chosen。　I　expected　that　he　would　waste；　weaken　with　time。　I'd　scoffed　at　his

plan　to　find　others　who

would　share　his　peculiar　vision。　Yet；　somehow；　I'm　happy　to　be　wrong。〃

Edward　didn't　reply。

〃But　your　restraint！〃　Aro　sighed。　〃I　did　not　know　such　strength　was　possible。

To　inure　yourself　against

such　a　siren　call；　not　just　once　but　again　and　again—if　I　had　not　felt　it

myself；　I　would　not　have　believed。〃

Edward　gazed　back　at　Aro's　admiration　with　no　expression。　I　knew　his　face　well

enough—time　had　not

changed　that—to　guess　at　something　seething　beneath　the　surface。　I　fought　to

keep　my　breathing　even。

〃Just　remembering　how　she　appeals　to　you〃　Aro　chuckled。　〃It　makes　me

thirsty。〃

Edward　tensed。

〃Don't　be　disturbed；〃　Aro　reassured　him。　〃I　mean　her　no　harm。　But　I　am　so

curious；　about　one　thing　in

particular。〃　He　eyed　me　with　bright　interest。　〃May　I？〃　he　asked　eagerly；

lifting　one　hand。

〃Ask　her；〃　Edward　suggested　in　a　flat　voice。

〃Of　course；　how　rude　of　me！〃　Aro　exclaimed。　〃Bella；〃　he　addressed　me　directly

now。　〃I'm　fascinated　that

you　are　the　one　exception　to　Edward's　impressive　talent—so　very　interesting

that　such　a　thing　should

occur！　And　I　was　wondering；　since　our　talents　are　similar　in　many　ways；　if　you

would　be　so　kind　as　to

allow　me　to　try—to　see　if　you　are　an　exception　for　me；　as　well？〃

My　eyes　flashed　up　to　Edward's　face　in　terror。　Despite　Aro's　overt　politeness；

I　didn't　believe　I　really　had

a　choice。　I　was　horrified　at　the　thought　of　allowing　him　to　touch　me；　and　yet

also　perversely　intrigued　by

the　chance　to　feel　his　strange　skin。

Edward