I'd never really been afraid of heights per se, but being able to see all the details with such clarity madethe prospect1 less appealing. The angles of the rocks below were sharper than I would have imaginedthem.
Edward smiled. "It's the most convenient exit. If you're frightened, I can carry you.""We have all eternity3, and you're worried about the time it would take to walk to the back door?"He frowned slightly. "Renesmee and Jacob are downstairs___""Oh."Right. I was the monster now. I had to keep away from scents6 that might trigger my wild side. From thepeople that I loved in particular. Even the ones I didn't really know yet.
"Is Renesmee... okay... with Jacob there?" I whispered. I realized belatedly that it must havebeenJacob's heart I'd heard below. I listened hard again, but I could only hear the one steady pulse. "Hedoesn't like her much."Edward's lips tightened7 in an odd way. "Trust me, she is perfectly8 safe. I know exactly what Jacob isthinking.""Of course," I murmured, and looked at the ground again.
"Stalling?" he challenged.
"A little. I don't know how...."And I was very conscious of my family behind me, watching silently. Mostly silently. Emmett had alreadychuckled under his breath once. One mistake, and he'd be rolling on the floor. Then the jokes about theworld's only clumsy vampire10 would start....
Also, this dress—that Alice must have put me in sometime when I was too lost in the burning tonotice—was not what I would have picked out for either jumping or hunting. Tightly fitted ice-blue silk?
What did she think I would need it for? Was there a cocktail11 party later?
"Watch me," Edward said. And then, very casually12, he stepped out of the tall, open window and fell.
I watched carefully, analyzing13 the angle at which he bent14 his knees to absorb the impact. The sound ofhis landing was very low—a muted thud that could have been a door softly closed, or a book gently laidon a table.
It didn't look hard.
Clenching my teeth as I concentrated, I tried to copy his casual step into empty air.
Ha! The ground seemed to move toward me so slowly that it was nothing at all to place my feet—whatshoes had Alice put me in? Stilettos? She'd lost her mind—to place mysilly shoes exactly right so thatlanding was no different than stepping one foot forward on a flat surface.
I absorbed the impact in the balls of my feet, not wanting to snap off the thin heels. My landing seemedjust as quiet as his. I grinned at him.
"Right. Easy."He smiled back. "Bella?""Yes?""That was quite graceful15—even for a vampire."I considered that for a moment, and then I beamed. If he'd just been saying that, then Emmett wouldhave laughed. No one found his remark humorous, so it must have been true. It was the first time anyonehad ever applied16 the word graceful 'to me in my entire life... or, well, existence anyway.
"T/?an/cyou,"i told him.
And then I hooked the silver satin shoes off my feet one by one and lobbed them together back throughthe open window. A little too hard, maybe, but I heard someone catch them before they could damagethe paneling.
Alice grumbled17, "Her fashion sense hasn't improved as much as her balance."Edward took my hand—I couldn't stop marveling at the smoothness, the comfortable temperature of hisskin—and darted18 through the backyard to the edge of the river. I went along with him effortlessly.
Everything physical seemed very simple.
"Are we swimming?" I asked him when we stopped beside the water.
"And ruin your pretty dress? No. We're jumping."I pursed my lips, considering. The river was about fifty yards wide here.
"You first," I said.
He touched my cheek, took two quick backward strides, and then ran back those two steps, launchinghimself from a flat stone firmly embedded19 in the riverbank. I studied the flash of movement as he arcedover the water, finally turning a somersault just before he disappeared into the thick trees on the otherside of the river.
"Show-off," I muttered, and heard his invisible laugh.
I backed up five paces, just in case, and took a deep breath.
Suddenly, I was anxious again. Not about falling or getting hurt—I was more worried about the forestgetting hurt.
It had come on slowly, but I could feel it now—the raw, massive strength thrilling in my limbs. I wassuddenly sure that if I wanted to tunnel under the river, to claw or beat my way straight through thebedrock, it wouldn't take me very long. The objects around me—the trees, the shrubs21, the rocks... thehouse—had all begun to look very fragile.
Hoping very much that Esme was not particularly fond of any specific trees across the river, I began myfirst stride. And then stopped when the tight satin split six inches up my thigh22. Alice!
Well, Alice always seemed to treat clothes as if they were disposable and meant for one-time usage, soshe shouldn't mind this. I bent to carefully grasp the hem2 at the undamaged right seam between my fingersand, exerting the tiniest amount of pressure possible, I ripped the dress open to the top of my thigh. ThenI fixed23 the other side to match.
Much better.
I could hear the muffled24 laughter in the house, and even the sound of someone gritting25 her teeth. Thelaughter came from upstairs and down, and I very easily recognized the much different, rough, throatychuckle from the firstfloor.
So Jacob was watching, too? I couldn't imagine what he was thinking now, or what he was still doinghere. I'd envisioned our reunion—if he could ever forgive me—taking place far in the future, when I wasmore stable, and time had healed the wounds I'd inflicted26 in his heart.
I didn't turn to look at him now, wary27 of my mood swings. It wouldn't be good to let any emotion taketoo strong a hold on my frame of mind. Jasper's fears had me on edge, too. I had to hunt before I dealtwith anything else. I tried to forget everything else so I could concentrate.
"Bella?" Edward called from the woods, his voice moving closer. "Do you want to watch again?"But I remembered everything perfectly, of course, and I didn't want to give Emmett a reason to findmore humor in my education. This was physical—it should be instinctive28. So I took a deep breath andran for the river.
Unhindered by my skirt, it took only one long bound to reach the water's edge. Just an eighty-fourth of asecond, and yet it was plenty of time—my eyes and my mind moved so quickly that one step wasenough. It was simple to position my right foot just so against the flat stone and exert the adequatepressure to send my body wheeling up into the air. I was paying more attention to aim than force, and Ierred on the amount of power necessary—but at least I didn't err29 on the side that would have gotten mewet. The fifty yard width was slightly too easy a distance___It was a strange, giddy, electrifying30 thing, but a short thing. An entire second had yet to pass, and I wasacross.
I was expecting the close-packed trees to be a problem, but they were surprisingly helpful. It was asimple matter to reach out with one sure hand as I fell back toward the earth again deep inside the forestand catch myself on a convenient branch; I swung lightly from the limb and landed on my toes, still fifteenfeet from the ground on the wide bough31 of a Sitka spruce.
It was fabulous32.
Over the sound of my peals33 of delighted laughter, I could hear Edward racing34 to find me. My jump hadbeen twice as long as his. When he reached my tree, his eyes were wide. I leaped nimbly from thebranch to his side,soundlessly landing again on the balls of my feet.
"Was that good?" I wondered, my breathing accelerated with excitement.
"Very good." He smiled approvingly, but his casual tone didn't match the surprised expression in hiseyes.
"Can we do it again?""Focus, Bella—we're on a hunting trip.""Oh, right." I nodded. "Hunting.""Follow me... if you can." He grinned, his expression suddenly taunting35, and broke into a run.
He was faster than me. I couldn't imagine how he moved his legs with such blinding speed, but it wasbeyond me. However, I was stronger, and every stride of mine matched the length of three of his. Andso I flew with him through the living green web, by his side, not following at all. As I ran, I couldn't helplaughing quietly at the thrill of it; the laughter neither slowed me nor upset my focus.
I could finally understand why Edward never hit the trees when he ran—a question that had always beena mystery to me. It was a peculiar36 sensation, the balance between the speed and the clarity. For, while Irocketed over, under, and through the thick jade37 maze38 at a rate that should have reduced everythingaround me to a streaky green blur39, I could plainly see each tiny leaf on all the small branches of everyinsignificant shrub20 that I passed.
The wind of my speed blew my hair and my torn dress out behind me, and, though I knew it shouldn't, itfelt warm against my skin. Just as the rough forest floor shouldn't feel like velvet40 beneath my bare soles,and the limbs that whipped against my skin shouldn't feel like caressing41 feathers.
The forest was much more alive than I'd ever known—small creatures whose existence I'd neverguessed at teemed42 in the leaves around me. They all grew silent after we passed, their breath quickeningin fear. The animals had a much wiser reaction to our scent5 than humans seemed to. Certainly, it'd hadthe opposite effect on me.
I kept waiting to feel winded, but my breath came effortlessly. I waited for the burn to begin in mymuscles, but my strength only seemed to increase as I grew accustomed to my stride. My leaping boundsstretched longer, and soon he was trying to keep up with me. I laughed again, exultant43, when I heard himfalling behind. My naked feet touched the ground so infrequently now it felt more like flying than running.
"Belial he called dryly, his voice even, lazy. I could hear nothing else; he had stopped.
I briefly44 considered mutiny.
But, with a sigh, I whirled and skipped lightly to his side, some hundred yards back. I looked at himexpectantly. He was smiling, with one eyebrow45 raised. He was so beautiful that I could only stare.
"Did you want to stay in the country?" he asked, amused. "Or were you planning to continue on toCanada this afternoon?""This is fine," I agreed, concentrating less on what he was saying and more on the mesmerizing46 way hislips moved when he spoke47. It was hard not to become sidetracked with everything fresh in my strongnew eyes. "What are we hunting?""Elk48. I thought something easy for your first time ..." He trailed off when my eyes narrowed at the wordeasy.
But I wasn't going to argue; I was too thirsty. As soon as I'd started to think about the dry burn in mythroat, it was all I could think about. Definitely getting worse. My mouth felt like four o'clock on a Juneafternoon in Death Valley.
"Where?" I asked, scanning the trees impatiently. Now that I had given the thirst my attention, it seemedto taint49 every other thought in my head, leaking into the more pleasant thoughts of running and Edward'slips and kissing and... scorching50 thirst. I couldn't get away from it.
"Hold still for a minute," he said, putting his hands lightly on my shoulders. The urgency of my thirstreceded momentarily at his touch.
"Now close your eyes," he murmured. When I obeyed, he raised his hands to my face, stroking mycheekbones. I felt my breathing speed and waited briefly again for the blush that wouldn't come.
"Listen," Edward instructed. "What do you hear?"Everything,I could have said; his perfect voice, his breath, his lips brushing together as he spoke, thewhisper of birds preening52 their feathers in the treetops, their fluttering heartbeats, the maple53 leavesscraping together, the faint clicking of ants following each other in a long line up the bark of the nearesttree. But I knew he meant something specific, so I let my ears range outward, seeking something differentthan the small hum of life that surrounded me. There was an open space near us—the wind had adifferent sound across the exposed grass—and a small creek54, with a rocky bed. And there, near thenoise of the water, was the splash of lapping tongues, the loud thudding of heavy hearts, pumping thickstreams of blood___It felt like the sides of my throat had sucked closed.
"By the creek, to the northeast?" I asked, my eyes still shut.
"Yes." His tone was approving. "Now... wait for the breeze again and... what do you smell?"Mostly him—his strange honey-lilac-and-sun perfume. But also the rich, earthy smell of rot and moss,the resin55 in the evergreens56, the warm, almost nutty aroma57 of the small rodents58 cowering59 beneath the treeroots. And then, reaching out again, the clean smell of the water, which was surprisingly unappealingdespite my thirst. I focused toward the water and found the scent that must have gone with the lappingnoise and the pounding heart. Another warm smell, rich and tangy, stronger than the others. And yetnearly as unappealing as the brook60. I wrinkled my nose.
He chuckled9. "I know—it takes some getting used to.""Three?" I guessed.
"Five. There are two more in the trees behind them.""What do I do now?"His voice sounded like he was smiling. "What do you feel like doing?"I thought about that, my eyes still shut as I listened and breathed in the scent. Another bout4 of bakingthirst intruded61 on my awareness62, and suddenly the warm, tangy odor wasn't quite so objectionable. Atleast it would be something hot and wet in my desiccated mouth. My eyes snapped open.
"Don't think about it," he suggested as he lifted his hands off my face and took a step back. "Just followyourinstincts."I let myself drift with the scent, barely aware of my movement as I ghosted down the incline to thenarrow meadow where the stream flowed. My body shifted forward automatically into a low crouch63 as Ihesitated at the fern-fringed edge of the trees. I could see a big buck64, two dozen antler points crowninghis head, at the stream's edge, and the shadow-spotted shapes of the four others heading eastward65 intoforest at a leisurely66 pace.
I centered myself around the scent of the male, the hot spot in his shaggy neck where the warmth pulsedstrongest. Only thirty yards—two or three bounds—between us. i tensed myself for the first leap.
But as my muscles bunched in preparation, the wind shifted, blowing stronger now, and from the south. Ididn't stop to think, hurtling out of the trees in a path perpendicular67 to my original plan, scaring the elkinto the forest, racing after a new fragrance68 so attractive that there wasn't a choice. It was compulsory69.
The scent ruled completely. I was single-minded as I traced it, aware only of the thirst and the smell thatpromised to quench70 it. The thirst got worse, so painful now that it confused all my other thoughts andbegan to remind me of the burn of venom71 in my veins72.
There was only one thing that had any chance of penetrating73 my focus now, an instinct more powerful,more basic than the need to quench the fire—it was the instinct to protect myself from danger.
Self-preservation.
I was suddenly alert to the fact that I was being followed. The pull of the irresistible74 scent warred withthe impulse to turn and defend my hunt. A bubble of sound built in my chest, my lips pulled back of theirown accord to expose my teeth in warning. My feet slowed, the need to protect my back strugglingagainst the desire to quench my thirst.
And then I could hear my pursuer gaining, and defense75 won. As I spun76, the rising sound ripped its wayup my throat and out.
The feral snarl77, coming from my own mouth, was so unexpected that it brought me up short. It unsettledme, and it cleared my head for a second—the thirst-driven haze78 receded51, though the thirst burned on.
The wind shifted, blowing the smell of wet earth and coming rain across my face, further freeing me fromthe other scent's fiery79 grip—a scent so delicious it could only be human.
Edward hesitated a few feet away, his arms raised as if to embrace me—or restrain me. His face wasintent and cautious as I froze, horrified80.
I realized that I had been about to attack him. With a hard jerk, I straightened out of my defensivecrouch. I held my breath as I refocused, fearing the power of the fragrance swirling81 up from the south.
He could see reason return to my face, and he took a step toward me, lowering his arms.
"I have to get away from here," I spit through my teeth, using the breath I had.
Shock crossed his face. "Can you leave?"I didn't have time to ask him what he meant by that. I knew the ability to think clearly would last only aslong as I could stop myself from thinking of—I burst into a run again, a flat-out sprint82 straight north, concentrating solely83 on the uncomfortable feelingof sensory84 deprivation85 that seemed to be my body's only response to the lack of air. My one goal was torun farenough away that the scent behind me would be completely lost. Impossible to find, even if I changedmy mind...
Once again, I was aware of being followed, but I was sane86 this time. I fought the instinct to breathe—touse the flavors in the air to be sure it was Edward. I didn't have to fight long; though I was running fasterthan I ever had before, shooting like a comet through the straightest path I could find in the trees; Edwardcaught up with me after a short minute.
A new thought occurred to me, and I stopped dead, my feet planted. I was sure it must be safe here, butI held my breath just in case.
Edward blew past me, surprised by my sudden freeze. He wheeled around and was at my side in asecond. He put his hands on my shoulders and stared into my eyes, shock still the dominant87 emotion onhis face.
"How did you do that?" he demanded.
"You let me beat you before, didn't you?" I demanded back, ignoring his question. And I'd thought I'dbeen doing sowell!
When I opened my mouth, I could taste the air—it was unpolluted now, with no trace of the compellingperfume to torment88 my thirst. I took a cautious breath.
He shrugged89 and shook his head, refusing to be deflected90. "Bella, how did you do it?""Run away? I held my breath.""But how did you stop hunting?""When you came up behind me... I'm so sorry about that.""Why are you apologizing to me? I'm the one who was horribly careless. I assumed no one would be sofar from the trails, but I should have checked first. Such a stupid mistake! You have nothing to apologizefor.""But I growled91 at you!" I was still horrified that I was physically92 capable of such blasphemy93.
"Of course you did. That's only natural. But I can't understand how you ran away.""What else could I do?" I asked. His attitude confused me—what did he want to have happened? "Itmight have been someone I know!"He startled me, suddenly bursting into a spasm94 of loud laughter, throwing his head back and letting thesound echo off the trees.
"Why are you laughing at me?"He stopped at once, and I could see he was wary again.
Keep it under control,I thought to myself. I had to watch my temper. Just like I was a young werewolfrather than a vampire.
"I'm not laughing at you,Bella. I'm laughing because I am in shock. And I am in shock because I amcompletely amazed.""Why?""You shouldn't be able to do any of this. You shouldn't be so... so rational. You shouldn't be able tostand here discussing this with me calmly and coolly. And, much more than any of that, you should nothave been able to breakoff mid-hunt with the scent of human blood in the air. Even mature vampires95 have difficulty with that—we're always very careful of where we hunt so as not to put ourselves in the path of temptation. Bella,you're behaving like you're decades rather than days old.""Oh." But I'd known it was going to be hard. That was why I'd been so on guard. I'd been expecting itto be difficult.
He put his hands on my face again, and his eyes were full of wonder. "What wouldn't I give to be able tosee into your mind for just this one moment."Such powerful emotions. I'd been prepared for the thirst part, but not this. I'd been so sure it wouldn'tbe the same when he touched me. Well, truthfully, it wasn't the same.
It was stronger.
I reached up to trace the planes of his face; my fingers lingered on his lips.
"I thought I wouldn't feel this way for a long time?" My uncertainty96 made the words a question. "But Istillwant you."He blinked in shock. "How can you even concentrate on that? Aren't you unbearably97 thirsty?"Of course I was now, now that he'd brought it up again!
I tried to swallow and then sighed, closing my eyes like I had before to help me concentrate. I let mysenses range out around me, tensed this time in case of another onslaught of the delicious taboo98 scent.
Edward dropped his hands, not even breathing while I listened farther and farther out into the web ofgreen life, sifting99 through the scents and sounds for something not totally repellant to my thirst. There wasa hint of something different, a faint trail to the east___My eyes flashed open, but my focus was still on sharper senses as I turned and darted silently eastward.
The ground sloped steeply upward almost at once, and I ran in a hunting crouch, close to the ground,taking to the trees when that was easier. I sensed rather than heard Edward with me, flowing quietlythrough the woods, letting me lead.
The vegetation thinned as we climbed higher; the scent of pitch and resin grew more powerful, as did thetrail I followed—it was a warm scent, sharper than the smell of the elk and more appealing. A fewseconds more and I could hear the muted padding of immense feet, so much subtler than the crunch100 ofhooves. The sound was up—in the branches rather than on the ground. Automatically I darted into theboughs as well, gaining the strategic higher position, halfway101 up a towering silver fir.
The soft thud of paws continued stealthily beneath me now; the rich scent was very close. My eyespinpointed the movement linked with the sound, and I saw the tawny102 hide of the great cat slinking alongthe wide branch of a spruce just down and to the left of my perch103. He was big—easily four times mymass. His eyes were intent on the ground beneath; the cat hunted, too. I caught the smell of somethingsmaller, bland104 next to the aroma of my prey105, cowering in brush below the tree. The lion's tail twitchedspasmodically as he prepared to spring.
With a light bound, I sailed through the air and landed on the lion's branch. He felt the shiver of the woodand whirled, shrieking106 surprise and defiance107. He clawed the space between us, his eyes bright with fury.
Half-crazed withthirst, I ignored the exposed fangs108 and the hooked claws and launched myself at him, knocking us bothto the forest floor.
It wasn't much of a fight.
His raking claws could have been caressing fingers for all the impact they had on my skin. His teethcould find no purchase against my shoulder or my throat. His weight was nothing. My teeth unerringlysought his throat, and his instinctive resistance was pitifully feeble against my strength. My jaws109 lockedeasily over the precise point where the heat flow concentrated.
It was effortless as biting into butter. My teeth were steel razors; they cut through the fur and fat andsinews like they weren't there.
The flavor was wrong, but the blood was hot and wet and it soothed110 the ragged111, itching112 thirst as I drankin an eager rush. The cat's struggles grew more and more feeble, and his screams choked off with agurgle. The warmth of the blood radiated throughout my whole body, heating even my fingertips andtoes.
The lion was finished before I was. The thirst flared113 again when he ran dry, and I shoved his carcass offmy body in disgust. How could I still be thirsty after all that?
I wrenched114 myself erect115 in one quick move. Standing116, I realized I was a bit of a mess. I wiped my faceoff on the back of my arm and tried to fix the dress. The claws that had been so ineffectual against myskin had had more success with the thin satin.
"Hmm," Edward said. I looked up to see him leaning casually against a tree trunk, watching me with athoughtful look on his face.
"I guess I could have done that better." I was covered in dirt, my hair knotted, my dress bloodstainedand hanging in tatters. Edward didn't come home from hunting trips looking like this.
"You did perfectly fine," he assured me. "It's just that... it was much more difficult for me to watch than itshould have been."I raised my eyebrows117, confused.
"It goes against the grain," he explained, "letting you wrestle118 with lions. I was having an anxiety attack thewhole time.""Silly.""I know. Old habits die hard. I like the improvements to your dress, though."If I could have blushed, I would have. I changed the subject. "Why am I still thirsty?""Because you're young."I sighed. "And I don't suppose there are any other mountain lions nearby.""Plenty of deer, though."I made a face. "They don't smell as good.""Herbivores. The meat-eaters smell more like humans," he explained.
"Not that much like humans," I disagreed, trying not to remember.
"We could go back," he said solemnly, but there was a teasing light in his eye. "Whoever it was outthere, if they were men, they probably wouldn't even mind death if you were the one delivering it." Hisgaze ran over my ravaged119 dress again. "In fact, they would think they were already dead and gone toheaven the moment they saw you."I rolled my eyes and snorted. "Let's go hunt some stinking120 herbivores."We found a large herd121 of mule122 deer as we ran back toward home. He hunted with me this time, nowthat I'd gotten the hang of it. I brought down a large buck, making nearly as much of a mess as I had withthe lion. He'd finished with two before I was done with the first, not a hair ruffled123, not a spot on his whiteshirt. We chased the scattered124 and terrified herd, but instead of feeding again, this time I watchedcarefully to see how he was able to hunt so neatly125.
All the times that I had wished that Edward would not have to leave me behind when he hunted, I hadsecretly been just a little relieved. Because I was sure that seeing this would be frightening. Horrifying126.
That seeing him hunt would finally make him look like a vampire to me.
Of course, it was much different from this perspective, as a vampire myself. But I doubted that even myhuman eyes would have missed the beauty here.
It was a surprisingly sensual experience to observe Edward hunting. His smooth spring was like thesinuous strike of a snake; his hands were so sure, so strong, so completely inescapable; his full lips wereperfect as they parted gracefully127 over his gleaming teeth. He was glorious. I felt a sudden jolt128 of bothpride and desire. He was mine. Nothing could ever separate him from me now. I was too strong to betorn from his side.
He was very quick. He turned to me and gazed curiously129 at my gloating expression.
"No longer thirsty?" he asked.
I shrugged. "You distracted me. You're much better at it than I am.""Centuries of practice." He smiled. His eyes were a disconcertingly lovely shade of honey gold now.
"Just one," I corrected him.
He laughed. "Are you done for today? Or did you want to continue?""Done, I think." I felt very full, sort of sloshy, even. I wasn't sure how much more liquid would fit into mybody. But the burn in my throat was only muted. Then again, I'd known that thirst was just aninescapable part of this life.
And worth it.
I felt in control. Perhaps my sense of security was false, but I did feel pretty good about not killinganyone today. If I could resist totally human strangers, wouldn't I be able to handle the werewolf and ahalf-vampire child that I loved?
"I want to see Renesmee," I said. Now that my thirst was tamed (if nothing close to erased), my earlierworries were hard to forget. I wanted to reconcile the stranger who was my daughter with the creatureI'd loved three days ago. It was so odd, so wrong not to have her inside me still. Abruptly130, I felt emptyand uneasy.
He held out his hand to me. I took it, and his skin felt warmer than before. His cheek was faintly flushed,the shadows under his eyes all but vanished.
I was unable to resist stroking his face again. And again.
I sort of forgot that I was waiting for a response to my request as I stared into his shimmering131 gold eyes.
It was almost as hard as it had been to turn away from the scent of human blood, but I somehow keptthe need to be careful firmly in my head as I stretched up on my toes and wrapped my arms around him.
Gently.
He was not so hesitant in his movements; his arms locked around my waist and pulled me tight againsthis body. His lips crushed down on mine, but they felt soft. My lips no longer shaped themselves aroundhis; they held their own.
Like before, it was as if the touch of his skin, his lips, his hands, was sinking right through my smooth,hard skin and into my new bones. To the very core of my body. I hadn't imagined that I could love himmore than I had.
My old mind hadn't been capable of holding this much love. My old heart had not been strong enough tobear it.
Maybe this was the part of me that I'd brought forward to be intensified132 in my new life. Like Carlisle'scompassion and Esme's devotion. I would probably never be able to do anything interesting or speciallike Edward, Alice, and Jasper could do. Maybe I would just love Edward more than anyone in thehistory of the world had ever loved anyone else.
I could live with that.
I remembered parts of this—twisting my fingers in his hair, tracing the planes of his chest—but otherparts were so new. He was new. It was an entirely133 different experience with Edward kissing me sofearlessly, so forcefully. I responded to his intensity134, and then suddenly we were falling.
"Oops," I said, and he laughed underneath135 me. "I didn't mean to tackle you like that. Are you okay?"He stroked my face. "Slightly better than okay" And then a perplexed136 expression crossed his face.
"Renesmee?" he asked uncertainly, trying to ascertain137 what I wanted most in this moment. A very difficultquestion to answer, because I wanted so many things at the same time.
I could tell that he wasn't exactly averse138 to procrastinating139 our return trip, and it was hard to think aboutmuch besides his skin on mine—there really wasn't that much left of the dress. But my memory ofRenesmee, before and after her birth, was becoming more and more dreamlike to me. More unlikely. Allmy memories of her were human memories; an aura of artificiality clung to them. Nothing seemed realthat I hadn't seen with these eyes, touched with these hands.
Every minute, the reality of that little stranger slipped further away.
"Renesmee," I agreed, rueful, and I whipped back up onto my feet, pulling him with me.
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prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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hem
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| n.贴边，镶边；vt.缝贴边；(in)包围，限制 | |
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eternity
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| n.不朽，来世；永恒，无穷 | |
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bout
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| n.侵袭，发作；一次(阵，回)；拳击等比赛 | |
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scent
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| n.气味，香味，香水，线索，嗅觉；v.嗅，发觉 | |
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scents
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| n.香水( scent的名词复数 )；气味；（动物的）臭迹；（尤指狗的）嗅觉 | |
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tightened
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| 收紧( tighten的过去式和过去分词 )； （使）变紧； （使）绷紧； 加紧 | |
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perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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9
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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10
vampire
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| n.吸血鬼 | |
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11
cocktail
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| n.鸡尾酒；餐前开胃小吃；混合物 | |
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12
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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13
analyzing
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| v.分析；分析( analyze的现在分词 )；分解；解释；对…进行心理分析n.分析 | |
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14
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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15
graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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16
applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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17
grumbled
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| 抱怨( grumble的过去式和过去分词 )； 发牢骚； 咕哝； 发哼声 | |
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18
darted
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| v.投掷，投射( dart的过去式和过去分词 )；向前冲，飞奔 | |
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19
embedded
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| a.扎牢的 | |
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20
shrub
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| n.灌木，灌木丛 | |
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21
shrubs
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| 灌木( shrub的名词复数 ) | |
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22
thigh
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| n.大腿；股骨 | |
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23
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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24
muffled
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| adj.（声音）被隔的；听不太清的；（衣服）裹严的；蒙住的v.压抑，捂住( muffle的过去式和过去分词 )；用厚厚的衣帽包着（自己） | |
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25
gritting
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| v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的现在分词 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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26
inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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27
wary
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| adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的 | |
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28
instinctive
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| adj.(出于)本能的；直觉的；(出于)天性的 | |
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29
err
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| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
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30
electrifying
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| v.使电气化( electrify的现在分词 )；使兴奋 | |
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31
bough
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| n.大树枝，主枝 | |
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32
fabulous
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| adj.极好的；极为巨大的；寓言中的，传说中的 | |
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33
peals
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| n.（声音大而持续或重复的）洪亮的响声( peal的名词复数 )；隆隆声；洪亮的钟声；钟乐v.（使）（钟等）鸣响，（雷等）发出隆隆声( peal的第三人称单数 ) | |
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34
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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35
taunting
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| 嘲讽( taunt的现在分词 )； 嘲弄； 辱骂； 奚落 | |
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36
peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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37
jade
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| n.玉石；碧玉；翡翠 | |
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38
maze
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| n.迷宫，八阵图，混乱，迷惑 | |
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39
blur
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| n.模糊不清的事物；vt.使模糊，使看不清楚 | |
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40
velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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41
caressing
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| 爱抚的，表现爱情的，亲切的 | |
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42
teemed
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| v.充满( teem的过去式和过去分词 )；到处都是；（指水、雨等）暴降；倾注 | |
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43
exultant
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| adj.欢腾的，狂欢的，大喜的 | |
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44
briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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45
eyebrow
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| n.眉毛，眉 | |
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46
mesmerizing
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| adj.有吸引力的，有魅力的v.使入迷( mesmerize的现在分词 ) | |
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47
spoke
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| n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说 | |
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48
elk
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| n.麋鹿 | |
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49
taint
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| n.污点；感染；腐坏；v.使感染；污染 | |
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50
scorching
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| adj. 灼热的 | |
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51
receded
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| v.逐渐远离( recede的过去式和过去分词 )；向后倾斜；自原处后退或避开别人的注视；尤指问题 | |
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52
preening
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| v.（鸟）用嘴整理（羽毛）( preen的现在分词 ) | |
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53
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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54
creek
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| n.小溪，小河，小湾 | |
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55
resin
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| n.树脂，松香，树脂制品；vt.涂树脂 | |
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56
evergreens
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| n.常青树，常绿植物，万年青( evergreen的名词复数 ) | |
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57
aroma
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| n.香气，芬芳，芳香 | |
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58
rodents
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| n.啮齿目动物( rodent的名词复数 ) | |
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59
cowering
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| v.畏缩，抖缩( cower的现在分词 ) | |
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60
brook
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| n.小河，溪；v.忍受，容让 | |
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61
intruded
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| n.侵入的，推进的v.侵入，侵扰，打扰( intrude的过去式和过去分词 )；把…强加于 | |
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62
awareness
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| n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智 | |
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63
crouch
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| v.蹲伏，蜷缩，低头弯腰；n.蹲伏 | |
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64
buck
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| n.雄鹿，雄兔；v.马离地跳跃 | |
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65
eastward
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|
| adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部 | |
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66
leisurely
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| adj.悠闲的；从容的，慢慢的 | |
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67
perpendicular
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| adj.垂直的，直立的；n.垂直线，垂直的位置 | |
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68
fragrance
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| n.芬芳，香味，香气 | |
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69
compulsory
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| n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的 | |
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70
quench
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| vt.熄灭，扑灭；压制 | |
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71
venom
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| n.毒液，恶毒，痛恨 | |
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72
veins
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| n.纹理；矿脉( vein的名词复数 )；静脉；叶脉；纹理 | |
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73
penetrating
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|
| adj.（声音）响亮的，尖锐的adj.（气味）刺激的adj.（思想）敏锐的，有洞察力的 | |
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74
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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75
defense
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| n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩 | |
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76
spun
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| v.纺，杜撰，急转身 | |
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77
snarl
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| v.吼叫，怒骂，纠缠，混乱；n.混乱，缠结，咆哮 | |
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78
haze
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| n.霾，烟雾；懵懂，迷糊；vi.(over)变模糊 | |
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79
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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80
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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81
swirling
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| v.旋转，打旋( swirl的现在分词 ) | |
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82
sprint
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| n.短距离赛跑；vi. 奋力而跑，冲刺；vt.全速跑过 | |
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83
solely
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| adv.仅仅，唯一地 | |
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84
sensory
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| adj.知觉的，感觉的，知觉器官的 | |
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85
deprivation
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| n.匮乏；丧失；夺去，贫困 | |
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86
sane
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| adj.心智健全的，神志清醒的，明智的，稳健的 | |
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87
dominant
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|
| adj.支配的，统治的；占优势的；显性的；n.主因，要素，主要的人(或物)；显性基因 | |
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88
torment
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|
| n.折磨；令人痛苦的东西(人)；vt.折磨；纠缠 | |
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89
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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90
deflected
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| 偏离的 | |
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91
growled
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| v.（动物）发狺狺声， （雷）作隆隆声( growl的过去式和过去分词 )；低声咆哮着说 | |
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92
physically
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| adj.物质上，体格上，身体上，按自然规律 | |
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93
blasphemy
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| n.亵渎，渎神 | |
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94
spasm
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| n.痉挛，抽搐；一阵发作 | |
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95
vampires
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| n.吸血鬼( vampire的名词复数 )；吸血蝠；高利贷者；（舞台上的）活板门 | |
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96
uncertainty
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| n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物 | |
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97
unbearably
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| adv.不能忍受地，无法容忍地；慌 | |
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98
taboo
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| n.禁忌，禁止接近，禁止使用；adj.禁忌的；v.禁忌，禁制，禁止 | |
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99
sifting
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| n.筛，过滤v.筛( sift的现在分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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100
crunch
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| n.关键时刻；艰难局面；v.发出碎裂声 | |
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101
halfway
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| adj.中途的，不彻底的，部分的；adv.半路地，在中途，在半途 | |
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102
tawny
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| adj.茶色的，黄褐色的；n.黄褐色 | |
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103
perch
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| n.栖木，高位，杆；v.栖息，就位，位于 | |
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104
bland
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| adj.淡而无味的，温和的，无刺激性的 | |
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105
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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106
shrieking
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| v.尖叫( shriek的现在分词 ) | |
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107
defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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108
fangs
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| n.（尤指狗和狼的）长而尖的牙( fang的名词复数 )；（蛇的）毒牙；罐座 | |
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109
jaws
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| n.口部；嘴 | |
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110
soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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111
ragged
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| adj.衣衫褴褛的，粗糙的，刺耳的 | |
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112
itching
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| adj.贪得的，痒的，渴望的v.发痒( itch的现在分词 ) | |
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113
Flared
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| adj. 端部张开的, 爆发的, 加宽的, 漏斗式的 动词flare的过去式和过去分词 | |
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114
wrenched
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| v.（猛力地）扭( wrench的过去式和过去分词 )；扭伤；使感到痛苦；使悲痛 | |
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115
erect
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| n./v.树立，建立，使竖立；adj.直立的，垂直的 | |
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116
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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117
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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118
wrestle
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| vi.摔跤，角力；搏斗；全力对付 | |
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119
ravaged
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| 毁坏( ravage的过去式和过去分词 )； 蹂躏； 劫掠； 抢劫 | |
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120
stinking
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| adj.臭的，烂醉的，讨厌的v.散发出恶臭( stink的现在分词 )；发臭味；名声臭；糟透 | |
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121
herd
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| n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起 | |
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122
mule
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| n.骡子，杂种，执拗的人 | |
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123
ruffled
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| adj. 有褶饰边的, 起皱的 动词ruffle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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124
scattered
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| adj.分散的，稀疏的；散步的；疏疏落落的 | |
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125
neatly
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| adv.整洁地，干净地，灵巧地，熟练地 | |
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126
horrifying
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| a.令人震惊的，使人毛骨悚然的 | |
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127
gracefully
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| ad.大大方方地；优美地 | |
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128
jolt
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| v.（使）摇动，（使）震动，（使）颠簸 | |
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129
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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130
abruptly
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| adv.突然地，出其不意地 | |
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131
shimmering
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| v.闪闪发光，发微光( shimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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intensified
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| v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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133
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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134
intensity
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| n.强烈，剧烈；强度；烈度 | |
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135
underneath
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| adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面 | |
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136
perplexed
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| adj.不知所措的 | |
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137
ascertain
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| vt.发现，确定，查明，弄清 | |
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averse
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| adj.厌恶的；反对的，不乐意的 | |
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139
procrastinating
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| 拖延，耽搁( procrastinate的现在分词 )； 拖拉 | |
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