Chapter 19

Keira’s POV

I trudged down the long corridor, every step heavy with exhaustion. My body felt like it no longer belonged to me. My chest still burned from dancing under their cruel eyes, and my head throbbed with the humiliation of it all.

When I pushed open the creaky door to my small room at the quarters, I froze. All the girls for the Trials were required to stay alone in one room at the quarters designated, so I didn't understand why Alia sat on my bed, her arms crossed over her chest, lips curled into a cold smile.

“Well, well,” she drawled, her eyes sweeping over me slowly. “If it isn’t our little dancer.”

I swallowed hard, saying nothing. I stepped into the room and shut the door quietly behind me, keeping my eyes on the floor.

She chuckled softly. “What’s wrong, Keira? Cat got your tongue?”

Still, I said nothing. My heart beat loudly in my chest, each thud echoing painfully in my ears. I knew her well enough to know silence was my only shield. Especially when she was like this, cruel and irrational. 

Her smile widened as she stood up, walking toward me with graceful, deliberate steps. “You were pathetic today,” she whispered, leaning close so I could feel her breath against my cheek. “Dancing like a desperate slave trying to please her master.”

I clenched my fists at my sides, nails digging into my palms, but I remained silent. My fingers were still covered in bandages. Her words stung, but nothing she could say would hurt more than what I already felt.

“Say something!” she snapped suddenly, her voice cracking through the quiet like a whip. When I didn’t respond, her hand shot out, slapping me hard across the face. Again.

Pain exploded through my cheek, sharp and hot. I stumbled back against the wall, my hand flying to my burning skin. Tears pricked my eyes, blurring her cruel smile.

“Look at you,” she sneered. “You can’t even defend yourself. You’re nothing but a worthless mongrel, Keira. Remember that.”

I blinked away tears, staring at the ground as her words burned into my soul. My chest rose and fell rapidly with silent sobs, but I still refused to let them spill.

Alia leaned forward, her lips brushing my ear as she whispered, “I will destroy you before these Trials end. I’ll make sure you lose everything you cling to… including them.”

She straightened, her cold gaze sweeping over me one last time before she turned and walked out, her perfume lingering in the quiet room like a curse.

As the door clicked shut behind her, my knees buckled, and I sank to the floor. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as I pressed my burning face into my palms. My shoulders shook with sobs I couldn’t hold back anymore.

“Please…” I whispered into the darkness, my voice cracking with pain. “Please… someone… save me.”

The silence answered back, heavy and empty. I was tired. So damn tired.

I don’t know how long I stayed there on the cold stone floor, but eventually, I forced myself to stand. My limbs trembled with exhaustion as I crawled onto my thin mattress, pulling the rough blanket over my shaking body. I shut my eyes tightly, willing sleep to take me away from this nightmare.

But sleep didn’t come.

Instead, a sudden noise by the window made my eyes snap open. My breath caught in my throat as the latch clicked softly. The window swung open, and a figure slipped through the narrow space with fluid grace.

My heart stopped.

“Riven…” I whispered, my voice hoarse with disbelief.

He smirked in the dim light, his silver hair glinting faintly as he shut the window behind him. “Surprised to see me, little Omega?”

I sat up quickly, clutching the blanket to my chest. “What… what are you doing here?” My voice trembled with fear. The room suddenly felt too small, his presence was too large.

He walked forward slowly, his boots silent against the stone floor. His eyes never left mine, glowing faintly in the darkness. He stopped by the bed, looking down at me with a smirk tugging at his lips.

“I came to see how my little dancer is doing,” he drawled, his voice dripping with mockery.

“Please… just leave me alone,” I whispered, my shoulders curling inward.

“Leave you alone?” He chuckled softly, sitting down on the edge of my bed. “But I don’t want to leave you alone, Keira.”

I shook my head, tears threatening to spill again. “Please… I’m tired. I don’t have the strength for your games tonight.”

His smile faded slightly, his eyes narrowing as he reached out to grab my wrist. His grip was tight, his thumb pressing into my pulse point, making my heart race painfully in my chest.

“Games?” he echoed softly, leaning closer until his breath brushed against my cheek. “You think this is a game?”

I swallowed hard, unable to look away from his piercing gaze. His eyes were so beautiful, dark and addictive, yet they carried a warning I wanted to ignore. “I don’t know what you want from me…”

His eyes flickered with something I couldn’t read. “I want your submission, Keira,” he whispered, his lips brushing against my ear, sending shivers down my spine. “I want you to be mine… completely.”

My chest heaved with shallow breaths, my heart slamming against my ribs so hard it hurt. “Why… why are you doing this to me?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, his grip on my wrist loosened, his hand sliding up to cup my cheek gently. His thumb brushed over the fresh bruise Alia had left, and his eyes darkened with anger.

“Who did this?” he asked softly, his voice trembling with suppressed rage.

I shook my head quickly, tears spilling down my cheeks. “It doesn’t matter…”

“Who?” he demanded, his fingers tightening around my jaw.

“Please…” I whispered, my voice breaking. “Please don’t… don’t do this.”

His eyes softened briefly, and before I could react, his lips crashed onto mine.

My eyes flew wide open, shock freezing me in place as his mouth moved against mine. His kiss was rough and demanding, his hand sliding into my hair, holding me in place as he claimed me with bruising force. I whimpered against him, my hands gripping his shirt tightly as confusion and unwanted desire twisted painfully in my chest.

When he finally pulled away, his forehead pressed against mine, his breathing ragged. “Remember this, Keira,” he whispered, his voice low and dangerous. “I will protect you from everyone else… but in return… you are mine. Only mine.”

He pulled back, his silver eyes locking with mine one last time before he stood and turned away, slipping out the window silently, leaving me trembling and breathless in the dark.

My fingers touched my swollen lips as tears fell freely down my cheeks.

I didn’t know what hurt more.

His kiss.

Or the way it made my heart ache with something I couldn’t name.