Page 55 of Stolen Star

The confession hangs between us like smoke. Too fragile to hold, and too thick to ignore.

“My love for you,” he continues, clenching and unclenching his fist, those delicate, beautiful frost patterns crawling along it, “became Maeris’s death sentence.”

I step closer, my chest aching for him, my heart pounding from the sheer intensity of his love.

“I wanted to be fighting with you, too,” I tell him, gentle but firm, needing him to believe me. “And there’s nothing wrong with that. I know it’s been drilled into you as a child, and that’s something that’s going to take years, or even decades, to overcome, but emotions—love—they’re not a weakness, Riven.”

“No,” he says, his voice sharp as the ice forming around us. “I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it. That’s the problem. I don’t care—not at all. Because the only thing I care about isyou.The rest of the world, and everyone else in it, can freeze for all I care. Having you with me is the only thing that matters now. It’s the only thing that willevermatter.”

He shakes his head and trails off, our bond dullingagain—like a light being dimmed, or a sound suddenly muffled.

I could push. I could draw him back out, like when I dragged his soul back to his body in the Cosmic Tides, and remind him that our love has saved us time and again.

But I don’t.

He’ll come back when he’s ready. This isn’t like before, when the dryad stole his love or when Eros’s arrow poisoned my heart. This is Riven processing his guilt the only way he knows how—by retreating inward.

And that’s okay. It’s more than okay—Iwanthim to do it. I want him to work through what he’s feeling. We all carry our pain differently. That’s one of the beautiful, messy parts of being alive.

What matters is that we always come back to each other in the end.

Nothing in this universe is strong enough to drive us apart. And if anything everdoestry…it will regret it for the rest of its existence. Because the side of Riven I just saw while he was fighting that monster could destroy everything that ever gets in our path, without hesitation or remorse. It’s dangerous, but I know exactly what fuels it—an unbreakable, all-consuming love, fierce enough to shatter worlds and rewrite destinies.

“Let’s go help Thalia,” I say gently, my water magic still reaching for him, even as I step away. “And Riven… Ilove you. I’m here for you when you’re ready. I’malwayshere for you.”

His eyes flick to mine, gratitude in their silver depths. And as I turn to follow Thalia, I let my fingers brush Riven’s—a fleeting touch, but one that says everything words can’t.

I’m here. I understand. I love you anyway.

And through our bond, as dulled as it is, I feel the faintest echo in response.

It’s flickering, fragile, but beneath that fragility lies the fierce promise of something unbreakable. Something that will always lead us to the only home we have left—each other.

ZOEY

Hours later,as the sun is starting to rise, I’m riding high as Aerix and I return to his chambers.

Lady Reesia’s blood has dried on my dress, turning the diamonds into crimson stars. Aerix’s blood lingers on my lips, its power humming through my veins like lightning trapped beneath my skin.

Now, I watch him as he sheds his formal attire, his wings folding against his back. The memory of Evangeline flashes through my mind—a human turned vampire, commanding air magic with casual elegance, standing by Malakai’s side.

“I want more,” I say into the silence, my voice stronger than I expect.

Aerix turns, midnight eyes finding mine across the room. “More of what, little consort?” he asks, althoughthere’s a sort ofknowingin his voice that makes it clear he anticipates exactly what’s coming.

“More of everything.” I step closer, my heart pounding. “More power. More respect.” I gesture to my blood-stained dress. “More of this.”

His head tilts in that predatory way that always makes my knees weak, and frost patterns form at his fingertips, air swirling around us.

“What exactly are you asking for, Zoey?” he finally replies, his eyes locked with mine, challenging me.

“Turn me.” I lift my chin, meeting his gaze without flinching. “Into one of you.”

The frost patterns freeze mid-formation, the only sign that he’s processing my demand.

“Humans cannot become night fae,” he says simply. “Night fae are winter fae who were turned vampire, and one cannotbecomea fae. One must beborna fae. That sort of power is entwined in a piece of our DNA so deep that not even vampire venom can penetrate it.”

“I know that.” It takes all my effort to not roll my eyes, since this is far from a good time to say or do anything that might anger him. “But humans can become vampires. And that’s what I want—to be like Evangeline.” I take another step toward him, keeping my gaze level with his. “Strong. Feared. Free to walk through this court without anyone daring to look at me wrong.” My fingers find the dagger at my waist—hisdagger, gifted to me after he killed for me. “I never want to feel weak again.”

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