Page 108 of The Ruthless Rivalry

I glance back to see Christopher’s expression falter for a second, but he quickly recovers with a small, resigned smile and a nod. As we weave through the carnival crowds, I can’t help but wonder what he was about to ask Aubrey.

At the booth, Sutton waves us toward a glowing installation that’s unlike anything I’ve seen before. The LED setup is like a futuristic maze, with bright, shifting lights and neon targets darting across the walls. The targets appear for only a moment before zipping away, challenging each shooter to be quick and precise.

I notice Camden standing near the booth, and I do a double-take. His hair, which had been a striking shade of bright pink,is now a platinum blond. It’s a sharp change, almost like a completely different person.

Camden hands us each a bow and a quiver of arrows, his face impassive as the dazzling LED targets flash before us, each one racing to the next.

Sutton explains the rules. “You only get one shot, but each target has a different prize attached. Some are more valuable than others.”

“The top prize being a date with me,” Camden adds with a wink, wiggling his eyebrows.

Aubrey rolls her eyes and sticks a finger in her mouth, pretending to gag, which makes me laugh.

“Sutton, I know you Legacies have your trust code and everything, but can you give me a clue as to which targets I should steer clear of? I definitely don’t want to end up on a date with my own cousin. Can you imagine how awkward winter break would be if that happened?”

Sutton chuckles. “Sorry, it’s all randomized digitally.”

“Well, that sucks,” complains Aubrey.

“But,” she adds, raising a finger. “Once a prize is hit, it’s off the table and can’t be won again. And since you two are going first, your chances of getting Cam’s target are pretty low.”

I look up at the hundreds of targets glowing on the board—some larger than others, some smaller—emitting beautiful rainbow colors that could probably be seen for miles in the dense woods.

“Alright, who’s going first?” I ask, turning to Aubrey with a challenging grin.

She smirks back, already nocking an arrow as she steps inside the game. “Watch and learn, everyone.”

Aubrey takes a deep breath, drawing the bowstring back to her cheek. Her eyes thin in concentration as she aims at the dazzlingarray of targets. With a soft twang, she releases the arrow. It arcs through the air, a fleeting shadow against the brilliant lights.

Thwack!

The arrow finds its mark, striking a medium-sized blue target near the center above her head. The LED display flashes, and a triumphant jingle plays from hidden speakers.

“Great shot!” Sutton cheers, as the screen changes to reveal her prize. “You’ve won…two complementary passes to the latest art exhibit in town!”

“Awesome job,” I say, extending my hand for a celebratory high five.

Aubrey beams, slapping my hand enthusiastically as more students start to hover. “Thanks! Your turn now. Let’s see what you get.”

I grab an arrow from the quiver, my palms suddenly sweaty. The pressure’s on.

“This should be entertaining,” I hear Camden mutter to Sylvester and Bishop as they walk over, carrying the fizzy science drinks that Aubrey and I had tasted earlier.

Wonderful, now I have an even larger audience.

I take a deep breath, trying to ignore the eyes on me. The targets on the LED screens flash and zoom across the walls in rapid bursts of color—bright reds, neon greens, and electric blues. They dart in and out of view, some hanging suspended in midair, others sliding quickly across the floor. It’s almost like they have a mind of their own, slipping out of reach just as I think I’ve lined them up.

I try to block out the distracting flashes of lights and the murmur of the crowd, and instead focus on the swirling patterns in front of me. Targets materialize from the walls, moving in unpredictable arcs, some slowing down as if to taunt me, others zipping by at lightning speed. They flicker like neon ghosts, changing shapes—circular one moment, square the next. Thewhole room feels alive, like it’s pulling me into its maze of shifting targets.

With a steady hand, I nock the arrow and draw back the bowstring, my fingers tingling with the familiar tension. My focus narrows as I pick out one target—a small, glowing red orb hovering near the top of the screen. It’s fast, but not too fast, a perfect challenge. The others blur into the background, their movements almost hypnotic, but my aim is locked.

“You’ve got this,” Aubrey whispers encouragingly.

I release the arrow, watching it fly towards the board. For a moment, I think it’s going to miss completely, but then—

Thwack!

The arrow hits its mark, striking the red target dead center. The board erupts in a dazzling light show, accompanied by a triumphant melody.

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