But my thoughts were broken by a voice calling my name.

Edward.

It was Alice.

She was alone on the steps of our porch, and her face was horrified. She stared off into the middle distance, seeing something, and I impatiently waited for her to tell me. 

Her panicked thoughts tumbled over each other.

They’re coming.  I didn’t see them before.  They had to have been here already, on other business, and changed their plans mid-stream.  Or maybe they never left, after Victoria.  Oh, it’s too soon, too soon!  Why didn’t I know?  Why didn’t I see them?

I must have been squeezing Bella’s hand, because she placed her other hand over my fingers to pry them gently loose.  I felt her eyes on me as I stared at Alice, and Carlisle and Esme gathered near us, understanding at once that something was wrong.

“Who?” I whispered to Alice, yards away from me.  The sickening hollow in the pit of my stomach told me I already knew the answer. 

The Volturi.

I looked at Bella as fear wrapped an icy hand around my heart. 

“What is it?” she asked.  “What did she see?”  Her dark eyes searched mine.

“The Volturi are coming,” I whispered. 

For several moments, time slowed as Bella and I stared at each other, and I gripped her hand tightly.  I shuddered at what this could mean.  Why were they here?  It was still several weeks until the thirteenth of August, the deadline to which they had agreed.  Had they changed their minds about allowing Bella into our coven? Were they coming instead to –

Esme inhaled sharply.  Carlisle crossed the lawn to Alice, who descended the stairs to meet him. The three of us followed as quickly as we could without alarming anyone, and soon Rosalie was by Alice’s side as well, her face darkening as Alice whispered quickly in her ear. Fortunately, the humans hadn’t noticed anything, and we were careful to keep our faces neutral.  I saw Jasper glance at Emmett, but they remained with our human guests, holding their plates of untouched food and continuing their conversations.  I was grateful.

“How long before they arrive?” I asked, already planning an escape.  I had bought plane tickets to Europe for a honeymoon; I’d wanted Bella to enjoy her last weeks as a human in the most beautiful places I could take her, and I’d planned to surprise her because I knew she’d argue.  Perhaps we could leave a few days early –