Riley’s POV
Just then, soone grabs from behind so suddenly that I stumble back, my heel scraping the stone floor as my heart jumps straight into my throat.
"What the hell—" I snap, spinning around instantly, my hands already coming up in defense.
I freeze.
She’s standing right there, blocking my path like she owns the ground beneath her feet. Her lips are curved into that sa slow, mocking smirk I rember too well, the one that always makes my skin crawl.
Daphne.
"Well," she drawls, her eyes dragging over from head to toe in an unapologetic way, "what a surprise."
My breath tightens but I refuse to show it. I straighten my back, even though my heart is racing so hard it hurts.
"I didn’t think my brothers would actually manage to bring you here," she continues, amusent thick in her voice. "I really didn’t. I guess I gave them too little credit."
People around us slow down. So stop entirely. I can feel the stares imdiately. Curious. Suspicious. Judgntal and fuck I hate it.
I swallow hard and force my voice to stay calm. "Why would you drag like that?" I ask. "Do you enjoy humiliating people in front of a crowd, or is this just how things work here?"
Her smirk widens. "Oh, honey," she says softly, stepping closer. "It’s part of the rules. You’re new. Every newcor gets tested."
"Tested how?" I ask sharply. "By being attacked in the woods and now being dragged by you?"
She laughs, actually laughs, like I just told a joke. "You humans are always so dramatic."
I clench my jaw. "I could have been killed."
Her eyes flicker for a split second, then go cold again. "You weren’t going to die," she says dismissively. "The Mane sisters don’t kill unless they’re told to."
That makes my stomach drop.
"Interesting indeed," I say. "Really interesting."
She shrugs. "Of course"
I take a step toward her before I can stop myself. "You’re very sick Daphne, it’s still obvious"
Her smile turns sharp. "Welco to Obsidian Veil."
Obsidian veil? Was it the na of this place?
Before I can respond, the driver steps forward, positioning himself slightly between us. His voice is calm, respectful, but firm enough that even Daphne pauses.
"I’m sorry, Lady Daphne," he says, dipping his head slightly, "but the Alphas instructed that she must not be hard under any circumstances. We should be going now."
I blink.
This is the first ti I really notice it. The way people nearby shift their attention to him. The way a few of them subtly step back. This man is not just a driver. He carries authority here as well..
Daphne studies him for a long mont, her eyes narrowing slightly. Then she exhales and waves a hand.
"Fine," she says lightly. "Run along. I’ll deal with her later."
Her gaze snaps back to . "Don’t get too comfortable, Riley. You don’t belong here one bit"
The driver turns toward and gestures forward. "This way, ma’am."
I hesitate, then follow him. I can still feel Daphne’s stare burning into my back as we walk away, like she’s carving my na into her mory.
We move deeper into the structure, passing through a wide archway that opens into a massive interior space. The ceilings are high. The walls are stone. Everything looks old, like it has been standing here for centuries long before I was ever born.
We begin climbing a long flight of wide stone stairs, worn down slightly in the middle from years of use. They remind of the kind of staircases I’ve only ever seen in historical movies, the ones built to last forever.
My mind starts working fast.
I morize everything. The number of steps. The turn to the left. The narrow hallway that follows. The open space after that. If sothing goes wrong, I want to know how to get out.
As if he senses it, the driver speaks without turning around.
"If you’re studying the path we took," he says evenly, "then you’re wasting your ti."
I stiffen. "How? Why?"
"Because it changes every twenty-four hours," he replies. "That’s how Obsidian Veil works."
I stop walking for a second. "Changes how?"
He stops too and turns to face . "The layout. The paths. The access points. Nothing stays the sa."
"That’s insane," I say. "How does anyone live like that?"
"Adaptation," he replies simply. "Sothing humans struggle with."
I bite back a response and continue walking. "So Obsidian Veil is just... hidden inside Crescent Hollow?"
"Yes," he says. "It exists alongside Crescent Hollow. Always has."
"And no human knows about it?"
"Very few," he says. "And fewer still are allowed inside."
That word sends a sharp chill through .
Allowed.
We walk past groups of people now. So look human. Others do not. I can feel the difference even if I cannot explain it. Their eyes linger on . Whispers follow us.
"What’s a human doing here?"
"Did she get lost?"
"Is she food?"
I slow my steps. "They’re talking about ."
"Yes," the driver says. "They are."
"And you’re okay with that?"
"They are curious," he replies. "Not hostile."
"Yet," I mutter.
He almost smiles.
We pass through another corridor and reach a second gate. This one is open, but guarded. Two n stand on either side, both large, both alert.
They step aside.
As soon as we enter, the murmurs grow louder.
I lean toward the driver. "So tell ," I say. "What exactly am I doing here?"
He doesn’t answer right away. We turn one last corner, and he stops in front of a large, imposing door.
"This," he says quietly, "is where your real introduction will begin."
My pulse spikes. "Introduction to what?"
He turns to face fully now. "To the Alphas and to why you were brought here like you asked"
I stare at the door. "And if I don’t want any of that?"
He studies for a mont. "Then you should not have co."
My throat tightens. "You say that like I had a choice."
His expression softens just slightly. "In this world, choice is a luxury."
Before I can reply, he knocks once on the door then he steps back and walks away.
I stare at the door, my heart pounding so hard it hurts. Every instinct in my body is screaming at to run, but my feet refuse to move.
The door opens slowly with a low creak.
And what I see inside makes my mouth fall open in pure shock.
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