Page 14 of Vicious Princess (The Trials of Death and Honor #1)

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

I ’m surprised that out of sixteen of us, only four have an affinity to a chosen weapon.

Me and three other fae line up in the training square outside. I expect the redhead to be here, too. But she’s not. She stands in the doorway leading outside and watches us with her arms crossed.

It gives me a twisted sense of satisfaction.

Daegel stands tall in the front. In silence, he eyes each one of us with our weapons. I glance at the fae at my sides. All of them stand with their shoulders squared, looking straight ahead while they wait to be evaluated.

“ Human ,” Daegel says.

My skin prickles at the way he addresses me, the way his passive gaze flicks to the bow in my hand. So arrogant and cruel.

That’s not how I remember him when he asked if he could see me again in that dark utility room. Before that, his thrusts and his moans in my ears were desperate.

I guess it’s easier if he’s mean. At least then we don’t have to deal with sexual tension.

I lift my chin and step forwards. “Yes, sir.”

“You’re not from Ekios,” he says. “You’re not familiar with our Decarios ways or the ways of the fae.”

It’s not a question, so I don’t answer.

“You sure you have an affinity for your weapon?”

The three fae in line behind me snicker. I grind my teeth and give him one sharp nod.

Daegel clicks his tongue. “Let’s see it, then.”

He gestures for me to take my place in front of the three targets lined up against the wall of the training building. The first target has a large red circle in the middle. The second one has the same circle, but smaller. And the third one has a circle so small, I can barely see it from here.

I stand before the first target with the largest circle and look at Daegel for further instructions.

A cruel smirk curls his mouth. “You know what to do, cadet. Or should I walk you through how to use a bow?”

Another wave of malicious snickers reaches my ears. I ignore them and the sour feeling in the middle of my chest. Instead, I focus all my attention on the targets in front of me.

This part is easy. I can shoot an arrow in my sleep, strike the target true in the dark.

My new bow is sturdy in my hand. Getting into position feels as natural as breathing. So does lifting my arms and drawing the string of the bow.

One breath and the whole world stills around me. My gaze narrows in on the target. The red circle in the middle is all that exists.

My breath travels through my bloodstream. I sense it in every single cell of my being. It’s the most serene state, that split second before I let the arrow go. It whizzes through the air faster than the eye can see and lands right in the center of the target.

My fellow trainees are silent. I lower the bow and look at Daegel. His face reveals nothing.

I turn back to the target and take a step to my right. The next target is smaller. But I know I can make it.

I choose another arrow from the quiver. Draw the string. This new bow…it feels as if it has a mind of its own. The skin of my palm burns where I grip the bone.

The arrow quivers, and I almost lose my concentration. I try again, though.

Draw the string. Breathe in. Breathe out. Let go.

Once again, the arrow lands right in the very center of the smaller target. Take that, assholes.

Without wasting time, I step sideways once again and line up in front of the last, smallest target.

The redhead standing in the doorway pops up in my periphery. Her jaw is so tense, a muscle ticks. When my gaze slides to her hands, fisted from agitation, she hides them.

The last thing I need is an enemy.

I grip my bow harder. But I’m not willing to stand down, to let this spoiled fae brat have her way just to keep the peace.

With anger warming my chest, I lift the bow and draw the string. My palm burns again, as if I’m holding it over an open flame. But I grind my teeth and ignore it.

One last target. Don’t fuck this up.

Breathe in.

Breathe out.

Let go.

Before I even let the arrow go, I know it’s lost its way. Something is wrong. I curse, but it’s too late.

The arrow whizzes through the air faster than a blink. The redhead screams when it sinks right in the middle of her thigh.

If she hated me before, I’m pretty sure she wants to murder me right now.

“Get her to the mender’s office,” Daegel says calmly to a few cadets who come over to see what’s happening.

Bloom and the giant flank the redhead, and she tosses her arms around their shoulders so they can help her limp out of the training hall.

The three cadets waiting their turn watch me with narrowed eyes.

“I didn’t mean to do that,” I say, walking up to Daegel. I look down at the bow in my hand, now docile. “I swear, I have an affinity, and I didn’t try to?—”

“I know you have an affinity.” He looks between the bow and me. “Is this a new bow?”

I nod.

He takes a step closer. A threatening presence towering over me. “You do not bring a new weapon that hasn’t been broken in to training, Wildarrow. Before you attempt to master your affinity, you must master your bow first. Otherwise, you risk harming everyone around you.”

Heat creeps up my chest, neck, and cheeks. I say nothing.

Daegel’s next words are not kinder. “Do you understand me, cadet?”

“Yes, sir.”

Finally, he steps away from me, and I can breathe easier. Does he have to be such an asshole?

“Next,” Daegel says, his voice full of command that makes my knees weak.

Gods help me survive the next six months of training with him.