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Something caught my attention. I slid to a quiet stop and turned. My eyes narrowed. One of the nests was no longer empty, but that wasn’t what had stopped me. Frowning, I crept back and peered inside. At first, I wasn’t sure what I was looking at.
Someone knelt in the archer’s nest, hidden behind the stone ledge. Someone who was cloaked as they pulled the bowstring back, releasing an arrow, firing at a Craven approaching the top of the Rise.
I dragged in a deep breath, scenting the air. I smelled the decay of blood and Craven on me, but there was also a distinctively fresh, sweet scent that belonged to only—
The godsdamn Maiden.
YOU’RE AN ABSOLUTELY STUNNING, MURDEROUS LITTLE CREATURE
“You must be the goddess Bele or Lailah given mortal form,” I murmured, thinking I had to be wrong.
There was no way it was her.
The figure spun on one knee, the cloak and gown flowing out around them as they aimed an arrow right at my head.
Holy shit.
I couldn’t see her features beneath the hood, but I knew it was her. It was the Maiden, out here on the Rise—not in her quarters where she should be—with a godsdamn arrow aimed at my head.
I didn’t know if I should laugh.
Or shout.
Her inhale was audible, but she said nothing as she remained kneeling, and fuck, those fingers holding the arrow didn’t tremble.
“You are…” I sheathed my sword and found myself somewhat speechless, but not for long. “You’re absolutely magnificent. Beautiful.”
I saw a slight reaction from her. Her hooded head turned a fraction of an inch, but that was all.
My mind raced as I eyed her. Clearly, she recognized me, but she likely believed her identity remained unknown, and that was understandable. She had no idea that I could pick out her scent.
My heart was still pumping from adrenaline, but that wasn’t all that had my blood pulsing. I briefly glanced down the Rise. No one was near us, nor would anyone pay attention. Not with the barely controlled chaos on the ground.
I made a quick decision then, deciding to humor her. To see how far she would take this. How far I would take this.
And I already knew I often took things way too far.
“The last thing I expected was to find a hooded lady with a talent for archery manning one of the battlements,” I said, a grin tugging at my lips as she remained silent. I extended my hand. “May I be of assistance?”
She didn’t take my hand. Of course, not. But she lowered the bow, switching it to one hand. She said nothing as she motioned for me to back up.
My gods, she really wasn’t going to speak.
I raised a brow as I folded the hand I offered over my chest and moved back. Then, fighting a laugh, I bowed.
She made a soft sound I couldn’t quite decipher as she placed the bow on the ledge below her. I felt her stare as she made her way to the ladder and climbed down.
She hadn’t taken her eyes off me.
And she’d picked up that bow again.
Smart girl.
“You’re a…” I fell silent once more. My eyes narrowed as she slipped the bow beneath her cloak, hooking it to her back.
It was her bow?
What the fuck did she have a bow for?
To kill Craven with, obviously, but that led to my next query. How the fuck did she know how to use a bow to kill a Craven?
Oh, I had so many questions.
The Maiden stepped to the right, making a move to exit the battlement.
I blocked it. “What are you doing up here?”
There was no answer.
Instead, she strode past me with all the haughtiness of a…of a Princess. My lips curled. I’d forgotten I’d called her that at the Red Pearl.
I spun, catching her arm. “I think—”
The Maiden whirled, twisting under my arm. My mouth dropped open. Shock froze me. I didn’t even move as she dipped low behind me and kicked out, sweeping my legs out from under me.
She’d swept my legs out from under me.
“Fuck,” I gasped, catching myself on the wall to stop my fall. Shock kept rolling through me. I couldn’t believe it.
The Maiden had almost taken my ass down.
The Maiden, who was currently running away from me.
Oh, hell no.
Pushing off the wall, I reached down, unhooking the dagger at my hip. I threw it with precision, catching the back of her cloak. It spun her around and jerked her against the wall. Her hooded head dipped.
I smirked as I prowled toward her. “That wasn’t very nice.”
She gripped the handle of my blade, wrenching it free. To my utter disbelief…and rapidly growing interest, she flipped the godsdamn dagger like a pro, catching it by the blade.
I halted. “Don’t.”
She threw it right at my face, but I moved fast, catching it by the handle. Half-irritated and half, well, enthralled by her utter audacity, I started walking toward her as I tsked beneath my breath.
