Novels by Rennie Xena

ELARA'S POV The study door clicked open, and Lucian stepped out, leaving me alone with the impossible request: steal keys from the master thieves or lose my life from my nosiness.Getting the key itself was not an easy task. Lucian’s instructions were clear, but the task itself was a direct violation of every moral rule Cedric ever taught me. I am not a thief. Yet, here I was, trapped between my desire for vengeance and my desperate need to protect myself.I was supposed to be in the kitchen prepping for the evening service, but my hands were shaking too badly to chop any of the ingredients. The head chef kept giving me weird glances as I tried to dice the carrots, which slipped from my grip.I excused myself to the staff bathroom, my mind racing. I remembered Lucian had brought out an hourglass and flipped it over which counted as time to act before his parents returned to their study.I waited until I heard the distant sounds of the Raye family; Damian and Selene Raye, and their ad

ELARA'S POV The air crackled with a silence that felt heavy enough to crush me. Lucian's question, Why is the death of your family in the files of mine? hung in the air, a final, lethal accusation."Answer me!" Lucian demanded, his voice low, a command that allowed no resistance.I swallowed hard, forcing myself to look past the coldness in his eyes. I saw a flicker of something else. Not guilt, but maybe genuine confusion, or perhaps just cold annoyance at being cornered by the help he clearly underestimated."You already know the answer," I finally managed, my voice raw. "Your parents. The masks. The fire. No one is that dumb"Lucian straightened up, crossing his arms over his chest. He didn't deny it. He didn't flinch. "Both parties as stated in the file were involved in high-stakes acquisition, Elara. They take things. Sometimes the removal process goes sideways. Why are you here? Are you a private investigator?""No." I shook my head fiercely. "I'm a survivor. They burned my hom

ELARA'S POV Lucian was still breathing heavily in the chair, seemingly tired and dozing, but I didn't believe it for a second. He wouldn't be that vulnerable. He was too alert, too guarded, too sharp to sleep in front of staff.I needed to move him and get him out of her. And I had to do it quickly, before Liora’s threat turned into action or before anyone caught a whiff of whom I truly was and my intentions."Mr. Raye," I called out, my voice flat, interrupting the thick silence. "It's getting late. If you plan on still working, I need to adjust the light levels here, but I can't do it with you in the path of the ladder."He sighed deeply, a sound of pure irritation. "Just do your job, Elara."I could see the fine lines of annoyance etched on his forehead but I pushed further, "My job is to maintain the environment. If you hurt yourself on my ladder, that's poor maintenance which I'd be held accountable for. Please, sir." I injected just enough stubborn professionalism into my tone

ELARA'S POV The next morning, I was back. The atmosphere was different this time; instead of a fill-in maid, I was now a "temporary personal aide." The pay was triple the amount offered by the agency, billed directly to the Raye family. Lucian Raye had personally arranged it.The main house staff, led by a stern housekeeper who looked like she swallowed lemons, eyed me with open suspicion. The unspoken message was clear: You’re too expensive and too new. You won’t last.My first task wasn't cleaning, but organization specifically, Lucian Raye's massive, antique library."The young master wants everything alphabetized by the original publishing date," the housekeeper said, her voice dripping with dislike. "And do not touch his desk."I nodded, happy for the detailed work. It gave me a chance to be alone and, more importantly, to observe.The library was huge, stretching two stories, filled with rare leather-bound volumes and banned books that I was amazed to see were in existence. I

ELARA'S POV"Get your hands off me!" I hissed, wrenching my arm from the guard's grasp.The expensive linen tablecloth in my hand was soaking wet, stained with the kind of crimson wine that cost more than my rent.I hadn't even been in the Raye manor for five minutes, and already, I'd ruined a thousand dollar setup. I probably won't be able to pay for this event if I work for a month."You know the rules, girl," the guard muttered, his voice a low arrogant rumble. "No unauthorised contact. You clean, you leave. Pronto!"I didn't argue. I just stared at the ruined cloth, feeling the familiar, cold knot of dread twist in my stomach. Elara, you need this money.My job was simple: personal domestic services assigned through the agency and today, I was replacing a staff member who'd called in sick at one of the city's most exclusive estates. The Raye estate. It was massive and polished with marble; a quiet, oppressive wealth. It was the kind of place you walked into and felt instantly sma