第29部分(第2/7 頁)

what？〃　I　said　eagerly；　inviting　him　to　continue。　He　was　glaring　into

the　trees；　away　from　me。　I

took　advantage　of　his　diversion；　taking　a　furtive　step　back。

He　looked　back　at　me　and　smiled—the　expression　made　him　look　like　a　black…

haired　angel。

〃About　me　killing　you；〃　he　answered　in　a　seductive　purr。

I　staggered　back　another　step。　The　frantic　growling　in　my　head　made　it　hard　to

hear。

〃She　wanted　to　save　that　part　for　herself；〃　he　went　on　blithely。　〃She's　sort

of　put　out　with　you；　Bella。〃

〃Me？〃　I　squeaked。

He　shook　his　head　and　chuckled。　〃I　know；　it　seems　a　little　backward　to　me；

too。　But　James　was　her

mate；　and　your　Edward　killed　him。〃

Even　here；　on　the　point　of　death；　his　name　tore　against　my　unhealed　wounds

like　a　serrated　edge。

Laurent　was　oblivious　to　my　reaction。　〃She　thought　it　more　appropriate　to　kill

you　than　Edward—fair

turnabout；　mate　for　mate。　She　asked　me　to　get　the　lay　of　the　land　for　her；　so

to　speak。　I　didn't　imagine

you　would　be　so　easy　to　get　to。　So　maybe　her　plan　was　flawed—apparently　it

wouldn't　be　the　revenge

she　imagined；　since　you　must　not　mean　very　much　to　him　if　he　left　you　here

unprotected。〃

Another　blow；　another　tear　through　my　chest。

Laurent's　weight　shifted　slightly；　and　I　stumbled　another　step　back。

He　frowned。　〃I　suppose　she'll　be　angry；　all　the　same。〃

〃Then　why　not　wait　for　her？〃　I　choked　out。

A　mischievous　grin　rearranged　his　features。　〃Well；　you've　caught　me　at　a　bad

time；　Bella。　I　didn't　e

to　this　place　on　Victoria's　mission—I　was　hunting。　I'm　quite　thirsty；　and　you

do　smell　simply

mouthwatering。〃

Laurent　loo