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."

as I won

call me Raven,"

the bar before he

quieter than I’d expected.It was mostly a lot of people sitting close together having intimate conversations in

one would expect

I personally liked to have a drink, but I was

I wasn’t here today for that.I was here to

his scent as it slowly became stronger

it carefully, screening the faces of every person I walked past, but none were

lap of the entire floor, I was beginning to worry I’d walked

the hell was he? I kept walking, heading towards

that’s when I finally found

room itself, but

held a sign saying ‘Staff

wasn’t

all the servers and staff weren’t looking, I slipped through the door and continued to

seemed pretty untouched for the most part, clearly not

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

have to know I could trace his scent, which was already unnatural

as I rounded

into that trance as

explain, but seeing him

inside that had been

he was

in front of him, within feet of being able to

like the night we first met, he wore a perfectly fitted suit, his

every possible

not just immediately rush into his arms...though I couldn’t say

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

which was causing me to feel

quickly stopped himself as I

caused a shiver to spread

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

I was the one losing my mind, and yet this guy

Was I missing something?

was all I managed to say, so

wanted to give you some time to cool down before I explained a few things to you, but

how I could contact you, but out of everyone I spoke to, only one person seemed to know of you.Something that they even admitted to not knowing prior to

him since I didn’t end up slaying at the event long enough

you

then

didn’t do anything.What you’re experiencing is completely

said, cutting

meet someone and instantly become infatuated.It doesn’t stop them from being able to function...or work...or do anything.I

anything if

can’t just undo

yelled, and I pulled

did to

hoping this would be a civil conversation but he

drawing blood or going back to my

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

it easy fora

didn’t let him lull me

at knifepoint; just enough to scare him into taking me

forgot that h e was also just as skilled, proving that

he was wielding one of

weapon that looked awfully

was definitely mine.He must have

"Calm down!" he yelled.

you need to just

But I was angry.

ever felt before in m y

inside that I wasn’t used to, all jumbling around confused with

at him, at my own

at my situation…

would b e losing both my father’s respect and my

I swiped my dagger again, angry tears beginning to form at my

to hurt you,"

fix me and we can go our

dagger again and proceeded to be on the defensive as

doing this sort of thing his entire

time facing someone who was anywhere

and

might not be as easy as

left open, and yet he somehow managed to

and faster I moved, but nothing seemed to

quickly as I

I knew wasn’t

you! ?" I