Page 68 of Dawn of Chaos and Fury
“Warned you that you were going to be terrible at this the first time you attempted it? Why did you expect otherwise?”
Tessa pursed her lips, snatching the next arrow from Eliza’s hand and nocking it to the string. “Tell me what to fix.”
The next two hours went on in the same way. Tessa would shoot until the quiver was empty, Eliza correcting her and giving her tips after every shot, and then they’d go collect the arrows and start all over again. At least she was hitting the target now—most of the time—but never where she was actually aiming.
Eliza held out the quiver as Tessa deposited a handful of arrows she’d gathered before they both continued to search for two that were missing. Even with the fire, there were still areas cast in shadows. And gods, Tessa washotwith all these flames. It was like when she slept next to Luka.
Glancing up at the sky as she swiped up another arrow, she turned back to Eliza, finding her with the other missing one. Tessa closed the space, dropping the arrow into the quiver before they turned to head back to the shooting line.
“You have a lot of Marks,” Tessa said, because with the female in a sleeveless shirt, she could see them all. Some on her arms, across her chest. There were even a few on her back.
“I do,” she agreed.
“What are they for?”
“Some have a purpose for strength and abilities. Some are loyalty Marks to my Court. A couple are bonds.”
Tessa nodded, trailing her eyes over them and stopping at the one atop her heart. The same place she bore a Mark.
“I thought there was only one Source Mark in your world,” Tessa said.
“There is,” Eliza answered, tapping a Mark on her forearm.
“Then what is the purpose of this one?” Tessa asked, brushing her fingers over her own heart.
Eliza stilled, one hand coming up to cover the Mark on her skin before she dropped her hand again. Her hands curled into fists, and Tessa wasn’t sure what to do or why the question had elicited such a reaction.
“Not all my Marks were given by choice, just as not all of yours were,” Eliza finally answered.
“But I thought you were free there?”
“We are free in that we are not forced to serve another, yes, but we are not free of injustice and moral failings,” she replied tightly. “There will always be those who believe they deserve more or are superior simply because of the blood in their veins, the family they descend from, and in some cases, because they have a cock between their legs.”
Tessa took an arrow from the quiver that Eliza held out, nocking it to the string. “Then isn’t leaving here pointless? You are simply exchanging one realm’s problems for another.”
“Every realm has problems, Tessa. Just as every kingdom, every family, every relationship has problems. None of them are perfect, but there are those who try harder to thrive despite those imperfections. Widen your feet.”
Tessa adjusted her position before pulling the string back.
“Keep your spine straight, including your neck,” she added.
Tessa took a deep breath, releasing the arrow. It hit lower than where she was aiming, but at least it had gone straight.
Lowering the bow, she turned to face Eliza. “Do you like stories?”
“What?”
“Stories,” Tessa repeated. “Do you like them?”
For whatever reason, the female became very cautious when she answered, “I don’t particularly care for them, but I know of one who loves to tell stories.”
Tessa took a step forward, excitement coursing through her. “Are they good ones?”
“No. They’re dreadful, but a few find them enlightening.”
“Oh,” was all Tessa said. Then her head tilted. “You will not tell me the story of that Mark?”
“No, she will not,” came a dark, lethal voice.
