Page 107 of Unravelled
Breathed out. The chaos dimmed. Mira braced, the crossbow humming with tension, the bolt already locked in place. Her fingers curled around the trigger, steady.
A shot like this, she’d taken it a hundred times before. Her heart didn’t race. She breathed in. Her breath didn’t falter. The bolt knew its path. She just had to release it. Her fingers squeezed.
The snap of the shot cracked through the air, sharp and final.She heard someone yell. Brahn's eyes flicked up. He dodged, just barely, but not fast enough. The bolt struck high in his shoulder.
Torvyn turned toward Brahn as crumpled with a harsh, guttural sound. Blood seeped quickly into Brahn's robe dark beneath the deep sapphire fabric.
Mira's eyes looked over Torvyn's shoulder.
A Myrdath soldier. Sword raised. Intent clear as the blade drove straight through Torvyn's chest.
31
Four Years Ago
Mira had never done it to be cruel, or to upset him. But Navigators, it was so easy to annoy him. Torvyn had always been protective, always hovering over her like a second shadow, making sure she didn't get into trouble, making sure no one bothered her.
Which meant his friends were entirely off-limits. And that just made it all the more fun. The first time she had batted her lashes at one of them, he had nearly choked on his wine. The second time, she had laughed a little too sweetly at some dumb joke, and Torvyn had dragged her away by the arm so fast she nearly tripped.
“Stop that.” His voice had been low, warning, his grip tight around her wrist.
She had only grinned up at him, all innocence. “Stop what?”
His glare had been thunderous. “You know exactly what.”
Mira had tilted her head, feigning confusion. “You mean talking to your friends?”
Torvyn’s jaw had locked. “You don’t need to talk to them like that.”
Like that. As if he could dictate how she smiled, how she laughed, how she teased. As if she were still his little sister to shield from the world.
Mira had narrowed her eyes. “What exactly do you think I’m going to do? Fall in love with one of them? Navigators forbid, I actually enjoy their company.”
Torvyn had run a hand down his face, clearly trying to keep his patience intact. “They’re idiots. They only like the idea of you, Mira.”
That had made her blood boil. She had stepped closer, arms crossed. "You mean they only like the idea of their friend's sister?"
Torvyn had grimaced. “That’s not what I... ”
But she had already shoved past him. “Maybe I like the idea of them.” He had cursed under his breath, catching her wrist before she could stalk off.
“You don’t.” His voice had been frustrated, tired, something almost pleading beneath it.
She didn’t. Maybe she had only done it to annoy him. To remind him that she wasn’t a child anymore. But she had still yanked her hand free. Still glanced back at him with a smirk.
“Watch me.”
???
Seven Years Ago
Mira had hated dancing. Hated the stiff posture, the rigid steps, the way the tutors clicked their tongues in disapproval whenever she got something wrong.
But Torvyn? Torvyn had excelled. Every movement had been measured, poised, flawless. Mira had stumbled through every lesson, her feet too fast, her patience too thin. Until one afternoon.
The tutors had given up on her. Torvyn had stayed behind. She had watched as he crossed the ballroom, his expression exasperated. Then, he offered her his hand.
“Try again,” he had said simply.
