Chapter 12: A Prized Possession

I stumbled back, shaking violently. Oh Goddess. What had I said? Had I spoken too slowly? Too wrongly? One wrong breath and he’d killed his own Beta without hesitation. For me.

“No one warns my mate,” Riven said quietly to the corpse, his voice flat and final. Then he turned those golden eyes on me, and everything else melted away.

He was so close. The heat rolling off his bare skin chased away the mountain chill. Sweat and cedar and dark chocolate—his scent wrapped around me like chains I didn’t want to break. My wolf stopped whimpering. She surged forward instead, pressing eagerly against my ribs, drunk on him. My body reacted traitorously, a warm flush spreading low in my belly despite the terror still clawing at my throat.

Riven extended one huge, calloused hand toward me. Blood from Garrick’s neck had smeared across his knuckles, but he didn’t seem to notice.

“You should get back inside,” he said, voice softening just for me. “These soldiers throw spears and shit around. It’s not safe for you here.”

I stared at his hand. Then at the dead Beta. Then back at him.

He had just murdered one of his highest-ranking wolves in seconds. Casually. Because the man had grabbed me. Touched what belonged to him.

And now he was offering me his hand like we’d just finished a polite conversation.

My fingers trembled as I placed them in his. His palm swallowed mine—scorching hot, rough, impossibly gentle. The moment we touched, a spark raced up my arm and straight into my core. My wolf practically purred. Damn her! Damn me!! 

Riven didn’t let go. He pulled me closer, tucking me against his side as if I weighed nothing. His arm curved protectively around my back, careful not to press on my stitches or disturb Mael. The contrast made my head spin. This was the same man who had just snapped a neck like a twig.

We started walking back toward the arched entrance. Behind us, I heard the soldiers below erupt into low, uneasy murmurs. No one dared come near the body.

“I… I didn’t mean for him to die,” I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Riven glanced down at me. A faint frown pulled at his scarred brow. “He touched you. Threatened you. Threatened Mael.” His thumb brushed slowly over the back of my hand. “No one gets a second chance at that.”

The possessiveness in his tone should have terrified me. Instead, it sent another unwanted wave of heat through my body. My nipples tightened against the thin fabric of my shift. I pressed my thighs together as we walked, mortified by how easily he affected me.

We passed through the corridor. Servants and guards melted out of our way, eyes wide. No one looked at the blood on his hand. They looked at me—with even deeper reverence than before.

When we reached my chamber door, Riven stopped. He turned me gently to face him, tilting my chin up with two fingers. His golden eyes searched mine, intense and unreadable.

“Are you hurt?” he asked. The question was simple, but the weight behind it wasn’t. His free hand hovered near my waist, right where Garrick had gripped me.

I shook my head, unable to speak.

He leaned down slowly, giving me time to pull away. His forehead rested against mine. Sweat from his hair dripped onto my collarbone, sliding down between my breasts. I shivered.

“You are safe here,” he murmured, his breath warm against my lips. “With me. Always.”

For a heartbeat, I believed him.

Then the memory of Garrick’s words slithered back in. ‘When he finally smells the truth…’

Riven’s nostrils flared slightly, as if catching the shift in my scent. His eyes darkened. But he didn’t push. Instead, he pressed a slow, burning kiss to my forehead—the same way he had kissed Mael days ago.

“Rest,” he said, stepping back. “I’ll send Maren to check on you.”

He turned to leave, muscles rippling under scarred skin.

“Riven,” I called out before I could stop myself.

He paused, looking back over one broad shoulder.

I clutched Mael tighter, heart racing. “Thank you… for protecting us.”

A ghost of a smile touched his lips—fierce, satisfied, and dangerously soft all at once.

“More than just protect would I kill for you, little bird.”

The door closed behind him.

I sank onto the edge of the bed, legs finally giving out. My body still tingled where he’d touched me. My wolf was restless, pacing, wanting more. But my mind… my mind kept replaying the sharp crack of bone.

This place was safer than Frostbane.

But was it?

I looked down at Mael’s peaceful face and whispered, “What kind of king have we been given to?”

Outside, I heard distant howls rise from the training grounds. Whether they were mourning their Beta or celebrating their King’s justice, I couldn’t tell.

All I knew was that Riven’s scent still clung to my skin.

And I was no longer sure if that terrified me… or if I was starting to crave it.