Chapter 3 - The Nightmare Bond

Mira’s POV

After I brought Riven home, he did not wake. I laid him on the narrow bed in the back room and cleaned the blood from his fur, but he did not react to my touch or my voice. The slave brand near his shoulder had darkened. I had paid everything to take him from the arena, but money had only removed him from the pit.

Nessa brought two healers before sunrise. Healer Mariel was an older woman with grey hair and sharp eyes. Orven was younger and pale, with a medicine case. Healer Mariel touched Riven’s chest, then pressed two fingers near the brand. “His body is alive,” Healer Mariel said, “but his spirit is trapped in a nightmare abyss. If it keeps feeding on his life force, he will not last long.”

I asked, “How do we bring him back?” Orven glanced at the faded moon mark on my skin. “A strong moon-bearer can enter his dream and pull his spirit out,” Orven said. “But your power is low-ranked. If his Beast Rage rises inside the nightmare, you may be trapped with him.” The words were polite, but I heard insults. 

“I will enter,” I said. Healer Mariel frowned. “You may not survive it,” Healer Mariel said. I placed my hand over Riven’s chest and replied, “Then guide me properly.”

Healer Mariel told me to push my moon power into his heart and follow the first memory that opened. I closed my eyes and reached for the small power everyone had mocked. The room disappeared, and I found myself inside a cold stone cell.

A little boy sat in the corner with dirty black hair, thin arms, bare feet, and a fresh slave brand on his shoulder. A guard outside the bars shouted, “Get up, rogue. Beasts do not sleep when their owners are awake.” The boy moved slowly, and the guard struck him with a whip. Riven did not cry.

The nightmare changed again. I saw Riven older, chained in a yard while men bet on how long he would stand. I saw handlers pour silver dust on his wounds before fights. I saw him thrown into pits against beasts twice his size while people called him a monster. They had treated him like a weapon that deserved punishment for surviving.

I found him at the center of the nightmare, kneeling with chains around his wrists. He looked human there, older and lean, with messy black hair, sharp cheekbones, grey eyes, and scars across his arms and chest. I moved closer and said, “Riven, come back with me.” He looked at me as if kindness was another trap. “Leave,” Riven said. “You bought a beast. Do not enter its cage.” I shook my head and said, “I bought your life back because no one else would.”

His Beast Rage rose inside the dream, and the nightmare pushed us back into the real room. Riven had shifted into human form on the bed. His skin was burning, and he tore at his clothes until the fabric came loose from his body. 

Orven shouted, “His rage is rising. Move away from him!” I did not move. I was dressed only in thin nightclothes, but shame did not matter while he was dying. I climbed onto the bed, held him close, and said, “Riven, listen to me. You are not in the pit. You are not chained.”

Riven held the bedding instead of hurting me. His eyes were unfocused, and his voice was rough. “They always come back,” Riven said. I held his face and answered, “I came back too, but I came to save you.” My weak moon power was not enough, so I kissed him. The contact pulled his rage into me in a hard rush. 

I did not stop until the heat inside him began to settle. Something from him entered me, and my moon power swallowed it instead of breaking. I knew I had taken part of his ability and turned it into strength.

By morning, Riven woke in human form. He was tall and lean, with black hair falling over his eyes and old scars across his chest. His grey eyes checked every corner. 

I couldn't believe my eyes. The animal from last night had turned into an unbelievably handsome man, the kind of man who looked like he belonged in a dream rather than the real world. 

I gave him an old robe, and he took it without questions. 

I slept for a short while, and when I woke, the dishes had been washed, and water had been placed beside my bed. Riven stood near the doorway. “You did not have to do that,” I said. Riven looked away and replied, “I do not stay anywhere for free.”

Before I could answer, an invitation slid under the front door. The seal belonged to Caden’s auction. I wanted to throw it away, but the item list made me stop. 

A rare healing marrow would be sold there, strong enough to repair slave brands and nightmare abyss wounds. I hated entering Caden’s space again, but Riven needed that medicine. “I have to attend,” I said. Riven replied, “Then I will go with you.”

The auction hall was full when we arrived. Caden stood near the front in a dark coat, proud and clean as if betrayal had improved his life. Lyra stood beside him, looked at Riven and said, “Mira, you brought your pit beast here? I knew you were desperate, but this is embarrassing.” A broad-shouldered male beside Caden laughed. He had short brown hair, a square jaw, and a scar near his lip. “Careful, Caden,” the male said. “Your discarded moon-bearer now collects damaged animals.”

Riven struck him before the laughter finished. The male crashed into a chair, and the hall went quiet. Caden stepped forward and shouted, “Mira, control him!” Lyra touched her chest and said, “She cannot even control the beast she bought. No wonder she could not hold her bonded males.” I walked to Lyra and slapped her hard across the face. “Mock me if you want,” I said. “But say one more word about him, and I will hit you again.”

Before Lyra could answer, the hall doors opened. Three men entered, and even Caden’s supporters moved aside. Caspian Morcant, the sea-dragon prince, was tall and cold-looking, with blue-black hair, pale eyes, and a proud face. 

Varek Nocturne, an academy professor, had silver-streaked black hair, dark wings folded behind him, and calm eyes that looked ancient. Silas Thorn, the fallen shadow-fox king, wore black and had long white hair, tired golden eyes, and a guarded look. The moment they came closer, a sudden bond formed between us, and I was shocked by the different scents coming from the three men.