Page 41 of Her Irresistible Sheik
“Yes!”she whispered in triumph, pumping her fist like she’d just won the Hunger Games.The arrow had actually left the bow this time.It hadn’t gonefar, but it didn’t drop like a rock either.That was progress.Solid, measurable, confidence-boosting progress.
She beamed and notched another arrow.
Over and over again, she shot, retrieved, adjusted, and tried again.Her success rate could generously be described as “aspirational.”Most of her arrows veered dramatically to the right or left, occasionally launching into a bush or thwacking harmlessly into tree bark.She was starting to suspect that the target had been enchanted with a “you shall not pass” spell.
At one point, she thought she heard a softclickof a door closing in the distance, but she assumed it was just a servant coming out to ask her if she needed tea or perhaps an emergency bandage.
She didn’t look back.She was busy becoming an archer of royal fame.
Focusing once again on her breathing, she drew the bowstring back, adjusted for her personal brand of deviation, aimed just slightly to the left to counter her overcompensation, and—
THWACK!
The arrow sailed high over the target and ricocheted off the window trim behind it.
Nahla winced.“Darn it!”she hissed.That had sounded expensive.
Her enthusiasm dipped.“This is harder than it looks.”
Still, she wasn’t about to give up.If the internet could turn people into sourdough experts during quarantine, then she could learn to aim a stick.
Besides, wasn’t that the point of life?You pick up something that seems straightforward, realize it's actually ridiculously hard, then keep doing it anyway because you’re stubborn and wearing a cute pair of leggings.
With a mutinous glare at the target, she retrieved her arrows once more.Somewhere in the hedges, a bird chirped encouragingly.Or maybe it was laughing.Either way, she squared her shoulders and notched again.
One of these days, she was going to hit that target.
Chapter 23
Mikail jumped in alarm when something thudded against the conference room window.The meeting had technically ended, with most participants already filed out, but one of his military advisors had asked to “have a word.”That conversation came to an abrupt halt as both men turned toward the sound.
Mikail strode over to the tall glass window and looked down.
An arrow lay on the stone balcony just below the sill.
“Istem!”he barked, raising his voice toward the hallway.
The guard stepped into the conference room instantly, his stance crisp and alert.“Yes, Your Highness?”
“Someone is shooting arrows at the window!”Mikail pointed to the offending projectile, already imagining a dozen security protocol breaches.“Get someone—!”
He stopped mid-command at the subtle flicker of amusement on Istem’s usually stoic face.The guard’s eyes dropped, and he tapped twice at his shoulder, signaling over his radio “no threat”.
“The area is secure, Your Highness,” Istem said calmly.“The arrow came from Princess Nahla.She’s… practicing.”
Mikail blinked.“Practicing what?”
“Archery, sir.She found a set of bow and arrows in the palace sports cabinet and has been working on her aim for the past hour or so.”
“A bow and…?”Mikail turned toward the window again, disbelieving.“Why the hell is she playing with bow and arrows?”
“She was bored,” Istem replied with a shrug that wasn’tquitea shrug.“Her maid mentioned she’s been working late nights on her computer.When she asked for something new to do, someone suggested she try looking through the sports gear.”He gestured subtly.“The palace maintains equipment for just about everything—cricket, tennis, polo, fencing…”
Another sharpthunksounded at the glass.
Mikail’s eye twitched.“And she picked archery,” he said flatly.
Without another word, he turned to the military advisor beside him.“Thank you for your information in the meeting, General.”
