Chapter 73: A Message - Callista's POV

The sunlight was soft, spilling through the curtains and dusting the room in gold. My eyes fluttered open slowly, the haze of sleep still clinging to me. It was only seconds before I froze.

Riven. He was at the foot of my bed, sprawled across the blanket as if he belonged there. His eyes were open as he stared at me in shock.

“Riven?” I whispered, barely moving my lips.

My hand hovered over the sheets, trembling slightly. We both blinked. Did he fall asleep here? When did he get in here?

I remembered the tension from last night, the bond, and the fight against the cold. My stomach twisted as I looked at him. He still hadn’t said a single word to me.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight. “Why…are you here? I thought—”

His jaw clenched as he rubbed the back of his neck like he hadn’t meant to be caught. “I…didn’t make it back to my room after checking on you,” he admitted, his voice low and rough around the edges. His eyes darted away from mine, focused somewhere distant, like he was embarrassed but also tired in a way that went deeper than lack of sleep. “I wanted to be close to you.”

Something stirred in the bond, and I could feel the remnants of last night. The echo of the demon’s presence was still there. Every muscle in him radiated tension that hadn’t fully released, but his breathing was steady right now.

“You… stayed?” My voice was barely a whisper, disbelief laced with awe.

Riven shifted slightly, as if to make space without actually moving away, and nodded. “I… wanted to make sure you were okay,” he said quietly. His words were simple, but there was something heavier underneath, something that said he had fought through the chaos to stay here.

I felt my chest tighten, and I couldn’t stop the small, shaky smile that spread across my face. “You could’ve gone back,” I said softly. “You didn’t have to—”

“I didn’t care,” he interrupted gently, the edge of his exhaustion softening into something almost tender. His gaze met mine, and there it was, an honesty that cut through the lingering fear of last night. “I couldn’t let you wake up alone after… everything.”

My fingers itched to reach out, to touch him, but I stayed still, afraid of breaking the fragile quiet between us. Yet the warmth in the bond pulsed, and I knew we were connected even when words failed.

Riven exhaled, shoulders sagging like the weight of the night had finally caught up to him. “I… fell asleep,” he admitted again, a faint rueful smile tugging at his lips. “Guess I didn’t mean to.”

I let out a small laugh, though it came out more like a breath of relief than humor. “You didn’t wake me at least,” I said, watching the tension ease from his posture. “I was at peace the entire night, so don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”

The room was quiet except for our breathing, sunlight spilling over both of us, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like maybe, just maybe, we could find a moment of peace.

He glanced down at me, his eyes softening. “Are you okay?”

I nodded, still unsure of my voice. “I am… now.”

He sat up straighter on the bed, then stood. I watched him as he almost crossed the room to the door first, but he paused. “It’s probably best if I go back before your parents or mine find me here.”

I wanted to tell him that I didn’t care what they thought, but I understood. He cracked the door, peering outside, then paused. His eyes darted to mine, and that was all it took for him to rush back to me.

Riven’s hand shot out before I even knew what was happening, curling around my wrist and pulling me gently toward him. My heart thudded so hard I was sure he heard it. There was no room for hesitation or space for fear.

His eyes searched mine, but softened with something that made my heart ache. Vulnerability.

“Callista,” he whispered, almost like a prayer, and his thumb traced the back of my hand.

I didn’t pull away. I couldn’t. My chest heaved, every nerve screaming for him, for this closeness. And then, slowly, he leaned down. His lips brushed against mine in the softest, tentative touch at first.

A shiver ran through me, and my hands instinctively went to his shoulders, clutching and holding him close. The kiss deepened almost immediately, hunger and relief and tenderness all wrapped into one. It was like the world had narrowed until there was nothing but the two of us, nothing but this moment.

He pulled back slightly, just enough to look into my eyes, and I could see the storm in him simmering beneath the surface, tempered only by me. “I wasn’t letting you face today alone,” he murmured against my lips. “Or any day for that matter.”

I smiled against him, breathless, and whispered, “You don’t have to. You never have to.”

A thump downstairs caught our attention. He turned and looked at the door.

“They’re awake. I’d better go,” he whispered.

He pecked my lips once. Then he was gone, slipping out the door and leaving it cracked. I sat there for a moment more, missing his warmth already.

I pushed myself up, still trembling from the closeness, and swung my legs over the side of the bed. The sunlight felt warmer now, brushing over my skin, but the calm was fleeting. My mind reminded me of the day ahead—I had to get ready for school. I moved quickly, brushing my hair back and pulling on clothes, my thoughts half on Riven and half on the routines that normally grounded me.

Just as I grabbed my bag from the floor, my phone buzzed sharply on the nightstand. Frowning, I picked it up and froze at the message. Alpha King has decided you both need to arrive early today.

My heart jumped. Early? That meant we’d be facing him and everything he demanded before we’d even had a moment to steady ourselves. It was supposed to be Friday evening. Not today, when we still had school.

I pressed the phone to my chest, suddenly aware of how quiet the room had become without Riven here, and how much I wanted him back beside me.