Riven's claws scraped against the resin walls as he carried Yalena into their private chamber. He suddenly dropped her onto the silken mound of woven fibers.
Yalena gasped, golden eyes widening. "Riven—?"
But the voice that answered her wasn't the hesitant stammer she expected. It was lower. Firmer. Deeper.
"Enough games, Yalena."
He leaned over her, bracing a clawed hand against the wall by her head, the other pinning her shoulder lightly but with weight. His presence pressed down on her more than the resin walls ever could.
For the first time, Yalena looked stunned. She blinked, her antennae twitching as if she couldn't quite believe what she was seeing—or feeling.
"Riven…" she whispered, softer this time.
He tilted his head, lips curving into something dangerously close to a smirk.
"You wanted me to stop trembling, didn't you? To stop resisting?"
His breath brushed her ear as he leaned closer. "Then I'll show you what happens when I stop."
Her cheeks flushed, her golden eyes searching his face.
"You… you're different."
"Am I?" he murmured, chuckling softly. There was something mildly unsettling about it. "Or is this just the part of me you've been trying to drag out all along?"
She opened her mouth to retort, but he silenced her with a finger against her lips. His touch wasn't rough—just deliberate, commanding.
"Hush now, this isn't the time to chat," he said calmly. "I'll be taking the lead tonight… the only thing I want to hear is you calling out my name as you drown in pleasure."
Yalena's breath hitched. She had teased him, pushed him, cornered him—but now the certainty in his tone sent a strange thrill down her spine.
Riven's eyes narrowed, glinting faintly as he used another hand to lift up her chin, a claw mildly grazing her lips. "But don't worry…" His voice dropped lower, more intimate. "…I'll be gentle, so we can enjoy every second of it together."
Yalena's lips parted, but she was breathless, as if the words had knocked the air right out of her. She had expected resistance, stammering, maybe even another lecture—but not this.
"You…" she whispered, voice trembling between awe and desire. "You're not supposed to sound like that."
Riven chuckled faintly, brushing his claw along the line of her jaw before letting it trail down to her throat. "Maybe not. But you're the one who told me to stop fighting my instincts. This is what that looks like."
Riven didn't give her a chance to catch her breath. He suddenly leaned in, capturing her lips in a fierce kiss.
Yalena gasped against him, her surprise quickly disappearing. She kissed back harder. They tumbled together, rolling until their bodies hit the floor with a heavy thud.
Her golden eyes were wide, her cheeks flushed, antennae trembling violently. She stared up at him, her breath uneven, lips red from the force of his kiss.
"Riven…" she whispered, smiling. Then, with a boldness that shocked even herself, she tilted her chin up and murmured, "Make a mess of me."
Riven's lips curved, his gaze dark and unwavering. "Careful what you ask for, brood mate."
…
…
Two days later.
The branch stood before them, a squat fortress of black stone and reinforced glass. The Argent Fang crest glimmered faintly above the doors, silver lines pulsing as if alive. Voices spilled out from within—laughter, shouts, the clatter of weapons against armor.
Riven adjusted the short black jacket they had given him, tugging once at the collar. It felt strange, stiff, almost theatrical compared to the armor of resin and carapace that clung to him naturally. The silver crest on his chest caught the morning light, and more than one passerby gave him a glance.
He hated the attention.
But it wasn't the occasional glances that were on his mind at the moment. It was… something else…
Fuck. Fuck, fuck, fuck.
His stomach twisted with every step. What the hell got into me last night?
The memory hit him in fragments—the heat in Yalena's gaze, the weight of her body under his hands, and then his own voice, low… commanding… intense… nothing like him at all.
He cringed so hard his jaw locked.
Gods above, I sounded like some trashy male lead from a dark romance novel. If I ever hear myself say that line again, I'll gouge my ears out.
His own words came back to him, cruelly echoing in his head.
"The only sound I want is my name on your lips."
Riven groaned inwardly, shoulders tensing.
Someone kill me now. No, better yet—bury me alive. That wasn't me. That couldn't have been me.
He scrubbed a hand over his face, heat creeping up his neck even as the morning air cooled his skin.
What if it happens again? What if it's not just… pheromones? What if that thing—whatever it was—is buried in me, waiting for her to trigger it?
Arixa walked beside him, humming with pride and excitement. She hadn't said a word about last night, hadn't even hinted at sensing what had happened in the Queen's chamber.
But still… what if she had?
After all, it wasn't like there was an off button on the Hive link.
So they all must have known what happened.
He clenched his jaw tighter.
No. No, she didn't. She couldn't have. Right?
His pulse hammered. The thought of it—the Hive, his daughters—seeing him like that—
Riven nearly staggered.
Fuck. I can't even think about it without wanting to crawl into a pit.
"Father?" Arixa's voice broke through, her golden eyes bright as she tilted her head toward the guild entrance. "Are you well?"
Riven blinked hard, forcing his expression flat. "Fine."
But inside, his mind was still screaming.
Not fine. Not fine at all.
"Father, we look so official," she said across the link, her mental voice practically bubbling.
"This is wonderful. Don't you think so?"
He cleared his throat. "It's… fine," he muttered aloud.
Arixa blinked at him, brows twitching with curiosity. "Fine? Father, this is more than fine! We are standing before an Argent Fang branch as recognized Espers. Humans will see us as comrades now. Isn't that worth pride?"
He gave her a sidelong glance. She was radiant, her pride genuine, and part of him envied her for it. "Pride, huh?" he said softly.
"You don't sound proud," she noted, narrowing her eyes.
Through the Hive link, he tried to mute the swirl of embarrassment that threatened to surface.
But Arixa tilted her head, antennae flicking in mild amusement. You're hiding something, Father.
He stiffened. "Drop it."
"Ok!" she said excitedly.
The guild doors suddenly swung open, and a pair of hunters strode out, their uniforms marked with silver-threaded pauldrons that denoted higher rank. One gave Riven and Arixa a long, measuring look before striding past without a word.
Arixa straightened proudly under the man's gaze. Riven, meanwhile, adjusted his collar again, muttering, "Let's just get this over with."