Chapter 52Selene
Chapter
Fifty-Two
SELENE
T he world around me is different. It feels as if I’m no longer part of it, and yet, I’m more connected to it than I’ve ever been. The energy of the warlocks—the power they gave me willingly—surges within me, intertwining with my own, creating a force so immense I feel as though I could reshape reality itself.
I’m floating again, somewhere between worlds, in an altered state that blurs the line between the magic that binds me to the warlocks and the magic I’ve carried all along. Their power hums inside me, a storm waiting to be unleashed. I see everything clearly now. The witches—they are with me, their voices stronger, their presence guiding me .
"You must free us," they whisper. Their voices echo through my mind, urging me forward, their pain still palpable after centuries of being trapped by their own pain.
I reach out with my power, feeling the tendrils of magic that bind the witches’ souls. Their torment is woven into the fabric of this world, tied to the same energy the warlocks gave me. I can feel their grief in my hands now, the weight of it pressing down on me like a burden I was born to carry.
"Let us go," the witches plead.
I close my eyes and let the magic flow through me, guiding my movements. With a deep breath, I focus all my energy on the chains that bind the witches. I can feel them—the shackles, the sorrow, the centuries of injustice. And then, I pull. The magic snaps, the chains dissolve, and suddenly I feel them leave—free at last.
But their whispers remain. "You must destroy the Order," they say. "It’s the only way."
The Order. Their power feels like a looming storm on the horizon, growing stronger with each passing second. But I know something now that I didn’t before. I don’t have to destroy them the way the witches want me to. There is another way.
As I return to my earthly body, the world around me begins to materialize once again. The altar beneath me hums with energy, and I slowly become aware of my surroundings. The warlocks—Adrian, Lucien, Damien, and Ronan—are all here, their gazes fixed on me with a mix of awe and apprehension.
I can feel the panic rising from them. The shadows and the lesser warlocks are closing in fast, but I’m not afraid. I stand up from the altar, feeling the power I wield so effortlessly now, and with a flick of my hand, I cast the shadows out. The darkness recoils, as if struck by an unseen force, retreating into the depths of the forest, banished by the very energy that flows through me.
The lesser warlocks hesitate, still feral, still lost in their hunger. I turn to them, sensing the madness that has consumed them during the Hunt. Without a second thought, I send out a wave of magic, gifting each of them a sliver of my own power, just enough to quell the insatiable hunger gnawing at their minds. They blink, slowly returning to themselves, freed from the bloodlust that had turned them into beasts.
For a moment, everything feels still, almost peaceful, but then I feel it—the presence of the Order. They descend upon the clearing, their power radiating like a suffocating heat. I can feel their eyes on me, hungry, desperate. They want to take me, to use me as a tool to break their curse, just as they’ve used others before me. The witches’ voices whisper in my ear again, urging me to end them here and now.
"Destroy them," they say, their voices sharp, almost vengeful. "End this once and for all. "
I look at the warlocks around me, the ones who’ve bound their power to mine, who trusted me with their strength. Adrian, Lucien, Damien, and Ronan—all of them watching me, waiting. I could end it now. I could destroy the Order and finish what the witches couldn’t. But I don’t. Something inside me resists.
There’s another way.
I reach out with my magic, feeling the essence of the Order. Their power is immense, but I can sense the source—the remnants of witch’s power buried deep within them, the very power they consumed centuries ago. It’s not theirs. It never was. And now, it’s mine.
I begin to pull.
The energy flows from the Order like a river, rushing into me. I feel the weight of their power, their centuries of greed and cruelty, but I don’t take it for myself. Instead, I strip them of it, leaving them as nothing more than mortal men. Their immortality fades, their magic vanishes, and they are reduced to what they once were: ordinary, powerless men.
Panic spreads through their ranks as they realize what’s happening. They turn, scrambling to escape, no longer the masters of the Hunt, but prey themselves.
I watch them run, my heart racing. It’s over. They’re gone.
I turn back to the warlocks. Adrian, Lucien, Damien, and Ronan. Their eyes are wide, disbelief and awe mingling on their faces. I step down from the altar and move toward them, feeling the magic still coursing through me.
I know what I must do.
One by one, I meet their eyes, feeling the weight of each connection, each bond that has formed between us.
Adrian, the first to recognize my strength. When we first crossed paths, he saw me not just as prey but as something more—something powerful, something untamed. His sharp mind and calculated demeanor drew me in, and though I was hesitant to trust him, he gave me the space to discover my own power. Adrian never doubted me, not even when I doubted myself. His constant push for me to dig deeper, to understand the true extent of my abilities, changed me. He helped me realize that strength isn't just about brute force; it’s about strategy, control, and understanding the game. And though he always has a hint of arrogance, Adrian is the warlock who has always played the long game with me. Our eyes meet, and I can feel his thoughts brush against mine. "You’ve always been more than they knew," his voice whispers in my mind, and I can’t help but smile. He was right about me from the start.
Then there’s Lucien, with his wild energy and raw intensity. He was the one who taught me to harness my power, to move with it rather than try to control it. Lucien never held back, never softened his edges for me, and I realize now that was exactly what I needed. He made me realize that power isn’t something to be feared or kept at arm’s length. It’s something to be embraced, to be let loose when the time is right. Lucien’s fierce loyalty is unlike anything I’ve ever known—his desire to prove himself, not just to the others but to me, is palpable. As our gazes lock, I sense his mind touch mine. "You’re stronger than you know, witch," he says with a hint of pride. I feel a swell of warmth in my chest. Lucien believed in me when I didn’t believe in myself.
And then there’s Ronan. The one who has walked the line between loyalty and betrayal, the one who nearly lost himself in the hunger for power. He’s been both my enemy and my protector, his intentions constantly shifting. Yet even in his darkest moments, I saw something more in him—a warlock caught between the shadow and the light, desperate for purpose, for control over his own fate. Ronan’s struggle with his own desires mirrored my own, and in a strange way, that made us alike. He was the one I feared and the one who could have taken everything from me, but instead, he chose to stand by my side. His eyes meet mine now, and I sense the quiet war raging inside him. "You don’t have to be alone in this," he whispers mentally, his tone softer than I’ve ever heard it. In that moment, I know that he has finally chosen me—not just for his own gain but for something deeper, something real.
And then there’s Damien. He has protected me from the very beginning, his fierce loyalty unwavering, even when he was bound to the Order. Damien was the first to make me feel safe, even when I was thrust into this dangerous world. His strength has always been different from the others—it wasn’t just about power or dominance, but about something gentler, something steadier. He has always put me before himself, his quiet protectiveness wrapping around me like a shield. Damien never asked for anything in return, never demanded that I be anything other than myself. And though his connection to the Order has haunted him, he never let it change how he felt about me. I look into his eyes now, and I feel the depth of his emotions, his desire to break free from the chains that have bound him for so long. "You were the only thing that ever made me question my place," he admits silently, his voice low and filled with emotion. My heart tightens as I realize just how much he has sacrificed for me.
These men, these warlocks, have become more than just the ones who hunted me. They’ve shaped me, each in their own way, and now, as I stand before them, I see the truth of what we’ve become. I’ve been their prey, their temptation, their test—but now, I am their equal.
We are bound together now, not by the Hunt, but by choice.
As I release their powers back to them, I do more than just restore what was theirs. I give them a piece of myself, a piece of the magic that flows through my veins, binding us in a way that can never be undone. Adrian, Lucien, Ronan, and Damien—they are part of me now, and I am part of them.
The energy surges through them, amplifying their strength, and I can see the understanding in their eyes. They know what I’ve done. They’ve trusted me with their power, and in return, I’ve honored that trust.
We are bound together now, forever.