Seventeen-year-old Riven Thornhart is a top student from the Warborn Kingdom—arrogant, feared, and deadly with a blade. He rules the academy's social hierarchy with an iron fist, mocking the weak and showing no mercy. When Liora Vale, a quiet, bookish girl from the forgotten Kingdom of Wyrmere, arrives, she becomes an easy target.
But there's something strange about Liora. She doesn't cower, doesn't retaliate—yet behind her calm eyes lies a magic long thought extinct. A curse. A secret. And the key to a prophecy that could destroy them all.
Riven's cruel games start to unravel as he tries to break her… only to find himself drawn to her. What began as a game turns into obsession—and then something he's never felt before.
Love.
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Opening Scene:
The halls of Blackthorn Academy smelled of blood and fire, as usual.
Riven leaned against the stone pillar, arms crossed, eyes watching the new arrivals like a wolf sizing up a herd. Most of them flinched when his gaze passed over them. Good. Let them know their place early.
"Who's that?" his friend Kade muttered beside him.
Riven followed his gaze.
A girl stood near the edge of the courtyard, her hood drawn low, a satchel hanging off one shoulder. She didn't look like much—too skinny, too pale, dressed in mismatched layers like she didn't belong here.
She was reading a book. During orientation.
Riven smirked. "A sheep wandered into the lion's den."
Kade chuckled. "Should we welcome her?"
"No," Riven said, already pushing off the pillar. "I will."
He strode across the courtyard, boots echoing on the stones. The other students stepped back instinctively.
The girl didn't even look up as he approached.
"Hey," he said, voice sharp like the blade at his hip. "Lost, little witch?"
She turned a page. "I'm exactly where I'm meant to be."
Riven blinked.
That was new.