The castle library smelled of aged parchment and flickering candlelight, shadows dancing along the walls like quiet spectators. Alina leaned over the table, tracing a finger along the edge, aware of the faint pulsing of her mark beneath her skin. Kael had gone ahead to attend to some duties, leaving her with Riven, who lingered just a little too close, warmth radiating off him like sunlight trapped in a living flame.
“You’re quite the little puzzle, you know that?” Riven murmured, voice low and teasing, stepping behind her so that the heat of his body pressed subtly against hers. “Strong, clever… and dangerously tempting.”
Alina shivered involuntarily. “Tempting?” she echoed, though the flush creeping up her neck betrayed her.
“Absolutely,” he said, brushing a careless hand along her fo
