Page 5 of Forged By Malice (Beasts of the Briar #3)

4

Rosalina

M y hand is steady over the grip of the bow, but I can’t seem to stop the pounding of my heart. Breathing deep through my nose, I draw back the string, feeling the tension build. My focus narrows to the target, a stuffed straw goblin with a bullseye painted on its chest.

As I release the arrow, time slows, and for a moment, I think it might finally strike. Then the arrow veers off course, hitting Castletree’s wooden wall.

“Dammit,” I say, lowering the bow and wiping my forehead of sweat. Does everywhere in the Summer Wing need to be so hot? I look around to see if anyone witnessed my failure.

The training hall is large.. One side hugs tight to Castletree, showing the lovely wooden bark—and snaking thorns—and the other is open air, looking through the branches to the Briar and hills beyond. Beams of sunlight drift over the sandy floor.

Ezryn and Farron are sitting cross-legged in a corner, facing each other. Farron’s palms are skyward as Ezryn hovers his above them. He’s been teaching Farron the art of healing. While the Autumn Realm’s innate magic is fire, Spring’s is rejuvenation. Farron taught Ezryn fire in Autumn, and now Ezryn is passing along his knowledge.

As I stare at them, I understand for a moment why the Queen built this Castle with a piece of each of the realms. Four rulers together with access to each of their homes. United, we are stronger.

There’s a clatter over by the weapons rack, and I whirl to Dayton, stumbling over them. The weapons lean against wooden planks, a collection of swords, lances, bows, and quivers brimming with feathered arrows.

Dayton has made sure I try them all, though I like the bow the best.

“Why did no one tell me there’s a party in the Summer Wing?”

“You’re late,” I say dryly. “Astrid said she told you to be here half an hour ago.” His words are slurred, movements uneven. How much did he need to drink to be this inebriated since arriving back at Castletree?

Dayton narrows his gaze and grins. “Hmm, the training grounds look good with a few more feathery decorations.”

I grimace, looking at the collection of arrows dotting the far wall. My first request upon returning to Castletree was to be taught how to defend myself. I’d expected Keldarion to put up a fuss, but he’d agreed it was a good idea. Though I left out my inspiration for this plan. Caspian’s words from the battlefield come roaring back to me: Those princes are ever foolish; they should have taught you to defend yourself.

But it’s not all because of the Prince of Thorns. I hated watching the princes go off to battle and feeling left behind and useless. So, I’ll practice my magic, my thorns, and I’ll use the tools of this world. I have no intention of leaving the Enchanted Vale. But this world isn’t like the human one. I must learn to survive, and that means being able to protect myself.

Dayton’s been at Castletree the most of all the princes. He’d been teaching me the fundamentals of each weapon before he would leave for a quick visit to check on his sister in the Summer Realm. Training is the only time we’ve spent together.

Farron told me not to worry about Dayton’s avoidance. He’s been living with the mood swings of the Summer Prince for years. I don’t understand how Dayton could make love to us like that, with such passion, and then be so distant.

Farron said Dayton will be falling into bed with us before we know it. But what if he’s wrong? What if Dayton was looking for his mate in the Summer Realm? It’s better that I don’t know.

I’m not sure I could bear it. I was so certain that night we spent in the Autumn Realm, the night we had almost made love … I thought the same magical light that had bloomed between Kel and me was happening between us.

Three mates, Rosalina? I chide myself. I can’t keep them all.

“Okay, show me up close.” Dayton waves an idle hand, drawing me from my thoughts. “Hit the target.”

With renewed determination, I retrieve another arrow and notch it in my bow. Pulling my arm back, I line up the bullseye in my sight, then let loose the arrow. It strikes the wooden wall behind the target.

“Arg!” I say, frustrated. “I don’t understand. I’m doing everything you do! Finger in the proper position, elbow raised, and—”

“That’s the problem, Rosalina,” Dayton says, stepping closer. “You’re very smart. We all know that. But you’re thinking of all these things separately.”

“What—”

Then he’s behind me, and because he’s Dayton, he’s not wearing a shirt. I feel his muscular skin against the training garb Flavia fitted me in: a white dress with shorts underneath and a leather chest piece for protection.

Though when Dayton had first seen me in the outfit, I wasn’t sure if he wanted to teach me or …

“Are you paying attention?” He’s grabbed an arrow. With his hands over mine, he starts guiding my movements. “You know what to do. Trust your body. When you shoot a bow, it’s not all separate things, it’s an extension of you. It’s a feeling. ”

“I don’t think a feeling is going to help me hit a goblin,” I sneer.

His face is close enough I can smell the sweet wine on his lips. “Feel for the heartbeat of the bow, the pulse of the string. Visualize where it will land.”

I try not to scoff at him, but let myself become fluid, his arms over mine as we pull the string back together.

“Find your anchor, a calm in the storming waves around you.”

I inhale deeply, tasting salt on my tongue, feeling the sand beneath my feet and the heat of his touch like a blazing sun.

“That’s my girl,” Dayton breathes, releasing his hold and stepping back.

Warmth blooms through me, and I narrow that focus to the goblin target and release.

The arrow whizzes, striking the target and exploding in a spray of water.

A spray of water?

“W-what?” Dayton calls.

I can’t even celebrate finally hitting the target because all I can do is stare at the wet sand beneath the utterly destroyed goblin target. There’s a hole through its belly, straw sticking out at strange angles.

Both Ezryn and Farron jump up. “Did you use water magic?” Ezryn asks.

“I don’t know.”

“Not just any water,” Farron says, leaning in front of the target. “Seawater.”

Shells and seaweed cover the sand. But there’s no arrow to be seen.

“That wasn’t me,” Dayton says.

“Water magic is fairly common for fae in the Summer and Winter realms but …” Farron looks up. “You completely changed the arrow into water. Rosie, not even Kel and Day can do that.”

“I … changed it?” A knot of unease settles in my stomach. I shouldn’t be capable of doing that. Many fae can control the elements, but to change things completely …

As far as I know, there’s only one fae who’s ever been able to do that.

“Add that to your research notes,” Ezryn says. “Thorns, flames, and now this.”

I stare down at my palms, unsure how I accomplished it.

“At this point, we should realize nothing about our Rose is expected.” My heart sings at the deep, gravelly voice, and I look up to see Keldarion leaning in the doorway.

“Keldarion,” Ezryn says, inclining his head.

“I’ll be departing for Winter now. My wolf will make good time overnight.” His eyes only briefly pass over mine before he turns. “The staff will have dinner prepared for you.”

Before I would have run after him. I would have followed that ache in my heart.

But I stay put.

If Keldarion can ignore our mate bond, then so can I.

No matter how much it hurts.

Besides, I have other important things to worry about. I look back down at my hands, Fire, water, thorns … What else is locked inside of me?