Tied to the target, Mildred opened her wet, terrified eyes.

She saw the General step away. She saw Lady Camilla holding the deadly weapon all by herself. Mildred knew the Lady was just a spoiled noblewoman who had never held a real weapon in her entire life. She was definitely going to miss the apple. She was definitely going to shoot Mildred right in the face or heart.

Mildred thought to herself. Her mind was completely filled with final, absolute despair.

"I am really going to die," Mildred thought, closing her eyes tightly, completely preparing for the sharp metal arrow to pierce her skull.

Camilla stood sideways. She raised the bow. She kept her left arm completely straight. She pulled the tight string backward with her right hand. Her muscles strained against the heavy tension.

She focused entirely on the target. She narrowed her eyes, looking only at the bright red apple resting on Mildred’s head.

Camilla held her breath.

And released.

The string snapped loudly.

The arrow flew through the air.

THWACK!

The arrow hit the apple perfectly. It split the red fruit completely in half, pinning the pieces deep into the thick straw target. It was an absolutely flawless, perfect shot.

Camilla lowered the bow. She looked at the target. She saw the pinned apple.

She was overjoyed.

A massive excited laughter burst completely out of her mouth. She was thrilled that she had hit the target on her very first try alone.

She forgot entirely about her noble manners.

She jumped up and down on the dusty ground. Her red curly hair bounced wildly around her shoulders. She laughed loudly, clapping her hands together, holding the bow in the air like a victorious champion.

It was completely, utterly unladylike.

The soldiers standing guard around the archery field stared at the Lady in absolute shock. Noble wives never jumped. They never laughed loudly in public. They were supposed to be quiet and graceful.

Damon stood a few feet away. He watched her jumping in the dust. He saw the soldiers staring at his wife.

Damon cleared his throat very loudly.

AHEM.

The deep, rumbling sound was a very clear, strict warning. He wanted to remind her that they were in the presence of heavily armed soldiers, and she needed to maintain her proper dignity.

Camilla heard his loud warning. She immediately stopped jumping.

She lowered the bow. She smoothed down the front of her green riding dress, trying to look perfectly innocent and graceful again. She brushed a bit of dust off her sleeve.

Camilla chuckled softly, feeling slightly embarrassed by her sudden outburst of joy.

"I always forget I am a Lady." She reprimanded herself in her thoughts.

She turned around and walked back to Damon. She handed the bow back to him.

"My Lord," Camilla said, letting out a small, tired sigh. The adrenaline of the archery lesson was fading away, leaving her feeling exhausted. "I am tired. I want to go home now."

Damon took the bow. He nodded his head slowly. She had had a very busy morning destroying his medical staff and learning to shoot. It was time for her to rest.

Damon turned his head. He instructed Kade clearly.

"Take her to the carriage," Damon ordered his aide. "Ensure she gets back to the mansion safely."

Camilla quickly shook her head. She refused the escort.

"No, thank you," Camilla said politely. "I can go on my own. The carriage is just a short walk away. I do not need an escort in the middle of a secure military camp."

She did not want Kade following her. She just wanted to sit in the quiet carriage alone.

Damon looked at her stubborn face. He knew she was perfectly safe within the camp walls.

Damon replied simply. "Okay."

Camilla offered him a small, polite curtsy. She turned around and began walking back across the dusty training grounds, heading directly toward the waiting carriage.

Damon stood completely still. He watched her walk away. He watched her beautiful green dress until she turned a corner and disappeared completely from his sight.

The moment Camilla left, the calm, gentle teaching demeanor vanished entirely from Damon’s face.

His face turned as hard and cold as solid ice. His dark eyes were completely merciless.

Damon turned to Kade.

He looked at his loyal aide. He did not raise his voice. He spoke softly, but his command was absolute and final.

"Kill her," Damon ordered coldly.

He was not going to let a treacherous, scheming servant live. He had only used the apples to entertain Camilla. The punishment for trying to frame the Lady of the Benson family was death.

Kade did not ask any questions. He did not even show any mercy for the crying assistant tied to the target. Rules are rules.

Kade nodded his head sharply. "Yes, General."

Damon continued his instructions. His voice was completely serious.

"Let it serve as a very clear warning to anyone in this camp that disrespects my wife," Damon stated firmly. "Hang her body outside the camp gates. Let everyone see what happens to those who plot against her."

Kade bowed deeply, fully accepting the brutal, bloody order.

"It will be done immediately, My Lord," Kade promised.

Kade turned around and signaled to the armed guards standing nearby to carry out the execution.

Damon turned his back on the archery grounds. He prepared to walk back to his command tent to rest.

Just as he took his first step, a young soldier came running across the dusty field. He was completely out of breath and looking highly panicked.

The soldier ran up to Damon. He went down quickly on one knee in the dirt.

He looked up at the General.

"My Lord," the soldier spoke loudly, his voice shaking with urgent news. "General Howe is here to see you."

Hearing that specific name, Damon stopped completely in his tracks.

Damon’s face hardened instantly. His jaw locked tightly. A very dark, highly dangerous look entered his eyes.