animal who couldn’t feel pain in the same way. A different pain. Some variety, at least. But Leah was running
now, and I didn’t want to share her thoughts. I cussed her under my breath for taking away that escape, too.
My hands were shaking in spite of me. What shook them? Anger? Agony? I wasn’t sure what I was
fightingnow.
I had to believe that Bella would survive. But that required trust — a trust I didn’t want to feel, a trust in
that bloodsucker’s ability to keep her alive.
She would be different, and I wondered how that would affect me. Would it be the same as if she had
died, to see her standing there like a stone? Like ice? When her scent burned in my nostrils and triggered the
instinct to rip, to tear . . . How would that be? Could I want to kill her? Could I not want to kill one of them?
I watched the swells roll toward the beach. They disappeared from sight under the edge of the cliff, but I
heard them beat against the sand. I watched them until it was late, long after dark.
Going home was probably a bad idea. But I was hungry, and I couldn’t think of another plan.
I made a face as I pulled my arm through the retarded sling and grabbed my crutches. If only Charlie
hadn’t seen me that day and spread the word of my “motorcycle accident.” Stupid props. I hated them.
Going hungry started to look better when I walked in the house and got a look at my dad’s face. He had
something on his mind. It was easy to tell — he always overdid it. Acted all casual.
He also talked too much. He was rambling about his day before I could get to the table. He never
jabbered like this unless there was something that he didn’t want to say. I ignored him as best I could,
concentrating on the food. The faster I choked it down . . .
“。 . . and Sue stopped by today.” My dad’s voice was loud. Hard to ignore. As always. “Amazing
woman. She’s tougher than grizzlies, that one. I don’t know how she deals with that daughter of hers, though.
Now Sue, she would have made one hell of a wolf. Leah’s more of a wolverine.” He chuckled at his own
joke.
He waited briefly for my response, but didn’t seem to see my blank, bored-out-of-my-mind expression.
Most days that bugged him. I wished he would shut up about Leah. I was trying not to think about her.
“Seth’s a lot easier. Of course, you were easier than your sisters, too, until . . . well, you have more to
deal with than they did.”
I sighed, long and deep, and stared out the window.
Billy was quiet for a second too long. “We got a letter today.”
I could tell that this was the subject he’d been avoiding.
“A letter?”
“A . . . wedding invitation.”
Every muscle in my body locked into place. A feather of heat seemed to brush down my back. I held onto
the table to keep my hands steady.
Billy went on like he hadn’t noticed. “There’s a note inside that’s addressed to you. I didn’t read it.”
He pulled a thick ivory envelope from where it was wedged between his leg and the side of his wheelchair.
He laid it on the table between us.
“You probably don’t need to read it. Doesn’t really matter what it says.”
Stupid reverse psychology. I yanked the envelope off the table.
It was some heavy, stiff paper. Expensive. Too fancy for Forks. The card inside was the same, too done-
up and formal. Bella’d had nothing to do with this. There was no sign of her personal taste in the layers of see-
through, petal-printed pages. I’d bet she didn’t like it at all. I didn’t read the words, not even to see the date. I
didn’t care.
There was a piece of the thick ivory paper folded inhalf with my name handwritten in black ink on the
back. I didn’t recognize the handwriting, but it was as fancy as the rest of it. For half a second, I wondered if
the bloodsucker was into gloating.
I flipped it open.
Jacob,
I’m breaking the rules by sending you this. She was afraid of hurting you, and she didn’t want to
make you feel obligated in any way. But I know that, if things had gone the other way, I would have
wanted the choice.
I promise I will take care of her, Jacob. Thank you — for her — for everything.
Edward
“Jake, we only have the one table,” Billy said. He was staring at my left hand.
My fingers were clamped down on the wood hard enough that it really was in danger. I loosened them
one by one, concentrating on that action alone, and then clenched my hands together so I couldn’t break
anything.
“Yeah, doesn’t matter anyway,” Billy muttered.
I got up from the table, shrugging out of my t-shirt as I stood. Hopefully Leah had gone home by now.
“Not too late,” Billy mumbled as I punched the front door out of my way.
I was running before I hit the trees, my clothes strewn out behind me like a trail of crumbs — as if I
wanted to find my way back. It was almost too easy now to phase. I didn’t have to think. My body already
knew where I was going and, before I asked it to, it gave me what I wanted.
I had four legs now, and I was flying.
The trees blurred into a sea of black flowing around me. My muscles bunched and released in an effortless
rhythm. I could run like this for days and I would not be tired. Maybe, this time, I wouldn’t stop.
But I wasn’t alone.
So sorry, Embry whispered in my head.
I could see through his eyes. He was far away, to the north, but he had wheeled around and was racing to
join me. I growled and pushed myself faster.
Wait for us, Quil complained. He was closer, just starting out from the village.
Leave me alone, I snarled.
I could feel their worry in my head, try hard as I might to drown it in the sound of the wind and the forest.
This was what I hated most — seeing myself through their eyes, worse now that their eyes were full of pity.
They saw the hate, but they kept running after me.
A new voice sounded in my head.
Let him go. Sam’s thought was soft, but still an order. Embry and Quil slowed to a walk.
If only I could stop hearing, stop seeing what they saw. My head was so crowded, but the only way to be
alone again was to be human, and I couldn’t stand the pain.
Phase back, Sam directed them. I’ll pick you up, Embry.
First one, then another awareness faded into silence. Only Sam was left.
Thank you, I managed to think.
Come home when you can. The words were faint, trailing off into blank emptiness as he left, too. And I
was alone.
So much better. Now I could hear the faint rustle of the matted leaves beneath my toenails, the whisper of
an owl’s wings above me, the ocean — far, far in the west — moaning against the beach. Hear this, and
nothing more. Feel nothing but speed, nothing but the pull of muscle, sinew, and bone, working together in
harmony as the miles disappeared behind me.
If the silence in my head lasted, I would never go back. I wouldn’t be the first one to choose this form
over the other. Maybe, if I ran far enough away, I would never have to hear again. . . .
I pushed my legs faster, letting Jacob Black disappear behind me.
Acknowledgments
I would be very remiss if I did not thank the many people who helped me survive the birthing of another novel:
My parents have been my rock; I don’t know how anyone does this without a dad’s good advice and a
mom’s shoulder to cry on.
My husband and sons have been incredibly long-suffering—anyone else would have had me committed to an
asylum long ago. Thanks for keeping me around, guys.
My Elizabeth—Elizabeth Eulberg, publicist extraordinaire—has made all the difference to my sanity both on
and off the road. Few people are lucky enough to work so closely with their BFF, and I am eternally grateful
for the wholesomeness of cheese-loving Midwestern girls.
Jodi Reamer continues to guide my career with genius and finesse. It is very comforting to know that I am in
such good hands.
It is also wonderful to have my manuscripts in the right hands. Thanks to Rebecca Davis for being so in tune
with the story in my head and helping me find the best ways to express it. Thanks to Megan Tingley, first for
your unwavering faith in my work, and second for polishing that work until it shines.
Everyone at Little, Brown and Company Books for Young Readers has taken such amazing care of my
creations. I can tell it is a true labor of love for you all, and I appreciate it more than you know. Thank you
Chris Murphy, Shawn Foster, Andrew Smith, Stephanie Voros, Gail Doobinin, Tina McIntyre, Ames O’Neill,
and the many others who have made the Twilight series a success.
I can’t believe how lucky I was to discover Lori Joffs, who somehow manages to be both the fastest and the
most meticulous reader at the same time. I am thrilled to have a friend and accomplice who is so insightful,
talented, and patient with my whining.
Lori Joffs again, along with Laura Cristiano, Michaela Child, and Ted Joffs, for creating and maintaining the
brightest star in the Twilight online universe, the Twilight Lexicon. I truly appreciate all the hard work you put
into providing a happy place for my fans to hang out. Thanks also to my international friends at Crepusculo-
m for a site so amazing it transcends the language barrier. Kudos as well to Brittany Gardener’s fabulous
work on the Twilight and New Moon by Stephenie Meyer MySpace Group, a fan site so large that the idea of
keeping track of it boggles my mind; Brittany, you amaze me.
Katie and Audrey, Bella Penombra is a thing of beauty.
Heather, the Nexus rocks.
I can’t mention all the amazing sites and their creators here,
but thank you very much to each of you.
Many thanks to my cold readers, Laura Cristiano, Michelle Vieira,
Bridget Creviston, and Kimberlee Peterson, for their invaluable input
and encouraging enthusiasm.
Every writer needs an independent bookstore for a friend;
I’m so grateful for my hometown supporters at Changing Hands Bookstore
in Tempe, Arizona, and especially to Faith Hochhalter,
who has brilliant taste in literature.
I am in your debt, rock gods of Muse, for yet another inspiring album.
Thank you for continuing to create my favorite writing music.
I am also grateful to all the other bands on my playlist
who help me through the writer’s block, and to my new discoveries,
Ok Go, Gomez, Placebo, Blue October, and Jack’s Mannequin.
Most of all, a gargantuan thank-you to all of my fans.
I firmly believe that my fans are the most attractive, intelligent,
exciting, and dedicated fans in the whole world.
I wish I could give you each a big hug and a Porsche 911 Turbo.
Copyright 2007 by Stephenie Meyer
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced,
distributed, or transmitted in any formor by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written
permission of the publisher.
Little, Brown and Company
Hachette Book Group USA
237 Park Avenue, New York, NY10017
Visit our Web site at m
First eBook Edition: September 2007
ISBN: 0-316-00816-8
Contents
Fire and Ice
PREFACE
1. ULTIMATUM
2. EVASION
3. MOTIVES
4. NATURE
5. IMPRINT
6. SWITZERLAND
7. UNHAPPY ENDING
8. TEMPER
9. TARGET
10. SCENT
11. LEGENDS
12. TIME
13. NEWBORN
14. DECLARATION
15. WAGER
16. EPOCH
17. ALLIANCE
18. INSTRUCTION
19. SELFISH
20. COMPROMISE
21. TRAILS
22. FIRE AND ICE
23. MONSTER
24. SNAP DECISION
25. MIRROR
26. ETHICS
27. NEEDS
EPILOGUE — CHOICE
Acknowledgments
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