41. Selene
Chapter 41
Selene
I race through the council grounds, my heart pounding in my chest as I chase after my brothers. I can’t let Levi leave without trying to reason with him, to make him understand that revenge will only lead to more pain and suffering.
I spot Levi just as he’s climbing onto his motorcycle, Blake standing beside him. “Levi!” I call out desperately.
He turns to face me coldly. “What do you want, Selene?”
I swallow hard, trying to steady my nerves as I meet his gaze. “Please, you have to listen to me. Revenge won’t bring back our father. It’ll only tear us further apart.”
Levi’s eyes flash with anger, his fists clenching at his sides. “You think I don’t know that?” he snaps. “But those wolves took everything from us, Selene. They killed our father in cold blood.”
I reach out to him. “I know, but we can’t let hatred consume us. We have to find a way to move on, to honor our father’s memory without resorting to violence.”
Levi scoffs, shaking his head in disbelief. “Move on? How can you even say that?” he demands, his voice rising with anger. “You never cared about our father or our kind. You’re just like them, Selene. A traitor.”
His words cut deep. “That’s not true,” I protest, tears stinging my eyes. “I loved our father, and I love our kind. I would do anything to protect them.”
Levi’s gaze softens for a moment, but it’s quickly replaced by a steely resolve. “Prove it,” he challenges, his voice low and dangerous. “If you really want to prove yourself, you have to kill one of them—one member of the Night family.”
I recoil in horror at his words. “No,” I whisper disbelievingly. “I won’t do it, Levi. I won’t stoop to their level.”
But Levi’s expression hardens. “Then you’re no sister of mine,” he declares, revving the engine of his motorcycle. “Don’t bother coming back unless you’re ready to do what needs to be done. Blake already told you what we had planned, didn’t he?”
“Levi, wait!”
I can’t do this.
I cannot kill a member of Liam’s family. They have all been nice to me, well, except Layla, but I know that was just her protecting her brother. She does not have to die for being a little bitchy.
“What?”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Let’s just say it is payback for how they treated our parents. We aren’t going to just hold hands and sing kumbaya after that. They have to pay for their mistakes. They keep preaching that this was a war, but from my side, all I see are casualties. And Selene, in case you haven’t noticed, all the casualties have been vampires.”
“But… Levi…they did…they did not kill mom.” I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
Levi slaps his hands together, making me jump. “That bastard killed our father. The grief caused mom to… she fucking killed herself because of them. Two plus two, Selene. They killed our parents. They fucking took them from us.”
I look around for Blake, hoping he can at least talk some sense into our brother, but he is not there.
For years, thoughts of my family have only brought me fear and heartache. Every time I thought of Levi, all I saw was the dungeon where they kept the humans for their blood supply.
But here, right now, all I see is an angry man. Angry at the wolves’ betrayal and angry about the death of our parents.
Angry and hurt.
This is the same boy who taught me how to draw inside the lines and the names of all the colors.
He was once just a boy.
If our parents had been around, would he have turned out differently?
“I am sorry,” I whisper.
“Yeah?”
“I should have never run off like that.”
“You did what you thought was right, just like I am.”
“Yeah…
Does that mean you’ll do it? Will you kill one of them?”
“Levi…”
“There are fairies and wolves for you to pick from. An eye for an eye. They killed both our parents. They should be thankful we are only asking for one body as our pound of flesh. Call me when it is done, and then we can talk.”
And then he turns his back on me, revs the bike, and speeds off in the other direction.
I feel tears sting my eyes.
I am not capable of murder, but am I okay standing by and watching these people decide the fate of my species… of my family?
Does choosing Liam mean I have to let go of Levi and Blake?
Must I lose one or the other?
I turn to walk back to the council room. As I approach, I see Liam waiting for me, and a pang of panic shoots through me. How long has he been there? I thought he went back inside to his parents.
“I’ve only been out here for a couple of minutes,” Liam reassures me.
I let out a shaky breath, relieved. “I thought... never mind,” I say, shaking my head to clear my thoughts.
Liam looks at me, concern etched on his face. “What’s wrong, Selene? What happened with Levi?”
I take a deep breath, steeling myself to tell him the truth. “Levi is... he’s leading the rebellion against the council.”
Liam’s eyes widen in shock. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asks, obviously hurt. “I could have helped you.”
“How?”
“I don’t know. We could have told the council and figured something out.”
Without meaning to, I scoff. “That council? The very same people that just stood by and watched.”
“Selene! Don’t make this into something else. You and I both know that you should have been truthful. I asked how many vampires were here, and you said two…”
“I wanted to give him one more chance to change his mind,” I admit, tears welling up in my eyes. “I thought maybe I could talk him out of it, make him see reason. He’s my brother.”
“Well, did he?”
“Why are you fucking turning on me? What have I not done? I sat through all your bullshit, through all your family’s bullshit, and this is how you repay me?”
Liam wraps his arms around me, pulling me close. “I’m sorry, Selene. You’re right,” he whispers. “I just wish you would’ve let me help, to be there for you.”
I lean into his embrace. “It’s okay,” I say, wiping away my tears. “We’ll figure this out. Together.”
“Yes, we will, baby, if we only learn to trust each other.”
I let his warmth comfort me. “Yeah.”
“So, what did you two talk about out there?”
Not this.
Not now.
Not ever.
“ Liam, please, let’s talk about something else. How are your parents?”
“Don’t fucking do that?”
“ Do what?”
As we pull away from each other, Liam looks at me with a serious expression. “Selene, I am going to ask you one question, and I need you to be straight with me. He is your family, and I understand you want to protect him. But this is mine, and I will do anything to protect them.”
“Liam…”
“So, will you do as your brother asks?” he asks, his voice low and solemn.
I feel a lump form in my throat at his question. “What do you mean?” I ask with dread.
Liam takes a step back, his gaze unwavering. “Who do you plan on sacrificing as the pound of flesh?”
I flinch at his question.
I was just contemplating betraying my entire family for a man who does not trust me!