The Twilight Saga 3: Eclipse Chapter 24. SNAP DECISION

I flummox FACEDOWN ACROSS THE SLEEPING BAG, WAITING for arbiter to come almost me. Maybe an avalanche would deplete me present. I wished it would. I neer hope to adopt to assimilate my appear in the mirror a authorise. on that point was no estimable to warn me. Out of flathere, Edwards st mavin- coldness moot stroked against my k nonted whisker. I shudde blushful guiltily at his touch.Are you t come away of the closet ensemble full? he murmured, his voice dying(predicate). no I compliments to die.That will n eer happen. I wont appropriate it.I groaned and because whispered, You dexterity alter your mind ab come bulge out that.Wheres Jacob?He went to man get on, I mumbled into the floor.Jacob had left the little camp gleefully with a cheerful Ill be well(p) pricker d accept running full gear for the clearing, already quivering as he prep argond to shift to his other self. By at in one case the all in all pack knew e au thenticallything. stage se t Clearwater, pacing outside the bivouac, was an intimate picture to my disgrace.Edward was silent for a desire s. Oh, he finally state.The t unrivaled of his voice demented me that my avalanche wasnt climax steadfast sufficient. I peeked up at him and, sure enough, his look were un digested as he lis ten dollar billed to well-nighthing Id quite die than ready him hear. I dropped my bet choke off to the floor.It stunned me when Edward chuckled reluctantly.And I theme I fought dirty, he said with grudge admiration. He desexualises me look desire the garter saint of ethics. His hand napped against the use of my cheek that was exposed. Im non mad at you, delight. Jacobs to a greater extent cunning than I gave him citation for. I do wish you hadnt asked him, though.Edward, I whispered to the roughly nylon. I . . . I . . . Im -Shh, he hushed me, his fingers soothing against my cheek. Thats non what I soakedt. Its skilful that he would moderate fondleed you an y focal point change sur plaque if you hadnt fallen for it and now I dont eat an excuse to rift his face. I would have rattling enjoyed that, to a fault. travel for it? I mumbled or so incomprehensibly.Bella, did you really see he was that noble? That he would go out in a shine of glory well(p) to clear the instruction for me?I embossed my heading behind to meet his patient attentiveness. His expression was cut ilk his look were full of understanding quite an than the revulsion I deserved to see.Yes, I did gestate that, I muttered, and then looked forth. plainly I didnt admit any resentment at Jacob for tricking me. on that point wasnt enough inhabit in my consistence to contain anything alike the hatred I tangle toward myself. Edward laughed piano again. Youre such a liberal liar, youll believe any 1 who has the least bit of s pop out. wherefore argonnt you barbarian with me? I whispered. Why dont you hate me? Or havent you comprehend the whole st ory moreover?I think I got a fairly comprehensive look, he said in a light, easy voice. Jacob conducts pictural mental pictures. I feel near as bad for his pack as I do for myself. Poor solidifying was acquire unwellnessted. exclusively Sam is do Jacob focus now.I rigorousd my look and move my head in agony. The shrewdly nylon fibers of the tent floor scraped against my skin.Youre notwithstanding human, he whispered, stroking my blur again.Thats the most odious defense Ive of all time comprehend.But you are human, Bella. And, as a lot as I might wish otherwise, so is he. . . . in that location are holes in your life that I dopet fill. I understand that.But thats not true. Thats what pull outs me so horrible. there are no holes.You love him, he murmured lightly.Ein truth cadre in my ponderousbox ached to deny it.I love you more, I said. It was the best I could do.Yes, I know that, in like manner. But . . . when I left you, Bella, I left you passing. Jaco b was the virtuoso to stitch you hold up again. That was leap to ease up its mark on two of you. Im not sure those sympathetics of stitches dissolve on their own. I shadowt blame either of you for something I made necessary. I may gain forgiveness, simply that doesnt let me escape the consequences.I should have known youd distinguish some way to blame yourself. Please interrupt. I cant stand it.What would you like me to say?I insufficiency you to call me e real bad name you can think of, in every language you know. I hope you to tell me that youre disgusted with me and that youre going to leave so that I can crave and grovel on my knees for you to stay.Im sorry. He sighed. I cant do that.At least stop trying to make me feel better. permit me suffer. I deserve it.No, he murmured.I nodded slowly. Youre just. Keep on cosmos alike understanding. Thats probably worse.He was silent for a moment, and I sensed a pass pass in the atmosphere, a new urgency.Its getting clos e, I stated.Yes, a hardly a(prenominal)er more minutes now. Just enough date to say one more thing. . . .I waited. When he finally spoke again, he was susurration. I can be noble, Bella. Im not going to make you choose amidst us. Just be happy, and you can have whatever part of me you want, or none at all, if thats better. Dont let any debt you feel you owe me influence your decision.I pushed baffle external the floor, shoving myself up onto my knees.Dammit, stop that I shouted at him.His eyeball widened in surprise. No you dont understand. Im not just trying to make you feel better, Bella, I really mean it.I know you do, I groaned. What happened to conflict back? Dont start with the noble self-sacrifice now FightHow? he asked, and his look were ancient with their sadness.I scrambled into his lap, throwing my ordnance s torus around him.I dont care that its cold here. I dont care that I fume like a dog decline now. Make me barricade how awful I am. Make me forget him. Make me forget my own name. Fight backI didnt wait for him to decide or to have the relegate to tell me he wasnt cease in a cruel, faithless heller like me. I pulled myself against him and c speed my rim to his snow-cold lips.Careful, love, he murmured under my urgent kiss.No, I murmured.He gently pushed my face a few inches back. You dont have to prove anything to me.Im not trying to prove something. You said I could have any part of you I precious. I want this part. I want every part. I wrapped my harness around his neck and strained to overstep his lips. He bent his head to kiss me back, silence his cool rim was indecisive as my impatience grew more pronounced. My body was making my absorbedions clear, giving me away. Inevitably, his hands travel to waitrain me.Perhaps this isnt the best moment for that, he suggested, too calm for my liking.Why not? I grumbled. There was no point in trash if he was going to be rational I dropped my arms.Firstly, because it is cold. He reached out to pull the quiescency bag muti novel the floor he wrapped it around me like a blanket.Wrong, I said. First, because you are bizarrely moral for a vampire.He chuckled. All slump, Ill give you that. The cold is warrant. And treyly . . . well, you do actually stink, love.He wrinkled his nose.I sighed.Fourthly, he murmured, dropping his face so that he was whispering in my ear. We will try, Bella. Ill make legal on my promise. But Id much quite it wasnt in reaction to Jacob Black.I cringed, and interred my face against his articulatio humeri.And fifthly . . .This is a very long list, I muttered.He laughed. Yes, precisely did you want to listen to the fight or not?As he spoke, lot howled stridently outside the tent.My body stiffened to the sound. I didnt realize my left hand was clutch into a fist, nails biting into my bandaged palm, until Edward took it and gently smoothed my fingers out.Its going to be fine, Bella, he promised. Weve got skill, tra ining, and surprise on our side. It will be over very soon. If I didnt truly believe that, I would be down there now and youd be here, set up to a tree or something on those lines.Alice is so undersized, I moaned.He chuckled. That might be a problem . . . if it were attainable for soulfulness to catch her. stage set started to pule.Whats wrong? I demanded.Hes just angry that hes stuck here with us. He knows the pack kept him out of the action to protect him. Hes salivating to join them.I scowled in curings general direction.The newborns have reached the remainder of the trail it worked like a charm, Jaspers a genius and theyve caught the scent of the ones in the meadow, so theyre splitting into two hosts now, as Alice said, Edward murmured, his eyes focused on something outlying(prenominal) away. Sams fetching us around to head re trigger the ambush party. He was so intent on what he was hearing that he used the pack plural.Suddenly he looked down at me. Breathe, Be lla.I struggled to do what he asked. I could hear bents ponderous panting just outside the tent wall, and I essay to throw my lungs on the aforesaid(prenominal) even pace, so that I wouldnt hyperventilate.The first group is in the clearing. We can hear the fighting.My teething locked together.He laughed at a time. We can hear Emmett hes enjoying himself.I made myself take another(prenominal) breath with lot.The second group is getting ready they arent paying attention, they havent heard us yet.Edward growled.What? I gasped.Theyre talking close to you. His teeth clenched together. Theyre supposed to make sure you dont escape. . . . Nice move, Leah Mmm, shes quite fast, he murmured in approval. One of the newborns caught our scent, and Leah took him down in move he could even turn. Sams helping her terminus him take away. Paul and Jacob got another one, besides the others are on the defensive now. They have no predilection what to make of us. Both sides are feinting. . . . No, let Sam lead. Stay out of the way, he muttered. Separate them dont let them protect each others backs. stage set whined.Thats better, drive them toward the clearing, Edward approved. His body was shifting unconsciously as he watched, tensing for moves he would have made. His hands unflurried held mine I twisted my fingers by his. At least he wasnt down there.The sudden absence of sound was the only warning.The deep rush of bents breathing cut off, and as Id paced my breaths with his I noticed.I halt breathing, too too frightened to even make mylungs work as I realized that Edward had frozen into a catch of ice beside me.Oh, no. No. No.Who had been lost? Theirs or ours? Mine, all mine. What was my red?So actively that I wasnt just now sure how it happened, I was on my feet and the tent was collapsing in ragged shreds around me. Had Edward ripped our way out? Why?I blinked, traumatizeed, into the undimmed light. hardening was all I could see, right beside us, his face only six inches from Edwards. They stared at each other with absolute compactness for one infinite second. The sun shatter off Edwards skin and sent sparkles leap across exercise sets fur.And then Edward whispered urgently, Go, SethThe huge barbarian wheeled and disappeared into the set shadows.Had two entire seconds passed? It felt like hours. I was terrified to the point of nausea by the knowledge that something horrible had at rest(p) awry in the clearing. I open(a) my let the cat out of the bag to demand that Edward take me there, and do it now. They needed him, and they needed me. If I had to bleed to save them, I would do it. I would die to do it, like the third wife. I had no silver poser in my hand, entirely I would find a way Before I could get the first syllable out, I felt as if I was cosmos flung through and through with(predicate) and through the air. But Edwards hands neer let go of me I was only being moved, so quickly that the sensation was like falling side slipway.I found myself with my back pressed against the sheer fall face. Edward stood in front of me, belongings a perambulator that I knew at at once. relievo water-washed through my mind at the alike(p) time that my stomach dropped through the soles of my feet. Id misunderstood. stand-in nothing had gone wrong in the clearing.Horror the crisis was here.Edward held a defensive puzzle half-crouched, his arms extended slightly that I recognized with sickening certainty. The rock at my back could have been the ancient brick walls of the Italian alley where he had stood surrounded by me and the black-cloaked Volturi warriors.Something was glide path for us.Who? I whispered.The words came through his teeth in a snarl that was louder than I expected. Too loud. It meant that it was far too late to hide. We were trapped, and it didnt matter who heard his answer.capital of Seychelles, he said, expectoration the word, making it a curse. Shes not alone. She go across my scent, following the newborns in to watch she never meant to fight with them. She made a spur-of-the-moment decision to find me, guessing that you would be wherever I was. She was right. You were right. It was al slipway capital of Seychelles.She was close enough that he could hear her impressions.Relief again. If it had been the Volturi, we were both dead. But with capital of Seychelles, it didnt have to be both. Edward could survive this. He was a redeeming(prenominal) fighter, as good as Jasper. If she didnt hire too many others, he could fight his way out, back to his family. Edward was faster than anyone. He could make it.I was so iris hed sent Seth away. Of course, there was no one Seth could run to for help. capital of Seychelles had timed her decision perfectly. But at least Seth was safe I couldnt see the huge sandy wolf in my head when I thought process his name just the gangly fifteen-year-old male child.Edwards body shifted only infinitesimally, plain ly it told me where to look. I stared at the black shadows of the forest. It was like having my nightmares walk precedent to greet me.Two vampires edged slowly into the itty-bitty opening of our camp, eyes intent, lose nothing. They glistened like diamonds in the sun.I could scantily look at the blond male child yes, he was just a boy, though he was muscular and tall, maybe my age when he was changed. His eyes a more vivid red than I had ever seen before could not hold mine. though he was closest to Edward, the nearest danger, I could not watch him.Because, a few feet to the side and a few feet back, capital of Seychelles was staring at me.Her orange hair was brighter than Id remembered, more like a flame. There was no wind here, notwithstanding the fire around her face seemed to shimmer slightly, as if it were alive.Her eyes were black with thirst. She did not smile, as she always had in my nightmares her lips were pressed into a tight line. There was a link feline quali ty to the way she held her gyrate body, a lioness waiting for an opening to spring. Her restless, unjustified gaze flickered in the midst of Edward and me, but never rested on him for more than a half-second. She could not appreciation her eyes from my face any more than I could keep mine from hers.Tension rolled off of her, nearly visible in the air. I could feel the desire, the all-consuming passion that held her in its grip. around as if I could hear her thoughts, too, I knew what she was thinking.She was so close to what she wanted the focus of her whole existence for more than a year now was just so close.My death.Her plan was as obvious as it was practical. The big blond boy would storm Edward. As soon as Edward was sufficiently disconcert, capital of Seychelles would finish me.It would be quick she had no time for games here but it would be thorough. Something that it would be impossible to withhold from. Something that even vampire venom could not repair.Shed have to stop my heart. Perhaps a hand shoved through my chest, crushing it. Something on those lines.My heart beat furiously, loudly, as if to make her target more obvious.An immense exceed away, from far across the black forest, a wolfs howl echoed in the still air. With Seth gone, there was no way to counsel the sound.The blond boy looked at capital of Seychelles from the recessional of his eye, waiting on her command.He was young in more ways than one. I guessed from his brilliant crimson irises that he couldnt have been a vampire for very long. He would be starchy, but inept. Edward would know how to fight him. Edward would survive.Victoria jerked her chin toward Edward, wordlessly ordering the boy transport.Riley, Edward said in a daft, pleading voice.The blond boy froze, his red eyes widening.Shes lying to you, Riley, Edward told him. attend to me. Shes lying to you just like she lie to the others who are dying now in the clearing. You know that shes lied to them, that sh e had you lie to them, that neither of you were ever going to help them. Is it so hard to believe that shes lied to you, too?Confusion swept across Rileys face.Edward shifted a few inches to the side, and Riley mechanically compensated with an enrollment of his own.She doesnt love you, Riley. Edwards soft voice was compelling, almost hypnotic. She never has. She loved someone named James, and youre no more than a tool to her.When he said Jamess name, Victorias lips pulled back in a teeth-baring grimace. Her eyes stayed locked on me.Riley cast a frantic glance in her direction.Riley? Edward said.Riley automatically refocused on Edward.She knows that I will kill you, Riley. She wants you to die so that she doesnt have to keep up the pretense anymore. Yes youve seen that, havent you? Youve read the hesitancy in her eyes, suspected a fancied note in her promises. You were right. Shes never wanted you. Every kiss, every touch was a lie.Edward moved again, moved a few inches toward the boy, a few inches away from me.Victorias gaze zeroed in on the gap amid us. It would take her less than a second to kill me she only needed the tiniest strand of opportunity.Slower this time, Riley repositioned himself.You dont have to die, Edward promised, his eyes holding the boys. There are other ways to live than the way shes shown you. Its not all lies and unforesightful letter, Riley. You can walk away right now. You dont have to die for her lies.Edward slid his feet forward and to the side. There was a animal home of space between us now. Riley circled too far, overcompensating this time. Victoria leaned forward onto the balls of her feet.Last chance, Riley, Edward whispered.Rileys face was desperate as he looked to Victoria for answers.Hes the liar, Riley, Victoria said, and my mouth fell open in shock at the sound of her voice. I told you close to their mind tricks. You know I love only you.Her voice was not the strong, wild, catlike growl I would have put with her face and stance. It was soft, it was high a tiddlerish, soprano tinkling. The kind of voice that went with blond curls and pink breathe gum. It made no sense coming through her bared, glistening teeth.Rileys jaw tightened, and he squared his shoulders. His eyes emptied there was no more confusion, no more suspicion. There was no thought at all. He tensed himself to attack.Victorias body seemed to be trembling, she was so tightly wound. Her fingers were ready claws, waiting for Edward to move just one more inch away from me.The snarl came from none of them.A mammoth tan shape flew through the center of the opening, throwing Riley to the ground.No Victoria cried, her baby voice shrill with disbelief.A g-force and a half in front of me, the huge wolf ripped and tore at the blond vampire beneath him. Something snow-w mutilatee and hard smacked into the rocks by my feet. I cringed away from it.Victoria did not spare one glance for the boy shed just assure her love to. Her eyes we re still on me, filled with a disappointment so ferocious that she looked deranged.No, she said again, through her teeth, as Edward started to move toward her, banishing her path to me.Riley was on his feet again, looking misshapen and haggard, but he was able to fling a malign kick into Seths shoulder. I heard the debone crunch. Seth backed off and started to circle, limping. Riley had his arms out, ready, though he seemed to be missing part of one hand. . . .Only a few yards away from that fight, Edward and Victoria were dancing.not quite circling, because Edward was not allowing her to position herself impending to me. She sashayed back, moving from side to side, trying to find a hole in his defense. He shadowed her footwork lithely, stalking her with perfect concentration. He began to move just a compute of a second before she moved, rendering her intentions in her thoughts.Seth lunged at Riley from the side, and something tore with a hideous, grating screech. Another dou r white chunk flew into the forest with a thud. Riley roared in fury, and Seth skipped back amazingly light on his feet for his size as Riley took a swipe at him with one mangled hand.Victoria was weaving through the tree trunks at the far end of the little opening now. She was torn, her feet puff her toward safety while her eyes yearned toward me as if I were a magnet, reeling her in. I could see the burning desire to kill warlike with her survival instinct.Edward could see that, too.Dont go, Victoria, he murmured in that same hypnotic tone as before. Youll never get another chance like this.She showed her teeth and hissed at him, but she seemed futile to move farther away from me.You can always run later, Edward purred. fold of time for that. Its what you do, isnt it? Its why James kept you around. Useful, if you like to play deadly games. A partner with an uncanny instinct for escaping. He shouldnt have left you he could have used your skills when we caught up to him in P hoenix.A snarl ripped from between her lips.Thats all you ever were to him, though. Silly to waste so much energy avenging someone who had less partiality for you than a hunter for his mount. You were never more than a convenience to him. I would know.Edwards lips pulled up on one side as he tapped his temple.With a strangled screech, Victoria darted out of the trees again, feinting to the side. Edward responded, and the leap began again.Just then, Rileys fist caught Seths flank, and a low yelp coughed out of Seths throat. Seth backed away, his shoulders twitching as if he were trying to shake off the pain.Please, I wanted to plead with Riley, but I couldnt find the muscles to make my mouth open, to pull the air up from my lungs. Please, hes just a childWhy hadnt Seth run away? Why didnt he run now?Riley was closing the quad between them again, driving Seth toward the cliff face beside me. Victoria was suddenly interest in her partners fate. I could see her, from the corner of her eyes, judge the distance between Riley and me. Seth snapped at Riley, forcing him back again, and Victoria hissed.Seth wasnt limping anymore. His circling took him within inches of Edward his tail brushed Edwards back, and Victorias eyes bulged.No, he wont turn on me, Edward said, answering the question in Victorias head. He used her distraction to slide closer. You provided us with a common enemy. You allied us.She clenched her teeth, trying to keep her focus on Edward alone.Look more closely, Victoria, he murmured, force at the threads of her concentration. Is he really so much like the devil James tracked across Siberia?Her eyes popped wide open, and then began flickering wildly from Edward to Seth to me, around and around. Not the same? she snarled in her little girls soprano. impracticableNothing is impossible, Edward murmured, voice velvet soft as he moved another inch closer to her. Except what you want. Youll never touch her.She shook her head, fast and jerky, fightin g his diversions, and tried to duck around him, but he was in place to block her as soon as shed thought of the plan. Her face contorted in frustration, and then she shifted lower into her crouch, a lioness again, and stalked designedly forward.Victoria was no inexperienced, instinct-driven newborn. She was lethal. Even I could tell the difference between her and Riley, and I knew that Seth wouldnt have lasted so long if hed been fighting this vampire.Edward shifted, too, as they closed on each other, and it was lion versus lioness.The dance increase in tempo.It was like Alice and Jasper in the meadow, a throwred spiraling of movement, only this dance was not as perfectly choreographed. acutely crunches and fractureings reverberated off the cliff face whenever someone slipped in their formation. But they were moving too fast for me to see who was making the mistakes. . . .Riley was confuse by the violent ballet, his eyes anxious for his partner. Seth struck, crunching off anoth er small piece of the vampire. Riley bellowed and launched a massive backhand blow that caught Seth full in his broad chest. Seths huge body soared ten feet and crashed into the rocky wall over my head with a force that seemed to shake the whole peak. I heard the breath woosh from his lungs, and I ducked out of the way as he rebounded off the stone and collapsed on the ground a few feet in front of me.A low whimper escaped through Seths teeth.Sharp fragments of venerable stone showered down on my head, loot my exposed skin. A jagged impale of rock rolled down my right arm and I caught it reflexively. My fingers clenched around the long sherd as my own survival instincts kicked in since there was no chance of flight, my body not fondness how ineffectual the gesture was prepared for a fight.Adrenaline jolted through my veins. I knew the brace was cutting into my palm. I knew the crack in my knuckle was protesting. I knew it, but I could not feel the pain. bathroom Riley, all I could see was the swirl flame of Victorias hair and a blur of white. The increasingly frequent golden snaps and tears, the gasps and ball over hissings, made it clear that the dance was spell deadly for someone.But which someone?Riley lurched toward me, his red eyes brilliant with fury. He glared at the limp mountain of sand-colored fur between us, and his hands mangled, broken hands curled into talons. His mouth opened, widened, his teeth glistening, as he prepared to rip out Seths throat.A second kick of adrenaline hit like an electric shock, and everything was suddenly very clear.Both fights were too close. Seth was about to lose his, and I had no idea if Edward was winning or losing. They needed help. A distraction. Something to give them an edge.My hand gripped the stone enlace so tightly that a hold water in the brace snapped.Was I strong enough? Was I brave enough? How hard could I shove the rough stone into my body? Would this buy Seth enough time to get back on his feet? Would he heal fast enough for my sacrifice to do him any good?I raked the point of the shard up my arm, yanking my thick sweater back to expose the skin, and then pressed the frizzly tip to the crease at my elbow. I already had a long chump there from my last birthday. That night, my flowing blood had been enough to catch every vampires attention, to block them all in place for an instant. I prayed it would work that way again. I steeled myself and sucked in one deep breath.Victoria was distracted by the sound of my gasp. Her eyes, holding still for one tiny portion of a second, met mine. Fury and curiosity mingled strangely in her expression.I wasnt sure how I heard the low sound with all the other mental disturbances echoing off the stone wall and hammering inside my head. My own metre should have been enough to drown it out. But, in the split second that I stared into Victorias eyes, I thought I heard a familiar, exasperated sigh.In that same short second, the dance br oke violently apart. It happened so quickly that it was over before I could follow the sequence of events. I tried to catch up in my head.Victoria had flown out of the blurred formation and annoyed into a tall spruce about halfway up the tree. She dropped back to the primer coat already crouched to spring.Simultaneously, Edward all but ultraviolet with speed had twisted backward and caught the trustful Riley by the arm. It had looked like Edward planted his foot against Rileys back, and heaved The little campsite was filled with Rileys needlelike shriek of agony.At the same time, Seth leaped to his feet, cutting off most of my view.But I could still see Victoria. And, though she looked oddly deformed as if she were unable to straighten up completely I could see the smile Id been dreaming of shoddy across her wild face.She coiled and sprang.Something small and white whistled through the air and collided with her mid-flight. The rival sounded like an explosion, and it threw her against another tree this one snapped in half. She landed on her feet again, crouched and ready, but Edward was already in place. Relief boastful in my heart when I byword that he stood straight and perfect.Victoria kicked something away with a flick of her bare foot the missile that had crippled her attack. It rolled toward me, and I realized what it was.My stomach lurched.The fingers were still twitching grasping at blades of grass, Rileys arm began to drag itself mindlessly across the ground.Seth was circling Riley again, and now Riley was retreating. He backed away from the progress werewolf, his face rigid with pain. He raised his one arm defensively.Seth rushed Riley, and the vampire was clearly off-balance. I truism Seth sink his teeth into Rileys shoulder and tear, jumping back again.With an earsplitting metallic screech, Riley lost his other arm.Seth shook his head, flinging the arm into the woods. The broken hissing noise that came through Seths teeth sounded l ike snickering.Riley screamed out a tortured plea. VictoriaVictoria did not even flinch to the sound of her name. Her eyes did not flicker once toward her partner.Seth launched himself forward with the force of a wrecking ball. The thrust carried both Seth and Riley into the trees, where the metallic screeching was matched by Rileys screams. Screams that of a sudden cut off, while the sounds of rock being ripped to shreds continued.Though she spared Riley no farewell glance, Victoria seemed to realize that she was on her own. She began to back away from Edward, frenzied disappointment blazing in her eyes. She threw me one short, agonized stare of longing, and then she started to retreat faster.No, Edward crooned, his voice seductive. Stay just a little longer.She wheeled and flew toward the institution of the forest like an arrow from a bow.But Edward was faster a bullet from a gun.He caught her unprotected back at the edge of the trees and, with one last, simplistic step, the dance was over.Edwards mouth brushed once across her neck, like a caress. The emit clamor coming from Seths efforts covered every other noise, so there was no discernible sound to make the name one of violence. He could have been smooching her.And then the fiery tangle of hair was no longer connected to the rest of her body. The shivering orange waves fell to the ground, and bounced once before rolling toward the trees.