Emerald's hand instinctively brushed against her left ear. Though she'd undergone surgery to repair the damage, her hearing hadn't fully returned yet.
It was a subtle but frustrating challenge in her daily life. She'd made her mother promise not to tell Alaric about it; he didn't know anything.
Emerald forced a smile. "Me? I'm fine. Nothing to worry about."
She didn't want to burden him with something so small when he was already stretched thin. Besides, the doctors had assured her that her hearing would recover in a couple of days.
Alaric's voice cut through her thoughts. "Once I clear my schedule in the next two days, I'll take you to the racetrack."
Emerald spoke up confidently, "Instead of horseback riding, I want to go to the shooting range. Aric, will you teach me how to shoot?"
Alaric glanced at her out of the corner of his eye. She was still the same, bold and determined.
