Page 4 of The Blood Moon Hunt

His head tilts slightly, as if he’s hearing something I can’t. His brow furrows for the briefest second, and the tension between us shatters. His hand pulls away, and I suddenly feel the absence of his touch like a cold gust of wind.

“You should rejoin the dance,” he says, his voice distant now, the warmth from before fading. “Things will be starting soon.”

“Wait,” I blurt, reaching for him, desperate to keep him close. “What do you mean? What’s starting?”

But before I can get the words out, he steps back, his expression unreadable behind the mask. His eyes linger on me for a moment longer, as if weighing some unspoken thought, and then, just like that, he’s gone. Vanished into the shadows.

I stand there, breathless and reeling, my body still humming with the remnants of the moment we shared. My heart races, my mind spinning with unanswered questions. What just happened? And why do I feel like everything in my life just shifted?

The hallway feels colder now without him, and a strange emptiness settles over me as I stare at the spot where he disappeared. My legs are weak, and I feel like I’m floating between reality andsomething else entirely—something I can’t quite grasp.

With trembling hands, I push away from the wall, still trying to collect my thoughts. I need to know more. I need to understand why I feel this way... and why the mere touch of Damien left me feeling more alive than I’ve felt in years.

Chapter

Three

DAMIEN BLACKWOOD

The pull of her is undeniable, a gravity that tugs at my core, and for a moment, I forget the rules. Forget everything but the warmth of her skin, the scent of her hair, the way her breath hitches when I lean in. Selene. She’s more than just another participant, more than prey. There’s something about her—something I haven’t felt in any Hunt before.

But just as quickly as the connection forms, it’s severed.

Damien. The voice in my mind is sharp, cutting through the haze of desire that clouds my thoughts.Stop playing with the prey. The Hunt must begin.

I clench my jaw, cursing the Order under my breath. Of course they know. They always do. They watcheverything, hear everything. I can’t let them suspect anything more. With a reluctant sigh, I step back, tearing myself away from Selene and the electric heat between us. She looks up at me, confusion flashing in her eyes, but I can’t linger.

I turn, disappearing into the shadows of the club, my mind still buzzing from her presence. But there’s no time for indulgence. I have a job to do.

The chosen are waitingfor me when I reach the edge of the platform. Ronan, Lucien, and Adrian—all masked, their faces obscured by the swirling magic that forms their skull-like visages. Each mask is unique, crafted from their own power, but I can recognize them instantly by their magical signatures. The way their energy hums in the air, sharp and distinct.

Ronan stands to the left, tall and broad-shouldered, his posture tense and coiled like a predator ready to pounce. His magic is wild, untamed, like a storm barely contained beneath his skin. The mask he wears is sleek, the skull polished black, its eye sockets gleaming with a dangerous light.

Lucien is beside him, his mask a pale white, cracked in places as if it’s been shattered and pieced backtogether. His magic is different—calculated, refined, cold. There’s a sharpness to it, like the edge of a blade that’s been honed for years. He’s always been more reserved, but that doesn’t make him any less dangerous.

And then there’s Adrian. His magic hums the loudest, a steady thrum of power that radiates confidence. His mask is bone white, adorned with intricate markings that glow faintly in the dim light. There’s a regal air about him, one that comes from his bloodline—one of the most elite families in the realm. His posture is relaxed, but there’s always an undercurrent of tension with Adrian, a constant readiness to strike.

The three of them are warlocks from families that have participated in the Hunt for centuries. It’s not a choice for them; it’s a duty. A given. Each year, a warlock from their family must participate in the Hunt, and each year they compete for status, for favor with the Order. The Hunt isn’t just a game to them—it’s an opportunity to rise above the rest, to gain power and influence in the only realm that truly matters.

I, on the other hand, am the facilitator. The bridge between the warlocks and the Order. I don’t hunt, I don’t claim. My role is to ensure that the rules are followed, that the Hunt proceeds as it should. But sometimes, like tonight, I find myself wanting more than my assigned role.

“Interesting move, Damien,” Ronan says, his voice dripping with amusement as he turns to face me. “Didn’t think we’d see you intervene like that with one of the prey.”

Adrian's eyes narrow behind his mask, studying me closely. I can feel the weight of his gaze, and for a moment, I wonder if he knows more than he’s letting on. He’s always been perceptive, too perceptive.

I shrug, keeping my tone neutral. “As the facilitator, it’s my job to ensure that the rules are followed. Prey can’t be hunted before the Hunt begins.”

Ronan chuckles, his teeth flashing behind the mask. “Sure, sure. But it seemed like more than that to me.”

Lucien doesn’t say anything, but his cold eyes flicker with interest. He’s always watching, always calculating.

I give a tight smile. “I’m not here to break the rules. You know that.”

For a moment, the tension lingers, thick in the air. But then Ronan relents, leaning back and crossing his arms. “Fair enough. The real fun is about to begin, anyway.”

Adrian, however, isn’t so easily satisfied. “There’s something different about the prey this year,” he says slowly, his voice measured. His eyes shift to the crowd below, scanning the women as they laugh and dance, unaware of what’s about to happen. “I’ve felt it. There’s a power among them... something I haven’t sensed before.”

My stomach tightens, but I keep my expression neutral. Adrian’s always been sharp. He’s not the type toignore the details, and if he’s sensed Selene’s pull, this could complicate things.

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