Page 249 of Caged

Oh gods, what is happening to me?

‘My sweet girl… You know what to do…’

I yank down my shirt, unraveling the knot tied into the side. I thank all the gods and Fate that the fabric’s long enough to cover my thighs.

My gaze snaps up and locks with Riven’s.

He’s watching me intently. He cocks his head and arches an eyebrow.

Vae stops, pointing between the two of us. “Uh… what’s going on here?”

The suspicious way he asks makes my mouth dry out. There’s no way I can answer him.

Fates, did he see? Did I hide the burns before Riven saw them?

“Oh, nothing,” Riven responds smoothly, unfolding from his crouch. “Just commenting on how your Omega’s really left quite the impression this morning.”

“Oh yeah?” Vae’s eyes narrow like we’re in on some private joke, and he dislikes being excluded. “How so?”

Riven gives a lazy shrug and picks up a leatherbound book that looks no less than a thousand years old.

“Oh, you know how Daxen is. Sometimes things around him just get a little…” His eyes flick to me, then drop—right to my thighs. “…explosive.”

He flashes Vaelenor a genuine smile that reminds me of a smug cat, all feline grace and predatory movements. A shiver runs down my spine, and I scoot closer to the table, purposely keeping my eyes on the wood in front of me.

At that moment, I’m sure of one truth.

Whoever Riven is, he’s very, very dangerous.

Chapter 33

Vaelenor

Ineed to leave. Turn around and walk out that door, and pretend like my insides aren’t tangled up in knots watching Riven flirt with the little Omega.

I came by the library to give Dax an update on Caelan’s condition. Apparently, yesterday evening, his healing somehow skyrocketed for a few hours. The test results make no sense to me, but Calder swears it’s almost like his body was healing nearly ten times faster than normal, and they don’t know how or what caused it.

I was in a damn good mood on my way here to deliver the news, but then I walked in and saw Riven eyeing the female like she was a snack he couldn’t wait to sink his fangs into.

Now, he’s leaning back with a smug look on his face, flipping through another massive book. I don’t know where the guy finds them all. I half suspect he’s stealing from museums or old ladies just to prove he can.

Idril—the Omega—is stacking papers into a pile, her hands trembling slightly.

Why? It isn’t even nine in the morning. What could have upset her already?

My eyes flick to the Alpha, a few seats away from her. He hasn’t looked her way since making that comment about Daxen and things getting explosive, but maybe…

Daxen.

Fates, of course. It doesn’t matter what time of day it is; if Dax can find a way to upset her, he’ll do it.

“I, uh…” I pause, rubbing the back of my neck. Why is this so weird? “I brought you something to eat.”

Okay, so maybe I didn’t just come in here to update Dax about Caelan’s condition. Fucking sue me.

I set the buttered toast and fruit on the table, and take a step back. Idril stills, and her startled blue eyes snap to mine.

Why is she so surprised?