RIVEN BLACKWOOD POV

"This was fun, right?" I asked, staring at her face as she basked in the sun, her skin glowing in the light.

She grinned, her head turning in my direction. "After receiving gold bars from your Dad, I really don't have much to complain about."

I chuckled, then tilted my face to the sun.

We lay in comfortable silence, enjoying the sound of nature.

It was serene.

I glanced at her. Her eyes were closed, but I could see some creases on her forehead, and I wondered if it ...