《4 breaking dawn破晓》第167章

Aro　closed　the　distance　without　pause—and　really；　what　did　he　have　to　fear？　The　hulking　shadows　of　
the　lighter　gray　cloaks—the　brawny　fighters　like　Felix—were　but　a　few　yards　away。　Jane　and　her　burning　
gift　could　throw　Edward　on　the　ground；　writhing　in　agony。　Alec　could　blind　and　deafen　him　before　he　
could　take　a　step　in　Aro"s　direction。　No　one　knew　that　I　had　the　power　to　stop　them；　not　even　Edward。　
With　an　untroubled　smile；　Aro　took　Edward"s　hand。　His　eyes　snapped　shut　at　once；　and　then　his　
shoulders　hunched　under　the　onslaught　of　information。　
Every　secret　thought；　every　strategy；　every　insight—everything　Edward　had　heard　in　the　minds　around　
him　during　the　last　month—was　now　Aro"s。　And　further　back—every　vision　of　Alice"s；　every　quiet　
moment　with　our　family；　every　picture　in　Renesmee"s　head；　every　kiss；　every　touch　between　Edward　and　
me。。。　All　of　that　was　Aro"s　now；　too。　
I　hissed　with　frustration；　and　the　shield　roiled　with　my　irritation；　shifting　its　shape　and　contracting　around　
our　side。　
〃Easy；　Bella；〃　Zafrina　whispered　to　me。　
I　clenched　my　teeth　together。　
Aro　continued　to　concentrate　on　Edward"s　memories。　Edward"s　head　bowed；　too；　the　muscles　in　his　
neck　locking　tight　as　he　read　back　again　everything　that　Aro　took　from　him；　and　Aro"s　response　to　it　all。　
This　twoway　but　unequal　conversation　continued　long　enough　that　even　the　guard　grew　uneasy。　Low　
murmurs　ran　through　the　line　until　Caius　barked　a　sharp　order　for　silence。　Jane　was　edging　forward　like　
she　couldn"t　help　herself；　and　Renata"s　face　was　rigid　with　distress。　For　a　moment；　I　examined　this　
powerful　shield　that　seemed　so　panicky　and　weak；　though　she　was　useful　to　Aro；　I　could　tell　she　was　no　
warrior。　It　was　not　her　job　to　fight　but　to　protect。　There　was　no　bloodlust　in　her。　Raw　as　I　was；　I　knew　
that　if　this　were　between　her　and　me；　I　would　obliterate　her。　
I　refocused　as　Aro　straightened；　his　eyes　flashing　open；　their　expression　awed　and　wary。　He　did　not　
release　Edward"s　hand。　
Edward"s　muscles　loosened　ever　so　slightly。　
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〃You　see？〃　Edward　asked；　his　velvet　voice　calm。　
〃Yes；　I　see；　indeed；〃　Aro　agreed；　and　amazingly；　he　sounded　almost　amused。　〃I　doubt　whether　any　two　
among　gods　or　mortals　have　ever　seen　quite　so　clearly。〃　
The　disciplined　faces　of　the　guard　showed　the　same　disbelief　I　felt。　
〃You　have　given　me　much　to　ponder；　young　friend；〃　Aro　continued。　〃Much　more　than　I　expected。〃　Still　
he　did　not　release　Edward"s　hand；　and　Edward"s　tense　stance　was　that　of　one　who　listens。　
Edward　didn"t　answer。　
〃May　I　meet　her？〃　Aro　asked—almost　pleaded—with　sudden　eager　interest。　〃I　never　dreamed　of　the　
existence　of　such　a　thing　in　all　my　centuries。　What　an　addition　to　our　histories！〃　
〃What　is　this　about；　Aro？〃　Caius　snapped　before　Edward　could　answer。　Just　the　question　had　me　pulling　
Renesmee　around　into　my　arms；　cradling　her　protectively　against　my　chest。　
〃Something　you"ve　never　dreamed　of；　my　practical　friend。　Take　a　moment　to　ponder；　for　the　justice　we　
intended　to　deliver　no　longer　applies。〃　
Caius　hissed　in　surprise　at　his　words。　
〃Peace；　brother；〃　Aro　cautioned　soothingly。　
This　should　have　been　good　news—these　were　the　words　we"d　been　hoping　for；　the　reprieve　we"d　
never　really　
thought　possible。　Aro　had　listened　to　the　truth。　Aro　had　admitted　that　the　law　had　not　been　broken。　
But　my　eyes　were　riveted　on　Edward；　and　I　saw　the　muscles　in　his　back　tighten。　I　replayed　in　my　head　
Aro"s　instruction　for　Caius　to　ponder；　and　heard　the　double　meaning。　
〃Will　you　introduce　me　to　your　daughter？〃　Aro　asked　Edward　again。　
Caius　was　not　the　only　one　who　hissed　at　this　new　revelation。　
Edward　nodded　reluctantly。　And　yet；　Renesmee　had　won　over　so　many　others。　Aro　always　seemed　the　
leader　of　the　ancients。　If　he　were　on　her　side；　could　the　others　act　against　us？　
Aro　still　gripped　Edward"s　hand；　and　he　now　answered　a　question　that　the　rest　of　us　had　not　heard。　
〃I　think　a　promise　on　this　one　point　is　certainly　acceptable；　under　the　circumstance。　We　will　meet　in　
the　middle。〃　
Aro　released　his　hand。　Edward　turned　back　toward　us；　and　Aro　joined　him；　throwing　one　arm　casually　
over　Edward"s　shoulder　like　they　were　the　best　of　friends—all　the　while　maintaining　contact　with　
Edward"s　skin。　They　began　to　cross　the　field　back　to　our　side。　
The　entire　guard　fell　into　step　behind　them。　Aro　raised　a　hand　negligently　without　looking　at　them。　
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〃Hold；　my　dear　ones。　Truly；　they　mean　us　no　harm　if　we　are　peaceable。〃　
The　guard　reacted　to　this　more　openly　than　before；　with　snarls　and　hisses　of　protest；　but　held　their　
position。　Renata；　clinging　closer　to　Aro　than　ever；　whimpered　in　anxiety。　
〃Master；〃　she　whispered。　
〃Don"t　fret；　my　love；〃　he　responded。　〃All　is　well。〃　
〃Perhaps　you　should　bring　a　few　members　of　your　guard　with　us；〃　Edward　suggested。　〃It　will　make　them　
more　fortable。〃　
Aro　nodded　as　if　this　was　a　wise　observation　he　should　have　thought　of　himself。　He　snapped　his　fingers　
twice。　〃Felix；　Demetri。〃　
The　two　vampires　were　at　his　side　instantaneously；　looking　precisely　the　same　as　the　last　time　I"d　met　
them。　Both　were　tall　and　darkhaired；　Demetri　hard　and　lean　as　the　blade　of　a　sword；　Felix　hulking　and　
menacing　as　an　ironspiked　cudgel。　
The　five　of　them　stopped　in　the　middle　of　the　snowy　field。　
〃Bella；〃　Edward　called。　〃Bring　Renesmee。。。　and　a　few　friends。〃　
I　took　a　deep　breath。　My　body　was　tight　with　opposition。　The　idea　of　taking　Renesmee　into　the　center　
of　the　conflict。。。　But　I　trusted　Edward。　He　would　know　if　Aro　was　planning　any　treachery　at　this　point。　
Aro　had　three　protectors　on　his　side　of　the　summit；　so　I　would　bring　two　with　me。　It　took　me　only　a　
second　to　decide。　
〃Jacob？　Emmett？〃　I　asked　quietly。　Emmett；　because　he　would　be　dying　to　go。　Jacob；　because　he　
wouldn"t　be　able　to　bear　being　left　behind。　
Both　nodded。　Emmett　grinned。　
I　crossed　the　field　with　them　flanking　me。　I　he