“Why?” I whispered, trying to hide the sound of the lump in my throat. “How could you do this to me, Jacob?”
The sneer vanished, but his face stayed hard and rigid. “It’s for the best.”
“What is that supposed to mean? Do you want Charlie to strangle me? Or did you want him to have a heart attack, like Harry? No matter how mad you are at me, how could you do this to him?”
Jacob winced, and his eyebrows pulled together, but he didn’t answer.
“He didn’t want to hurt anyone—he just wanted to get you grounded, so that you wouldn’t be allowed to spend time with me,” Edward murmured, explaining the thoughts Jacob wouldn’t say.
Jacob’s eyes sparked with hate as he glowered at Edward again.
“Aw, Jake!” I groaned. “I’m already grounded! Why do you think I haven’t been down to La Push to kick your butt for avoiding my phone calls?”
Jacob’s eyes flashed back to me, confused for the first time. “That’s why?” he asked, and then locked his jaw, like he was sorry he’d said anything.
“He thought I wouldn’t let you, not Charlie,” Edward explained again.
“Stop that,” Jacob snapped.
Edward didn’t answer.
Jacob shuddered once, and then gritted his teeth as hard as his fists. “Bella 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 free from Edward’s gaze to frown at Jacob. “Was there something else you needed, Jacob? You wanted me in trouble—mission accomplished. Charlie might just send me to military school. But that won’t keep me away from Edward. There’s nothing that can do that. What more do you want?”
Jacob kept his eyes on Edward. “I just needed to remind your bloodsucking friends of a few key points in the treaty they agreed to. The treaty that is the only thing stopping me from ripping his throat out right this minute.”
“We haven’t forgotten,” Edward said at the same time that I demanded, “What key points?”
Jacob still glowered at Edward, but he answered me. “The treaty is quite specific. If any of them bite a human, the truce is over. Bite, not kill,” he emphasized. Finally, he looked at me. His eyes were cold.
It only took me a second to grasp the distinction, and then my face was as cold as his.
“That’s none of your business.”
“The hell it—” was all he managed to choke out.
I didn’t expect my hasty words to bring on such a strong response. Despite the warning he’d come to give, he must not have known. He must have thought the warning was just a precaution. He hadn’t realized—or didn’t want to believe—that I had already made my choice. That I was really intending to become a member of the Cullen family.
My answer sent Jacob into near convulsions. He pressed his fists hard against his temples, closing his eyes tight and curling in on himself as he tried to control the spasms. His face turned sallow green under the russet skin.