第57部分(第6/7 頁)

Edward　hesitated。　From　the　corner　of　my　eye；　I　saw　both　Felix　and　Jane

grimace。

Edward　seemed　to　weigh　each　word　before　he　spoke　it。　〃I'd　rather　not。〃

〃Alice？〃　Aro　asked；　still　hopeful。　〃Would　you　perhaps　be　interested　in　joining

with　us？〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　Alice　said。

〃And　you；　Bella？〃　Aro　raised　his　eyebrows。

Edward　hissed；　low　in　my　ears。　I　stared　at　Aro　blankly。　Was　he　joking？　Or　was

he　really　asking　me　if　I

wanted　to　stay　for　dinner？

It　was　the　white…haired　Caius　who　broke　the　silence。

〃What？〃　he　demanded　of　Aro；　his　voice；　though　no　more　than　a　whisper；　was

flat。

〃Caius；　surely　you　see　the　potential；〃　Aro　chided　him　affectionately。　〃I

haven't　seen　a　prospective　talent

so　promising　since　we　found　Jane　and　Alec。　Can　you　imagine　the　possibilities

when　she　is　one　of　us？〃

Caius　looked　away　with　a　caustic　expression。　Jane's　eyes　sparked　with

indignation　at　the　parison。

Edward　fumed　beside　me。　I　could　hear　a　rumble　in　his　chest；　building　toward　a

growl。　I　couldn't　let　his

temper　get　him　hurt。

〃No；　thank　you；〃　I　spoke　up　in　barely　more　than　a　whisper；　my　voice　breaking

in　fright。

Aro　sighed。　〃That's　unfortunate。　Such　a　waste。〃

Edward　hissed。　〃Join　or　die；　is　that　it？　I　suspected　as　much　when　we　were

brought　to　this　room。　So

much　for　your　laws。〃

The　tone　of　his　voice　surprised　me。　He　sounded　irate；　but　there　was　something

deliberate　about　his

delivery—as　if　he'd　chosen　his　words　with　great　care。

〃Of　course　not。〃　Aro　blinked；　astonished。　〃We　were　already　convened　here；

Edward；　awaiting　Heidi's

return。　Not　for　you。〃

〃Aro；〃　Caius　hissed。　〃Th