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It turned out everything Riven said was true.
At the night of the ritual, his 70th wife was chosen. She was taken to the altar, and before the eyes of the seven devil sons, she was burned alive. The sight was terrifying — the screams, the fire, the way no one dared to look away. It was horrifying... and heartbreaking.
On one hand, I was thankful. I was not the one chosen. But on the other, guilt slowly crept in. She paid the price that was meant for me. I had doubted Riven, feared him, even hated him — yet he protected me when it truly mattered.
Now I knew he hadn't lied to me.
With my heart full of mixed emotions, I walked up to him slowly, my voice low and unsure. "Thank you… my lord."
He looked at me with calm, unreadable eyes. "It was nothing," he said softly. "I told you… I would never let anything happen to you."
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Our eyes met. For a moment, it felt like time stood still. He reached out, brushing his hand gently against my cheek, and I didn't move away. There was something in his touch — warmth I didn't expect from the son of a devil.
He leaned in and pressed a soft kiss to my neck. I shivered, not out of fear, but something I couldn't explain. My heart raced.
Without a word, he led me back to his room. The moment wasn't rushed, it wasn't forced — it was quiet, intense, filled with things unspoken. He held me close, like I mattered. Like I wasn't just another wife.
He whispered, "Say you love me."
I hesitated for a second, staring into his crimson eyes… then nodded slowly.
"I love you," I said, voice trembling but real.
Maybe it was foolish. Maybe I was falling for someone I should fear. But in that moment, I didn't care.
—
Because it felt like the love Riven had for me this time was real—so real, it warmed the cold fear I used to carry. The way he held me, looked at me, spoke to me… it wasn't just duty or possession. It felt like love. And the love I had buried deep inside me was becoming real too. I found myself smiling without reason, my heart at ease in his presence. Maybe… just maybe, I was his favorite wife. That night, I slept in his arms, listening to his heartbeat, and for the first time, I felt truly safe.
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But then a thought came to my mind — *what if I'm pregnant?* The way he held me, touched me… it felt different, deeper. I knew sooner or later, I would carry the child of the devil's son. And that terrified me. Would I give birth to a normal child? Or… to an immortal being like him? A demon? An heir to the underworld? My heart raced with fear and confusion. I stared at the ceiling, lost in thought. *What kind of mother would I be?* *What kind of child would it be?* I had no answers — only questions.