The 5th Agreement Novels & Stories

“Are you aware, David, that the agreement we made five years ago concluded last night at five o’clock?” “Agreement…” I can almost see the light bulb going off. “Keeping Georgina safe from my enemies, you mean?” His voice is guarded now. “Yes, I figured taking her to college would be your final task, before you returned here for work. Work more suited for someone of your experience.” “There was more to the agreement. You know this well.” The television is lowered as it dawns on him. The most difficult part of our agreement to keep was keeping Georgina innocent of men. Innocent of myself. “All right,” he shouts. “What the fuck is going on?”

“Aisha! I have to tell you right away. Everything is settled!” I furrowed my brow. “Settled? What do you mean?” “The project! The clinic, everything will start being built next week. The replacement investor has approved it, and the documents were signed this morning. Aisha, we did it!” I froze for a moment. My breath caught in my throat. It took a few seconds for his words to fully register, and as soon as they did, I reflexively jumped up from where I stood. “WHAT?!” My small scream surprised the elderly patient and a nurse passing by outside the room. I quickly covered my mouth, then let out a small laugh, breathless from a mix of shock and sudden euphoria bursting from within me.

It was a mockery. Every time he proudly told others we were in an older woman–younger man relationship, underneath that pride was nothing but disgust. When he swore he’d take care of me, that I’d never need to touch my dad’s money, it wasn’t love. He was just afraid I’d compete with Dawn. What a ridiculous five years it had been. Next year, I’d be thirty, and my entire twenties would end in lies and betrayal. I stood in front of the mirror and smiled faintly. A fine line had appeared at the corner of my eye. As I lifted my hand and touched my reflection, the line seemed to disappear for a moment.

This agreement shall stand in war and in peace, in disease and in famine, for the good of both sides, and long may it last. It is being made in good faith now, but shall it need to be broken, it shall only be broken with one of Blackridge blood standing on one side and one of Duskmere blood standing on the other. May this agreement remain until eternity. Signed.’

She clarified, which was technically true, but this defiance was a direct challenge to Queen Seraphine’s authority, which she wasn’t ready to bear so easily. “Changing its cost retroactively violates our contract,” Evelis added. I narrowed my eyes and smiled. “Oh, you sneaky little strategist,” Xela yipped in my head, and I controlled my smile. Then Nyra stood. “Riverstone's grain agreement also predates the sanction.” Mara rose next. “Stormfang's military agreement depends upon those shipments.” I stared at all three. Holy sh*t! One agreement and then another and then another… Three hits in one day. Queen Seraphine was on the verge of exploding with anger. I hadn't built an empire. I'd buil

"We sit in her bedchamber and take turns holding her wrist?" "We split the watches," Kaelen said, his heavy voice cutting off Silas's laugh. The Earth Alpha looked at me, his dark face drawn into deep lines. "If she dies, the treaty goes under, and my people are back to fighting Alexander's vanguard for winter grass. I'd rather sit in a drafty hallway than bury another fifty boys in the mud."

“I’m guessing you’re comfortable with everything that’s written there?” “I guess so, yeah.” Hana swiped back to the first page, doing what she ought to have done from the start. There were terms she wasn’t necessarily sure she understood. But she continued. The duration was… “Five years?” “Yes.” Hana slammed the file on the table. Red blurred her vision, and she struggled not to scream. “That was not the agreement.” “Then why did you sign it?” he asked. “We agreed one year,” she reminded him.

" I growl at her words, my fingers squeezing her waist through her clothes as I nod. She lets out a low laugh before continuing: "CLAUSE 5 - RENUNCIATION: 5.1 Either party may terminate the agreement with 24 hours' notice, except when: a) The Contracted Party is tied to the bed with the Contracting Party's own ties. b) The Contracting Party is in the middle of a punishment." She shudders as she reads. "SIGNATURES…" I sign first, the pen gliding like a blade. I hand her the pen as soon as she reaches for it when I finish.

“Including agreements with other packs.” “What agreements.” “That’s what took me until 2am.” He picked up a file from the desk and held it but did not yet open it. “Twenty-right years ago the Varen Pack agreed to a territorial agreement with four other packs—a resource sharing plan spanning over sixty thousand acres in the northern part of the region. Regular stuff. Hunting rights, border protocol, shared enforcement.” He paused. “Except that two of the four packs who were supposedly in that agreement want to pretend like they don’t have any. I spoke to Elder Hana from the Greywood Pack at midnight—”

"I should be asking you, Barbara. What are you doing here?" Moreau's tension still lingered around, but there was some relief when her stepfather got up and the man walked closer to sit on the edge of the table-just beside Moreau. Irony. She remained frozen in place as she realized that one of Abihirt's hands was holding the other paper, which was revealed furtively, while the document that should have been there was removed with a swipe of a fingertip until the agreement fell; and slowly slumped on the floor.