After the ball that had forever changed her life, they had locked her in her mother’s rooms. Her mother—being trained as a Canan assassin—picked the lock. Once in the main corridor, Helena had set flame to the tapestry hanging nearby. She hadn’t known it would spread so rapidly.
Ian procured a second key at the end of the hall and pushed Helena through the door. The living space that greeted her had new furniture, and she suspected the old was too damaged. But there was no other sign of destruction.
A doorway opened and Helena sucked in a breath.
Cole stood stock still on the threshold, his face displaying no emotion other than shock. “Lenny?” He shook his head as if not quite believing his own eyes.
Helena took in his haggard appearance. Shaggy, uncut hair. A scruffy face. Wrinkled un
