Riven's feet pounded against the forest floor, his breath quick but steady, his mind racing.
He didn't know where he was going, just that he needed to keep moving.
The trees blurred past him, the moonlight filtering through the thick canopy, casting silver streaks against his skin.
His heart hammered against his ribs, but a wild, almost reckless excitement rushed through him.
He was free.
At least, for now.
Still, he wasn't naive.
If Raphael had let him go, that meant he had limited time before someone came looking.
And it sure as hell wouldn't be a gentle invitation to return.
He had minutes, at best.
Maybe an hour if he was lucky.
He needed to get far away, fast.
The scent of damp earth and pine filled his lungs, and the cool night air bit against his skin as he ran.
One step, then another. Faster.
But deep down, something nagged at him.
Something that felt… Wrong.
Something he didn't want to acknowledge.
The fact that, even now—
