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≪•◦ CHAPTER FIFTEEN | PLAYING FOLLOW THE SELFLESS HUMAN ◦•≫
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Alice and Colby pulled into the Cullen house right after Edward and Bella. The sun was setting, casting long shadows across the driveway. Emmett jumped out of the bed of Bella's truck with his usual exuberance and sped to the passenger side door, opening it for Colby with a flourish.
"Are you okay?" Emmett asked, his voice filled with concern as he took Colby's hand and helped her out of the jeep.
Colby nodded, clutching her grimoire tightly to her chest. "Yeah, I'm just grounded when I get back home, and my mom also knows we're together now, which is part of the reason I'm grounded," she said with a sheepish smile.
Emmett chuckled, his deep voice resonating warmly. "She was bound to find out sooner or later," he said, giving her hand a reassuring squeeze as they walked towards the house.
As they entered, the atmosphere inside was tense. Edward was standing a few feet from the front door, shielding Bella behind him as his eyes locked on Laurent, who was descending the stairs. A low hiss escaped Edward's lips, and Emmett instinctively moved to shield Colby behind him, his protective instincts kicking in.
Carlisle stepped forward, raising a hand to signal Edward to stop. "Wait! He came to warn us. About James," Carlisle said, his voice calm but firm.
Laurent paused on the last step, his expression weary. "This isn't my fight and...I've grown tired of his games. But he's got unparalleled senses, absolutely lethal. I've never seen anything like him in my three hundred years. And the woman, Victoria, don't underestimate her," he warned, his eyes scanning the room.
The family absorbed his words in silence. Colby peeked from around Emmett, her curiosity piqued despite the danger.
Laurent's gaze fell on her, and he spoke directly to her. "He may not be after you directly, but he does hold a grudge against witches, and your brother's actions set him off," he said, his tone grave.
Colby's heart skipped a beat. "Thank you for your help." Carlisle told Laurent. The vampire nodded before leaving the family then ran into the garage. "I've had to fight our kind before. Not easy to kill." Jasper says as he and Emmett open one of the cabinets in the garage, Bella was not glued to Colby's side, "But not impossible. We'll tear him up apart and burn the pieces." Emmett said, his tone firm.
Carlisle stood in the center of the room, his expression somber. "I don't relish the thought of killing another creature. Even a sadistic one like James," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of his words.
