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Chapter 7: Until Morning
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2026-09-14 20:37:31The hours moved slowly under the hard fluorescent lights. Riven did not raise his voice once. He simply sat across from me and asked quiet, precise questions that left no room to hide.
When did you first notice your body reacting to me?
I stared at the wall. Night one.
Before or after I kissed you?
Before, I admitted.
He nodded as if I had confirmed something he already knew. And when I offered to tear up the contract and let you walk away, why did you stay?
Because of Theo.
Only because of Theo?
I did not answer.
Riven waited. The silence stretched until it became uncomfortable. Theo shifted in his chair but did not speak. He had learned quickly that silence was safer.
Riven continued. You keep using your brother as the only reason. It makes you feel cleaner. But the truth is messier than that. Part of you wants to know how far this goes. Part of you wants to see if I will actually destroy everything if you push me.
You sound very sure of yourself, I said.
I am sure of patterns, he replied. And you are following one I have seen before.
He stood and walked to the small table where Sable had left a phone. He checked the screen once, then set it back down without explaining.
The person who gave me the letter checked in again, he said. They are pleased with how night three is progressing so far. They asked if you had started asking the right questions yet.
What are the right questions?
You will know when you ask them.
I finally looked at him fully. Why are you doing this? The nights. The letter. Taking Theo. What do you actually want from me?
Riven’s expression did not change, but something in his eyes sharpened. I want to see what you look like when you stop performing strength and start telling the truth. Everything else is secondary.
The answer settled heavily in the room. I felt Theo’s eyes on me but I did not turn my head.
Near dawn the phone on the table vibrated once. Sable stepped forward, glanced at the screen, and handed it to Riven. He read the message in silence. For the first time that night something like real surprise crossed his face before he locked it away again.
He looked up at me.
It seems our watcher has grown impatient, he said. They have decided that night three is not enough. They want a private meeting with you before night four begins. And they have asked me to deliver you personally.
My blood ran cold.
When?
Soon, Riven said. Very soon.
He put the phone down and returned to his chair. The first gray light of morning was beginning to push against the high windows.
Your brother will leave with you when the sun is fully up, he said. You will take him home. You will not speak about anything that happened in this room. And when I contact you again you will come without argument.
I held his gaze. And if I refuse?
Then the next conversation we have will be much shorter and far less polite.
He stood and walked to the door. Sable opened it for him. Before he stepped out he looked back at me one last time.
Get some rest when you can, Nora. The meeting with the watcher will not be gentle. And neither will I.
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Hundred Nights With Him Chapter 15: The Doorway
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I barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes I saw my own signature at the bottom of that document and felt Elena’s hand over mine again. The anger sat in my chest like something alive. By the time morning light pushed through the curtains I was already awake and exhausted at the same time.Theo was in the kitchen when I walked in. He took one look at my face and set his mug down harder than necessary."You look worse than yesterday," he said. "Whatever that man is doing to you is getting heavier. I can see it."I poured coffee I did not want. "Leave it alone, Theo.""I am done leaving it alone. You come home later and later. You flinch when your phone lights up. You look at me like you are measuring how much truth I can carry. I am not fragile. Stop treating me like I will break if you tell me the real shape of this."The frustration in his voice scraped against the raw places already open inside me. I turned on him before I could stop myself."You want the real shape? Fine. Dad left
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