Page 104 of Seduced By Moonlight

Lance’s jaw dropped.

Mika hooted with laughter. “Look at that. Someone finally managed to shut Lance up.”

Lance turned on Mika.

“Before you two get into it, there’s something else I want to talk about,” Kayden said.

Lance huffed as he turned back toward Kayden. “What?”

“I have other projects going on, so the rest of the guys are getting a paycheck, but since you two are staying here with me, you’re not working,” Kayden said. “So, I’m going to—”

“I know what you’re going to say, and it isn’t necessary on my end,” Mika said.

“I agree,” Lance said.

“—pay you while we’re off work,” Kayden continued. “This isn’t up for debate. I can’t let you guys lose everything because of what’s going on, nor let you dip into your savings.”

“Let me see if I have this right. You’re going to pay usnotto work?” Lance joked.

“Well, that sounds great and all, but we’re used to being busy. Just sitting around here with nothing but time on our hands is going to get old quick,” Mika pointed out.

“I know. I’ll figure something out,” Kayden promise. “Maybe there are things that need to be done around here that wouldn’t need a full construction crew. Like handyman jobs.”

“I bet there’s always something needing to be done. Seriously. A big old castle like this? Yeah, ask Ward. And it would keep us from sitting around on our thumbs all day.”

“I will. In the meantime, I’m going to get on top of my emails and check on the other crews and projects,” Kayden said.

“Anything we can help with?” Mika asked.

“No, not really. I’ll see you guys at lunch,” Kayden said, standing up. “I’ll have an answer about the handyman jobs soon.”

“See you later,” Lance said.

“Bye,” Mika said.

Kayden grabbed his laptop from his room and headed out to find the library to get some work done.

Fortunately, he ran into Celine and Rihanna, who were acting rather chummy. He wondered if something was going on there, and if so? Good for them. Rihanna especially deserved some happiness in her life.

They gave him directions, and he thanked them.

When he found it, he stood at the entrance of the so-called library, flabbergasted. It was like something out of a fairy tale. Good God, there were endless bookshelves, each crammed with books. Some of the spines bore the faded marks of time.

Reaching toward the heavens, the towering shelves exuded the scent of aged paper and polished wood, a comforting aroma that filled the air. The soft moonlight filtering through ornate stained-glass windows cast a kaleidoscope of colors across the room, adding an ethereal glow to an already magical setting.

He pulled up a chair to an oak table, placed his laptop down, and glanced around. It was hard to focus on work when surrounded by this kind of beauty. He fired off some emails to the other project sites, then ordered materials.

When his back started aching from sitting for so long, he finally set his laptop aside and took a break. He wandered to a nearby shelf, running his fingers along the dusty tomes. Titles likeMyths of OldeandCastles in Timecaught his attention.

One book caught his attention: a thin volume titledMaintenance & Repairs: A Castle’s Guide. Curiosity piqued, he opened it.

To his surprise, instead of an archaic manual, he found a humorous little book, its pages filled with witty illustrations and a self-aware tone, beginning with the line, “So you live in a castle… what now?”

As he skimmed through, he couldn’t help but chuckle at entries like “Squeaky Portcullis?!” and “Unruly Moat?!”

Amused, he started reading.

Clever sketches peppered the pages—a dragon gnawing on a fence, a gargoyle lounging lazily. He grinned at an entry titled “Ghostly Drafts” with the subtext, “It’s not all in your head,” illustrated by a top-hatted specter.

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