Chapter Eleven— both like me
The news spread through the Academy like wildfire.
By evening, everyone was talking about it. Ryuu and the human girl. Ryuu, who never showed interest in anyone, had publicly claimed Nyrah as his girlfriend.
The rumors were vicious.
"She climbed the power ladder on her back."
"Slut. That's what she is."
"I wonder how many others she tried before Ryuu said yes."
"Probably all of them."
Nyrah heard the whispers everywhere she went. In the hallways. In the training yards. Even in the bathrooms. People didn't bother lowering their voices anymore.
She tried to ignore it. This was the price of protection. She'd known it wouldn't be easy.
But it still hurt.
That evening, she was in the library. It was one of the few places where she could get some peace. Most students avoided it unless they absolutely had to study.
Nyrah sat at a corner table with Black curled up beside her, reading through the latest notes that had been left at her door. Advanced combat techniques. Ways to compensate for lack of magical power with speed and precision.
She was so focused on the text that she didn't notice someone approaching until they were right beside her table.
"Nyrah."
She looked up. Nymeria stood there, her face carefully blank.
Nyrah tensed. After what happened at training, she half expected Nymeria to attack her right here.
But Nymeria just stood there. Then, slowly, she spoke.
"I apologize for my behavior earlier," she said. Her voice was flat. Emotionless. "It was inappropriate."
Nyrah blinked. "You already apologized. In front of everyone."
"I know." Nymeria's jaw tightened. "But I wanted to make sure you understood. I won't insult you again."
It wasn't sincere. Nyrah could see the hatred still burning in Nymeria's eyes. But she was apologizing anyway because Ryuu had told her to.
"Okay," Nyrah said carefully. "Thank you."
Nymeria nodded once, then turned and left without another word.
Nyrah watched her go, then looked down at Black. "That was weird."
Black meowed softly.
Nyrah went back to her reading, but she couldn't focus anymore. Something felt off. Nymeria's apology had been too controlled. Too calculated.
She was planning something. Nyrah was sure of it.
The next day started normally enough. Combat Assembly. Training drills. Nyrah's performance was improving steadily. She still wasn't anywhere near the top fighters, but she was holding her own better than before.
After training, she headed back to her room to change. She needed to wash off the sweat and dirt before lunch.
She was halfway down the hallway when two figures stepped out from a side corridor, blocking her path.
Kaelen and Killian.
Nyrah stopped. Her heart rate picked up.
Kaelen was tall and lean with silver hair and sharp features. He was from one of the high fae houses. Ranked seventh overall. Killian she already knew. Alpha Ray's son. Ranked third.
Both of them were looking at her with expressions she couldn't quite read.
"Can I help you?" Nyrah asked, trying to sound calm.
"We need to talk," Kaelen said.
"About?"
"About your choices," Killian said. He crossed his arms. "Let's walk."
It wasn't really a request.
Nyrah glanced around. The hallway was empty. No one else was nearby. Black had stayed in her room this morning, so she was completely alone.
"I don't think—"
"It wasn't optional," Kaelen said. His voice was still polite, but there was steel underneath.
Nyrah's stomach tightened. But she nodded. "Fine."
They led her down the hallway and into a smaller corridor that branched off toward one of the training rooms. This area was quieter. More isolated.
When they reached an empty training room, Killian pushed the door open and gestured for her to go inside.
Nyrah hesitated. This felt like a trap.
"We're not going to hurt you," Kaelen said, seeming to read her thoughts. "We just want to talk. Privately."
Nyrah stepped inside. The training room was small, with padded floors and weapons racks along the walls. Killian closed the door behind them.
The three of them stood there in silence for a moment.
Then Killian spoke.
"Ryuu," he said flatly. "Really?"
Nyrah's jaw tightened. "That's none of your business."
"It is our business," Kaelen said. He leaned against the wall, studying her. "Because we've been watching you."
"Watching me?"
"Since you got here," Killian said. "You're interesting. Human. Powerless. But you keep showing up. Keep fighting. Keep surviving." He tilted his head. "I respect that."
Nyrah didn't know what to say. She'd assumed Killian hated her after their first interaction.
"We both do," Kaelen added. "You're tougher than you look."
"So what's this about?" Nyrah asked.
"This is about you making a stupid decision," Killian said bluntly. "Attaching yourself to Ryuu."
"He offered to protect me. I accepted."
"He offered to use you," Kaelen corrected. "And you let him."
Nyrah's hands clenched. "He's keeping me alive. That's what matters."
"Is it?" Killian stepped closer. "You think this arrangement is free? You think Ryuu doesn't have his own reasons for doing this?"
"I know he does. He told me he was bored and wanted entertainment."
"And that doesn't bother you?" Kaelen asked.
"Why should it? I'm getting what I need. He's getting what he needs. It's a transaction."
Killian laughed, but it wasn't a happy sound. "A transaction. That's what you think this is."
"What else would it be?"
"A mistake," Killian said. His expression had gone serious. "You could have come to me. Or to Kaelen. Either of us would have protected you."
Nyrah stared at him. "Why?"
"Because I like you," Killian said simply. "I've liked you since that first day when you told me you'd make me kiss your feet. You've got fire in you. I respect that."
Kaelen nodded. "Same. You're different from the others here. You're not trying to prove anything to anyone except yourself. That's rare."
Nyrah's mind was reeling. "So you cornered me to tell me you both... like me?"
"We cornered you to tell you that you had options," Kaelen said. "Better options than Ryuu."
"Ryuu's dangerous," Killian added. "Not in the obvious ways. He doesn't lose control. He doesn't get angry. But he's calculating. Everything he does has a purpose. And whatever his purpose is with you, it's not protection."
"Then what is it?" Nyrah asked.
"That's what we're trying to figure out," Kaelen said. He pushed off the wall and walked closer. "But we know it's not good. Not for you."
Nyrah looked between them. Killian with his dark intensity. Kaelen with his sharp intelligence. They both seemed genuinely concerned.
But she didn't know if she could trust that.
"Why do you care?" she asked quietly. "You barely know me."
"Because I've seen what happens to people who get tangled up with Ryuu," Killian said. "They get used. Then they get discarded. And sometimes they disappear entirely."
"He's not going to hurt me. We have an agreement."
"Agreements mean nothing here," Kaelen said. "You should know that by now."
Nyrah took a step back. "Look, I appreciate the concern. Really. But I've already made my choice. I'm with Ryuu now."
"You don't have to be," Killian said. His voice had gotten softer. "Break it off. Tell him the arrangement isn't working. Then come to one of us instead."
"And what would you want in return?" Nyrah asked. "Because everyone here wants something."
Killian smiled. "I'd want you to stop looking at everyone like they're trying to kill you. I'd want you to trust me."
"And I'd want you to let me help you get stronger," Kaelen said. "Really stronger. Not just surviving, but thriving."
It was tempting. Both of them were offering something that seemed more genuine than what Ryuu had offered.
But Nyrah had already made her deal. And breaking it now would make her look weak. Unreliable. Like someone who couldn't commit to anything.
"I can't," she said finally. "I'm sorry. But I can't just break the arrangement because you think it's a bad idea."
Killian's expression darkened. "You're making a mistake."
"Maybe. But it's my mistake to make."
Kaelen sighed. "We tried, Killian."
"Yeah." Killian looked at Nyrah one more time. "When this falls apart, and it will, don't come crying to us."
"I won't," Nyrah said.
"Good." Killian turned toward the door, then paused. "For what it's worth, I meant what I said. I do like you. And I will kiss your feet when you become queen. If you survive long enough to make it happen."
He left. Kaelen lingered for a moment longer.
"Be careful, Nyrah," he said quietly. "Ryuu plays games most people don't even know they're part of. Don't let yourself become a piece on his board."
Then he left too.
Nyrah stood alone in the training room, her thoughts spinning.
She'd thought getting protection would solve her problems. Make things easier.
But now she had Killian and Kaelen questioning her choices. Nymeria plotting revenge. And rumors spreading that she was sleeping her way to the top.
Nothing was easier. Everything was more complicated.
Black appeared in the doorway, meowing softly. He must have followed her from her room.
Nyrah picked him up and held him close. "Did I make the right choice?"
Black just purred.
She didn't have an answer. And that scared her more than anything else.
Because in this place, one wrong choice could mean the difference between survival and death.
And she was starting to think she might have chosen wrong.