'Overprotective, isn't he?' Jacob said, talking just to me. 'Let's get to English, Bella, so you're not involved.' 'The principal's on his way to discourage loitering on school property,' Edward murmured to me. I glared at him, and he smiled back impishly - like a kid caught doing something he knows he shouldn't by someone who he knows won't punish him. 'It's his own fault if he doesn't like the things I remember, though.' 'Jacob just has a good memory, that's all.' 'It's nothing, Bella,' Edward told me quietly. I glanced, wide-eyed, from Edward's grimace to Jacob's sneer. He couldn't quite hide the agony in his eyes. 'That's funny,' Jacob said, laughing as he watched Edward's face.Д®dward winced, but smoothed his expression with a little effort. Because I'd rather Victoria killed me a hundred times over than watch Edward suffer that way again. The memory snapped me out of my near hysteria and put everything in perspective. For one ghastly moment, I was reminded of our afternoon in Italy, in the macabre tower room of the Volturi, where Jane had tortured Edward with her malignant gift, burning him with her thoughts alone. I glanced up at him, and his face was contorted in what could only be pain. His eyes narrowed like he was trying to do a difficult math problem in his head. 'And she's been through worse.'ДЄbruptly, Jacob's expression shifted, and he was staring at Edward with an odd, speculative expression. 'She's tougher than you think,' Jacob said. 'Do you really think hurting her is better than protecting her?' he murmured. She wouldn't stop until his love was taken from him, too.Д®dward wiped the tears from my cheek with his fingertips. I could see it behind my lids - I could see Victoria's face, her lips pulled back over her teeth, her crimson eyes glowing with the obsession of her vendetta she held Edward responsible for the demise of her love, James. I tried to pull myself together, but my eyes were swimming in moisture. 'Why should she be frightened when she was never in danger?' 'It's her life.'Д®dward kept his voice muted even Tyler, edging forward by inches, would be unable to hear. 'You don't think Bella has a right to know?' Jacob challenged. 'Does that answer your question, mongrel?'

Free online eclipse book