Misery’s Bargain
Later that night, the academy grounds shimmered under the moonlight, the silver glow casting long, eerie shadows across the stone pathways. Eryon made his way to the secluded courtyard where Misery had summoned him, his steps careful and measured. The silence of the night only amplified the unease curling in his chest, his wolf pacing restlessly within him. Every instinct told him this meeting would not be straightforward.
Misery was waiting for him, perched languidly on the edge of the stone fountain at the center of the courtyard. The water behind her shimmered faintly, reflecting the moonlight. Her crimson eyes locked onto him as he approached, her smirk widening with amusement.
“You’re late,” she said, her voice light but carrying an unmistakable edge.
Eryon crossed his arms as he stopped a few paces away, his expression guarded. “What do you want, Misery?”
She rose smoothly, her movements as fluid as a predator’s. “Relax, darling,” she said with a faint laugh. “I’m not here to blackmail you—at least not yet.”
Eryon’s jaw tightened. “Then why am I here?”
Misery’s smirk softened, her demeanor shifting to something almost serious. “I need something from you,” she said, her tone deliberate.
Suspicion flickered in Eryon’s amber eyes, his wolf growling faintly beneath his control. “I thought you said my secret was safe with you.”
“And it is,” Misery replied, her expression calm but her eyes sharp. “But this… this is about survival. Yours and mine.”
Her words stopped Eryon in his tracks. He studied her, searching for any sign of manipulation, but for once, she seemed earnest.
“What are you talking about?” he asked, his voice low.
Misery sighed, the confident smirk giving way to something more subdued. “You’re not the only one with secrets, Eryon,” she said, her voice quieter now. “The King’s knights are closing in, and when they get here, they won’t care how careful you’ve been. They’ll find something—anything—to justify their orders. And when they do, they’ll destroy everyone in their path. Including you. Including me.”
Eryon’s jaw clenched, her words sending a chill through him. “And what do you expect me to do about that?”
Misery stepped closer, her gaze unflinching as she spoke. “I need you to help me with a little project,” she said, her smirk returning with a hint of mischief. “Something that could… shift the balance of power in our favor.”
Eryon’s eyes narrowed, his instincts screaming at him to walk away. “And if I say no?”
Misery’s smile didn’t waver, but her voice turned icy. “Then you’re on your own, darling. And trust me, you won’t last long.”
Her words hung in the air, a heavy warning laced with undeniable truth. Eryon hated the thought of aligning himself with Misery, but her warning echoed what he already feared. The King’s knights would leave no stone unturned, no one unscathed.
“Fine,” he said finally, his voice tense. “But if you screw me over, we’re done.”
Misery’s smirk widened, satisfaction gleaming in her crimson eyes. “Oh, Eryon,” she purred, stepping back toward the fountain. “You’ll find I’m a very reliable partner. As long as we want the same thing.”
Eryon didn’t reply, his mind racing with the weight of what he had just agreed to. Misery had thrown him a lifeline, but he knew better than to trust her completely. Whatever game she was playing, he would need to be ready to protect himself—and Lyra—from the fallout.
