Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“It helps me to picture the Neverseen’s faces,” Fitz told her. “That
way I’m only thinking about hurting people who deserve it.”
“That helps me, too,” Sandor agreed. “I focus on the look in my
enemies’ eyes to remind myself that they wouldn’t hesitate to end me.”
“You struggle with this?” Sophie had to ask.
Sandor was always so quick to draw his weapon, it seemed like he’d
been born with a sword in his hand.
But he nodded. “Killing will always feel a little wrong—and in some
ways, that’s a good thing. It helps us know where to draw the line. But
it could also cost someone’s life, so I’ve trained my mind to focus on
the reasons I’m fighting, rather than the fight itself.”
“I guess that makes sense,” Sophie mumbled, closing her eyes as
she raised her arm.
She let her photographic memory paint every tiny detail of
Vespera’s face, right down to the cold glint in her azure eyes and the
sharp curve of her cruel mouth, reminding herself that Vespera wasn’t
just a murderer—she was the elvin world’s darkest secret. Her crimes
had been so indescribably awful that the Council was still covering
them up, afraid the truth would fracture their world.
And she’d done some of those terrible things to Sophie’s human
parents.
THHHHHHHHWACK!
She nailed the dummy smack in the middle of the forehead.
“Still too soft a throw,” Grizel told her. “But otherwise that was
awesome.”
Fitz cracked a smile. “Should’ve known you’d make me look bad.”
Sophie’s cheeks flushed. “I’m sure it’s just beginner’s luck.”