Chapter 56 - 55 - Silk and Salt
Riven stared at Ashtoria sitting on the bed, his eyes struggling to pull away from the queen’s figure clad in a thin black nightgown that outlined her slender silhouette. The silk fabric clung to her shape, tracing the curves of her body, highlighting her pale shoulders and collarbones that seemed to catch the flickering glow of the oil lamp.
His heart pounded—too fast, too loud, like it might burst through his chest. He quickly averted his gaze, as if seeking an anchor to steady his spiraling thoughts—and found his sister.
Mira.
The girl lay curled up on a small sofa in the corner of the room, still dressed in her usual plain clothes. Her breathing was steady, eyes closed. But it wasn’t a peaceful sleep... Riven recognized that look. Mira hadn’t just fallen asleep—she had fainted. Her slightly rounded belly made it clear she had overeaten. In front of the sofa, a small table stood with an empty tray resting on top.
Riven sighed and shook his head slightly as he looked at her.
’How do I even have a little sister like this...’
"Let’s go to bed," Ashtoria said casually. Her voice was calm, almost innocent, as if unaware of the weight those words carried. She shifted slightly, one hand bracing her from behind, the other tucking a lock of long hair behind her ear.
Riven swallowed, not realizing he had done so.
His eyes flicked back to Ashtoria—she looked completely unaware—or maybe simply unconcerned—about how dangerously inviting her appearance and position were to a man. But the most unsettling part was that this wasn’t forced. She wanted to be here with him.
In silence, Riven grabbed a thin blanket folded neatly in an open cabinet. Gently, he covered Mira, making sure her small frame was wrapped comfortably. He brushed her hair once, then stood and walked over to the bed.
He climbed on and sat at the edge, directly facing Ashtoria, who now looked at him with calm, steady eyes.