Page 112 of Kingmakers, Year One

The last weekof January is the coldest yet—the air is full of sleet, and the grass is frozen solid on the ground.

Regardless of this, Professor Knox demands that we go outside for target practice.

“How are we supposed to shoot if our fingers are frozen solid?” Hedeon moans.

“Not all battles take place in perfect weather,” Professor Knox says mercilessly.

We all troop out to the shooting range south of campus. It’s a miserable walk over, and even worse when we have to lay down on the frozen earth to set up our sniper rifles.

The shooting range is just a field, at the end of which you can see a row of metal targets in human shape. Or at least, once you’ve put your eye to the scope you can see them. They’re nothing but faint silver gleams to the naked eye.

Ares is acting as my spotter for the first round, and then we’ll switch positions. Anna is off to my right, spotting for Chay. Dean isn’t in this class, thank god.

I feel bad for the girls laying on the cold ground in their short plaid skirts and bare knees. Anna is wearing tights instead of socks, but she’s still shivering with her arms wrapped around herself.

“Wind speed eight to twelve,” Ares tells me, checking the anemometer.

I make the necessary adjustments, then gently squeeze the trigger, keeping my eyes open the whole time. I see a spark as my bullet grazes the edge of the target.

“A little to the left,” Ares says unnecessarily.

“I know,” I grumble.

Next to me, Chay gives a little whoop of triumph as she hits her target dead center.

Once I’ve hit the target four times, Ares and I switch positions. I stand up, shaking out my cramped legs.

Anna is still waiting her turn, hopping in place to try to stay warm. Her lips are turning blue. Without thinking, I strip off my pullover and thrust it into her hands.

“Don’t be silly,” she says, teeth chattering. “You’ll freeze in a t-shirt. I’ve got my blazer on.”

“Your blazer isn’t doing shit,” I tell her gruffly.

She looks up at me—the first time we’ve made eye contact in several days. It’s the first time we’ve stood this close in weeks. Isee a familiar glint of gold on her neck—the superfine chain with the tiny moon pendant I gave her so long ago when we were only kids. She’s still wearing it.

“Are you sure you won’t be cold?” she says in her low, clear voice.

In that moment, with Anna standing only inches in front of me, her blue eyes fixed on my face, I don’t feel cold in the slightest. Actually, I’m flooded with warmth. The wind feels like nothing anymore.

“I’m sure.”

“Well . . . thanks, then.” She smiles at me for the first time in a long time, then pulls the sweater over her head. It’s so big on her that she looks like a little kid with her clunky boots and her wind-blown hair and her big blue eyes looking up at me. It’s incredibly endearing.

I have to turn away abruptly before I say something that will only humiliate me.

“You okay?” Ares says, as I resume my position next to him.

“Of course.” I grit my teeth against the cold.

The warmth of Anna has already faded away, and I can tell it’s going to be a miserable thirty minutes to finish this class.

“You wantmysweater?” Ares says, trying not to grin.

“No,” I say. “And shut the fuck up.”

Ares chuckles as he presses his eye against the scope. “There’s the Leo I know and love.”

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