A Gift from the Goddess

Book 2 – Ch#7 

Kieran Lycroft. Victor Lycroft, my target‘s, very own non. 

How had I managed to screw things up this badly? within twenty–four bourg, I felt like my life had gone from being careful, structured precise, into what I could only describe as completo erratic shatnbles.

And worse still, it was as if I had no control. Control over my oltuation, over myself and *. especially* no control when it came to this man, Kieran. 

*Unfortunately, my father wasn‘t able to make it tonight,” Kieran replied “Heliad an important matter come up and sent me in his stead to extend our town‘s support.” 

I could smell his scent so vividly, the wind now no longer masking it from me so intoxicating yet inviting… I’d never come across anything like it before. 

“A shame. But nevertheless, I‘m glad you could join us. I‘ve heard that you‘ll be taking hio upon his retirement. Is it common to elect representatives based on family in your town?“. 

Kieran gave a half laugh and looked around for a second, almost as if the question made him uncomfortable. “We‘re just all very close up north in Ashwood. My father is a great role model and inspired me to take over for him I‘m honoured that the people of my town agree.” 

His eyes then flicked back to my own, a look of curiosity and... something else that I couldn‘t quite place mixed in. But whatever it was, I wanted more of it. 

“Oh, apologies, where are my manners?” said my father, extending a hand towards me. “Allow me to introduce you to Raven.” 

“Raven? I’m glad to finally catch your name,” he said, then turned back to Eric, “You know, we actually had a moment to meet in the gardens just now.” 

....Oh no… please, no.

My father raised a brow in confusion. “Oh? Is that where she ran off to?” 

“You wouldn’t believe it but...,” Kieran chuckled lightly, apparently finding the whole thing hilarious, “she must have gotten quite the scare because....” 

And it was then that Kieran finally looked back towards me, his sentence slowly coming to a stop 

as our eyes met.

“...Because..?” my father prompted.

“Oh… She ah…,” Kieran stumbled, quickly clearing his throat.“...She jumped in surprise. I guess 1 accidentally snuck up on her.”

“That’s certainly uncharacteristic of her. My daughter is normally a hard one to take unaware.

“Your... daughter?” Kieran asked, confused. “Raven is your daughter?” 

“That‘s right.” 

*And, and she grew up here in Loudila Olly?” 

why mdeed, wax what I wanted to know too. What buonnons did he have questioning sonething so personal Clarification once whould live been sufficient, if needed at all. He didn‘t need to kuon my life story 

Kieran was now stanng at me with a more serious expression, the joking tone now gone “on, nothing she just doean‘t act like most of the pooplo i‘ve met in the city” 

that supposed to

not bothered like I was “No, I don‘t suppose she does I raised her with

agreed, but his voice

adores the outdoors and nature, something I know Ashwood has a lot of. Can‘t seem to

went running occasionally, but I wouldn‘t say it

yet still too focused on trying to figure out Kieran‘s reactions, that I didn‘t

was telling me that my

I would be needing to utilise the

His son. 

couldn‘t remember the last time I‘d

“Raven?”

me from my head after I still hadn‘t

even if I were successful in finding out about the documents, I wondered if I was still going to face some sort of

be worse, and ultimately, I made a choice I never expected to make. Especially not since

fact that, if he hadn‘t instantly

“I seem to be a bit out of it tonight I should have given you my name before, that

but I kepuny smile in place, hoping tould do

Alapne too much diough, luia lipia tumed 11 A strtfk and he held a band

it‘never too late for introduotione,” he said. “Kiaran Lycroft,

a Hoond beloje exlerding my owsi,

feeling of marks began to spread through the contact with his skin, making ine lose Concentration. And his louehitfelt so nice and warm, making me painfully aware of

hand, he let me go, and I found I‘d forgotten Whatever I was

is forgiven,” he joked

blink and elear my head belore scrambling to put back on the face I needed to show, trying to not let on just how affected I really

drink in apology?” I managed to say, acting on auto-pilot. Though I silently cursed the slight slutter in my voice. “I would love

I‘d love

me. But I suppose laughing at me for whatever reason was better than the alternative ways this encounter could have

“It would be best if I checked in

enough for anyone to notice, and I picked up on the double connotation of his words. I‘ll be around if you need me‘ meaning he was around and would be keeping an

hoped that it showed a confidence that, in actuality, I was

we?” Kieran aaked behind me once my father had

of us walked to the bar

was the time to stop letting myself become overwhelmed and just focus entirely on the task at hand. Something that, with my track record to date, I was yet to fail even once in doing One of my specialties had always been in this particular ates of intimate

sound as friendly as possible “I really don‘t know what came

myself anii tucked a look of halt behind my már, hoping that he was. suboensciously picking up on the social cue Normally, I would have reached a hand out and gently touched his arm but the thought of those sparks possibly being there made me kamp

he replied “The whole thing was a bit funny and will make for

smile froze in place at

tell anyone about that, it‘s so terribly embarrassing, “I unid stiffly “How about we

hand. Raven, ‘I told myself, knowing I

to Thai feeling of losing control was one I despised, and

used grabbing the glass as an excuse to do something

another five of these and my nerves