Chapter 6. Ride or Break

“I said bring her inside,” Magnus repeated. His voice was gravel and command.

Riven’s fingers twisted into Axel’s hoodie, knuckles bleaching white. Her legs trembled beneath her, muscles locked in that terrible space between flight and freeze, lungs burning with each shallow breath as her vision narrowed to pinpricks of light against encroaching darkness.

Axel gunned the throttle, rolling them through the gates. He didn’t look at his father. Didn’t slow. But he also didn’t stop.

They parked inside the compound, the roar of engines fading until silence descended like a noose.

Riven climbed off, legs unsteady. Her helmet felt like it weighed a thousand pounds in her hand. Axel swung off beside her, jaw tight, his eyes unreadable.

Magnus studied her in silence. Then, with terrifying calm, he asked, “Who taught you to ride like that?”

Riven’s throat closed. Her mind scrambled for lies, but she knew lies wouldn’t live long in front of this man.

“