Page 84 of The Blood Moon Hunt

Adrian follows, nodding slowly. “So do I.”

Lucien hesitates, his eyes narrowing, but after a moment, he sighs. “Fine. But this better not be a mistake.”

Ronan turns back toward the edge of the clearing, his gaze focused on the shadows just beyond the protective circle, as if he's weighing his options. I feel the weight of his eyes on me, even as he stands apart from the rest of us. The tension is palpable, and I can’t help but feel a chill race down my spine at the thought of his unpredictable nature. His power. His ability to betray.

Adrian steps forward, his tone clipped. “He’s watching us closely.”

Lucien crosses his arms, glancing at Ronan with open suspicion. "What of him?" Lucien asks, his voice edged with a mixture of distrust and curiosity.

I shake my head, my heart pounding in my chest. “I don’t know yet. Maybe we won’t need him.”

Adrian’s gaze sharpens, and I can see the doubt flicker in his eyes. “Something tells me that we will,” he says, his voice laced with both caution and understanding.

I swallow hard, trying to suppress the gnawing sense of uncertainty creeping through me. I don’t know what Ronan will do when the moment comes, but something deep down tells me that Adrian is right—we may not be able to avoid his involvement. Not if we want to end this.

“It doesn’t matter,” I say, though I know I’m lying to myself. It does matter. Everything matters. But right now, I need to focus. On the ritual. On the power coursing through me.

The wind around the clearing seems to die down as I move toward the altar, my heart pounding in my chest with each step. I reach the stone and place my hand on its cool surface, feeling a pulse of energy surge through my fingertips. The altar hums with ancient magic, a power older than any of us, waiting to be unlocked.

I climb onto the altar, the air growing still, heavywith anticipation. My breath comes in shallow bursts as the stone beneath me pulses again, this time more insistent, as if calling out to me.

Adrian, Lucien, and Damien move closer, circling around the altar like silent sentinels, their eyes dark with intent. The weight of what’s about to happen presses down on all of us, thickening the air with a mix of anticipation and desire. Their power swirls around me, amplifying the hum of magic that fills the clearing. My pulse quickens, and the pull between us intensifies, as if the ritual is already beginning.

I can feel it—the connection between me and them, a bond not just of power, but of something deeper. Something primal. The three warlocks are focused entirely on me, their eyes gleaming with a mixture of hunger and restraint.

Adrian’s gaze locks onto mine, his voice a whisper. "Are you ready for this?"

I nod, though my body trembles slightly, not just from fear, but from the overwhelming desire that thrums through me. “Yes,” I say, my voice quiet but firm. I look at each of them—Adrian, Lucien, Damien—and I can feel the weight of their presence, their power gathering around me like a storm.

Lucien is the first to break the silence, stepping forward, his hands brushing over my skin, sending a wave of warmth through me. “You know once this starts, there’s no going back.”

“I know,” I whisper, the truth settling in my bones. I feel like I’ve been hurtling toward this moment since the Hunt began.

Damien steps closer, his gaze intense as he looks at me, his hand reaching out to trace a line along my jaw. “This will change everything, Selene. For all of us.”

The energy from the altar grows stronger, the inscriptions glowing faintly under my hands. I can feel the ancient power stirring beneath me, as if the magic itself is waiting for the ritual to begin.

“I’m ready,” I whisper, the words almost lost in the charged air between us.

Chapter

Forty-Six

ADRIAN

My fingers trail over Selene's skin as I slowly peel away the fabric clinging to her curves. Her breath hitches, and I feel a thrill run through me at the vulnerability she's offering up.

Lucien and Damien watch intently from either side, their gazes burning into my back. I ignore them, focusing solely on Selene as I reveal inch after inch of creamy flesh. She shivers under my touch, goosebumps rising in the wake of my caress.

Once she's bare before me, I take a step back to admire the sight. Selene's body is a work of art—soft and supple, with full breasts tipped with rosy nipples and a narrow waist flaring into lush hips. A triangle of dark curls conceals her most intimate secrets.

"Beautiful," I murmur, my voice low and husky with desire.

I reach out to cup Selene's face, tilting her head back to expose the elegant column of her throat. Leaning in, I press open-mouthed kisses along the delicate skin, savoring the taste of her. Each flick of my tongue against her pulse sends a jolt of electricity through me, stoking the flames of my arousal.

Selene's hands come up to tangle in my hair, holding me close as she arches into my touch. A soft moan escapes her lips, and I swallow it with a deepening kiss. My hands roam her body, mapping every curve and valley, committing them to memory.

Behind me, I'm aware of Lucien and Damien's heated stares, their own hunger palpable in the air.

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