Ash was up and in front of me instantly. I stood up a little more slowly. How did Lord Flame come here without being noticed by someone? More importantly, why hadn't Ash and I smelt him when he got in? "What are you doing here?" Ash snarled.
Lord Flame smiled. "Surely a man can visit his niece."
I blinked. "Niece?"
His grin widened. "No one told you? Your father was my dear older brother."
"What?" I turned to Ash. "Did you know that?"
He looked at the ground. "Her Grace asked us not to tell you."
"Why not?" I demanded. That's not something that should have been kept from me.
Lord Flame laughed. "Isn't it obvious? She thought you'd do what your father did."
I looked at him through narrowed eyes. "Which is?"
Ash glared at Lord Flame and answered me. "She thought you'd feel like you have to be the one to deal with him. Like the duke did."
"She should have told me," I growled.
