第56部分(第2/7 頁)

〃Alec；〃　she　responded；　embracing　the　boy。　They　kissed　each　other's　cheeks　on

both　sides。　Then　he

looked　at　us。

〃They　send　you　out　for　one　and　you　e　back　with　two　and　a　half；〃　he　noted；

looking　at　me。　〃Nice

work。〃

She　laughed—the　sound　sparkled　with　delight　like　a　baby's　cooing。

〃Wele　back；　Edward；〃　Alec　greeted　him。　〃You　seem　in　a　better　mood。〃

〃Marginally；〃　Edward　agreed　in　a　flat　voice。　I　glanced　at　Edward's　hard　face；

and　wondered　how　his

mood　could　have　been　darker　before。

Alec　chuckled；　and　examined　me　as　I　clung　to　Edward's　side。　〃And　this　is　the

cause　of　all　the　trouble？〃

he　asked；　skeptical。

Edward　only　smiled；　his　expression　contemptuous。　Then　he　froze。

〃Dibs；〃　Felix　called　casually　from　behind。

Edward　turned；　a　low　snarl　building　deep　in　his　chest。　Felix　smiled—his　hand

was　raised；　palm　up；　he

curled　his　fingers　twice；　inviting　Edward　forward。

Alice　touched　Edward's　arm。　〃Patience；〃　she　cautioned　him。

They　exchanged　a　long　glance；　and　I　wished　I　could　hear　what　she　was　telling

him。　I　figured　that　it　was

something　to　do　with　not　attacking　Felix；　because　Edward　took　a　deep　breath

and　turned　back　to　Alec。

〃Aro　will　be　so　pleased　to　see　you　again；〃　Alec　said；　as　if　nothing　had

passed。

〃Let's　not　keep　him　waiting；〃　Jane　suggested。

Edward　nodded　once。

Alec　and　Jane；　holding　hands；　led　the　way　down　yet　another　wide；　ornate　hall—

would　there　ever　be　an

end？

They　ignored　the　doors　at　the　end　of　the　hall—doors　entirely　sheathed　in　gold

—stopping　halfway　down

the　hall　and　sliding　aside　a　piece　of　the　paneling　to　expose　a　plain　wooden

doo