Page 33 of Vicious Princess
She thrusts the sword against me, but I dodge the swing. The second time, the very tip almost catches my hip.
Almost.
I look around the floor, trying to locate my other blades. Once I see one of the daggers a few feet away, I march forwards. Just as my fingers wrap around the handle, the redhead slashes at the space between us.
Sparks fly in the air when our blades meet. There’s so much hatred in her gaze, it punches all the air out of my lungs. A scream tears out of her chest, and she retreats. Not for long. Sheswings her sword at me, her long hair flying in the air, and I once again block her.
This bitch.
We’re locked in this dance of fury until the gong rings again. The redhead is good about following the rules. She lowers the sword immediately and, without saying a word to me, walks away.
“Great job, cadets,” Daegel says. Everyone turns to him. “Now, everyone with an affinity to a weapon, line up outside.”
When one short fae man charges towards the open glass door that leads outside, Daegel arches an eyebrow and adds, “And don’t forget your chosen weapons.”
The determined fae does a sharp U-turn, his cheeks burning bright red.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
I’m surprised that out of sixteen of us, only four have an affinity to a chosen weapon.
Me and three other fae line up in the training square outside. I expect the redhead to be here, too. But she’s not. She stands in the doorway leading outside and watches us with her arms crossed.
It gives me a twisted sense of satisfaction.
Daegel stands tall in the front. In silence, he eyes each one of us with our weapons. I glance at the fae at my sides. All of them stand with their shoulders squared, looking straight ahead while they wait to be evaluated.
“Human,” Daegel says.
My skin prickles at the way he addresses me, the way his passive gaze flicks to the bow in my hand. So arrogant and cruel.
That’s not how I remember him when he asked if he could see me again in that dark utility room. Before that, his thrusts and his moans in my ears were desperate.
I guess it’s easier if he’s mean. At least then we don’t have to deal with sexual tension.
I lift my chin and step forwards. “Yes, sir.”
“You’re not from Ekios,” he says. “You’re not familiar with our Decarios ways or the ways of the fae.”
It’s not a question, so I don’t answer.
“You sure you have an affinity for your weapon?”
The three fae in line behind me snicker. I grind my teeth and give him one sharp nod.
Daegel clicks his tongue. “Let’s see it, then.”
He gestures for me to take my place in front of the three targets lined up against the wall of the training building. The first target has a large red circle in the middle. The second one has the same circle, but smaller. And the third one has a circle so small, I can barely see it from here.
I stand before the first target with the largest circle and look at Daegel for further instructions.
A cruel smirk curls his mouth. “You know what to do, cadet. Or should I walk you through how to use a bow?”
Another wave of malicious snickers reaches my ears. I ignore them and the sour feeling in the middle of my chest. Instead, I focus all my attention on the targets in front of me.
This part is easy. I can shoot an arrow in my sleep, strike the target true in the dark.
My new bow is sturdy in my hand. Getting into position feels as natural as breathing. So does lifting my arms and drawing the string of the bow.
