A Gift from the Goddess novel Chapter 115

Kieran Lycroft...

Victor Lycroft, my target’s, very own son.

How had I managed to screw things up this badly? Within twenty-four hours, it felt like my life had gone from being careful, structured...

precise, into what I could only describe as complete erratic shambles.

And worse still, it was as if I had no control.

Control over my situation, 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.

"He had 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 his place 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 I 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 Lockdale City?"

"Yes...why?"

Why indeed, was what I wanted to know too.

What business did he have questioning something so personal? Clarification once should have been sufficient, if needed at all.

He didn’t need to know my life story.

Kieran was now staring at me with a more serious expression, the joking tone now gone.

"Oh, nothing.She just...doesn’t act like most of the people I’ve met i n the city."

And what was *that* supposed to mean? But laughter erupted from my father, clearly not bothered like I was.

"No, I don’t suppose she does.I raised her with a good head on her shoulders.I’m happy to hear she doesn’t act like most overbearing city people do."

"Right...,"

Kieran agreed, but his voice still sounded distant in thought.

"Raven actually adores the outdoors and nature, something I know Ashwood has a lot of.Can’t seem t o keep her away from wanting to always be in the fresh air.Isn’t that right, Raven?"

Love the outdoors? Sure, I went running occasionally, but I wouldn’t say it was a hobby or a defining trait of my personality.

I was puzzled by that comment, yet still too focused o n trying to figure out 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.

..And in doing so, he was telling me that my target had changed for the evening.With Victor now not attending the event, I would be needing to utilise the closest thing to it.

His son.I couldn’t remember the last time I’d been this stressed.

"Raven?" My father’s voice pulled me from my head after I still hadn’t spoken.

I wasn’t acting in the way I was meant to be and he knew it.

Hell, even if I were successful in finding out about the documents, I wondered if I was still going to face some sort of repercussion for my odd behaviour all night.

I weighed up my options quickly, debating which outcome here would be worse, 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 wanted to have faith in that feeling.

..And so I decided to trust the man I’d only just met.

Trust in the fact that, if he hadn’t instantly exposed m e as I thought he would, then he probably wouldn’t do so.

"Oh...right, I’m so sorry," I said, acting out a small head shake and overly polite smile.

"I seem to be a bit out of it tonight.I should have given you my name before, that was so rude of me."

Kieran’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly but I kept my smile in place, hoping I could do enough to turn this situation around.

And, quietly, I held my breath.

Before the silence could elapse too much though, his lips turned in a smirk and he held a hand out towards me.

"No need to worry, it’s never too late for introductions," he said.

"Kieran Lycroft, pleasure to meet you, Raven." I stared at his hand for a second before extending my own...and instantly regretted it.

That same feeling of sparks began to spread through the contact with his skin, making me lose concentration.

And his touch...it felt so nice and warm, making me painfully aware of thoughts that I was trying so desperately to suppress.

After planting a small kiss on the back of my hand, he let me go, and I found I’d forgotten whatever I was meant to be saying.

"See? All is forgiven," he joked.

I took a second to blink and clear my head before scrambling to put back on the face I needed to show, trying to not let on just how affected I really was.

"H-how about I buy you a drink in apology?" I managed to say, acting on auto-pilot.