Page 40 of My Faire Lady

“The string should touch the middle of your chin,” she says, hooking a finger beneath my hand.

Our gazes catch, and she pulls her hand away, accidentally brushing the swell of my bottom lip. Her eyes fall to my mouth for a second, and she swallows.

“And now?” I breathe.

“Close one of your eyes and aim. When you’re ready, let go of the string.”

I steady my breath and focus the tip of my arrow at the target. On an exhale, I release the string, and the arrow shoots, soaring and twisting through the air.

It sinks into red.

My face splits into a smile, and I laugh, throwing my arms around Scarlet’s neck. I bury my face into the crook of her shoulder. The bow hangs limp against her back, tapping against the metal armor.

Her body goes stiff.

I jerk myself away, unable to look her in the eyes. A chasm opens between us—the air a presence on its own, churning.

My feet carry me a step farther away. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” She turns away and lifts her bow from the counter, handing me another arrow. “It’s much more fun if you stand a chance.”

I wet my bottom lip and nock the arrow. “You shouldn’t underestimate me, Scarlet.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” She jerks her chin toward the targets. “After you, my lady.”

My breath hitches, and she smirks, amusement dancing in her eyes. I grind my teeth together, anything to hide the way her words make my pulse gallop.

I step up to the counter, close enough that I can’t see her in my periphery. I can’t let her distract me. I blow out a breath and repeat her directions in my head, checking off every step, until the string rests taut against my chin.

Shutting an eye, I release my fingers.

The string snaps forward and shoots the arrow through the air. It arcs, only slightly, and finds a home just outside the bullseye.

I grimace.

It’s a good shot, far better than my first attempt, but Scarlet could shoot a bullseye with her eyes shut. She’ll win, and she won’t help me.

“Not bad,” Scarlet says, lifting her bow.

I drop my gaze to the ground, and somewhere in the distance, a horn blows, marking the opening of the faire. It’ll be tough without Scarlet, but I’ll still be able to make the dress. It just won’t have that extra spark.

Her bowstring snaps, and a second later, the unmistakable thud of an arrow hitting the target. Jeremy chuckles under his breath, and I lift my head, narrowing my eyes.

The feathers of her arrow jut from the hay on the outer ring of the target.

She missed.

I furrow my brows. “What happened?”

Scarlet shrugs and sets her bow on the counter. “I missed.”

Without another word, she strides off toward the jousting arena, leaving me staring at her back, bow hanging from my loose grip.

“Between you and me,” Jeremy says, “Scarlet never misses.”

15

“Idon’t know what to tell you. We’ve looked through every book, and have only found dead ends.” I slam the spell book shut and cradle my head in my hands. “I’m starting to think there was never a spell to maintain the land in the first place, or there’s something wrong with me and what I’m doing. Maybe I’m not a strong enough witch to keep the magic.”