Page 12 of The Blood Moon Hunt

Eight

ADRIAN THORNE

Istand at the edge of the clearing, observing the chaos as it unfolds. The Hunt is always a spectacle—humans stumbling around, unaware of the gravity of what’s happening, warlocks descending on them like wolves to prey. The feral energy of the night pulses through the air, thick with magic and desire.

But tonight, something is different.

My eyes are drawn to Damien, who stands a little further away, his attention fixed on one of the prey. The same one he couldn’t tear his eyes away from at the club—the girl with the dark hair and the stormy eyes. She’s sprinting toward the manor, her movements frantic yetpurposeful, and I can feel it now, clear as day. Power is radiating off her in waves, subtle but undeniable. It’s enough to make the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

Not quite human, I think, watching her closely. No ordinary human could emanate that kind of energy. And now it makes sense—Damien’s fixation. The way his gaze lingers on her, the way his energy ripples when she’s near. He felt it before any of us did.

But what exactly is she?

Damien’s face is unreadable, but I’ve known him long enough to notice the small shifts in his posture, the way his jaw clenches just slightly when he’s holding something back. There’s something he knows, and I’ll bet anything it has to do with that girl.

I step forward, moving beside him as if casually observing the Hunt. “Fixated on one already, Damien?” I say, my voice light, testing the waters.

His eyes don’t move from her as she disappears into the trees, her path leading straight toward the manor. “I’m the facilitator,” he says, his tone measured. “I don’t participate.”

“Ah, of course,” I chuckle, crossing my arms as I glance at him. “But you’re watching her very closely for someone who’s supposed to stay neutral.”

Damien’s silence is telling. The air around him hums with barely restrained power, and I can feel the ripple of it beneath his calm exterior. There’s no point in denyingit now—he’s more invested in this girl than he wants to admit.

I raise an eyebrow, my curiosity piqued. “I’ve never seen you react this way before, Damien. You know, if you’re not careful, someone else might claim her first.”

His jaw tightens almost imperceptibly, and I smile. It’s a rare thing, to see Damien so unsettled. Normally, he’s composed, untouchable, his power dwarfing that of any warlock here. The Order keeps him well-fed, granting him strength year-round while the rest of us have to rely on the Hunt to fuel our magic. That’s what sets him apart—what makes him the Order’s favorite, even if he pretends otherwise.

And maybe that’s why the girl is drawn to him. She can feel his power, more potent than the rest of us. It pulls at her, whether she realizes it or not.

I tilt my head, studying him. “Do you think she knows what she is? Or what she represents?”

Damien doesn’t respond, his focus still locked on the spot where she disappeared. That silence speaks volumes. He knows something, something he’s keeping from the rest of us. And that alone is enough to make me want to get to her first.

“I think I’ll go after her,” I say, my voice casual as I start to step away. “She’s interesting, wouldn’t you agree? It’d be a shame to let her slip away.”

I catch the flicker of tension in Damien’s stance, the way his magic pulses slightly as I speak. He doesn’t sayanything, but his energy ripples, betraying the calm facade he’s trying to maintain.

“Oh, come now,” I add with a smirk, “we’re all playing by the same rules here. If she’s just prey, what’s the harm in me claiming her?”

Damien’s eyes narrow, but he still doesn’t answer. I can practically feel the restraint rolling off him, the effort it takes for him to hold back. He doesn’t want to admit it, but I know the truth now—he wants her for himself.

But not if I get to her first.

With a chuckle, I turn and head in the direction she ran, the path through the woods leading straight toward the manor. I can feel Damien’s eyes on my back as I go, and for a moment, I wonder if he’ll try to stop me.

But he doesn’t.

The woods are dense as I move through them, the shadows of the night stretching long and dark around me. I can still feel her presence, her energy calling to me like a beacon. It’s stronger now, more distinct, as if the further she gets from the clearing, the more her magic flares.

Damien might have the Order’s backing, but power is drawn to power. And I’m not about to let him claim this one without a fight.

I push through the trees, my senses sharp as I hone in on her. There’s something about her, something thatfeels familiar in a way I can’t quite place. It’s not just her power—it’s the way it feels. The way it hums in the air, like a song I’ve heard before but can’t remember the words to.

She’s dangerous. I know that now. More dangerous than any of the other prey. And I intend to find out just what makes her so special.

As I break through the final line of trees, I catch sight of the manor in the distance, its dark silhouette looming against the sky. She’s close. Very close.

My lips curl into a smile as I quicken my pace, my heart racing with the thrill of the chase.

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