Adrian’s Ultimatum
The courtyard of Nightshade Academy lay cloaked in shadows, the usual bustle of students replaced by a stillness that only the moonlight dared to disturb. Lyra lingered by the fountain, her thoughts a storm of worry and fear. Eryon’s injuries, Misery’s growing suspicion, and Adrian’s relentless pursuit weighed on her like chains she couldn’t break.
“Out late, aren’t we?”
The voice cut through the silence, smooth and edged with menace. Lyra stiffened, her wolf stirring uneasily as she turned to see Adrian stepping out of the shadows. His crimson eyes gleamed like embers under the pale light, his expression unreadable.
“What do you want, Adrian?” Lyra asked, her tone sharper than she intended. She couldn’t afford to let him see her fear.
Adrian stopped a few paces from her, his movements deliberate, his gaze locked onto hers. “Answers,” he said simply, the word carrying the weight of everything unspoken between them.
Her heart pounded in her chest, but she forced herself to hold his gaze. “About what?”
“Don’t,” Adrian said, his voice low and strained, frustration cracking through his calm facade. “Don’t insult me by pretending you don’t know.”
He stepped closer, closing the distance between them. The moonlight illuminated his face, every line of tension carved into his features. “You and your brother. You’re not like the others. You avoid the rituals, you hold back in fights, and your blood…” His jaw clenched, and he hesitated. “It’s not right.”
Lyra’s breath caught, but she stayed silent, her mind racing for a way out of this conversation.
Adrian’s voice softened, but the intensity in his gaze only deepened. “Are you even a vampire?”
The question hung in the air, cutting through the stillness like a blade. It was damning, and it left no room for evasion.
Lyra’s resolve wavered as she saw the conflict in his eyes. He wasn’t just suspicious—he was torn. She could see it in the way his lips pressed into a thin line, in the flicker of hurt beneath his frustration. Adrian’s pursuit wasn’t just about uncovering the truth—it was personal.
“If I tell you, it’ll destroy everything,” she whispered, her voice trembling.
Adrian’s eyes softened at her words, but his frustration didn’t waver. He stepped closer, his hand brushing against her cheek. The touch sent a shiver through her, her wolf clawing at her control, sensing the proximity of danger.
“It’s already destroying me,” Adrian murmured, his voice raw. His crimson eyes searched hers, filled with a mixture of longing and desperation that made her chest tighten.
Lyra wanted to pull away, to break the tension before it snapped, but her feet felt rooted to the ground. She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe.
Adrian leaned closer, his breath warm against her skin. “You’re hiding something, Lyra,” he said softly, his voice almost tender. “And I’ll find out what it is. One way or another.”
Before Lyra could respond, the sound of slow, deliberate footsteps echoed through the courtyard, shattering the moment.
“Well,” Misery’s voice rang out, dripping with amusement. “What a touching scene.”
Lyra froze as Misery stepped into view, her crimson eyes flicking between Lyra and Adrian with sharp curiosity. The smirk on her lips widened, her expression equal parts mockery and intrigue.
“Care to share with the class?” Misery asked, her tone a mixture of feigned innocence and biting sarcasm.
Lyra tensed, her wolf on high alert, as Adrian turned to face Misery. His expression hardened, his frustration transforming into a mask of indifference.
“This doesn’t concern you,” Adrian said coldly, his voice steady.
Misery’s laugh was soft but pointed, the sound grating against Lyra’s nerves. “Oh, but I think it does,” she replied, taking a step closer. “Secrets have a way of spilling, Adrian. And I do love a good revelation.”
Her gaze shifted to Lyra, lingering like a predator toying with its prey. “Especially when it comes from someone who’s so very bad at hiding.”
Lyra’s heart pounded as she clenched her fists, the weight of their secrets pressing down on her with suffocating force. Adrian’s tension was palpable, his stance stiff as though ready to strike.
In that moment, Lyra knew the fragile balance was teetering on the edge of collapse. One wrong move, one wrong word, and everything would unravel.
