Page 52 of A Veil of Gods and Kings

Valerian huffed a laugh as he stood, walking back towards us. “I do but not out here.”

I turned the bow over in my hands, the wood smooth and supple. The smell of beeswax lingered on it. He’d not just held on to my bow; he’d taken care of it. “Valerian’s being modest. He practices mounted archery now.” I lifted my face, and my heart stuttered to find him already looking at me. “He’s practically a master.”

Valerian scoffed. “I’m nowhere near a master. I’m adequate.”

Temi nocked an arrow, her elbow gliding back behind her. “Is that shooting on horseback?”

“It is,” Val said as she loosed the arrow that whistled before thunking into the center of the target.

“Great shot.” I lifted the bow, my arms wobbling. It had been far too long. I released, and my arrow soared past the target, falling into a clump of tall grasses. A sigh drifted past my lips.

“Here.” Valerian walked up behind me and lifted my elbows with his finger tips. My heart jumped into my throat and pounded out a rhythm there. “Remember,” he whispered, his breath trailing against the back of my neck, “it’s more of a felt experience. Good posture. Eye on the mark. Now loose it.”

The arrow slipped past my fingers, the feathers quivering on the breeze before smacking into the corner of the target. I released a breathy laugh. “Well done.” Valerian squeezed my arms, the sweet, earthy smell of hay wrapping me up. He cleared his throat and took a step back.

Temi studied us for a moment, her lips twisted up. She slipped her hand between the slit in her tunic and drew out a silver blade, twirling it between her fingers. “Have you ever thrown knives, Val?”

His lips parted. “I can’t say that I have.”

She whipped her arm forward. The knife tumbled through the air and sliced down the middle of his arrow, landing in the center of the target.

“Damn.” Valerian gasped and then turned towards Temi. “Remind me not to piss you off?”

She laughed. “Do you want to learn?”

He shrugged. “Sure.” He shifted to face me, his lips drifting up, his dark hair ruffling in the wind. The feeling of his chest pressed against my back, his arms wrapped around me to help my aim, lingering against me. “How about you, Pip? Are you going to become a badass knife thrower?”

“I’ll make an honest effort of it, at least.”

He chuckled and picked up a blade.

Later, as the sun sunk down against the horizon, I slipped into the palace and up through back staircases. My damp hair clung to my forehead, the tangy smell of sweat draped over me, my hands aching. But my heart raced, and a giddy thrill ran through me like a song.

I reached the hall towards my bedroom.

“Epiphany.” I sucked in a breath and turned. Luelle strolled over to me, her lilac gown fluttering around her ankles, her gaze running down me. “Where have you been today?”

“I was out with Temi.”

She chuckled. “That must be some intense horseback riding?”

“Yeah, I guess.”

“Sorry, not trying to hold you up from”—she wrinkled her nose but smirked—“a bath. I expected to see you after lunch.”

My skirt ruffled around my legs, and I clenched my fingers into it. “I forgot; I’m sorry.”

She trailed the toe of her sandaled foot, her pink toenails peeking out across the intricate patterns of the rug. “It seems like you’re avoiding preparing for this.”

“I’m not.” But my heart jumped around. Of course I was. The sweet smell of grass from earlier trailed into my memories, Temi and Valerian’s laughter tangling in with it, the press of his body against mine. Gods I longed to be free from the duties of being a princess. But that’s who I was. That was my life.

Luelle lifted her face to me, her long black ponytail swaying with the motion. “You don’t seem eager.”

“Well, I’m nervous, you know? The idea of meeting my future husband is intimidating.” And giving up on every hope or dream I had. That sent dread creeping up my throat as well. But there was nothing I could do about it.

“Yeah, that makes sense,” she said.

“And I have a lot going on currently, helping host Apollo and Temi while they’re here.” Temi coming was like the gods sending me a shooting star—a burst of joy and something to wish on for a moment before my life darkened again.