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How did she know that? I hadn't even started yet.
She leaned over, and before I could figure out what she was doing, she threw a ball of snow, hitting me in the chest. I gasped and pulled my hands back, wiping the chill from my neck.
“What was that for?” I snapped.
“You should have been able to stop that without even thinking,” she countered with a scowl. “You're not working on your abilities.”
What was she talking about? “I work with you every other day, plus shifting, plus physical training. What more can I possibly do?”
“You’re bonded to four mates.”
As if I wasn't aware of that fact. “And?”
“And you're not utilizing your bond. You're weak. More so than a normal witch.”
“So you're calling yourself weak?” I tried to break the tension and make her laugh. She just narrowed her eyes.
“You're weak for your age and your level of experience. You don't push yourself. You don't go past your comfort zone. That's doing yourself and your powers a disservice. Not to mention how it must affect your mates.”
I stood up and brushed the snow off my knees. I fought to keep my voice level. She didn’t know I attacked Niall. She didn’t know I was losing control, so she couldn’t understand how her words affected me. “It's not like we know what to do. There was no one at the Academy to talk to about how to use the bond or how to strengthen each other. I just know that we were supposed to connect with each other enough to use telepathy.”
I wasn't sure if that was common knowledge, but I didn't want to hold back.
“Do you think that's it? That's all a bond has to offer? Being able to communicate mind to mind?”
“Well, we need to be touching each other.”
She dropped her head back. “You've got to be kidding me. It's like you guys aren't even trying.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
“You guys are capable of so much. So much more than you could even imagine.”
“We found a bonded group here,” I admitted. “A group of three, but the way we found out about them isn't exactly within the rules. We want to meet them, but I don't think showing up on their doorstep would get the best results.”
“Who is it?”
I shrugged. “I'm not sure of their names.”
“Well, you are the granddaughter of the Alpha. I doubt anyone would deny you.”
I didn’t appreciate the bitterness in her tone. I didn’t choose to be related to the Alpha. “But I don't want to use that against people. I'd rather they be willing to help.”
She slapped her hands on her thighs. “I get that, but you need to make this a priority. Especially if the Council already has their eyes on you. You guys can't slack off, and you can't waste any more time.”
“Where's this coming from?”
She dropped her head, not meeting my eyes. “I lost my family too.”
I used my magic to dry a spot on the ground, then sat next to her. “When?”
“My last year at the Academy.” She shifted onto her knees, so I dried a patch for her, too, and she sat facing me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have exploded at you, and I probably shouldn’t have thrown a snowball. It’s just hard to see you following in steps so similar to mine. I want to do something to prevent you from ending up like me. I want to change your course.”
“What do you mean, end up like you?” Serene hadn’t really let me in like this before. I didn’t know her story.
“Alone.” She played with the snow in her gloves. “My parents and two sisters were killed three weeks before my graduation.”
I gasped. “No.”
