Chapter 3 - The Contract
Athena woke before the sun again.
But this time, she felt like she hadn't slept at all.
Her dreams had been louder than usual.
Wolves howling.
Men shouting.
A woman's voice screaming her name.
Not Athena.
Something else.
Something she couldn't remember when she opened her eyes.
Her chest ached like she had been running for miles.
Beside her, James slept heavily on his stomach, one arm hanging off the bed. Careless. Unbothered.
She studied him for a long moment.
He looked peaceful.
She wondered what it felt like to sleep without dreams chasing you.
She slipped out of bed quietly and went to the kitchen.
The house felt colder this morning.
She wrapped her arms around herself as the coffee brewed, staring again at the tree line.
The unease was stronger today.
Like the air itself was warning her.
?
James didn't say much at breakfast.
He barely touched his food.
Athena noticed.
She always noticed.
"Are you feeling okay?" she asked gently.
"Fine," he muttered, eyes on his phone.
A message had come in an hour ago.
Unknown Number:
Two days.
His stomach twisted.
He stood abruptly. "I have to go out again today."
She blinked. "You just got home late..."
"I said I have to go."
She immediately nodded. "Okay. I'm sorry."
He paused.
Guilt flashed across his face.
Then it was gone.
He kissed her forehead and left.
?
He drove farther this time.
Out of the city.
To a place he had only been once before.
An old estate hidden behind iron gates and thick forest. The air here always felt... wrong.
Heavy.
Charged.
He hated coming here.
The gates opened before he even stopped the car.
Mage wards.
He could feel them humming against his skin as he stepped out.
Inside, the house was dim despite the daylight outside.
Candles flickered along the walls instead of lights.
Seraphine stood near the fireplace, waiting.
"You came," she said smoothly.
"I don't have a choice."
"No," she agreed. "You don't."
She handed him a single piece of parchment.
Old. Yellowed. Covered in symbols he recognized immediately.
Mage binding script.
His blood went cold.
"What is this?"
"Your contract."
"I already signed one."
She smiled faintly. "That was for the money. This one is for the collateral."
His hand shook as he read.
In failure to repay the debt owed to the Crown, the signee forfeits what is most precious to him.
He looked up slowly.
"This is insane."
"You signed it months ago," she replied calmly.
"I never agreed to this!"
"You never read it."
Silence.
Then-
"Why her?" he demanded. "Why does the King want her?"
Seraphine stepped closer.
Her voice lowered.
"Because she is far more valuable than you realize."
A chill ran down his spine.
"What does that mean?"
She smiled.
"You'll find out soon enough."
?
Back at the house, Athena stood at the sink, staring out the window again.
She didn't realize how long she'd been standing there.
The forest felt closer today.
Like it was pressing in.
Watching.
Her heart began to race.
And suddenly-
A deep, distant howl echoed through the trees.
She froze.
Her breath caught.
It wasn't a dog.
It wasn't a coyote.
It was something deeper.
Older.
Her pulse thundered in her ears.
For reasons she couldn't explain...
Tears filled her eyes.
And she didn't know why.