Chương 211: I Will Go Where Tori Goes

A thud was heard behind her, and she looked over her shoulder. Montan had dropped a package in his hands and Ewan was standing behind him with wide eyes and a dropped jaw. Tori inwardly grimaced. She looked back at Axton.

"I didn't mean... why are you covering your chest?" Axton's wide gray eyes looked at her with awe as his arms crossed over his broad chest. He shifted his gaze, but didn't lower his arms.

"No reason."

"Go do it in your room," Piers said from the sofa. Ewan let out a strange squeak and Tori looked back at him and Montan. She narrowed her eyes.

"Whatever is going in your head, that's not it." She looked back at Axton and restrained the urge to kick his legs.

"Come on. Get up and go to your room. This won't take long."

"Tori..." Ewan's voice was quiet and he took a hesitant step forward. His eyes flickered from her to Piers and back.

"What about His Highness?" Tori stared at him with a deadpan expression.

"I'm going to write a blessing charm on Axton. The bigger it is, the stronger and longer lasting." Relieved looks filled Ewan and Montan's faces. The panic and worry that Montan had, which if she were honest was a bit insulting, turned into gratitude and he bowed his head.

"Thank you, my lady." He lifted his head and she could see some curiosity in his face.

"May I watch?" Ewan leaned closer to him and crinkled his eyes.

"Hey... don't make it weird."

"Tori is still practicing this particular style, so it is not suitable to be viewed by others yet," Piers told them. She threw him a thankful look. At least Piers understood her. Montan's shoulders fell, disappointed, but he still gave an understanding nod. He bent down and picked up the package.

"Brother, I brought you some dried foods and bread for your trip," he said. He looked at Tori.

"I bought it from Duel Cafe, my lady. Manager Somerset said he could deduct the cost from my pay." Tori waved her hand.

"Don't worry about it. I'll take care of it." Montan shook his head.

"No, my lady. I want to give this to my brother using my own money.' Axton drew on his lips and bit them, looking at both Montan and Tori with thoughtful expressions. He turned his head towards Piers.

"Do you see this? Look how my little brother and sister fight to support me." Piers kept his eyes on the papers he was reading and shifted through them with an air of nonchalance.

"I urge you not to brag about devoted siblings when mine stalked me outside a library window for several years starting from when he was four." Ewan and Tori both drew their heads back with disturbed expressions. Axton snorted, but got up to accept the bundle Montan had prepared for him. After looking through it and praising him for his thoughtfulness, he told Montan to take a seat or help Ewan, who was helping clean armor.

"Learning to clean your battle wear is one of the first things you learn at La Garda. Ewan, show him how to do it," Axton said.

"I'm going to have Tori write my blessing charm." Ewan gave him a small salute and returned to his seat. Montan, eager to help Axton in any way, followed him to watch closely. Tori followed Axton to his bedroom and looked around as she walked through the door. This was the first time she'd been there. Whenever she'd gone to Piers' flat, she'd remained in the living area outside and had never gone into any of their personal rooms.

"Does this bedroom have no windows?" she asked with a frown. Ilyana liked natural light. Axton shook his head as he grabbed his desk chair and moved it towards her.

"No, this is an inner room.

"Only the rooms across the hall have windows. There is a flat on the other side that mirrors this one that has the same issue with the windows." Tori pursed her lips and frowned.

"Is anyone renting that flat right now?"

"No. Initially, Piers and I were going to get to one side of the building each, but I was concerned about his safety and made him live with me," Axton said with a hint of pride in his voice. Tori could only imagine how annoyed Piers had been.

"The other side has been remodeled in a similar way, though it will need furniture. Are you interested in renting it?"

"Piers is letting me rent the entire house when Ilyana and I got to Université," Tori told him. Axton cocked his head to the side and furrowed his brows.

"That's next fall."

"Yes."

"... then... we have to move out."

"Yes." Axton frowned.

"That bastard didn't tell me we had to move out!" Tori rolled her eyes.

"You don't need to live so close to Université at this point. Just go live at the Lunar Pavilion. Your apartment will be completed by then and you'll be close to the Imperial Palace. Piers will be moving back, so you'll need to be in close proximity." Axton still scowled.

"He could've at least told me!" He marched to the door and threw it open.

"Piers! Why didn't you tell me you were forcing me out!"

"I'm not forcing you; we're moving back to the palace after we finish Université. What reason do you have to stay here if you're not going to school?"

"All my things are here!" Axton choked back.

"Then move your things." Piers sounded as if it were an obvious action and Axton grit his teeth. Axton scowled and Tori called his name.

"Axton, you can deal with that when you get back. If you need help moving-""I won't need help moving. I just didn't plan to move so soon." He grumbled and slammed the door. He grasped the hem of his loose, white shirt and lifted his arms, pulled it up and over his head. He tossed the garment onto the bed and sat down on the chair.

"And I was hoping he'd rent one of the flats below or upstairs to Montan." He said the last sentence in an annoyed, but mainly disappointed voice. Montan was his only blood relative left and Axton really valued him.

"Sit with your front to the seat back. I'm going to draw the charm on your back," Tori told him.

"And he can still do that." Axton snorted and stood up, flipped the chair around and then sat back down. He crossed his arms over the top of the seat back and leaned forward.

"Didn't you say that he was going to rent the entire building to you?"

"Okay, then I will rent one of the spare flats to your brother. What is Piers going to do? Stop me? Besides," Tori said, placating.

"If Henrik and Albert get accepted into Université, they're looking into renting some of the rooms for convenience, anyway."

"Have you and Ilyana been accepted?" Axton furrowed his brows. Applications for the various academic programs in Université shouldn't have been open yet. A few particularly talented students around the empire were often approached to enter Université before they graduated from their secondary school, but that was rare. All Tori knew was that top students in Lycée were often scouted. Kasen had been invited and so had Piers.

"Ilyana already received an invitation for several schools within Université offering positions in their programs. She is still deciding on what to focus on and will also take the formal assessment test in a few months to establish a ranking." Ilyana didn't want anyone to question her ability when she entered Université. Tori didn't care about her ranking and didn't plan to take the assessment test, but wanted to support Ilyana, so they were going to take it together. She herself didn't need to take it.

"I also received a formal invitation to join crystal research and studies." Master Ramos almost threatened the head of crystals about accepting Tori, though in the end, it was decided that with Tori's already established work and research on the matter, they were determined to bring her in. She looked over Axton's broad back. He had a few scars, but they healed all well and were mostly noticeable unless one looked closely. Overall, it was smooth and muscular, with a rich warm color.

She removed her crystal pendant from her neck and adjusted the mem crystal until one point was peeking out from the wire wrap. Tori thought about the kind of charm she wanted to put on his back and visualized it before she grounded and began. First, it was a large circle, followed by the lines of sacred geometry. Neither of them talked through the entire process. Axton was afraid to break her concentration and Tori didn't want to get distracted and make a mistake. The protecting charm was important.

Just like Master B'alan had told her, the larger the charm, the more effective it would be. That was why many tattoos often covered large portions of a person's body and in some places, warriors were covered in them. Kasen's blessing charm had taken a few minutes at most, and it was quite elaborate for what it was. Axton's took twice as long and was very detailed. She also included Old Sulfae to increase energy control through terra crystal. After all, Axton was going underground and through some caves.

Safety first. She wiped the thin sheen of sweat off her forehead and stepped back. Axton had flinched a few times, but he didn't complain. Light red marks could be seen against his skin from where the mem crystal scraped over, but it didn't break his skin nor did it seem to hurt. Overall, Tori was satisfied.

"All right, you're done," she said. She put her mem crystal back on and fumbled with her bracelet. She took out the terra crystal from its slot.

"That this with you. If you're trapped or caved in, you can use this to move earth." Axton looked over his shoulder and down at the crystal resting on Tori's palm "I don't know how to use crystals."

"You know how to ground and activate, don't you?" she asked in a stern voice. He nodded.

"Then ground and activate, then visualize energy while clutching the crystal as a wave of water. Imagine it pushing dirt and stone or shielding you like an umbrella." Axton was doubtful and gave her a questioning look.

"Does that work?"

"Only when you do it right," Tori said.

"You can practice when you take rests while traveling. If you have questions, call me."

"I can't. I'm required to be no contact during my mission." Tori frowned.

"Then just depend on the blessing charm. It's what saved my brother." Axton nodded.

"It does feel a bit... warm."

"Use it and when you come back, tell me what happened." He paused and squinted his eyes at her.

"Are you using me to experiment with a crystal charm?" Tori stared at him for a moment.

"It's dual purpose. It benefits both you and me." She said it with such shamelessness, Axton frowned. She sighed and grabbed his shirt before giving it back to him.

"Just trust me. I can't be there to protect you, so this is the best I can do." Axton scoffed and took his shirt.

"I am one of the best swordsmen in the empire and I'm experienced in the battlefield. I don't need you to protect me."

"Oh, so you're going to cross swords with rocks and dirt? My apologies. I didn't mean to doubt your ability to fight natural elements." She let out a small snort of indifference and left the room.

"Finished?" Piers asked as she returned to the sofa. She nodded.

"I did my best." Axton walked out of the hallway, stretching his arms over his chest. Ewan asked if he felt any different and Axton shook his head.

"No, but Tori says it'll work. I just have to trust Tori."

"I used to feel a bit bad for lying to him and hiding all of this," Tori said as she laid across the day bed and stared up at the ceiling of the room above the cafe. Her legs hung off the edge, leaving room for Ilyana on the bed.

"But now that we have to do double the work to cancel it, I don't feel so bad anymore." Ilyana sat on the edge of the daybed, leaning against the wall as she crossed a name off a list.

"I didn't realize how many people Duke Axton knew. I only always see him around Prince Piers and imperial knights." She wrinkled her nose and looked at the list.

"To think he knew so many people." Henrik sighed and double checked the vendor list.

"Duke Axton is very amiable. I'm not surprised." He closed the folio in front of him and let out a heavy sigh.

"All right. The catering and musicians have been put on hold and agreed to reschedule once we have a new date." You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. Tori lifted up her comcry weakly.

"I called the duchesses and knights we invited to let them know."

"Notices canceling Duke Axton's party have also been sent out and most should already have been received," Ilyana told them.

"Mr. Merced is storing the decorations for later use."

"As long as we use them eventually, we won't have wasted money," Tori said. Just because Piers was paying for all of it didn't mean they could burn through the budget without remorse.

"This was sudden. I can't believe Prince Piers sent him to Osten without warning knowing that we were planning his party," Ilyana frowned with disapproval at Piers. Tori could not tell them that Axton volunteered himself to aid in a mission on behalf of the General Marquis.

"He needed someone he could trust to go, so Axton was the ideal person to send. Anyway, we're reaching the end of the semester and we're all busy with the final Lycée project reports. You two also have to prepare for the Université exam." Henrik groaned and slumped back against his chest.

"Please don't remind me. I thought that these semester's tests would be the end of it, but now I have to study for the Université entrance exam." Ilyana let out a small click of her tongue.

"You'll be fine. You're studying with me. If I can get Ewan into La Garda, I can get you into Université."

"All right, first of all, La Garda and Université are two different schools and Ewan also needed to pass physical exams. Second, don't put me and Ewan on the same academic level," Henrik said in a proud voice. Tori raised a brow and turned her head towards him.

"Didn't Ewan beat you in ranking last year?"

"That is not the point-""Tori, your comcry." Ilyana pointed at the compact beside Tori on the bed. Tori lazily picked it up and flipped it open. She read the name on the crystal and swung her legs, sitting up on the edge of the daybed as she slid her fingers across.

"Mama?" she asked in a barely contained voice. She'd been expecting a call from her family any day now with important news.

"It's a girl." Antonia's voice was filled with warmth and tenderness.

"A healthy baby girl." Tori drew in her lips and bit them to keep from screaming aloud. She looked towards Ilyana and grabbed her hand excitedly.

"What did they name her?"

"Valeria Catalina Njala Idunndottir de Guevera," her mother replied.

"Light brown hair and blue eyes like Idunn."

"How is Idunn?" Tori asked. Childbirth was an extreme sport as far as she was concerned. Her sister-in-law hadn't had any complications during her pregnancy, but one could never be too certain. Her mother chuckled.

"Idunn is doing well. The contractions started this morning. Labor took her thirty minutes. Valeria was very good and didn't delay. They are both resting right now. Your brother is being greedy and will not let anyone else hold Valeria. He says he needs to hold her the longest so they will bond." Antonia chuckled.

"He did the same with you. Your Papa was so angry." Tori chuckled as her eyes reddened. She wished she could've been there for the birth of her niece, but at the very least she'd see her soon.

"How are Fifi and Robi?" New siblings introduced less than a year after they'd been adopted could be jarring and Tori was concerned about how they would adjust, though her family had been doing their best to communicate and reassure the two. There was also one bigger concern that the family had been grappling with in the later stages of Idunn's pregnancy. Robert had been unusually anxious and finally told her mother that he remembered his own birth mother dying just after giving birth to Fiona.

"It's good that Kasen arrived before the birth," her mother's voice turned serious.

"Robi was exceptionally anxious and it was difficult to calm him. He'd written a pile of charms for Idunn's health." Tori lowered her eyes as her heart ached.

"Is he all right?"

"He cried when it started, and then he and Fifi stayed with Idunn and the baby when she was resting to be assured that Idunn was fine. Fifi gave her little cousin one of her plush chickens, Nugget." Tori took a deep breath and nodded.

"Okay, that's good. She and I discussed that we are going to do a blessing dance for the trifecta ceremony. Can you have the costume for Saphira's blessing dance prepared for us?"

"Of course, I'll have it ready by the time you arrive."

"Thanks, Mama. I'll let you rest, too. You sound tired," Tori chuckled.

"Tell Sebby to call me when he and Idunn are rested. I won't bother them yet." She and her mother ended the call and Ilyana looked at her worried.

"Why was Robi so anxious?" Tori took a deep breath.

"His birth mother died shortly after giving birth to Fifi. He had seen the whole thing and knows how difficult it is for children, especially a newborn, without a mother. He didn't tell anyone this, not even the orphanage. My family had been trying to coax him and reassure him that Idunn was healthy and would be fine, but when it came time for Idunn to go into labor, all his worries must've come out."

"Robi and Fifi are very attached to your family," Henrik said.

"Especially Robi, who is old enough to remember his life before the orphanage. If something happened to anyone and he lost another person, even if it's his aunt, he'd be devastated."

"Marquis families are very close," Tori replied.

"Robi and Fifi have been reaffirmed of their positions in the family since they were adopted. Aside from title inheritance, they are treated no differently and see Idunn as their immediate family, as well as know that they will have a duty to love and protect the baby. Sebby and Kasey lead by example. And Robi watched her belly grow, so he must've held back his worries for a long time."

"You're lucky to have such a close family," Ilyana said with a sigh.

"In my family, it's just us four... well, five, since Mommy is pregnant, but the baby won't come for a while."

"You don't talk much about any extended family," Henrik said.

"We all always thought it was just you four, as well. Do you have cousins?" Ilyana's face darkened.

"Dad no longer talks to his brother or his brother's family, so we don't consider them family."

"Was there a fight?" Tori asked. Ilyana took a deep breath, her face carrying an uncharacteristic scowl.

"When my grandfather died, Dad was still underaged. His older brother was supposed to support him and had promised my grandfather that he would support my dad until he at least finished secondary school. However, as soon as my grandfather died, my uncle kicked Dad out of the house. My uncle had just gotten married and was expecting a child. Dad had nothing and stayed with friends and neighbors until he was able to get a job logging in the area. As you know, there isn't much around Gorask.

At the time, there weren't many mines for work." Tori furrowed her brows. She knew Baron Agafonov was a self-made man. He'd been awarded the title of baron after saving imperial surveyors and single-handedly improving the economic situation of the region.

"Didn't the Baron already have his title when you were born?" Henrik asked. Ilyana had not been born into poverty. Her father had his business when she was born.

"Almost. He received his title about a year after I was born." Ilyana let out a heavy breath.

"Dad saved some surveyors during a snowstorm, and he learned from them. Using what he knew and surveyed in caves, he went back to my uncle to ask for the portion of his inheritance that had been allotted to him so he could buy the land where he has his mines now."

"Let me guess," Henrik said.

"It was gone?"

"It was gone," Ilyana said with a small snort.

"His brother said that there was no will and no money to give him. Well, my mother, who gave birth to me, was a friend of my dad and was immensely popular. Her family used to be wealthy, but it had fallen into hard times before she was born, but her name apparently still held some weight. Her family didn't have much money and it was just her and her widowed mother. Because she was so beautiful, she was invited to many social events in Gorask.

She sneaked into my uncle's home and found the will, and gave it to my father, who sued my uncle. Dad got the money and as soon as the mine was up and running, married my mother. She was an academic and worked for my father's mine doing sales contracts and logistics. Tori, your Mama would've liked her." Tori gave Ilyana a soft smile. She could tell just by the way that Ilyana spoke of her birth mother that though she had limited time with her, Ilyana thought highly of her.

"What about your grandmother? Your mother's mom?" Henrik asked. Ilyana shook her head.

"She passed away before they were married. Grandma was very old, Dad said. He had her live in his home when she was sick so she could be cared for better, but there wasn't much they could do. When Dad was kicked out, one of the places he stayed was a small shed on Grandma's property, so he was very thankful to her. Mother and Grandma had a very difficult life, both were constantly ill. Mother passed shortly after I was born, as well."

Tori knew this was one of the reasons why Ilyana was particularly affectionate to Fifi; she'd been in a similar situation.

"How old were you?" Henrik asked. Ilyana gave him a wry smile.

"Five months. My uncle tried to take the opportunity to introduce Dad to other women...."

"Your mother just passed," Henrik said in an annoyed voice.

"How could he do that?"

"He claimed that I was so young and needed a mother. I had a nanny and a nursemaid, but 'nothing replaces a wife'." Ilyana sneered.

"They kept saying that for years until Dad married my last nanny. My mom." Her eyes reddened.

"It was hard before Mom." This part Tori knew about. Ilyana was in a precarious situation immediately after her mother passed. Her father was rich and a widower. He had an infant daughter. There was no shortage of people trying to weasel themselves into their lives, to take advantage of a grieving man and his helpless baby. It was difficult finding a trustworthy nanny, especially in a low populated place like Gorask.

The current Baroness Agafonova had come from a village just outside of Buchenburg after replying to an ad the Baron put out. Ilyana had at least a dozen nannies before Baroness Agafonova arrived. For various reasons, they were all fired. Sometimes, they had ulterior motives, such as aiming for the Baron. Other times, they were caught stealing. But most of the time, they had been neglecting or abusing Ilyana. Baron Agafonov, who loves his daughter more than life, noticed quickly. Unfit nannies often ignored Ilyana.

Her education would be abnormally strict, and she'd be hit if she didn't act satisfactorily. If she was taken out to socialize with other local children, which was something her father wanted, as he wanted her to grow up with a respectable social circle, she was ignored or reproached by her peers, their nannies, and even their families because she was 'new money' and had no mother. To aggravate the situation, Ilyana was a beautiful child. Soft features, rosy cheeks, thick brown locks and big, watery brown eyes.

Children jealous of her looks and wealth tormented her to the point where she preferred to stay away from them. Without a mother present, or even a supportive nanny and maid, others would often tell Ilyana that when her father remarried, she'd be left behind and forgotten. They had told her that she'd be abandoned.

The truth was far from that, of course, and Ilyana knew that now, but when she was a little girl, hearing how she'd be unwanted over and over again while being taunted made her quiet and withdrawn, unable to trust her peers. It was Baroness Agafonova who appeared and sheltered her, gave her a backer, and showered her with affection that gave Ilyana confidence. Unfortunately, the Baroness was still of common birth and she was also looked down upon by the older wealthy circle in the area.

She did her best to protect Ilyana, even confronting those who accused Ilyana, then still a girl, of doing unconscionable things to attract wealthy male heirs. Other daughters of wealthy families were jealous. Ilyana was pretty, smart, and rich. They couldn't compete with her in those aspects, so they degraded her reputation. By the time Ilyana applied to Lycée, she had stopped going to social gatherings in Gorask altogether.

But she still had some lingering trauma from the hate her face brought her, even going to Lycée. Ilyana had worked hard to prove she was more than just her face and Tori hated that she had to when Ilyana was so wonderful. Tori's determination to one day visit Gorask and see those jerks who did her best friend dirty increased.

"You know, when anyone mentions your name at school, the first thing that comes to mind is 'first in our class' and 'review master'," Henrik said as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"The first thing I remember when I heard your name and met you was 'she's the one who came second'." Ilyana nodded, proud.

"That's why I don't want to move back to Gorask. In Gorask, everyone only thinks I'm a pretty face with a lot of money, but here, I'm smart. Here, I'm capable and respected as hardworking."

"Do you plan to stay here or Viclya?" Henrik said.

"I thought you wanted to move to Viclya after Université."

"I will go where Tori goes."

"Tori plans to travel around the world."

"I will go where Tori needs me to go." Ilyana corrected herself.

"Besides, Viclya is only a day's travel from Horizon, and we can do most of our work from Viclya. I like it there; it's a bit more relaxed and all the good food is closer together." Henrik nodded in agreement.

"That's true. I also plan to have a permanent resident in Viclya but do work in Horizon." Tori gave him a curious look.

"Is that a good idea? You're an important member of the merchant's guild, Henrik. Not to mention all your family's businesses here in the city."

"I don't plan to make the move immediately," Henrik said.

"You're right; I do need to remain in Horizon for business, but eventually, I'd like to also live in Viclya." Ilyana looked at Tori and nodded.

"We're not asking for our own island, but perhaps something on the hills on the west shore." Tori narrowed her eyes." We as in....?"

"Sonia, JP, Albert, me, Henrik, Ewan."

"Ewan is going to be an imperial knight. He'll live in Horizon in the barracks and such," Tori told her.

"I mean eventually, such as after he retires," Ilyana said. Tori looked at them curiously.

"Are you all just planning to follow me forever?"

"Yes, it's convenient," Henrik replied, unabashed. Tori snorted in defiance.

"Also, when the delta opens up, my parents also want to buy some property on the west shore to retire."

"They're going to retire already?" Tori furrowed her brows. Henrik sighed.

"They might as well be. I'm doing most of the work. Also, they think that Annika will be able to live better in Viclya since it's a bit slower pace and the environment is good."

"How is she doing in the village, by the way?" Ilyana asked, leaning forward.

"Better," Henrik said with a nod.

"Different from before, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. She's a bit more cautious now and definitely not as stubborn as she was before. We talk more now. In fact, I feel as if we're talked more in the last few months than we had in our entire lives prior. She's more receptive to what I and my parents tell her, too. As terrible as it was, I think the experience with the Cowman helped her mature a bit." Tori nodded.

"It's a few more years until the delta opens up, but we have already begun planning land divisions. I'm going to bring some with me for my brothers to review when I go back."

"When are you going back?" Ilyana asked.

"Are you going to stay for a bit after our final exam or leave immediately afterwards?" Tori sighed once more.

"Immediately afterwards. I want to spend as much time with my family as possible, especially with Valeria just being born. The ship is going directly from Viclya to Tres Arcos, so when I'm in transit, I won't be able to communicate."

"Ewan's going, too," Henrik said.

"He's been trying to figure out what is a good gift for Lord Sebastian's baby."

"The invitation to come is still open if you all want to come, too," Tori said. Both Henrik and Ilyana shook their heads.

"There's too much to do. Final project report, Lionsgate, and Prince Piers' new years party at the Lunar Pavilion," Ilyana said. Any large scale, fancy event was challenging, but what was more challenging was when that event involved the imperial family. The amount of security alone took up a significant amount of time and effort to coordinate.

"Don't hesitate to contact Piers about this. It's his party and he needs to be involved. I've already told him this," Tori said.

"Everything must go well, and he knows it. Especially since his parents will be coming this time."

"Don't worry, we'll make sure everything is up to his demands," Henrik replied.

"Piers has also finished all his mandatory coursework for Lycée, so he will be available to work with you for his party during winter break. The Cabinet also shuts down for winter and before new year, so even if he has official work to do, it should not be urgent. The imperial palace is close to the Lunar Pavilion, too. So, he should have no excuse." Tori dropped her bag onto the floor of the ship cabin as her mouth dropped.

Her father had sent Sur Oro all the way to Viclya to pick her and Ewan up to go to Presidio. As soon as she finished her final exam, she bid her friends good-bye, told Ilyana to check her ranking for her, and took SIG One to pick up Ewan. Then the two rushed to Viclya, arriving well into the night. Embarkation Island was well lit and still bustling as the last of the ships were preparing to leave.

Guevera Knights welcomed her to the ship, taking the bulk of her things to the storage hold while she and Ewan walked towards the family and guest quarters on the ship. Ewan's room came first, and she told him that they'd go to the galley to eat after they settled in. She pressed a crystal fob against a crystal panel next to the door of the Marquis' room and pushed the door open The light crystals were on and there was an unexpected scent of coffee in the air.

Tori narrowed her eyes at once as her eyes fell on the chairs in the antechamber. On the low, oval table, there was a metal coffee pot and an empty plate of food. Sitting on one chair was a fluffy gray cat and directly across from him, a tall brown-haired man reading a book.

"Piers." Tori's voice dropped as she glared.

"What are you doing here?" The first prince of Soleil lifted his head, met her eyes briefly, and motioned one hand to a small, wrapped box with a big yellow ribbon on the oval coffee table, next to the empty plate.

"I'm going to see my goddaughter."