They packed their things—Auren, Riven, and the old wagon owner. Blankets were rolled, waterskins refilled, weapons sheathed, and armor strapped tight. As they approached the front of the house, the village head stood waiting, his face calm but weary.
"Before you go," he said, "please… join us for one last meal. I don't want my guests leaving with empty stomachs."
They couldn't refuse.
At the long wooden table, the meal was simple—roasted vegetables, some bread, and stew—but the air was heavy with something else. The kind of tension that made skin itch and eyes betray secrets.
As the village head's wife walked in, tray in hand, her eyes caught Auren's.
Auren didn't blink.
She poured stew into his bowl, slowly, too slowly—and their eyes never parted. The glint in her gaze wasn't shy. It was sharp. Smirking. Remembering. A secret in broad daylight.
Riven, halfway through a bite of bread, squinted.
"Oi," he whispered, leaning in toward Auren. "What the hell is going on? Why is she looking at you like you stole her mind or something else.?"
Auren didn't respond. Just raised his spoon with a casual smirk.
"You son of a—" Riven hissed. "You did something, didn't you? I swear if you touched the village head's—"
"Keep your voice down," Auren interrupted calmly. "You're ruining lunch."
Riven slammed his spoon down. "You're a dark-minded freak, you know that? I go to rescue a tied-up daughter, and you go tie someone else up—mentally."
Auren smiled but didn't deny it.
---
Lunch ended, and they stood outside, the wagon ready, the horses restless. The sun beat gently on the roofs of the quiet village.
"Farewell, travelers," the village head said warmly. "Safe journey ahead."
As they began to climb onto the wagon, Auren suddenly paused.
"Wait. I left my dagger inside."
"I'll get it for you," the village head offered.
But Auren raised a hand, his tone abruptly cool.
"No… no more favors. You've already done more than enough."
He turned and walked back inside. Riven glanced at the wagon owner and muttered,
"He's not going for the dagger. He's going for the dagger's sheath."
---
Inside, the air was still. Quiet.
She was already there—standing near the wall, smiling like she had read his thoughts long before he'd made them.
"It was just an excuse, wasn't it?" she said softly.
Auren didn't answer with words. He walked to her slowly, deliberately. His hand reached her waist, pulling her close. One hand ran down the curve of her hip.
"I came for something… sweeter than steel," he whispered, his voice low and shadowed.
Her breath hitched.
Their lips met—not like lovers, but like conspirators of a wicked secret. His mouth dominated hers, slow and possessive, as if branding her one last time. Her hands clutched his cloak, not out of affection… but craving.
When he finally pulled back, her lips were parted, breath trembling.
"No goodbye?" she asked, voice thick with want.
Auren smirked.
"This is the goodbye."
---
He stepped outside as if nothing had happened. The village head smiled and waved, completely unaware of the chaos wrapped around his home like invisible chains.
Auren climbed aboard.
"Let's go."
The wagon creaked forward, wheels turning against the dirt path.
Riven leaned in.
"You didn't get the dagger, did you?"
Auren stared ahead, a calm darkness in his voice.
"I got what I came for."
And just like that, they left the village behind—
---
---
The wagon rattled along the dirt path as the sun finally began to rise behind the distant hills. Everyone inside was quiet, half-asleep, half-drained from the all-night search. Riven sat next to Auren, staring at the early morning sky, clearly wrestling with something in his mind.
After a few moments, he finally broke the silence.
"Auren, I got a damn question eating my head."
Auren lazily turned his head, still chewing on a dry piece of jerky. "Then ask it, dumbass. Don't give me suspense this early."
Riven leaned in slightly. "When we were about to enter that room… why the hell did you walk out for five minutes? And don't give me that bullshit excuse about going to pee. I ain't buying it."
Auren scoffed, not even pretending to hide his annoyance. "Bro, I did go to take a piss. I told you that already last night. Why the hell you still stuck on that?"
Riven narrowed his eyes. "Because something stinks, and it's not your piss. I think you had a hand in that girl's kidnapping."
Auren stopped chewing. His smile slowly curved into something darker.
"You dumb fucking Ass. You really think I'd use a damn kid for my own benefit? Get that twisted shit outta your head."**
Riven didn't back off. "I think it because when I tried to wake you up last night, you didn't even twitch. You were passed out like a corpse. And then, ten hours later, when I came back, you were knocked out again. That means you didn't sleep all night, which means… you were busy."
He leaned closer. "Busy with the village head's wife, huh?"
Auren chuckled darkly and leaned back, arms crossed.
"Tch… not a bad theory. And yeah, I was busy. I fucked her last night. But I didn't touch that kid. I ain't that low. Trust me or don't—your damn choice."*
Riven exhaled heavily, conflicted. "I'm trying, man. But if you didn't do it… who the hell did?"
Auren's eyes narrowed, his brain ticking. "I didn't care last night, 'cause I was more focused on fucking that bitch… but now—"
They both turned and locked eyes, as if the same devil whispered into their ears at the same time.
"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Auren asked, his voice sharp.
Riven nodded. "Yup. It was the village head's wife… she's the one who wanted you. Not the other way around."
Auren blinked, then grinned. "Damn… makes sense. She had that hunger in her eyes. She wanted me so bad, she used her own house to set the bait. Got rid of the stepdaughter to keep her husband out all night.
Riven shook his head, darkly impressed. "And all this time I thought you were the manipulative bastard. Turns out she's worse."
Auren smirked. "Never trust a woman who moans your name before even undressing. They already planned the script."
Riven chuckled bitterly. "So… the girl was just a pawn, the old man got played, and you… well, you got laid."
Auren stretched his arms and let out a satisfied sigh.
"Sometimes, life rewards the devil."