Chapter 219 A Guest Who Was Never Just a Guest

She lowered the device and let it fall onto the bed before turning toward the door.

Ken stepped in with breakfast balanced carefully in his hands. He set it down and pulled out a chair like it was routine. The smell of food filled the chamber as they settled in.

Arianna’s voice still carried faintly from downstairs, loud and unsteady.

“I got another message from Aurelia Model and Fashion this moonrise,” Lyn said between bites.

Ken didn’t look up right away. He kept eating, then finally nodded.

“Third time, right?”

“Yes.”

He leaned back slightly, resting his elbow on the table. “You should meet them. Hear what they actually want. I’ll support you. Whatever you need.”

Lyn watched him for a moment, then gave a small nod.

“Alright.”

At nine in the moonrise, Ken left for his duty.

The rest of the day was spent getting the house ready for dinner.

Arianna wandered from hallway to chamber in barely any clothes, acting as though she lived alone. The two male housekeepers kept their eyes elsewhere whenever she passed. More than once, she tried to bait Lyn into an argument. Lyn simply walked away each time, refusing to give her what she wanted.

Around 11:00 a.m., Emma called to check if she had sent the invitation. She updated her on how far things had gone and what was still left to handle. The call ended a few minutes later. She took a short nap and woke up around 1:30 p.m.

At exactly three o’clock, Lyn and Vireya stepped into the cookhouse and started preparing dinner.

Before five, everything was ready.

Ken arrived home right on time.

She immediately sent one of his drivers to pick up Skylar.

Later, she and Ken sat in the garden with a board game spread out between them.

The sound of a vehicle rolling into the driveway made her head snap up.

Ken’s driver had returned.

And Skylar was with him.

Lyn pushed back her chair so fast the legs scraped against the ground.

She was halfway to her feet when Ken caught her wrist.

A laugh slipped from him as he held on just long enough to keep her there.

“Sit down,” he said.

She shifted, trying to pull free.

“Your cousin is here,” she muttered, eyes flicking past him.

“I can see that.”

Her hand moved again. “Then let me go.”

Ken held on for another second, amusement dancing in his eyes.

“You’re only running because I’m about to win, aren’t you?”

Lyn looked down at the board, then back toward the driveway where Skylar was climbing out of the vehicle.

“Your cousin is here, and I’m excited,” she said with a shrug.

Ken raised an eyebrow.

“Why are you so excited about his arrival?”

Lyn bit back a smile.

“You’ll find out later.”

Ken studied her face for a moment before finally letting go.

The moment he did, she turned and headed toward the garage.

Skylar stepped out of the car, and Lyn froze.

Her eyes moved from him to Ken, then back again.

The same sharp eyes. The same dimples. The same easy smile.

Skylar caught her staring and gave her a wink.

Lyn blinked.

How had she never noticed it before? She had met Skylar twice already, yet somehow she’d missed how much he and Ken looked alike.

Ken shook Skylar’s hand, then pulled him into a quick hug.

Lyn folded her arms and watched them. Standing side by side, they looked more like twins than cousins.

“Where’s Liora?” Ken asked.

Skylar shoved a hand into his pocket. “She wanted to stay home and study. She’s got a surprise quiz tomorrow.”

Then he turned to Lyn.

“Brooklyn Ashford,” he said, spreading his arms dramatically, “I promise you, this dinner is going to be memorable.”

Lyn laughed and took the hand he offered.

“I’ll hold you to that,” she said with a grin.

“I am Skylar Ashford, the second nephew to Ashley Ashford, the highest-ranked High Fang Regent in our kingdom.”

Lyn couldn’t help laughing at that introduction.

“Of course, I know who you are.”

Skylar placed a hand over his chest as though he had been wounded. “That may be true, but I haven’t officially introduced myself.”

“Nice to meet you, Skylar Ashford,” she replied, rolling her eyes.

His grin spread wider. Taking her hand, he held it gently between both of his.

“Now that we’ve been properly introduced, I can tell you that you’re the most gorgeous she-wolf I’ve ever seen.”

The compliment made her smile, but before responding, she glanced toward Ken. She wasn’t sure what she expected to find, yet she found herself searching his face anyway. He stood quietly beside them, his expression unreadable.

When he offered no reaction, she turned back to Skylar.

“Thank you.”

A housekeeper walked past them carrying Skylar’s luggage upstairs. Since Skylar visited often, everyone already knew which chamber belonged to him, and the housekeeper disappeared down the hallway without needing directions.

As the sound of footsteps faded, Ken shifted his attention to his cousin.

“How is your father?”

The playful look on Skylar’s face softened. He slipped his hands into his pockets and lowered his gaze briefly before answering.

“Father is getting old, but he’s doing fine. Liora and I are still upset about the bond severance. We went home for the royal matebond, but neither of us went to see him.”

Ken listened without interrupting. When Skylar finished speaking, he nodded slowly.

“I think it’s time you forgave him. He really wants to see both of you.”

Skylar lifted his head and studied him for a moment.

“He called you?”

Ken shook his head.

“No. He told Ashley.”

Skylar let out a low sigh and looked away, as though he wasn’t sure what to do with that information. The irritation was still there, but beneath it was something else, something that made him remain silent for a few seconds before finally speaking again.

Halfway down the hallway, Skylar slowed and glanced over his shoulder.

Lyn was still staring.

Her gaze moved from him to Ken and back again, as though she still couldn’t get over how much they looked alike.

A laugh escaped him.

Without saying a word, he shook his head and continued upstairs while Ken led Lyn toward the main feeding hall.

The long table had already been set. Dish after dish of traditional Santorini cuisine covered its surface, filling the chamber with rich aromas.

As they approached, Ken pulled out a chair and sat down.

“We got our grandfather’s looks,” he said. “Emma, Audrey, and Liora take after our grandmother.”

Lyn lowered herself into the chair beside him, still smiling.

“Honestly, the resemblance is unbelievable.” She tilted her head and studied him for a moment before adding, “But you’re more handsome.”

The corner of Ken’s mouth twitched.

Lyn winked at him and reached for her glass.

Right on cue, footsteps echoed from the doorway.

She looked up.

Arianna strolled into the dining hall as though she owned the place.

Lyn’s smile widened immediately.

“Perfect timing,” she said warmly.

Arianna didn’t bother asking whether she had been invited. She simply walked in and took in the table spread before them.

Lyn watched her approach, her smile never fading.

She had expected this.

In fact, if Arianna hadn’t shown up on her own, Lyn had planned to send one of her maids to fetch her.

A dinner this important was never going to pass without Arianna making an appearance, and seeing her sitting at the feeding chair now, Lyn felt almost pleased that she had proven her right.

Arianna dropped into a chair and adjusted herself comfortably.

Beside her, Lyn slipped her hand into Ken’s and gave it a gentle squeeze beneath the table.

Ken glanced at her.

She smiled.

The tightness in his shoulders eased, and he settled back in his seat.

Arianna rested her chin on her hand and looked around the table.

“Are you waiting for some wolf?” she asked.

“Yes,” Lyn replied with a pleasant smile. “We’re expecting a guest.”

Arianna arched a brow.

“You seem happy about it. Is it one of your siblings?”

Instead of answering, Lyn lifted her eyes toward the doorway.

Arianna followed her gaze.

Skylar was making his way across the hall.

His stride was easy and confident, drawing attention without him even trying. One hand was tucked into his pocket while the other swung loosely at his side.

The moment Arianna saw him, her posture shifted.

Her eyes lingered on him as he came closer.

A slow smile spread across her face.

Lyn caught it and pressed her lips together, barely holding back a laugh.

Skylar, completely unaware of the attention settling on him, pulled out a chair and sat down with an easy grin.

“Sorry to keep everyone waiting,” he said as he settled in.

Arianna’s smile didn’t fade. If anything, it deepened as she kept watching him, as though she had just confirmed something only she understood.

Lyn noticed it and her fingers tightened slightly around her glass.

Ken, beside her, went still for a brief moment before continuing as if nothing had changed.

Arianna reached for the tableware, still relaxed, still smiling—completely unaware that the atmosphere around the table had just shifted.