The night after Lyra and Kael's bond tightened, a new presence arrived at Romance Academy.
She did not come with thunder or announcement.
She came with silence.
Lyra felt it first—an unnatural stillness that pressed against her senses as she crossed the upper courtyard alone the next evening. Her wolf stirred uneasily, pacing in warning.
Someone was watching.
From the shadow of the west tower, a girl stepped into the moonlight.
She was tall and elegant, dressed not in the academy uniform but in flowing black robes threaded with violet sigils. Her dark hair fell smoothly down her back, and her eyes—cold, luminous amethyst—locked onto Lyra with open disdain.
"So," the girl said softly, her voice smooth and dangerous, "you're the girl fate chose."
Lyra straightened. "Who are you?"
The witch smiled faintly. Not friendly. Calculated.
"My name is Nyx Raventhorn," she said. "And I don't believe in fate."
The name struck something deep in Lyra's memory—whispered warnings, half-forgotten stories. Nyx Raventhorn. The unbonded prodigy. A witch whose power had grown without a soulmate, without balance.
"Why are you here?" Lyra asked carefully.
Nyx's gaze flicked past her—toward the distant training grounds.
"I came for Kael Nightfang."
The words hit like ice.
Lyra's wolf surged forward, furious. "He's bonded," she said sharply.
Nyx tilted her head, studying her like a puzzle. "Yes. To you." Her lips curved slightly. "That can change."
Before Lyra could respond, footsteps sounded behind her.
Kael.
The moment he stepped into view, Nyx's aura flared—dark, rich magic rolling off her in waves. Her eyes softened—not with love, but with hunger.
"Kael," Nyx said, her voice suddenly warm. "You've grown even stronger."
Kael's expression hardened. "Raventhorn. You shouldn't be here."
"And yet," she replied calmly, "here I am."
Lyra felt it then—the pressure Nyx exerted on the bond. Not an attack. A test. Like fingers brushing a fragile thread, searching for weakness.
Kael moved instantly, stepping closer to Lyra, his arm protective at her back.
"She's my mate," he said coldly. "Try anything, and you'll answer for it."
Nyx laughed quietly. "You misunderstand me, Alpha heir. I don't intend to fight her." Her gaze slid back to Lyra. "I intend to outlast her."
Lyra's heart pounded. "You think you can take him by force?"
"No," Nyx said smoothly. "I'll take him by truth."
With that, she turned and walked away, her presence lingering like a curse long after she vanished into the shadows.
Later that night, Lyra couldn't sleep.
She sat on her bed, knees drawn up, replaying Nyx's words over and over. Outlast her.
Kael found her there, instantly sensing her unease.
"She's dangerous," Lyra said quietly. "Not just powerful. Strategic."
Kael sat beside her, taking her hands. "Nyx has always believed bonds were weaknesses. She thinks love can be replaced by power."
"Can it?" Lyra asked, fear slipping into her voice despite herself.
Kael's grip tightened. "Not ours."
But even as he said it, the bond pulsed—steady, yes, but aware.
Nyx Raventhorn did not want Kael's heart.
She wanted his power, his lineage, his destiny.
And she was patient enough to wait for cracks.
As Lyra lay back against the pillows, Kael stayed with her, refusing to leave. Outside, the moon slipped behind clouds, and somewhere in the academy, Nyx began to plan.
Because unlike the others…
She wasn't desperate.
She was confident.
And she had never lost what she decided to claim.