Page 16

“Focus,” he says.

No, Emerson, you are not falling for the man who helped trap you here.

I swallow hard and steady my breathing, forcing my attention back to the cards. When I successfully perform the Ace of Spades trick, flipping the card to the top in a smooth motion, I can’t hide the smile that crosses my face.

“Good job,” Tobias whispers, his lips so close to my neck I can feel the small puff of air with each word, and I have to fight the urge to shiver.

“Not bad,” Kenan says from across the room. His arms are crossed, but the corner of his mouth twitches upward. “My turn now.”

He strides over and pulls me away from Tobias, whose hands linger at my waist as if they don’t want to let go. Kenan looks behind me, a twitch of his jaw the only reaction before Tobias releases my hips.

“Cards are cute and all, but this —” Kenan flips a knife from his belt, catching it by the handle with practiced ease, “—this is useful. And until after your trial run, who knows ... you might need it. Plus, it never hurts to know how to protect yourself.”

He leads me to another section of the tent where targets are set up against thick wooden posts, worn and used from so many knives that have been thrown into them. The space smells of leather and metal, probably due to the collection of knives, daggers, and is that an ax?

“First rule,” Kenan says, positioning himself behind me much like Tobias had. His body is harder, all muscles where Tobias is lean grace. “It’s not about strength. It’s about balance and control ... and a little trust.”

He places a knife in my hand.

“Your stance is the most important aspect for everything you’ll do here,” he continues, kicking my feet apart with his boot. His hands grip my shoulders, turning me slightly. “Hips squared with the target.”

He’s not like Tobias with a gentle guidance. No, Kenan’s words are firm, commanding. He positions my arm, and I feel his calloused fingers wrapping around my wrist.

“Now breathe in,” he instructs, his hand pressing against my lower abdomen, and I also have to ignore those stupid butterflies that stir from nowhere again. “And as you exhale, release.”

I do as he says, letting the knife fly on the last breath. Then ... it clatters against the target.

At least I hit it, I guess.

“Again,” Kenan says, handing me another knife. “Feel the weight. Know where it wants to go.”

After what feels like a hundred throws, my arms are tired and heavy, but I am getting better, and at the very minimum, learning about controlling my body. My gaze shifts to Tobias as he watches us, his blue eyes narrowed. I feel Kenan’s head turning to follow my gaze. Something passes between them, and the air becomes thick with secrets untold.

“So ...” I say, lowering the knife in my hand. “You two have ... history?”

Kenan laughs, biting his lower lip before he answers. “Something like that.”

“We’ve known each other a long time,” Tobias adds carefully.

“Known each other …” Kenan repeats with a smirk as he walks around me and collects a few of the knives that have clattered to the floor. “Is that what you’re calling it now?”

Tobias rolls his eyes. “We should move on, she needs to try everything before tonight."

They start discussing which act to try with me next while still bickering under their breath with each other. I stretch my burning arms up high and lean over to stretch my sore muscles. My gaze dances round the room when something in the far corner catches my attention. A silver hoop suspends from the ceiling. It seems to sway, catching the light. My feet, seeming to have minds of their own, start moving towards it.

“Something catch your eye?” Tobias calls after me.

I don’t answer. Something about the aerial ring pulls at me from deep inside. I reach up, my fingers brushing the cool metal, and before I can second guess myself, I pull myself up.

My body seems to know what to do, unlike with the cards or the knives. I swing, then hook a knee over the ring, pulling myself up and around in a fluid motion that feels like a memory I didn’t know I possessed. The ring seems to hum beneath my fingers, and I start to spin.

“Holy shit,” I hear Kenan say distantly. “Yeah, I like this.”

The world becomes a blur around me as I seem to move into positions I’ve never seen. I hang suspended by just my hands, then flip backward, catching the ring with the crook of my knee. My body feels weightless, stronger than it ever has. Everyone has a little magic. He told me as such, and perhaps this is mine.

When I finally lower myself to the ground, both men are staring at me with equal parts joy and shock on their faces.

“I’ve never done that before,” I say, my voice calming from the adrenaline. Well minus that small stint at like five when Evelyn and I were in some aerial class. She hated it. I didn’t.