Crowned in Shadows.

Kael had made a lot of bad decisions in her life.

Taking in strays, trusting the wrong people, picking fights she knew she shouldn't.

But this?

This was the worst one yet.

She should have left Riven in that alley. She should have let the warlords find him and deal with him themselves.

Instead, she was stuck with him.

And worse—he wouldn't shut up.

"You're walking too fast," Riven muttered behind her, effortlessly keeping pace despite his complaints.

Kael didn't look back. "You're walking too slow."

Riven sighed dramatically. "See, this is exactly why we wouldn't work out."

Kael kept moving.

Jorrik groaned. "Riven, I swear to the gods—"

"Fine, fine," Riven drawled. "I'll stop talking."

A pause.

"Unless, of course, you want me to keep talking."

Kael exhaled slowly. Patience.

She needed patience.

The tunnels stretched ahead, dimly lit by old lanterns, the air damp and cold. They were heading toward an old outpost—one of Bast's safe zones, abandoned for years but still stocked with supplies.

It would buy them a little time.

But Kael wasn't stupid.

The warlords wouldn't stop just because their first search had failed.

They wanted Riven. Badly.

And Kael still didn't know why.

She glanced over her shoulder, taking him in.

The dim lighting cast shadows across his sharp features. Even disguised, there was something off about him. Something too controlled, too calm for someone in his position.

Like he wasn't just hiding from the warlords.

Like he was hiding everything.

"Where exactly are we going?" Riven asked, tilting his head.

"A place," Kael muttered.

Riven grinned. "Vague and mysterious. You really know how to keep a man interested."

Kael nearly tripped over her own feet from sheer frustration.

Jorrik let out a choked laugh.

Riven's grin widened. "Careful, sweetheart. If I didn't know better, I'd say you're distracted."

Kael turned so fast Riven had to take a step back.

She grabbed his collar, dragging him down slightly to her height.

"Listen to me, and listen well," she hissed. "I don't trust you. I don't like you. And the only reason you're not tied up and left for the warlords is because I need answers."

Riven blinked, looking entirely unbothered by the fact that she was gripping him like a threat.

Then—he smiled.

"Gods," he murmured. "You're really pretty when you're mad."

Kael punched him.

Riven's Perspective

Riven had absolutely seen that coming.

Did that stop him from letting it happen?

Not at all.

The impact snapped his head to the side, a sharp burst of pain blooming along his jaw.

For a second, the only sound in the tunnel was Jorrik's low whistle.

Riven rolled his jaw, tasting blood. "Alright," he muttered, rubbing his face. "That one was deserved."

Kael's storm-colored eyes still burned with irritation, her knuckles tight, her breathing controlled. She hadn't hit him in anger.

No—Kael didn't let emotions control her actions.

Which meant she had hit him for one reason only.

To remind him who was in charge.

And gods, wasn't that interesting?

Riven smirked, the expression sharp despite the fresh pain in his jaw. "So… do I get to hit you back, or is this a one-sided thing?"

Kael didn't answer.

Instead, she turned on her heel and kept walking.

Riven wiped his lip, following. "I'll take that as a no."

Jorrik sighed. "You never know when to shut up, do you?"

Riven grinned. "And yet, you still like me."

Jorrik muttered something under his breath, shaking his head.

They walked in silence for a while after that. The air grew thicker, heavier, the deep tunnels pressing in like a quiet warning.

Kael barely made a sound as she moved, her long dark braid swaying slightly, her dagger never far from her fingers.

She had spent years down here. That much was obvious.

But Riven wasn't the only one with secrets.

Because despite how much she hated him, despite how fiercely she resisted trusting anyone, she had still dragged him out of danger.

And Riven wanted to know why.

Finally, he sighed. "I don't suppose you'll tell me where you learned to fight like that?"

Kael didn't answer.

Riven smirked. "Come on. A little backstory? Something tragic, maybe? A broken heart? A secret vendetta?"

Kael didn't even look at him.

So Riven tried something else.

"You lost someone, didn't you?" he said, voice quieter now.

That made her pause.

Just for a second.

Barely even noticeable.

But Riven noticed.

And that was enough.

Kael kept walking.

But for the first time since meeting her, Riven knew something had cracked.

Not enough to change anything.

Not enough to make her trust him.

But enough to tell him there was something deeper beneath all that armor.

And one way or another, he was going to find out what it was.