Submission!

As Pyris led the vampire princess down the academy's winding halls, the atmosphere between them thickened with tension.

His mind raced, calculating his next move. He couldn't afford to let her control him, not now, not ever. The mission echoed in his thoughts: Conquer the Vampire Princess in one hour. His grin widened as his blood pulsed with the raw power of his draconic pride.

The princess, sensing his agitation, followed him closely, her smile never wavering. She exuded a calm, unbothered confidence, a predator waiting for her prey to make a wrong move.

But Pyris was no prey. He had something far more dangerous than her blackmail. He had his rage—and he was a dragon.

They arrived at an empty courtyard, a secluded part of the academy far from the prying eyes of other students.

The stone arches cast long shadows as the wind picked up, swirling around them like a brewing storm. Pyris stopped, and the princess leaned against one of the pillars, tilting her head curiously.

"So, what now?" she asked, her voice laced with mockery. "Are you going to make me your ally? Or do you plan on trying something more... direct?"

Pyris turned to her slowly, his eyes glowing with a dangerous light. "You think you can control me? You think blackmail will make me bow to you?"

Her smile widened, fangs glinting in the dim light. "Oh, I know it will. You dragons are all the same—so prideful, so quick to anger. It makes you... predictable."

She waved her phone again, the threat hanging between them.

In a blur, Pyris was in front of her, his hand wrapping around her wrist with inhuman speed. The smile faltered for a moment, and she raised an eyebrow, but her confidence didn't fade.

"You're not the first to try to manipulate me," Pyris said, his voice low and dangerous. "And you won't be the last. But you've made one crucial mistake."

She blinked, intrigued but not alarmed. "Oh? And what's that?"

"You underestimated me!"

With a forceful yank, Pyris pulled her close, their faces inches apart. The air around them shimmered with power, his aura pressing against her like a physical weight.

Her confidence wavered for a moment, but she quickly recovered, her smile returning as she leaned into him, eyes gleaming with mischief.

"And what do you plan to do, young lord?" she whispered. "Kill me? Blackmail me in return? I'm not so easily broken."

Pyris's grip tightened on her wrist, but he didn't respond immediately. His mind was racing, the mission's timer ticking down in the back of his mind.

He could feel the dragon within him roaring, demanding dominance, demanding that he crush her beneath his will. But that wasn't the way to win this game.

Not yet.

Instead, he leaned in closer, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "You want to play this game with me? Fine. But you should know, I'm not interested in blackmail. I'm interested in control."

The princess's eyes widened slightly, and for the first time, she seemed genuinely caught off guard. Pyris's voice was soft but laced with danger, each word dripping with power.

"You said you wanted to work with me," Pyris continued. "So let's make a deal. You get to live, and I get your loyalty. Fail me, betray me again, and I'll make sure you regret it."

For a moment, the princess stared at him, weighing her options. Her pride flared, but so did her curiosity.

She was used to controlling others, manipulating them to her will—but Pyris was different. He was a force of nature, unpredictable and terrifying. And for some reason, she found herself intrigued.

Finally, she smiled again, though it was smaller, more calculated. "Very well, young lord. You've earned my attention. But remember, power is a two-way street. I'm no pawn in your little games."

Pyris released her wrist, stepping back with a cold smile. "I don't need pawns. I need allies. And you just proved yourself useful."

The princess chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with newfound respect. "This will be fun."

The tension between them shifted, no longer one of predator and prey but something more dangerous—a partnership forged in manipulation, pride, and ambition. As they left the courtyard, Pyris knew he had only scratched the surface of her intentions, but for now, he had won the first battle.

The clock in his mind stopped ticking, the mission complete.

[Reward unlocked: Mind Protection Ability!]

The surge of power flowed through him, granting him an extra layer of defense against mental manipulation. He would need it, especially with someone like the vampire princess at his side.

As they walked back toward the academy, Pyris glanced at her, the cold fire in his eyes still burning.

"Now, let's talk about how we're going to tear down our parents, shall we?"

The vampire princess smiled, her dangerous allure even more intoxicating. "Lead the way, dragon. I'll be right behind you."

What followed was nothing Valarie had expected though..

____

Pyris stood in the silence of the abandoned music room, his anger simmering beneath the surface. The air was thick with dust, and the faint scent of aged wood and forgotten memories lingered in the space.

His eyes adjusted to the darkness as he leaned back against the cold wall, letting the stillness envelop him.

The dim light that crept through the cracks of the blinds barely illuminated the forgotten instruments—pianos with broken keys, violins with snapped strings, and drums covered in grime.

The room seemed frozen in time, as if waiting for someone to breathe life back into it, but Pyris had no such intentions.

His mind raced, replaying whatever had sparked his rage. He clenched his fists, the cool air doing little to calm the fire within him.

The dark corner felt like a sanctuary, a place where he could let his fury simmer unnoticed, hidden away from the eyes of the world.

Like a hunting viper he waited patiently for the prey and the wait had promised to pay off as the Valarie made her way inside!

Inside the abandoned, dimly lit classroom, Pyris stood waiting in a dark corner, his body tense with anticipation.

The shadows clung to him, matching the weight of his thoughts. Valarie had asked for a deal, and now, he would give her one—but it wouldn't be as simple as she thought.

The eerie silence of the room only amplified the intensity of the moment, the faint creaking of old floorboards beneath his boots the only sound that disturbed the stillness.

His sharp, dragon-like eyes scanned the room, alert for her arrival.

Pyris wasn't one to back down from a challenge, and this meeting had all the markings of a confrontation wrapped in mystery and danger.

The air grew thick with tension as he waited, his mind racing with possibilities.

Whatever deal she had in mind, he knew he needed to stay one step ahead. She wanted something, and so did he—but neither of them would walk away from this exchange unchanged.

Footsteps echoed from the hallway, soft but deliberate. Pyris's lips curled into a dark smile.

She had arrived!

****

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