“When I taught my sister to shoot, I always had to remind her to relax her stance and not be so rigid.”

Reid took a few calming breaths, trying to make sure she was clear and focused.

Markis came up behind her. “Raise your left arm.”

She did as he instructed.

He lowered his head closer to hers, looking along the length of her arrow. “You’re aiming below the target.”

“I am?”

He lifted her left arm slightly, then placed his hand on her right arm, adjusting it. Reid heard the door open behind her, but she didn’t bother to see who entered. Her focus remained on the target.

“Good.” Markis took a step back. “Now shoot.”

Reid released the arrow. It cut across the room, landing with a thunk in the outer ring of the target. “Yes!” She beamed at Markis. “Thank you.”

“Lady Reid,” Gytha said. “What are you doing?”

“Shooting.” Reid set the bow on the table, turning to address the woman.

“You’re supposed to be getting a tour of the facility.”

“I am,” Reid said. “This is part of my tour.”

“Commander Dexter wants you to join the novice training session. Come with me.”

Novice? He thought Reid needed to train with the new recruits? Did he have so little faith in her? To test her, Ackley and Gordon had forced her to spar with someone far above her skill level. She still remembered the beast of a man she’d gone against. Yet now, Dexter wanted her placed with the beginners. Was there no happy-medium? On the bright side, she wouldn’t look like a fool in a novice group.

“Thank you for the tour,” she told Markis before she followed Gytha from the room.

Gytha led Reid to a different section of the building. When they came to a door, Gytha abruptly stopped, facing Reid. “What is going on with you and Markis?”

“He was giving me a shooting lesson.” Reid’s brows scrunched in confusion. “Why?”

“You are engaged.”

“I know.” It would officially be announced tomorrow.

“Then why are you spending time with another man?”

“Dexter wanted me to take a tour of the facility.”

Gytha took a menacing step closer to Reid. “He did not instruct you to come here to flirt with one of his officers.”

Reid snorted at the insinuation. “I wasn’t flirting with Markis.” She had no interest in flirting with him or anyone else for that matter.

“He was flirting with you.”

“I can assure you he was not.” Markis was just being kind.

Gytha shook her head. “Are you truly this clueless?”

“Markis is a friend.” All Reid’s friends were men. She was used to and comfortable with that fact.

“I will not sit idly by and watch you make a fool of Dexter,” Gytha said, lowering her voice. “He deserves to be respected and loved.”