第67部分(第4/7 页)

wasn't　exaggerating　about

your　abilities；〃　he　said　through　his　teeth。　〃So　you　must　already　know　why

I'm　here。〃

〃Yes；〃　Edward　agreed　in　a　soft　voice。　〃But；　before　you　begin；　I　need　to　say

something。〃

Jacob　waited；　clenching　and　unclenching　his　hands　as　he　tried　to　control　the

shivers　rolling　down　his　arms。

〃Thank　you；〃　Edward　said；　and　his　voice　throbbed　with　the　depth　of　his

sincerity。　〃I　will　never　be　able　to

tell　you　how　grateful　I　am。　I　will　owe　you　for　the　rest　of　my　existence。〃

Jacob　stared　at　him　blankly；　his　shudders　stilled　by　surprise。　He　exchanged　a

quick　glance　with　me；　but

my　face　was　just　as　mystified。

〃For　keeping　Bella　alive；〃　Edward　clarified；　his　voice　rough　and　fervent。

〃When　I　didn't。〃

〃Edward—；〃　I　started　to　say；　but　he　held　one　hand　up；　his　eyes　on　Jacob。

Understanding　washed　over　Jacob's　face　before　the　hard　mask　returned。　〃I

didn't　do　it　for　your　benefit。〃

〃I　know。　But　that　doesn't　erase　the　gratitude　I　feel。　I　thought　you　should

know。　If　there's　ever　anything　in

my　power　to　do　for　you〃

Jacob　raised　one　black　brow。

Edward　shook　his　head。　〃That's　not　in　my　power。〃

〃Whose；　then？〃　Jacob　growled。

Edward　looked　down　at　me。　〃Hers。　I'm　a　quick　learner；　Jacob　Black；　and　I　don't

make　the　same　mistake

twice。　I'm　here　until　she　orders　me　away。〃

I　was　immersed　momentarily　in　his　golden　gaze。　It　wasn't　hard　to　understand

what　I'd　missed　in　the

conversation。　The　only　thing　that　Jacob　would　want　from　Edward　would　be　his

absence。

〃Never；〃　I　whispered；　still　locked　in　Edward's　eyes。

Jacob　made　a　gagging　sound。

I　unwillingly　broke　fre