The cafeteria was chaos.
Nyra sat with Finn, Marek, and Jasper at their usual table, but the noise level made conversation difficult. Every table was packed. Every voice was raised. The full moon’s influence was everywhere in the sharp laughter, the slammed trays, the way a Beta from the north wing had just thrown his drink at an Alpha who’d looked at him wrong.
"It’s going to be a bad one," Finn said, watching the Beta get dragged away. "Last full moon, Brock punched a wall and broke three fingers."
"Brock punches walls when there isn’t a full moon," Marek pointed out.
"True. But still."
Jasper set down his book a rare occurrence that made everyone pause. "The Shadow Trials have been announced. Postings went up this morning."
"What?" Finn nearly choked on his bread. "When? Where?"
"Main hall. Ten minutes ago." Jasper’s sharp eyes flicked to Nyra. "Your name is on the list."
Nyra’s stomach dropped. "Who am I paired against?"
"Didn’t see. The crowd was too thick. But the trials take place in the Mistwood. Outside the academy walls." Jasper’s voice was carefully neutral. "People have died in the trials before."
"Last year, a second-year fell into a ravine," Marek added quietly. "They said it was an accident. Some people didn’t believe them."
Finn pushed his tray away. "Suddenly I’ve lost my appetite."
Nyra stared at her hands. The silver light pulsed faintly. She’d been training. She’d been learning. But the Shadow Trials were something else a test of survival, not just skill.
"I need to see the postings," she said, standing.
They left the cafeteria together, and Nyra felt the weight of eyes on her back as she walked.
The main hall was packed with students crowded around the bulletin board. Nyra pushed through until she could see the parchment pinned to the wood.
Shadow Trials — Pairings
Finn Harlan vs. Tomas Greer
Marek Stone vs. Lena Halvik
Jasper Reed vs. Silas Crane
Thorne Astrlyn vs. Draven Grimscar
Draven. Again.
Nyra’s blood went cold.
"Two matches against the same opponent," Finn said, reading over her shoulder. "That’s not supposed to happen. The pairings are supposed to be random."
"Unless someone made sure it wasn’t random," Marek said.
Jasper said nothing, but his eyes were dark with understanding.
Nyra stared at Draven’s name, and the silver light beneath her skin pulsed hot. They’re trying to kill me again. And they’re using the trials to do it.
She turned away from the board. "I need to train."
The evening before the full moon, Soren summoned her.
His suite was dark except for a single torch. He stood in the center of the training floor, shirtless, his tattoo of wolves rippling across his back as he moved through a slow, deliberate drill.
"You wanted to see me?"
"Yes." He completed the motion, then straightened. "The Shadow Trials are in four days. Your pairing is Draven Grimscar."
"I know."
"You fought him before. You won."
"Barely."
"That was before the poisoning. Before you spent a week recovering. Before Draven had time to study your weaknesses." Soren turned to face her. "He’s going to try to kill you in the Mistwood. Not defeat you. Kill you. Do you understand?"
Nyra met his eyes. "I understand."
"Then you understand why we’re training tonight." He moved into a fighting stance. "No breaks. No mercy. You fight me until you can’t stand, and then you fight me on the ground."
"What about the full moon? Shouldn’t you be—"
"The full moon is tomorrow. Tonight, I’m your trainer. Nothing more." His voice was iron. "Now fight."
She fought.
He was relentless. Every block was too slow, every strike too weak, every dodge a hair’s breadth from failure. He drove her across the training floor, his fists pulling just short of her face, his feet sweeping her legs out from under her again and again. She hit the stone floor so many times she lost count. Each time, she got up.
"You’re still hesitating," he snarled. "You’re still thinking instead of acting. In the Mistwood, hesitation is death."
"I’m trying—"
"Trying isn’t enough!"
He lunged. She reacted on instinct ducking under his arm, spinning, driving her elbow toward his ribs. He caught her arm, twisted, and suddenly she was pinned against the wall, his body a cage of heat and muscle inches from hers.
"Better," he breathed. "But not good enough."
His face was close. Too close. She could see the ring of gold bleeding into his pupils, could feel the tension vibrating through his body like a plucked string. His wolf was close to the surface.
"Soren." Her voice came out unsteady.
"Don’t."
"Don’t what?"
"Don’t look at me like that."
His hand was still on her arm. His body was still pressed against hers. The air between them was thick enough to choke on.
"Tomorrow is the full moon," he said, his voice rough. "I won’t be myself. Whatever you see whatever you hear stay away from me."
"Why?"
"Because I’m dangerous."
"You’ve never hurt me before."
"I might hurt you tomorrow." He released her arm and stepped back, the distance suddenly vast. "Training is over. Go back to your dorm. Lock the door. And whatever you do, don’t come looking for me."
Nyra opened her mouth to argue. The look in his eyes stopped her.
She left.
Behind her, Soren stood alone in the darkness, his wolf howling inside his skull, and the full moon rose over the academy like a promise of ruin.
In a dark classroom on the east wing, three figures gathered by candlelight.
"The pairings are set," Nikolai said. "Draven against the prince in the Mistwood. The terrain is prepared. The trap is in place."
"And if Draven fails again?" Xavier asked.
"He won’t. But if he does, we have contingencies." Nikolai turned to Killian. "You’ve gotten closer to Eldritch’s circle?"
"I’ve made contact. It will take time to build trust."
"We don’t have time. The trials are in four days."
Killian smiled. It was cold and patient. "Trust can be accelerated. Especially when someone is distracted. And Corvin is very distracted by Thorne Astrlyn. He won’t notice me until it’s too late."
"And the Grimscar boy?"
"He’s ready. He knows what to do." Killian’s voice was flat. "And when this is over, I’ll dispose of him. He’s outlived his usefulness."
The candle flickered. Shadows danced on the walls.
"Good," Nikolai said. "Then we’re agreed. The Shadow Trials will be the end of Thorne Astrlyn. One way or another."
They dispersed into the night, three shadows slipping through the cracks of the academy, and the full moon climbed higher over the towers, watching everything.