A Gift from the Goddess

The plan was simple; Track down Kieran and demand he fix whatever he did to me.

With Noah tied up and locked inside a cupboard, I would head towards the hotel which had been listed i n Victor Lycroft’s information folder.

With any luck, his son had the same taste in accommodation.

Once I found him and got my answers, I’d then just have him undo the effects before going back to Noah t o finish the job.I'd complete my mission tonight and get back home without any issues.

As a result, Father would begin to trust me again and Gavin wouldn’t need to drag me back into the basement.

Everyone will be happy.

Well...except probably Noah.He’d be dead.

But that was unfortunately just the way it had to be.

‘C'est la vie’ some would say.Now to just pray that nothing went wrong.I hailed a taxi and gave the driver directions to the hotel, doing my best to make my clothes seem more casual on the way over.

There wasn’t much I could do but I worked with what I had.

By the time I arrived, there was nothing on me that would stand out too much in a public setting.

Upon stepping out of the car though, I found the hotel was surprisingly large.

The kind of place only the very wealthy could afford which, given he was the son of a literal mayor, I guess that made sense.

Though for a small town I’d never heard of before, they sure seemed to have the cash to spare.

Whilst this was an interesting thing to note, it unfortunately meant that sneaking in was going to be difficult.

The place would have security cameras and staff walking around everywhere.

So how was I meant to...And then I smelt it.

That intoxicating scent that I could recall so vividly now.

The one belonging to Kieran.

He was here or, at least, he’d been here sometime recently.I would just need to follow it and hopefully scope out the area before entering his room.

But the scent didn’t lead me towards the elevator as I expected.

No, it led me to the hotel’s bar area.

A place where far too many people would be around to witness.

Certainly not an ideal development in this plan.

"Apologies, madam," a man at the entrance said, holding a hand out to pause me.

"I just need to quickly confirm your name and room number, or the room number of the person you're here to see." I stared at him blankly, confused.

This hotel was apparently far more exclusive than I’d realised.

However, I’d had to deal with far worse obstacles than this before.

"Oh! Is that so?" I asked innocently.

"That’s a little awkward...You see, I was sent here to surprise Mr Lycroft but no one told me his room number.I guess i t was just a mix-up.Isn’t there any way I could still g o inside? Just this once?"

He looked uncertain and taken a little off guard.

This wasn’t the kind of job where you’d want to accidentally insult the wrong influential person.

"Oh ...Well I suppose I could quickly go in and find him to confirm.Mr Lycroft you said?"

He took a step away as if to enter, but I knew if he did that and Kieran told them to not let me in, then this whole plan would become messy.

"That won’t do," I said a little too quickly.

I then walked over to gently touch his arm.

"As mentioned, it’s meant to be a surprise.We haven’t seen each other in the longest time and his father, Victor, told m e Kieran was in town."

"Madam...we have precautions in place to ensure the safety and privacy of our gu—."

"The whole family will be so disappointed if it’s ruined.We’ve been planning this for a while now.I know Victor likes to come here regularly when he’s here for business.It would be a shame if this one unpleasant experience tarnished that...Especially if I have to call the family so late for something so petty "

Immediately, he became flustered, but I didn’t give him any more time to process the situation.

After all, bad decisions were always made under pressure.

"Please...," I repeated, giving him my best smile.

And it only took a few more seconds before, finally, h e cracked.

"Okay...very well.I’ll just need your name for the record and you can head on inside."

rose inside me as I won the small

can call me Raven," I

I entered the bar before he

lot of people sitting close together having intimate conversations in

one would expect from

liked to have a drink, but I was familiar with the

for that.I was here to

as it slowly became stronger the further inside I

of every person I walked past, but none

the time I’d done a lap of the entire floor, I was beginning to worry

he? I kept walking, heading towards another small

when I finally

within the room itself, but veering off through a door

held a sign

that wasn’t going to stop

all the servers and staff weren’t looking, I slipped through the door and continued to follow his scent until it led me into a

the most part, clearly not used very

had though was why was he here of all places...? It was almost as if he knew I was tracking him...but

he would have to know I could trace his scent,

as

found myself falling into that trance as

him

been scratching away was finally

he was

was in front of him, within

first met, he wore a perfectly fitted

every possible

I had inside me to not just immediately rush

forward as if to embrace me, but it was that very same movement that made me remember why I was

reason that was to fix this exact issue, one which was causing me to feel this way about

quickly stopped himself as I

it caused a shiver to spread through me at the sound of his

been looking for you for days.Do you have any idea how

and yet this

Was I missing something?

say, so extremely confused by

wanted to give you some time to cool down before I explained a few things to you, but it’s almost as if you don’t exist,"

how I could contact you, but out of everyone I spoke to, only one person

I didn’t end up slaying

you looking for me?"

this your grand scheme? Drug a girl then stalk

you’re experiencing is

said,

instantly become infatuated.It doesn’t stop them from being able to function...or work...or do anything.I tracked you down

more than anything if I wanted to stay in my father’s

can’t just undo it.It

I yelled, and I pulled out

what you did to me.Right

he was proving to be stubborn, giving me

was between drawing blood or going back

"Woah...slow down," he said.

it

lull me

scare him into taking me seriously.I was quick and had training, so it should have been a

was also just as skilled, proving that back when we’d met

get my dagger anywhere near him, suddenly he was wielding one of his own as he deflected

weapon that looked

was definitely mine.He

"Calm down!" he yelled.

but you need to just chill for a

But I was angry.

I’d ever felt before in m

many feelings bubbling inside that I wasn’t used to, all jumbling around confused with whatever he’d done to

at my

at my failures, at my situation… and I

would b e losing both my father’s respect

my dagger again, angry tears beginning to form at

don’t have to hurt you," I

and we can

proceeded to be on

been doing this sort of thing

was

was both impressive and concerning at the same

not be as easy as I’d

thought he left open, and yet he somehow managed to defend

moved, but nothing seemed to

quickly as I was at

speed that I

?" I yelled