Chapter 32

Tori’s POV

Riven walked into my room, and for a moment, I just stared at him. His body was way relaxed while he stared at my room, with no expression to easily figure out why he was staring that way. What the hell came over him?

Like someone who had nothing weighing him down. He was always like that though, but he seemed like he was here to tell me something else.

"Good day," I greeted as soon as he stepped fully inside.

His brows furrowed slightly as he looked at me. "Why are you staring at me like you’ve just seen a ghost?"

He was way worse than a ghost. I’d rather love to see a ghost than to look at him in his face, actually.

I tilted my head, still studying him. "You just look different, that’s all. Like someone who hasn’t gone through any stress in their life." I paused briefly before adding, "And I really don’t like it."

He scoffed immediately, clearly unimpressed. I was trying to rage bait him actually, but it seemed like it didn’t work.

Imagine telling someone who stayed really close to the borders and telling them they haven’t for through a lot of stress all their lives.

I’d be really angry if someone did that to me after putting in all the hardwork.

"Well," he said, a smirk forming slowly at the corner of his lips, "I also don’t think you’re going to like what I’m about to tell you."

That expression alone told me everything.

I let out a sigh, already tired. I think it was about what Kale told me before we went for the holiday. The fact that I’d be staying with other girls in the room, and that was quite understandable.

"When am I moving out?" I asked, cutting straight to the point.

I wasn’t sure how I felt about it. The idea of staying with the other girls didn’t exactly bring comfort, especially considering how things had gone with the few people I had tried to get close to since arriving here.

First, I feel like they’d hate me actually. The fact that I have been living this life meanwhile they are just enjoying somewhere else.

Maybe it really was just easier to stay alone.

"You should at least let me deliver the news properly," he said, sounding almost amused.

I rolled my eyes slightly. "You look way too excited about this." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

He shrugged, unapologetic.

"Honestly, things have changed," he continued. "There are more important matters now, and this round has taken longer than expected. This will be the final stage."

My chest tightened slightly, but I didn’t interrupt him.

"We’ll be choosing the strongest this time," he added, his gaze dragging from my head down to my feet in a way that felt more evaluative than anything else. "Maybe two winners but one thing is certain. You have to be the first."

His lips curved slightly. There was nothing for me, I just started at him while he talked.

"Did Kael send you here to tell me that?" I asked calmly.

"No," he replied, shrugging again. "I volunteered." That made me pause. I wonder why Kael would allow him to do that. Was he feeling bad about breaking the news to me?

Then, before I could stop myself, the words slipped out.

"Do you miss me?

The moment I said it, I almost laughed internally. What was I even doing? This was the second time I’d try rage baiting him.

Riling him up for fun was one thing, but this? This was borderline stupid, especially considering the kind of person he was.

For a second, he just stared at me, his expression completely blank as he tried to process what I had said.

Then he burst out laughing.

"You’re unbelievable," he said, shaking his head. "You are quite funny too."

I crossed my arms under my chest, leaning slightly. "Think about it. You volunteered to come see me instead of Kael. That has to mean something."

His eyes dropped briefly before he forced them back up to my face, clearly catching himself.

"I don’t know what goes on in your head," he said dryly, "but you seriously need to come down from whatever fantasy you’re living in. Wait! Are you trying to flirt with me?" He squinted his eyes.

I smirked faintly, "it depends on your interpretation."

Honestly, I was glad he wasn’t interested in me. That made things easier, but it also meant one thing.

He wouldn’t hesitate to make things difficult for me, and judging by the way he carried himself, he probably enjoyed it.

"Get ready," he said after a moment, his tone shifting back to business. "You’ll be moved tonight."

He took a last glance at me before he finally got to walk out of the room. They shouldn’t have even brought me inside here if they knew they were going to do this to me in the end.

********

The walk to the new quarters felt longer than it actually was, or maybe it just felt that way because I had no idea what was waiting for me there.

Two guards walked ahead, while one stayed behind me, making it clear that this wasn’t just a relocation. It was controlled.

Everything here was controlled.

The deeper we went into the castle, the more unfamiliar everything became. The walls looked older, less polished, like this part of the place wasn’t meant to impress anyone.

Eventually, we stopped in front of a large wooden door.

"This is it," one of the guards said before pushing it open.

The moment I stepped inside, I felt it. There were a lot of people in, I felt different eyes settled on me immediately.

The room was bigger than I expected, filled with beds arranged in rows, and scattered around were girls, all of them different, yet all carrying the same guarded look in their eyes.

The looks were valid but this looks like a legit set up which I wasn’t definitely ready for too.

"This is your space," the guard added, pointing toward an empty bed in the far corner before leaving without another word.

Just like that, I was on my own. I walked slowly toward the bed, feeling their stares follow me with every step. I saw an outfit just like theirs on the bed. I took in a deep sigh

No one spoke at first, but I could feel their intense glare at me. The silence didn’t last the way I had expected it to.

"Well, look who finally decided to join us," a voice rang out from somewhere behind me.

I stopped but didn’t turn immediately. Panic rose in my chest. All I needed to do was to avoid this people and I’d be fine.

"Isn’t that the one who’s been staying with them?" another voice added.

I turned slightly this time, just enough to see them. They were three girls and also standing extremely close next to each other.

It looks like I have seen them together a few times. They looked like they were the one who also ruled in this place.

"What?" I said flatly. "Did you want to roll out a welcome mat?"

One thing id refuse to do was to get bullied by three random women.

A few quiet laughs echoed in the room.

The girl in front stepped closer, her arms folded. "You’ve got quite the mouth for someone who just got here."

I shrugged lightly, setting my things down on the bed. "And you’ve got quite the attitude for someone who clearly has nothing better to do."

That wiped the smirk off her face.

Good.

"You think you’re special?" she asked, her tone sharpening. "Because you stayed in a better room for a few weeks? You are no different from us."

"At least. I was the one who was called into a room." I smiled. It was a fake one.

"What?"

"I don’t think anything," I added finally. "But you seem to care a lot." That hit a nerve.

I saw it in the way her jaw tightened. She looked around the room like she was ashamed, and I guess everyone was also expecting her to do something...at least.

"You won’t last here," another girl muttered from behind her.

I let out a small breath, shaking my head slightly. "I’ve heard worse."

The first girl stepped even closer now, invading my space.

"This isn’t the same place you came from," she said quietly, almost like a warning. "Things are different here."

I held her gaze.

"I figured that out the moment I walked in."

"Let’s see how long that attitude lasts. As long as you are here. You will never know what it feels like to be at peace."

She turned and walked away, the others following her.

This shit is insane.

*******

Night came faster than I expected.

The room dimmed as candles were lit, casting shadows that made everything feel more confined, more suffocating.

I sat on my bed quietly, pretending not to notice the whispers, the glances, I had changed into the outfit I was being offered.

The atmosphere was starting to get really weird again and it seemed some are wanting to pick a fight with me.

A muttered insult just loud enough for me to hear. Then another but I ignored it.

A piece of cloth was thrown onto my bed, landing right beside me.

"Clean that," one of them said casually.

I didn’t move.

"I’m not your servant," I replied without looking up.

"Oh?" she laughed. "Aren’t you?"

That made me pause while I lifted my gaze slowly, meeting hers.

"I’m not yours," I said clearly.

The room went quiet again, then she stepped forward, her expression hardening.

"Careful," she said. "You don’t get to decide things here."

I stood up slowly, my body already exhausted but my patience completely gone.

"Then maybe you should remind yourself of that too," I shot back.

The tension snapped

Before I could react, someone shoved me from behind, harder this time, enough to make me stumble forward.

The girls burst into laughter.

I steadied myself, my hands curling slightly as I turned back.

"So this is how you deal with things?" I asked, my voice low.

"Welcome to your new reality," one of them replied.

Ok! I’m going to let them know what made Kael pick me in the first place and they will regret ever messing up with me.