Adrian’s Warning
The corridors of Nightshade Academy were dim and narrow, their walls lined with ancient tapestries that seemed to shift in the flickering torchlight. Lyra kept her steps brisk, her heartbeat a steady drum in her ears. After the Moonlit Masquerade and Adrian’s whispered demands, she’d made it her mission to avoid him.
But Adrian Drakos wasn’t the type to be avoided for long.
She felt his presence before she saw him, the faint scent of winter and iron reaching her before his voice broke the quiet.
“Lyra.”
Her feet halted instinctively, though her mind screamed to keep moving. She turned slowly to find him standing just a few feet away, his silhouette sharp against the glow of the torches. His crimson eyes bore into her, unrelenting and intense.
“We need to talk,” Adrian said, his voice low but firm.
Lyra crossed her arms over her chest, forcing herself to meet his gaze despite the way her wolf stirred under his scrutiny. “I don’t see what there is to talk about.”
Adrian’s lips curved into a faint, humorless smile as he stepped closer, closing the distance between them. “Then let me make it simple. Misery is plotting against you.”
The words hit Lyra like a slap, though she tried not to let it show. She kept her expression neutral, her voice steady. “And why would you care?”
Adrian’s brows furrowed, the slight edge of irritation bleeding into his tone. “Because she’s dangerous. Misery doesn’t take well to feeling threatened, and she’s made it clear you’re in her way.”
Lyra took a step back, her heart pounding as his words sank in. Misery’s subtle jabs and games had escalated over the past few days, but hearing it confirmed by Adrian unsettled her more than she cared to admit.
“I’m not afraid of her,” Lyra said, though her voice wavered slightly.
Adrian tilted his head, studying her as though she were an intricate puzzle he couldn’t quite solve. “You should be. Misery doesn’t play fair, and she doesn’t stop until she’s gotten what she wants.”
Lyra forced herself to stand her ground, despite the pull of his presence and the tension that radiated from him like a storm. “If she’s such a problem, why not deal with her yourself? She’s your girlfriend, isn’t she?”
Something flickered in Adrian’s eyes—something unreadable. “What happens between Misery and me has nothing to do with this,” he said, his tone cold. “This is about you, Lyra. You don’t belong here, and she knows it.”
The words struck a nerve, and Lyra’s wolf bristled beneath her skin. She straightened her spine, narrowing her eyes. “If that’s what you think, then why are you bothering with me at all?”
Adrian closed the remaining distance between them in a single step, his proximity stealing the air from her lungs. His hand shot out, gripping her wrist firmly but not painfully. His touch was cold, but his eyes burned with intensity.
“Because you intrigue me,” he said, his voice dropping to a low murmur. “Because there’s something about you that doesn’t add up, and I don’t like unanswered questions.”
Lyra’s pulse quickened, her wolf clawing at her control. She tried to pull her wrist free, but Adrian held fast, his gaze unwavering.
“And because I don’t want to see you get hurt,” he added, his tone softening slightly. “You can’t fight Misery on your own, Lyra. She’ll destroy you, and she’ll enjoy every second of it.”
Lyra swallowed hard, her thoughts a chaotic swirl. Adrian’s words carried a dangerous mix of warning and concern, but she couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more to his interest than he let on.
“I don’t need your protection,” she said finally, her voice firmer than she felt.
Adrian’s grip tightened fractionally, his jaw clenching. “You’re stubborn,” he muttered, almost to himself. “You think you can handle this alone, but you have no idea what you’re up against.”
He leaned in, his breath ghosting against her cheek as he spoke. “Misery won’t stop until she’s broken you. If you let her, she’ll tear you apart piece by piece. And if you think for a second that I’ll stand by and watch that happen, you’re wrong.”
Lyra’s chest tightened at his words, her wolf torn between rising to meet the challenge in his tone and retreating from the weight of his presence. She forced herself to meet his gaze, refusing to back down.
“I’ll take my chances,” she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her.
Adrian’s lips pressed into a thin line, his expression darkening. He released her wrist but didn’t step back, his crimson eyes locked onto hers.
“Fine,” he said, his voice low and dangerous. “But when you realize you can’t do this on your own, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
He turned sharply and disappeared into the shadows of the corridor, leaving Lyra standing alone, her heart racing and her wolf snarling restlessly.
