〃Good；〃　I　sighed　with　relief。　〃Then　we're　all　on　the　same　page。〃

They　waited　patiently　while　I　tried　to　order　my　thoughts。

〃So；　I　have　a　problem；〃　I　began。　〃Alice　promised　the　Volturi　that　I　would

bee　one　of　you。　They're

going　to　send　someone　to　check；　and　I'm　sure　that's　a　bad　thing—something　to

avoid。

〃And　so；　now；　this　involves　you　all。　I'm　sorry　about　that。〃　I　looked　at　each

one　of　their　beautiful　faces；

saving　the　most　beautiful　for　last。　Edward's　mouth　was　turned　down　into　a

grimace。　〃But；　if　you　don't

want　me；　then　I'm　not　going　to　force　myself　on　you；　whether　Alice　is　willing

or　not。〃

Esme　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　but　I　held　up　one　finger　to　stop　her。

〃Please；　let　me　finish。　You　all　know　what　I　want。　And　I'm　sure　you　know　what

Edward　thinks；　too。　I

think　the　only　fair　way　to　decide　is　for　everyone　to　have　a　vote。　If　you

decide　you　don't　want　me；　then

I　guess　I'll　go　back　to　Italy　alone。　I　can't　have　them　ing　here。〃　My

forehead　creased　as　I　considered

that。

There　was　the　faint　rumble　of　a　growl　in　Edward's　chest。　I　ignored　him。

〃Taking　into　account；　then；　that　I　won't　put　any　of　you　in　danger　either　way；

I　want　you　to　vote　yes　or　no

on　the　issue　of　me　being　a　vampire。〃

I　half…smiled　on　the　last　word；　and　gestured　toward　Carlisle　to　begin。

〃Just　a　minute；〃　Edward　interrupted。

I　glared　at　him　through　narrowed　eyes。　He　raised　his　eyebrows　at　me；　squeezing

my　hand。

〃I　have　something　to　add　before　we　vote。〃

I　sighed。

〃About　the　danger　Bella's　referring　to；〃　he　continued。　〃I　don't　think　we　need

to　be　overly　anxious。〃

His　expression　became　more　an