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speed that belied her calm。 She was more anxious for my answer than her eyes let on。
〃It's harder than it should be—keeping track of you；〃 I told her。 〃Usually I can
find someone very easily； once I've heard their mind before。〃
I watched her face carefully as I said this。 Guessing right was one thing； having it
confirmed was another。
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She was motionless； her eyes wide。 I felt my teeth clench together as I waited for
her panic。
But she just blinked once； swallowed loudly； and then quickly scooped another
bite into her mouth。 She wanted me to continue。
〃I was keeping tabs on Jessica；〃 I went on； watching each word as it sank in。
〃Not carefully—like I said； only you could find trouble in Port Angeles—〃 I couldn't
resist adding that。 Did she realize that other human lives were not so plagued with near
death experiences； or did she think she was normal？ She was the furthest thing from
normal I'd ever encountered。 〃And at first I didn't notice when you took off on your
own。 Then； when I realized that you weren't with her anymore； I went looking for you at
the bookstore I saw in her head。 I could tell that you hadn't gone in； and that you'd gone
south？and I knew you would have to turn around soon。 So I was just waiting for you；
randomly searching through the thoughts of people on the street—to see if anyone had
noticed you so I would know where you were。 I had no reason to be worried？but I was
strangely anxious？〃 My breath came faster as I remembered that feeling of panic。 Her
scent blazed in my throat and I was glad。 It was a pain that meant she was alive。 As long
as I burned； she was safe。
〃I started to drive in circles； still？listening。〃 I hoped the word made sense to her。
This had to be confusing。 〃The sun was finally setting； and I was about to get out； and
follow you on foot。 And then—〃
As the memory took me—perfectly clear and as vivid as if I was in the moment
again—I felt the same murderous fury wash through my body； locking it into ice。
I wanted him dead。 I needed him dead。 My jaw clenched tight as I concentrated
on holding myself here at the table。 Bella still needed me。 That was what mattered。
〃Then what？〃 she whispered； her dark eyes wide。
〃I heard what they were thinking；〃 I said through my teeth； unable to keep the
words from coming out in a growl。 〃I saw your face in his mind。〃
I could hardly resist the urge to kill。 I still knew precisely where to find him。 His
black thoughts sucked at the night sky； pulling me toward them？
I covered my face； knowing my expression was that of a monster； a hunter； a
killer。 I fixed her image behind my closed eyes to control myself； focusing only on her
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face。 The delicate framework of her bones； the thin sheath of her pale skin—like silk
stretched over glass； incredibly soft and easy to shatter。 She was too vulnerable for this
world。 She needed a protector。 And； through some twisted mismanagement of destiny； I
was the closest thing available。
I tried to explain my violent reaction so that she would understand。
〃It was very？hard—you can't imagine how hard—for me to simply take you
away； and leave them？alive；〃 I whispered。 〃I could have let you go with Jessica and
Angela； but I was afraid if you left me alone； I would go looking for them。〃
For the second time tonight； I confessed to an intended murder。 At least this one
was defensible。
She was quiet as I struggled to control myself。 I listened to her heartbeat。 The
rhythm was irregular； but it slowed as the time passed until it was steady again。 Her
breathing； too； was low and even。
I was too close to the edge。 I needed to get her home before？
Would I kill him； then？ Would I become a murderer again when she trusted me？
Was there any way to stop myself？
She'd promised to tell me her latest theory when we were alone。 Did I want to
hear it？ I was anxious for it； but would the reward for my curiosity be worse than not
knowing？
At any rate； she must have had enough truth for one night。
I looked at her again； and her face was paler than before； but composed。
〃Are you ready to go home？〃 I asked。
〃I'm ready to leave；〃 she said； choosing her words carefully； as if a simple 'yes'
did not fully express what she wanted to say。
Frustrating。
The waitress returned。 She'd heard Bella's last statement as she'd dithered on the
other side of the partition； wondering what more she could offer me。 I wanted to roll my
eyes at some of the offerings she'd had in mind。
〃How are we doing？〃 she asked me。
〃We're ready for the check； thank you；〃 I told her； my eyes on Bella。
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The waitress's breathing spiked and she was momentarily—to use Bella's
phrasing—dazzled by my voice。
In a sudden moment of perception； hearing the way my voice sounded in this
inconsequential human's head； I realized why I seemed to be attracting so much
admiration tonight—unmarred by the usual fear。
It was because of Bella。 Trying so hard to be safe for her； to be less frightening；
to be human； I truly had lost my edge。 The other humans saw only beauty now； with my
innate horror so carefully under control。
I looked up at the waitress； waiting for her to recover herself。 It was sort of
humorous； now that I understood the reason。
〃Sure；〃 she stuttered。 〃Here you go。〃
She handed me the folder with the bill； thinking of the card she'd slid in behind
the receipt。 A card with her name and telephone number on it。
Yes； it was rather funny。
I had money ready again。 I gave the folder back at once； so she wouldn't waste
any time waiting for a call that would never come。
〃No change；〃 I told her； hoping the size of the tip would assuage her
disappointment。
I stood； and Bella quickly followed suit。 I wanted to offer her my hand； but I
thought that might be pushing my luck a little too far for one night。 I thanked the
waitress； my eyes never leaving Bella's face。 Bella seemed to be finding something
amusing； too。
We walked out； I walked as close beside her as I dared。 Close enough that the
warmth coming off her body was like a physical touch against the left side of my body。
As I held the door for her； she sighed quietly； and I wondered what regret made her sad。 I
stared into her eyes； about to ask； when she suddenly looked at the ground； seeming
embarrassed。 It made me more curious； even as it made me reluctant to ask。 The silence
between us continued while I opened her door for her and then got into the car。
I turned the heater on—the warmer weather had come to an abrupt end； the cold
car must be uncomfortable for her。 She huddled in my jacket； a small smile on her lips。
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I waited； postponing conversation until the lights of the boardwalk faded。 It made
me feel more alone with her。
Was that the right thing？ Now that I was focused only on her； the car seemed
very small。 Her scent swirled through it with the current of the heater； building and
strengthening。 It grew into its own force； like another entity in the car。 A presence that
demanded recognition。
It had that； I burned。 The burning was acceptable； though。 It seemed strangely
appropriate to me。 I had been given so much tonight—more than I'd expected。 And here
she was； still willingly at my side。 I owed something in return for that。 A sacrifice。 A
burnt offering。
Now if I could just keep it to that； just burn； and nothing more。 But the venom
filled my mouth； and my muscles tensed in anticipation； as if I were hunting？
I had to keep such thoughts from my mind。 And I knew what would distract me。
〃Now；〃 I said to her； fear of her response taking the edge off the burn。 〃It's your
turn。〃
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9。 Theory
〃Can I ask just one more？〃 she entreated instead of answering my demand。
I was on edge； anxious for the worst。 And yet； how tempting it was to prolong
this moment。 To have Bella with me； willingly； for just a few seconds longer。 I sighed at
the dilemma； and then said； 〃One。〃
〃Well？；〃 she hesitated for a moment； as if deciding which question to voice。
〃You said you knew I hadn't gone into the bookstore； and that I had gone south。 I was
just wondering how you know that。〃
I glared out the windshield。 Here was another question that revealed nothing on
her part； and too much on mine。
〃I thought we were past all the evasiveness；〃 she said； her tone critical and
disappointed。
How ironic。 She was relentlessly evasive； without even trying。
Well； she wanted me to be direct。 And this conversation wasn't going anywhere
good； regardless。
〃Fine； then；〃 I said。 〃I followed your scent。〃
I wanted to watch her face； but I was afraid of what I would see。 Instead； I
listened to her breath accelerate and then stabilize。 She spoke again after a moment； and
her voice was steadier than I would have expected。
〃And then you didn't answer one of my first questions？〃 she said。
I looked down at her； frowning。 She was stalling； too。
〃Which one？〃
〃How does it work—the mind readi