I wasn't sure how long we sat there, wrapped in silence, but eventually, the weight of exhaustion pulled at my body. I knew we couldn't stay here forever.
Reluctantly, I shifted, my muscles stiff from the hours spent on the forest floor. Riven's arms tightened instinctively around me, like he wasn't ready to let go just yet. His head rested against my shoulder , his breathing was steadier than before, but his body still carried the tension of whatever situation had pulled him into this state.
I ran my fingers gently through his hair, my voice soft. "We should get back."
Riven was quiet for a moment, then with a slow exhale, he nodded. He didn't move right away, though, as if he was bracing himself to face the world again. Finally, with a deep breath, he loosened his hold on me, and I eased off his lap, rising to my feet.
He followed suit, wincing slightly as he straightened. That's when I really saw it, the deep bruises forming along his ribs, the scratches along his arms, the faint remnants of blood staining his skin. He looked like he had been through hell.
I swallowed hard. "You're hurt."
His smirk was faint, tired. "You should see the other guy."
I shot him a look. "Riven."
The smirk faded, and something heavier settled in his expression. "I'll be fine." His voice was firm, but I wasn't convinced. Still, I didn't push. Not yet.
Instead, I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. He tensed slightly at first, but after a second, he squeezed back.
"Come on," I murmured. "Let's go home."
And together, we stepped out of the forest, the weight of the night still lingering between us, but no longer tearing us apart.
As we reached the backyard, I hesitated, glancing over at Riven. His injuries were bad, worse than I had let myself acknowledge in the dim glow of the forest. The tension still coiling in his body told me he needed help, real help.
"You need to see a healer," I said, my voice gentle but firm. "I could ask Lara--"
Before I could finish, Riven was already shaking his head, his jaw tightening. "No," he said sharply, his voice rough with exhaustion. "I don't want her help."
There was no hesitation in his tone, no room for argument. His reaction was immediate, visceral, like the mere thought of her being involved in any way made his skin crawl. His stormy gray eyes darkened, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them.
I studied him for a moment, debating what to do next. Then it hit me, Safyrr could help.
"Come on," I said, slipping my arm around him for support. "Let's get you inside. Don't worry, Myrren isn't home yet, and Lara is most likely asleep by now."
Riven didn't protest, but I could feel the strain in his body as we moved. His muscles were rigid, his breaths shallow, and no matter how much he tried to mask it, I knew he was in pain.
I helped him settle onto my bed, adjusting the pillows behind him to support his weight. He let out a slow, uneven breath, his eyes fluttering shut for a brief moment, as if exhaustion was finally catching up to him.
I lingered for a second, watching him, my chest tightening at the sight of him like this, bruised, broken, barely holding himself together.
Leaning down, I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead. His skin was warm beneath my lips, his breath hitching slightly at the contact.
"I'll be right back," I whispered, my voice gentle.
Then, before I could second-guess myself, I turned and slipped out of the room, already reaching for my comm crystal. With no way to reach Safyrr directly, since she stubbornly insisted she didn't need a comm crystal, Zarich was my only option.
I wasted no time typing out a message, keeping it brief but urgent.
I need your help. Can you get a healing potion from Safyrr and bring it to me? It's important.
A few tense seconds passed before my comm crystal buzzed with a response.
What happened? Are you okay?
I exhaled sharply, my fingers moving quickly over the screen.
I'm fine, but someone I care about isn't. Please, Zarich. Just trust me on this.
There was no reply for a moment, but then: On my way.
Relief settled in my chest, but it was fleeting. Time felt unbearably slow as I paced near the front door, glancing at the clock every few minutes.
Finally, half an hour later, Zarich arrived, handing me a small glass vial filled with shimmering liquid. A note was tied around its neck with a thin piece of twine.
"She didn't ask questions," Zarich said, watching me carefully. "Just told me to give you this and that you'd know what to do with it."
I nodded, untying the note with shaky fingers. Safyrr's familiar, elegant scrawl greeted me.
This should help. Make sure he drinks the entire vial. It won't work if he fights it. And Athena, look after him. Not all wounds are physical.
I had no doubt Safyrr would know exactly who needed the potion. Her intuition was uncanny, almost unsettling at times.
I let out a quiet breath of relief before glancing back at Zarich. "Thank you," I said, gripping the vial tightly. "Really."
Zarich studied me for a moment, arms crossed. "I don't know what's going on, but if you need anything else, you call me. Got it?"
I nodded, already stepping back toward the house. "Got it." Now, I just had to get this to Riven.
He was exactly where I had left him, propped against the pillows, his eyes shut, his breaths shallow and uneven.
I moved closer, kneeling beside the bed. "Riven," I called softly, placing a hand on his arm. His skin was warm beneath my touch, but his body barely stirred.
His eyelids fluttered open slightly, his stormy gray eyes hazy, unfocused.
I held up the vial. "You need to drink this. It'll help."
He blinked sluggishly, his gaze flickering between me and the potion. "What is it?" he murmured, his voice rough from exhaustion.
"A healing potion," I explained, uncorking it. "It'll take care of the worst of your injuries."
Riven exhaled slowly, but made no effort to move. I could see it in his expression, the reluctance, the wariness. He never liked accepting help, and right now, he looked like he barely had the energy to fight me on it.
I sighed and softened my tone. "Riven, please. Just trust me."
His gaze lingered on mine for a beat longer before, finally, he gave a slow, reluctant nod.
I brought the vial to his lips, tilting it gently as he swallowed the thick, slightly glowing liquid. His throat bobbed as he took it down, his brows furrowing slightly at the taste.
After the last drop was gone, I pulled back, watching him carefully. "You okay?"
He licked his lips, grimacing slightly. "Tastes like shit."
A small, breathless laugh escaped me, the tension breaking just for a moment. "Yeah, well, you'll live."
His lips twitched, just barely, before his body slumped further into the pillows. His breathing evened out almost immediately, the effects of the potion already working to pull him into much-needed rest.
I stood up quietly, grabbing a washcloth and a bowl of water from the bathroom. Settling back beside him, I dipped the cloth into the cool water and began gently wiping away the dirt and dried blood clinging to his skin. The bruises that had marred his torso and arms were already fading, the potion working faster than I expected.
As I ran the cloth carefully along his jaw, I couldn't help but take in how different he looked like this, still, vulnerable, stripped of the usual guarded sharpness he carried. Whatever had happened to him, whatever had left him in this state, Safyrr was right; he wasn't just physically wounded. And as much as the potion could heal his body, I knew it couldn't fix whatever else he was carrying inside him. But I would be here when he woke up. And that was a start.
Once I had wiped away the last traces of dirt and blood, I wrung out the cloth and set it aside. Carefully, I slipped beneath the covers and settled next to him, keeping just enough space between us so I wouldn't disturb him.
Now that the adrenaline was fading, exhaustion crept in, heavy and unavoidable. My limbs ached, my mind still swirled with everything that had happened, but the steady rhythm of Riven's breathing was oddly soothing. As I lay there, staring at the ceiling, my eyelids grew heavier. Sleep tugged at me, and before I could fight it, the world around me faded into quiet darkness.
A faint rustling pulled me from the depths of sleep. I blinked groggily, my senses slowly piecing together my surroundings. The room was still dim, shadows stretching across the walls, but the warmth beside me was gone. I turned my head and saw Riven at the foot of the bed, pulling on his boots.
"Where are you going?" I mumbled, my voice thick with sleep.
Riven glanced over his shoulder, pausing mid-motion. "Hey, you're up. Didn't mean to wake you." His voice was low, rough in a way that made something stir inside me. He finished tying his boot and stood, stretching slightly before walking over to my side of the bed. "Zion's on his way. I need to go."
I frowned, my mind still foggy but already protesting. "It's late, and you've barely gotten any rest."
His lips twitched slightly, like he wasn't sure whether to smirk or sigh. "It's almost morning, sweets. And I'm feeling better, I promise."
He was still shirtless, his toned chest and arms illuminated faintly in the dim light. He leaned down, pressing a slow, lingering kiss to my forehead.
"Go back to sleep, Athena," he murmured, voice quieter now, almost reluctant. "I'll see you at school."
But me being me, I wasn't about to let him leave like that.
I threw back the covers and got out of bed, ignoring the way his lips twitched in amusement. "Wait here," I said, already heading straight for my walk-in closet.
Rummaging through my clothes, I pulled out what I was looking for, one of the rare items I'd bought from North Lowmere's market. A black band t-shirt, a few sizes too big for me but soft and worn in all the right ways.
Walking back into the room, I handed it to Riven. "Put it on. It's cold outside."
He stared at the shirt for a beat before lifting his gaze to mine, something unreadable flickering in his stormy eyes. "You really think a t-shirt is going to keep me warm?"
I crossed my arms. "Just put it on, Riven."
A low chuckle rumbled from him, but he took it anyway, slipping it over his head in one fluid motion. The fabric stretched perfectly over his broad frame, molding to him like it was made for him. "Happy?" he asked, raising a brow as he adjusted the hem. I gave him a once-over and tried to ignore the warmth creeping up my neck. "Yeah," I muttered. "Now you don't look like you're about to start a street fight half-naked."
His smirk was lazy and amused as he reached for me, his hands gripping my waist as he pulled me against him. "Or just admit it," he murmured, his voice dropping slightly. "Seeing me half-naked was doing things to you."
I rolled my eyes, though the heat creeping up my neck betrayed me. "Please," I scoffed, placing my hands on his chest to push him away, but he didn't budge. His smirk deepened, his fingers tightening slightly against my waist. "You're not denying it."
"I'm ignoring it."
His chuckle was low, almost teasing, as he dipped his head closer, his breath warm against my cheek. "Mm-hmm. Keep telling yourself that."
His smirk lingered for only a second before he leaned in, capturing my lips in a slow, deliberate kiss. Unlike before, this wasn't rushed or desperate. It was something deeper, something that made my breath catch and my fingers curl against his chest.
When he pulled back, his stormy gray eyes locked onto mine, and the teasing faded. His grip on my waist tightened slightly, his expression unreadable for a moment before he spoke, his voice lower, rougher.
"Thank you, Athens. For everything." He exhaled, his forehead briefly resting against mine. "Fuck. I don't deserve you. I know I should let you go… but I won't. I can't."
The words sent a sharp ache through my chest. I didn't know what to say to that, didn't know how to make him see himself the way I did. So instead, I lifted a hand to his jaw, my thumb brushing against his cheek.
"Then don't," I whispered. "I'm not asking you to."
Riven's eyes flickered with something unreadable, but he didn't argue. He just held my gaze, his hands still resting on my waist, his thumb tracing absent circles against my skin.
The sharp ping of his comm crystal cut through the silence. His jaw tensed slightly before he pulled back just enough to glance at the glowing screen. Definitely Zion.
"Zion's here. Gotta go. I'll see you in a few," he muttered, exhaling as he looked back at me.
Before I could say anything, he leaned in, pressing one last kiss to my lips, slow, lingering, like he didn't really want to leave. Then, with a reluctant sigh, he pulled away, and headed for the door. I stayed there, watching him disappear down the hall, my heart still racing long after he was gone.
I threw myself back onto the bed, allowing myself a few more hours of sleep before school. The sheets were still warm from where he had been, his scent lingering faintly in the air, a reminder that he had been here, that last night had been real.
Before I drifted off, the memory of Riven bloodied and raging in the forest replayed in my mind. I knew something bad had happened that drove him to that breaking point. But I wouldn't push. I would let him open up when he was ready. He promised he'd try. Piece by piece. I just hoped he held on to his words.
The blaring of my alarm pulled me from sleep, and with a groggy sigh, I reached over to silence it. Blinking against the morning light filtering through my floor to ceiling windows, I stretched, exhaustion still clinging to my limbs.
Thank Heaven, it was finally Friday. Classes had been relentless this week, piling on assignments and draining every ounce of focus I had left. Add in the extra hours of rehearsals and Riven's situation, I was beyond exhausted. I needed the weekend like I needed air.
As I moved through my morning routine, my thoughts kept drifting back to last night. Despite everything, knowing Riven had gone home in one piece was a relief. I just had to hope that today wouldn't bring any more surprises.
I texted Ezzy, letting her know I was walking to school today. The morning air was crisp, the sky a muted shade of violet as the sun slowly climbed over the horizon. I took it all in, just grateful for seeing a new day, despite everything going on.
As I approached the school, I noticed two large coaches stationed near the entrance. That's when it hit me, our school team had their first Titanball match of the season against East Lowmere today.
I headed straight for the stadium, already knowing Ezzy and Jade would be there. The buzz of excitement filled the air as students crowded the bleachers, hyping up the team before their departure. Down on the field, Coach Arius stood before the lineup, giving last-minute instructions.
I made my way toward the entrance of the players' tunnel, where Ezzy and Jade were standing. The moment Jade saw me, her grin widened, mischief dancing in her eyes.
"Told you your boy would be back."
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't ignore the way my chest tightened when I spotted him.
Riven stood among the team, fully suited up in Brightforge's Titanball gear, standing beside Jax and Zion, looking as composed as ever. If I hadn't seen him bloodied and raging in the forest just yesterday I would have never guessed anything was wrong.
Before I could respond to Jade, the crackle of a microphone silenced the crowd. Headmaster Jadean stepped onto an elevated podium in the center of the field, his presence alone enough to command attention.
"Today, our team plays their first game of the season against East Lowmere," he announced, his deep voice carrying effortlessly across the stadium. "Brightforge has held the championship title for three years running, and I trust we will continue that legacy."
A roar of cheers erupted from the students, excitement buzzing through the stands.
"And as for the rest of you," he continued once the noise settled, "we are now one week away from the Festival. These final rehearsals and preparations are crucial. Give it everything, and make Brightforge proud."
More applause followed, the energy palpable as the Titanball players wrapped up their briefing and started heading toward the changing room. Several of them reached out, high-fiving students along the way. Jax, of course, turned it into a full spectacle.
"Yes! Give me your energy! I shall carry it onto the battlefield!" he declared dramatically, shaking his hands out as if absorbing power from each high-five.
Zion rolled his eyes. "It's a game, not a war, dumbass."
Jade chuckled, nudging Zion playfully. "Just don't break anything out there, alright? Good luck, babe."
Zion smirked, leaning down to press a quick kiss to her forehead. "Always."
Jax, never one to be left out, immediately turned to Ezzy. "Well? Where's my good luck kiss?" he asked with exaggerated expectation.
Ezzy gave him a dry look before sighing in mock exasperation. "Fine, fine. Try not to get tackled into the ground this time." She placed a quick peck on his cheek.
Jax clutched his chest. "Ah! I am now invincible!" He struck a dramatic pose before jogging toward the tunnel, laughing.
I barely registered their antics as my attention drifted back to Riven. He was making his way toward the tunnel entrance, his expression neutral, but the moment our eyes met, something shifted in the air between us. As he passed, his arm brushed against mine. Before I could even react, his fingers curled around my wrist, firm and deliberate. The touch was brief, but the warmth of it sent my pulse racing.
Then, just as quickly, he let go, walking into the changing room as if nothing had happened.
But my heart? Yeah. That definitely just happened.
I would have loved to go with them to East Lowmere, but with full-day rehearsals scheduled, it was impossible. The Festival was only a week away, and every spare moment had to be used to perfect our performances.
Jade and I made our way to the dance studio, weaving through the thinning crowd as students dispersed to their classes and practice sessions.
"We'll meet you in the music hall later," I told Ezzy as we parted ways. "We'll run through your song after we finish up here."
Ezzy nodded, adjusting the strap of her bag. "You better. I'll try practicing my part until then. Gotta nail this down."
Jade smirked. "Don't wear yourself out before we even get there."
Ezzy rolled her eyes but grinned. "Just don't be late."
With that, she headed toward the music hall, while Jade and I continued on to the dance studio, another long day of rehearsals ahead of us.