The cold bite of metal against his skin, the way the chains held him in place—he should have been furious. He should have resisted.
But instead… He shivered in anticipation.
The room was silent except for the faint sound of the metal chains shifting as Riven tested his restraints. The weight of them was not unfamiliar to him, but the way they now bound him—wrapping around his wrists and anchoring him to the grand bed—felt entirely different. He could move, just barely, but escape was impossible.
The dim glow of the sconces cast long shadows across the lavish room, accentuating the deep crimson of the heavy drapes and the ornate carvings on the walls. Despite the darkness, it was easy to tell that the space was fit for a ruler.
Everything screamed luxury, the silk sheets beneath him, the plush pillows he half-sank into, and the faint scent of spiced incense that lingered in the air. And yet, the most striking thing in the room was the man who had chained him here.
