Page 32 of Marked

“I came to check on Nala,” Orion said. “How was she this morning?”

“Much better. I left her inside, but feel free to let yourself in.”

“I’d rather watch this friendly competition, if that’s okay.” He nodded to where Sley sat.

“Of course,” I said, at the same time Ace barked, “No.”

I turned to the other man. “Are you afraid of an audience? I can understand not wanting witnesses to your defeat, but it’s a little late for that. Sley’s already here.”

Ace cursed and turned away. “You’re the most insufferable person I’ve ever met.”

“You either don’t look in the mirror or you don’t get out much,” I said.

“Who’s winning?” Orion asked.

“You have to ask?” Sley scoffed.

“I am,” I said, at the same time, Ace said, “We’re tied.”

Punching the air between us with my pointer finger, I hissed at him through my teeth. “Split arrows place me above you. That’s why there’s an advantage to going second.”

Ace’s gaze darkened. He whipped another arrow from his quiver, stalked back to the line for the first target and shot. The wind whistled as the arrow flew through the air. The sharp arrowhead reflected golden sunlight before it sliced through my arrow, splitting it just as mine had split his before. The special feathers of my arrow’s fletching fell to the side, the magic fading away with a whimper.

I held my breath and watched him move to the second target and repeat the same thing—another split arrow, punctuated by the crack of wood, and the sound of the arrowheads sinking into the target.

Orion’s eyebrows shot up to his blond hairline.

Ace spun around and raised his arms, his bow grasped tightly in one hand. “Guess I used my second shots after all.”

He lowered his arms with a wide smile that split his face.

“I didn’t know that was possible,” Sley whispered, loudly.

“It’s not supposed to be,” Orion said.

My skin prickled and my body heated as rage swept through me. Normally, I hunted in a relaxed state of being, my feelings locked behind a wall of neutrality so I could emotionally detach from the kill.

But not today.

Not right now.

This was personal.

Ace stepped to the side and headed for the last target. Once he was out of the way, I pulled two arrows, and notched them both. With magic and adrenaline pumping through my veins, I released the two arrows at once. They sped through the air, the fletching whistling a tune that matched the humming of magic in my heart.

When my arrows split Ace’s arrows in unison, he froze where he stood a few feet away. He slowly pivoted to look at the targets.

“Are you phaaning kidding me?” he asked. “How is that even possible?”

Magic, but I kept that little tidbit to myself. Magic made a lot of improbable things possible.

Orion howled with laughter, doubling over to brace himself on his knees with his hands. Sley beamed at me and clapped her hands.

I winked at Ace. “Why don’t we spare our arrows and your feelings and end the competition here—if we shoot for a third time, the result will be the same.”

Orion managed to straighten up and wipe his eyes. “That was priceless.”

Ace scowled over his shoulder at the healer. “I really don’t need the commentary.”