Riven didn't react right away. He just watched me, his expression as unreadable as ever.
The night air pressed against my skin, cool and sharp, the distant hum of the city filling the silence between us.
"We were supposed to meet after school," I said, forcing the words out even though my throat felt tight. "She never showed up, and she's not answering her comm crystal."
Riven exhaled through his nose, tilting his head slightly as if running through the possibilities in his mind.
Then, he simply said, "Let's check the places she usually hangs out."
I blinked. "Are you sure? I don't want to hold you up."
He didn't answer. He just swung his leg over his motorcycle and gripped the handlebars.
"Get on, Athena."
There was no hesitation in his voice. No room for debate.
I hesitated anyway.
But the moment stretched too long, and the weight of Lara's absence settled over me like a stone.
Without another word, I climbed onto the bike.
Lysoria stretched out before us, a city of gleaming silver towers and golden-lit bridges, the skyline flickering with floating lanterns and enchanted billboards. The magic woven into its architecture gave the illusion of endless movement, reflections shifting, buildings shimmering at the edges as if they breathed with the night itself.
Riven rode fast. Smooth. Precise.
The wind cut through my hair, the chill sinking into my skin, but my mind was somewhere else. Somewhere distant.
Where was Lara?
I closed my eyes for a second, trying to drown out the feeling clawing at my chest.
She was fine. She had to be fine.
Our first stop was The Velvet Lounge, an upscale café known for its enchanted desserts, crystal-infused ice creams, levitating milkshakes, pastries that changed flavor with every bite.
A place where Lara often found herself tangled in the latest gossip of Lysoria's elite.
Riven parked on the curb, the deep rumble of his motorcycle cutting out as I slid off the seat.
Inside, the Lounge was buzzing with life.
Soft, ethereal notes floated through the air, the sound of enchanted violins weaving a delicate melody from the corners of the lounge. The rich aroma of vanilla and spiced berries wrapped around me as I stepped inside, warm and inviting, yet doing little to ease the unease coiling in my chest.
My gaze swept across the room, scanning the plush velvet booths and sleek marble tables where students from Arcanis Academy lounged effortlessly, lost in conversation and laughter. But Lara wasn't here.
Riven was waiting outside, leaning casually against his bike, arms crossed.
The moment I stepped out, he asked, "Nothing?"
I shook my head.
"Next."
The Arcadia Strip was alive, hovering walkways wove between luxury boutiques, glowing storefronts advertising everything from spell-infused fabrics to charm-infused accessories.
If Lara was anywhere, it should have been here.
We checked the usual spots: a dress shop where enchanted outfits shifted to match moods, an arcade where magic fueled every game, a rooftop café overlooking the city.
Each stop brought the same answer.
No one had seen her.
By the time we reached Lysoria's Mystical Garden, I could feel the frustration crawling beneath my skin.
The garden was a rare, quiet place, nestled between the city's towering architecture. The air was thick with the scent of blooming lunara flowers, their petals glowing softly under the floating lanterns overhead.
Everything felt slower here. Still.
Couples strolled along curved stone paths, their laughter drifting through the air. A few students sat beneath an Eldertree, its massive roots curling like ancient veins through the earth.
And then, I spotted her.
Jaz.
She was with a group of girls, their magic glowing softly as they played with energy orbs between them.
Without hesitation, I called her name.
She looked up, and the moment she saw me, a wide grin spread across her face.
"Athena!" She ran toward me, pulling me into a crushing hug.
I barely had time to return it before she pulled back, bright-eyed and curious.
"What are you doing here? I thought you and Lara had your Friday plans!"
My stomach clenched.
"She never showed up."
Jaz's smile disappeared.
"That's impossible. I saw her after school. She told me she was heading home first, then meeting you in Lowmere. I literally saw her get in the car."
I felt the blood drain from my face.
"She's not at home, Jaz. She's not answering her comm crystal."
Jaz's expression shifted from confusion to something closer to concern.
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. "I'll head home. If she's not back by sunset, I'll call you. Try to ask Zayn if he knows anything"
Jaz nodded slowly, something flickering across her face: hesitation.
"What?" I asked, my voice sharper than I intended.
Jaz bit her lip. "Did Lara not tell you?"
A strange, unfamiliar tension curled in my chest. "Tell me what?"
She hesitated for a breath too long.
Then, finally, she sighed. "She broke up with Zayn after her birthday."
I blinked. "Well, that's nothing new. We both know they'll get back together in..."
Jaz shook her head. "No, Athena. This time, it's different. I don't think they're getting back together. Not like before."
A strange feeling curled in my gut.
Jaz sighed, placing a hand on my arm. "I'll let Lara tell you. It's not my story."
I nodded slowly, still processing the weight of her words. "Thanks, Jaz. I'll text you if she comes home."
As I turned back toward the garden entrance, I found Riven waiting silently.
He hadn't spoken this entire time.
I didn't realize how tense I had been until I exhaled.
"Alright," I murmured, rubbing my temples. "Let's just head home."
Riven studied me for a moment. Then, in a voice that was quieter than usual, he said:
"She'll come back, Athena."
I forced a small, weak smile. "I hope so."
Without another word, we climbed onto the motorcycle and rode into the night.
But the unease in my chest never left.
The moment we pulled into the driveway, I slid off the bike, my feet hitting the ground faster than I meant to.
Riven cut the engine, watching me as I adjusted the strap of bag, my fingers gripping it too tightly.
"Thank you," I muttered, my voice stiff.
"No need to thank me," he said simply, swinging his leg over the bike. "It's the least I could do after yesterday."
I nodded, not trusting myself to say anything else.
There were so many unsaid things between us, tangled in the space between what had happened yesterday and whatever today was. I didn't have the energy to unravel any of them.
I hesitated at the door. Then, before I could overthink it, I turned back.
"You wanna come in?"
Riven's storm-gray eyes flicked to my face, studying me for a moment. Then, after a pause, he nodded.
"Sure."
Riven held the door open as I stepped inside. The house was too quiet.
Too empty.
I walked into the kitchen, heading straight for the refrigerator. The cold air hit my skin as I pulled out two bottles of water and set one in front of Riven.
"Have a seat," I said, gesturing toward the bar stool at the kitchen island.
Riven sat, twisting the bottle in his hands as I took a long sip of water, draining half of it in one go.
When I looked up, he was watching me.
Not in an obvious way.
Not in a way that was easy to place.
But watching nonetheless.
"What?" I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand. "Do I have something on my face?"
He shook his head, the corners of his lips tugging into the faintest hint of amusement.
"No. Just not used to seeing someone do all the work themselves."
I raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean?"
He shrugged, taking a slow sip of water. "People in Lysoria rely on magic for everything." His gaze flicked to me. "You don't."
I tried to shrug it off, act indifferent, but something about the way he said it felt too close to the truth.
"I just like it that way," I said simply.
Riven leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the counter, his expression unreadable. "Why?"
I looked away, unable to hold his gaze. I wasn't sure how to answer that without revealing the ugly truth that I had no magic.
Instead, I focused on the horizon outside the window, the last traces of sunlight bleeding into the sky, swallowed by approaching night.
And still, no sign of Lara.
I sighed, sliding onto the barstool next to him.
"So… how are you liking Northern Lowmere?"
Riven twisted the cap of his bottle, his fingers moving absentmindedly over the grooves. "It's not bad." He tilted his head slightly. "I could get used to it. Especially the people."
His eyes met mine when he said that last part.
A flicker of something undecipherable passed between us.
I swallowed, clearing my throat.
"How's life in Lysoria? Big house, living in luxury and everything," Riven said, gesturing around us.
I huffed a quiet laugh, shaking my head. "Yeah, I practically grew up in this big house. But the luxury part doesn't really matter. It never has." I traced the condensation on my water bottle, watching the droplets trail down my fingers. "I'm just… a simple, normal girl trying to fit into two worlds. Even though most of the time, it feels like I belong to neither."
Riven's expression was unreadable. His gaze unwavering.
"You were right about that part," I murmured, my voice quieter than before.
Riven's lips parted slightly, but before he could answer, the front door swung open with force.
I turned just in time to see Lara stumbling inside.
Her clothes were crumpled, her hair a tangled mess, and the way she moved: unsteady, almost sluggish, like she was struggling to stay upright, made my stomach drop.
"Lara!"
I pushed off the barstool, moving toward her as she blinked at me, her expression unfocused, distant, like she wasn't entirely here.
The scent hit me the moment I got close: Silvermoon cocktails, strong and sharp, laced with something foreign, something I couldn't quite place.
Lara was drunk out of her mind.
She blinked at me, her expression hazy, her pupils unfocused. "Athena…" she slurred, her hands reaching toward me, fingers grasping at nothing before finding my face.
I caught her wrists gently. "Lara, where were you? I was worried sick."
Her lips curled into a lazy, lopsided smile. "Shhh… no questions." Her voice dipped into a whisper, her breath heavy with the scent of alcohol. "Quiet. Now."
Then, she stumbled forward, her weight collapsing into me, nearly sending us both crashing to the floor.
Before I could react, a strong arm wrapped around us, steadying the both of us before we could hit the ground.
Riven.
His grip was firm, controlled, like he had been expecting this.
Together, we managed to guide Lara to the living room couch, easing her down onto the cushions. Her body sank into it immediately, her head lolling back as a soft giggle escaped her lips.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Can you pass me a bottle of water from the fridge?"
Riven nodded, disappearing into the kitchen. He was back in seconds, handing me the bottle, the cap already unscrewed.
Lara was muttering under her breath, smiling like she was lost in her own world.
I crouched beside her, lifting the bottle to her lips. "Here, drink this."
She obeyed, swallowing a few gulps before pushing the bottle away, her fingers grazing my hand in the process.
Then, with zero warning, she cupped my face and pressed our foreheads together.
The strong scent of Silvermoon clung to her breath, wrapping around me like a fog as she whispered, "I found him."
A chill ran through me.
"Athens, I found him."
My breath hitched. "Who?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. "Who did you find?"
Lara's glossy eyes locked onto mine, unfocused but brimming with something strange. Something distant.
"The man of my dreams," she murmured.
Then, her eyes fluttered shut.
Her body went limp.
She passed out in my arms.
I didn't move at first, my mind trying to process her words, the meaning behind them.
The man of her dreams?
Something about it felt off, but before I could dwell, my gaze flickered toward Riven.
He wasn't looking at me.
He was looking at Lara.
Jaw tight, his fingers clenched at his sides, his entire posture tense in a way that sent a shiver down my spine.
"Riven?" My voice was quiet, uncertain.
His head snapped toward me, like he had just been pulled out of something.
There was something there, something in his expression that vanished before I could read it.
"Help me get her to her room?" I asked, pushing aside the uneasy feeling pressing against my ribs. "I don't want Myrren to find her like this."
Riven nodded without a word.
And in one smooth, effortless movement, he had Lara in his arms.
Bridal style.
He carried her like she weighed nothing, his movements controlled, careful, measured. I followed closely, leading him up the stairs to her room.
He stepped inside first, lowering her onto the bed with a gentleness I hadn't expected.
Lara stirred, shifting slightly, but didn't wake.
I lingered in the doorway, watching her.
Then, slowly, my eyes drifted to Riven.
His jaw was still tense, his expression unreadable, but something about him felt different.
I didn't know what.
I wasn't sure I wanted to know.
But as I stood there, watching the way his fingers twitched at his sides, the way his gaze lingered on Lara just a second too long, I knew one thing for certain.
Riven knew something.
And I needed to find out what.