Chapter 31Damien
Chapter
Thirty-One
DAMIEN
T he moment Ronan ran off into the shadows, I was ready to follow, my instincts screaming that I needed to stop him. But before I could take a step, the Order’s familiar presence surged into my mind, their voices intruding like a swarm of angry hornets.
“Damien,” they hiss, the collective voices filling my head. “The Hunt is over for all but the girl. She is an imbalance. She must be ended. You will gather the remaining warlocks and finish her before the blood moon rises.”
The demand reverberates through my skull, pulsing with a weight that makes my temples throb. My jaw tightens, and though my mouth forms the word “Yes,” it’s a lie. A lie to appease them.
I have no intention of following their orders.
I know what Selene is—what she represents. And the Order wants her eliminated because they fear her power, her potential to break the very balance they claim to protect. There’s no denying that she’s dangerous, but I’ll be damned if I let them destroy her.
I push the voices aside, dismissing their command, but their presence lingers, a dark reminder of what they expect from me. My hands tighten into fists as I feel the pull of Selene’s magic in the distance, stronger now, like a beacon drawing me to her.
I sprint through the forest, the trees a blur around me, anger propelling me forward. The clearing comes into view, and I already feel the heat rising in my chest—the familiar burn of jealousy mixed with something darker.
As I near the clearing, I see them.
Selene and Ronan, sprawled on the stone altar, the glow of the markings around them pulsing in time with their heartbeats. The sight of them together sends a wave of rage through me, my vision narrowing until all I can see is Ronan’s hands on her body, the way their skin is still pressed together.
I stop at the edge of the clearing, my magic already crackling at my fingertips. Ronan’s smirk, lazy and satisfied, is the final straw. Power surges from me, and I lift my hand, ready to hurl it at him and tear him away from her, consequences be damned.
But then Selene rises, standing between us, her voice cutting through the fury.
"It was my choice," she says, breathless but firm. "It wasn’t him—it was me."
Her words pierce through the storm raging inside me. The magic on my hands dims, faltering. Her choice. Her decision. I hesitate, my heart pounding in my chest, the rage cooling into something else—something more desperate.
I lower my hand, my eyes locked onto Ronan’s. The bastard has the nerve to smirk at me, his satisfaction palpable, but Selene’s presence keeps me grounded. I turn my focus to her, ignoring Ronan, ignoring the jealousy still burning inside me.
I step closer to her, my breath shallow, the heat between us undeniable. She doesn’t back away. She stands tall, her eyes locked on mine. She feels it too—this pull, this raw energy that crackles between us.
I don’t understand it, but I know I can’t ignore it.
The markings on the altar pulse again, growing brighter, as if responding to the connection between us. The air thickens, magic swirling as I move closer. My hand hovers just over her skin, the desire to touch her, to claim her, overwhelming every thought in my head.
This isn’t right , I tell myself, but it doesn’t matter. The pull is too strong, and she’s not resisting .
"Damien..." Her voice is soft, unsure, and it sends a tremor through me.
I close the distance between us, the space that separates us filled with an intensity that feels like it could burn the world to ashes. My hand finally lands on her waist, and I feel her power hum beneath her skin. It draws me in, begging me to lose control.
Her breath hitches, her body instinctively leaning into mine, and I can feel the heat radiating from her. I know I should pull away. I know what the Order has commanded.
But all I can think about is the way her magic wraps around mine, the way it calls to me in a way nothing else ever has.
I lean in, my lips just inches from hers. The air around us hums with energy, the glow from the altar intensifying.
"What is it you want, Selene?"
She looks between the two of us, but words escape her.
Ronan smirks. "She's insatiable, Damien. Perhaps it's time we shared her, don't you think?"
My gaze narrows, focusing on Selene. "Is this what you truly want, little moon?" My voice is low, dangerous.
She runs a hand through her raven hair, letting it cascade down her back. Her crimson lips curve into a seductive smile .
"Oh, Damien," she coos, "I've never been more certain of anything in my life. I crave the thrill of being desired by two powerful men, of feeling your magic mingle with Ronan's and then with mine."
Her eyes lock onto mine, burning with an intensity that sends shivers down my spine.
I step closer to Selene, my eyes darkening with lust and possessiveness. Ronan watches us intently, a smirk playing on his lips. I reach out, trailing a finger along Selene's jawline, tilting her chin up to meet my gaze.
"You play a dangerous game, little moon," I murmur, my voice laced with warning and desire. "But if this is what you truly wish for, then who am I to deny you such pleasure?"
I glance at Ronan, a challenge in my eyes. "Very well. Let us see how long you can last in the presence of true power."
With a wave of my hand, the air around us crackles with energy, the altar glowing brighter beneath our feet. I pull Selene close, claiming her lips in a searing kiss, pouring all my passion and dominance into the embrace.
As our tongues dance, Selene moans softly, pressing herself against me. Ronan steps forward, his own hunger evident in his eyes. He reaches out, running a hand down Selene's side, sending a jolt of electricity through her body.
"Allow me to show you what real magic feels like," Ronan growls, his fingers tracing patterns on her skin. Selene gasps, her hips bucking against me as she feels the combined force of our powers coursing through her veins.
Breaking the kiss, I look at Ronan with a calculating gaze. "You may touch her, but do not think for a moment that I will let you close t her soul."
Selene pulls away slightly, her eyes flashing with a newfound confidence. "I've learned to harness my abilities. Neither of you can claim my soul, no matter how much you might desire it."
She steps between us, her stance assertive. "Tonight, I choose to indulge in physical pleasures only. Your magical prowess will remain... contained."
A sly smile plays on her lips as she meets each of our gazes in turn. "Now, can you two play nice?"
A low growl rumbles in my chest as I watch Selene assert her control. Despite her words, the heat in her eyes and the way she moves with purpose tell me she craves the intimate connection we're about to share.
"Very well, little moon," I say, my voice thick with restrained desire. "We shall play by your rules tonight. But know that I will not be content until I've reclaimed every inch of your body."
I reach out, cupping her face in my hands, and capture her mouth in another fierce kiss. Ronan's hands find her waist, pulling her flush against him as he joins the embrace.
Our bodies move together in a primal rhythm, fueled by the raw energy surrounding us. Selene's soft moans fill the air as we worship her with our hands and mouths, exploring every curve and hollow of her form.
The altar pulses beneath us, its ancient magic mingling with our own as we lose ourselves in the throes of passion. Sweat glistens on our skin, and the scent of arousal hangs heavy in the night air.
As the climax builds within us, I feel a surge of power coursing through my veins, threatening to break free from my control. I grip Selene tighter, determined to maintain my focus on her pleasure alone.
"Damien..." she breathes, her nails digging into my shoulders. "Ronan... I need..."
"Need what, little moon?" I ask, my voice husky with desire. I trail kisses down her neck, nipping gently at the sensitive skin.
Selene arches into me, her hips grinding against Ronan's hardness. "I need to feel you inside me, filling me completely," she gasps. "Both of you, together."
With a fierce growl, I snap my fingers, my clothing dematerializing, revealing my chiseled torso. Ronan does the same, our muscles rippling under the moonlight. We position ourselves behind Selene, our erections straining towards her waiting entrance.
In a single, fluid motion, we enter her, our lengths sliding deep into her welcoming heat.
Selene cries out in ecstasy as we fill her, her walls clenching around us. The sensation of being joined with her in such a primal way is intoxicating, and I can feel my control slipping further.
I pound into her relentlessly, driven by a primal urge to mark her as mine. Ronan matches my pace, our thrusts synchronizing as we ravage her body. The altar's energy surges, amplifying our pleasure and pushing us closer to the edge.
"Yes, yes, fuck me harder!" Selene screams, her voice echoing through the clearing. "Make me yours, Damien! Make me yours, Ronan!"
Our bodies slam together in a frenzied rhythm, the sound of flesh meeting flesh and our ragged breathing filling the air.
As we reach the peak of our pleasure, the energy around us reaches a fever pitch. The ancient altar beneath us pulses with power, the stone seams splitting open to reveal a swirling vortex of blue and purple light.
A deafening roar fills the air, shaking the ground beneath our feet. The energy surges through our bodies, intensifying our orgasms and leaving us gasping for breath.
When the light finally fades, we collapse onto the altar, panting heavily. Selene lies between us, spent but satisfied, her body covered in a thin sheen of sweat.
"What just happened?" Selene murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper .
I prop myself up on my elbows, looking down at Selene with a mix of awe and concern. "It seems our lovemaking has awakened something ancient and powerful," I say, my voice strained. "The altar responded to our union, channeling the energy of our trinity."
Ronan sits up beside me, his brow furrowed. "This changes everything," he says, his tone grave. "If word gets out about what we've done here tonight, it could have far-reaching consequences."
I nod, my mind racing with possibilities. "We must keep this secret, at least until we understand the full extent of what we've unleashed. For now, we must focus on protecting Selene and ensuring that no harm comes to her because of our actions."
As if on cue, the shadows—those cursed creations of the Order—materialize at the edges of the clearing. They don’t advance, but they hover there, just outside the boundary, as if testing the invisible line that separates us. They ripple like smoke, dark and insidious, their forms barely recognizable but undeniably malevolent.
I glance at Selene. Her breathing quickens, eyes widening as she watches the shadows gather. Her fingers tighten on my arm. The clearing, once a place of eerie quiet, now feels suffocating, the weight of the dark entities pressing against the air. My instincts scream that we need to get out, but the shadows have surrounded us completely, like hunters stalking prey, circling the altar where we stand.
“They’re not coming any closer,” Selene whispers, her voice strained but steady, her eyes darting between the shadowy forms.
“For now,” I murmur, feeling the tension in the air rise. I can’t shake the feeling that they’re waiting—waiting for something. Or someone.
As if summoned by the very thought, I hear it—footsteps crunching softly through the underbrush.
I look up, and my heart sinks. From the edges of the forest, emerging one by one, are the lesser warlocks—those who had been feral, lost to their hunger, the ones who had slipped into the hunt uninvited. They’ve come out of the shadows like predators, their eyes gleaming with hunger, their intentions unmistakable.
They encircle us, their gazes flickering from Selene to the altar, their feral instincts tugging at the edges of their barely-contained sanity. I feel Selene shift beside me, her breath hitching as she takes in the new threat.
The clearing feels smaller now, the air charged with dangerous intent.
We are trapped.
And there’s no way out.