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” 

was that

I don‘t suppose she does I raised her

his voice

I know Ashwood has a lot of. Can‘t seem to keep her away from wanting to always be in the fresh air. Isn‘t that right, Raven?”

say it was a hobby or a defining trait of my personality.

Kieran‘s reactions, that I didn‘t immediately understand what my father was doing. How he was lying in order to establish common ground between us.

doing so, he was telling me that my target had changed for

be needing to utilise the closest thing

His son. 

last time I‘d been this

“Raven?”

pulled me from my

meant to be and he knew it. Hell, even if I were successful in finding out about the documents, I wondered if I

and ultimately, I made a choice I never expected to make. Especially not since I was so sceptical of him. But something inside pushed me on, and I

trust the man I‘d only just met. Trust in the fact that, if he hadn‘t instantly exposed me as I thought he would, then he

polite smile. “I seem to be a bit out of it tonight I should have given you my name

ad alighily but I kepuny smile in

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

introduotione,” he said. “Kiaran

a Hoond beloje exlerding my owsi, and instantly

to spread through the contact with his skin, making ine lose Concentration. And his louehitfelt so nice and warm, making me painfully aware of thoughts that was cymg so desperately

of my hand, he let me go, and I found I‘d

All is forgiven,” he joked

the face I needed to show,

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

sure, I‘d love a drink”

alternative ways this encounter could have gone. And yet even though I knew

paid, touching my arm, “It would be best if I checked in with some other acquaintances anyway. I‘ll be around

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 eye

confidence that, in actuality, I was so badly lacking

me once my

of us walked to the bar and ordered our

overwhelmed and just focus entirely on the task at hand. Something

friendly as possible “I really don‘t know what came over me earlier and

a little at 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

a bit funny and will make for a

froze in

anyone about that, it‘s so terribly embarrassing, “I unid stiffly “How about we keep it a secret just between us? Like our own httle inside joke? I would

Raven, ‘I told myself, knowing I needed to

really didn’t want to Thai feeling of losing control was one I despised, and even being around him

at that moment, and I used grabbing the glass as an

five of these and