Page 51 of When Wishes Bleed

I had no claim to him. Nor would I ever. It was a stark reminder that I needed to distance myself. Brecan was right. This was getting out of hand.

“Sure.” he answered. Disappointment hung heavy in his tone, but I couldn’t dwell on his feelings and ignore mine. Not tonight. “Goodnight, Sable.”

Goodnight, Tauren.

I must have looked awful when I opened my door the following morning. Mira gasped and then turned me around and pushed me back inside. “You have time scheduled with Tauren today. We need to get rid of those dark circles. We have to detangle your hair!”

“My hair is fine,” I grouched. “And what dark circ—” She shoved me into the bathroom where the mirror showed me what she meant. “Oh.”

“What happened to you? Late night with the Prince?” she asked with one brow raised.

“No, I’m afraid he was busy with an invitee.”

Her brows kissed. “But he came down just to swim with you.”

“And promptly left, right after you and Brecan did.”

She puffed her bottom lip out in a pout. “I’m sorry. Well, at least you get to spend time with him today.” She blew out a tense breath. “What should you wear?”

I didn’t want to see him today. At all. “What’s scheduled?” I sighed.

Her eyes grew to the size of saucers. “You haven’t read your schedule yet?”

I didn’t even hear the paper slide under the door, and frankly, Mira should have expected it. It took her five solid minutes of knocking for me to stir, according to her.

“I have an idea!” she chirped, pulling out her eight-legged spinners. She gave them their knitting instructions, and then began tearing the tangles from my hair. “How do you feel about braids?”

“Does it matter?”

She rolled her eyes at me via the mirror. “I want you to feel comfortable. You’ll need to keep your hair back for today’s activity, though.”

“What is it we’re doing again?”

She smiled. “Archery.”

“Archery? I’ve never used a bow in my life.”

“Then I’m sure Tauren will be happy to instruct you, Sable.”

That’s what I was dreading.

Skin-tight, black trousers hugged my lower half. My upper half was somewhat less binding. A loose white shirt hid beneath a close-fitting black leather vest with matching gauntlets. Mira had braided my hair and then wrapped and secured the long end into a bun at the nape of my neck.

“You look ready for war.” She glowed with pride, once I pulled on a pair of boots she’d plucked for the occasion.

Good.

“The cameras will be on, and this will be telecast to the entire Kingdom. The witches, including the Circle, will see your every move. They’ll cling to and analyze every word, so choose wisely, Sable,” she warned. “You’re in a strange mood today. I’d hate for you to…”

“Do or say something I shouldn’t?”

“Bay is convinced you can show the Kingdom that witches shouldn’t be feared.”

I didn’t look at her when I answered, “But they should.” Instead, I stared in the mirror at the warrior Mira had conjured, hoping I had the strength of one.

She pursed her lips. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

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