Page 10 of Midnight Star

Just like he promised.

Trusting that he’ll keep his word, I return my focus to Zythara’s neck. I need to do this. For Zoey, for Riven, for everyone back home who likely thinks I’m gone forever, and for myself.

And so, I close my eyes and bite.

Her blood floods my senses, rich and electric, power thrumming through my veins like lightning as her life force rushes through me.

I hate how good it feels. I hate myself for needing it. And I hate doing this horrible thing while the man I love stands off to the side, giving me privacy I’m not sure I deserve.

Somehow—likely thanks to the part of the deal where they specified I won’t drain her completely—I pull back.

Zythara’s breathing is shallow, but she’s still alive.Barely. And the bite mark on her neck is already starting to heal.

I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand, trying to erase the evidence of what I just did. Of what I am.

“It’s done,” I say as I stand, unable to meet Riven’s eyes.

The thought of the disgust waiting for me there makes me want to sink into the ground and disappear.

“Then let’s go,” he says, and he strides toward the cave’s exit, the ice wall melting at his approach.

I follow with Ghost by my side, as if the snow leopard is making sure I’m okay.

At least one of the three of us doesn’t think I’m a monster.

The stars greet us outside, their light both comforting and accusatory. Because thanks to the deal with Riven where I promised I’d do everything in my power to help him make the potion to heal his father’s mind, I can’t ask the stars to take me northwest, to the Night Court—to Zoey. We have to continue on our way to find the ancient woman, who hopefully knows the final ingredients we need for the potion, along with how to brew it.

Riven moves toward Ghost with purpose, his back rigid, his entire demeanor screaming that he doesn’t want me anywhere near him. I can already feel the tension rolling off him in waves at the thought of how close we’ll have to be for the foreseeable future.

Unlike usual, he doesn’t help me onto Ghost’s back. He simply gets on and impatiently waits for me to join.

I shouldn’t have expected anything else.

So, I do it myself.

The moment I’m situated, I wrap my arms around Riven’s waist for balance.

The contact feels more intimate than it should, given the emotional gap between us. But I can’t hold on to nothing. So, he’ll have to deal with me touching him for the time being.

“Don’t fall off,” he says sharply.

“I won’t,” I fire back, and with a low growl from Ghost, we’re off, the leopard’s powerful legs eating up the snow as we race into the darkness.

Sapphire

As we run,my arms around Riven’s waist feel like chains tethering me to someone who clearly wants nothing to do with me. But I swallow the lump in my throat and make myself useful, focusing on navigating by the stars instead of on the pain of being rejected.

Minutes blur into hours. Hills rise and fall, trees cast long, skeletal shadows across the snow, and the air grows colder. The only sounds are the rhythmic pounding of Ghost’s paws and the occasional gust of wind as I use my magic to blow around the snow behind us to cover our tracks.

After nearly a full day of traveling, Ghost’s pace slows.

“We need to rest,” Riven declares, and Ghost comes to a gradual stop in a small clearing surrounded by towering evergreen trees.

He swings off Ghost’s back with a grace that shows they’ve been doing this for years.

I, on the other hand, am not as graceful. Especially given how tired I am from the endless traveling.

Riven doesn’t notice. He’s already scanning the forest with calculated focus, his expression as cold as the ice he wields.

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