Chapter 67
Cassian’s face did shift–just not how Isla wanted.
It wasn’t warmth or interest; it was impatience, sharpening by the second.
His cool, distant eyes landed on her, and his voice sliced through like a knife, hitting her square in the chest.
“I didn’t come here for this nonsense,” he said, flat and to the point.
Isla’s beautiful eyes were filled with shock and unwillingness as she listened to Cassian Lysander’s heartless words.
Isla froze, her gorgeous eyes filling with shock and a stubborn refusal to buy it.
Her charm–something every guy around her fell for–felt worthless with this man.
Normally, she’d just snap her fingers, and guys would stumble over each other to win her over. But him? No.
Is he so picky that I don’t even make the cut?‘ That idea slammed into her, making her stomach drop.
But then she brushed it off–no chance.
Family? She was from one of Regalhold’s top five.
Looks? She could outshine any actress and leave the other heiresses eating dust.
Skills? Top five at Regalhold Academy, hands down.
She was absolutely sure no woman alive could beat her at her own game.
And still, this guy wasn’t biting. That’s what really got under her skin.
Before she could sort it out, Cassian’s patience ran out.
His sharp, icy stare locked onto her, practically yelling he was about to snap.
“Where’s the info I asked for?” he pressed.
Isla’s little fists tightened as his words–completely ignoring her confession–hit home.
Then, like she’d settled on something huge, she pulled out a card the size of a tarot deck.
It gleamed green like crystal, with a classic wooden design carved right in the middle–a Starcard. She slid it his way.
“Cassian, this Starcard’s for you!” she said, her voice perky with hope.
As she talked, her eyes stayed glued to his sharp, handsome face.
الحمد الله الله الله
She figured no matter how frosty he was, he couldn’t ignore something this good.
But to her surprise, Cassian glanced at the Starcard, and not even a flicker of want crossed his face.
If anything, he just looked colder, darker.
“I’ll ask one last time,” he said, his voice low and edged with heat. “Where’s SHE?”
Isla could feel the tension rolling off him, thick and risky.
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That raw fear jolted her into action.
*Upstairs!” she spit out. “She’s upstairs!”
Cassian gave a short nod, his cold eyes sweeping over her once before he said. “Come with me.”
Without another look her way, he turned and made a beeline for the banquet hall’s second floor.
Isla stared at his back as he walked off. Her failed confession still stung, but a spark of determination lit up her eyes.
She told herself Cassian’s brush–off was just him being slow to warm up.
No problem–she could play the long game.
She was set on the idea that if she stuck with it, her charm would eventually melt this ice king.
And when it did, he’d regret shutting her down and trip over himself to make it right!
That thought cheered her up fast.
She mentally ran through an excuse for when Cassian didn’t find Raven up there, took a deep breath, and hustled after him.
A
Meanwhile, up in the second–floor banquet hall…
Raven glanced over at Ruth.
Even after seeing Franklin looking so beat down, Ruth’s face didn’t show a drop of satisfaction.
Then Raven’s eyes slid to Franklin, who seemed like he’d run out of steam completely.
“You said it yourself,” she told him coolly. “Your family’s innocent.”
She paused for a second, then added, “You’ve got to own your messes, and that dream of yours–getting the Valor family into the big leagues? That’s still doable.”
Franklin’s head jerked up, a spark lighting in his eyes as he stared at Raven.
If he could see the Valor family climb to the top clans before he kicked it, he’d die with zero regrets.
But a moment later, his look turned cautious as he sized her up.
“What’s it gonna cost me?” he asked, voice tense.
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He wasn’t buying that Raven–someone who’d fought tooth and nail to get where she was would just let old grudges slide.
Raven gave a small smile. “I heard someone in the Valor family once unsealed a Starcard?”
Franklin blinked, thrown off by the question.
Then he nodded slowly. “Yeah,” he said.
He watched her for a beat, surprise and doubt mixing on his face.
“You’ve got a sealed Starcard on you?” he guessed.
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Chapter 67
There were only a few Starcards in all of Vyrdenia–rarer than rare.
And even a sealed one, useless for now, wasn’t something just anybody could snag.
Raven didn’t answer. Instead, she flipped it back on him. “You know how to unseal it?”
Franklin’s eyes flickered as he caught the silent yes in her dodge.
After a second, he met her stare head–on.
“Here’s the deal,” he said. “I’ll tell you how to unseal a Starcard, and you make sure the Valor family gets a solid spot among Regalhold’s elite. Sound good?”
Raven’s stomach dropped a bit when she realized Franklin only knew the how–to, not how to do it himself.
Still, she could see that despite everything Franklin had done to Ruth; and Ruth, however, still gave a damn about the Valor family’s future.
If that’s how it was, Raven didn’t mind helping out.
She gave Franklin a quick nod. “Deal,” she said.
Franklin glanced at the others in the room, then paused as he looked back at Raven.
“You’re the military’s big shot,” he said carefully. “I’m counting on you not bailing on this.”
Raven caught the twist–he was nervous she’d ditch, yet he was pulling the “I trust you” line in front of everyone to lock her in. She let out a quiet laugh.
“Getting the Valor family into Regalhold’s top tier is a one–call favor for me,” she said. “No point in screwing you over.”
“Whoa, that’s wild,” someone muttered.
“Can she really do that?” another guy chimed in.
The Valor family crew sucked in sharp breaths at Raven’s almost smug words.
But nobody doubted she could pull it off.
A military general this young? She had the pull to make it happen with a wave of her hand.
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ان الله الله
Eyes around the room softened as people started imagining the perks of the Valor family hitting it big–half their beef with Raven vanished right then.
“Alright,” Franklin said with a nod.
Franklin Valor nodded after hearing Raven’s words.
He reached up and unclipped a tiny, broken key pendant from his neck, barely bigger than a fingertip.
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“This came from the Valor ancestor who unsealed a Starcard,” he said. “Find the other half, and they’ll click together into a Starkey.
“A Starkey can unlock any sealed item–Starcards included–and it’s got some hefty power beyond that.
“What else it can do? You’ll have to figure that out yourself once you’ve got both pieces.”
Raven took the small silver pendant from Franklin and gave it a quick look,
Then, as she slipped it into her pocket, she glanced at him.
“Any clue where the other half might be?” she asked.
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Chapter 67
Franklin replied, “When our ancestor took off, he handed it to a military higher–up. Unless things have shifted, it’s probably still with Vyrdenia’s top brass.”
Right as Franklin wrapped up, two people stepped into the banquet hall doorway.
One of the Valor family crew noticed and called out fast.
“Who are you two?” he yelled.
The Valors all turned toward the entrance at the sound.
And there they were–Cassian and Isla, walking in.
Cassian’s sharp eyes scanned the room in one clean sweep.
Then, out of nowhere, they locked onto someone.
At the same moment, Raven followed everyone’s stares to the door.
In the next instant, their eyes slammed into each other.
For a split second, it felt like the whole world–every person, every thing—just vanished. All they could see was each other.
Even after five years apart, across lifetimes, even with their faces altered by time…
Right then, they knew–deep in their gut–that this was the love they’d been searching for.
Lucky Draw
