Heidi and the Lord - Chapter 118

The arrow whooshed in a straight line, hitting the nut that was placed on the tree stump to pick it up in force before hitting the tree behind it. Nicholas walked towards the stump and placed another small nut on it. Compared to the lord’s usual hunting style where the object was always an animal, he chose to use the acorn shells for Heidi’s sake knowing well she wouldn’t be able to draw her arrow yet on an animal.

“Are all vampires this good at hunting?” Heidi asked Nicholas while holding her own bow close to her chest. It was the bow Warren had gifted her.

“That is an overestimation humans have about vampires. We are born with inhuman strength and life force but if a vampire doesn’t work and practice he will be like any other mortal being. It is all about working hard. Here,” he handed the arrow to her.

The last time she had gone out to hunt with Nicholas and the others she had been lucky to hit right in the target but she wasn’t sure about hitting the shell of the acorn that laid still in front of her. Taking a stand not far from the target, she raised her bow and arrow, trying to aim as she closed one of her eye while keeping the other on the acorn. When she released the arrow, it flew in an another direction making her squint her eyes.

“The first times are always trippy. Try again,” she heard Nicholas encourage her, who now stood leaning his back over a tree.

Heidi took a new arrow in her hand, positioning it against the bow as she tried aiming. Taking a deep breath she double checked but it seemed like she was right. The previous time had been sheer luck or maybe today was just not her day. Turning around she saw Nicholas offer her a smile before he pushed his body against the tree, picking up an arrow from the bundle that laid on the ground and walked to stand behind her.

“Let’s start from the beginning now, shall we?” lifting her hand up which held the bow, he placed both his hand on her shoulders to turn it slightly to the left. But Nicholas’ hands didn’t stop to rest there. It traveled to her back, pushing it gently. One hand made its way to her stomach, “Tuck it in,” his words brushed across her ear.

With the still sound of forest that surrounded them, Heidi felt every single nerve in her body come alive. Her treacherous body listened and responded to his words than let her concentrate on the target she was supposed to hit. When his nose nuzzled against her ear and in her hair, she spoke to him in a sweet voice which came out a little breathless, “You are a very bad teacher.”

“That’s harsh,” he replied amused, “You were doing fine when Warren was teaching you.”

“Is that a compliant I hear, milord,” she smiled not moving her gaze from the acorn.

“And what if it is. I am a better teacher than Warren in a lot of things. Keep your hand firm on the arrow,” he bit her ear and she took a sharp breath, “What can I say,” he held her in his arms, “You are so delectable that I cannot help myself from taking a bite,” chuckling at the end he cued her to let the arrow go and she did for it to hit the nut.

“Wow, it did hit,” she murmured in surprise.

“Of course it did. I never miss a target,” Heidi heard Nicholas speak behind as he stepped away from her to pick up the arrows that laid on the ground, “Come now. We still have dinner to pick,” and she followed him as they walked.

At some places in the forest, the trees had grown any and everywhere due to which Heidi had to walk behind Nicholas to keep up with his pace. This allowed her to admire the man’s broad back which narrowed down his waist. It had been a while since they had spent time with each other and this right now felt blissful. Only if time could stop, thought Heidi as she looked at Nicholas. His black hair moved with the breeze that swept across the land softly and when he turned for a moment to see her, he raised his hand so that he could hold her hand. Her heart squeezed in her chest and the smile on the lord’s face told her that he noticed her reaction.

“When did you start learning archery?” she asked him curious.

“Many decades ago, I think it was after I started living with my father,” he answered her, pushing the branch that hindered their path.

Remembering him telling that he had killed his father, she wondered what had happened that he had to kill his own father. Was there a reason to it or did he kill the man without one? With the Bonelake lord’s personality it was hard to say what was but she wanted to know more about him.

“Can I ask you something?” she asked him.

“Hmm?” he looked at her as they walked side by side now.

“Why did you kill your father?”