CHAPTER 235: NOT THIS AGAIN

Riven lay on the cool sheets of the guest room, his mind racing far more than his body could. The manor’s silence felt oppressive. He absolutely hated sleeping on his own. Before coming into this story, he forced to, but since then he never had to sleep alone ever... That was until now.

He stared at the ceiling, tracing the intricate patterns with his eyes, but his thoughts were far from settled. He had wanted to avoid Soren and Ronan. He could not deal with that right now. He was just annoyed... Annoyed with the situation. He knew nothing good would come out of him getting angry, so he went to his room to calm down.

But as he tossed and turned, an unsettling feeling began to build within him. It was a burning sensation, raw and urgent, that spread through his body like wildfire. He groaned and turned over again, but there was no escape.

Meanwhile, Ronan was slipping through the manor’s grand entrance, the heavy oak doors shutting behind him with an echo that reverberated in Riven’s ears. Despite his irritation with the two men, Riven couldn’t help but wonder where Ronan was going at this hour. Business, he had said. What kind of business required him to leave at night?

Hah... Probably the same business that brought Raphael here, Riven concluded.

Out in the dimly lit streets, Ronan’s thoughts were racing, leaving Riven behind with Soren felt like leaving a lit match next to a pile of kindling. He knew deep down that he could not be at peace with such a situation, but he would endure.

Back in the guest room, Riven felt a wave of heat wash over him, igniting his senses. It wasn’t just physical, it attacked his mind too. A desperate need clawed at him from within. His body started to ache. He knew exactly what this was, and he was in no mood.

Frustrated, he threw the sheets off and swung his legs over the side of the bed, feeling the cool air contrast sharply against his heated skin.

He could hear Soren’s soft breathing through the walls, at least he thought he could hear Soren, and it made his heart race in ways that both excited and terrified him. There was a part of him that wanted to give in to the heat, to seek comfort in the arms of someone who could satisfy this desperate craving.

Ronan had initially dismissed Troy, thinking it would be for the best, but something gnawed at him. He knew Troy’s instincts were sharp, and the last thing he needed was for anything—especially involving Riven or Soren—to go awry while he was away.

"Wait," Ronan called out, his voice echoing in the stillness. Troy paused, turning back with an expectant look. "I need you to keep an eye on them. Both of them."

Troy slept the entire day, and he was well-rested. Knowing their situation, he immediately understood what his master meant.

Ronan’s gut said that something would go wrong. He was right, he just did not know it yet.

With that settled, Ronan stepped out into the night, it was supposed to be a simple night of business meetings and negotiations. But the tension between Riven and Soren hung in the air like a charged storm cloud, he would rather they not get together under his roof.

Each passing moment felt like an eternity, heat pooling in his core and spreading through him like wildfire. The sheets had become a prison, clinging to him as if they were alive, suffocating him in their confines. He sat up, heart racing, the reality crashing over him—he couldn’t fight this any longer. As much as it was annoying, he needed to relieve himself.

He stumbled to his feet. The world around him felt oddly distant, as if he were trapped in a dream. He knew he had to act, to seek relief from this tormenting ache. He pushed himself towards the door, each step a battle against his own raging instincts, he absolutely could not get undressed in the hallway!

When he flung the door open, he was met by an unexpected sight—Troy stood there, arms crossed and eyes wide with concern. The moment hung precariously between them, tension thickening the air. "Riven," Troy started, but Riven was already past the point of reason.

"Move," he demanded, frustration spilling over. He tried to sidestep Troy, but Troy’s reflexes were quick, blocking his path with an imposing stance.

"I think it’s best if you stay in your room... For safety reasons," Troy said, his voice steady but firm. Troy simply lied. He could not stop Riven with any authority except for trying to convince him that there was danger looming in the manor and he had to stay in his room. Did Riven care though? Absolutely not! He was HORNY!

"I don’t care about safety right now!" he shot back, his tone sharper than he intended. "I need to—" He paused, the words choking him. "I need to relieve myself of this... this ache!"

The heat was pooling dangerously close to him, overwhelming his senses. There was no reasoning with the wildness inside him. With a shaky breath, he quickly added, "I’m sorry for what I’m about to do," before he pushed Troy aside.

Troy didn’t anticipate the sudden strength Riven unleashed, nor did he think Riven could muster the will to shove him aside. It caught him off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned as Riven bolted past him, fueled by desperation.

Riven dashed down the dimly lit hallway, his heartbeat roaring in his ears. He could feel the cool air against his flushed skin, but it did nothing to cool him down. He needed someone right now. He needed Ronan, but since he was not here, Soren it was.

Riven quickly turned the knob and pushed the door open with a force that startled Soren, the most alert of them all.

As he entered, he slammed the door shut behind him, the sound reverberating through the still manor.