A False Heiress's Guide to Love and Power

The teenage boy, no more than thirteen or fourteen, had none of his usual swagger tonight. There was a seriousness in his voice, a determined look in his eyes.

“Alright then. If I ever let Lessie down, you can beat me up and toss me out, Fair enough?”

Zachary could sense the boy’s sincerity, so he didn’t brush off the promise. Instead, he gave it real consideration and answered just as earnestly.

Dinner was nearly over when a low rumble of thunder echoed from the sky.

“Looks like it’s going to rain,” Xander said, glancing upward. The clouds were black and heavy, blotting out everything.

“We’d better not overstay,” he added.

“Yeah, school’s tomorrow. Take an umbrella when you leave, or you’ll get soaked,” Xander said, remembering at the last moment that Monday was just around the corner, and shelving his earlier thought of asking Alessia to stay the night.

“Grab one for me, would you?” Alessia said. She didn’t say who she was talking to, but Six immediately shoveled down the last bite in his bowl, set it aside, and headed for the front porch.

Just as the two of them slipped out, another clap of thunder rolled by, and then the rain began, a gentle drizzle at first, quickly swelling into a steady downpour.

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little puddles across the flagstones. His gaze grew

turned heavy. A boy–maybe ten or eleven–came racing into the alley, water splattering over his already battered sneakers. The soles,

over his shoulder. With a huff, he ducked into the

storm.

No fixing them this time. He set them aside, then peeled his soaked hair from his forehead and yan‘ ‘his oversized T–shirt over his head, using it to towel off as best he could. Afterward,

almost every

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he could count. Now In the corner, he shifted until he found a spot that was halfway comfortable planning to nap until the rain let up–If only life

Frowning, he got up, grabbed

on, princess, just send us a little cash and we’ll let you go. You’re from

I haven’t eaten in three days,” the blond–haired guy said with a sneer, sharing a look with his buddy before both of them

taunted her, their snickers grating and mean. The girl held

you doing?” the boy called out, rubbing his head, his patience already

startled, but when they saw who it was, they relaxed. “Oh, it’s just Six.

you mean, orphan? His mom just