My ears burn red at the thought of capturing our entanglement on film. His strong shoulders, my soft curves, skin on skin with a few well-placed props to giveinterest.
Maybe that’s another thing to add tomy list.
While Oak is hard at work, and not paying attention, I snap my own little photo of Moth. With the pink of the flowers, and the pop of red from his eyes, he looks like my own personal valentine. I settle into a spot in the garden, hoping this is all worth Holly’s wrath. With every brushstroke Oak lays on the canvas, Moth—my Moth—comes to life. That authenticity has to be worth something.
I huff, letting my body fall onto the soft blades of grass. Is Holly’s tension seriously just for the sake of appearances? I mean, I get it, butcome on.There’s got to be more to Moth’s porcupine of a sister than she’s letting on. I know what it’s like to put on a performance in front of people. How much of all of this decorum does she actually care about?
I have a feeling that, this week, we’re going tofind out.
10.
Like I told Holly, I’m not a weapons kind of girly, but there is something about holding a giant sword that makes you feel cool. That is, until I try to move around with it. No one tells you how heavy swords are. God, this looks way easier in the movies.
It’s awkward and heavy and, like anything, takes a god-awful amount of practice. Drill after drill assures me it’s not a skill I’m looking to add to my library. The movements Holly shows me are like a very precise line dance—something I’malsonot very good at. Adding something sharp to the mix only increases my stress around thesituation.
“You are holding it wrong,” Holly says, helping me to grip the handle differently.
“I thought it was fine as long as I wasn’t touching the pokey bit,” I say, trying my best to keep my stance and position like she’dshown me.
“Be thankful we are not practicing with real swords.”
“You think I would have gotten hurt?”
“I think you wouldbe dead.”
“Oh…” I flex the blunted sword in my hand, and a full body shudder runs through me. “Maybe that’s enough swordplay for today.”
“Hah, I expect you to keep doing these drills. The hour is getting late, and I should check on how the preparations are going with Mother.”
“I can—”
“—do the drills until I’ve returned,” she cuts me off, leaving no room forargument.
“Yeah, sure.”
“Pepper will assist you.”
“I will?” Pepper, watching on the sidelines, sighs. At the lift of Holly’s eyebrows, they rise from beside Ruby and drift into the training area with no more prompting. Usually having an audience would add to my nerves, but Pepper’s presence has been reassuring. Holly is much less likely to murder me if there is awitness.
“Not that there’s much hope,” she says under her breath.
“I heard that!” I shout after Holly, raising my weapon inthe air.
I swing the sword the way she showed me—at least I think it’s the way sheshowed me.
“I’m not actually going to make you practice,” Pepper whispers once Holly has disappeared from view. “Skills are better taught when one isn’t exhausted.”
“Some serious parent energy.”
“Yes, next I will offer you a cup of juice and a snack.” They nudge me toward Ruby’s picnic blanket, topped with a basket filled with the aforementioned snacks—an offer I don’t have the energy to refuse.
“Besides,” Pepper continues, the sun glinting off their light brown skin; flecks of gold shimmer. “We can leave the battle to Moth. Though, I believe he might be losing.”
Moth has never needed a sword. No, his claws suit him better than any blade and strike just as sharply. However, he’s not flexing them at the moment.
In the courtyard, giggles erupt as Moth dramatically falls to his knees as a blunt wooden sword collides with his chest. Ruby looks up from the book she was reading to cheer on her children as they pummel Moth to an untimely demise.
“Ooof!” Pepper groans, watching Moth flop to the ground. “My back hurts just watching that.”
