His　eyes　softened；　while　his　mouth　went　hard。　〃That's　exactly　what　I'm　going

to　do。　What　choice　have　I？

I　cannot　be　without　you；　but　I　will　not　destroy　your　soul。〃

〃Is　this　really〃　I　tried　to　keep　my　voice　even；　but　this　question　was　too

hard。　I　remembered　his　face

when　Aro　had　almost　begged　him　to　consider　making　me　immortal。　The　sick　look

there。　Was　this　fixation

with　keeping　me　human　really　about　my　soul；　or　was　it　because　he　wasn't　sure

that　he　wanted　me　around

that　long？

〃Yes？〃　he　asked；　waiting　for　my　question。

I　asked　a　different　one。　Almost—but　not　quite—as　hard。

〃But　what　about　when　I　get　so　old　that　people　think　I'm　your　mother？　Your

grandmother？〃　My　voice

was　pale　with　revulsion—I　could　see　Gran's　face　again　in　the　dream　mirror。

His　whole　face　was　soft　now。　He　brushed　the　tears　from　my　cheek　with　his　lips。

〃That　doesn't　mean

anything　to　me；〃　he　breathed　against　my　skin。　〃You　will　always　be　the　most

beautiful　thing　in　my　world。

Of　course〃　He　hesitated；　flinching　slightly。　〃If　you　outgrew　me—if　you

wanted　something　more—I

would　understand　that；　Bella。　I　promise　I　wouldn't　stand　in　your　way　if　you

wanted　to　leave　me。〃

His　eyes　were　liquid　onyx　and　utterly　sincere。　He　spoke　as　if　he'd　put　endless

amounts　of　thought　into　this

asinine　plan。

〃You　do　realize　that　I'll　die　eventually；　right？〃　I　demanded。

He'd　thought　about　this　part；　too。　〃I'll　follow　after　as　soon　as　I　can。〃

〃That　is　seriously〃I　looked　for　the　right　word。　〃Sick。〃

〃B