The Tenuous Alliance
The next morning, Eryon sat through another lecture in the academy’s grand hall, his mind racing with thoughts of Misery. The weight of his confession lingered heavily, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that he had made a terrible mistake.
Across the room, Misery sat with her usual air of confidence, her sharp crimson eyes flicking toward Eryon occasionally. Her smirk was faint but constant, a reminder that she held his secret in her hands.
Eryon’s wolf growled faintly beneath his skin, the primal instinct warning him to stay on guard.
After class, Misery cornered him in the courtyard, her presence as commanding as ever. The sunlight filtering through the towering academy spires cast her features in sharp relief, making her look both beautiful and dangerous.
“You’re awfully quiet today,” she said, leaning against a column with an exaggerated sigh. “Afraid I’ll bite?”
Eryon glared at her, his patience already worn thin. “What do you want, Misery?”
Her smirk widened, but there was a flicker of something more serious in her gaze. “Your trust,” she replied simply.
Eryon scoffed, crossing his arms. “Why should I trust you?”
“Because if you’re going to survive in this place, you’ll need someone like me watching your back,” she said, her tone matter-of-fact. “And I’m not just talking about keeping your secret. The King’s knights are coming, Eryon. And when they do, you’ll need allies.”
Her words struck a nerve, but Eryon refused to let it show. “And what do you get out of this?”
Misery’s eyes gleamed, and her smirk softened into something almost genuine. “Oh, don’t worry about me, darling. I always find a way to come out on top.”
Eryon stared at her for a long moment, his wolf growling faintly beneath his skin. Every instinct told him not to trust her, but he knew she was right.
Finally, he nodded, though his expression remained wary. “Fine. But if you betray me—”
“I won’t,” Misery interrupted smoothly. Her voice softened, and for the first time, Eryon saw a flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. “You’ll see, Eryon. We’re more alike than you think.”
