RIVEN
He walked into the meeting room, where every head immediately turned toward him.
The commander,Varel, smirked. "Late for the first time?Are you okay,Lieutenant?"
Slightly embarrassed, Riven rubbed the back of his neck. "Sorry. I got held up."
Sky shot him a suspiciously amused look. Varel cleared his throat. "Now that everyone's here, shall we begin?"
Nods and a chorus of grunts of agrements met this statement.
They wasted no more time.
They went over the security plans for Sky and Bloom's upcoming wedding ceremony—again. Riven insisted on reviewing every detail for what felt like the tenth time.
Sky sighed, grinning. "You know, you've checked this plan more times than Bloom's checked her dress fittings."
Riven shot him a look. "Unlike your dress fittings, Sky, I can't afford to miss a detail."
Sky chuckled, but Varel leaned back in his chair.
"Everything looks in order. I'd say we can wrap this up."
Sky nodded. "Agreed. Meeting dismissed."
Everyone filed out until only Sky, Riven, and Varel remained.
"As your best man,I have to say,I still don't like this," Riven said immediately. "It's too risky to hold the ceremony while Damon's still an active threat."
Sky's voice was calm but firm. "Nothing's stopping me from marrying Bloom. I've waited long enough."
"But It's risky for you and her," Riven pressed.
Sky smiled faintly. "That's why I have you,Lieutenant. But can you relax just a little,Best man?"
"Relax..."Riven starts.
"Yeah man.It's going to be a wedding, not a war,"Sky says interrupting him.
"I beg to differ,"Riven counters quickly.
Varel interjected gently. "Riven, Sky's the King. It's his decision. If he wants to get married now—"
"Fine," Riven cut in with a shrug. "But Im telling you guys,I have a bad feeling about this."
"Noted," Sky said, dismissing the tension with a grin. "Now, tell me something—why were you really late?"
Clearing his throat a little bit,Riven avoids Sky's gaze.
"I had an errand."
Sky bent slightly to meet his eyes, smirking. "That is such an obvious lie.Im dissapointed in you,Lieutenant."
"What am I lying about, Your Majesty?"
Sky pretended to think. "Hmm… I heard that a certain music fairy arrived tonight.You ran into her, didn't you?"
Riven almost denied it but knew better—Sky could read him too well. "We said hi," he admitted.
Sky let out a triumphant laugh. "I knew it!"
Varel looked up from the map. "What are you boys talking about?"
Sky grinned. "Riven's ex—Musa. She's here, and he's losing his mind."
"It's not like that," Riven said quickly, his tone clipped. "And I'm as clear headed as ever."
Varel smiled knowingly.
"More like as thickheaded as ever,"Sky's says for Riven to shoot him an annoyed look.
"You should make your move, Riven. This Musa sounds like a special young lady."
"She is," Riven said without thinking—then caught himself. "But we broke up a long time ago. It didn't end well. And I doubt she's even single."
"Actually," Sky said mischievously, "Bloom tells me she's very much single."
Riven couldn't help a small smile. "Can we get through your wedding first before you start fixing my love life too?"
"Why not do both?There's no reason why we cant we both be happy?" Sky half jokes.
Riven just shakes his head at the other King's silliness.
A messenger entered then, bowing. "Your Majesty, Lady Bloom requests your presence in regards to your maritals tommorow."
"You should go before bridezilla comes to devour you,"Riven says teasingly.
Sky gives him a look before immediately excusing himself, leaving Varel and Riven alone.
Riven then notices Varel watching him.
"You're looking at me funny,old man," Riven says, wary.
The older man smiles,placing a hand on his shoulder.
"Riven,You've come a long way from the cocky,reckless kid from Red Fountain . And I'm proud of you. But I wish you'd make a life for yourself outside of your work."
Riven arched a brow. "That's a little rich, coming from someone whose job is his life. You're ancient, but you still haven't retired."
Varel smirked and gave Riven's shoulder a firm squeeze. "Old, maybe—but not weak."
Riven grimaced, smiling slightly.
For the first time, Varel's tone softened. "I think of you as a son,Riven. So I want to tell you,don't make the same mistakes I did."
Riven nodded slowly,rolling his shoulder."Ok,I'll… think about it."
The man might be a pain at he's side sometimes but Riven really admired and respected him. And he took his words seriously. He thought of him like the Father he never had.
"And maybe ask this Musa girl out while you're at it?" Varel said slyly.
"Don't push it, old man," Riven said, but he was smiling.
Varel laughed. Then he says,"I should get some sleep. Big day tomorrow. You should too,best man."
"I will," Riven said, though they both knew he'd be up half the night rechecking every plan.
Varel started for the door, then paused. "By the way,your father called again. He's been pressuring me to convince you to talk to him,again."
Riven sighed heavily. "Sorry he keeps bothering you.I wish he'd take the hint."
"He's just a man who wants to talk to his son," Varel said gently.
"Well, that's a change," Riven muttered.
"Riven," Varel said seriously, "I know he hurt you by ignoring you when you were younger, but he wants to make things right."
"Varel, this is between me and him. Don't interfere."
"If you don't learn to let things go, you'll never move on," Varel warns quietly.
Riven stayed silent, jaw tight.
There were some things eveVarel couldnt sway him on.
With a weary sigh, Varel left the room.
As the door shut, Riven clenched his fists. His good mood was gone. Why did Varel have to bring up his father?
And he'd been in such a good mood.
His thoughts drifted to what caused this—to Musa.
She was probably asleep by now,he thought.And her face would probably be glowing in the morning.
Riven smiled,feeling something unfamiliar stir in his chest. Anticipation.
He immediately pushed it down.
He could not afford distractions.
Tomorrow, his only focus had to be to protect Sky and Bloom. Nothing else.
*******
Riven and everyone else didnt know it yet, but trouble was already brewing and it was close.
As night cloaked the palace, Damon moved through its corridors like a shadow, his magic disguising him as one of the guards. And he had only one objective,to kill the false King,Sky.
Every step brought him closer to the northern suite—Sky's room, where the guy probably slept.
Damon was confident he could get to him unlike the allies he had so recently gotten himself who had repeatedly advised him against taking the risk.But what did they know? They were weak and so far-useless.
And they couldn't understand that this was destiny,to kill Sky during this time and become King.
The wedding preparations made the palace a place of doubled guards but also one of double distractions. Perfect chaos. He could reach Sky tonight,and end everything before dawn.
But as he turned a corner, a hand stopped him.
"Back to your post,soldier," a voice ordered sharply, not recognizing him through the glamour. "Or I'll make you very sorry."
Damon's anger flared. To be spoken to like that—and by Sky's lapdog,Riven.
Angry,Damon longed to strike, to reveal himself as the king he was meant to be. But not yet. Not when he hadnt done what he came to do.
He forced a salute. "Yes, sir."
Riven gave him one last suspicious look before walking off. Damon exhaled slowly. With Riven prowling the corridors of the palace like a jungle cat,Damon knew that the chances of his success were significantly diminished.
So he would wait.
But when the wedding began—when the palace was lost in celebration—he'd strike. And this time, not even Sky's vigilant friend would stand in his way.