both；　every　now　and　then　I　would　get　it；　and　then　it　would　slip　away　again。
  I　hated　this　practice；　and　I　wished　that　Zafrina　would　help　instead　of　Kate。　Then　all　Edward　would　have
  to　do　was　look　at　Zafrina's　illusions　until　I　could　stop　him　from　seeing　them。　But　Kate　insisted　that　I
  needed　better　motivation—by　which　she　meant　my　hatred　of　watching　Edward's　pain。　I　was　beginning　to
  doubt　her　assertion　from　the　first　day　we'd　met—that　she　wasn't　sadistic　about　the　use　of　her　gift。　She
  seemed　to　be　enjoying　herself　to　me。
  〃Hey；〃　Edward　said　cheerfully；　trying　to　hide　any　evidence　of　distress　in　his　voice。　Anything　to　keep　me
  from　fighting　practice。　〃That　one　barely　stung。　Good　job；　Bella。〃
  I　took　a　deep　breath；　trying　to　grasp　exactly　what　I'd　done　right；　i　tested　the　elastic　band；　struggling　to
  force　it　to　remain　solid　as　I　stretched　it　away　from　me。
  〃Again；　Kate；〃　I　grunted　through　my　clenched　teeth。
  Kate　pressed　her　palm　to　Edward's　shoulder。
  He　sighed　in　relief。　〃Nothing　that　time。〃
  She　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃That　wasn't　low；　either。〃
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  〃Good；〃　I　huffed。
  〃Get　ready；〃　she　told　me；　and　reached　out　to　Edward　again。
  This　time　he　shuddered；　and　a　low　breath　hissed　between　his　teeth。
  〃Sorry！　Sorry！　Sorry！〃　I　chanted；　biting　my　lip。　Why　couldn't　I　get　this　right？
  〃You're　doing　an　amazing　job；　Bella；〃　Edward　said；　pulling　me　tight　against　him。　〃You've　really　only　been
  working　at　this　for　a　few　days　and　you're　already　projecting　sporadically。　Kate；　tell　her　how　well　she's
  doing。〃
  Kate　pursed　her　lips。　〃I　don't　know。　She's　obviously　got　tremendous　ability；　and　we're　only　beginning　to
  touch　it。　She　can　do　better；　I'm　sure。　She's　just　lacking　incentive。〃
  I　stared　at　her　in　disbelief；　my　lips　automatically　curling　back　from　my　teeth。　How　could　she　think　I
  lacked　motivation　with　her　shocking　Edward　right　here　in　front　of　me？
  I　heard　murmurs　from　the　audience　that　had　grown　steadily　as　I　practiced—only　Eleazar；　Carmen；　and
  Tanya　at　first；　but　then　Garrett　had　wandered　over；　then　Benjamin　and　Tia；　Siobhan　and　Maggie；　and
  now　even　Alistair　was　peering　down　from　a　window　on　the　third　story。　The　spectators　agreed　with
  Edward；　they　thought　I　was　already　doing　well。
  〃Kate。。。；〃　Edward　said　in　a　warning　voice　as　some　new　course　of　action　occurred　to　her；　but　she　was
  already　in　motion。　She　darted　along　the　curve　of　the　river　to　where　Zafrina；　Senna；　and　Renesmee　were
  walking　slowly；　Renesmee's　hand　in　Zafrina's　as　they　traded　pictures　back　and　forth。　Jacob　shadowed
  them　from　a　few　feet　behind。
  〃Nessie；〃　Kate　said—the　newcomers　had　quickly　picked　up　the　irritating　nickname；　〃would　you　like　to
  come　help　your　mother？〃
  〃No；〃　I　half…snarled。
  Edward　hugged　me　reassuringly。　I　shook　him　off　just　as　Renesmee　flitted　across　the　yard　to　me；　with
  Kate；　Zafrina；　and　Senna　right　behind　her。
  〃Absolutely　not；　Kate；〃　I　hissed。
  Renesmee　reached　for　me；　and　I　opened　my　arms　automatically。　She　curled　into　me；　pressing　her　head
  into　the　hollow　beneath　my　shoulder。
  〃But　Momma；　I　want　to　help；〃　she　said　in　a　determined　voice。　Her　hand　rested　against　my　neck；
  reinforcing　her　desire　with　images　of　the　two　of　us　together；　a　team。
  〃No；〃　I　said；　quickly　backing　away。　Kate　had　taken　a　deliberate　step　in　my　direction；　her　hand　stretched
  toward　us。
  〃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　diamond…hard　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　completely　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　one…way　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。。