Chapter 26

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The bowstring groans as I pull back, using all my strength to aim the bow at the target. My arms shake, my elbow rising and falling with uncertainty, and Renit's figure in the corner of my eye does not help manners. After all these days of training, I figured I would be used to the way he stands there, watching me with his arms crossed over his chest.

But today I've realized that no matter what I do, I'll never get used to him judging me. Maybe if I stopped trying so hard to please him...

"You're thinking too much, spitfire," Renit points out. I click my tongue and release the arrow, missing the target by a large number of feet. The arrow soars over the top and lands in a bush, nestling itself deep within the dark and thick branches. Renit watches it the entire way and frowns. That's another I'll have to go digging for. "Your sister is doing much better. Why don't you watch her?"

I roll my eyes, landing on Celestine, who grins at me. Renit nods at her and she pulls the arrow back, her hands steady and her spine straight. She calculates the target, the distance, and the amount of strength she needs to send that arrow into the air. With a smooth release of her fingers from the fletching, the arrow soars through the air at a perfect arc and hits the outside of the target.

Celestine winks at me. "That's how it's done," she purrs.

In return, I scowl and turn back to Renit. "Why do I have to learn this? Isn't my power enough?"

"You know what titanium bands do to witches. If your power is gone, you need something to back you up. Knowing how to use a weapon is a great resource and one you should know," Renit explains. He steps towards me and forces the bow back up. Pulling an arrow from the quiver at my hip, he hands it to me and gestures towards the target once more.

I pull the arrow back and Renit adjusts my aim, moving my arm down in the slightest before adjusting my elbow. He knocks a fist against my spine and I straighten. "Instead of that, I can have a prince escort me around. That seems much more useful."

Renit snickers close to my ear. "As tempting as that is...I have better things to do," he whispers.

Hiding my smile, I focus my attention back on the target in front of me.

It's been a week since the king left. We haven't heard any news and with every passing second, Renit is becoming more impatient. I caught him devising a team to head out to the flower meadows and forced him to stop, we would receive news when it came. Either the king will come back alive or he will not. That is something Renit will have to wait for.

Along with Renit's impatience, his boredom has grown as well. We tried training our powers in the clearing but he knows everything there is to know about his and watching me wasn't entertaining enough. This morning, when I was sleeping, he threw a bow on the bed and told me to get ready.

I had to go back to my chambers and take a bath—I've been sleeping in his bed every night after we shared that moment together. And it hasn't been strange. Instead, I've found myself having the best sleep of my life knowing that someone is there, like all those years Celestine and I shared a room. Just hearing his breathing in the middle of the night is enough to calm my soul.

Not only am I the target of his boredom but Celestine is as well. He asked her if she wanted to learn something, a witch of gardens is at a disadvantage. Their power doesn't revolve around strength and Celestine, innocent Celestine, needs to know something to survive. He didn't mention what happened to Darlene but I know those are his intentions behind teaching us, the prince doesn't want us to end up like her.

Dead. Because she couldn't defend herself in time to save her life and their son.

I adjust to Renit's changes and aim towards the target. For the first time in hours, I'm confident in my release and I let that arrow fly. It knocks against the outside of the target and breaks, landing in the grass in a small heap.

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