Page 116 of Reckless
I swallow. “There is nothing about me to be envious of.”
“Then you don’t know yourself well enough.”
“What,” I huff, “and you do?”
He’s suddenly struggling to his feet with a grunt. “You can deny it all you want, but we both know I do.”
“And where do you think you’re going?” I ask beneath him. “Well, where arewegoing?”
“I want to be at least slightly comfortable while I bleed out.” He extends a hand to me that I don’t bother taking before standing to my feet. “I’m hoping for a cave.”
“You’re not going to bleed out….” I pause, skeptical. “We are nearing the caves?”
He nods. “We’re almost at the edge of the Sanctuary now. The stretch of caves is right before the field separating us from Ilya.”
“Perfect,” I say dryly. “Almost home.”
We step out from behind the stones and back onto the path. Walking in silence, I glimpse the first body slumped over a cluster of rocks and quickly look away. My stomach twists at the reminder of what I’ve done, at every body I now have to face. The weapon I killed with is back in my hand, sweaty and seemingly harmless as it dangles toward the dirt.
Though, in a way, it is. A weapon is only deadly if it’s used. And a bow only kills if I fire the arrow for it.
Even with my eyes on the ground, I know each time I pass a body. I feel the weight of what I’ve done with each step. Kai stays quiet beside me, knowing exactly what this must feel like. What it is to kill and live with each ghost.
I hear dirt crunching beneath a boot behind us.
I spin at the sound, lifting an empty bow.
He’s scrawny, much smaller than his fellow bandits—it’s no wonder I missed him among the rocks. He holds a bow in shaky hands, straining to keep it trained on Kai.
And before I can blink, he fires.
I don’t think before stepping in front of the prince I’m supposed to hate. Time seems to slow as the arrow flies toward me. Reflexes take control of my body, forcing me to raise my empty weapon.
I swipe the bow through the air, hearing wood connect with the arrow’s shaft before I’ve even registered what’s happened. The arrow falls to the ground in a blur, its tip buried in the dirt.
I look up to find the man’s expression mirroring my own. Utter shock is etched across his face at what I’ve managed to do. I take advantage of his hesitation and reach behind me to slide an arrow from where it sticks out of my pack.
It’s laid across my bow a heartbeat later.
My fingers curl around the string—lungs constricting, breath catching in my throat.
I loosen my grip on the bowstring, ready to let the arrow fly—
A blur cuts through the air, flipping until it sinks into the man’s chest.
I blink, looking down at the arrow still notched on my bow.
When my eyes trail back up to the man, he’s clutching his chest where the hilt of a knife now protrudes.
I turn, finding Kai standing beside me, clutching his woundedshoulder. “There,” he says, sounding pained. “That’s all taken care of.”
I glance back at the man falling face-first into the dirt. “How did you…?”
“Left arm,” he says casually. “Still hurt like hell though.”
“I had that handled.” I look away, avoiding his gaze. “I was… I was going to do it.”
He steps between me and the man, blocking my view of Death coming to claim him. “I know. I know you had it handled. You made that very obvious when you batted an arrow out of the air.” He shakes his head at me, a smile drawing out his dimple. “But, like I said, my soul is stained enough for the both of us. And you’ve killed enough for me already.”
