Riven looked up from his desk, a stupefied expression plastered on his face. Julius was still standing before him, the words he had just spoken sinking deeper into his chest with every passing second.

Thira… had shown up with a date. And not just any date—Carter.

His shoulders sagged. The kids mentioned someone like that, he thought miserably. But he thought they said he was only an old friend. The weight of the revelation pressed against him, leaving him deflated.

“Sir, are you ...