〃That's　just　fine；〃　Felix　purred。　My　eyes　were　adjusting　to　the　deep　shade；

and　I　could　see　that　Felix　was

very　big；　tall　and　thick　through　the　shoulders。　His　size　reminded　me　of

Emmett。

〃Aro　will　be　disappointed；〃　Demetri　sighed。

〃I'm　sure　he'll　survive　the　letdown；〃　Edward　replied。

Felix　and　Demetri　stole　closer　toward　the　mouth　of　the　alley；　spreading　out

slightly　so　they　could　e　at

Edward　from　two　sides。　They　meant　to　force　him　deeper　into　the　alley；　to　avoid

a　scene。　No　reflected

light　found　access　to　their　skin；　they　were　safe　inside　their　cloaks。

Edward　didn't　move　an　inch。　He　was　dooming　himself　by　protecting　me。

Abruptly；　Edward's　head　whipped　around；　toward　the　darkness　of　the　winding

alley；　and　Demetri　and

Felix　did　the　same；　in　response　to　some　sound　or　movement　too　subtle　for　my

senses。

〃Let's　behave　ourselves；　shall　we？〃　a　lilting　voice　suggested。　〃There　are

ladies　present。〃

Alice　tripped　lightly　to　Edward's　side；　her　stance　casual。　There　was　no　hint

of　any　underlying　tension。　She

looked　so　tiny；　so　fragile。　Her　little　arms　swung　like　a　child's。

Yet　Demetri　and　Felix　both　straightened　up；　their　cloaks　swirling　slightly　as

a　gust　of　wind　funneled

through　the　alley。　Felix's　face　soured。　Apparently；　they　didn't　like　even

numbers。

〃We're　not　alone；〃　she　reminded　them。

Demetri　glanced　over　his　shoulder。　A　few　yards　into　the　square；　the　little

family；　with　the　girls　in　their　red

dresses；　was　watching　us。　The　mother　was　speaking　urgently　to　her　husband；　her

eyes　on　the　five　of　us。

She　looked　away　when　Demetri　met　her　gaze。　The　man　walked　a　few　steps　far