Evaline:
I wasn’t sure how long I stood there.
Right in front of the door.
The sa door Elion had walked out of only monts ago... closing behind him with a quiet finality that still echoed inside my head.
Ti felt strange, warped. My body was upright, unmoving, but my mind was anything but still. Thoughts tangled over one another, looping endlessly, refusing to settle.
My heart wasn’t racing in fear. That was the strangest part.
What I felt wasn’t fear at all.
It was shock.
The kind that seeps deep into your bones, numbing everything for a while as your world quietly rearranges itself around a truth you hadn’t known existed. I stared at the wood grain of the door, my reflection faint in its polished surface, and wondered how long Elion had known.
The sharp ringing of my phone shattered the silence.
I flinched, the sound snapping out of my thoughts like a sudden yank on a tether. My hand went instinctively to my chest as I sucked in a breath, grounding myself before turning toward my desk by the glass wall.
The screen lit up as I picked it up.
Mallory.
A smile blood instantly on my lips, natural and unforced. Just seeing her na felt like a balm to my frayed nerves.
I answered without a second thought.
"Eva!" Mallory’s voice burst through the speaker, bright and bubbly as ever. "Tell you are off duty because I need you."
I let out a soft laugh, already feeling lighter. "Give a second," I said, glancing at the clock on the wall for the first ti since Elion had left.
My eyebrows lifted slightly.
"Wow," I murmured. "I have got... twenty minutes left."
"Still twenty?" She groaned dramatically. "That’s criminal."
"I don’t make the rules," I teased.
There was a pause before she brightened again. "Okay, hear out. Stop by Mooncrest Town on your way ho?"
"Mooncrest? Why there?" I asked, wondering what she’s doing there.
"I need help picking Jasper’s birthday cake," she continued, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "And a gift. Because apparently I overthink everything."
I smiled wider. "You absolutely do."
"So that’s a yes?"
I hesitated only a second. The truth was, I could use the distraction. Sothing normal. Sothing warm.
"Yeah," I said softly. "That’s a yes."
Her delighted squeal made laugh out loud.
"Perfect! I’ll et you at the famous Monginis bakery near the big fountain," she said. "And Eva?"
"Yeah?"
"Thanks. I know you have been... busy."
The gentle understanding in her tone tugged at my chest.
"Anyti, Mal," I replied.
We hung up, and for the first ti since that conversation with Elion, my shoulders relaxed just a little.
I wrapped up my desk quickly... stacking files, shutting down the system, slipping my phone into my bag. Barely three minutes later, I was stepping out of Elion’s office, the door clicking shut behind .
Instead of turning toward the elevators, my feet carried the other way.
Toward the last office on the floor.
River’s.
I slowed only slightly as I approached his door, lifting my hand to knock...
It opened before my knuckles could touch the wood.
River stood there, filling the doorway like he always did. Tall. Solid. His sharp green eyes softened the instant they landed on .
For a split second, instinct kicked in.
I glanced down the hallway, scanning for anyone nearby.
But River didn’t give ti to overthink.
His hand wrapped gently around my wrist, tugging inside with practiced ease. The door closed behind us, the lock clicking into place before I could even process the movent.
The world outside ceased to exist.
Whatever strength I had left evaporated.
I didn’t say a word. I simply jumped.
River caught without hesitation, his strong arms wrapping around as my legs locked around his waist. I buried my face into the warm curve of his neck, breathing him in like oxygen.
He held tight, instinctively, securely.
Without speaking, he carried us deeper into his office. Seconds later, I felt the solid surface of his mahogany desk beneath as he settled onto it... but didn’t let go.
Neither did I.
I clung to him, my arms around his neck, my forehead pressed to his collarbone. His scent, his warmth, the steady beat of his heart beneath my cheek... it all grounded in ways nothing else could.
He didn’t ask questions.
He didn’t demand explanations.
He just held .
One hand slid into my hair, fingers massaging my scalp in slow, soothing motions he knew I loved. The tension I hadn’t even realized I was carrying began to lt away, replaced by quiet comfort.
I could have stayed like that forever.
Eventually, I pulled back just enough to look at his face and let out a long, exhausted sigh.
He smiled down at , brushing his thumb gently along my jaw. "You look drained," he said softly.
"I feel it," I admitted. "Physically. ntally."
"Do you want tomorrow off?" he asked imdiately.
I shook my head without hesitation. "No."
Before he could protest, I leaned forward again, wrapping my arms around his neck and hugging him tight. "I just need to be pampered tonight," I murmured. "Then I’ll be fine. I promise."
He chuckled, the sound vibrating against my chest as he hugged back. "You’ll get all the pampering you want."
I pulled back again, eting his eyes.
For a brief, dangerous second, the thought crossed my mind... to ask him for a kiss.
I knew he would give it to .
Right here. Right now.
The temptation made my lips pout involuntarily.
I groaned softly and dropped my forehead against his shoulder, throwing myself back into his arms instead.
He laughed again, warm and knowing. "You are impossible."
"Your fault," I mumbled.
A few monts passed before I straightened, my expression turning serious.
"Okay," I said quietly. "I’m ready to talk."
He nodded instantly, his full attention on .
"There are two things," I began.
He waited.
"First - there’s a book. It’s called Records of Silver Healing. It’s in the archive. Long forgotten. I need it."
I barely finished the sentence before he nodded.
"You’ll get it."
There was no hesitation, no questions, no doubt.
The confidence in his voice wrapped around like a promise.
My shoulders eased.
"And the second thing..." I hesitated, then forced myself to continue. "Elion knows... about us. All of you."
River stilled.
His expression shifted instantly. Concern flashed across his eyes as he cupped my face, his thumbs brushing gently over my cheeks.
"I’ll handle it," he said firmly.
"River," I said quickly, shaking my head. "He’s not threatening . He didn’t even hint at using it against us."
His gaze searched mine, sharp and focused.
"He actually promised to keep it a secret," I added softly.
River studied for a long mont, his mind clearly working through possibilities. Finally, he nodded.
"I’m still going to talk to him," he said. "But you don’t have to worry."
I nodded in understanding.
Before I could say anything else, he pulled back into his arms... strong, steady, protective.
And I allowed myself to let go.
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