Novels by Lillington

The boardroom was larger than Anna had imagined.A polished walnut table stretched almost the entire length of the room, surrounded by high-backed leather chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the city, bathing the room in natural light despite the dark wood and muted décor. Multiple screens lined one wall, already displaying charts, financial reports and market figures.Conversations filled the room in low tones as more and more people file into the room, taking their assigned seats. Executives stood in small groups, discussing quarterly reports over cups of coffee while assistants arranged documents before their employers.Anna followed Dean quietly, careful not to get in anyone's way.Dean stopped near one end of the table."This seat."She nodded and took the chair directly behind his, placing the tablet, notebook and folders neatly in front of her.Her heart refused to slow down as she tucked her slightly trembling hands under the table. This was unlike anything she'd e

"You're hired."Dean had already reached for the phone on his desk."Linda."The call connected almost immediately."Prepare the employment documents."He ended the call before waiting for a response.Anna blinked. "...That's it?"Dean looked up from another file."Did you expect fireworks?""No, I...""You wanted a job." He stated. "You have one."He picked up another document, clearly finished with the conversation."You'll find Human Resources downstairs."Anna remained seated for another second, convinced there had to be more.More questions, a second interview or even salary negotiations. Something.Dean glanced up again. "Miss Williams.""Yes?""The door.""Oh." Heat rushed to her face as she stood. "Thank you, sir."He had already gone back to reading.Anna quietly let herself out.The moment the office door closed behind her, she released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.The HR manager waiting outside smiled."I take it everything went well?"Anna looked at her

Anna stared at the unfamiliar number flashing across her phone for several seconds. Was it Karl? She left his house a few days ago to stay at a friend's place for the time being. She glanced down at the number again, why would he call her using a different number? She hadn't ignored his call when he checked in with her about her brother's new hospital address. She slides right on the receive button. "Hello?" "Good morning. Am I speaking with Miss Anna Williams?" She frowned slightly. "Yes, speaking." "My name is Claire from Gordon Empire's Human Resources Department." Anna sat up straighter on the edge of the narrow bed. Gordon Empire? "I'm calling regarding your application for the Personal Assistant position." Her brows knitted together. "...My application?" "Yes, ma'am. I'm pleased to inform you that you've successfully passed the initial screening stage. We'd like to invite you for an interview this morning, if you're available." Anna's mind went com

The silence inside the house had become its own kind of prison.Melody sat on the edge of the sofa, her hands folded tightly in her lap as she stared at the muted television without seeing a single image on the screen.The clock on the wall ticked steadily and every second seemed louder than the last.She glanced toward the front door for what had to be the twentieth time in the last hour before forcing herself to look away again.He wasn't home yet.Which meant she could breathe.For now.A week ago, the house had felt like hers. Now it felt like Caden was watching her every second of the day.Her phone buzzed on the coffee table.She reached for it before stopping herself.No. She had to think first. She looked toward the hallway to find it empty before picking up the phone.Her stomach tightened as soon as she saw the caller ID. It was Karl.The same reason why Caden has been nothing but a beast these past few weeks. She'd been ignoring his texts and now he was calling. Of course

Karl stepped out of the elevator and headed straight for Dean's office. The secretary outside looked up from her desk. "Good morning, Mr. Gordon." Karl acknowledged her with a nod before continuing. She opened her mouth, probably to announce him, but he had already reached the door. He knocked on the door gently. "Come in." Karl pushed the door open. Dean sat behind his desk, surrounded by paperwork. Several résumés were spread across the polished oak surface while another stack rested neatly at one corner. His attention remained fixed on the document in his hand. He didn't bother looking up. "Leave it there." Karl closed the door behind him. "I intend to." Dean frowned slightly; that wasn't his secretary's voice. His eyes lifted and narrowed on his guest. “Why are you here?” Karl crossed the room with measured steps before stopping in front of the desk. “Good morning to you too.” Karl smirked. Dean finally placed the résumé aside, slamming the folder on the table lo

Karl stepped out of his bedroom and nearly walked straight into her. He stopped abruptly. Anna froze too. For a second neither of them moved. Morning sunlight spilled through the floor-to-ceiling windows, casting pale gold across the penthouse, and in the middle of it stood Anna wearing one of his shirts. The oversized white fabric hung loosely over her frame, the sleeves rolled twice at the wrists. Her dark hair was still slightly damp from her shower, falling over one shoulder. Karl forgot whatever he had been about to say. Anna looked equally uncomfortable. "Sorry," she blurted. Karl blinked. "What?" "I wasn't paying attention." He blinked again and soon looked away, catching himself before he muttered something he would definitely regret. “It's fine.” The silence that followed was awkward. It was painfully awkward. After everything that had happened over the past few days, neither of them seemed to know what to say or how to say anything.. Like hell, what could

The elf did not miss.Kael had been watching him for nearly half an hour, and the result remained exactly the same every single time.The arrow flew, struck and found the centre.Again and again.Kael sat upon a fallen trunk at the edge of the training field, his arms folded across his chest as he stared at the nearest archer with increasing suspicion.The elf reached behind his shoulder, drew another arrow, and released.Thwack. Centre.Kael frowned, these men make it look so damned easy too. Where is Lyra anyways? "Where is Lyra?" he asked.Before Kael could ask his question out loud, a small bundle struck him squarely in the chest.He caught it with both hands."Ow!"Lyra stepped from between the trees and settled on the floor next to him. Kael glared at her. "What was that for?""To confirm." She said tightly. “That you're alive.” He looked down at what he held.The food had been wrapped in broad green leaves and tied together with a thin strip of bark. Kael carefully opened i

Three days later, Kael woke with the unpleasant feeling that something had gone terribly wrong.For several moments, he lay perfectly still beneath the soft blankets, staring at the wooden ceiling above him.Then he tried to move and pain answered from nearly every part of his body.Kael shut his eyes. "By the light."His shoulder protested first. Then his ribs. Then his back seemed to remember it had been thrown through half a cottage only days ago.He slowly placed a hand against his forehead; where was he?His eyes opened and the memories returned one after another; Meadow, Cassian's assassins, Liam's cottage exploding, running into the forest.Then the elves. Far too many bloody elves.Kael sat upright and immediately, his head began pounding. He groaned and pressed his palm against his temple.For a brief moment, something flashed through his mind...Blood…A sword…The terrible sound of something enormous screaming.Kael went still, eyes flickering open as he recalled scales. Dark

The cell door opened without warning this time.Kael startled upright from where he'd been sitting against the wall, half-convinced he'd imagined the sound. But the captain stood there in the frame, vines already unraveling from the bars at the gesture of his hand."You're free," he said simply.Kael blinked. "...Just like that?""Nothing is ever 'just like that,'" the captain replied. "But yes. Come."Lyra rose beside him, brushing dust from her cloak, her eyes narrowing slightly at the captain. "Free to leave the Hollow, or free to leave this cell?"Something that might have been amusement flickered across his face. "You are sharper than most who pass through here.""That isn't a reply.""No," he agreed. "It isn't."He didn't explain further. He simply turned and led them out through the corridor, past guards who no longer lowered their spears, past the great hollowed trunk that served as the Hollow's beating heart, and out into open air thick with the scent of moss and rain.Kae

The gates of Astra had not opened for a lone rider in many months, not since the old laws had tightened around every road leading into the capital. Yet the guards by the wall took one look at the bloodied stranger who approached, cloak torn and one sleeve hanging empty at his side, and found no courage within themselves to turn him away. "Halt!" the first guard called, though his voice wavered more than he would have liked. "None may enter without the council's seal."Lafey did not slow his mount. "Then fetch one who may grant it swiftly, for I have little patience left to spare tonight."The guard's eyes dropped to the stump where an arm had once been, wrapped hastily in cloth now soaked with blood and blackened. Whatever protest he meant to raise died upon his tongue."Who... who seeks entry?""One who bears tidings the new Supreme Mage would be most unwise to refuse."The second guard exchanged a glance with the first. Neither man recognised the rider, no crest marked his cloa

"How long do you intend to keep us caged like beasts?"Kael's voice echoed through the stone chamber as he gripped the wooden bars with both hands."They cannot simply drag us into their forest and expect us to remain silent!"His words bounced off the curved walls before fading into the quiet.Beyond the cell, two elven guards stood motionless with long spears in hand. They did not so much as blink in his direction.Kael frowned. "Are they deaf?""They are ignoring you," Lyra replied without lifting her head.She sat against the far wall, carefully replacing the crushed herbs the elf captain had given her. The wound on her shoulder had stopped bleeding, but every now and then she winced as the medicine stung her skin."It is a remarkable difference."Kael threw his hands into the air."Well, I should be ignored no longer."He marched back to the bars and struck them with his fist."We are not your enemies!"He still got nothing. Kael stared at the guards in disbelief."Do they make

Kael tightened his grip around the Meadow Iron sword, turning slowly where he stood. Every shadow between the ancient trunks seemed alive and every branch overhead could have hidden another pair of watchful eyes. He could feel them watching them in pure silence. His breathing slowed as he searched the forest, but no matter where he looked, he found nothing except towering trees whose branches swallowed the afternoon sky. "...Where are they?" he whispered. "You've been looking at them since you stepped into the forest." Kael spun toward the voice but he saw nothing. Only another stretch of trees. Lyra remained perfectly still beside him, her empty hands raised slightly away from her body. Liam did the same, looking far calmer than Kael thought any sane person should. "Show yourselves," Liam called. The words had barely left his mouth when figures began dropping from the branches. Not a single leaf stirred beneath their feet. Kael watched in stunned silence as

Kelvin glances at the letter in his hands and back at Keith in disbelief.Laying on his table is a letter from the royal palace, requesting him to take up the position of King.Kelvin was a distant relative to the royal family, and it was almost like his lineage was never going to be king despite being related to the royal family..Keith glances up at Kelvin, he have been watching the young man for a while now, and he knew that this man was more than suitable for that position..“You want me to take over the position of the King? This is a huge responsibility! I don't think that I am…” “You are very vast in politics. You are kind hearted, I have tested you a thousand times in the past few months, and you have not failed one. You are just the right person for that seat..” Kelvin was visually surprised and a little bit doubtful..“I heard that the court wanted you to become king. Your father was King. It is only reasonable for you to ascend as one too..” Keith smiled. There's somethin

Warden,Ava and the Grandmaster were more than ready for what was about to go down. Amanda was going to be crowned queen and they won't let that happen!All they needed to do was to submit their evidences to the court, and she would be apprehended immediately.Unfortunately, Amanda doubled the security around the palace. No one is allowed in except she authorises it.The only way to get into the palace would be by using force, something the Grandmaster had visioned in the past!Ellinor was standing right next to Warden,she was going to take out her frustration, anger and pain on those bastards. Anyone who dares to stand in their way.She was going to be leading several men into the palace. The idea was to take down each and every guard within the palace walls, assuming everyone was on Amanda side. Despite the fact that she was just getting better, Rose wanted to be a part of this. They were the ones who had set her up with Jeff. It was only fair that she gets her own fair share of unl

“Your highness you can't make such drastic decisions! The King has just been laid to rest and we need the two Princes to complete the events! Then we can ordain our new king..” Amanda was sitting on the throne, facing the court members after hours had passed.Arthur was laid in his room and his funeral will be happening the next day. She didn't waste any more time to get things started.“I understand your fears but prince Keith is nowhere to be found. The guards have searched everywhere for him but no one can find him. He seem to have dropped from the surface of the earth. We can't and I repeat we can't leave the throne empty. We need to do what is right and needful at this minute.” “What are you suggesting that we do then? We just have to keep looking for the Prince and hope that he returns one day.” A member of the court replied.“How long do we hope to wait? Eternity? The young man has just lost his father. A man he met a few days back. I don't think that he will be in the right f

It was the day of the very last competition and Keith found himself a bit anxious..Today's competition was supposed to be the display of royal gifts. It is to show everyone that he is truly his father's son. He was also given the gifts bestowed to the royal family hy the Creator.Keith glances at Edward who was more than confident in his own abilities. He had seen what Edward looks like when he isn't full control of himself , he was nothing short of a monster…Keith was worried, chances are that Edward would go out of hand as a result of this so-call display..“The events has been going smoothly and we have come to the very last one. You would have to show everyone that you are truly your father's son and this is as a result of your absence…” “We believe that the two of you have remarkable abilities, you will be forced to put you both in a combat only then can we tell the strongest..” Edward smirks at this, it was almost like he had seen it coming from a million miles away..His exc

Keith stepped out briefly a smile on his face. He felt so alive and radiant with energy..The discussion he had with Ellinor was a beautiful one that yielded results! He had expected that talk to be a direct opposite of what eventually happened! He assured her that she was safe and her that secret was safe with him..Keith decided to walk around that early morning, trying to get as much sunlight soon as possible..‘You didn't win the competition yesterday.”He turned to see Hana, someone he least expected to see at the moment!She seems to be out for the sun as well but a rather disturbed look was on her face..“And why does matter if I win or not?” Keith asked in irritation.He decided to drop the act of playing nice, it was time for her to know that she was in the wrong..“But you seemed happy. Llike you won. am sure that you want to be king as much as Edward wants it too.” She pointed out.Keith tilts his head to the side, wondering where this conversation was going to lead to..H

Keith had a smile on his face, he won this round and his points seems to be looking up really good.The most important thing was the fact that Ellinor told him his family were safe like she promised.Nothing could make him anymore happier than that. To know that his family was safe and sound in the Jade temple.Ellinor was right next to him. She notice the radiant smile on his face, making her wonder if he wanted to go meet his family…“Are you going to stop by and say hello to them? Your mother, Agnes, asked of you and I told that that you were doing fine..”Keith was quiet, he didn't think about going to visit Agnes, neither did he expect her to ask about him.Agnes and Williams are every right to blame Emma's death on him. It was his duty to protect his sister but he failed horribly..To make matters worse, the person who had caused them pain happens to be someone related to him by blood!“As long as they are safe in the temple, I am fine. There's no need for me to go and visit them