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."

of smug giddiness rose inside me as I won

me Raven,"

I entered the bar before he

mostly a lot of people sitting close together having intimate conversations in low

atmosphere one would expect

have

for that.I was here to find

scent as it slowly became stronger the further inside

person I walked past, but none were of the man I

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

hell was he? I kept walking,

I finally found

the room itself, but veering off through

held a sign

that wasn’t

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

untouched for the most

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

could

as I rounded the corner, everything seemed to just...slip

found myself falling into that

but seeing him again made

inside that had been scratching away was

he was

front of him, within feet of

met, he wore a perfectly fitted suit, his dark brown hair

every

impossibly so.It took everything I had inside me to not just immediately rush into his arms...though I couldn’t

if to embrace me, but it

to fix this exact issue, one which

I

a shiver to spread through me at the

been looking for you for days.Do you

I was thinking that I was the one losing my mind, and yet this guy was almost certifiable, acting

Was I missing something?

" was all I managed to say, so extremely confused by

to cool down before I explained a few things to you, but it’s almost as if

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

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

were you

grand scheme? Drug a girl then stalk her?

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

I said, cutting him

work...or do anything.I

it.I needed it more than anything if I

work like that.I can’t just undo it.It has

and I pulled

did

be a civil conversation but he

drawing blood or going back to

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

take it easy

I didn’t let him lull me

him with the intent of holding him up at knifepoint; just enough to scare him into taking me seriously.I was quick and had training, so it

that h e was also just as skilled, proving that

my dagger anywhere near him, suddenly he was wielding

that looked

fact, upon closer inspection, it was definitely mine.He

"Calm down!" he yelled.

everything but you need

But I was angry.

before in

many feelings bubbling inside that I wasn’t used to, all

angry at him, at my own new

at my

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

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

don’t have to

and we can go

and proceeded to be on the defensive as

as if he'd been doing

someone who was anywhere near as skilled, if not more so,

that was both impressive and concerning at the

that this might not be as easy as I’d

he left open, and

and faster I moved, but nothing seemed to

quickly

that I knew wasn’t

?" I