everyone　watching　him　with　amazed　disbelief；　as　if　he

were　mitting　some

embarrassing　social　faux　pas。　I　saw　Felix　grin　hopefully　and　move　a　step

forward。　Aro　glanced　at　him

once；　and　he　froze　in　place；　his　grin　turning　to　a　sulky　expression。

Then　he　spoke　to　Jane。　〃I　was　wondering；　my　dear　one；　if　Bella　is　immune　to

you。〃

I　could　barely　hear　Aro　over　Edward's　furious　growls。　He　let　go　of　me；　moving

to　hide　me　from　their

view。　Caius　ghosted　in　our　direction；　with　his　entourage；　to　watch。

Jane　turned　toward　us　with　a　beatific　smile。

〃Don't！〃　Alice　cried　as　Edward　launched　himself　at　the　little　girl。

Before　I　could　react；　before　anyone　could　jump　between　them；　before　Aro's

bodyguards　could　tense；

Edward　was　on　the　ground。

No　one　had　touched　him；　but　he　was　on　the　stone　floor　writhing　in　obvious

agony；　while　I　stared　in

horror。

Jane　was　smiling　only　at　him　now；　and　it　all　clicked　together。　What　Alice　had

said　about　formidable　gifts

；　why　everyone　treated　Jane　with　such　deference；　and　why　Edward　had　thrown

himself　in　her　path　before

she　could　do　that　to　me。

〃Stop！〃　I　shrieked；　my　voice　echoing　in　the　silence；　jumping　forward　to　put

myself　between　them。　But

Alice　threw　her　arms　around　me　in　an　unbreakable　grasp　and　ignored　my

struggles。　No　sound　escaped

Edward's　lips　as　he　cringed　against　the　stones。　It　felt　like　my　head　would

explode　from　the　pain　of

watching　this。

〃Jane；〃　Aro　recalled　her　in　a　tranquil　voice。　She　looked　up　quickly；　still

smiling　with　pleasure；　her　eyes

questioning。　As　soon　as　Jane　looked　away；　Edward　was　still。

Aro　inclined　his　h