Page 19 of The Serpent and the Silver Wolf

“Face wounds bleed like hell, that’s all. Stay back, I mean it.”

She should’ve been more careful. Stupid. Letting her blood spray. If it touched anyone…

“Aimee?”

Mira’s voice. Crisp. Dry.

Aimee didn’t turn right away. She focused her mind. Slowing the frantic pump of her heart. Then she pivoted, pressing her shirt harder against the wound, blood already soaking through the linen.

“Stupid mistake.” She lifted her elbow slightly, revealing the dark bloom spreading across the fabric. “Already paying for it.”

Mira looked past her to the twisted shape of the bow on the ground, string dangling limp.

“A mistake?” Her brow arched as she turned to Shinka. “Is that what happened, boy?”

Shinka stepped forward, eyes on his toes. “Yes, Momma. Aimee-Sensei stretched the string too far, and it broke.”

Mira blinked, her expression unreadable as her attention returned to the ruined bow.

Aimee didn’t need to see Mira’s face to know she was doing the math.

Human strength couldn’t snap that bowstring. Not that way. Not with that force.

And Mira would know. She was an expert.

They’d spent the last couple of weeks squaring off in weekly archery matches—her against Mira with the hand-carved compound bows. Half the village gathered to watch now, cheering bets placed with laughter and tea.

“Mira—”

Heat surged.

Aimee barely had time to brace before Mira was there, a flicker of flame and fury, one hand wrenching her chin up, nails biting into Aimee’s jawline.

“Fuck—Mira!”

“You knew it would be me,” she hissed. “Me, who must execute you, Aimee. And you did it anyway. That was the deal. No Mana. Ever.”

Flame exploded from Mira’s palm, flinging Aimee backward.

She hit the ground, shoulder slamming into rock, the damp linen of her shirt clutched even harder against her bleeding face.

“I thought you were my friend!” Mira barked. Her back was already turned, arms stiff at her sides, fire licking up her forearms. “Stupid. Never trust a shinobi.”

“What?!” Aimee pushed herself upright, one foot catching, forcing her to scramble back on her palms. “I didn’t use Mana! I don’t even know how!”

“Liar!” Mira turned, hair following like a whip behind her.

“Momma!” Shinka’s voice, high and scared. His small hands clawed at Mira’s wrist.

She yanked free, never looking down. “Go to the Grannies, Shinka.” Her voice was too calm. Controlled. Dangerous. “You shouldn’t have to see this.”

Flame pulsed in the woman’s palms, heat bleeding into the air.

“Whoa!” Aimee staggered to her feet. “Mira. Just—wait! Test me! Fucking test me before you fry me!”

“There is no need to test.” Her arm jerked to the side, and a burst of fire leapt from her hand, consuming the broken bow with a hiss. “You couldn’t have done that without Mana-enhanced strength.”

“Please,” Aimee said, louder this time. “Please. I can explain—”