“Is that a problem?” he asked, looking down at her.
She quickly shook her head, and a massive steel door that was embedded into the mountain wall opened, and out walked an elderly gentleman. He wore a dark suit, reminding her of a butler from earlier times. He met them halfway before stopping in front of them.
“Master Vander and Ms. Adams,” he greeted them.
“Farta,” Vander replied.
“Welcome to Dragon’s Keep, Milady.” Farta nodded to Faye.
“Thank you.” She took in her surroundings.
“We have a hot meal prepared for you in the breakfast nook,” Farta announced and waved them by.
Vander led her to the door through which Farta had exited.
“Excellent. We were in a rush when we left Faye’s home, and neither of us were able to eat.” Vander led her down a darkened stairwell, where candlelit sconces lined the drab area.
“I can’t believe you live in a real castle,” she exclaimed, excited to be there. She couldn’t wait to explore and learn more about Vander.
“This home has been in my family’s possession for centuries. My parents built my brother and me homes as gifts for coming into adulthood.”
“Wow,” she murmured. The only things her parents were able to give her when she’d turned eighteen was to co-sign for her student loans in order for her to go to college. Her parents were not rich by any means but stressed the importance of furthering her education. She didn’t regret it one bit, and soon, those loans would be paid off.
“You’ll have time to explore to your heart’s content. I can hear the excitement in your voice.” Vander chuckled. “Farta, can you assign someone to give her a tour?” Vander asked and came upon a door.
She had lost count of how many flights they had walked down. He opened the door and waved her in.
Her mouth dropped open. She passed through the doorway. She felt as if she were in a fairy tale. This place couldn’t be real. She glanced down the hallway and found it to be grand, with priceless artwork on the walls and heirlooms on tables.
“Wow,” she breathed. She was at a loss for words as she stood there. She walked over to a painting on the wall that captured her attention.
“Do you like it?” He came to stand next to her.
Farta brushed past them and continued down the hall. “I will assign Dalma to assist Ms. Adams.”
“It’s beautiful. Dalma?” She tore her eyes off the abstract painting. That green-eyed monster named jealousy reared her nasty head. Who was this female who would beassignedto her?
“Dalma is one of the house servants. She’s been with our family for years, and she knows everything about this place, and me.”
“She does, does she?” Faye batted her eyes at Vander playfully. On the inside, she was just a little jealous. Who was this woman? How long had she been with Vander? And has she reallybeenwith him?
“There’s nothing to be jealous about.” Vander laughed. Grabbing her hand, he pulled her behind him. “She used to be my nanny and decided to stay on with me when I moved into my own home. Hopefully, one day, she’ll be the nanny of my children.”
“Oh.” That was the only response that came to mind. She looked away, and her cheeks grew warm. He was able to read her so well. She glanced back at him and found a certain twinkle in his eye.
“She will love you,” he claimed.
They walked through the castle.
She tried to pay attention to where they were going, but there were so many twists and turns, she couldn’t keep up. If she were to try to navigate the halls on her own, she was sure she would get lost.
“This place is beautiful, and massive. It would take me days to explore it.”
“Thank you. You should be here for a few days, hopefully. Once we find Gamair and destroy him, you will be able to return home. Now, let me feed you.”
He tucked her under his arm, and they walked through a set of French doors.
The breakfast nook was a room that was encased in glass. The rounded dome of the ceiling was sheer glass, allowing them to see the sky. She just knew that on a beautiful clear day, with the sun shining, the view of the room would be magnificent.
