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.

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

wasn’t even

deaf,” Alessia said, giving his head a light swat. “I’ll let the snack thing

immediately dropped his act and grinned from

clearly used to the chaos. He gestured again, and Six straightened up, put on a respectful

“Six, get everything ready.”

1/3

15:37

Chapter 23

Gone was the jokester–Six responded crisply and set off to do his

stepped in to help him. Joking around was one

fleeting look of disappointment crossing his face as

steadying Xander as they entered the next room, glanced back to see Zachary still standing where

his expression

the house to the courtyard, where Six was already waiting by a door. When he saw Xander, he stepped forward and took over for Alessia,

faint herbal aroma–not bitter, but soothing, almost

at him but said

me

far cry from earlier. Alessia and Six stood

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

Comments ()

0/255