Okay, so this is the teaser for the next chapter of Consummation. I know I have seemingly slipped into a schedule of 1 month updates. I apologize for this. Things have been chaotic in real life and I am not really working from a hard copy of the book. I have BD on audio and so I have to listen for certain cues, looking up passages. It's difficult to just sit down and listen. It's a process. ;)



"A blond's brain cells die alone," he chortled, laughing more at Rosalie's annoyance than anything. Normally, I would agree to this behavior, but I had other things on my mind.

"I have killed a thousand times more often than you have, you disgusting beast. Don't forget that," she stated, nearly spitting. Stupid, moronic dog gets on my last nerve! And I thought the stench was awful...

Bella was telling Jacob to stop getting on Rosalie's nerves. He could get on her very last nerve for all I cared. Then Jacob made mention of leaving. I held an unneeded breath, waiting for her answer. Of course, I knew what she would say already.

The answer was no. Every damn time, it was no. I wish there was someway to rid him, but it would make her unhappy. And I vowed to never make her unhappy again. At least, for the few short days we had left together.

Bella asked Rosalie for more blood, my sister rushing upstairs. Then, that buzzing that I had been hearing the past two days became louder suddenly. Like the volume had been turned up and I could make out something. I glanced over at Jacob, then Bella.

"Did you say something?" politely asking, wondering if what I heard was correct.

I turned to Bella, questioning her with my eyes.

"Me?" she asked, disbelieving. "I didn't say anything."

Carefully, I moved until I was over her. The buzzing, the whisper, got louder. I could almost make out the words.

"What are you thinking about right now?" I prodded her. There was no way I could actually hear her mental voice. Not now. It was... coming from somewhere else.

Can't hurt her. I won't hurt her.

I could not believe what I was hearing. It was soft, just above a whisper, but still there. And it was coming from Bella. My first instinct was that I was hearing Bella's voice, but when I asked if she had said anything, she just mentioned Isle Esme... and the feathers.

"Say something else," I asked, quietly.

"Like what, Edward?" Bella was frustrated with my behavior, but was more appalled at what I was doing just now.

I gasped. No... there was no way... it wasn't even possible. Cautiously, and with all eyes on me, I gently placed both my hands on Bella's round womb.

The fe--... he... the baby," I choked on the last word. "Likes the sound of your voice."

My mind went into overdrive, as Bella shrieked, making the baby jump in her womb.

A beat of total silence, followed by: "Holy CROW! You can hear him!" Bella shouted, then winced.

"Shh... you startled it—him." She patted her round belly, offering a 'sorry, baby' to him. I strained my neck over her, careful not to be too close in case my cold body would make he or she react.

"What's he saying now?"

Momma... she's happy. I love my Momma. I don't want to hurt her anymore, so I will try to be very careful.

"It... he or she...," I paused. I wasn't prepared for this. Not at all. I didn't know it would truly be a child. "... he's happy."

The fetus had a voice. And it was... astute. It didn't want to hurt her anymore than any of us did. It was trying not to hurt her from the inside, doing its best to stay a stationary as possible. I could almost feel through the thin membrane of Bella's skin the hands pressing against my cold hand through her womb.

And it... was a baby. A thinking, feeling, breathing creature. A sentient being, capable of rational thought to the point of avoiding heartache and pain toward its mother. Despite the awkward pregnancy.

And something in me surged to a new level. The sorrow that I had been experiencing the past few weeks dissipated into a beautiful new feeling. An all-encompassing love filled me from head to toe. I understood now what Bella had been right about all along. It was a child. Our child, I marveled.

I was going to be a father.


Look for the new chapter coming in the next week!