A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

Even so, Xander still beckoned him over.

Zachary hurried forward and offered his hand. Xander’s wrinkled fingers rested on Zachary’s wrist; after a moment, his expression grew grave.

“You’ve made it this far, young man–your family must’ve spent a small fortune on you. You’ve got a precious life.”

“We did spend quite a bit in the early years,” Zachary answered politely, the stiffness in his posture betraying his nerves.

Xander released his hand and called out, “Six.”

A boy of about fourteen or fifteen came running from the back room.

“What is it now, Master? If you’re looking for more snacks, I’m warning you–if Alessia finds out I bought them for you again, she’ll have my head…”

Six was still rambling when he suddenly came face–to–face with Alessia’s unimpressed, half–smiling gaze. He swallowed hard and turned awkwardly away.

A hand clamped down on his shoulder. With his back to Alessia, Six looked ready to burst into tears, but when he turned around, he’d already plastered on a sycophantic grin.

“Oh, look who’s here–the one and only, breathtakingly gorgeous Miss Alessia Tate! The fairest of them all, the radiant beauty who shames the moon and outshines the

stars.”

The sudden shift in tone made Zachary press his lips together to hide a laugh, while Alessia just rolled her eyes and reached out to pinch his ear.

swear!” Six yelped so loudly that a stranger

wasn’t even pinching

yelling and you’ll go deaf,” Alessia said, giving his head a light swat. “I’ll

Six immediately dropped his act and grinned from ear

and Six straightened up, put on a respectful air, and hurried to

“Six, get everything ready.”

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Chapter 23

sir.” Gone was the jokester–Six responded crisply and

Alessia immediately stepped in to help him. Joking around was one thing, but respect and proper manners were never

lowered his eyes, a fleeting look of disappointment crossing his face

steadying Xander as they entered the next room, glanced back to see

quickly masked his expression with a

the house to the courtyard, where Six was already waiting by a door. When he

with a faint herbal aroma–not bitter, but soothing,

at him

me your

and Six stood quietly on either side, their playfulness gone, replaced by