Just a pretty face.
But she wanted to be part of it. The dirty. The gruesome. No, there wasn’t much crime to deal with there, but she made sure she was trained so that if there ever was, she would be ready. It was why she did not rely on the animals as so many Promised daughters had before her. Why she learned as much as she could about archery and combat, the darkness of any creatures she might face in the Forest… It was why she pushed Nyssa to do the same.
She knew she would have to be the best of them all.
CHAPTER FORTY
SHE WAS STANDING at the edge of her mother’s pool on the beach.
Arbina was doting on her, running her hands through Aydra’s hair as Aydra pulled an arrow back on her bow.
“Higher,” Arbina had instructed Aydra’s thirteen year old self.
Aydra’s weight shifted. She eyed her target at the edge of the fall. Arbina’s touch on her arm made her breath catch. Her mother lifted her back elbow just slightly as the noise of splashing water sounded in her ears.
Arbina paused and shook her head at Rhaif practicing his advances in the water. “Dear boy, stop. Your sister is working. Quiet.”
Rhaif stopped and straightened, but didn’t speak. Aydra’s eyes narrowed through at her target, and she released her arrow. It struck the fruit they’d placed beside the waterfall on the ground. Arbina squeezed her shoulders, and she turned her head slightly at Rhaif.
“If only you could land such an arrow,” Arbina scolded him.
Aydra’s arms lowered, and she turned just in time to watch Rhaif scratch the back of his neck, eyes staring at the ground. “I can,” he argued.
Arbina’s brows raised. “Really?” Her arms wrapped over her chest. “Prove it. Prove you’re ready for your marking.”
Rhaif crossed the space between them, and Aydra handed him her bow.
“Show her, brother,” Aydra whispered.
Rhaif gave her a tight-lipped smile, and Aydra squeezed his hands as she placed an arrow in his palm.
Aydra stood off to the side and crossed her fingers, hoping Rhaif’s aim would be true this time. Hoping he would finally prove to their mother that he was good enough to be given his mark and fire.
He pulled the arrow back, and Arbina did not help or instruct him. She simply watched him struggle with the arrow, scrutinizing his form without words.
Aydra saw the shake in her brother’s hands. She looked between her mother and Rhaif, watching her mother’s lips purse at Rhaif trying his hardest before her. Aydra slipped sideways to him and touched his arm.
“Breathe,” she said in his ear. “Both eyes open. You can—”
“Don’t help him.”
Their mother’s voice cut the air. She watched Rhaif, arms crossed over her chest as she stared down her nose at him. Aydra swallowed hard and took a step back, her face reddening quickly. Rhaif’s eye caught hers, and she gave him an encouraging nod.
The arrow tore through the air.
It landed with a thud just above Aydra’s own, and Aydra’s heart skipped in her chest. She felt her eyes widen with glee, and she bounded to her brother, wrapping her arms around him. He grinned and hugged her, the first time that he’d actually been able to do anything properly in front of their daring mother.
“I told you!” Aydra exclaimed as she hugged him.
But the happiness of their moment was short-lived. For when they pulled back to look at Arbina, Aydra had hoped to see some sort of pride on her features, anything other than the scold that seemed to rest on it. However, she did not get that reprieve.
Arbina’s jaw tightened, and she gave Rhaif a full once over, nostrils flaring in his direction.
“Weak,” she accused with a roll of her eyes. “Again.”
—“Drae?”
The noise of Dorian’s voice pulled Aydra out of the daydream she’d been entranced with. A full breath entered her lungs, and she looked back from the edge of the cliff she stood on to find him coming up behind her, sword drawn and sitting lazily over his shoulder.
