Read Online Pucker Up (A Damsels of Distress Novel) by R. A. Gates - Free Book Online

him.
    She couldn't help staring at the
    way his biceps flexed as he pulled back
    on the string and took aim. He jerked his
    head sideways to toss his black hair out
    of his eyes as he concentrated on the
    center of the red and white target. Her
    stomach fluttered as he released his
    fingers and the arrow flew through the
    air and hit the wooden target with a
    thump.
    She hated to admit it, but she was
    impressed. She studied his technique for
    a few more minutes, waiting for a
    chance to test out the bow herself.
    He turned around to catch her
    watching him. “Who knew that you
    secretly lusted after my bod? Not
    surprising, actually.” He lifted the hem
    of his shirt, exposing his six pack abs.
    She resisted the urge to roll her
    eyes as she held out her hand. What an
    arrogant ass. “ Are you done?”
    Garren
    glanced
    at
    her
    outstretched hand and then back to her
    face. He shrugged and handed over the
    bow. “Suit yourself. Don't feel too bad
    when you miss the target. It takes years
    of practice to reach my level.”
    This is going to be fun . She took
    the bow and nocked the arrow, aiming at
    the center red circle on the board. The
    rest of the room faded away as she
    focused on where she wanted the arrow
    to be. She let go.
    A loud thwump echoed through
    the room when the arrow pierced the
    center of the bull's eye.
    “Beginner's
    luck,”
    Garren
    muttered behind her.
    Without a word, she grabbed
    another arrow, aimed, and released,
    hitting the mark again. It landed
    centimeters from the first. She pivoted
    on her heel to hand the bow back to
    Garren. She had to bite her lip to keep
    her amused smile from taking over her
    face.
    “So, you've done this before,” he
    said. “What else can you do?”
    She strode over to the display
    table of various knives, ranging from
    large machetes to small daggers. She
    picked up a silver throwing knife, held it
    in her palm to gauge the weight, and
    before Garren could protest, she spun
    around and threw it across the room. It
    stuck right between her two arrows in
    the middle of the target.
    “Show off,” Garren said as he
    strode away toward the camping
    supplies.
    Smiling
    in
    triumph,
    she
    wandered to the jewelry corner. Various
    crystals and metal pendants dangled
    from chains or rope. The necklaces hung
    from pegs along the wall, organized by
    function. Some were charmed to modify
    a person’s appearance. Others could
    enhance the senses, such as better vision
    or hearing. One, the most expensive
    diamond, could give the wearer the
    ability to read someone’s mind.
    “Is there a particular feature
    you’re interested in?” Irene asked as she
    approached Ivy.
    “I don’t suppose you have one
    that will make me invisible.” She
    doubted such an object existed, but she
    had to ask.
    Irene tilted her head to one side
    and studied her from head to toe. Then,
    she walked over to the display and
    plucked a sapphire on a black rope from
    the wall.
    “It won’t make you invisible in
    the physical sense, but it will mask your
    magical signature, and anyone else’s
    within a 50 foot radius. To those that can
    detect magic, you’ll be just another
    Bane,” she said with a wink.
    Ivy’s eyes grew wide as she
    reached out to touch the precious stone.
    Eradicators wouldn’t be able to read her
    magic. That was better than being
    invisible.
    “I’ll take it,” she said, reaching
    for the money she stashed in her pocket.
    With this baby, she didn’t need the town
    wards anymore.
    “Hold on,” Irene said as she held
    the necklace out of her reach. “There are
    some details you need to be aware of.
    Firstly, the charm only lasts an hour, at
    most.”
    Her
    shoulders
    slumped. An
    hour? That isn’t very long .
    “Secondly,” Irene continued,
    “Using it too often will drain your magic
    and make you sick. It should only be
    used in emergency situations.”
    So, it wasn’t a permanent
    solution to hide from the Eradicators, but
    it would give her enough time