Forbidden Fire
The days leading up to the tournament were grueling, the atmosphere at the academy growing more charged with each passing hour. For Eryon and Lyra, the stakes were far higher than glory or recognition. Exposure was a constant threat, and every moment in the spotlight felt like balancing on the edge of a blade.
Late one evening, the twins trained together in the secluded practice hall. Lyra moved through a series of drills with precision, her wolf simmering just beneath her calm exterior. Across from her, Eryon practiced calculated strikes, his movements sharp and deliberate.
“You need to hold back more,” Lyra said, watching him closely. “You’re too fast. Too strong.”
Eryon let out a frustrated growl, the sound low and guttural. “If I hold back too much, I’ll lose. And we can’t afford that.”
Lyra stepped closer, her expression softening. “We’ll find a way. We always do.”
They spent hours refining Eryon’s techniques, creating explanations for his enhanced reflexes and agility. Every strike, every movement was rehearsed to perfection, masking the truth of what he was.
But it wasn’t just the tournament that weighed on Lyra’s mind. Adrian’s presence had become an unrelenting force, his watchful gaze following her wherever she went. Every interaction with him felt like a battle, his questions and insinuations probing dangerously close to the truth.
One night, as Lyra returned from the practice hall, Adrian intercepted her in the dimly lit corridor. The flickering torches cast sharp shadows across his face, highlighting the intensity in his crimson eyes.
“You’ve been busy,” he remarked, his tone casual but his gaze sharp.
Lyra stiffened, forcing herself to meet his gaze. “Preparing for the tournament,” she replied evenly.
Adrian stepped closer, the air between them charged with unspoken tension. “It’s more than that, isn’t it?”
Lyra’s chest tightened, her wolf clawing at her control. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Adrian tilted his head, studying her with a mix of curiosity and frustration. “You’re not like the others,” he said, his voice low. “You’ve felt it too, haven’t you? This… pull.”
Lyra’s breath hitched as he reached out, his fingers brushing against hers. The touch was fleeting but electric, igniting something dangerous within her.
“Why do I feel like I’m losing myself every time I look at you?” Adrian asked, his voice raw with both suspicion and yearning.
