Stop Her

After dinner, Vespera quickly wiped her mouth, mumbled something about needing to run an errand, grabbed her bag, and rushed out. Alaric, watching her leave, thought she must be going stir-crazy from being cooped up at home, so maybe getting out for a bit would do her some good. But then he remembered Evelyn and her persistent meddling, so he discreetly sent two bodyguards to follow Vespera.

Alaric sat down to browse the latest news. Not long after, a servant rushed in, announcing, “Zane’s back!”

Alaric blinked and saw Zane stride into the living room. “Oh? Soraya finally let you go?”

Zane kicked off his shoes, collapsed onto the couch, and groaned, “Don’t even mention that woman. She makes me sick. If it weren’t for Cheryl, I’d have tossed her off the balcony ages ago!”

Alaric chuckled, “Soraya’s a goddess to some, you know. What’s she done to make you hate her so much?”

Zane rolled his eyes. “Elowen’s someone else’s goddess, too, and yet you can’t stand her either.”

Alaric’s express