The Pact Games were more than just a display of power—they were a ruthless stage where the strongest, most cunning pacts of Ravetham University sought dominance. And at the heart of this battle was Xyra, a young woman who saw the world not as an arena of cooperation but as a warzone filled with pawns, tools, and fools. Born into a lineage of power, Xyra’s view of life was shaped by control, manipulation, and the need to keep her enemies—and family—in line.

Lately, however, cracks had begun to show. The introduction of Nys’trinara blood had sparked an uncomfortable shift among her siblings. The geas she had secretly placed on them was weakening, and Xyra, who prided herself on control, was feeling the sting of uncertainty. Good thing her siblings had been oblivious to the geas in the first place. Even so, she had to ensure things didn’t spiral further. She placed Voira and her loyal friends—Rhea, Bree, and Aislin—to keep close watch on Selene and Celesse, her sisters who seemed all too eager to test her patience.

Selene, with her reckless infatuation for Ennuy, had become a particular nuisance. Ennuy, the dhampir servant Xyra had meticulously molded, was far too valuable to let her sister tamper with. Selene's attempts to charm and manipulate him using glamor spells were becoming bolder, and Xyra couldn’t afford to let her ruin what she’d built. Selene’s arrogance was unacceptable, especially now that she had even gone so far as to beat Voira and her friends for getting in her way. Xyra’s rage simmered at the edges of her control. It wasn’t just about Ennuy; it was about the audacity, the defiance, the sheer insult of it all.

But even as Xyra struggled to contain Selene, she couldn’t ignore the unsettling developments surrounding her other sister, Celesse. The weakening of the geas had left Xyra paranoid about her sisters' motives, especially since Celesse had begun showing an interest in Ennuy as well—though not for the same reasons as Selene. Celesse's obsession wasn’t with Ennuy himself but with his blood. Voira had overheard Celesse listing off people she intended to consume, and Ennuy’s name had come up at the very top.

Xyra had made it crystal clear: no biting her friends, her staff, or her pawns. But with the geas losing its grip, her influence over her sisters was waning, and she knew it. It was only a matter of time before one of them tried something reckless. Paranoia crept into her thoughts—what if Celesse and Selene were plotting together? No, that was too ridiculous. But Xyra was never one to leave loose ends.

Meanwhile, Celesse was experiencing newfound clarity—clarity she hadn’t felt in years. The Nys’trinara blood coursing through her veins had unlocked more than just a break from her sister’s control. It had given her the ability to communicate with animals, a skill she realized had been lying dormant from her mother Mira’s druidic bloodline. And with this new power came the voice of her familiar, a basilisk named Mortis.

Mortis spoke directly into her mind. "Good, my lady. You’ve unlocked the speak-to-animal perk. I am here to serve. As your familiar, I can paralyze, poison, and spy on your enemies. All I ask is for a nice, juicy pigeon in return."

Celesse found herself smiling, feeling a sense of satisfaction in her growing powers. Feeding Mortis pigeons was no real effort—Ravetham was practically crawling with them, and getting her servants to hunt them down was child’s play. It was amusing to her how easy it all felt now. The blood had done more than lift her mind from Xyra’s invisible chains; it had opened up possibilities.

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But something else had caught her attention lately: Ennuy. There was something about him that intrigued her, something dark, something… delicious. He was the kind of boy she could see herself devouring, quite literally. But Xyra had made it clear: no biting. That irritated Celesse. Xyra was always so controlling. But perhaps Ennuy wasn’t worth the trouble. Not yet, at least. Celesse had another prospect in mind anyway—Aether Vaelfhaer, the half-elf grandson of the university’s principal. Rumor had it he was part Oni, and that only made him more desirable.

Of course, there was one complication. Aether was part of the Valefar Pact, and Drakonis, Celesse’s own pact, had always been their rival. Talking to him openly would raise suspicions. People would whisper about spies and traitors, but Celesse wasn’t deterred. She found ways to meet with Aether alone, away from the prying eyes of their pacts.

They met beneath the shadow of the grand library, an isolated spot where their conversation could flow freely. Aether had always been drawn to creatures of power, and he couldn’t hide his admiration for Mortis.

“A basilisk,” he mused, his eyes tracing the sleek, deadly form of the creature. “Impressive. Very Drakonis.”

Celesse allowed herself a small, satisfied smile. “And what does Valefar favor? Lesser pets, I assume?”

Aether smirked but let the jab pass. He leaned in, his gaze thoughtful. “You’ve heard about the new boy, haven’t you? Ennuy?”

Celesse raised an eyebrow, surprised by the question. Aether’s interest in Ennuy hadn’t been obvious before, but now that he brought it up, she could sense there was more behind his curiosity. “Why do you ask?” she inquired, her tone neutral.

Aether studied her for a moment before answering. “There’s something about him… something strange. I can’t place it, but I find myself wondering.”

Celesse’s interest was piqued. Aether’s attention had never been frivolous, and if he found Ennuy curious, perhaps there was more to the boy than she had originally thought. A smile slowly crept onto her lips. “What if we made him jealous?” she proposed. “You and me—public, noticeable. Just for fun.”

Aether tilted his head, considering the idea. “You think it’ll work?”

“I know it will,” Celesse replied with certainty.

Xyra had been watching closely, her suspicions growing by the day. Selene’s antics with Ennuy were bad enough, but now Celesse had entered into some kind of relationship with Aether Vaelfhaer, a detail that had somehow slipped past Xyra’s initial scrutiny. Aether had always been under the radar, focused on his own ambitions, but now that he was entwined with Celesse, he had become a threat as well, but no more. Xyra would not allow her sisters to play their little games without consequence.

Confronting Celesse, Xyra’s voice was as cold as steel. “You think you can hide this from me?”

Celesse raised her chin defiantly, but Xyra wasn’t interested in her sister’s posturing. “If you want to keep your personal life intact,” Xyra continued, her tone biting, “you’ll help me deal with Selene. Without drawing too much attention to us. We can’t afford to destroy the university.”

Celesse’s eyes narrowed, but she knew better than to challenge Xyra outright. “And what makes you think I’d make such a mess?”

Xyra’s gaze darkened. “Because I know you, Celesse. And I know you’re planning something bigger than just a petty crush. But if you cross me, I’ll make sure whatever you want most will never be within your grasp.”

Ravetham was a battlefield, and in Xyra’s world, there was no mercy. The Pact Games were on the horizon, and her control over her siblings, over Ennuy, and over her rivals had to remain absolute.