The men’s faces paled.Himthey believed.Himthey feared.
I spun to face Aiden, finding his exposed collarbone inches from my mouth. His bristled chin scraped my forehead.
I jerked backward. “Leave this to me,” I hissed.
He looked down at me, rage swirling like storm clouds in his eyes. “Beat them, or I will.”
I didn’t need his rage. Only mine. These men were never going to claim any prize from me. They were simply a means to an end. Arrogance and lust only made them more stupid.
And Holy Four, did I want this win more than ever now. I’d lost control back at that table. I’d shown vulnerability. I’d gotten distracted.
But here, with knives in my hand, I would feel right again.
I pointed at Beak Nose. “Give me your knives. I’m playing your friend first.”
He started to sneer again, but then glanced at Aiden towering behind me and handed them over. Something quieted in me as I held them.
Five simple steel knives with wooden hilts that had been handled to a shine. Nothing so nice as Aiden’s or my old ones. But they would do.
I’d played around with any knife I could get a hold of as a child. Earned myself plenty of scars in those early years. But I’d gotten very good. And Renwell had made sure I was even better.
Beady Eyes ripped his knives out of the target and backed out of the way. “The lady may go first,” he said in a mockingly subservient tone.
I lined up with the target, drew back my arm, and threw. Third ring.
A muffled groan came from Aiden, who leaned against a high table, effectively caging in our little group.
Beady Eyes and Beak Nose cheered and slapped hands with each other.
I suppressed my own smile and threw four more times, hitting the third and second rings twice each. Aiden grew quieter with each one while my other two targets grew louder.
Maz showed up on my last throw with a hunk of meat in one hand and a full mug in the other. His brows scrunched together. “What’s happening?”
Aiden gave him a low, rapid explanation as Maz’s face took on the same stormy look. I ignored them both.
Beady Eyes had better throws than mine and practically fell over with giddiness, jumping around like a buffoon.
This time, I did smile, holding up my bouquet of knives. “Yes, you win that round. Now, you throw first.”
He did, a few of his knives going very wide in his elation, but he just waved his filthy hand. “Psh, won’t matter, won’t matter. She’s got nothin’.” He leered at me, leaning close enough to show me his brown teeth.
I slipped one of my knife tips under his weak chin. “Stand clear, or you’ll lose every piece of flesh I can reach.”
He scoffed but took a begrudging step back. I had no idea if I’d ever make good on such a threat, but sometimes threats were enough. Even if they were lies.
Out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Aiden and Maz looking murderous.
I threw my knives, calculating just enough for a win. But now, Beady Eyes was serious. His so-called prize was in jeopardy. He couldn’t lose in front of all these men—and a few women who had crowded closer.
Maybe now there would actually be some sport to it.
I gestured for him to lead again, and he did. Hit the bullseye once with four hits to the second ring.
A few of the men, including Beak Nose, cheered and clapped him on the back. He grinned, all doubt gone.
I grinned back and threw one knife. Then the next. And the next until I’d flung all five. All while beaming into his slack-jawed face.
A loud cheer rose around me. Each of my five knives quivered in the bullseye, nearly obscuring it. Maz pushed Aiden aside to wrap me in a huge hug and bounce me up and down. I laughed as other hands reached forward to pat me on the back and voices called out praise.
