madness to wait； when he's clearly developed beyond what Carlisle had guessed。 Bella's too fragile to
delay。〃
I kept getting my legs knocked out from under me。 First； counting on Edward's hatred of the thing so
much。 Now； I'd realized that I thought of those four days as a sure thing。 I'd banked on them。
The endless ocean of grief that waited stretched out before me。
I tried to catch my breath。
Edward waited。 I stared at his face while I recovered； recognizing another change there。
〃You think she's going to make it；〃 I whispered。
〃Yes。 That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about。〃
I couldn't say anything。 After a minute； he went on。
〃Yes；〃 he said again。 〃Waiting； as we have been； for the child to be ready； that was insanely dangerous。
At any moment it could have been too late。 But if we're proactive about this； if we act quickly； I see no
reason why it should not go well。 Knowing the child's mind is unbelievably helpful。 Thankfully； Bella and
Rose agree with me。 Now that I've convinced them it's safe for the child if we proceed； there's nothing to
keep this from working。〃
〃When will Carlisle be back？〃 I asked； still whispering。 I hadn't got my breath back yet。
〃By noon tomorrow。〃
My knees buckled。 I had to grab the car to hold myself up。 Edward reached out like he was offering
support； but then he thought better of it and dropped his hands。
〃I'm sorry；〃 he whispered。 〃I am truly sorry for the pain this causes you； Jacob。 Though you hate me； I
must admit that I don't feel the same about you。 I think of you as a。。。 a brother in many ways。 A rade
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in arms； at the very least。 I regret your suffering more than you realize。 But Bella is going to survive〃
—when he said that his voice was fierce； even violent—〃and I know that's what really matters to you。〃
He was probably right。 It was hard to tell。 My head was spinning。
〃So I hate to do this now； while you're already dealing with too much； but； clearly； there is little time。 I
have to ask you for something—to beg； if I must。〃
〃I don't have anything left；〃 I choked out。
He lifted his hand again； as if to put it on my shoulder； but then let it drop like before and sighed。
〃I know how much you have given；〃 he said quietly。 〃But this is something you do have； and only you。
I'm asking this of the true Alpha； Jacob。 I'm asking this of Ephraim's heir。〃
I was way past being able to respond。
〃I want your permission to deviate from what we agreed to in our treaty with Ephraim。 I want you to
grant us an exception。 I want your permission to save her life。 You know 111 do it anyway； but I don't
want to break faith with you if there is any way to avoid it。 We never intended to go back on our word；
and we don't do it lightly now。 I want your understanding； Jacob； because you know exactly why we do
this。 I want the alliance between our families to survive when this is over。〃
I tried to swallow。 Sam； I thought。 It's Sam you want。
〃No。 Sam's authority is assumed。 It belongs to you。 You'll never take it from him； but no one can
rightfully agree to what I'm asking except for you〃
It's not my decision。
〃It is； Jacob； and you know it。 Your word on this will condemn us or absolve us。 Only you can give this
to me。〃
can't think。 I don't know。
〃We don't have much time。〃 He glanced back toward the house。
No； there was no time。 My few days had bee a few hours。
don't know。 Let me think。 Just give me a minute here； okay？
〃Yes。〃
I started walking to the house； and he followed。 Crazy how easy it was； walking through the dark with a
vampire right beside me。 It didn't feel unsafe； or even unfortable； really。 It felt like walking next to
anybody。 Well； anybody who smelled bad。
There was a movement in the brush at the edge of the big lawn； and then a low whimper。 Seth shrugged
through the ferns and loped over to us。
〃Hey； kid；〃 I muttered。
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He dipped his head； and I patted his shoulder。
〃S'all cool；〃 I lied。 〃I'll tell you about it later。 Sorry to take off on you like that。〃
He grinned at me。
〃Hey； tell your sister to back off now； okay？ Enough。〃
Seth nodded once。
I shoved against his shoulder this time。 〃Get back to work。 I'll spell you in a bit。〃
Seth leaned against me； shoving back； and then he galloped into the trees。
〃He has one of the purest； sincerest； kindest minds I've ever heard；〃 Edward murmured when he was
outof sight。 〃You're lucky to have his thoughts to share。〃
〃I know that；〃！ grunted。
We started toward the house； and both of our heads snapped up when we heard the sound of someone
sucking through a straw。 Edward was in a hurry then。He darted up the porch stairs and was gone。
〃Bella； love； Ithought you were sleeping；〃 I heard him say。 〃I'm sorry； I wouldn't have left。〃
〃Don't worry。 Ijust got so thirsty—it woke me up。It's a good thing Carlisle is bringing more。 This kid is
going to need it when he gets out of me。〃
〃True。 That's a good point。〃
〃I wonder if he'll want anything else；〃 she mused。
〃I suppose we'll find out。〃
I walked through the door。
Alice said； 〃Finally；〃 and Bella's eyes flashed to me。 That infuriating； irresistible smile broke across her
face for one second。 Then it faltered； and her face fell。 Her lips puckered； like she was trying not to cry。
I wanted to punch Leah right in her stupid mouth。
〃Hey； Bells；〃 Isaid quickly。 〃How ya doing？〃
〃I'm fine；〃 she said。
〃Big day today； huh？ Lots of new stuff。〃
〃You don't have to do that； Jacob。〃
〃Don't know what you're talking about；〃 I said； going to sit on the arm of the sofa by her head。 Edward
had the floor there already。
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She gave me a reproachful look。 〃I'm so s—〃 she started to say。
I pinched her lips together between my thumb and finger。
〃Jake；〃 she mumbled； trying to pull my hand away。 Her attempt was so weak it was hard to believe that
she was really trying。
I shook my head。 〃You can talk when you're not being stupid。〃
〃Fine；I won't say it；〃 it sounded like she mumbled。
I pulled my hand away。
〃Sorry！〃 she finished quickly； and then grinned。
I rolledmy eyes and then smiled back at her。
When I stared into her eyes； I saw everything that I'd been looking for in the park。
Tomorrow； she'd be someone else。 But hopefully alive； and that was what counted； right？ She'd look at
me with the same eyes； sort of。 Smile with the same lips； almost。 She'd still know me better than anyone
who didn't havefull access to the inside of my head。
Leah might be an interesting panion； maybe even a true friend—someone who would stand up for
me。 But
she wasn't my best friend the way thatBella was。 Aside from the impossible love I felt for Bella； there
was also that other bond； and it ran bone deep。
Tomorrow； she'd be my enemy。 Or she'd be myally。 And； apparently； that distinction was up to me。
I sighed。
Fine！I thought； giving up the very last thing i had to give。 It made me feel hollow。 Go ahead。 Save her。
As Ephraim's heir； you have my permission； my word； that this will not violate the treaty。 The
others will just have to blame me。 You were right— they can't deny that it's my right to agree to
this。
'Thank you。〃 Edward's whisper was low enough that Bella didn't hear anything。 But the words were so
fervent that； from the corner of my eye； I saw the other vampires turning to stare。
〃So；〃Bella asked； working to be casual。 〃How was your day？〃
〃Great。 Went for a drive。 Hung out in the park。〃
〃Sounds nice。〃
〃Sure； sure。〃
Suddenly； she made a face。 〃Rose？〃 she asked。
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I heard Blondie chuckle。 〃Again？〃
〃I think I've drunk two gallons in the last hour；〃 Bella explained。
Edward and I both got out of the way while Rosalie came to lift Bella from the couch and take her to the
bathroom。
〃Can I walk？〃 Bella asked。 〃My legs are so stiff。〃
〃Are you sure？〃 Edward asked。
〃Rose'llcatch me if I trip over my feet。 Which could happen pretty easily； since I can't see them。〃
Rosalie set Bellacarefully on her feet； keeping her hands right atBella's shoulders。 Bella stretched her
arms out in front of her； wincing a little。
〃That feels good；〃 she sighed。 〃Ugh； but I'm huge。〃
She really was。 Her stomach was its own continent。
〃One more day；〃 she said； and patted her stomach。
I couldn't help the pain that shot through me in a sudden； stabbing burst； but I tried to keep it off my
face。 I could hide it for one more day； right？
〃All righty； then。 Whoops—oh； no！〃
The cup Bella had left on the sofa tumbled to one side； the dark red blood spilling out onto the pale
fabric。
Automatically； though three other hands beat her there； Bella bent over； reaching out to catch it。
There was the