Characters are always the property of Stephenie Meyer.

Chapter 10 Hunger

Finally, I began to regain some control of myself. I pushed at Edward's chest, noting the lean muscles beneath my palms. "I'll never heal if I don't feed." My voice was a whisper.

He nodded at me, still speeding in the same direction. That's when I smelt the musky aroma. It had nothing on the heavenly smell of a human, but whatever Edward sprinted toward was both alive and breathing, calling me to dinner. I knew it was an animal, but was desperate for it. My stomach roiled and clenched, but my throat burned hungrily at the prospect of fresh blood.

Edward laid me gently on the ice. "Wait here," he whispered and was immediately lost in the blinding snow. His leap was more graceful and natural than I had ever dreamed of being. Then again, I'd never had to hunt for food before.

I couldn't see the battle but heard it through the shrieking wind. Edward attacked the beast, but it was giving him a fight. After a few intense moments of guttural growling and snapping, he reappeared dragging the huge beast behind him. The hind leg was nestled in the crook of his arm. I growled at the scent of the predator's fresh blood. The animal was still thrashing behind him, snapping its powerful jaws, and I was secretly glad he had brought it to me alive.

I didn't give myself a chance to think it over. The call of blood was too much to bear. The panicked heartbeat took over all rational thought. After all, blood was blood and this would be my only reprieve from the aching thirst. I leaped past Edward and landed on top of the bear, securing my legs around the huge midsection and ignoring the slicing pain shooting up them.

I pressed my mouth hungrily to its neck and bit in. The thick flesh and coat was far from appetizing, but as the first drop of life touched my lips, all I could do was drink. I made quick work of the enormous beast that I only recognized as a polar bear afterward it was drained.

It was easy to ignore the bitter aftertaste that stained my tongue and covered the taste Edward had given me, but my ankle was already tingling. Only a little more and it would be entirely healed by morning. My eyes sought out Edward's. I smiled.

"Your brother was right," I chuckled. "That wasn't so bad."

To my complete delight, the crooked smile formed full across his face. "Unfortunately, that was the only one in the area. You'll have to make do with an elk or mule deer, now. Herbivores are less…satisfying."

I groaned as Edward slipped away again. This time, I heard no sounds of a struggle, but he might have gone too far to hear over the storm. Seconds ticked by slowly and I began to get nervous. How long does it take to catch a stupid deer? He wrangled the bear in less than thirty seconds.

When he finally did return, there were two five-point bucks under his arms. Their heartbeats were slow and I smelled his venom mixing with their blood. "They run faster than the bear," he muttered, apologizing.

It was completely unnecessary. Just the hint of his scent inside the animals drove me insane. At once, I was at the creature's neck, gulping loudly as I coaxed the blood down my throat. When it was dry, I wiped my hand on the back of my jacket.

"Disgusting," I said, but hoped he knew I was joking, sort of. The full stomach was making me a little euphoric. I noticed his eyes and the black-ringed gold of his eyes. "Maybe you'd like to share the other one," I offered. Edward's eyebrows shot up, but he nodded slowly.

I began to drink first, feeling like I might be a little unbalanced. Asking a complete stranger to share a kill with me. What was going on with me? After only a moment, Edward's eyes were in front of mine and I watched his razor white teeth sink into the tender flesh of our meal.

It is sensual to share a kill. Vampires rarely shared anything, especially food, so it made my offer much bolder. But he drank as deeply as I did, never breaking eye contact. There were a thousand emotions flickering through him, but it looked like he couldn't settle for just one. He wondered why I asked him, but asked no questions. I was glad for that. I didn't have any answers for him. I don't know what compelled me to share such a personal act. Like we were lovers. But, I could hardly care. No matter what type of blood passed my lips, I could only taste Edward.

When the animal was drained, he looked at me as we sat across from each other. I was a mess. My clothes were covered with blood and hair, ripped in my haste to dine. A small smile played across his lips as the flush of the kill rushed to my cheeks.

"That was different," he said with a glance at our drained buck.

I could only nod. His eyes were actually sparkling as a light caramel color flooded them. It pushed the black out right before my eyes and I was momentarily dazzled. This man was simply breathtaking.

"Do you always get yourself into so much trouble?" he asked.

I shook my head. "I could find my way around Volterra blindfolded. I've just never been outside the city."

"Never?"

"I was born in France, but I've spent my entire immortal life inside Volterra's walls," I admitted simply.

"That's incredible."

I had to laugh. "Oh yeah, sounds like a great way to spend eternity," I joked lightly, content by our easy exchange.

After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "I didn't think you'd want me to follow, but I couldn't leave you out here alone, Bella." My name sounded like heaven on his lips.

"I'm glad. What the hell was I thinking?"

Edward grimaced briefly. "After the reception we gave you, I wouldn't blame you for trying to run."

"It wasn't that. I mean, I do feel completely off-kilter here with your family, but I just freaked. It's all so much to take in." I began nervously wringing my fingers together.

"Alice can have that effect on people."

"So I've seen," I snorted. "But how worried should I be? How accurate is she, really?"

"I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you," he said with a wink.

I didn't want to think that it might come to that regardless. The light comment weighed heavily on my shoulders. "I just wonder if things are already going to happen or if her warnings push people in the direction to make them happen."

"I think a little bit of both," Edward said easily and relaxed himself into the snow. "We all learned long ago there was no point in arguing. She gets her way no matter what."

I laughed again and Edward propped himself on an elbow and watched me. "Do you?" he asked.

"Do I what?" I answered back breathlessly.

"Do you get what you want?"

My amusement faded. It was a loaded question and I couldn't tell by the intense gaze if he'd meant it that way. I wanted to be Chief Interrogator for the Volturi and I got that, but what else had I ever wanted? The only thing that came to mind was Carlisle, but at this point, I wasn't so sure it was that I wanted him or that I couldn't have him. I'd truly never needed to want, because I always had. Carlisle was the one thing that hadn't simply fallen into my lap.

Now, as I looked over the bronze Adonis leaning in the snow and I had no answer. My stomach twisted as I poured over his perfect countenance and chiseled body. I think I wanted him, but at what cost? My little foray into the unknown was well and good, but getting any more out of control around the Cullens was asking for trouble. At that very moment, I only wanted to know what it was I wanted.

"No," I finally breathed. "I don't."

Edward's musical laughter filled the space between us, effectively drowning out the tension I'd built. "No, neither do I," he chuckled.

Suddenly lightened, I instinctively reached out to place my hand on his. Edward reacted to the contact, pulling his hand from beneath mine the instant they touched. I was afraid I had crossed a line with him, but was sure he had been flirting. I hadn't imagined that had I? I knew men, but apparently, there was more to this one.

I made to move away, but Edward grabbed my wrist tightly. The intensity of his stare was shocking, but he was silent. I was lost in his eyes for a long time, breathing unnecessarily hard. The snow swirled in huge fat flakes around us, landing in our hair and eyelids and covering our clothes.

"I can't hear you," he said finally.

"I didn't say anything."

Edward shook his head with a soft smile. "Not what I meant," he smiled softly. "I mean your thoughts. You are the first I've ever encountered that was immune to my ability."

I couldn't help but feel instant relief over the news. Aro couldn't see into my head, either. He'd always thought that particular aspect of my gift as a curse. It was to him at any rate. I was the one person Aro simply had to trust, because he could not search out lies through my memories. Suddenly, it's revealed that I could unconsciously block all forms of mind intrusion. I was instantly comforted by that fact. I didn't even have to try.

Edward was continuing, his voice in a musical whisper. "You asked me to stay earlier, but I'm not sure I did the right thing coming after you. Alice didn't tell you everything, but I couldn't just let you go. I'm not ready yet. I need more time. The silence of your mind is incredibly peaceful and I'm drawn to that. Hell, it's you. I'm drawn to you in ways I can't explain."

His honesty was shocking. Judging by the look on his face as much for himself as for me. It had been totally unexpected and I tried desperately to shrug off the meaning behind his words before they could penetrate me deeper.

"We should probably get back," I finally broke the first uncomfortable pause between us. I didn't know what else I should say. Edward seemed embarrassed enough by his admission that he only nodded. In a quick movement, he swooped me up and into his arms again. My ankle would be healed before we made it back to the house, but I didn't object. It felt too good to be against him like that, despite how completely off-guard he had caught me with his words.

He ran into the blinding snow with me huddled in his strong arms. The storm howled around us, slapping our faces with the bits of falling ice. As impossible as I would have found it a few hours ago, I was more stuck now than before.

Felix POV

My patience was waning. Two weeks and still we sat. No one had even been the least bit concerned for Isabella's disappearance. As the crews worked round the clock digging out the thousands of tons of debris that had fallen on top of itself, it became more evident Isabella wasn't there. Somehow she had made it out and I was pretty sure I knew where she had gone. The female Cullen's cell had already been unearthed and it had been empty. Something told me when they finished clearing the other Cullen's cell, it would be the same. They had Isabella. No one else would be as crafty and ballsy as those fuckers. The big one's face flashed before my face and I was instantly furious.

Thanks to Emmett, my left arm had been severed from my body. The prick practically leveled the entire city. Another one had been loose and I could only assume it was Edward. They'd never let dear ol' Carlisle walk into danger. Those little bitches are going to pay when I finally get authorization to hunt them down. And if any of those heathens lay a hand on my woman, there'll be hell to pay.

I flexed the fingers on my injured hand slowly, feeling the stiff way the muscles contracted. It had been incredibly painful as it healed, hardly bearable. But I endured because I knew Isabella had to be found. I would not let the man who was the center of her life, forget about her so easily. Aro was testing me and I wasn't sure how much longer I could last before snapping. Didn't he get it? Isabella was taken by the nefarious Cullens and we had to wait for Demetri. Fuck him anyway. The man was difficult enough, but since he and Isabella had begun sleeping together, he was truly intolerable. I didn't blame my beautiful lover. Work called me away for extended periods. Her hunger for sex was insatiable. It was a possibility I had accepted since the moment I finally got her to consider taking me into her bed.

I knew it wasn't the same for her. I knew even if she had been kidnapped, it would not be to my arms she dreamed of returning. She was addicted to one thing and that was Volterra. She would probably sob when she sees the ruin her home had become, but not over me. At least I could find some solace knowing she wouldn't cry over Demetri, either. That was something he had yet to learn.

Despite my unrequited feelings, I would save Isabella, because that's what you do when you love. But no one, not even Aro, would dispatch any rescue party until he was satisfied she wasn't in the prisons or sewers, which had collapsed all around the city. His quest was futile and wasted precious time. It was only yesterday Aro finally brought Demetri back to the city. He immediately confirmed Isabella was not in Volterra, just as I'd been saying all along. Finally, something would happen. Together we would hunt our lost lover and bring her home.

Suddenly, my door slammed open and banged into the wall. My apartment was damaged in the fires, but not unlivable so I had stayed while many had moved on to the Tower for temporary housing. The charred door wobbled unstably on half melted hinges. It didn't unnerve me as much as the face of fury I saw standing on the other side. This was what I had been trying to avoid, but I needed to take it easy. The look on her face made it look like she would snap at any second.

"Were you even going to tell me?" she snarled.

I wasn't. I was trying to avoid her like a human avoids the plague. "Look, Jane, I didn't want you to get your panties in a twist, like you're doing. It's hard enough going with Demetri. Please don't force your way into this."

Her smile was venomous and I knew she had already won her entrance into the party. Jane was her closest friend. I guess I'd known all along she would weasel her way into the rescue party. Honestly, her gifts would be irreplaceable if it came to a fight, but that didn't make her a more desirable travel companion.

Resigned to my fate, I sighed. "We leave tomorrow, once Demetri has been debriefed on the specifics."

"What's Aro playing at?" Jane demanded stepping into the room and throwing herself over the arm of my chair.

I only shrugged, but found relief knowing I wasn't the only one who thought Aro was behaving strangely. "He thinks she's dead."

"Of course he does," Jane scoffed. "He wouldn't want the world knowing the woman he wanted as a replacement ran off to join the enemy." The acid was evident in her tone.

I hadn't heard that.

"Not that you'd know anything about it," she went on, a wicked smile creeping across her face. "You wouldn't know that your mission is a search and destroy opp. There won't be any rescuing."

I had no words to answer her. She had literally floored me. I had believed she was here to find
Isabella. It was a long while we sat in utter silence before I could find my voice again. "Where's the evidence that she's a traitor?"

Jane laughed. It was the sound of a child, but coming from her face with narrowed crimson eyes, infinitely creepier. "She was seen hesitating before jumping the wall after the Cullens."

After? She jumped after they did? What would posses her? How could she be so careless? It just didn't sound like the Isabella I know. I could only shake my head.

"They're not even looking for survivors down there, Felix. They're rebuilding."

A hiss escaped my lips. Of course. Aro was master of lies. He spun them so well I hadn't until this moment realized they were there. Isabella's entire future had probably been a lie as well. It made sense. The ancient bastards had nothing better to do than spend their time ruining the existence of those they call "friend." It was disgusting.

On the other hand, if she had gone willingly with those Cullens – those freaks – then she was the worst kind of traitor. I didn't know how to accept that.

"They're speculating the entire thing was a plan to fall Volterra, devised by Carlisle and Isabella centuries ago."

Now, I couldn't help but scoff at that accusation. She may be many things, but she was not in cahoots with Carlisle Cullen. My anger came bubbling back to the surface. Naturally, Jane had that affect on people, but as I stared at her sprawling lazily over my chair and looking quite pleased with herself, I became enraged. It had been so easy to worm her way into this. Besides partners in torture, the two had been best friends. Now, Jane lay here, talking shit, while Isabella was out there somewhere. What was Jane playing at?

"Aro has ordered I lead your little expedition, just to make sure you and Demetri don't back out. Someone needs to make sure you lover-boys get the job done."

The sound of her voice grated my nerves and I almost shuddered. Even if it were all true, would I have the balls to finish her – to kill the only woman I ever loved?

Jane met my eyes and smiled devilishly. My answer was clear. Jane wasn't going to give me a choice.