Night faded into morning in slow, quiet breaths.
The tavern had settled into stillness long ago, the distant noise of the pub below having died sometime after midnight. Outside, the city of Veyholm slept beneath a heavy mist, the world caught in that fragile space between darkness and dawn.
Kael lay awake, staring at the ceiling.
Sleep had come easily enough—a rare thing. But now, in the soft hush of the early morning, her mind replayed the conversation from the night before.
She had told Riven everything.
Not just fragments. Not just pieces.
For the first time, she had let someone step into the memories she had kept buried for years.
She still didn't know why.
Maybe it was because he understood what it meant to have a family stolen away. Maybe it was because, despite his sharp tongue and infuriating smirks, Riven wasn't the kind of man who pitied others. He had listened without pity, without empty reassurances—just understanding.
That unsettled her more than anything.
She turned her head slightly.
Across the room, Riven was still asleep.
The morning light had begun creeping through the wooden shutters, casting faint streaks of gold across the floor. Riven lay sprawled on his back, one arm resting over his forehead, his silver-white hair a mess against the pillow. His breathing was deep and steady, his usual sharp features relaxed in sleep.
Kael frowned.
It was odd—seeing him like this.
Riven was always moving, always smirking, always talking. But here, in the quiet morning, he looked almost…
No.
She wasn't going to finish that thought.
She shook her head, pushing the blanket off her legs before standing.
It was just the light, she told herself. That's all.
She stretched her arms over her head, rolling her shoulders. The scent of bread and roasted meat drifted up from the pub below, a reminder that the world outside had already begun its day.
Behind her, Riven stirred.
Then, without opening his eyes—
"You're staring again, sweetheart."
Kael froze.
Riven's voice was thick with sleep, but his amusement was unmistakable.
She scowled. "I was not."
One of his blue-green eyes cracked open, his lips curling into a lazy smirk. "You definitely were."
Kael grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it at him.
Riven let out a muffled laugh as it hit his face, then stretched his arms above his head, his shirt riding up slightly to reveal the sharp definition of his stomach.
Kael looked away before she could stop herself.
Gods help her, she was going to kill him.
"Get up," she muttered.
Riven yawned. "You're no fun in the morning."
"And yet, you're still breathing."
"See? Progress."
Kael rolled her eyes, moving toward the window.
Outside, the streets of Veyholm were alive. Merchants were setting up their stalls, townsfolk bustled through the cobbled streets, and the distant chatter of morning life filled the air.
But beneath it all, there was something else.
A tension.
Something unseen, something lurking beneath the surface.
Her fingers twitched at her side.
Riven stepped beside her, his smirk fading slightly as he followed her gaze. "Something wrong?"
Kael didn't answer immediately.
Then—a knock at the door.
Sharp. Urgent.
Kael and Riven exchanged a glance.
The teasing vanished.
Kael's fingers immediately brushed against the dagger at her hip.
Riven sighed, rolling his shoulders as he walked over and pulled the door open.
Jorrik stepped inside, shutting it behind him.
He was breathing harder than usual, his dark blue hair damp from the misty morning, his coat dusted with travel. His sharp eyes swept over them once before he exhaled.
"We have a problem."
Kael crossed her arms. "Bad news?"
Jorrik gave her a dry look. "When is it ever good?"
Riven smirked. "You're in a cheerful mood."
Jorrik ignored him, turning to Kael. "Someone in the palace is looking for you."
Kael's jaw tightened. "Who?"
Jorrik shook his head. "Not sure yet. But I know they're close."
Kael's pulse was steady, but her mind was already moving.
She had known this wouldn't last.
She had felt the shift in the air last night, the growing sense that their time in Veyholm was running out.
Riven exhaled, raking a hand through his hair. "Wonderful. And here I was hoping for a peaceful morning."
Jorrik scoffed. "You don't know what that is."
Kael ignored both of them, her fingers curling. "How close?"
Jorrik's expression darkened. "Close enough that we don't have time to sit here talking about it."
Riven stretched his arms, smirking. "So, what's the plan, darling?"
Kael shot him a glare. "Don't call me that."
Riven grinned. "You didn't say no the first time."
Kael picked up the pillow she had thrown earlier.
Riven immediately stepped back. "Alright, alright—focus, terrifying woman."
Kael exhaled slowly, turning to Jorrik.
"We move. But first—I want to know exactly who's looking for me."
Jorrik nodded. "I'll see what I can find."
Kael grabbed her gear. "Then let's not waste time."
Riven sighed dramatically. "And here I thought we'd get a slow morning for once."
Kael rolled her eyes, heading toward the door.
Riven followed, smirking. "You really were staring at me, though."
Kael slammed the door in his face.