The flip side of passionate love is passionate jealousy. Esme was in such turmoil after we left that I decided to hunt alone. It was disconcerting to see all the aggression she was contemplating. I mean, this was Esme! But the biggest reason I left them was that I knew these two far too well. There was only one way Carlisle could calm her down and reassure her that he would never fall prey to Tanya's clan, and I didn't want to be within ten miles of that.

I almost growled in frustration. How would it be to stand next to someone and not have a streaming commentary on the world around me? Sometimes my 'gift' felt more like a curse.

Naturally, I beat them home.

Alice was waiting on the front sidewalk for me, tapping her foot impatiently. "I can't believe you invited them over!"

A bemused Jasper sat on the porch step.

"I didn't invite them. Carlisle did."

"You saw their thoughts, you knew what would happen, and you let Carlisle say that?"

I felt as bewildered as Jasper looked. Alice had expected me to stop Carlisle? "They're game-hunters. Like us. You know as well as I do how rare that is. Why not invite them over?"

Alice's voice was shrill. "Why not? WHY NOT? Edward, I never in my wildest dreams imagined you this dense! Why do you think I've been opposed to this move from day one?"

Now it was my turn to get angry. "You saw something bad happening and YOU DIDN'T TELL US?"

"Oh, I thought about telling you, but the second I decided to, I saw how much quicker it'd all happen. Staying silent was our best chance. And now you and Carlisle go and ruin it!" She was breathing quickly, her face twisting under tears that could not fall. All of you will succumb, Edward — even Carlisle! ALL of you!

Turning on her heel, she dashed up into the house, slamming the front door so hard the glass cracked. I'm going to lose Jasper! I saw him in her arms!

"So," Jasper asked conversationally, "how was your day?"

And I thought my gift could be a curse! Looking at Jasper, I shrugged. "Met a coven of nymphomaniac 'vegetarians.' Saw Esme plan a dozen different ways to slaughter them. Oh, and Carlisle invited them to dinner — metaphorically — for which, apparently, I am to blame."

"So that's why Alice's feelings have been ping-ponging between outright fury and agonizing fear all day?" It's been dizzying.

"So it would seem." I shook my head. "Women!"

Jasper gave me a wry grin. Which is why you don't have one, my friend. "So what exactly did Alice see?"

She hadn't said aloud that all us males would crack, so I didn't say it either. "She's afraid these females will disturb the idyll that is the Cullen household."

That brought Jasper up sharp. He looked at the bedroom window he shared with Alice. "I'd better go talk to her."

But before he could move, we heard a sound that made my hair stand on end.

"EDWARD!" Rosalie came roaring down the stairs. "EDWARD ANTHONY MASEN CULLEN!" She paused to stare at the cracked pane in the front door, then scowled again as she stormed toward me. "What have you done to Alice?"

I gave her an icy glare. I'd had enough with wild women for one day. "I didn't do a thing."

Jasper slipped past her and into the house.

"Then tell me why she's sobbing hysterically in her bedroom!"

Tenacious Rosalie wasn't going to give up on this one. I sighed. "Because she saw something that frightened her."

Rosalie grimaced. "She sees frightening things on a daily basis. I tried to talk to her, but she couldn't even speak, she's that upset." Her eyes narrowed. "For pity's sake, what did she see?"

Dare I tell her? If Alice was that inconsolable, the truth would come out soon anyway. "Carlisle, Esme, and I met a coven on the west side of the mountain today. Four females and a male. They have the same diet we do."

"That has Alice in hysterics?"

"The females get their thrills from seducing men."

I had to give her credit, there was some intelligence buried under all that vanity. Surprise faded to horror as she whispered, "She saw them seduce Jasper?"

I didn't want to tell her, but if everyone thought Jasper was the weak one, in this as well as in bloodlust, it would be a hurtful lie. "Not just Jasper."

She read true my hesitation and, faster than human sight, Rosalie bolted in to the house. "EMMETT!" I'm going to kill him!

"Ow! Rose, stop it! Hey! What? Ow!"

I ambled in to the house to see Emmett — strong, tough, built-for-battle Emmett — running from Rosalie.

"Cool it, Rose! Ow!" Emmett caught Rosalie's wrists in his huge hands. "I mean it!"

Rosalie kicked at his shins. "This isn't the half of what you'll get if Alice's vision comes true!"

Emmett drew himself up to his full height and loomed over Rosalie. "I'm getting skinned for something I haven't done yet?"

"No, you're getting warned!"

I ambled back outside and sat on the porch swing. Yes. Definitely happier without a mate.

Carlisle and Esme returned about an hour later, a peaceful smile on Esme's face. I felt horrible about what they were blithely walking into. "Just so you know, there's been something of a to-do here."

"Oh?" Carlisle asked. Tell me it's not about Tanya's coven.

"Alice has been sobbing and Rosalie has been beating up Emmett."

Carlisle sighed deeply. I was afraid the panic would spread.

Esme looked at me with horror in her eyes. "Alice saw Emmett and Jasper being unfaithful?"

I met Carlisle's gaze and hesitantly said, "Yeah."

Esme gasped in dismay. "You too?"

I couldn't do it to her, not when she'd just found some peace. I couldn't tell her what Alice had foreseen for Carlisle, so I hung my head in shame. "Yes. Me too."

She stood beside the swing and wrapped her arms around my shoulders. "We'll move, Edward." I'll keep you safe.

I almost laughed. It's not like I was five. I was a man and could take care of myself, or so I thought until I remembered Alice's grief-stricken face.

"Esme, that's really not necessary."

She whirled. "Yes, Carlisle, it is."

"But they refrain! I've spent centuries looking for vampires like them..."

It was the wrong thing to say.

"And you've finally found your heart's desire, have you?"

Carlisle visibly back-pedaled. "I didn't mean it like that, Esme."

"Then how did you mean it?"

He sighed, eyes casting about as he desperately tried to find the right words. In the silence, Alice's sobs filtered down to us from her room.

"They are home-wreckers, Carlisle. Look what they've already done to our family!"

Carlisle was a bit miffed. Only because you're all overreacting! I shook my head and he bit back the words. Instead, he took Esme's hands in his own. "They haven't done anything to our family. We've done it to ourselves."

"But Alice saw..."

"There is always a choice, Esme."

It was our creed — our unifying, saving truth — and Esme could no more argue against it than she could hunt at a nursery school.

She slowly nodded, then her eyes hardened. "And I choose to not let my family fall apart. I'll give you and this new coven one month. If Alice is still seeing... that... after a month's time, then we're leaving. Agreed?" Her firm voice belied her inner turmoil. Please, Carlisle...

Carlisle searched her eyes. She left Charles for her unborn child's sake...

...please agree. Esme was almost desperate.

What would she do to save all these children who are also her friends?

Esme's breath quickened in fear. Don't call my bluff.

Carlisle sighed. "Agreed. If we cannot find a way to live peaceably with each other in one month's time, then we'll all move." And I'll be glad to, after a month of this!