Chapter Ten
Kael's POV
I pushed the door open slowly, already knowing they hadn't left. I bet my entire cheeks were flushed right now, I was so excited that she kissed me. I was also the first person she ended up kissing too.
The question she had asked the other time made me smirk. It looked like she was ready to sleep with me right on the spot.
My mind diverted to the other brothers who were
They never did when something caught their interest
Riven was sitting right on my bed, one leg crossed over the other like he owned the place, a half-eaten apple resting lazily in his hand. His posture was relaxed, but I knew him well enough to see past it. His eyes were sharp, watching every single movement I made.
Nicole stood by the wall, his back pressed against it, arms folded across his chest. His head tilted slightly as I walked in, his gaze following me in silence.
The air in the room felt heavy. It was so obvious that they were waiting for me.
I let the door shut behind me before stepping further in, my jaw tightening slightly as I dragged a hand through my hair.
Neither of them spoke immediately. Of course they wouldn't. They wanted me to say something first, maybe apologize and that was something I'd never do.
"This would be the second time I'm seeing you work up over a girl," Riven finally said, his voice casual as he took another bite of the apple. "Do you remember what happened the first time?"
My brows furrowed slightly as I turned to look at him, irritation flickering through me. I didn't want to remember about her, why was he bringing her up in a situation like this?
"I'm not worked up over her. It's just—"
"Oh," he cut in, letting out a quiet scoff as he leaned back against the headboard. "So we are still at the denial stage."
My jaw clenched. That was exactly why I didn't like talking to him.
Riven had a way of saying things too directly, like he enjoyed getting under my skin
.
Nicole let out a low chuckle from the corner, shaking his head slightly. He knew the kind of brother he had.
"He does have a point," he added, his tone calm, but there was amusement sitting right behind it.
I shot him a look.
"I said I'm not—"
"Have you forgotten she belongs to us?" Riven interrupted again, this time his voice dropping slightly as his eyes locked onto mine. "All of us."
The room went quiet.
"She is not yours alone, Kael," he continued, his fingers tightening slightly around the apple before he took another slow bite. "We share. That has always been the rule. Don't start breaking traditions because of one girl."
My chest rose slowly as I exhaled, forcing myself to stay calm.
Riven tilted his head slightly, studying my reaction.
"She isn't even my type," he added with a small shrug. "You could have done better."
A laugh slipped out of me before I could stop it, and Nicole joined in almost immediately.
We both knew him too well.
"You're joking," Nicole said, pushing himself off the wall slightly, one brow raised.
Riven didn't laugh and he didn't even smile.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" he askedThe room fell silent again. I straightened slightly, my eyes narrowing just a bit as I studied him more carefully.
"Oh," I muttered under my breath. "You're serious."
"Since when do you have a type?" Nicole asked, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "That's new. And very strange."
Riven shrugged lightly, like it wasn't a big deal.
"Since now," he replied simply. "And this one… isn't it."
I scoffed, shaking my head slightly as I walked further into the room.
"You've never cared before."
"Maybe I'm starting to," he said, his tone unreadable. That didn't sit right with me. Not because of what he said. But because of how he said it.
Why exactly was the new lady different from the old ones I have been bringing? This was a little bit stronger and even prettier. What is he on!
I pushed the thought aside.
"How was the border?" I asked instead, shifting the conversation.
Riven's expression changed slightly.
"It wasn't easy," he replied, his voice quieter now. "The rogues put up a fight."
Nicole's posture straightened a little, his attention fully on him now. Riven was a good fighter, and he also volunteered to be getting into a fight. He wasn't interested in ruling just like Nicole.
"And?" he asked.
Riven glanced down at the apple in his hand before tossing it carelessly onto the table beside him.
"I didn't kill them," he said.
That made me pause.
"You didn't?" I repeated, my tone lower now. What? That was shocking coming from someone who was known to be one of the most feared person on here.
He shook his head.
"They surrendered."
Silence filled the room again.
"I met their leader," Riven continued, his gaze shifting between the both of us. "He wants a deal."
My brows pulled together.
"What kind of deal?" I was wondering the kind of deal he needed that'd make Riven not to kill fhem all. Those rogues were a menace.
"They want to return," he said. "Back into the town. They claim they were wronged. Cast out unfairly."
Nicole let out a quiet breath, running a hand over his jaw as he processed the information.
I didn't.
I already knew my answer.
"What happens if we let them back in?" I asked, my voice cold.
Neither of them spoke.
That silence told me everything. That wasn't a deal then, they only wanted something that'd benefit them. I let out a dry chuckle, shaking my head slowly.
"No," I said firmly. "We are not letting them back in."
Riven's eyes locked onto mine again, searching.
"You know what happens when we start giving weak people chances," I continued, my tone sharper now. "They turn it into something else. They get comfortable. They forget their place." My fists clenched slightly at my sides.
"They fall in love, make stupid decisions, create unnecessary problems… and in the end, they prove exactly why they were cast out in the first place."
Nicole didn't argue.
Riven didn't either.
But I could tell they were fully convinced.I didn't care. They could also realize that I was speaking out of emotions right now.
My gaze shifted away from them as something else crossed my mind.
"Will there be a competition tomorrow?" Nicole asked suddenly. A slow smirk spread across my lips before I could stop it. Her voice echoed faintly in my head.
The question she had asked me earlier.
If she gave in… would everything stop?
My tongue pressed lightly against the inside of my cheek as I exhaled.
She was getting close to giving up and I could see it in her eyes. I could read the fear in her eyes.
Also, the resistance was starting to crack.
"Not tomorrow," I said slowly, my smirk deepening. "Not yet." Riven raised a brow slightly.
Nicole watched me more carefully now.
I turned toward the window, my gaze hardening as I looked out into the distance.
"She's not there yet," I added quietly. My fingers flexed slightly at my sides. "But she will be."
She will break completely soon and I will be happy when she does. I will keep my promise to her like the way I had told her.