They emerged one by one from the forest, ranging a dozen meters apart. The first male fell back to allow the other take the front, a clear display of the pecking order. The third was a woman; the only thing Beau could see from this distance was that her hair was a startling shade of red.
They closed ranks as they approached, exhibiting the natural respect of a troop of predators as it encounters a larger, unfamiliar group of its own kind.
They were very different from the Cullens. Their walk was catlike, a gait that hovered on the edge of shifting into a crouch. The three were dressed like backpackers, nomadic as they were, no doubt—Beau thought with a gulp—reflecting their typical prey. But the clothes were frayed, worn, and the three did not wear shoes. Beau was sure by the time a hiker noticed these inconsistencies, it would be too late.
Their sharp eyes studied the more polished, urbane stance of Carlisle, who, flanked by Emmett and Jasper, stepped guardedly forward to meet them. Without any obvious communication between them, the strange trio straightened into a more casual, erect baring.
The man in front was easily the most beautiful, his skin olive-toned beneath the vampiric pallor. His hair was a glossy black. He had a medium build, hard-muscled, but nothing next to Emmett's brawn. He smiled in a friendly manner, exposing his gleaming white teeth.
The woman was wilder, eyes shifting restlessly between the men around her, the chaotic red hair quivering in the slight breeze. It was full of leaves and debris from the woods, and seemed to have a life of its own. The woman's posture was distinctly feline despite the détente.
The second male was smaller than the leader, plainer, but had sharp, vigilant eyes.
Their eyes in particular stood out. They were not the gold or black Beau had come to expect, but a deep, burgundy color that was disturbing . . . and sinister.
"We thought we heard a game," the leader said with a hint of an accent, producing the ball Beau thought Emmett had sent into oblivion. "I'm Laurent. These are Victoria and James."
"I'm Carlisle. This is my family, Emmett and Jasper, Rosalie, Esme and Alice, Edward and Beau." As the eldest Cullen pointed everyone out, Beau felt a shock when he heard his own name.
"Do you have room for a few more players?"
Carlisle matched Laurent's friendly tone. "Actually, we were just finishing up. But we'd certainly be interested another time. Are you planning to stay in the area for long?"
"We're headed north, in fact, but we were curious to see who was in the neighborhood. We haven't run into any company in a long time."
"No, this region is usually empty for us and the occasional visitor, like yourselves."
The tense atmosphere had slowly subsided into casual conversation. Beau guessed it was Jasper's doing, his peculiar gift easing the strain. Beau knew he was afraid, but the fear was far away, walled off and unreachable.
"What's your hunting range?"
Carlisle ignored the assumption behind the inquiry. "The Olympic Range here, up and down the Coast Ranges on occasion. We keep a permanent residence nearby. There's another permanent settlement like ours up near Denali."
"Permanent? How do you manage that?" Laurent asked, rocking back on his heels.
"Why don't you come back to our home with us and we can talk comfortably? It's a rather long story."
James and Victoria exchanged a surprised look at the word "home," but Laurent controlled his expression better.
"That sounds very interesting, and welcome. We've been on the hunt all the way down from Ontario, and we haven't had a chance to clean up in awhile." Laurent's eyes moved appreciatively over Carlisle's refined appearance.
"Please don't take offense, but we'd appreciate it if you'd refrain from hunting in this immediate area. We have to stay inconspicuous, you understand," Carlisle explained.
"Of course. We certainly won't encroach on your territory. We just ate outside of Seattle, anyway," he laughed.
"There's daggers in men's smiles. The near in blood, The nearer bloody."
Beau felt a shiver of intuition run up his spine. The college students Charlie warned him about—no one had heard from them in days, and their last known location had been Seattle. Edward's eyes narrowed as he reached the same conclusion. Beau shivered again.
"We'll show you the way if you'd like to run with us—Emmett and Alice, you can go with Edward and Beau to get the Jeep."
Three things happened simultaneously while Carlisle was speaking. A curl of Beau's hair—one of the same curls he shared with Charlie—ruffled in the breeze. Edward stiffened, and the second male, James, suddenly whipped his head around to scrutinize Beau, his nostrils flaring.
A swift rigidity fell on the group as James lurched one step forward into a crouch. Edward bared his teeth, crouching in defense, a feral snarling ripping from his throat. It was nothing like the playful growls in his room; this noise was the single most menacing thing Beau had ever heard. The laughing boy from this morning was gone; in his place stood a predator. Chills ran from the crown of Beau's head to the back of his heels.
"What's this?" Laurent exclaimed in open surprise. Neither James nor Edward relaxed their aggressive poses. James feinted slightly to the side and Edward mirrored him in response.
"He's with us." Carlisle's firm rebuke was directed at James. Laurent seemed to catch the scent less powerfully than James, but awareness now dawned on his face, propelling him forward almost involuntarily.
"You brought a snack?"
Edward snarled even more ferociously, his lip curling high above his glistening, bared teeth. Laurent backtracked at once.
"I said he's with us," Carlisle said again in a hard voice.
"But he's human."
"Yes." Emmett shouldered past Carlisle to stand between James and Edward. The former slowly straightened out of his crouch, eyes not leaving Beau, nostrils still wide; the latter stayed tensed like a lion in front of him.
When Laurent spoke again, it was obvious he was trying to defuse the sudden hostility. "It appears we have a lot to learn about each other."
"Indeed."
"But we'd like to accept your invitation." Laurent's eyes moved from Beau to Carlisle. "And, of course, we will not harm the human boy. We won't hunt in your range, as I said."
James looked aggravated at this promise. He and Victoria exchanged a brief glance. Her eyes never stopped flickering edgily from face to face.
Carlisle measured Laurent's open expression. "We'll show you the way. Jasper, Rosalie, Esme?"
Those he named gathered together to block Beau from view as they converged. Alice was at his side instantly while Emmett fell back slowly, almost reluctantly, his eyes locked on James.
"Let's go, Beau."
Beau had been rooted to one spot for the entire interaction. Edward had to grip his elbow and pull hard to break the trance, with Alice and Emmett following close behind. Beau stumbled, trying to keep up with the pace. Without Jasper's concentrated power, the fear was spilling over, stunning him in place. Edward's impatience was tangible as they moved at human speed to the forest edge.
They ran just as before, Beau slung over Edward's back, but this time, he couldn't close his eyes. A fury seemed to consume Edward, driving him faster than ever. Even with the extra weight, the others trailed behind.
"Strap him in," Edward ordered his brother when they reached the Jeep. Beau sat in a daze as the harness buckles clicked over his chest. Alice was already in the front seat.
Edward was growling something too fast to understand, and yet, it sounded to Beau like a string of profanities.
The jolting trip was much worse this time, and the darkness only made it more frightening. They hit the main road, speed increasing, and Beau could finally see where they were headed—south, away from Forks.
"Where are we going?"
No one answered. No one even looked at him.
"Dammit, Edward! Where are you taking me?"
"We have to get you away from here—far away—now." He didn't look back as he spoke. The speedometer read a hundred and five miles an hour.
"Turn around! You have to take me home!" Beau struggled with the stupid harness.
"Emmett," Edward said grimly. Emmett secured Beau's hands in his steely grasp.
"No! Edward! You can't do this."
"I have to, Beau, now please be quiet."
It was outrageous. "I won't! You have to take me back—Charlie will call the FBI! They'll be all over your family—Carlisle and Esme! They'll have to leave, to hide forever!"
"Calm down, Beau." His voice was cold. "We've been there before."
"Not over me, you don't! You're not ruining everything over me!"
Alice spoke for the first time. "Edward, pull over."
He flashed her a hard look then sped up. Undeterred, she tried again. "Edward, let's just talk this through."
"You don't understand," he roared. Beau had never heard his voice so loud; it was deafening in the confines of the Jeep. The speedometer approached one hundred and fifteen. "He's a tracker, Alice, did you see that? He's a tracker!"
Emmett stiffened at the word. It meant something more to the three of them; Beau wanted to understand, but there was no opening to ask.
"Pull over, Edward." Alice's tone was reasonable, but held a ring of authority Beau had not yet heard from her.
The speedometer inched past one-twenty.
"Do it, Edward."
"Listen to me, Alice. I saw his mind. Tracking is his passion, his obsession—and he wants him, Alice—him, specifically. He begins the hunt tonight."
"He doesn't know where—"
Edward interrupted her. "How long do you think it will take James to cross his scent in town? His plan was already set before the words were out of Laurent's mouth."
Beau knew where his scent would lead. "Charlie! You can't leave him there! You can't leave my dad!"
"He's right," Alice said. The car slowed slightly. "Let's just look at our options for a minute."
The car slowed again, more noticeably, and then screeched to a stop on the shoulder of the darkened highway. Beau flew against the harness and immediately slammed back into the seat.
"There are no options."
"I'm not leaving Charlie!" Beau yelled. Edward ignored him completely.
"We have to take him back."
"No." Edward was absolute.
His brother pressed on. "He's no match for us, Edward. He won't be able to touch Beau."
"He'll wait."
"I can wait, too." Emmett smiled.
"You didn't see—you don't understand. Once he commits to a hunt, he's unshakable. We'd have to kill him."
"That's an option."
"And the female—she's with him. If it turns into a fight, the leader will go with them, too."
"There are enough of us."
"There's another option," Alice said quietly.
Edward turned on her in his fury. His voice was a blistering snarl. "There—is—no—other—option!"
Emmett and Beau both stared at him in shock. Alice, to her credit, seemed unsurprised by the outburst. The silence lasted for a long minute as Edward and Alice stared each other down.
"Does anyone want to hear my plan?"
"No," Edward growled. Alice glared at him, finally provoked.
"Listen," Beau pleaded. "You take me back."
"No—"
Beau continued as if he hadn't been interrupted. "You take me back. I tell my dad I want to go home to Phoenix. I pack my bags. We wait till this tracker is watching and then we lead him away. He'll follow us and leave Charlie alone. Charlie won't call the FBI on your family and then you can take me any damned place you want."
They stared at him, stunned.
"It's not a bad idea, really." Emmett's surprise was definitely an insult.
"It might work—and we simply can't leave his father unprotected. You know that," Alice said.
All three looked at Edward.
"It's too dangerous—I don't want the tracker within a hundred miles of him."
Emmett was supremely confident. "Edward, he's not getting through us."
Alice thought for a minute. "I don't see him attacking. He'll try to wait for us to leave him alone."
"It won't take long for him to realize that's not going to happen."
"I demand that you take me home." Beau tried to sound firm.
Edward pressed his fingers to his temples and squeezed his eyes shut.
"Please," Beau said in a much smaller voice.
Edward didn't look up. When he spoke, his voice sounded worn.
"You're leaving tonight, whether the tracker sees or not. You tell Charlie that you can't stand another minute in Forks. Do whatever you have to do. Pack the first things your hands touch, and then get in your truck. I don't care what he says to you. You have fifteen minutes. Do you hear me? Fifteen minutes from the time you cross the doorstep."
The Jeep rumbled to life, and he spun it around, the tires squealing in protest. The needle on the speedometer started to race up the dial again.
"Emmett?"
"Oh, sorry." The largest Cullen let go of his hands.
A few minutes passed in silence, other than the roar of the engine. Finally Edward spoke again.
"This is how it's going to happen. When we get to the house, if the tracker is not there, I will walk Beau to the door. Then he has fifteen minutes." His eyes glared in the rearview mirror. "Emmett, you take the outside of the house. Alice, you get the truck. I'll be inside as long as Beau is. After he's out, you two can take the Jeep home and tell Carlisle."
"No way," Emmett broke in. "I'm with you."
"Think it through, Emmett. I don't know how long I'll be gone."
"Until we know how far this is going to go, I'm with you."
Edward sighed. "If the tracker is there, we keep driving."
"We're going to make it there before him," Alice said confidently.
Edward seemed to accept that. Whatever his problem with Alice was, he didn't doubt her now.
"What are we going to do with the Jeep?"
His voice had a hard edge. "You're driving it home."
"No, I'm not," Alice said calmly.
The unintelligible stream of profanities started again.
"We can't all fit in my truck," Beau whispered.
Edward didn't appear to hear him. Beau spoke again, quieter this time. "I think you should let me go alone."
He heard that.
"Beau, please just do this my way, just this once," Edward said between clenched teeth.
"The tracker saw the way you acted tonight," Beau argued. "He's going to think you're with me, wherever you are."
Emmett looked insultingly surprised again. "Edward, listen to him. I think he's right."
"Yes, he is," Alice agreed.
"I can't do that." Edward's voice was icy. Let him go alone or listen to reason, Beau wasn't sure. He cleared his throat.
"Emmett should engage him. He definitely got an eyeful of Emmett."
"What?"
"You'll get a better crack at him in the hunting party," Alice told her biggest brother.
Edward stared at her incredulously. "You think I should let Beau go off alone? Unprotected?"
"Of course not. Jasper and I will take him."
"I can't do that," Edward repeated, but this time there was a trace of defeat in his voice. He was starting to see logic.
"Lead James on a wild-goose chase—take Big Red," Beau cut in. "I'll tell Charlie I'm going home to Phoenix. We can switch clothes. Lead James far enough away, then come and meet me. Take a roundabout route, of course, and then Jasper and Alice can go home."
"Meet you where?"
"Vancouver." Beau remembered that the vampires liked the north.
"He'll hear where you're going."
"And you'll make it look like a ruse, obviously. James will know that we know he's listening. He'll never believe I'm actually going where I say I am going."
"He's diabolical," Emmett chuckled.
"And if that doesn't work?"
"There are several million people in Vancouver," Beau informed him. "I'm almost eighteen, I think I'm old enough to get my own apartment."
"Edward, we'll be with him," Alice reminded him.
"I kind of like it." Emmett was no doubt thinking of cornering James.
"Shut up, Emmett."
"Look, if we try to take the tracker down here, now, there's a much better chance that someone will get hurt. Beau will get hurt, or you will, trying to protect him. Now, if we get James alone . . . " He trailed off with a smile.
The Jeep was crawling slowly along through town. Despite his brave talk, Beau could feel the hairs on his arms standing up. He thought about Charlie, alone in the house, and tried to be courageous.
"Beau." Edward's voice was very soft. Alice and Emmett looked out their windows. "If you let anything happen to yourself—anything at all—I'm holding you personally responsible. Do you understand that?"
"Yes," Beau gulped.
He turned to Alice. "Can Jasper handle this?"
"Give him some credit, Edward. He's been doing very, very well, all things considered."
"Can you handle this?"
And graceful little Alice pulled back her lips in a horrific grimace and let loose a guttural snarl that had Beau cowering against his seat in terror.
Edward smiled at her and sped up, the Jeep racing toward Charlie's house.
"But keep your opinions to yourself," he muttered.
Charlie was waiting up for him. All the house lights were on. Beau's mind was blank as he tried to think of a way to make his father let him go. It wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation.
Edward pulled up slowly, staying well behind the truck. All three were acutely alert, ramrod straight in their seats, listening to every sound of the wood, looking through every shadow, catching every scent, searching for something out of place. Beau sat motionless until they finished.
"He's not here. Let's go."
Emmett reached over to help free Beau from the harness. "Don't worry, Beau. We'll take care of things here quickly."
Beau felt his eyes fill up. He barely knew Emmett, and yet, somehow, not knowing when he would see him again after tonight was agonizing. He also knew this was just a brief taste of the goodbyes he had to survive in the next hour. The tears spilled over and he brushed them away.
"Alice, Emmett."
Edward's voice was a command. The two slithered soundlessly into the darkness and disappeared. Edward pulled him close, walking him swiftly to the house, eyes always roving through the night.
"Fifteen minutes."
"I can do this," Beau sniffled. His tears had given him inspiration.
Beau stopped on the porch and took hold of Edward's face in his hands. He used his full height and stared down at him fiercely. "I love you. I will always love you, no matter what happens now."
"Nothing is going to happen to you, Beau." Edward's tone was equally fierce.
"Just follow the plan, okay? Keep Charlie safe for me. He's not going to like me very much after this, and I want to have the chance to apologize to him later."
"Get inside, Beau. We have to hurry."
"One more thing," Beau whispered. "Don't listen to another word I say tonight."
Edward was already close. All he had to do was lean in and kiss his surprised, frozen lips with as much force as he was capable of. Then he turned and kicked the door open.
"Go away, Edward!" Beau slammed the door shut in his still-shocked face.
"Beau?"
"Leave me alone!"
Beau stormed up the stairs and slammed the door, locking it behind him. He seized one duffel bag, his passport, and the secret hoard of cash.
Charlie was pounding on the door. "Beau, are you okay? What's going on?"
"I'm going home." His voice broke in the perfect spot.
"Did he hurt you?"
"No!" Beau turned to his dresser and caught the armful of clothes Edward threw at him.
"Did he break up with you?"
"No," Beau yelled, distracted, shoving clothes into his duffel bag until it was full.
"What happened, Beau?" Charlie pounded on the door again.
"I broke up with him!" He was struggling with the zipper now, fresh tears brimming in his eyes, until Edward zipped it in one smooth gesture. He put the strap carefully over Beau's arm.
"I'll be in the truck—go!" He pushed Beau toward the door and vanished.
Beau unlocked the door and pushed past his father. The heavy bag slowed him down; Charlie was close behind as they descended the stairs.
"What happened? I thought you liked him."
He caught up when they reached the kitchen. Charlie was bewildered, but held him firmly by the elbow, spinning Beau around to meet his eyes. It was obvious to Beau that Charlie had no intention of letting him leave.
He could think of only one way to escape. It involved hurting him so much that Beau hated himself for even considering it. But he had no time. He had no choice.
He had to keep Charlie safe.
"I do like him, Dad, that's the problem. I can't do this anymore! I can't put down any more roots here! I can't keep pretending everything is fine. I don't want to end up trapped in this stupid, boring town like you have."
Charlie's hand dropped as if electrocuted. Beau turned away so he could try to forget his wounded expression, knowing, painfully, that it would haunt him until the end of time.
"Beau, you can't leave now. It's nighttime."
"I'll sleep in the truck if I get tired."
"Just wait another week," Charlie pleaded. "Renée will be back by then."
"What?"
Charlie continued eagerly, almost babbling with relief as Beau hesitated. "She called while you were out. Things aren't going so well in Florida, and if Phil doesn't get signed by the end of the week, they're going back to Arizona. The assistant coach of the Sidewinders said they might have a spot for another shortstop."
Beau could barely absorb any of this. Every second that ticked by put Charlie in more danger, but all he could think about was how close he and Charlie had become. They sat in this living room only a few hours ago with Edward. Beau had worked up the courage to come out to his father, but he hadn't been totally honest with him. Charlie still didn't know what happened in Phoenix, and suddenly, Beau was desperate to tell him everything. It was the only thing Beau felt could explain why he was leaving.
That was his modus operandi—running. It was how he survived.
Beau began to mourn what they could have been as he actively tried to destroy what they were.
"I have a key," he muttered. "Just let me go, Charlie. It didn't work out with us, okay? I really, really hate Forks!"
His cruel words did the job. Charlie stood frozen on the doorstep, stunned, as Beau ran into the night. He was frightened of the empty yard. He tossed his duffel into the bed of the truck, wrenched the door open, and threw himself inside. The key was waiting in the ignition.
"I'll call you tomorrow!" he yelled, wishing more than anything he could explain it all, knowing he would never be able to. Big Red roared to life and peeled out of the driveway.
The house and his father disappeared into the darkness. A moment later, Edward was reaching for his hand. "Pull over."
"I can drive," Beau said as tears rolled down his cheeks.
He found himself unexpectedly gripped around the waist, pulled across Edward's lap, and deposited in the passenger seat. The truck didn't swerve an inch.
"You wouldn't be able to find the house."
The lights of the Jeep—Alice driving—flared in the rearview. "What about the tracker?"
"He heard the end of your performance," Edward said grimly.
"Charlie?"
"The tracker followed us. He's running behind us now."
Beau felt his body go cold. "Can we outrun him?"
"No." But he sped up as he spoke. The engine groaned in protest. Suddenly, Beau's plan didn't feel so brilliant anymore. He stared at the headlights trailing them when the truck shuddered. A dark shadow sprang up outside the window.
Edward's hand clamped down over his mouth, stopping the scream in his throat. "It's Emmett!"
He released Beau and wound an arm around his waist. "It's okay, Beau. You're going to be safe."
They raced through the quiet town. It felt like the four of them—five, with the tracker—were the only ones stirring.
"I didn't realize you were still so bored with small-town life. It seemed like you were adjusting fairly well—especially recently. Maybe I was just flattering myself that I was making life more interesting for you."
"I wasn't being nice," Beau confessed. "I said some of the things my mother said when she left him. Hit below the belt. He'll never forgive me."
"Don't worry. He'll forgive you." Edward smiled a little, but it didn't touch his eyes.
"He won't."
Edward saw the naked panic in his expression. "Beau, it's going to be all right."
"But it won't be all right when I'm not with you."
"We'll be together again in a few days," Edward tightened his grip. "Don't forget that this was your idea."
"It was the best idea—of course it was mine."
His answering smile was bleak. Beau heard his voice quavering as he spoke. "Why did this happen? Why me?"
"I got a good look at his mind tonight," Edward said heavily. "I'm not sure there's anything I could have done to avoid this, once he saw you. It is partially your fault."
Of course it was. His number was up—really, really up. First Phoenix, then the van, Port Angeles, and now a tracker thirsty for his blood. But he refused to count Edward among these dangers.
"If you didn't smell so appallingly luscious, he might not have bothered. But when I defended you . . . well, that made it a lot worse. He's not used to being thwarted. He thinks of himself as a hunter and nothing else. His existence is consumed with tracking. Suddenly we've presented him with a beautiful challenge—a large clan of strong fighters all bent on protecting one vulnerable element. You wouldn't believe how euphoric he is now. It's his favorite game, and we've just made it his most exciting one ever."
He paused for a moment.
"But if I had stood by, he would have killed you right then."
"I thought . . . I didn't smell the same to others . . . as I do to you."
"You don't," Edward said, sounding frustrated. "But that doesn't mean you aren't still a temptation to every one of them. If you had appealed to the tracker—or any of them—the same way you appeal to me, it would have been a fight right there."
Beau shuddered. He remembered once imagining a brawl between himself, Edward, and the Port Angeles punks. But this was a whole other ballgame.
"I don't think I have any choice but to kill him now," Edward muttered. "Carlisle won't like it."
"How can you kill a vampire?"
His voice became harsh. "The only way to be sure is to tear him to shreds and burn the pieces."
"Will the other two fight with him?"
"The woman will. I'm not sure about Laurent, they don't have a very strong bond. He's only with them for convenience. He was embarrassed by James in the clearing."
"But James and the woman—they'll try to kill you?" Beau asked, his voice raw.
"Beau, don't you dare waste time worrying about me. Your only concern is keeping yourself safe and—please, please—trying not to be reckless."
His heartbeat was becoming erratic. "Is he still following?"
"Yes. He won't attack the house, though. Not tonight."
Edward drove the truck right up to the house. The lights inside were the only bright spot of the encroaching forest. Emmett pulled him out of the passenger seat before the truck stopped and ran them through the door.
The rest of the family was waiting with Laurent. Emmett growled a warning as he set Beau down next to Edward.
"He's tracking us."
Laurent was unhappy. "I was afraid of that."
Alice danced to Jasper's side and whispered something in his ear. Then they flew up the stairs together. Rosalie watched them go and moved quickly to Emmett's side. Her beautiful eyes were intense and furious.
"What will he do?" Carlisle asked.
"I'm sorry," Laurent answered. "I was afraid, when your boy there defended him, that it would set James off."
"Can you stop him?"
"Nothing stops James when he gets started."
"We'll stop him." Emmett promised. There was no doubting what he meant.
"You can't bring him down. I've never seen anything like him in my three hundred years. He's absolutely lethal. That's why I joined his coven."
His coven. The show of leadership in the clearing was merely that, a show.
Laurent was shaking his head. He glanced at Beau, perplexed, and back to Carlisle. "Are you sure it's worth it?"
Edward's enraged roar filled the room; Laurent cringed back.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to make that choice."
Laurent deliberated, eyes studying every face, before they swept over the bright room.
"I'm intrigued by the life you've created here. But I won't get into the middle of this. I bear none of you any enmity, but I won't go up against James. I think I will head north—to that clan in Denali." He hesitated. "Don't underestimate James. He's got a brilliant mind and unparalleled senses. He's every bit as comfortable in the human world as you seem to be, and won't come at you head on. I'm sorry for what's been unleashed here. Truly sorry."
"Go in peace," was Carlisle's formal answer.
The silence following his departure lasted less than a second.
"How close?"
Esme was already moving; her hand touched an inconspicuous keypad on the wall, and with a groan, huge metal shutters began sealing up the glass wall. Beau gaped at the sight.
"About three miles out past the river; he's circling to meet up with the female."
"What's the plan?"
"We'll lead the tracker off, and then Jasper and Alice will run Beau north."
"And then?"
Edward's tone was deadly. "And soon as Beau is clear, we hunt him."
"I guess there's no other choice," his father agreed, looking grim.
Edward turned Beau. "Come on."
He looked back over his shoulder to watch the preparations as Edward hustled him upstairs. Seconds later they were back in his room. Was it only this morning that they were here, listening to jazz, growing closer by the heartbeat?
"What are we doing?"
"Your idea, remember, about our clothes? We can try to confuse the smell. It won't work for long, but James might think I'm you, at least from a distance."
Beau had fantasies of Edward taking his clothes off, but now, with six vampires downstairs and two more hunting them, he realized this wasn't the perfect moment. Still, he couldn't help but stare as Edward undressed, momentarily dazed.
Despite the tension, it looked like Edward might be smiling. "Beau? Your clothes?"
"Right," Beau nodded, shrugging out of the flannel, his t-shirt, and jeans in short order. "Sorry."
"Don't be," Edward murmured, pausing, it seemed, for the same reason. Beau felt a rush of heat under his skin, knowing despite the semidarkness of the room, Edward could see him—all of him—perfectly. Beau felt the flush burn all the way down his chest and knew Edward could see that, too. But Edward went back to business and pointedly made sure Beau did the same.
The clothes had that familiar, intoxicating scent. Beau took comfort in it as they rejoined the family downstairs. Someone was shouting; the volume of the voice rose with each word. With a start, he realized the voice belonged to Rosalie, and that he had never heard her speak before.
"Why? What is he to me? Except a menace—a danger Edward's chosen to inflict on all of us."
Beau flinched back from the venom in her eyes. She stood apart from the rest of the family, flanked only by Emmett, who put one hand on her shoulder.
"Rose . . . "
Rosalie shook him off. Carlisle, looking angrier than Beau had ever seen him, spoke in a cold voice.
"Beau is part of this family now. We protect our family."
Surprisingly, her head bowed at the reprimand, but she glowered at Carlisle all the same.
"We will be taking your truck, Beau. Alice, Jasper—take the Mercedes. Rosalie and Esme will take the Volvo."
Beau said a silent prayer for Big Red. He realized the we Carlisle mentioned was the hunting party—Carlisle, Edward, and Emmett.
"Alice," Carlisle asked, "Will they take the bait?"
Everyone watched as she closed her eyes and became very still. When they opened again, she was certain.
"He'll track the truck. The woman will follow the Volvo. We should be able to leave after that."
"Let's go." Carlisle began to walk toward the kitchen.
But Edward caught Beau in his iron grip, crushing him to his chest. He seemed unaware of his watching family as he pulled Beau's face to his own. For the shortest second, the icy lips burned against his. Then it was over. The glorious eyes went blank, curiously dead, and Edward turned away.
And then they were gone.
The remaining Cullens looked away as tears streaked down his face. The silence dragged on until a phone vibrated. Esme brought it to her ear and listened.
"Now."
Rosalie stalked out without another glance, but Esme touched his cheek as she passed.
"Be safe." Her whisper lingered as they slipped out the door.
They waited some more. Beau lifted a sleeve of Edward's shirt to wipe his eyes and breathed in the scent that clung to it. Then Alice answered her own buzzing phone.
"Edward says the woman is on Esme's trail. I'll get the car."
Then only Jasper remained with him. The two looked at each other in silence. Jasper stood across the length of the entryway from him . . . being careful.
"You're wrong, you know."
"What?"
"I can feel what you're feeling now—and you are worth it."
"I'm not," Beau shook his head. "If anything happens to them, it will be for nothing."
"You're wrong," Jasper repeated, smiling kindly.
Alice returned and approached Beau with a cautious air. Her arms were open.
"May I?"
"You're the first one to ask permission," Beau said wryly.
The feeling of ridiculousness returned until Alice scooped him up as easily as Emmett and Edward had done. She shielded him protectively and they flew out the door, leaving the bright lights of the Cullen stronghold behind.