Chapter 27Damien
Chapter
Twenty-Seven
DAMIEN
T he forest is unnervingly still as Ronan and I move further away from the manor. Every sound feels sharper, every rustle in the trees like a whisper of danger. I know we’re being watched. The shadows are waiting, lingering just beyond the wards, eager for a misstep. They belong to the Order. Their task is to maintain balance, to prevent anyone from gaining too much of an advantage. But today, I’m not convinced that balance is their priority.
Ronan’s presence grates on me, a constant reminder that we’re both hunting the same prey—though for very different reasons.
“You’re too tense, Damien,” Ronan mutters beside me, his voice dripping with that cocky arrogance I’ve always hated. “You’re acting like you’ve never had to chase after prey before.”
I keep my gaze fixed ahead, refusing to rise to his bait. “I know what I’m doing.”
“Do you?” Ronan sneers, stepping in front of me, his broad shoulders blocking the path. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you’ve lost control. First Adrian, then Lucien. Now me. And here you are, tailing after that girl like a lovesick puppy.”
I grind my teeth. He’s goading me, trying to get under my skin. And it’s working. Every second I spend with Ronan only intensifies my frustration, my anger. It’s not just about Selene—it’s about everything. The Order, the Hunt, my role as facilitator. I’m supposed to be impartial, but how can I be, when every instinct screams to protect her?
“She’s not just any prey,” I snap, my voice colder than I intend. “And you know it.”
Ronan chuckles darkly, taking another step closer, his face inches from mine. “Oh, I know. I’ve felt her power. She’s something else, all right. And you’re scared.”
My fists clench at my sides. “I’m not scared of you.”
“Not me,” Ronan says, his grin widening. “You’re scared of her.”
I hold his gaze, unblinking, my blood boiling. He’s not wrong. There’s something about Selene—something I’ve never encountered before. Her pull is magnetic, intoxicating. Every time I’m near her, I feel myself slipping, losing control. And I hate it.
Before I can respond, Ronan steps back, his tone turning mocking. “The great Damien, facilitator of the Hunt. Reduced to this. It’s almost sad. You know, you’re starting to remind me of the last facilitator. What was his name again? Oh, right—Alaric.”
I clench my fists, the sound of his name making the air around me feel charged with tension.
Ronan chuckles, clearly enjoying my reaction. “You remember what happened to him, don’t you? The Order stripped him of his rank when he got... too involved. Lost sight of the rules, let his personal feelings get in the way of his duty. And you know how that ended. Not just for him, but for his family too. They erased them all, didn’t they? No trace left. A little reminder of what happens when you step out of line.”
I grit my teeth, my entire body tightening with rage, but I keep my mouth shut. I won’t give him the satisfaction of a response. He’s trying to provoke me, to make me lose control, just like Alaric did. But I won’t make that mistake.
“You’re heading down the same path, Damien,” Ronan continues, his voice low and taunting. “I can see it. That girl... she’s gotten under your skin. You think the Order won’t notice? They already have. They’re watching you, waiting for you to slip up. And when you do, you’ll end up just like Alaric—forgotten, erased. ”
I’m about to snap, to tell him exactly where he can shove his comments, when I feel it—Selene’s power. It’s faint, but growing stronger, pulling at the edges of my senses like a beacon.
“She’s close,” I mutter, ignoring Ronan’s jabs and stepping forward, focusing on the trail of power that Selene’s leaving behind.
But Ronan isn’t done. He leans closer, his breath hot with venomous amusement. “You’re going to lose her. Just like Alaric lost everything. And when the Order takes you down, I’ll be there to pick up the pieces. Maybe I’ll even take your place. The Order needs someone stronger, someone who knows where his loyalty lies.”
I shove past him, my pulse pounding, but the weight of his words sticks in my gut like a knife. Alaric’s fate is a constant reminder of the fine line I’m walking. One wrong move, one step too far, and everything I’ve built will come crashing down.
And worse, they’ll come for her.
But just as we push deeper into the forest, the shadows strike.
They emerge from the darkness, silent and swift, their inky tendrils stretching out toward us. I barely have time to react before I’m throwing up a shield, the cold weight of magic crackling through the air. Ronan is at my side, snarling as he flings a blast of energy toward the creatures. The shadows recoil, hissing, but they don’t retreat.
“They’re getting bolder,” I mutter, eyes narrowing as I ready myself for another attack.
“Or desperate,” Ronan adds, his jaw tight.
The shadows swarm, and we fight them off, side by side, though I can feel the tension between us growing with each blow. This isn’t a fair fight. The Order has sent more of them than usual, and it’s clear they’re after one thing—Selene.
Ronan fights with a ferocity that borders on recklessness, his power flaring bright against the darkness. He’s stronger than most, but he’s also impatient. And that’s always been his weakness.
I block another strike, sending the shadows spiraling back into the trees, but the brief moment of victory is shattered when I see her—Selene.
She’s standing a few feet away, watching us from the cover of the trees, her face pale, her eyes wide. She looks scared—but there’s something else. Determination.
“Selene!” I call out, my voice rough with urgency. “Stay back!”
She doesn’t listen. Instead, she takes a step closer, her gaze darting between me and Ronan. The shadows circle around her, waiting, hungry.
“Damn it,” I hiss, throwing up another shield as more shadows descend. “She’s going to get herself killed.”
Ronan’s laughter cuts through the air. “She’s not as helpless as you think.”
I shoot him a sharp look, but before I can respond, the shadows strike again. This time, they’re faster, more vicious, their inky tendrils slithering through the underbrush with deadly intent. They lash out at us like living nightmares, dark claws tearing through the air.
I hurl a blast of energy, sending several of them spiraling back into the trees, but they reform, pulling themselves together from the darkness as if they were never harmed. Next to me, Ronan lets out a snarl, his own magic flaring in a brilliant, violent arc that cuts through several shadows, momentarily driving them back. But even his strength doesn’t seem to slow them for long.
We fight them off, barely keeping them at bay, but my focus is split. My gaze keeps darting to Selene—watching her, assessing her. She’s too close to the danger. My chest tightens with an anxiety I can’t shake. She shouldn’t be here. She’s in too much danger. Her power is still raw, uncontrolled, and I know these creatures can sense it, can smell it like blood in the water.
“Get back!” I shout at her, voice rough with fear, but Selene doesn’t listen. She stands frozen for a heartbeat too long, eyes wide, caught in the chaos of the battle unfolding around her .
I can’t stop glancing at her, my breath quickening. Every part of me wants to go to her, to pull her out of harm's way, but I’m locked in combat with these relentless creatures. A shadow lunges at me, claws extended, and I barely dodge it, throwing up a shield that crackles and sizzles as it absorbs the attack.
Ronan is next to me, fending off the shadows with brutal efficiency, but I know we can’t hold them off forever. There’s too many of them, and they’re growing more aggressive, more desperate.
A tendril of darkness shoots past me, slithering toward Selene. I hurl a bolt of magic in its path, obliterating it before it can reach her. She flinches, her eyes locking with mine for a brief moment, and I can see the panic rising in her.
“Dammit, Selene!” I shout again, frustration and fear warring inside me. “Run!”
But before she can respond, a massive shadow rears up behind her, its black, shapeless form towering over her like a specter of death. My heart skips a beat.
“Selene, move!”
Finally, she snaps into action, stumbling backward just as the shadow lunges where she’d been standing. The creature’s claws swipe through empty air, missing her by inches, and I feel a momentary surge of relief—until I realize she’s running.
Not toward us.
Away .
I barely have time to process it. The battle rages on, the shadows still pressing in, but through the chaos, I catch a glimpse of Selene retreating deeper into the forest. She’s fast, her form a blur as she disappears into the shadows, her power pulsing like a beacon, drawing every dark creature toward her.
“No!” I snarl, panic flooding my veins.
I want to go after her, to pull her back, but the shadows swarm, blocking my path, forcing me to stay and fight. I lash out with a burst of energy, tearing through the darkness, but it’s not enough. I can’t reach her.
“She’s gone,” Ronan growls beside me, his voice dark with amusement. “Told you you were losing her.”
His words are like knives, sharp and biting, but I don’t have time to respond. The shadows are still pressing in, and every second we’re distracted, they get closer to overwhelming us.
“Focus, Damien,” Ronan snaps, as he fends off another wave of shadows with a vicious blast of power. “If you’re too weak to handle this, leave it to me.”
I grit my teeth, rage boiling beneath my skin, but I don’t take the bait. Selene is gone, and now all I can do is hope she makes it out alive.
The shadows retreat, slinking back into the darkness, leaving us panting and bloodied in their wake. But the damage is done. Selene is out there, alone, and she has no idea what’s hunting her .
“Great job, Damien,” Ronan says, clapping me on the shoulder with a mocking grin. “Really stellar work.”
“Shut up,” I growl, pushing past him.
But I know he’s right. I’ve failed. Again.
As the shadows recede, I turn my gaze toward the forest, my mind racing. I have to find her. But this time, I’m not chasing her as the facilitator of the Hunt. I’m chasing her as a man who has no intention of letting her go.