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.

Lessie, I’m sorry, I swear!” Six yelped so loudly that a stranger might’ve thought she was

wasn’t

deaf,” Alessia said, giving his head

his

gestured again, and Six straightened up, put on a respectful air, and hurried

“Six, get everything ready.”

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Chapter 23

crisply and set off

Xander made to stand, Alessia immediately stepped in to help him. Joking

his eyes, a fleeting look

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

Zachary quickly masked his expression with a

already waiting by a door. When he saw Xander, he stepped forward and took over for Alessia, helping the old

filled with a faint herbal aroma–not bitter, but soothing, almost refreshing. Zachary breathed it in, liking the scent, lost

at him but

me your

was all business now, a far cry from earlier. Alessia and Six stood quietly on either side, their playfulness gone, replaced by a respectful

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