；〃　he　agreed；　suspicious。

I　paused。　I　wasn't　sure　I　could　say　the　name。　〃There　are　others　who　are　ing

to　look　for　me；〃　I

reminded　him　in　a　subdued　whisper。

He　sighed；　but　the　reaction　was　not　as　strong　as　I　would　have　imagined　after

his　response　to　Victoria。

〃The　Volturi　are　only　the　second　greatest？〃

〃You　don't　seem　that　upset　about　it；〃　I　noted。

〃Well；　we　have　plenty　of　time　to　think　it　through。　Time　means　something　very

different　to　them　than　it

does　to　you；　or　even　me。　They　count　years　the　way　you　count　days。　I　wouldn't

be　surprised　if　you　were

thirty　before　you　crossed　their　minds　again；〃　he　added　lightly。

Horror　washed　through　me。

Thirty。

So　his　promises　meant　nothing；　in　the　end。　If　I　were　going　to　turn　thirty

someday；　then　he　couldn't　be

planning　on　staying　long。　The　harsh　pain　of　this　knowledge　made　me　realize

that　I'd　already　begun　to

hope；　without　giving　myself　permission　to　do　5。0。

〃You　don't　have　to　be　afraid；〃　he　said；　anxious　as　he　watched　the　tears　dew　up

again　on　the　rims　of　my

eyes。　〃I　won't　let　them　hurt　you。〃

〃While　you're　here。〃　Not　that　I　cared　what　happened　to　me　when　he　left。

He　took　my　face　between　his　two　stone　hands；　holding　it　tightly　while　his

midnight　eyes　glared　into　mine

with　the　gravitational　force　of　a　black　hole。　〃I　will　never　leave　you　again。〃

〃But　you　said　thirty；〃　I　whispered。　The　tears　leaked　over　the　edge。　〃What？

You're　going　to　stay；　but　let

me　get　all　old　anyway？　Right。〃