Chapter 68: I Want Her, So Does He - Riven's POV

Her gaze never wavered as she stared into my eyes. If anything, she became more resolved. “That doesn’t change what I feel about you.”

“That doesn’t—” All the air left my lungs and I took a step back, pulling away from her. “Callista, do you even understand what you are saying? When he takes control, I’m not home. You are kissing the demon.”

“And it’s your lips.”

Frustration flared in my chest, because she wasn’t getting it. Not fully in the way I needed her to. I stepped back even farther toward the door, dragging a hand through my hair again as I tried to put space between us.

“It should change everything,” I whispered.

“It doesn’t. You’re the one I love.”

“That’s right. You love me. Not him.” I let out a slow breath, forcing myself to meet her gaze. “Callista, you’re not hearing me and even now your brow is furrowed as if you’re confused. If he takes control and does that, and crosses that line, you won’t be able to tell the different between us. He’ll feel like me, sound like me, look like me, and that’s exactly why it’s dangerous.”

“I know who is who.”

“You wouldn’t if he didn’t want you to,” I snapped, then rejected the tone. “He only lets you know when he’s in control, because he wants you to know.”

That got her attention. Her gaze narrowed on my face, studying me. “Wait…he can do that?”

“Do you finally understand what I’m telling you?” I asked, my voice hoarse. “He only reveals himself when he wants to.”

That got her attention. Her entire body trembled. “Has he…Has he—”

“No,” I said, cutting her off before her thoughts spiraled. “No, he hasn’t done it yet, but he has the ability to do so. Right now, he wants you to know, but I don’t know when he’s going to just take the wheel and you not notice.”

“Did he take over the Alpha King’s office?”

That made me stop in my tracks. Her expression shifted slightly, but there was something underneath it, as if she were putting the puzzle pieces together.

“Are you asking if he was the one in control when I accepted the offer?”  My hands found my hips, resting there as I shook my head. “No, he wasn’t.”

“Is he in control now?” Her gaze lifted to meet mine. “He lies.”

I almost laughed. “It took you this long to realize he lies? Seriously.”

“Why are you talking to me like I’m stupid?” She asked, hurt reflecting in her gaze. “I know he lies from what you told me, but now you’re making me question everything.”

“Good. You should.” I turned to leave, my hand gripping the edge of the door. “I love you, Callista, but you shouldn’t ever trust me.”

“What does that mean?” She asked as I went out the door. “Riven, wait!”

My parents were on the way up when I got to my room. They saw the direction I came from and their gazes narrowed.

“I said good night to her,” I said, then opened my door and went inside.

Though their gazes narrowed in suspicion, they said nothing as they approached. Before I could shut my door, they were there.

“We just came to say goodnight,” my mother said, her voice low. “But it looks like you’re upset. Why? Did something happen?”

I shook my head. “No, nothing happened.”

My father’s gaze stayed on my face, searching for a sign of a lie. “Look, we know this is stressful—”

“Yes, Dad, I know. This is stressful. Any sixteen year old with a mate would be facing the same issues as we are,” I snapped. “You don’t know what it’s like to have your wolf riding you to finish a bond that I literally can’t finish, because we aren’t of age. I’d love to have our ceremony and be with her as I should be.”

“But you both are too young,” my mother added, then sighed. “But I fear we may not have a choice. We may have to ask the Alpha King if he’ll approve your ceremony sooner than when you both turn eighteen.”

I glanced toward the wall between our rooms, knowing that she was probably hearing this. “No, eighteen is fine. I’m just tired and irritable. That’s all.”

“Well, if it gets worse, let us know,” Dad said, his voice rough. “We will help you any way we can to deal with this.”

“Thanks, but there is nothing you can do for me.”

I slammed the door right in their faces. Once again, they said nothing and walked off. It wasn’t a few seconds later, I heard Callista’s parents at her door, wishing her a good night. They sounded even more suspicious than my parents had been.

I sighed as I waited for their footsteps to pass, then I leaned against the wall near the door.

“What am I doing?” My head fell back, hitting it with a thud. “I want her so bad that it’s driving me crazy.”

You exchanged a bite. Have your own ceremony.

The demon’s voice was louder than usual.

“No, I’m not doing that. We have to have approval from the Alpha King. It’s tradition.”

A low, dark chuckle echoed in my mind, sending a chill down my spine.

Tradition won’t matter when I take control.

My jaw clenched as I pushed off the wall, pacing the length of my room like a caged animal. “You won’t be taking control,” I muttered under my breath and dragging both hands through my hair. “Not now or ever.”

You say that like you have a choice.

I stopped in the middle of the room, my chest rising and falling too fast. The pressure built again, like claws testing the edges of my control.

“I am the choice,” I snapped quietly.

Silence followed as he retreated. He might be gone for the moment, but he wasn’t gone forever.

I swallowed hard, forcing my breathing to steady as my gaze drifted to the wall separating me from Callista. I could still feel her, like a pull beneath my skin.

And he felt it too.

Which meant every second I wanted her, he did too.