Page 27 of Kingdom of Shadows and Wings

Instructor Dawson is a beautiful woman. Tall, willowy, and blond, with nary a scar in sight.

“Today, we’ll be using the targets on the trees to work on precision. If you start hitting the center every time, then move back ten paces. Once everyone can hit static targets with consistency, we can progress to moving targets.” She faces the group. “Let’s see how you’ve progressed with throwing stars. Anyone want to volunteer to demonstrate technique?”

Helene steps forward. “I will.”

Dawson flips a throwing star in her hands. “Have you been practicing?”

“I have, Instructor Dawson.”

“Well, I guess we’re about to find out if you’ve practiced enough. See that tree with an X carved in it?” She gestures to the tree about ten yards away. “Aim for that.”

With a malicious gleam in her onyx eyes, Helene winks at me before spinning around to face her target. She rotates her arm several times to loosen up the limb. Once she’s ready, she releases the throwing star, concentration giving her a severe case of resting bitch face.

The device sails through the air, hitting the mark dead-on.

Elijah offers her a congratulatory fist bump. “Fucking awesome.”

Dawson graces Helene with a pleased grin. “Well done, Mortimer.”

“Thank you, Instructor.” After the praise, Helene casts a sly glance my way. “Since Lark is new, I bet she’d like a chance to show off her skills.”

What? No, I really wouldn’t. I shake my head. “No, thank you. I think I’m?—”

Dawson interrupts with an excited clap of her hands. “That’s an excellent idea. Fledgling Axton, step up and show us what you’ve got.”

What I’ve got is a burning desire to rewind time and sew Helene’s big mouth shut. Barring that, I guess I get to partake in this wonderful opportunity to demonstrate to everyone yet again why I’m the worst fledgling ever.

I say nothing when Helene drops the unfamiliar and oddly shaped throwing star into my outstretched palm. Fumbling for the correct grip, I rack my brain to recall how Helene held the device. I’ve thrown a dagger before. Surely the concept is similar enough.

Aware that all eyes are on me, I raise my arm and flick my wrist. The star whizzes through the air. Wide of the mark. Wide of the tree altogether.

Helene smirks. “I could tutor you.”

Dawson beams. “That’s a great idea. Way to be a team player, Mortimer.”

I fight a grimace. No part of me believes Helene made the offer out of the goodness of her heart. Whenever I think of that custard, I still shudder. “Thanks. I think I might watch everyone else first…to see if I can get the hang of it.”

As soon as Helene walks toward Elijah, I hurry over to join Olive, Nick, and Abel on the far side of the training area. Maybe if I make myself scarce, she’ll forget about me.

Olive pats my shoulder. “Don’t worry. Throwing stars are weird at first, but you’ll pick it up in no time.”

Abel hip bumps her. “Especially if you don’t let this one train you.”

She whirls on him, huffing out an outraged gasp. “What? I’ll have you know that I beat you the last two time…you little sneak!”

Abel darts away, whistling while he tosses the throwing star he snatched from Olive into the air. “Finders keepers. Guess that means I’m going first.”

Nick doesn’t say much, but his skeptical glance lingers. My nerves kick in. What if he agrees with all the other Helenes and Elijahs of the academy and believes catching me up on the five weeks I missed is more trouble than I’m worth?

Throwing my shoulders back, I concentrate on Abel’s grip as he prepares to throw. I guess I’ll just have to prove Nick—and the other doubters—wrong.

After a few attempts with the throwing stars, I start to feel more comfortable. Abel and Olive bicker over the best way to hold the weapon, so I give both a try. By my third go, I’m at least hitting the tree. I still have my work cut out for me, of course, but progress is progress.

Nick is up again when Dawson claps her hands and orders us to switch to bows and arrows. While we do, she speaks to another instructor.

Nerves flutter in my stomach like a thousand tiny butterflies. When Leesa and I were younger, we begged my mother for bows and arrows. Much to my surprise, she caved and bought us each a set. One of the guards gave us impromptu lessons, and after hours and hours of practice on the castle grounds, I mastered the skill.

Finally feeling in my element, I notch an arrow, pull the bow back, and release it. The arrow zings through the air and hits true, sticking to the X on the tree before me.

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