The Duke's Reluctant Bride

Chapter 29: Where the Past Beckons

The wyvern roared, thrashing wildly amidst the ruins. The ground trembled beneath Adeline's feet like an earthquake, and the cracked ceiling groaned above, ready to collapse.

Its massive wings began to beat, sending dust and wind swirling together, blinding her and making it nearly impossible to take another shot.

Her mind flashed back to her early training at sunrise, her father's voice steady as he guided her. Unlike the sword she was accustomed to, she now trained with a bow and arrow, a weapon that always felt foreign in her hands.

"I am no master of the bow," he admitted, "but if you want to strike true, do not rely on your eyes alone. Feel the tension in the string, steady your breath, and trust the rhythm of your body."

"Father, why are you teaching me this if you're not good at it?"

Her father chuckled. "Heh... I just thought it wouldn't hurt to teach you something other than the sword." He smirked before adding in a hushed tone, "Let's not tell your mother about this, okay? You know how she is—if she finds out, well... let's just say I'd rather not face her indignation."

Adeline grinned and nodded. She had always enjoyed training with her father. As a noble girl, such lessons weren't necessary, but she had been eager to learn, which had only made her father more determined to teach her.

Adeline took a steady breath, letting the memory anchor her. She closed her eyes for just a moment, steadying her grip. Then, in one fluid motion, she loosed the arrow.

The sharp whistle of the projectile cut through the storm of dust—then came a piercing screech. The arrow struck true, embedding deep into the wyvern's left wing joint.

The beast howled in agony, its body twisting as it collapsed. Its left wing faltered, now useless. Flight was no longer an escape.

That's it. I can end this now.

Adeline sprinted toward the wounded creature, her bow shifting into a sword, gleaming in her grasp.

Wyverns were thick-skinned. Arrows alone wouldn't be enough to kill it—not unless I landed a perfect shot. Now that it was grounded, I needed precision, not distance.

Tightening her grip, she raised her sword for the final strike. But the wyvern wasn't finished yet. With a sudden beat of its remaining wing, it kicked up a blinding cloud of dust. Instinctively, Adeline shut her eyes, and in that vulnerable moment, the wyvern lashed its tail at her.

The impact sent her crashing against the stone wall. Pain flared through her back as she groaned, struggled to rise. Before she could stagger to her feet, her healing ability kicked in, swiftly mending her injury.

What a clever wyvern.

The wyvern's gaze locked onto her before shifting toward the girl nearby. Its red eyes burned with malice, and a corrosive breath began to gather in its throat, ready to unleash devastation.

It knew the escape was impossible—not with its wing joints crippled. But if it was going to die here, it would take someone with it.

Adeline's heart pounded. There was no time to hesitate. She sprinted toward the girl as the wyvern's breath swelled, moments from release.

Then, a reckless thought struck her.

"Close your eyes!" she yelled, stepping between the beast and its target.

The girl obeyed instantly.

Power surged through Adeline's veins as words spilled from her lips, her voice ringing with unwavering command: