"Prayers don't work for non-humans," a low voice muttered in the dark.
Nerissa jerked, almost falling off her bed. "Holy—Riven!"
The red-haired Alpha lay on his back, one arm tucked behind his head, golden eyes glowing faintly in the moonlight. A lazy grin tugged at his lips. "You talk in your sleep, Flair. Something about saying a prayer? Thought I'd save you the trouble."
She blinked at him, heart still hammering from the dream. "You were listening to me sleep?"
"Only when you started swearing at God." He stretched, muscles rippling under his black tee. "Didn't want Him to strike our dorm down for blasphemy."
Nerissa groaned and pulled a pillow over her face. "Great. My guardian devil's awake."
"Careful," he said lightly. "Flattery might get you in trouble."
She peeked at him from under the pillow. "Don't you ever sleep?"
"Sleep's overrated," he murmured, sitting up. "Besides, you were tossing like someone was chasing you in there."
Nerissa's throat tightened. The dream still clung to her — flashes of ancient light, the sound of clashing blades, the woman's cruel smile as three men fought for her amusement. Her own face, older, sharper, watching with mirth.
She shuddered. "Just a nightmare."
Riven studied her quietly. "Didn't look like just a nightmare."
"Yeah, well," she said, forcing a laugh, "I dream weird stuff when I'm stressed. You try coming to a school that thinks virgin sacrifice is a life goal."
That earned a chuckle from him. "You've got a mouth on you, witch."
Her gaze snapped to him. "Don't call me that. It's supposed to be a secret, i wonder why i told you three anyway."
He raised his hands. "Touchy. Sorry."
Silence settled, thick and uncertain. Nerissa stared at the ceiling, but her thoughts wouldn't rest. Mooncrest was strange — a maze of secrets and shadows. And Riven… he was part of that mystery she couldn't quite solve.
When she finally turned to face him again, he was watching her. Really watching.
"What?" she asked.
He hesitated, then said, "You wanna get out of here?"
Her brows furrowed. "It's two in the freakin' morning."
"Exactly." His grin returned, sly and knowing. "Best time to see the real Mooncrest."
"Oh no," she said, sitting up. "Last time I followed someone somewhere, I ended up in a death-room with blood on my hands."
Riven snorted. "You hit me with a lamp."
"You shouldn't have scared me!"
He shrugged. "Fair point. Come on, Flair. I wanna show you something."
Nerissa eyed him suspiciously. "If this ends with me buried in the woods—"
"—then at least you'll die with good company," he finished smoothly.
She sighed, torn between curiosity and common sense. Common sense lost. "Fine. But if we get caught, I'm blaming you."
"Wouldn't have it any other way."
The hallways of Mooncrest were even creepier at night. Shadows danced across the ancient walls, torches flickering as if they were whispering secrets. The portraits seemed to follow her with their eyes.
Riven walked ahead, moving with silent confidence — like someone who owned the place. Nerissa half-jogged to keep up, muttering, "You do know sneaking around with the Alpha heir screams bad idea, right?"
"Who said we're sneaking?" he said. "I told the gatekeeper we're going out."
Her eyes widened. "And he just let you?"
"Fire Dawn heir privileges." He flashed a grin. "Perks of power."
She rolled her eyes. "Must be nice."
He glanced at her, tone softening. "You'll get used to it."
Outside, the night air was cold and silvered with moonlight. The campus sprawled behind them — towers and courtyards glowing faintly with magic. Ahead stretched a dark forest, fog on its edge like a living thing.
Nerissa stopped. "We're going in there?"
Riven's grin widened. "Scared?"
She scoffed. "Please. I grew up in a place where raccoons robbed you for snacks."
He laughed. "Good. Then you'll be fine."
The forest was dancing. Every sound — the rustle of leaves, the hum of magic in the air — thrummed through her bones. The deeper they went, the brighter the moon seemed to shine, illuminating faint silver markings on the trees.
"What's this place?" she asked quietly.
"Old land," Riven replied. "Older than the academy. They say witches used to train here, before they were suddenly wiped them out by goodness knows what."
Her heart skipped. "Witches?"
He nodded, watching her carefully. "You ever hear of the Nectar Lake?"
Nerissa frowned. "Sounds like something out of a fairy tale."
"Sort of." He pushed past a curtain of vines, revealing a clearing bathed in blue light. At its center lay a lake — shimmering, luminous, like liquid moonlight. The air itself smelled sweet and electric.
Nerissa's jaw dropped. "What the hell…"
"The Nectar Lake," Riven said softly. "They say it was created by the last coven. A place of renewal, power, and temptation."
"Temptation?"
"Anyone who drinks from it feels what they truly are," he murmured, eyes glinting. "But not many survive that truth."
She tore her gaze from the lake to him. "And you brought me here because…?"
He smirked. "You looked like you needed a distraction."
Before she could reply, he kicked off his shoes and dove into the glowing water.
"Are you serious?" she shouted.
His laughter echoed as he surfaced, wet hair slicked back, golden eyes gleaming. "Come on, witch! It's not cursed!"
"Be careful calling me that!"
"Then prove i should be careful."
Nerissa crossed her arms. "I'm not swimming in a glowing puddle of death."
"Suit yourself," he said, diving again.
She watched him — the water gliding off his skin, muscles flexing under the moonlight, his movements almost too graceful. Something primal stirred in her chest, something she didn't want to name.
When he resurfaced again, he splashed her — a huge wave that drenched her shirt.
"RIVEN!"
"That's for the lamp!" he shouted, laughing.
"Oh, you're dead." She marched to the edge, scooped water in her hands, and flung it back. It hit his face perfectly.
He blinked, then grinned. "You missed a spot."
"Asshole."
"Flair."
Before she could react, his hand shot out, gripping her wrist. A quick tug — and she tumbled forward, right into the water.
She surfaced, gasping. "I hate you!"
He was grinning ear to ear. "You look good wet."
"Pervert!"
"Observant."
She splashed him again, this time harder. They chased each other around the lake like reckless children, laughter echoing through the night. The air shimmered faintly, reacting to their energy — the lake pulsing brighter with every movement.
Then something shifted. The laughter faded into silence.
Riven was suddenly very close, water dripping from his hair, his breath brushing her cheek. His voice dropped low. "You really don't know what you are, do you?"
Her pulse jumped. "What are you talking about?"
He tilted his head, studying her. "The lake's reacting to you. It only glows like that when—"
A surge of energy erupted beneath them. The water flared gold, swirling around Nerissa like a storm. Her eyes widened as faint runes appeared on her skin — the same greenish light that had flashed under her bed nights ago.
"Riven—what's happening?"
He grabbed her shoulders, steady but awed. "You're—damn it, Flair—breathe!"
She did — and the light dimmed, sinking back into the water.
Silence fell again, broken only by their ragged breaths.
Nerissa looked at him, trembling slightly. "What… what was that?"
Riven hesitated. Then he smiled faintly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Magic. Old magic. This lake just confirmed something I suspected."
"Which is?" she demanded.
He brushed a wet lock of hair from her face, voice soft. "That Mooncrest didn't accept you by accident."
Her lips parted. "What do you mean—"
But he only whispered, "You'll see soon enough," before swimming away toward the shore.
Nerissa stayed where she was, staring at the glowing ripples, her heartbeat echoing in her ears.
The water whispered faintly around her, almost like a voice.
Hybrid…
She froze.
When she looked again, the lake was still. But the reflection staring back at her wasn't just hers — it was older, darker, and smiling with that same cruel mirth she'd seen in her dream.
She stumbled back, gasping.
Riven turned. "You okay?"
"Y–yeah," she said quickly, forcing a shaky grin. "Just… cold."
He studied her for a moment longer, then nodded. "Come on. We should head back before sunrise."
As they left the clearing, Nerissa cast one last look at the shimmering water. The reflection was gone — but the whisper still stayed in her ears.
Welcome home, Witch Queen.
Her stomach turned cold.
She didn't say a word all the way back to the dorm.
As they entered the dorm, Nerissa looked at Riven,
"Don't tell anyone about today's incident."
Riven offered a knowing smile, "I won't."