Page 65 of Camriel
“How the fudge did you do that?”Victoria asked in awe.“I only looked away for a second and you moved to a completely different spot.”
“I can move really fast in short bursts when I need to,” the teen said with a shrug as she ambled back over.“It’s a knack I picked up at an early age.”
“What about your life?”the wrestler queried.“Was your mom religious, too?”
Grace snorted out a laugh.“Try the complete opposite,” she said, taking the bow when Zoe handed it to her.She nocked an arrow and pulled the string back.Letting the arrow fly, she was pleased when she hit the edge of the target.“I’m better with a bow than I am with a gun,” she said.
“Both of you show promise,” Victoria said.“So, what was your mom like, then?”she prompted.
Grace shot another arrow before replying.“She was a thief, a grifter and she only cared about herself.Zoe’s mom taught her all about religion and how to obey God’s rules.My mom taught me how to lie, cheat, steal and break into people’s homes.”
“Shiz,” Victoria said, feeling bad for the kid.“That’s fudging horrible.”
“You don’t know the half of it,” Grace muttered, but she didn’t elaborate.
Zoe shook her head warningly when Vic glanced at her.Some things needed to remain private.Grace’s past was one of them.
Taking the hint, Vic concentrated on teaching them how to use the bow.It was a quiet, effective way to kill things that suited them both far better than loud guns.They could be used at a distance, which made them even more suitable for the pair.
“We’ve got a few of these types of bows,” Zoe said when their lesson finally ended.“Grace and I will practice with them.We’d love it if you could continue to teach us.”
“I’d be happy to,” Vic said.“I don’t suppose I could borrow some books?I’m going out of my mind with boredom in the cabin.”
“I’ve already put a pile together for you,” Grace said, back to her usual happy self again.“I wasn’t sure what genres you like, so I chose a few from all of them.”
“I’ll read anything,” the wrestler said in gratitude as they headed back to the base.“We should make a trip to that bookstore and clear the place out before someone else beats us to it,” she suggested.
“We’ll take the little red truck and drive there tomorrow,” Zoe decided.“Vic can protect us from any idiots who might be stupid enough to attack us.”
“It will be good to have a girls’ day out,” Grace agreed, already looking forward to it.
“Agreed,” Victoria said with a grin.“I’ll come by at nine in the morning, if that’s okay with you?”
“That will be perfect,” Zoe agreed.“It looks like Camriel is ready for your first date,” she added, muffling a snicker when she saw the warrior standing in the doorway.
“Oh, boy,” Grace murmured in amusement.“He’s gone all out for you, Vic.”
Zoe glanced at their tall friend to see Victoria was struggling not to laugh.Cam’s idea of a date outfit was a purple prom suit.He’d matched it with a ruffled pale blue shirt.His outfit was two sizes too small for him.She was glad when Vic managed to control her amusement.“You look very handsome, Camriel,” the cambion said to her date.
The knight beamed widely at the compliment, elevating Victoria from a neighbor to a true friend in Zoe’s and Grace’s minds.
