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She shook her head, reluctant, and for a moment, he glimpsed how stubborn she could be. ‘I can’t tell you, my love. It’s for your good.’

She gave him such a look of sorrow that he capitulated.

But the unease never left him.

Despite his concern, Riv pushed it to the back of his mind and decided to enjoy the lead-up to their forever.

They’d booked a grand ballroom for the ceremony and reception at the spaceport.

It’d cost him a few months’ income plus a loan from his Riders. But he insisted on wanting it to starkly contrast with the underground tunnels where he and his brothers had once lived.

His fellow Riders went along with the theme of extravagance and celebration, one that the brothers deserved after years of suffering and hard work.

On the night before the big day, Riv stayed away from his home with Élisa.

She claimed she needed to prepare alone for the ceremony.

He dressed at the Sable Riders HQ, upgraded from a dirt hovel to a cramped two-bedroom suite on the edges of Eden II’s metropolitan city.

As he suited up in his Sable Group uniform, Riv’s mind couldn’t help but wander back to the disquiet gnawing at him for weeks.

He couldn’t shake the sense that something was off with Élisa.

But he forced himself to put those thoughts aside as he left for the spaceport where the wedding and reception would be held.

Kage and Xion accompanied him, and when they arrived, the pre-wedding drinks were in full swing,

His guests welcomed him with boisterous cheers and applause as he entered the ballroom.

Preening in his tailored silver wedding suit, he made his way to the head table. Where his other brothers were waiting, in awe at how stunning the place had turned out.

Riv was overwhelmed by the grandeur of it all. The ballroom was grand and opulent, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and tables with fine china and crystal glasses. The scent of flowers and the strains of orchestral music filled the air.

The space was alive with music, laughter, and the clinking of glasses. Riv’s brothers had gone all out, bringing in the best caterers and decorators Pegasi had to offer,

Riv scanned the crowd, looking for his woman, but he couldn’t find her anywhere.

A pang of anxiety hit his gut.

Kainan nabbed his arm. ‘Brother, what do you think? We’ve spared no expense to make the night perfect for our first Rider.’

‘It’s amazing,’ he said, distracted. His mind was elsewhere. He scanned the crowd, trolling it for Élisa. He hadn’t seen her since that morning and was eager to hold her in his arms again.

‘Seen my bride?’

‘You’re on time,’ Kainan growled. ‘But she isn’t.’

Dread expanded inside Riv. ‘Mirage,’ he comm’d their AI. ‘Can you locate Élisa, please? She should be here or close by.’

‘Élisa Djan was at this location, but she left about three hours ago.’

Riv jolted. ‘Why was she so early?’

‘I don’t know, Riv,’ Mirage clipped. ‘But I detected some unusual activity in the area around that time. I suggest you be on your guard.’

Riv’s heart raced as he listened to Mirage’s warning, highlighting the anxiety that had plagued him for weeks.

His brothers noted his distress and gathered around him, tuning into the Sable neural network, keen to hear what Mirage had to say.