Miri's Pov
The girl nodded.
That tiny motion—barely more than a dip of her chin—landed harder than a blade to my chest. It was proof. The confirmation I hadn't wanted. Not an illusion, not a trick of my mind. Not a shadow in the corner. Real.
I turned back toward Riven, disappointment clawing through the shock. Betrayal sat bitter on my tongue, and I wanted to demand—scream—what his excuse was now. What story would he spin for me and Caius to cover this one.
But I never got the chance.
Because before I could speak, Riven blurred past me, faster than I'd ever seen him move, and his hand clamped around the girl's throat.
The crowd gasped in unison, a ripple of shock and fear spreading out like water disturbed by a stone. Music screeched to a halt. I froze, my brain scrambling to catch up. Ever-laid-back, ever-smiling Riven was suddenly snarling, holding a girl aloft by her neck as if she weighed nothing. His fingers dug into her skin, and her legs kicked helplessly beneath her.
