Chapter 198

Eli hadn’t moved from where he stood when he let the arrow fly, and his foot was well behind the foul line. He considered the queen for a moment before looking at Kit.

“Whatever do you mean, Mother? Clearly his foot is behind the line, and he hasn’t taken a step.”

“He has. He’s scooted back quickly. I’m afraid that shot doesn’t count, and he is disqualified.”

Kit caught Eli’s eyes and saw that he didn’t seem too concerned about the matter. She took in a deep breath and said, “Fine. Let’s compromise. That shot doesn’t count, but the Representative from Eastbury may have another shot.”

Rona opened her mouth to disagree, but since she’d just insisted that Pierce have another try, no argument would come to mind that wouldn’t show obvious favoritism. Eli took a large step back so that he was nowhere near the foul line, notched another arrow, and took his aim. This time, the shot landed even closer to the center of the bullseye than the last, and everyone cheered again as Rona began to mumble quietly to herself.

Jate’s arrow also landed inside of the bullseye, gaining more cheers, as Pierce took his quiver off, dropped it on the ground, and began to stomp it. Kit couldn’t believe her eyes. Never had she seen someone act so childish in front of the queen—except for maybe the time she’d nearly scratched Blankka’s eyes out in the hallway for telling Rona that Eli had kissed her in the library....

“I’m surprised he never checked his quiver,” Isla whispered as it was announced the three to advance to the finals would be Drake, Jate, and Eli. Between the three, Kit would accept any of them into her chambers, gladly, but it had been a while since she’d last shared her bed with Jate, so part of her hoped he would be the victor.

Pierce took a seat, far away from the other Representatives, his quiver and broken arrows beside him on the ground, and the final round commenced. Drake shot first. His arrow landed within the first circle, but not in the bullseye. Eli stood far back from the foul line, not that the queen would protest now that Pierce was out of the competition. Even if she cared which of the final contests won, she wouldn’t go to the trouble to cause another scene. His arrow landed near the center of the bullseye, and a round of applause filled the air. It seemed Eli would be the winner this time.

Jate took in a few deep breaths as he approached the line. He studied his arrows carefully as if looking for the perfect one. A silence fell across the field as he drew back the string, one eye closed. Kit held her breath and watched as the arrow’s trajectory sent it right toward the center of the bullseye, where Eli’s already stood. Jate’s arrow split Eli’s in half! This was the second time Jate had managed to split another arrow in a competition, and it was just as astounding this time as it had been the first. Shouts and cheers went up all around him as Eli was the first to congratulate Jate on an amazing victory.

The queen stood and clapped politely, but Kit could see she was still irritated. She wouldn’t let her mother’s sour disposition get to her. She ran to Jate and flung her arms around him, glad to have the opportunity to spend some time with him that evening and relieved that Pierce would not be spending the night with her. In fact, she decided enough was enough. As soon as she had the opportunity to send Pierce out of her life for good, she would do so. If there was a risk associated with it, she’d have to take it in stride, though something told her that the queen already had a scheme in mind for keeping Pierce at the castle.

Kit planted a kiss on Jate’s lips. He was surprised at first and recoiled for a moment, but unlike the last archery contest, once he’d regained his composure, he returned the kiss. The taste of salt from his exploits greeted her tongue, but she didn’t mind. It mingled with his manly scent and left Kit feeling slightly lightheaded by the time her feet returned to the ground.

The trumpeters blasted them all back to attention, and Kit turned to see her mother wanted to make an announcement. “Congratulations, Jaterius. We can all agree that you are skilled with a bow and arrow. You have won your prize, a night with the princess, though others have not yet had that opportunity.” The queen added that last bit beneath her breath, but it was still clearly audible. “I shall see you all at dinner.” She whirled her cape around, stirring the fallen leaves from the ground, and everyone bowed their heads as she was escorted to a waiting carriage which would transport her the short distance back to the castle.

Once she was gone, Kit could breathe more easily. Others wanted to congratulate Jate, so she stepped aside. Drake had a solemn look on his face, though he was smiling in Jate’s direction. “You did quite well, Drake,” she said, squeezing his arm. “Better than most.”

“Thank you, Princess. I knew it would be difficult to beat Jate, but I had dreamt of doing so.” He exhaled loudly and then shrugged, as if it didn’t matter.

“Perhaps you will win next time.” Kit smiled up at him, and he nodded, though somewhere in the back of her mind, Kit wondered if there’d be a next time of any sort. If it were up to her, this part of the Choosing would be over. And once she was down to seven, that would be the end, as far as Kit was concerned.

Eli was already on his way back to the castle. Part of her thought she should just let him go. The last time they’d spoken, the conversation had not gone well. Avoiding him seemed like a safer bet. But she couldn’t do that. He had been the one to foil Pierce’s scheme, after all. She took a few hurried steps in his direction, thankful others parted to let her through, and managed to catch his arm.

He turned around slowly, recognizing her touch. His eyes softened as he read her expression, and Kit hesitated, not sure what to say. Finally, she settled on, “Congratulations on shooting so well. And... thank you.”

“Not well enough.” He looked over her head, back in Jate’s direction, but his tone didn’t convey he was too upset about the loss. “It’s no matter. For a miner, that man can certainly shoot an arrow.”

“Yes, he can.” She laughed nervously, thinking she should say more but having no idea what words to form together to complete her thoughts.

He nodded and said only, “You’re welcome.” Then, he started to turn back around, and Kit automatically released his arm, letting him go.

But she wasn’t finished. There were so many other thoughts crowded inside of her head, words that wanted to spill out of her mouth, ideas she needed to share. She tugged on his arm again, and once more he stopped. But when she looked into his eyes, once more, her tongue failed her.

“What is it, Kit?”

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “I just know there’s something.”

A hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth. “There needn’t be.”

“I think the need is there.”

“Kit, we have soared above the boundaries of speech. Anything you may feel compelled to say to me isn’t necessary because I already know.”

“You do?” Of course he did. Just as she could read every nuance in his face, every shift in his eyes, so, too, could he understand the slightest differentiation in her disposition.

Eli leaned down and kissed her forehead, and Kit let all of her worries go for a moment, certain that no matter what befell her, Eli would find a way to overcome every obstacle, even the ones Kit put there herself.