Page 39 of Perfectly Matched

Chapter Eleven

Hannah and Piper appeared in the back of the arena where Oriana was training a young class of archers. Oriana glanced at them, then turned back to her students. “A quiver of arrows starting now. And concentrate on your form. I don’t want to see anyone slouching,” she demanded, then tilted her head toward a section away from eyes and ears.

“I see you not only broke the binding spell, but you picked up a stray.” Oriana nodded to Tucker as they gathered.

“I promised him I’d take him away from the place that caused him pain. He will live with me if he so chooses.” Hannah placed Tucker on the ground, then extended her arms to Oriana, palms up. Oriana placed her arms on top and leaned forward until their foreheads touched. Hannah closed her eyes and let out a contented breath. She was home.

“You look well. Glowing, I would almost say,” Oriana said as she pulled out of the greeting

Hannah lowered her head. “Oriana, I—”

“I know,” Oriana scoffed. “You interfered with the magic and denied the two their fate. Their star, for now, will remain dark. And all because you felt the need to bed her?” She arched an accusatory brow. Hannah remained silent as Oriana took amoment and paced. “Hannah, what were you thinking? What has gotten into you?”

“I…um…they just weren’t right for each other,” she said in a low voice. “I know you think I failed in my mission, but I’m telling you, I saw it. The chemistry wasn’t there. Payson even assured me that she wants to be with me, but more than that…” Hannah placed a hand over her heart. “I felt the truth in here.”

“Are you saying Danika made a mistake?” Oriana smirked as if warning Hannah that she was skating on thin ice.

“I, um…I meant no disrespect. Danika is a master at her craft and revered by many. Myself included.” She paused, knowing her next words would be almost blasphemy. “But maybe, this one time, she may have misread the stars. So, yes, I do believe in my heart that she was wrong.” If Danika really had read the night sky accurately, then why had Payson chosen her over Madison?

Oriana’s pacing increased. “You thought she was wrong? You know nothing of the stars,” she snapped. “Of how the night sky speaks to Danika and about her interpretations. You are a cupid, not a reader of the universe. If the night sky said they should be together, you had no right to interfere. You of all of us know better, and yet you still chose to defy the very foundation of what makes you, and all the other cupids, who you are.”

But Hannah felt like she wasn’t defying who she was. If anything, she was humbly opening herself up to the fairy tale that she so openly mocked. One she had refused to believe because it meant an unknown magic existed that not only rivaled her arrows but seemed to be more mystical than any spell. “Oriana, there are tales about love at first sight. Maybe in this case, those tales are more than folklore. Because the moment I laid eyes on her, I was hit with a magic all its own. It was so powerful and alluring. I have never felt such a pull. Such an absolute desire to be with someone.”

“Do not mistake a lustful impulse for love. You are not meant to be together, Hannah. Have I not taught you better than this?”

She stared at Oriana. “You’re wrong, wearemeant to be together. Every instinct inside me says so.” Hannah closed the distance between them. “Have you not also taught me to listen to the truth in my gut? To assess a situation for what it is instead of how it’s perceived? To believe with your heart in—”

“Enough!” Oriana snapped with a wave of her hand. “I will not have my words thrown back at me to justify a tryst. What you did was wrong, and unfortunately, we have no magic to correct your indiscretion. For now, the spell between the marks will remain broken. Let us hope the universe grants them a second chance at a star.” Oriana glared at her. “A star that will not have your name on it. Do you understand?”

A rebuttal was on the tip of Hannah’s tongue, but she knew better than to utter a single syllable. Instead, she lowered her head and conceded the argument but not her feelings. What she did might have been wrong in the eyes of the island, but it was the right thing for her heart. She would find her own way around this dilemma. “I understand.”

“Good. Then we shall never speak of this again. I will inform Dafina that you are no longer feeling ill and will be returning to your duties immediately. As for this conversation and the events that took place, I never want to hear another word of it again. Am I making myself clear?” She glared at Hannah and Piper.

They nodded.

“Good, then we’re done here,” Oriana took a step away, then paused. “She’s a mortal, Hannah,” she said over her shoulder. “You may think you know her, but you don’t.” She ran the back of her hand over her scar. “They are not to be trusted, especiallywith your heart. I will not lose my best archer to a misplaced emotion of desire. We may play a role in their love lives, but they do not and should not ever play a role in ours. It might have been wrong for me to have sent you there. Maybe some mistakes should be left unfixed,” she muttered and returned to her students.

Hannah took a step in Oriana’s direction as another statement to defend her actions formed on her lips but paused when Piper squeezed her forearm. “Don’t,” Piper said in a low voice. “Now’s not the time or place.”

Hannah glanced at Piper’s hand, then at Oriana. She wanted to storm over and tell her how wrong she was to so promptly dismiss her feelings. This was not a tryst or anything like her past experiences with the island women. This called upon the emotions she had heard so many speak about when they’d experienced love.

She scooped up Tucker and let Piper lead her out of the courtyard.

“Well,” Piper said in a lighthearted way. “That was intense. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Oriana so—”

“I’m going to challenge the law,” Hannah said as defiance burned through her. No one was going to tell her who she should and shouldn’t love. To deny her the happiness they themselves had found. No, this was something she wasn’t going to walk away from. This was something worth fighting for.

“Which law?”

“The one that says no mortals are allowed on the island. I’d like to ask Payson to live with me.”

Piper stopped walking and turned to her. “Were you not listening to anything Oriana said? Leave it alone, Hannah. If you pursue this, nothing good will come of it. Look…” Piper placed a hand on her shoulder and softened her tone. “You’re back where you belong, no one will ever know the truth ofwhat happened, and you’re free to woo as many island ladies as you desire. In fact, whaddaya say we head over to Brea’s this evening for a little fun?”

Hannah shrugged out of her grip. She didn’t want to go to Brea’s tonight, and she definitely didn’t want to hook up with anyone. All she wanted to do was hold Payson in her arms and make love to her. “Not tonight. I, um, I’ve already made plans.”

Piper slowly circled her like a drill sergeant. “You’re going back to see her, aren’t you?”

For the first time in their friendship, Hannah felt like lying to Piper. She was tired of feeling like a scolded child. Why couldn’t Piper take her side and sympathize with her? To understand her love for Payson was the very thing they’d dedicated their lives to. But instead, she avoided Piper’s stare as she nodded.

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