I tried to focus, but all I felt was cold and a growing irritation at Rudy’s silent presence somewhere to my left. “I don’t feel anything except my toes freezing and one of my pussy lips going numb.”
Don’s patience remained unshakable. “Try again. Think of a moment when your magic activated. Like when you made the ice dome.”
I recalled the exhilaration of creating the structure, the way power had surged through my fingertips. A pleasant warmth bloomed in my chest, spreading outward.
“There,” I whispered, rubbing the center of my chest. “It feels like... sparklers under my skin.”
Blitz clapped. “Good! Now try to direct that feeling toward your hands.”
I concentrated, picturing the energy flowing down my arms. For a moment, I felt a tingling in my palms… then nothing.
“It disappeared.” I opened my eyes with a frustrated huff.
Pierce squatted in front of me. “Emotion seems to be your trigger. Think of something that makes you happy.”
Happy. Right. Because I had so many cheerful thoughts to choose from lately.
I closed my eyes again, searching for a joyful memory. Decorating cookies. Ice skating. The snowball fight. The magical dome and what happened inside it.
Heat flushed through me, and I heard gasps.
My eyes flew open to find a miniature blizzard swirling around me, confined to a three-foot radius.
“Holy shit.” I raised my hands, watching snowflakes dance aroundmy fingers.
Dane’s eyes widened. “Try to make it bigger.”
I focused on expanding the swirl, but as soon as I tried to control it, the snow collapsed into a sad little pile at my feet.
“Damn it!” Frost crackled across the blanket beneath me.
Kip brushed snow from his hair. “Don’t force it. Magic responds to intention, not demand.”
“What does that even mean?” I stood, shaking out my stiff legs. “This is pointless. I can’t control it.”
Rudy finally spoke, his deep voice cutting through my frustration. “You’re not trying.”
The temperature around me plummeted. “Excuse me?”
“You’re wallowing in self-pity instead of focusing.” His eyes met mine, indifferent as stone. “Your magic responds to your emotions, but you’re letting your emotions control you instead of the other way around.”
Snow began sliding across the ground toward him, forming sinister little vortexes. “You know nothing about what I’m feeling.”
“Don’t I?” One eyebrow rose in challenge. “Confused. Angry. Betrayed. Scared of your own power. Wondering if you’ll hurt someone again.”
Each word hit like a physical blow. The ground beneath us trembled slightly.
Pierce stepped between us. “We should take a break.”
“No.” I stepped around him, facing Rudy directly. “You think you know me so well? Fine. Tell me how I’m supposed to control something I didn’t even know existed until a week ago.”
“Stop fighting it.” Rudy’s expression softened. “Your magic isn’t separate from you. It’s part of you.”
“A part that nearly destroyed a workshop and hurt people.” My voice caught. “What if I can’t control it?”
“You can.” Cole’s voice drew my attention. “We’ve all seen glimpses of it. When you’re not overthinking.”
Don nodded. “Like the dome. You didn’t plan that, you just reacted.”
