Eragon's POVEragon stood in front of his mirror at 125 Silverleaf Street, staring at his reflection but hardly seeing it.
His thoughts raced, tangled in the web of the plan they had set into motion. The trap was working, he knew that. Ailson had taken the bait, but something gnawed at him, an uneasiness that he couldn't shake.
"Am I doing the right thing?" he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair.A small growl echoed from behind him as his dragon familiar appeared, pacing the room in restless agitation.
Eragon sighed. Even his companion could sense his growing uncertainty. Sure, it had been his idea to lure Ailson into their plan, to expose her ambition and treachery to the council. But the closer she got, the more twisted the game seemed to become.
In the beginning, it had been simple: keep Ailson close, feed her ego, and make her believe she was winning. Now, he found himself caught in her dangerous game of flirtation and obsession. He hated the way she looked at him, the way she draped her every word with hidden intentions. It made his skin crawl.But it was necessary.
The council had to know what kind of person Ailson truly was before she did something far worse than summoning a dypent to attack Gloria. Eragon clenched his fists, recalling the serpent's cold, dead eyes, the flicker of its tail as it dissolved into nothing.
He hadn't flinched when he killed it, but now, as he got closer to Ailson, he felt himself flinching internally at what was to come.He knew Gloria trusted him, that she believed in the plan. But each time Ailson made a move, Eragon felt like he was walking a tightrope, balancing the line between control and chaos.
It was dangerous, and if he didn't keep his wits about him, it could easily slip out of his grasp.A sharp knock at the door shook him from his thoughts. He sighed, glancing at his watch. It was late. Too late for visitors.
But he knew who it was before he even opened the door."Eragon!" Ailson's voice was bright and sharp, like a blade cutting through the tension in the air. Her smile was too wide as she leaned against the doorframe, her eyes gleaming with expectation.
She was wearing a new perfume tonight, one he had noticed earlier when she cornered him after class. A scent too sweet, cloying, like the way she hovered too close to him, always trying to inch into his personal space.
"Can I come in?" she asked, though she had already stepped inside.Eragon clenched his jaw, fighting the urge to push her back out the door.
"Sure," he said, his voice even.This was the wrong thing to do, he knew that, but it was the only way to get the answers they needed. He had to keep her close.
Ailson's POV
Ailson's heart raced as she stepped into Eragon's house.
She had always known he was powerful,anyone with a dragon familiar was,but seeing him now, up close, in his element, was intoxicating.
The scent of the house, the lingering presence of magic in the air, even the eerie stillness,it all thrilled her.
She didn't care if the others thought she was dangerous or reckless.
She knew what she wanted, and Eragon was it. Gloria didn't deserve him. Not someone as strong and special as Eragon.
She would find a way to make him hers, no matter what.She watched him closely, reading every subtle movement, every flicker of emotion.
He was guarded, as always, but Ailson could see the cracks forming. He might think he had the upper hand, playing his little game of manipulation, but she knew better. He wasn't immune to her charms. No man was.
Ailson's mind spun with possibilities, her thoughts drifting back to the dypent. It hadn't gone as planned, but that wasn't important. What mattered was how Eragon had handled it.
His power, his confidence,it was everything she admired and craved. She knew if she could just get closer to him, break through his defenses, he would see they were meant to be together.
"Your house is... cozy," she said, walking slowly around the room, her fingers grazing over the furniture. Her eyes flickered to the dragon familiar curled in the corner, watching her with a low growl.
She ignored it, her focus remaining on Eragon."Thanks," Eragon replied, his voice clipped. He stayed near the door, watching her like a hawk. Ailson suppressed a smirk.
He was cautious, but that was fine. It only made the game more interesting."I've been thinking," she said, turning to face him. "About what happened today. The dypent. You were amazing." She took a step closer, her eyes searching his face for a reaction.
"I can't stop thinking about how strong you were."Eragon's expression didn't change, but she could feel the tension rising.
"You did what needed to be done," Ailson continued, her voice dropping to a whisper. "And that's what I like about you, Eragon.
You always do what's necessary, even if it's not easy. That's what makes you different from the others. Stronger. More... worthy.
"Her words hung in the air, and she took another step closer. She could see the flicker of discomfort in his eyes, but he didn't move.
"I could use someone like you, Eragon," she whispered, leaning in closer. "Someone who understands what it means to make the hard choices.
Together, we could be unstoppable.
"For a moment, the room was silent. Ailson's heart pounded in her chest, anticipation flooding through her veins.
She could feel it,the moment when Eragon would finally give in.But then, just as quickly as it came, the moment passed. Eragon stepped back, his eyes hard, his voice cold.
"I'm not interested, Ailson.
"Ailson's smile faltered, but only for a second. She wouldn't give up that easily. Not when she was so close."You will be," she said softly, her voice laced with a promise. "You just don't know it yet.
"With that, she turned and left, the door clicking shut behind her.But in her mind, the game was far from over. She would do whatever it took to win Eragon.
And if that meant playing dirty, so be it.Because sometimes, doing the wrong thing was the only way to get answers.