The Duke’s study was a room steeped in history. Adorned with portraits of the Lokir lineage, each face was a reminder of the legacy Kerrigan was expected to uphold. The Duke sat behind his massive desk, his fingers steepled as he regarded Kerrigan with a measured gaze.Kerrigan stood before him, her posture straight and her expression composed, though she could feel the weight of her grandfather’s scrutiny. The lunch had been tense, filled with unspoken expectations and subtle power plays, and she knew this private meeting would be no different.“Kerrigan,” the Duke began, his voice calm but firm. Then he gestured for her to sit across from him. Once she did he began, “I’ve been thinking about your decision to visit Lokir. It’s a journey that, under normal circumstances, I would encourage. But these are not normal circumstances.”Kerrigan nodded slightly, waiting for him to continue. She had anticipated this conversation, but that didn’t make it any easier to navigate.The Duke leaned
Conor made his way across the estate’s courtyard toward the helipad as a faint breeze stirred the leaves of the ancient trees that lined the path.He walked with purpose, his thoughts heavy with the events of the past few days. Kerrigan had been clear in her decision to visit Lokir, and he had resolved to support her in every way he could. Yet, the doubts planted by the Duke and the presence of Prince Khalid continued to gnaw at him.Faolan trotted beside him, her ears pricked and her gaze alert, as if sensing his unease. The Dragoons were nearby, quietly preparing for their departure. Parker was working with Evelynn and Gabriella loading the luggage, while Reilynn was engaged in a quiet conversation with one of the Duke’s guardsmen.As Conor neared the helipad, he noticed a familiar figure standing by the fountain in the center of the courtyard, his posture relaxed as he admired the water’s graceful arc. The prince turned as Conor approached, his expression unreadable but his eyes sh
The helicopter touched down on the sprawling lawn of the Lokir estate with a soft thud, sending a swirl of dust and fallen leaves into the air.The estate, nestled in the rolling hills of central Targu, was a testament to the Lokir family’s history—a grand mansion surrounded by acres of land, with the remnants of a once-thriving vineyard stretching out in neat rows to the west. The stone walls of the mansion were weathered by time, the ivy-covered facade adding a sense of quiet dignity to the building.The eastern edge looked out over a large lake, forest lining the edges giving the whole area a tranquil feeling of a forgotten era.As the rotors slowly came to a stop, Kerrigan stepped out of the helicopter, her gaze sweeping over the familiar landscape. The Lokir estate had been her childhood home, a place filled with fading memories of her parents and the life they had built before it was all taken away.Now, standing on the grounds again, she felt a pang of longing and sorrow, mixed
The Lokir estate was vast, its many rooms and hallways a labyrinth of memories and forgotten histories. As Kerrigan and Conor made their way through the mansion, the air was thick with the weight of the past, each step echoing with the whispers of those who had once walked these halls.Faolan padded silently beside Kerrigan, her presence a comforting reminder that she was not alone, even as she delved deeper into the mysteries of her family’s past. The dog’s ears twitched occasionally, as if she could sense the tension that hung in the air.They moved from room to room, each one revealing a new layer of the estate’s history. There were the formal sitting rooms, with their ornate furniture and heavy drapes, where Kerrigan’s parents had entertained guests and conducted business. There were the bedrooms, still furnished as they had been years ago, as if waiting for their occupants to return.In one of the guest rooms, Kerrigan found a wardrobe filled with clothes that had belonged to her
Kerrigan slowly woke to the first light of dawn filtered through the heavy curtains of the Lokir estate. The previous day’s discoveries still weighed heavily on her mind, the pieces of a puzzle she had only just begun to assemble.Faolan stirred at the foot of her bed, her head lifting as Kerrigan stretched and sat up. Her eyes were alert, ready for whatever the day might bring.She dressed quickly, the early morning chill of the old manor biting at her skin as she moved through the quiet corridors of the mansion. She found herself drawn back to the private library, the room where she had uncovered so much of her parents’ hidden past.As she stepped inside, she wasn’t surprised to find Conor already there, seated at the desk with a stack of letters in front of him.“Couldn’t sleep?” Kerrigan asked, her voice still rough from sleep as she joined him.Conor looked up, offering her a small, tired smile. “Not much,” he admitted. “There’s too much going on in my head. After everything we f
As if sensing her thoughts, Faolan nuzzled Kerrigan’s leg, her warm presence a reminder of the loyalty and strength that had always been a part of her life.Kerrigan sighed, running a hand through Faolan’s fur as she made her decision. “We should head back to Velyki today,” she said, her voice steady despite the uncertainty she felt. “There’s more to uncover here, but we can’t ignore what’s happening at Dragon Corporation. And the longer we stay away, the more suspicious it will look.”Conor nodded, though she could see the reluctance in his eyes. “You’re right. But we should take these letters with us, in case we find anything that connects to what’s happening now.”Kerrigan agreed, gathering the letters and placing them carefully in her bag. As she did, she felt a pang of regret—there were so many memories here, so much of her family’s history that she hadn’t had time to explore.But she knew that she couldn’t let herself get lost in the past, not when the future of Dragon Corporati
Kerrigan sat in her office at Dragon Corporation, staring at the papers spread across her desk but unable to focus on any of them.The past few days had been a whirlwind—returning from the Duke's estate, the revelations at Lokir, and now back to the grind of running one of the kingdom's largest corporations. Yet, amidst all the chaos, there was one thing that weighed on her mind more than anything else: Conor.Since they’d returned from her grandfather's estate, Conor had been different. He was still there, of course—always by her side in meetings, quick to offer support when needed—but something had shifted.The easy camaraderie they once shared, the unspoken connection that had always been a comfort, seemed strained now, almost mechanical. He had become more professional detached, more distant, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that something between them had profoundly changed, and it was her fault.Kerrigan sighed, running a hand through her hair as she leaned back in her chair.
Kerrigan had been trying to focus on the documents in front of her, but her mind kept wandering back to the meeting with Theo Bryant.It had gone well, better than she’d expected, but the unease that had settled in her chest since their return from the Duke's estate had only grown. Conor had been distant, more so with each passing day, and she couldn’t help but feel that she was losing him.As she flipped through another page, a soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. Natalie stepped into the office, her expression serious as she held a folded newspaper in her hand."Kerrigan, you should see this," Natalie said, her tone cautious.Kerrigan raised an eyebrow, motioning for her to hand it over. "What’s going on?"Natalie hesitated before handing her the newspaper. "It’s today’s edition of the Golan Tribune. I thought you might want to see it before the others do."Kerrigan took the paper and unfolded it, her breath catching in her throat as she saw the front page. There, in sta