CHAPTER 309: NOT A DREAM

Soren’s arm was snug around Riven’s waist, pulling him close against his chest. They were both stretched out on the wide bed, the early evening light making everything look soft and golden.

Riven could feel Soren’s slow, steady breathing behind him, the rise and fall of his chest soothing in a way, after the scary visions he had experienced, he found comfort in this. It was assuring.

He shifted a little, just enough that Soren’s nose brushed the side of his neck. Soren didn’t loosen his hold. If anything, he pulled him in tighter.

"You’re clingy today," Riven murmured, though there wasn’t a single complaint in his voice.

Soren hummed, the sound low and content. "You say that like it’s a bad thing."

Was it bad? No, not even a little. He too smiled with satisfaction. Ah, this was life.

They stayed like that for a while. What was there to talk about? It wasn’t like they were away for too long. It had only been two days. No particularly new developments to talk about.

Thinking about that one night with his bunny, Riven coughed.

"Do you feel alright?" Soren asked with concern.

"Oh- Yeah, I’m fine-" Riven let out a shaky laugh.

Eventually, Soren spoke up, his lips brushing the shell of Riven’s ear.

"Would you like to go out tonight?"

Riven tilted his head, curious. "Out? You mean... Just the two of us?"

"Yes," Soren said. He pulled back enough that Riven could turn over and look him in the eye. Those obsidian eyes were soft, not like the cold visions that still haunted Riven’s memory. "There’s something I’d like to show you."

Riven blinked. "You aren’t going after Nicholas right away?" This was a first, Soren would have definitely been the first one to hunt him down.

Soren’s jaw tightened almost imperceptibly. For a heartbeat, Riven thought he’d ruined the mood. But then Soren exhaled slowly, and his thumb traced Riven’s cheek.

"Normally, I would have," Soren admitted, voice calm but edged with steel. "I’d have already left to handle it myself. But right now... I don’t feel like leaving you."

Riven rubbed himself against Soren and smiled, yes, usually Soren was not the best with words, but he was being so romantic Riven wanted to squeal, but he maintained his calm facade... Well, not really.

"You don’t?" He asked again, he just wanted Soren to say that again.

Soren shook his head. "No. Nicholas has earned himself a few more days of life. Because of you."

It was said so matter-of-factly, but it made something in Riven’s chest flutter in a ridiculous, embarrassing way.

"You’d really delay all that, just to—"

"Stay here," Soren finished for him. His gaze was so direct, so steady, it was hard to hold. "To be with you. Yes."

He had to stop himself from letting out an insane, creepy laugh.

"I want to be here," Soren said firmly, leaving no room for argument. "And I want to take you somewhere special tonight. Somewhere quiet."

Riven’s mouth tugged up at the corner. He still didn’t think what had happened to him was some grand plot aimed at him personally. He’d always assumed he was just caught in the crossfire of some power struggle he didn’t really understand.

In the original story, Eli was not attacked by Nicholas, Soren had a tighter grip on his territory, and the only recurring enemies were jealous men and women who wanted to be the male leads... You know, typical stuff.

"All right," Riven said softly. "Where are you taking me?"

Soren only smiled. "You’ll see."

And just like that, Riven felt some of the heaviness in his chest ease. He didn’t know what the night would bring, but if Soren was staying by his side, he thought it might be okay.

Soren was fussing over Riven, and there was no other word for it. He had already dressed him in a thick, fur-lined coat, heavy gloves, and a soft scarf that he wound around Riven’s neck himself.

"You know I’m not going to freeze to death," Riven pointed out, voice muffled by the scarf. He had a pretty warm body, and he felt hot pretty quickly. The cold never bothered him anyway!

Soren ignored him. He tugged the ends of the scarf snug and pressed a kiss to Riven’s cheek. "Humour me."

The horse was waiting patiently by the steps, already saddled. Soren took Riven’s hand and helped him up, lifting him as though he weighed nothing. For a moment, as he settled into the saddle, Riven was hit with a memory he hadn’t expected—Leon’s voice, teasing but patient, guiding him as he learned to ride. The way Leon had steadied his hands, the way they shared an intimate moment.

Riven swallowed, trying to push the memory back. He had made peace with it. Leon was Leon—someone he couldn’t change, no matter how he’d tried. And he decided to let him go, so there was no point in thinking about it.

"Something wrong?" Soren’s deep voice pulled him back to the present.

Riven shook his head quickly. "No. Just... Thinking about where we’re going."

Soren didn’t press. He just finished attaching a bag to the horse. He swung up behind him, settling close, his chest a warm, solid presence against Riven’s back.

The sun was dipping low but hadn’t yet disappeared. The last of the daylight spread like gold over the snow-covered slopes and turned the distant rooftops into a glittering mosaic. Riven couldn’t help but lean to the side a little to take it all in.

"Look there," Soren murmured near his ear, pointing down the mountain. "That’s the west district. See the way the river splits in two?" It separated the west and the east districts.

Riven had read about them in the novel, seeing it in real life felt surreal.

He accepted the fact that he was in his favourite story, but seeing this reminded him of the fact that he was actually in the story... It was not a dream. Here he was, spending time with his favourite male lead.