Page 36 of The Blood Moon Hunt

As Selene disappears into the bedroom, I find myself lingering at the door, unable to leave. There's a weight in the air, something unspoken between us, something I can't quite push away. Perhaps it's her power, or maybe it's the allure of watching her, knowing that beneath her uncertainty and fear, she holds something far greater than she understands.

I step inside quietly, the floorboards creaking under my feet. She glances over her shoulder, her dark eyes meeting mine with a flicker of curiosity. "What are you doing here?" she asks, her voice soft but steady.

"I wanted to make sure you're comfortable," I say,leaning against the doorframe. "It's been a... difficult night."

She crosses her arms, the weight of everything hanging heavy on her shoulders. "Difficult is one word for it."

I study her for a moment, the way her body seems tense, but there’s a flicker of something else in her eyes—something deeper. Something calling to me.

"You're not like the others," I say, stepping forward, my gaze fixed on her. "You’ve lasted this long. That means something."

She gives a small, bitter laugh. "And what exactly does it mean, Adrian? That I’m prey you’re all fighting over? That I’m just another soul waiting to be claimed?"

I move closer, until I’m standing right in front of her. "It means you’re special, Selene. More than you realize."

Her eyes narrow as she looks at me, suspicion dancing across her features. "Why am I here, Adrian? What is this Hunt really about?"

I let out a sigh, contemplating how much to tell her. "The Hunt is... complicated. Each year, families like mine, like Ronan’s and Lucien’s, send one of us to participate. Those chosen to participate in the Hunt are from ancient families with power that’s been passed down for generations. The Hunt is a way for us to claim power and status within the Order."

She listens, her gaze never leaving mine, absorbing every word.

"Then there are the others," I continue, my tone growing darker. "Warlocks who aren’t chosen but participate anyway. For them, the Hunt is just an opportunity to feed on souls. They don’t care about the politics or the power struggles—they just want the hunger satisfied."

Selene frowns, stepping back slightly. "Did you... did you take other souls?"

I nod, my expression unreadable. "Of course. It’s a natural part of the Hunt."

Her brow furrows as she processes my words, and I can see the conflict playing out in her eyes. She hesitates, her voice low and careful. "And what about my friends?"

I sigh, running a hand through my hair. "I don’t know exactly who they are... but it’s very likely that their souls were claimed. By now, they’re... gone."

She winces, the tension in her shoulders tightening as she looks away. “Gone?” she echoes, her voice barely above a whisper.

I can’t tell if it’s grief, anger, or something else behind her reaction, but before I can say more, she speaks again, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Were they ever really my friends, though? Sometimes it felt like they didn’t care at all. They dragged me to that club, like I didn’t have a say.”

"Friendship," I say softly, leaning against the wall, "is a human thing. Something I don’t easily understand. It’s... fleeting, isn’t it? Like everything else in your world."

She studies me for a moment, her brow furrowed in thought. "What happens to people after their souls are claimed?" she asks, and I can hear the unease in her voice.

I pause, considering how best to explain it. "They will remember that they had an amazing night of passion. That’s all. They’ll return to the human realm and live out the rest of their lives... but their ambition, drive, their lust, even... it will all be absent. They’ll just be... existing."

She laughs softly, though there’s no humor in it. "That doesn’t seem much different from how I’ve felt for most of my life." She looks at me with a faint, tired smile. "Maybe my soul’s already been taken."

I smirk, shaking my head. "No," I say, my voice growing softer. "I can see your soul, Selene. It’s there, buried beneath your foolish human self-doubt."

Her eyes widen slightly at my words, and I watch her, knowing I’ve just revealed more than I intended. I stop myself from saying what I’m really thinking—that when she fully comes into her power, she might be strong enough to challenge even the Order. I bite back the words, not ready to share that yet.

Instead, I take a step closer, closing the distancebetween us. "Your soul is still intact," I murmur, my voice barely above a whisper. "But when you fully embrace your power... that’s when things will change."

Her breath hitches, and I can feel the tension between us rising, thick and electric. There’s something about her that pulls me in, something far deeper than just the Hunt. I reach out, my fingers brushing her cheek, and I can feel the heat radiating from her skin. She’s intoxicating.

She looks at me, confused by my tone, and I continue, sensing her curiosity. "I’ve observed humans for years, Selene. You form these connections—friendships, relationships, loves—and yet, they break so easily. One moment, you’re bound by some invisible force, and the next, it’s gone. Over something as simple as a word, or a misunderstanding." I shake my head, the frustration of it all bubbling up. "It’s absurd."

Selene frowns, tilting her head. "What do you mean?"

I push away from the wall, taking a few steps toward her. "You invest everything in these emotions, these... attachments. But they’re fragile, so easily torn apart. It doesn’t make sense to me." I pause, watching her reaction closely, fascinated by the way her face shifts from confusion to understanding. "Why do you humans cling to something so temporary? Why allow yourselves to care so much, knowing that it could all disappear in an instant?"

Her brow furrows as she thinks. "I guess... it’s because those moments matter. Even if they don’t last, even if it all falls apart... those moments of connection are what make life worth living."

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