Page 17 of The Blood Moon Hunt

Adrian gives him a sharp look, but even he can’t deny the tension rising. They’re drawn to her power, just like I am. Her soul, if it even is a soul, is unlike anything we’ve ever encountered before. But they don’t see what I see. They don’t feel the ripple of her magic beneath the surface, the way she holds back as if even she doesn’t understand the danger she’s in.

Or the danger she presents.

“No,” Adrian cuts in, his voice smooth but firm. “We need to understand what she is before we act. If we rush in, we might ruin everything.”

Ronan’s snarl deepens. “Cowards. She’s ours to take. You can feel it too. Why wait?”

I feel the familiar rage rising in my chest, my fists clenching at my sides. My eyes lock on Ronan, watching him push closer to Selene. If he touches her—if he dares—I won’t stand by. Not this time.

But just as Ronan’s hand twitches toward her, Selene’s power surges. It’s like a shockwave, wild and untamed, blasting him back into the trees with a force that leaves him crumpled on the ground. The airvibrates with her energy, crackling like electricity. Even from a distance, I feel it—like a hand gripping my chest, squeezing tight.

She’s not just a human. She’s something far more dangerous.

Adrian and Lucien exchange a glance, surprised by her power but not backing off. They want her too. Not for her body, not like Ronan. They want her magic, that raw, unbridled force that she can’t control. But I can’t let them have her. I can’t let her fall into their hands.

Selene stumbles back, eyes wide with fear and confusion, but there’s a fire in her, a strength she doesn’t fully understand. And then she bolts, disappearing into the forest once more, her figure swallowed by the shadows of the trees.

I should stay out of it. I should let her run, let them chase her like the prey she’s supposed to be. But I can’t. Not with Ronan lurking, not with the others so close to discovering what she truly is.

Damn it.

I move, but before I can take two steps, a sharp pain lances through my skull. I freeze, feeling the familiar, unwelcome sensation of the Order’s presence invading my mind.

Their voices flood in, as clear as if they were standing beside me.

You’re failing, Damien.

I grind my teeth.She’s still part of the Hunt. It’s under control.

Is it?Their tone is dispassionate, cold.Her power is growing. You know what that means. If she’s left unchecked, she could unravel everything.

I squeeze my eyes shut, resisting the urge to snap back. The Order doesn’t like failure. They don’t tolerate it. And Selene is an unknown factor—one they’re clearly nervous about.

You know what needs to be done,the voice continues, slithering deeper into my thoughts.She’s too dangerous. Bring her in, or destroy her. Before it’s too late.

My chest tightens, the weight of their command settling over me like a suffocating blanket. They don’t care about her. They never cared about the prey. To them, Selene is just a tool. A weapon. Or worse, a threat that needs to be eliminated.

But I can’t do it. I won’t.

I understand,I lie, forcing my thoughts to remain steady.I’ll handle it.

The pressure in my mind eases, and then they’re gone, their presence retreating, but the tension remains. I take a deep breath, trying to shake off the aftereffects of their invasion. The Order always demands obedience, but this time... this time they’re scared. They’re hiding something. Something about Selene.

I know it. And I know I can’t follow their orders. Not this time.

I have to get to her first.

I push forward, following the faint trail of her power through the trees. She’s ahead, but I can feel her magic like a pulse, a beacon that’s impossible to ignore. The others will be closing in on her soon. Ronan won’t let that blast of hers go unpunished, and Adrian is far too clever to let her slip away twice.

But I won’t let them have her.

The trees blur as I move faster, tapping into my magic to track her. The air grows cooler, the scent of damp earth and pine filling my senses. The moonlight barely filters through the canopy above, but I don’t need it. I can feel her.

And she’s close. Closer than I expected.

I slow my pace, careful not to alert her to my presence. She’s hiding somewhere up ahead. I can sense her hesitation, the way her power flickers erratically, like she’s trying to control it but failing. She’s scared, but she’s also determined.

I have to make her trust me.

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