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〃Stay away from us； Kate；〃 I warned her。
〃No。〃 She began stalking forward。 She smiled like a hunter cornering her prey。
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I shifted Renesmee so that she was clinging to my back； still backing away at a pace that matched
Kate's。 Now my hands were free； and if Kate wanted to keep her hands attached to her wrists； she'd
better keep her distance。
Kate probably didn't understand； never having known for herself the passion of a mother for her child。
She must
not have realized just how far past too far she'd already gone。 I was so furious that my vision took on a
strange reddish tint； and my tongue tasted like burning metal。 The strength I usually worked to keep
restrained flowed through my muscles； and I knew I could crush her into diamondhard rubble if she
pushed me to it。
The rage brought every aspect of my being into sharper focus。 I could even feel the elasticity of my
shield more exactly now—feel that it was not a band so much as a layer； a thin film that covered me from
head to toe。 With the anger rippling through my body； I had a better sense of it； a tighter hold on it。 I
stretched it around myself； out from myself； swaddling Renesmee pletely inside it； just in case Kate
got past my guard。
Kate took another calculated step forward； and a vicious snarl ripped up my throat and through my
clenched teeth。
〃Be careful； Kate；〃 Edward cautioned。
Kate took another step； and then made a mistake even someone as inexpert as I could recognize。 Just a
short leap away from me； she looked away； turning her attention from me to Edward。
Renesmee was secure on my back； I coiled to spring。
〃Can you hear anything from Nessie？〃 Kate asked him； her voice calm and easy。
Edward darted into the space between us； blocking my line to Kate。
〃No； nothing at all；〃 he answered。 〃Now give Bella some space to calm down； Kate。 You shouldn't goad
her like that。 I know she doesn't seem her age； but she's only a few months old。〃
〃We don't have time to do this gently； Edward。 We're going to have to push her。 We only have a few
weeks； and she's got the potential to—〃
〃Back off for a minute； Kate。〃
Kate frowned but took Edward's warning more seriously than she'd taken mine。
Renesmee's hand was on my neck； she was remembering Kate's attack； showing me that no harm was
meant； that Daddy was in on it。。。。
This did not pacify me。 The spectrum of light I saw still seemed tainted with crimson。 But I was in better
control of myself； and I could see the wisdom of Kate's words。 The anger helped me。 I would learn
faster under pressure。
That didn't mean I liked it。
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〃Kate；〃 I growled。 I rested my hand on the small of Edward's back。 I could still feel my shield like a
strong； flexible sheet around Renesmee and me。 I pushed it farther； forcing it around Edward。 There was
no sign of a flaw in the stretchy fabric； no threat of a tear。 I panted with the effort； and my words came
out sounding breathless rather than furious。 〃Again；〃 I said to Kate。 〃Edward only。〃
She rolled her eyes but flitted forward and pressed her palm to Edward's shoulder。
〃Nothing；〃 Edward said。 I heard the smile in his voice。
〃And now？〃 Kate asked。
〃Stillnothing。〃
〃And now？〃 This time； there was the sound of strain in her voice。
〃Nothing at all。〃
Kate grunted and stepped away。
〃Can you see this？〃 Zafrina asked in her deep； wild voice； staring intently at the three of us。 Her English
was strangely accented； her words pulling up in unexpected places。
〃I don't see anything I shouldn't；〃 Edward said。
〃And you； Renesmee？〃 Zafrina asked。
Renesmee smiled at Zafrina and shook her head。
My fury had almost entirely ebbed； and I clenched my teeth together； panting faster as I pushed out
against the elastic shield； it felt like it was getting heavier the longer I held it。 It pulled back； dragging
inward。
〃No one panic；〃 Zafrina warned the little group watching me。 〃I want to see how far she can extend。〃
There was a shocked gasp from everyone there—Eleazar； Carmen； Tanya； Garrett； Benjamin； Tia；
Siobhan； Maggie—everyone but Senna； who seemed prepared for whatever Zafrina was doing。 The
others' eyes were blank； their expressions anxious。
〃Raise your hand when you get your sight back；〃 Zafrina instructed。 〃Now； Bella。 See how many you
can shield。〃
My breath came out in a huff。 Kate was the closest person to me besides Edward and Renesmee； but
even she was about ten feet away。 I locked my jaw and shoved； trying to heave the resisting； resilient
safeguard farther from myself。 Inch by inch I drove it toward Kate； fighting the reaction that fought back
with every fraction that I gained。 I only watched Kate's anxious expression while I worked； and I
groaned quietly with relief when her eyes blinked and focused。 She raised her hand。
〃Fascinating！〃 Edward murmured under his breath。 〃It's like oneway glass。 I can read everything they're
thinking； but they can't reach me behind it。 And I can hear Renesmee； though I couldn't when I was on
the outside。 I'll bet Kate could shock me now； because she's underneath the umbrella。 I still can't hear
you。。。 hmmm。 How does that work？ I wonder if。。。〃
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He continued to mumble to himself； but I couldn't listen to the words。 I ground my teeth together；
struggling to force the shield out to Garrett； who was closest to Kate。 His hand came up。
〃Very good；〃 Zafrina plimented me。 〃Now—〃
But she'd spoken too soon； with a sharp gasp； I felt my shield recoil like a rubber band stretched too far；
snapping back into its original shape。 Renesmee； experiencing for the first time the blindness Zafrina had
conjured for the others； trembled against my back。 Wearily； I fought back against the elastic pull； forcing
the shield to include her again。
〃Can I have a minute？〃 I panted。 Since I'd bee a vampire； I hadn't felt the need to rest even once
before this moment。 It was unnerving to feel so drained and yet so strong at the same time。
〃Of course；〃 Zafrina said； and the spectators relaxed as she let them see again。
〃Kate；〃 Garrett called as the others murmured and drifted slightly away； disturbed by the moment of
blindness； vampires were not used to feeling vulnerable。 The tall； sandyhaired Garrett was the only
nongifted immortal who
seemed drawn to my practice sessions。 I wondered what the lure was for the adventurer。
〃I wouldn't； Garrett；〃 Edward cautioned。
Garrett continued toward Kate despite the warning； his lips pursed in speculation。 〃They say you can put
a vampire flat on his back。〃
〃Yes；〃 she agreed。 Then； with a sly smile； she wiggled her fingers playfully at him。 〃Curious？〃
Garrett shrugged。 〃That's something I've never seen。 Seems like it might be a bit of an exaggeration___〃
〃Maybe；〃 Kate said； her face suddenly serious。 〃Maybe it only works on the weak or the young。 I'm not
sure。 You look strong； though。 Perhaps you could withstand my gift。〃 She stretched her hand out to him；
palm up—a clear invitation。 Her lips twitched； and I was pretty sure her grave expression was an attempt
to hustle him。
Garrett grinned at the challenge。 Very confidently； he touched her palm with his index finger。
And then； with a loud gasp； his knees buckled and he keeled over backward。 His head hit a piece of
granite with a sharp cracking noise。 It was shocking to watch。 My instincts recoiled against seeing an
immortal incapacitated that way； it was profoundly wrong。
〃I told you so；〃 Edward muttered。
Garrett's eyelids trembled for a few seconds； and then his eyes opened wide。 He stared up at the
smirking Kate； and a wondering smile lit his face。
〃Wow；〃 he said。
〃Did you enjoy that？〃 she asked skeptically。
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〃I'm not crazy；〃 he laughed； shaking hi