Because Riven, who I’ve seen more than once in princely clothing, is now beyond regal. He’sotherworldly—strikingly fierce, achingly beautiful, and utterly mesmerizing.
A fitted dark jacket wraps around his frame, embroidered with silver threads in patterns that accentuate every powerful line of his body. The collar dips to reveal the sculpted lines of his chest, his skin kissed by frost. And around his neck rests a silver chain inset with sapphires to match my gown—two pieces of the same design, as if the temple crafted them just for us.
“How is this even real?” I sheathe my dagger, my fingers brushing the sparkling fabric of my gown.
“How areyoueven real?” he counters, earning a smile from me as he sheathes his sword and reaches for my hand, threading his fingers through mine.
“Maybe I’m not,” I tease, raising an eyebrow. “Maybe this is all a beautiful dream, and we’ll wake up any moment.”
Tension radiates between us in waves, and despite the temple before us, Riven is all I can see, feel, or care about.
“If this is just a dream,” he says, slowly and carefully, “then it’s the cruelest, most beautiful one I’ve ever had.”
“Then trust this,” I say, pressing our carved palms together, aligning the marks etched into our skin. “Because dreams fade, but we made sure this will last.”
We linger quietly, savoring the warmth of our joined hands, feeling the promise we’ve carved into our skin. But eventually, Riven breaks the silence with gentle amusement.
“If we stand here staring into each other’s eyes for much longer,” he murmurs affectionately, “the temple might start feeling ignored.”
“We wouldn’t want to offend an ancient temple,” I reply, holding back a smile. “Especially one generous enough to dress us like royalty.”
“Generous?” He arches a brow. “It’s only doing its duty. Because youareroyalty, Princess. Temples, magic gowns—all of it.”
“Right. Royalty,” I say, lightly teasing. “Give me another few years—maybe I’ll finally feel like I deserve the title.”
“You deserve every beautiful, impossible thing the universe can dream up,” he says fiercely, stepping closer. “And I’ll fight until my last breath to give it to you.”
My heart races, and it takes me a few seconds to gather myself together enough to speak.
“The only thing I need isyou,”I tell him, magic pulsing between our palms, a heartbeat connecting our souls. “But rightnow, we need to find Ghost. And it seems like the temple’s the key to doing that. So, as much as I’d love to stay out here with you and forget the rest of the world exists, we’d better get moving.”
He sighs dramatically, his eyes sparkling with exaggerated resignation. “Fine, you win,” he says. “Let the records show that I graciously admitted defeat—thisonetime.”
Laughing softly, I shake my head and lead him toward the massive double doors, where vines and ice form an archway so tall it seems to touch the stars.
“Should we knock?” I ask when we reach it, only half-joking, my muscles tense and ready.
Hopefully this place turns out friendlier than the one inLegends of the Hidden Temple.I’m really not in the mood for guards jumping out at me in creepy masks.
The temple answers before Riven can, the doors slowly swinging open. It leads to a grand hallway lined with towering statues—fae made of ice and stone, each one with arms outstretched, palms glowing with golden light.
“Look at this place.” I turn in a slow circle to take it in, my gown moving with me as I do. “It’s incredible.”
Riven pauses beside me, his eyes narrowed in wonder and confusion, brushing his fingers against the intricate carvings on the wall.
“Did you know that according to legend, fae magic wasn’t always divided by seasons?” he asks, his voice soothing despite his caution. “Once, it existed as one unified force.”
“I’ve been a bit preoccupied with staying alive since getting here to study the history of the mystical realm,” I tell him with a teasing smile. “But if the courts weren’t always separated, then what changed?”
He hesitates, shadows flickering behind his eyes.
“War. Betrayal. The usual story of paradise lost. All because of a forbidden love.” He glances at me, vulnerability flashing beneath his usually guarded expression. “Between the daughter of Winter and the son of Summer.”
Energy hums between us.
But before I can ask more, the hall opens into a vast chamber with soaring columns and a domed ceiling that reflects the night sky in perfect detail. More passages branch off in every direction, leading deeper into the temple.
“Which way do we go?” I wonder aloud, glancing around at the overwhelming beauty of it all.
