Page 78 of Journey to the Elderoak
She looked around, refusing to meet his eyes. “Umm…Cas said it.”
“Oh, did he now?”
She turned and looked at him. “Well?”
“I don’t know if I want to tell you. It’s much too fun to watch you squirm.”
“That’s not fair.” She scoffed.
“I should make you ask him. I’m assuming you haven’t, right?”
“No,” she mumbled.
“I’ll tell you on one condition,” he said as he rose and held out his hand.
“Okay.” She grabbed it and stood.
“Beat me in archery,” he replied as he walked toward the archery range.
She flung her arms down and stormed after him. They paused on the edge of the field, a dozen targets displayed at different distances across from them. Bright green grass swayed in the breeze like an emerald ocean and a blue lizard skittered away into a nearby shrub.
“You have better eyesight than me,” she said. “I’m good, but notthatgood.”
He turned to her and brushed his long blonde hair over his shoulder. “Get three bullseyes in a row, then.”
“Easy.” She grabbed a bow and nocked the arrow, about to warm up.
“Two rules,” he said, putting his hand on her raised arm to stop her. She looked at him and his expression was full of mischief. “No warmup. And you must hitthattarget,” he added pointing to the one farthest away. The one she had hit before, but never in the center.
“No warmup? That’s unfair,” she argued.
“Like you had time to warm up on the ship, dainty human?”
“Alright, alright. Point taken. You’re going to have to come up with a better nickname, wolf man.”
“I’m working on it.”
She set her stance and drew her bow, lining it up with the target. Her hand brushed her cheek as she continued to pull back, eyes on the bullseye. She took a slow breath in, exhaled, and released the arrow. It hit right in the center.
“Speaking of,” she said as Raine’s giant silver wolf appeared.
She trotted to Ava and shoved her furry head under her hand, demanding scratches. Ava petted her as Luna joined and wound between Sabriel’s legs.
“Are you friends with all the other animals, Luna?”Ava asked.
Of course I am. Sabriel plays with me. And Aro is so soft for sleeping.
“Is it normal for the animals to be so social with each other?” Ava asked as Titus appeared from the treetops, whipping between them and screeching as he landed on a nearby branch.
“I like that little guy,” Raine said, then answered her question. “I’ve never seen them this social.” He looked at Luna who settled near Sabriel in a patch of sun, enjoying the warmth on their fur. “They don’t hate each other, but they don’t ever play or snuggle. Except with Luna.”
“Luna’s obsessed with Aro.” Ava turned to Raine. “And Cas. She lets him pick her up. She never lets anyone pick her up.”
Casimir is special, Ava.
“I know.”
Raine smirked at her, turning back to the targets. “Alright, stop stalling. Go again.”
