Scarlett's POV
I looked at the center of the field. Five circular wooden platforms had been raised. They weren't stable; they were mounted on massive iron gears.
"Each pair will stand back-to-back," the Elder continued. "The platforms will spin. You will be given ten silver-tipped arrows. You must hit the moving targets released from the treeline. If you fall off the platform, or if you miss more than three targets, you are finished."
Ethan led me toward the third platform. He didn't say a word, but his movements were stiff, his jaw tight. He was still reeling from the fact that I'd found him so quickly in the woods.
"Back-to-back, Scarlett," he commanded, stepping onto the wood.
I climbed up and pressed my spine against his. He was a pillar of heat. I could feel the steady thrum of his heart through his shoulder blades. My skin prickled where we touched.
"Don't lean away," he muttered. "If you shift your weight, we both go down. Trust my balance."
