I stared at his face while I recovered, recognizing another change there.
"You think she's going to make it," I whispered.
"Yes. That was the other thing I wanted to talk to you about."
I couldn't say anything. After a minute, he went on.
"Yes," he said again. "Waiting, as we have been, for the child to be ready, that was insanely dangerous. At any moment it could have been too late. But if we're proactive about this, if we act quickly, I see no reason why it should not go well. Knowing the child's mind is unbelievably helpful. Thankfully, Bella and Rose agree with me. Now that I've convinced them it's safe for the child if we proceed, there's nothing to keep this from working."
"When will Carlisle be back?" I asked, still whispering. I hadn't got my breath back yet.
"By noon tomorrow."
My knees buckled. I had to grab the car to hold myself up. Edward reached out like he was offering support, but then he thought better of it and dropped his hands.
"I'm sorry," he whispered. "I am truly sorry for the pain this causes you, Jacob. Though you hate me, I must admit that I don't feel the same about you. I think of you as a... a brother in many ways. A comrade
in arms, at the very least. I regret your suffering more than you realize. But Bella is going to survive" - when he said that his voice was fierce, even violent - "and I know that's what really matters to you."
He was probably right. It was hard to tell. My head was spinning.
"So I hate to do this now, while you're already dealing with too much, but, clearly, there is little time. I have to ask you for something - to beg, if I must."
"I don't have anything left," I choked out.
He lifted his hand again, as if to put it on my shoulder, but then let it drop like before and sighed.
"I know how much you have given," he said quietly. "But this is something you do have, and only you. I'm asking this of the true Alpha, Jacob. I'm asking this of Ephraim's heir."
I was way past being able to respond.
"I want your permission to deviate from what we agreed to in our treaty with Ephraim. I want you to grant us an exception. I want your permission to save her life. You know 111 do it anyway, but I don't want to break faith with you if there is any way to avoid it. We never intended to go back on our word, and we don't do it lightly now. I want your understanding, Jacob, because you know exactly why we do this. I want the alliance between our families to survive when this is over."
I tried to swallow. Sam, I thought. It's Sam you want.
"No. Sam's authority is assumed. It belongs to you. You'll never take it from him, but no one can rightfully agree to what I'm asking except for you"
It's not my decision.
"It is, Jacob, and you know it. Your word on this will condemn us or absolve us. Only you can give this to me."
can't think. I don't know.
"We don't have much time." He glanced back toward the house.
No, there was no time. My few days had become a few hours.
don't know. Let me think. Just give me a minute here, okay?
"Yes."
I started walking to the house, and he followed. Crazy how easy it was, walking through the dark with a vampire right beside me. It didn't feel unsafe, or even uncomfortable, really. It felt like walking next to anybody. Well, anybody who smelled bad.
There was a movement in the brush at the edge of the big lawn, and then a low whimper. Seth shrugged through the ferns and loped over to us.
"Hey, kid," I muttered.
He dipped his head, and I patted his shoulder.
"S'all cool," I lied. "I'll tell you about it later. Sorry to take off on you like that."
He grinned at me.
"Hey, tell your sister to back off now, okay? Enough."
Seth nodded once.
I shoved against his shoulder this time. "Get back to work. I'll spell you in a bit."
Seth leaned against me, shoving back, and then he galloped into the trees.
"He has one of the purest, sincerest, kindest minds I've ever heard," Edward murmured when he was outof sight. "You're lucky to have his thoughts to share."
"I know that,"! grunted.
We started toward the house, and both of our heads snapped up when we heard the sound of someone sucking