A Narrow Escape
The twins stood frozen in the quiet aftermath of Adrian’s departure, their breaths shallow, hearts pounding in unison. Beneath the floorboards, the artifact pulsed faintly, its ominous energy a constant reminder of how narrowly they had avoided disaster.
Lyra leaned against the wall, her silver eyes fixed on the door as though Adrian might reappear at any moment. “That was too close,” she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and frustration.
Eryon knelt by the hidden compartment, carefully pressing the artifact deeper into its cramped hiding place. The faint glow dimmed as he sealed the boards over it, but it did little to ease the tension gripping him. “We need to move it,” he muttered, glancing up at her with his amber eyes. “If Adrian comes back, he’ll find it.”
Lyra opened her mouth to respond, but a new thought struck her, silencing her momentarily. “What did Misery want with him?” she asked, her wolf stirring uneasily.
Eryon frowned, the question only adding to the weight already dragging at him. Misery was too sharp, too deliberate for her timing to be a coincidence. If she suspected anything… He shook his head, trying to focus, but the unease gnawed at him.
Lyra began pacing, her wolf mirroring her agitation, its restless energy radiating through her movements. “We can’t keep this up, Eryon. Seraphine expects us to weaken the King’s network, but every step we take brings us closer to being exposed.”
Eryon rose to his feet, his expression hardening. “We don’t have a choice,” he said, his jaw tight. “Seraphine’s right—the King won’t stop until he gets the artifact. If we don’t act, we’ll never be free.”
Before Lyra could respond, a sudden knock at the door shattered the tense silence. Both of them froze, their wolves going eerily still. The knock came again, sharper this time, echoing through the small room.
“Relax,” came Misery’s voice from the other side, dripping with her usual sarcasm. “It’s just me.”
Eryon exchanged a glance with Lyra before moving to the door. He opened it cautiously, his tension easing slightly as Misery stepped inside. She took in the room with a quick, curious glance before turning her sharp crimson eyes to the twins.
“What do you want?” Lyra asked, her tone cold and wary.
Misery smirked, her lips curling into a look of faint amusement. “Oh, nothing much. Just thought you’d like to know that Adrian’s been asking a lot of questions. About you two.”
Eryon’s wolf bristled beneath his skin, but he kept his voice level. “And why are you telling us this?”
Misery tilted her head, the smirk fading into something more serious. “Because if he finds out what you’re hiding, it won’t just be you he takes down. It’ll be me too.”
Lyra’s eyes narrowed, her mistrust evident. “What are you saying?”
Misery leaned casually against the doorframe, her crimson eyes gleaming with calculated intent. “I’m saying,” she replied, her voice quieter but no less pointed, “that maybe it’s time we start working together. Because like it or not, we’re all in this mess now.”
Eryon glanced at Lyra, his instincts screaming caution even as her wolf mirrored his hesitation. Misery’s proposal was dangerous—she was dangerous. But they were running out of allies, out of options, and most importantly, out of time.
For now, they had no choice.
