Page 25 of The Blood Moon Hunt

“Lucien,” Ronan growls, his voice low and dangerous. “Still playing the strategist, I see.”

I arch an eyebrow, letting a smirk tug at my lips. “Someone has to be smart about this, Ronan. Charging in without thinking isn’t going to get you anywhere.”

Ronan’s fists clench at his sides, his aggression boiling just beneath the surface. “She overpowered me once, but that won’t happen again. I’ll find her, and I’ll take her. By force if necessary.”

I step forward, meeting his gaze head-on, the challenge clear between us. “You really think brute strengthis going to be enough to handle her? She’s not just some human you can pin down and claim. She's different.”

Ronan snarls, but I don’t back down. This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. I can use Ronan’s anger, his lack of control, to my advantage.

“You and I both want her,” I continue, my tone measured, calculating. “But you can’t just take her like a common prize. Not with Damien and Adrian sniffing around her. We need to be smarter than that.”

Ronan’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I see the hesitation flicker in his gaze. He’s a brute, yes, but he’s not stupid. He knows I’m right. “What do you suggest?”

A slow smile spreads across my face. “We work together. Keep the others off her trail. Then, once we’ve dealt with them, we decide who gets to claim her.”

Ronan’s lips curl into a snarl, but he doesn’t refuse. He knows that with my cunning and his strength, we can take down the others, at least for now.

"What do you suggest?"

"Let's split up to look for her. Why don't you go to the manor? She was headed that way at the start of the Hunt."

Ronan narrows his eyes at me.

“Trust me,” I reply, my lips curling into a smirk. “If she’s anywhere, that’s where she’ll be.”

Ronan hesitates for only a second before I hear his heavy footfalls veer off toward the manor. Perfect. Let him chase shadows while I findthe real prize.

It doesn’t take long before I pick up her trail again. The pull of her power is growing stronger, sharper, and I follow it like a predator honing in on its prey.

The night still clings to the trees, but I can feel it slipping away. Dawn is coming. Soon, our power will start to wane—the pull of the moon weakening as the sun rises. Time is running out, and the window to claim what’s mine is closing.

I stalk through the forest, my boots crunching over twigs and leaves, barely making a sound. Damien's been near her. I can sense it, his signature lingering in the air like smoke after a fire. He’s been closer to her than I have, and the thought sends a pulse of anger through me.

And then, I see her.

She’s sitting by a small stream, her arms wrapped around her knees, staring into the water. Her face is shadowed, her expression hard to read, but I can feel the conflict within her—the uncertainty, the fear, and the growing strength she’s only just beginning to understand.

For a moment, I watch her, my heart pounding in my chest. She’s beautiful, even now, lost in thought, her power radiating off her in waves that make my skin tingle. I step forward, my boots crunching softly against the leaves beneath me, and she looks up.

Her eyes meet mine, and something shifts in the airbetween us. It’s like the forest itself holds its breath, waiting.

I step forward, purposefully letting my presence be known. Her body tenses, and she turns toward me, her eyes widening slightly. She doesn’t recognize me, of course. Not yet.

“What’s your name?” I ask, my voice low as I approach her.

She hesitates, her eyes narrowing as if she’s trying to decide whether or not to trust me. “Selene,” she finally says, her voice soft but steady.

“Selene,” I repeat, letting the name roll off my tongue. It suits her—otherworldly, powerful. I can feel her magic now, even stronger up close. “Where’s Damien?”

Her brow furrows slightly, and I can tell she’s still wary of me. “He was called away,” she answers cautiously. “Something to do with the Hunt.”

I nod, hiding the satisfaction I feel. Damien’s distracted—good. That means I have time. Time to stake my claim.

"You're Lucien, aren't you?"

I arch an eyebrow.

"Damien told me which of the warlocks to be wary of," she explains.

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