Chapter 235: Not This Again
Riven lay on the cool sheets of the guest room, his mind racing far more than his body could. The manor’s silence felt oppressive. He absolutely hated sleeping on his own. Before coming into this story, he forced to, but since then he never had to sleep alone ever... That was until now.
He stared at the ceiling, tracing the intricate patterns with his eyes, but his thoughts were far from settled. He had wanted to avoid Soren and Ronan. He could not deal with that right now. He was just annoyed... Annoyed with the situation. He knew nothing good would come out of him getting angry, so he went to his room to calm down.
But as he tossed and turned, an unsettling feeling began to build within him. It was a burning sensation, raw and urgent, that spread through his body like wildfire. He groaned and turned over again, but there was no escape.
Meanwhile, Ronan was slipping through the manor’s grand entrance, the heavy oak doors shutting behind him with an echo that reverberated in Riven’s ears. Despite his irritation with the two men, Riven couldn’t help but wonder where Ronan was going at this hour. Business, he had said. What kind of business required him to leave at night?
Hah... Probably the same business that brought Raphael here, Riven concluded.
Out in the dimly lit streets, Ronan’s thoughts were racing, leaving Riven behind with Soren felt like leaving a lit match next to a pile of kindling. He knew deep down that he could not be at peace with such a situation, but he would endure.
Back in the guest room, Riven felt a wave of heat wash over him, igniting his senses. It wasn’t just physical, it attacked his mind too. A desperate need clawed at him from within. His body started to ache. He knew exactly what this was, and he was in no mood.
Frustrated, he threw the sheets off and swung his legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cool air contrast sharply against his heated skin.
He could hear Soren’s soft breathing through the walls, at least he thought he could hear Soren, and it made his heart race in ways that both excited and terrified him. There was a part of him that wanted to give in to the heat, to seek comfort in the arms of someone who could satisfy this desperate craving.
Ronan had initially dismissed Troy, thinking it would be for the best, but something gnawed at him. He knew Troy’s instincts were sharp, and the last thing he needed was for anything—especially involving Riven or Soren—to go awry while he was away.
"Wait," Ronan called out, his voice echoing in the stillness. Troy paused, turning back with an expectant look. "I need you to keep an eye on them. Both of them."
Troy slept the entire day, and he was well-rested. Knowing their situation, he immediately understood what his master meant.