Chapter Seven

The door creaks open, and I freeze. My heart stops as a figure steps into the bathroom—Dakota.

She stands there for a moment, her gaze flicking between Malakai and me. There's no shock, no surprise on her face. Just a knowing look, like she’s already figured out what’s going on.

I feel a wave of relief wash over me. At least it’s not Aarav or Cassian. Just Dakota.

She sighs, running a hand through her blonde hair. “I’ve been looking all over for you, Riva,” she says, her voice calm, almost casual. “Cassian and Aarav are asking for you. They’re getting worried.”

I nod quickly, the tension in my chest loosening, but the reality of the situation still presses down on me. I’m standing here in Malakai’s arms, my heart still racing from everything that’s just happened. I can’t stay here, not like this.

“Okay,” I say, forcing myself to sound steady. I look at Malakai one last time, his gaze still intense. But he doesn’t say anything, just watches as I move past him. I turn to Dakota, grateful for the distraction.

She gives me a pointed look as she steps aside to let me out of the bathroom. “You know it’s not safe for you to be seen like this, right?” she murmurs, glancing back at Malakai before meeting my eyes. “You’re a married woman now, Riva.”

Her words hit me harder than they should. I nod stiffly, the weight of what she’s saying sinking in.

“I’ll be fine,” I say, though I’m not sure I believe it.

Dakota doesn’t say anything else, but her eyes narrow slightly, like she’s waiting for me to say something more. But I don’t. I just turn and walk with her, feeling the heat of Malakai’s gaze follow me out of the bathroom.

As we make our way down the hall, I try to steady my breathing, my mind swirling with the chaos of everything that’s happening. But I can’t shake the feeling that, in that bathroom, something shifted between me and Malakai—something I can’t ignore.

And yet, as I step into the crowded room once more, I know the life I’ve chosen for myself, the life that’s been thrust upon me, doesn’t allow for anything but the surface. Not with Aarav. Not with anyone.

Dakota glances at me once, her expression unreadable. “Cassian will be furious if we don’t get back soon,” she says, her tone slightly colder now.

I swallow hard, nodding. “I know.”

And as we leave the bathroom, I leave Malakai behind, knowing he’s still there, waiting in the silence.

As we step back into the crowded room, the atmosphere shifts. The laughter and chatter suddenly fade into a chorus of voices chanting, “Mrs. Rune! Mrs. Rune!”

I freeze for a moment, my breath catching in my throat. The weight of the attention hits me like a physical blow. I try to keep my face calm, but I can feel my heart pounding, my chest tightening.

Dakota walks beside me, her expression unreadable, and I try to match her calm demeanor as we move through the crowd. Every step feels like it's taking me further away from the bathroom, further away from the brief moment of comfort Malakai gave me.

Aarav’s voice cuts through the noise as he steps into my path, a smug smile spreading across his face. His dark eyes sweep over me, his gaze lingering as though he’s sizing me up like a prize. “There’s my beautiful wife,” he says, his tone smooth, almost possessive, as though I’m nothing more than a snack to him.

I stiffen, the discomfort curling in my stomach, but I force myself to look at him with a smile. “Aarav,” I greet him quietly.

Before I can say anything more, Cassian’s voice suddenly booms from the other side of the room. “Where the hell did you go?” he demands, his eyes narrowing as they land on me.

I feel the blood drain from my face, and I look at him, trying to keep my voice steady. “I just went to use the bathroom,” I reply, my words coming out colder than I intend. “Or do I not have a say in that either?”

Cassian’s eyes narrow even further, and I can feel the weight of his gaze, sharp and calculating. He steps closer, his towering presence enough to make the room feel smaller.

“I’m not saying you don’t have a say,” he snaps, his voice low and controlled. “But the last thing I need right now is you wandering off without anyone knowing where you are. You’re supposed to be with us, Riva, not hiding away in some bathroom.”

Aarav’s grip tightens on my waist, pulling me slightly closer to him, and I can’t help but tense at the way his fingers dig into my side. It’s a possessive gesture, a reminder of the hold he has over me.

I glance at him, a tight smile playing on my lips as I try to maintain some semblance of control. “I’m here now,” I say, my voice colder than before. “Isn’t that what matters?”

Cassian doesn’t look convinced, but he backs off a bit, his gaze flicking between me and Aarav, the tension between the two men palpable. He’s protective, I can tell, but there’s also something more—something that makes my chest ache, even though I know I should push it aside.

“Fine,” Cassian mutters, clearly not satisfied but unwilling to argue further in front of everyone. He gives a sharp nod, then turns away, disappearing into the crowd.

Aarav watches Cassian disappear into the crowd, his lips curling into a small, satisfied smile. His grip on my waist loosens slightly, but his fingers shift, trailing down my side until they land lower, firmly gripping my hip. The possessiveness in his touch is suffocating, like a constant reminder of who I belong to.

Just as I try to take a step forward, I feel his fingers tighten on my body, and before I can react, he pulls me closer. His hand moves downward, and I freeze as his fingers land unmistakably on my butt, squeezing it roughly.

I flinch, the pressure of his touch making my skin crawl. I force myself to maintain a calm exterior, but inside, my stomach churns with discomfort. His grin widens as he leans in, his voice low and taunting. “You’re mine now, Riva,” he whispers, the words laced with something dark and possessive.

My body stiffens, and I meet his gaze with a mixture of frustration and anger, trying to suppress the instinct to recoil. “Aarav,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper, but it carries the weight of my unease. “Don’t.”

His hand stays there, unyielding, and he doesn’t even seem to notice my discomfort. “Relax,” he says with a chuckle, his tone mocking. “You’ll get used to it. After all, I’m just claiming what’s mine.”

I swallow hard, trying to keep my composure. I wish I could push him away, tell him to stop, but I know the reality of my situation. I’m trapped in this, forced to play the part he wants me to play, no matter how much it hurts.

As Aarav's grip loosens and he steps back, people start to approach us, congratulating us on our "union," their smiles wide and eager. But my mind is elsewhere, lost in the chaos of everything happening around me. I hear the praise, the well-wishes, but they feel distant, like they belong to someone else.

My gaze drifts over the crowd, and I find myself searching for him, that one person who’s been haunting my thoughts all night—Malakai.

I spot him as he enters the hall, his presence drawing my attention immediately. His blue eyes scan the room, but the moment they find me, they lock on with intensity. For a second, it feels like the rest of the world disappears, like it’s just him and me in that moment. My heart skips a beat, but I quickly look away, trying to focus on the people around me who are still congratulating Aarav and me.

But even as I smile and nod, all I can think about is Malakai—his gaze, his presence, the way things shifted between us earlier. The room feels suffocating now, as though every person around me is just a blur, and Malakai’s the only one who matters.

Aarav notices my distraction, and I feel his eyes narrow, but he doesn’t say anything. He simply pulls me closer again, this time with more force. “You should be paying attention to the people here, Riva,” he murmurs, his voice low, almost threatening.

I nod quickly, trying to shake off the feeling that Malakai’s gaze still lingers on me. I have to focus on the here and now, on the reality that I’m trapped in. But all I can do is glance back at Malakai once more, hoping no one notices the way my heart beats faster when I do.