"What did you just say? A full day off for all Nexus employees?" Thayer blurted out, eyes wide in disbelief.
They had just returned from the cruise. Riven and Lior were already inside the unit, Eli had stayed behind, and Nyxen was at the door—right where Thayer caught him.
While speaking with his secretary, Nyxen casually gave the order: a full day of rest for every employee. Thayer nearly dropped his jaw.
"You're being generous today," he teased, raising an eyebrow.
"Riven won't be coming in, that much is certain. And the others are exhausted as well. Consider it a paid holiday," Nyxen replied evenly.
"Paid holiday?" Thayer chuckled. "They should all be thanking you. If only you hadn't completely worn Riven out—" He cut himself off as soon as he saw Nyxen's face harden. His laugh died instantly, and he swallowed the rest of the joke.
"Come on, don't tell me you can't take a joke," he muttered under his breath before switching topics. "So… am I included in this day off?"
"You are not exactly an employee of Nexus," Nyxen said flatly, turning away as he gripped the door handle.
"Figures," Thayer murmured with a sly grin. After all, Nyxen himself was his true boss—the head of Raventhorne.
"Continue your investigation into the person responsible for the pheromone surge. And send me the guest list. I'll review the names myself," Nyxen instructed.
Thayer let out a dramatic sigh, though the grin was still on his lips. "Shouldn't you be resting as well?" he asked.
"I am not exactly an employee of Nexus," Nyxen shot back without missing a beat, then turned the handle and stepped inside.
Left alone in the hallway, Thayer frowned, then shook his head with a laugh. "Unbelievable. No sense of humor." Still chuckling, he exhaled. Lucky employees—they get the day off. Me? I've got more work waiting.
For a moment, Thayer stood staring at the door, lost in thought. It had only been a few weeks, yet Riven and Lior had already let the young man into their lives.
It was something Thayer had long wanted for him, and yet… he still hadn't told Riven who he really was.
Only Lior knew the truth. Clever boy, Thayer thought with a faint smile. He had seen through Nyxen's disguise almost immediately.
"He really is Nyxen's son," Thayer murmured, meaning Lior, before finally turning to walk away.
"Oh? What are you doing here? Where's your papa?" Nyxen asked in surprise as he stepped inside the unit.
Waiting just beyond the doorway was Lior, standing as if he had been expecting him all along. The boy's wide eyes glimmered, shining with that soft, almost disarming look—puppy eyes that seemed to glow.
Nyxen felt his chest tighten. The moment he saw Lior's face, he removed his glasses and loosened the top button of his shirt, finally allowing himself to breathe. There was no point in pretending here. Lior had sensed the truth from the beginning. If there was one trait the boy had inherited, it was that sharp intuition. Nyxen sometimes wondered if they even shared the same classification.
"Were you waiting for me to come in?" Nyxen asked, glancing toward the living room. Riven wasn't there. Most likely he had gone straight to his bedroom to sleep.
"Where is—" Nyxen froze.
A fragrance drifted through the air. Faint, yet undeniable. His breath caught as he recognized it instantly. Gardenia… and violet.
His mind sharpened. How can an Alpha emit two pheromone scents?
Normally, Nyxen was unaffected by pheromones; they washed over him like water on stone. But Riven's scent was different. It pulled at him, testing his control. He shut his eyes for a moment, fighting the heat that rose in his blood. He could feel the color pressing against his irises, that telltale middle-mist red struggling to surface.
The fragrance deepened around him. It began softly—like petals brushing open—then blossomed into a creamy, intoxicating sweetness. Gardenia wrapped the air in warmth, magnetic and heady. But threaded through it was a lighter note: violet, cool and powdery, like a whisper against the skin.
The two didn't clash. They danced. Gardenia commanded the space with weight and presence, while violet softened it—an unexpected gentleness beneath authority. Together, they felt heavy yet comforting, like velvet draped over bare shoulders.
Nyxen's throat tightened. This wasn't just a scent. It pressed against him, demanding his attention, daring him to step closer—while hinting at something tender, hidden beneath Riven's strength.
"Dada."
Lior's soft voice pulled Nyxen back. He stood there with fists clenched and eyes shut tight, fighting himself. The moment he heard the boy, his eyes flew open. He had to stay in control—even when every part of him longed to go to Riven's side.
"Why?" Nyxen asked, forcing a smile as he bent toward the boy.
"Papa is sick," Lior whispered.
"I think he's only tired. Let him sleep for now, okay? Dada will take care of you in the meantime." Nyxen's hand brushed gently over the boy's head.
But Lior suddenly stepped back. His small face had hardened, his gaze sharp with anger.
Nyxen froze. "Did I do something?"
"You hurt Papa," Lior said, voice trembling but fierce. "I told you—I'll protect him. Even from you."
Nyxen's lips parted. The words struck harder than he expected. He exhaled slowly, lowering his gaze. "Alright. I'm sorry."
The truth was, he was to blame. Last night he had lost control—indulging in the softness he had craved for five long years. He hadn't meant to push too far, hadn't meant to leave Riven weakened. All he had wanted was to hold him, to keep him close in his arms. But even that had consequences.
"Let's leave him to rest," Nyxen said gently, reaching for the boy's arm. "Would you like to play instead?"
"I want to play with—"
"Not this time." Nyxen's voice sharpened, his expression darkening. "And you know I don't like it when Lior is being difficult."
The sudden seriousness in his tone made the boy's eyes widen. Lior's lips trembled, as if he might burst into tears. The fear in his face pricked Nyxen's chest, and he quickly softened.
"Hey," he murmured, kneeling to meet the boy's eyes. "We'll have time to play with your papa, too. Just… not today. He needs to rest, and we should let him. But I can play with you, and I'll cook your favorite dinner. How does that sound?" His hands settled lightly on the boy's shoulders.
Lior sniffled, trying to hold back his tears, then gave a small nod.
"Be good, alright?" Nyxen said, ruffling his hair before standing. His eyes drifted toward the kitchen. "He'll be hungry when he wakes. What do you say we prepare a good dinner for your papa?"
This time, Lior looked up at him and nodded again, slipping his small hand into Nyxen's. For all his words, he couldn't bear to turn away from Riven.
"Let's go," Nyxen said with a smile, leading the boy toward the kitchen.