Page 79 of The Blood Moon Hunt

Selene takes a deep breath and glances around the garden. "There’s a spell in the book... it’s supposed to help me focus my power. To control it better."

"Show me," I say, stepping closer, my curiosity piqued.

She hesitates for a moment, but then she nods. Selene takes a step back, closes her eyes, and extends her hands in front of her. I can feel the air around us shift again, her power rising as she focuses. The wind picks up, swirling around her like a protective barrier.

I watch, intrigued, as the power gathers, coilingaround her like a living thing. But then, just as before, it slips away, dissipating into the air like smoke. Selene’s eyes snap open, frustration clear on her face.

"Damn it," she mutters under her breath.

I step forward, reaching out to place a hand on her shoulder. "You’re trying too hard to control it. Power like yours... it’s not something you can cage."

Her eyes meet mine, a flicker of uncertainty in them. "Then how do I...?"

I take a step closer, my hand sliding down her arm. "You don’t. You guide it. Power isn’t meant to be tamed, Selene. It’s meant to be harnessed."

She nods slowly, and I can see the determination in her eyes as she closes them again. This time, the power rises more smoothly, flowing through her like a river instead of a storm. The air around us hums with energy, and I can feel the pull of her magic, the raw strength of it.

For several hours, we continue practicing. I help her focus, guiding her when she falters, but mostly, I just stand back and let her power flow. There’s something exhilarating about watching her come into her own, seeing the potential that she’s only just beginning to understand.

The sun is beginning to set by the time we hear footsteps approaching. I glance over my shoulder and see Damien and Adrian walking toward us, their expressions unreadable.

"It’s time," Damien says, his voice low. "We need to make our move before dusk. The Blood Moon will rise soon."

Selene’s eyes flicker with uncertainty, but she nods. "I’ll be ready."

"Good," Adrian adds, his eyes lingering on the two of us for a moment longer than necessary. "We leave as soon as the sun sets."

As they walk away, I turn back to Selene and give her a small nod. "You’re stronger than you think. Just remember that."

She smiles faintly, but I can see the weight of what’s coming pressing down on her. The Blood Moon is close, and everything we’ve been preparing for is about to unfold.

And for better or worse, Selene will be at the center of it all.

Chapter

Forty-Three

ADRIAN

The woods around us are eerily still as we make our way toward the altar, the Blood Moon looming on the horizon. The shadows that have haunted our every step for weeks seem to be... waiting. I don't trust it. The lesser warlocks, too, are nowhere to be seen, though I can feel their presence, lurking just out of sight.

It's unsettling. There's not much that happens at the manor that I'm not aware of, and I don't like the feeling of being out of the loop. My mind flickers back to the conversation I had with Gerald just before we left.

_"Ronan was outside the runes earlier," Gerald had said quietly as we prepared to leave. "He was speaking with someone—or something. I couldn't get closeenough to hear the details, but I sensed the Order’s presence. Be careful."_

I had nodded, but my mind had already been spinning with possibilities. I’ve always been wary of Ronan, but now... it’s something else. There’s something darker simmering beneath his surface, and I have a sinking feeling that we’re about to see exactly what it is.

As the sun begins to set, casting the woods in a blood-red glow, we finally arrive at the clearing. The altar stands at its center, ancient and foreboding, just as it had before. The markings on its surface seem to shimmer faintly, though they are barely discernible in the fading light.

Selene steps forward, her eyes locked on the stone as if it’s calling to her. She places her hands on the altar, and I hold my breath. The moment her fingers touch the surface, the inscriptions begin to glow softly, casting a pale light across the clearing.

The air shifts. It’s subtle at first, but then it becomes impossible to ignore. The entire forest falls into a heavy silence—no wind, no rustling leaves, no sounds of animals in the distance. Nothing. Just an oppressive stillness that makes the hair on the back of my neck stand on end.

For a moment, none of us move. It’s as if the world is holding its breath.

"I know what I need to do," Selene whispers, her voice barely audible, but filled withconviction.

That’s when I see him.

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