Page 39 of The Princess and the Demon

“Is that what you believe?” He asks, his words clipped.

I turn on him, my face contorted. “Well, obviously. I can’t even draw the string. How am I ever going to be able to use this thing?”

Amon turns to me then, reaching out and taking the bow from me. He turns to walk away from me, and I look after him, taken aback.

“Where are you going?”

He doesn’t stop but turns to speak over his shoulder at me. “I guess you can’t do it, so why am I going to waste my time teaching you?”

I scoff, placing my hands on my hips and tapping my foot against the stone.

“I didn’t say I couldn’t do it! I’m just frustrated.” I cross my arms over my chest and turn away from him.

“Nobody ever got anything done by saying they couldn’t.” Amon says. “If you truly believe you can’t, then you won’t.”

I scoff again, tossing my hair as I walk away from him.

A large hand wraps around my upper arm, and I gasp as I’m spun around. Amon glares down at me. “Frustration is acceptable. Quitting is not.”

He shoves the bow back into my hands, and points for me to take stance again.

I sigh heavily, stomping a foot before walking to stand next to him.

The smirk on his sinful mouth doesn’t go unnoticed, and I shoot him a glare. His eyes don’t leave mine as he lifts his bow again, drawing the string.

“Come on, female. Again.”

I pull my shoulders back as I pull on the string of the bow. Once it hits the draw, I take a deep breath, not breaking my posture as I push past the tension.

The string gives and I smile as I pull the string all the way back.

“Good!” Amon drops his bow, turning to me. “Don’t let it go. Hold your elbows up.” He places a hand under my elbow, walking behind me to span another hand around my middle. My intake of breath is sharp, and suddenly my mind isn’t on the lesson anymore.

“I want you to imagine there’s an arrow knocked. Your eyes should be here.” He reaches out and holds a clawed finger out in front of me. I chew at my lower lip, my arms beginning to tremble slightly.

“Ok, let it out gently.” Amon releases me as I ease the string back into place.

“Good,” he growls. “Now you practice that until you feel comfortable and can draw the string without fail.”

I push my hair out of my face as I turn to him. A sense of satisfaction overwhelms me, even though I know I’ve got a long way to go.

Amon regards me quietly. “You’ll get there,” he says, taking the bow from me.

He sets both mine and his against the stone wall next to us, and I notice the way his much larger bow dwarfs my small wooden one.

His is ornate and boasts intricate carvings and decorative metal details. I knew with time I would be able to use mine with little effort. I was using muscles I’d literally never used.

I had to give myself some grace.

“Thank you,” I whisper. “For not letting me give up.”

Amon grunts, looking at me a moment. “Don’t underestimate yourself. You’re capable of more than you think.”

I smile at that, watching as his eyes darken and his jaw ticks.

“Do you want to have lunch?” He asks me suddenly. The words are gruff and clipped, and he doesn’t move. He regards me warily.

Caught off guard, I falter, stumbling over my words as I try to get them out.

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