A Reluctant Huntress by Graceley Knox

Author:Graceley Knox [Knox, Graceley]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: science fiction, Fantasy, Romance
Goodreads: 48719430
Publisher: Chaotic Press, LLC
Published: 2019-11-05T00:00:00+00:00

13

The moment I’m around the corner and out of Draven’s line of view, I let my shoulders slump a bit and blow out a deep breath. I’d thought for sure that when I came back here, old feelings wouldn’t resurface.

I thought I’d made peace with everything during my five years away and that nothing would phase me the way it had when I was younger.

I was wrong.

I’m not paying attention to where my feet are taking me as I walk through the hallways leading back toward where most of the hunters live in their own wing of the castle. A muttered curse grabs my attention as I pass my father’s office, and I pause, straining to hear any other sound.

Papers shuffling and the whoosh of a wooden drawer in his desk being opened propels me forward, and I shove open his door with my left hand, dagger held in my right, but stop dead when I see who’s in there.

“Edern? What the hell are you doing skulking about in here? I almost skewered you with my knife!” I pin my older brother in place with my stare. He’d jumped back from the desk when I’d shoved the door open, and his face had gone from slack jawed shock to anger, and now he’s schooled it back into a composed sort of annoyance that I’d only ever seen directed at me or Wren.

“Jinx, I didn’t think you’d be back so soon.” Edern glances quickly from me to something on my father’s desk, distracted.

“Yeah, we found something out in the woods that’s led us to believe that we’ll need a bigger hunting party so we can fan out as we search.” I hike a thumb over my shoulder. “I was just on my way to tell Kapriel and Maxen. Care to join me so I don’t have to explain it over and over again?”

“I’ll be right behind you. I just need to finish up here.”

I tilt my head, unsure what exactly it is that he would need to finish up in here, but shake off any suspicions. I’m sure he’s just keeping things running smoothly in our father’s absence. “Okay, I’ll see you in a few then.” I pause, my hand resting on the doorjamb. “Anything I can help with?”

He waves me off with a smile. “I’ve got it covered, little sister. See you in a few.”

I leave the door to my father’s office open and walk down the hallway toward the back wing that’s six levels tall and spans most of the back gate, housing the deadliest force this side of Faerie. The smell of boot polish, leather, dirt, and wet dog tickles my nose, but it makes me smile wide.

There were no rose petals in the water over here, and if you were ever too clean, brushing against one of the walls would fix that in a second.

When I was younger and desperate to be out from under my mother’s thumb, I’d relished each and every rough edge to this section of the castle.

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