“Move back,” Sam said from the side, and I obeyed without thinking just as Nate’s knife sliced through the space where I’d been.
“Cheater,” Nate muttered.
“Watch for signs that he’s going to move,” Sam continued, ignoring Nate’s complaint. “Every second could be the difference between living and dying.”
“That’s very comforting,” I snapped, dancing back to put more distance between Nate and me.
“Stop running away, Danielle. You’re just going to let him back you into a corner.”
“So what do you suggest I do?” I gritted out, aiming another arrow. “Other than reading his mind and somehow knowing what he’s going to do next.”
Nate laughed as he moved out of the path of my arrow. “Come on, Dani, you’re going to have to face me at some point.”
I met his eyes and steeled myself for what was to come.
“Don’t worry about hurting me,” he said, dipping his head. “You know you can always fix me afterward if need be.”
I nodded even as a flash of trepidation swept through me. I was a healer at heart, just like Nate was a warrior. To him this was fun. I’d seen him and Sam go at it like they were legitimately trying to kill each other and then get up with the biggest grins on their faces. For me, fighting went against every instinct I had. And I didn’t know howto get over that. Sometimes I wondered if I was even capable of it.
Nate’s hand shot toward my wrist.
“Don’t let him grab you,” Sam said.
“Either block me or get out of the way,” Nate said. “But whatever you do, commit to it.”
I spun away.
“Good. Now follow up.”
“With what?” I asked.
“Too late,” he murmured as he ducked under my wing and wrapped an arm around my waist, his blade hovering in front of my neck. “Don’t give away your advantage. If you let me have time to recover, you lose your opening.”
“What should I have done?”
His fingers circled my wrist, and he moved my arm backward, straight into his gut. “This.”
I shook my head. “My wings would have been in the way. Honestly, how did you even get behind me without catching your wings on mine?”
He chuckled. “Your wings are a part of you. They move where you tell them to.”
“Maybeyoursdo.”
“If your wings are a hindrance, fight without them.”
“What?” All my brothers had always been clear on the fact that our wings helped with balance and made fighting easier. None of them had ever suggested I not use them.
Nate shrugged. “There’s no right or wrong way to do things. You have to do what works for you. Play on your strengths.”
“I don’t have any strengths.”
“Of course you do. You’re an excellent bowman, better than any of us at fighting long distance. Not to mention the fact that you’re better at peopling and healing. Lean into that and stop trying to be something you’re not.”
“But I want to belong in the secret order.”
Nate shook his head, a lock of golden hair falling across his forehead and into his eyes. “Youdo. Danielle, you were handpicked by Father. He believed you belong exactly as you are, so who are you to say you don’t or that you have to change?”
“But I want to be more helpful.” Especially with the fight I knew was coming with the Prince of False Idols.
