Chapter 85: Report

Chapter 85: Chapter 85: Report

"The heart has its reasons of which reason knows nothing." — Blaise Pascal

The predawn mist still clung to the polished white stone pillars of the royal residential wing as Riven slipped through the heavy balcony doors of his quarters.

Cold air followed him inside.

His dark coat was dusted with moisture from the eastern peaks, and the heavy leather bound tome containing Shadow Orb rested securely inside his pack beside the silver claw token.

Nyx glided silently through the opening behind him.

She folded her dark wings and settled into the shadows near the ceiling, her violet eyes briefly scanning the room before relaxing.

Riven closed the balcony doors.

He exhaled slowly.

Three days in the eastern gorge.

An assault.

A Tier Five Core breakthrough.

A new high tier spell tome.

A successful border defense.

And, somehow, he had still made it back before Lady Aerwynn’s next tutorial.

Barely.

Riven removed his coat and draped it over the back of his chair.

He had just reached for the books on his desk when the heavy oak door clicked open.

Riven turned.

Lyra stood in the doorway.

She was already dressed.

Her usual royal clothing had been replaced by structured formal attire, and her silver blonde hair was braided into a severe coronet.

Her violet eyes were wide.

Tired.

Very tired.

She looked like she had not slept at all.

Riven’s expression softened.

"Lyra."

She stared at him.

For several seconds, neither of them spoke.

Her eyes moved over him.

His arms.

His chest.

His face.

His hands.

She was checking him.

Riven noticed.

"I’m fine."

Lyra’s shoulders dropped slightly.

Only then did Riven realize how tense she had been.

She stepped inside.

"You were late."

"By twelve minutes."

"That is late."

"I calculated the return time."

"You calculated badly."

Riven almost smiled.

"Apparently."

Lyra opened her mouth to continue.

Then she stopped.

Her nose wrinkled.

Riven watched her expression change.

Confusion.

Suspicion.

Then outrage.

Her eyes narrowed.

She took another breath.

Riven’s brow furrowed.

"What?"

Lyra slowly looked up at him.

"Why do you smell like that?"

Riven blinked.

"Like what?"

She stepped closer.

Another breath.

Her expression became darker.

"Why do you smell like that bitch?"

Riven stared at her.

"Kalia?"

Lyra’s eye twitched.

"Yes."

Riven looked down at himself.

He smelled faintly of smoke.

Blood.

Cold air.

Pine.

Nothing seemed unusual.

"I washed before leaving."

"That isn’t the point."

Lyra stepped closer.

Her voice became quieter.

Dangerously quiet.

"You smell like pine sap, campfire smoke, and beastfolk."

Riven looked genuinely confused.

"That is probably because I was at a beastfolk camp."

Lyra stared at him.

"Did she mark you?"

Riven paused.

His eyes shifted away for a moment.

Lyra’s expression went completely blank.

Riven immediately realized that had been the wrong answer.

"Explain."

Riven rubbed the back of his neck.

"Kalia said it was a pack recognition thing."

Lyra’s eyes widened.

"She rubbed her scent on you?"

"Yes."

"On your face?"

Riven hesitated.

"Yes."

Lyra closed her eyes.

She took a slow breath.

Riven watched her carefully.

"Are you angry?"

Lyra opened her eyes.

"Very."

Riven was quiet for a moment.

Then, despite himself, a small smile appeared.

Lyra noticed.

"You think this is funny?"

"No."

"Riven."

He raised his hands.

"I’m sorry."

"You don’t sound sorry."

"I am."

"You’re smiling."

Riven quickly tried to suppress it.

That only made it worse.

Lyra marched toward him.

"You disappeared for three days."

Riven’s smile faded.

Lyra stopped directly in front of him.

"I spent three days wondering if you were alive."

Her voice cracked slightly.

Riven’s expression changed.

The teasing disappeared.

"I came back."

"I know."

Lyra’s eyes softened for a moment.

"That’s the problem."

Riven frowned.

"What?"

She grabbed the front of his shirt.

"You always come back like nothing happened."

Riven looked down at her hand.

Then back into her eyes.

Lyra’s grip tightened.

"You walk into dangerous places alone. You fight monsters, assassins, syndicates, whatever else happens to be waiting for you."

Her voice trembled.

"And then you come back and tell me everything is fine."

Riven was silent.

He understood the anger now.

It was not really about Kalia.

Not entirely.

Lyra had been afraid.

Riven slowly reached down and covered her hand with his.

"I’m sorry."

Lyra stared at him.

The words were quiet.

No sarcasm.

No tactical explanation.

Just an apology.

Her expression softened.

"You mean that?"

Riven nodded.

"I should have sent word."

"You couldn’t."

"I could have found a way."

Lyra looked down.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then she sighed.

"I hate when you’re right."

Riven smiled faintly.

"You usually tell me when I’m wrong."

"Because you usually deserve it."

His smile grew slightly.

Lyra noticed.

Her expression became irritated again.

"And don’t think we’re done with the other problem."

Riven’s smile disappeared.

"What problem?"

She pointed at his face.

"The smell."

Riven stared at her.

"How exactly am I supposed to remove it?"

"Wash."

"I did."

"Again."

"I already did."

"Then use more soap."

Riven sighed.

"How much?"

Lyra crossed her arms.

"Enough."

He stared at her.

She stared back.

Finally, Riven laughed quietly.

It was brief.

Soft.

But genuine.

Lyra’s expression froze.

She had heard him laugh before.

Not often.

Not like this.

Her anger weakened immediately.

"You really are impossible."

Riven stepped closer.

"I missed you too."

Lyra went completely still.

Riven seemed to realize what he had said only after the words were already out.

His ears turned slightly red.

Lyra’s face followed.

"You..."

She looked away.

Riven cleared his throat.

"That was not intended to sound..."

"Don’t ruin it."

Riven stopped.

Lyra’s fingers loosened around his shirt.

She looked back at him.

A small smile appeared.

"I missed you too."

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Then Nyx made a quiet chitter from the ceiling.

Both of them looked up.

The little wyvern stared down at them.

Lyra sighed.

"Even Nyx thinks we’re being ridiculous."

Riven looked at the wyvern.

"She probably wants breakfast."

"Of course she does."

Lyra stepped back.

Then she pointed toward the washroom.

"Go."

Riven raised an eyebrow.

"Now?"

"Now."

"I have an hour before Aerwynn’s tutorial."

"Exactly."

Riven sighed.

He grabbed his towel.

As he walked toward the washroom, Lyra called after him.

"And Riven?"

He looked back.

Her expression had returned to its familiar possessive irritation.

"Get every trace of that beastgirl off you."

Riven smiled.

"I’ll try."

Lyra narrowed her eyes.

"Try harder."

Riven laughed again.

Then he disappeared through the doorway.

For the first time since returning from the eastern frontier, the weight in his chest felt lighter.

The eastern valleys were still dangerous.

The syndicates were still moving.

His new Tier Five Core needed training.

The entrance examinations were waiting.

But for a few minutes, none of that mattered.

He was home.

And someone had been waiting for him.