Chapter 15Lucien
Chapter
Fifteen
LUCIEN
T he moon hangs low in the sky, its pale light cutting through the thick canopy above me as I stalk through the forest. The air is cool, crisp, but my blood feels like fire beneath my skin. Every step I take, every shift in the shadows, only serves to fan the flames of my frustration.
Damien.
His name hisses in my mind, a bitter echo that I can’t shake. He’s always been too close to her. Too protective. Too... something. It’s maddening. The way he looks at her, the way she responds to him—it makes my jaw clench, my fists curl into tight balls. This Hunt is supposed to be my chance, my time to finally step out of Damien’s shadow and claim what should be mine .
She’s not like the others. No, she’s different—powerful in ways I’m still trying to understand. And that power... it calls to me, like a moth to flame. I need it. I need her .
I push forward, my senses on high alert as I track them. I know they’re together. The connection between them is too strong for me to ignore. But she won’t be his. Not for long.
The trees thin out slightly, and I catch a glimmer of movement ahead. My pulse quickens, but before I can move closer, a presence shifts behind me. I turn, my instincts sharpening. It’s Ronan.
He emerges from the shadows, his expression dark and furious, still recovering from his last encounter with the girl. His eyes lock onto mine, and for a moment, we stand there in silence, the tension between us heavy and palpable.
“Lucien,” Ronan growls, his voice low and dangerous. “Still playing the strategist, I see.”
I arch an eyebrow, letting a smirk tug at my lips. “Someone has to be smart about this, Ronan. Charging in without thinking isn’t going to get you anywhere.”
Ronan’s fists clench at his sides, his aggression boiling just beneath the surface. “She overpowered me once, but that won’t happen again. I’ll find her, and I’ll take her. By force if necessary.”
I step forward, meeting his gaze head-on, the challenge clear between us. “You really think brute strength is going to be enough to handle her? She’s not just some human you can pin down and claim. She's different.”
Ronan snarls, but I don’t back down. This is exactly what I’ve been waiting for. I can use Ronan’s anger, his lack of control, to my advantage.
“You and I both want her,” I continue, my tone measured, calculating. “But you can’t just take her like a common prize. Not with Damien and Adrian sniffing around her. We need to be smarter than that.”
Ronan’s eyes narrow, and for a moment, I see the hesitation flicker in his gaze. He’s a brute, yes, but he’s not stupid. He knows I’m right. “What do you suggest?”
A slow smile spreads across my face. “We work together. Keep the others off her trail. Then, once we’ve dealt with them, we decide who gets to claim her.”
Ronan’s lips curl into a snarl, but he doesn’t refuse. He knows that with my cunning and his strength, we can take down the others, at least for now.
"What do you suggest?"
"Let's split up to look for her. Why don't you go to the manor? She was headed that way at the start of the Hunt."
Ronan narrows his eyes at me.
“Trust me,” I reply, my lips curling into a smirk. “If she’s anywhere, that’s where she’ll be.”
Ronan hesitates for only a second before I hear his heavy footfalls veer off toward the manor. Perfect. Let him chase shadows while I find the real prize.
It doesn’t take long before I pick up her trail again. The pull of her power is growing stronger, sharper, and I follow it like a predator honing in on its prey.
The night still clings to the trees, but I can feel it slipping away. Dawn is coming. Soon, our power will start to wane—the pull of the moon weakening as the sun rises. Time is running out, and the window to claim what’s mine is closing.
I stalk through the forest, my boots crunching over twigs and leaves, barely making a sound. Damien's been near her. I can sense it, his signature lingering in the air like smoke after a fire. He’s been closer to her than I have, and the thought sends a pulse of anger through me.
And then, I see her.
She’s sitting by a small stream, her arms wrapped around her knees, staring into the water. Her face is shadowed, her expression hard to read, but I can feel the conflict within her—the uncertainty, the fear, and the growing strength she’s only just beginning to understand.
For a moment, I watch her, my heart pounding in my chest. She’s beautiful, even now, lost in thought, her power radiating off her in waves that make my skin tingle. I step forward, my boots crunching softly against the leaves beneath me, and she looks up.
Her eyes meet mine, and something shifts in the air between us. It’s like the forest itself holds its breath, waiting.
I step forward, purposefully letting my presence be known. Her body tenses, and she turns toward me, her eyes widening slightly. She doesn’t recognize me, of course. Not yet.
“What’s your name?” I ask, my voice low as I approach her.
She hesitates, her eyes narrowing as if she’s trying to decide whether or not to trust me. “Selene,” she finally says, her voice soft but steady.
“Selene,” I repeat, letting the name roll off my tongue. It suits her—otherworldly, powerful. I can feel her magic now, even stronger up close. “Where’s Damien?”
Her brow furrows slightly, and I can tell she’s still wary of me. “He was called away,” she answers cautiously. “Something to do with the Hunt.”
I nod, hiding the satisfaction I feel. Damien’s distracted—good. That means I have time. Time to stake my claim.
"You're Lucien, aren't you?"
I arch an eyebrow.
"Damien told me which of the warlocks to be wary of," she explains.
A smile curves the edge of my lips. "Did he now?"
She watches me carefully, her body tense, as if she’s not sure whether to trust me. Smart girl. But I can work with that.
“I’ve been looking for you,” I say, my voice low, soothing. “You’ve been running for so long. Don’t you think it’s time to stop?”
Her brows furrow, and I can see the conflict in her eyes. She’s confused, scared, and I know she doesn’t fully understand what’s happening to her. But I do.
“You’re stronger than you realize, Selene,” I continue, my voice smooth as I close the distance between us. “You’re not like the others. You have power—real power.”
She shakes her head, her lips pressing into a thin line. “I don’t know what I am.”
I reach out, my hand brushing against her arm, and I feel the spark of energy between us. It’s intoxicating. “I do,” I murmur, leaning in slightly. “You’re more than just a participant in this Hunt. You’re the prize. The one we all want.”
Her breath hitches, and I can see the confusion flicker in her eyes, mingling with something else—desire. It’s faint, but it’s there, and I know I can use it.
“Don’t fight it,” I whisper, my hand sliding down to her wrist. “You feel it, don’t you? The pull between us. You’re drawn to me, just like I’m drawn to you.”
She stiffens, but she doesn’t pull away. “Lucien, I...”
“Let me show you,” I cut her off, my voice low and coaxing. “Let me help you understand your power. ”
I can see the hesitation in her eyes, but I also see the curiosity—the need to know more, to understand. And then, she nods, just slightly, but it’s all the permission I need.
I move closer, my body pressing against hers as I lower my head, my lips brushing against her ear. Her breath catches, and I feel the heat between us rising, the tension thickening with every passing second. But as I draw her in, something hits me— Damien . His scent lingers on her skin, faint but unmistakable, and it sets my blood on fire.
The realization that he’s already touched her, been close to her, makes my muscles tense. Fury coils inside me, dark and possessive. He had no right. He’s crossed a line, and now I’m left with the need to erase every trace of him, to wipe Damien off her completely.
“You’re mine,” I growl, my voice lower, more primal. My hand grips her waist tighter, pulling her flush against me as if I can crush the memory of Damien with my own presence. I lean into her, my lips grazing her neck, inhaling her scent, needing to replace it with mine.
"Whether you know it or not," I whisper fiercely, feeling my control slip, my desire to claim her overpowering the need for subtlety. I want to mark her, to show her that no one else can have her.
She shivers against me, but I can’t tell if it’s from the tension or the coldness of my words. Either way, I don’t care. Right now, all I want is to rid her of anything Damien left behind.
My lips hover near her skin, my hand gripping her harder, and I can feel the power humming beneath her surface, mingling with the heat between us. But it’s not enough. I need more—I need to make her mine completely, to erase everything she’s felt with him.
For a moment, she resists, her hands pressing against my chest as if she’s going to push me away. But then, her resistance falters. Her power surges, and I feel it—like a rush of heat coursing through my veins, intoxicating and overwhelming.
Her lips part, and I close the distance, capturing her mouth in a kiss that’s both possessive and desperate. She tastes like fire and something wild, something untamed. And I want more.
But just as the kiss deepens, I feel it—her power rising, not just in response to me, but against me. It’s fierce, like a storm building beneath the surface, and I realize too late that she’s not as helpless as I thought.
Her hands push against me harder, and with a surge of strength, she breaks the kiss, stepping back, her chest heaving, her eyes wide with a mix of shock and defiance.
I stare at her, my heart pounding, my mind racing. She’s stronger than I expected. But that only makes me want her more.
“You’re not like the others,” I say again, my voice rougher now, tinged with frustration. “But that doesn’t mean you can fight me forever.”
Her eyes flash, and for a moment, I see the power in her, the raw, untamed force that I crave.
“I won’t be claimed,” she says, her voice steady, but I can see the uncertainty in her eyes.
I step forward, closing the distance again, my hand reaching for hers. “We’ll see about that.”