“It might be our only hope of things going back to normal around here. It’s not like I can travel to Celestia and ask the other gods for help. Surely, Kyros must be somewhere on this plane. If I can find him, maybe he can put things back. I have to at least try.”
Alex arches a brow. “But if Kyrosishere, why hasn’t he done anything to help us?”
“That’s a damn good question, and one I am trying to find the answer to. I have the feeling that something is wrong . . . something is preventing him from acting.”
The frown on Alex’s face reeks of skepticism, but I appreciate that he hasn’t completely shut me down like Father has.
“Why Lord Astoria’s house?” he asks.
I grab my notes and retake my seat. “My research led me to some old stories of his connection with Kyros. Apparently, they were rivals. Both in love with the same woman.”
Alex snorts a laugh. “That seems unlikely.”
“That’s what I thought, but I had to know for sure.”
“Did you find anything?”
I grimace. “No, I couldn’t find a thing in his study tonight, and his daughter interrupted me the night before.”
Alex waggles a brow. “Daughter? Which one? Was it the lovely Lady Erika?”
I shake my head.
“Ugh, don’t tell me it was Chessa. Stories of her make me never want to cross her path.”
I snort. “No, not her either. I’m fairly certain it was Lady Raelyn.”
“Ah, the mysterious beauty who never leaves the house?”
“I suppose.”
My mind flashes back to her warm body seated atop mine, and I harden at the thought. Hells. The last thing I need is the distraction of a beautiful woman, as intriguing as I might find her. She’s already broken my heart once; I can’t let her in again.
Chapter Six
RAELYN
“Sit up straight, Raelyn,” Lady Carlisle admonishes. “Stop daydreaming and focus on eating your meal like a lady.”
Who does she think she is? My mother? I’m twenty-seven years old.
I do my best to hide my annoyance as I roll my shoulders back and nod politely at her. “Thank you for the reminder, Lady Carlisle.”
“Chessa, I love what you’ve done with your hair,” Lady Carlisle compliments.
“It’s the latest fashion,” Chess gushes before she twists and turns her nose up at me. I fight the urge to roll my eyes. It’s not as if she had anything to do with her hair. She has her lady’s maid to thank.
For some reason I do not understand, Lady Carlisle has taken an extreme liking in Chessa ever since arriving a week and a half ago. The attention has Chess brimming with pride, making her even more unpleasant to be around. Father’s choice in a new wife leaves much to be desired.
She has shown plenty of interest in Chess and Erika, but I, on the other hand, have become the focus of her criticism and ire. Charlie is, as always, the most doted on of us all. Apparently, having a dick in his pants is all he needs to inherit the family estate and earn Lady Carlisle’s favor.
“Lady Carlisle, are you excited about the wedding ball tomorrow evening?” Erika asks demurely.
“More than you know,” she replies before pointedly fixing her eyes back on me.
My shoulders roll back as I straighten my posture once again.
“Once I’m officially the lady of the house, I plan to make some changes around here.”
