Chapter 11 - Into the UnknownSelene hit the water like a stone.The icy river swallowed her whole, tearing the breath from her lungs. The current seized her, dragging her beneath the surface. Darkness closed in, her body tumbling through the roaring chaos.She fought, kicking hard, but the water was relentless, yanking her deeper. Her lungs burned. The cold seeped into her bones.Then—fingers brushed hers.Ronan.She reached for him, but the current wrenched them apart.No. No, no, no—A jagged rock loomed ahead. She twisted, barely avoiding it, only for another to slam into her ribs. Pain exploded through her side. The world blurred.Then—light.The current spat her out, tossing her violently onto the riverbank. She crashed against the mud, coughing, gasping. Water poured from her mouth as she dragged in a ragged breath.The river roared beside her, its icy fingers still trying to pull her back. But she was out. She was alive.Selene forced herself onto her hands and knees, her body
Selene’s grip tightened around her dagger as Cassian stepped into the cabin.He looked like hell—dried blood caked his forehead, his shirt was torn, and his movements were slow and stiff. But it wasn’t just him that set her on edge.It was the stranger beside him.Tall, draped in dark armor, his face obscured by a hood. The air around him felt wrong—as if the shadows bent toward him, clinging to his presence.Selene’s pulse pounded. Ronan shifted beside her, his body tense despite his injuries.Cassian exhaled, dragging a hand through his damp hair. “Relax, Selene. If I wanted you dead, I wouldn’t have just saved your life.”“Saved?” Ronan scoffed. “You mean led our enemies straight to us?”Cassian’s jaw tightened. “I just barely got out alive. Trust me, I didn’t lead them anywhere.”Selene narrowed her eyes, studying him. He looked… exhausted. And for once, honest.Her gaze flicked to the stranger. “Who is he?”Cassian hesitated. Then, “A messenger.”The stranger stepped forward, low
Selene paced the length of the cabin, her mind spinning.The stranger’s words echoed in her head.Turn yourself in… or watch innocent people suffer.Her brother was ruthless, but she had never imagined he would go this far. The thought of entire villages burning just to lure her out made her stomach churn.But surrendering? That wasn’t an option.If she gave herself up, she wouldn’t survive long enough to make a difference. Worse, Ronan wouldn’t survive either. Her brother wouldn’t just kill him—he’d make an example of him.Her hands clenched into fists. There had to be another way.A low groan pulled her from her thoughts.Ronan.He was slumped against the wall, his breathing uneven, his face paler than before. Sweat dampened his dark hair, and the bandages wrapped around his torso were soaked through with fresh blood.Selene’s heart clenched. He’s getting worse.She crossed the room in seconds and dropped to her knees beside him. “Ronan.”He exhaled shakily but forced a smirk. “You
Silence stretched through the cabin.Selene’s heart pounded as she stared at the door. That voice… It was impossible.Ronan shifted beside her, wincing from the effort. His golden eyes flicked to hers. “Who is it?”She swallowed hard, gripping her dagger tighter. “I don’t know how, but… I know that voice.”Cassian drew his sword. “Then we assume it’s a threat.”The knock came again—firmer this time.“Selene, open up. We don’t have much time.”She hesitated. The voice belonged to someone she had once trusted. Someone she had believed was dead.Against her better judgment, she reached for the door. Cassian tensed, ready to strike, and Ronan—despite his obvious pain—shifted into a defensive position.Selene’s fingers curled around the handle. She exhaled sharply and pulled it open.A man stepped inside, hood drawn over his face. His boots were caked with mud, his dark cloak dripping from the night rain. He pushed back his hood—and Selene’s breath caught.“Varian,” she whispered.The man’
The night air was thick with the scent of blood and damp earth. The bodies of the fallen soldiers lay motionless around them, their cooling flesh a stark reminder of the trap they had barely escaped.Selene wiped the sweat from her brow, her heart still hammering in her chest. Too close. They had almost been caught, almost been killed. And now, they had no choice but to keep running.Cassian was already pulling the last of the bodies into the underbrush, his movements quick and practiced. “This won’t buy us much time,” he muttered. “If they don’t check in soon, more will come looking.”Varian sheathed his bloodied dagger, his sharp gaze scanning the treeline. “Then we need to be gone before they do.”Selene turned to Ronan, worry tightening in her chest. He was breathing heavily, a hand pressed against his side where his earlier wound had reopened. Too much strain. Too much blood loss.“You’re getting worse,” she said, stepping toward him.“I’m fine,” Ronan ground out, but his stance
The night had settled thick and heavy around the ruined watchtower, but Selene couldn’t shake the feeling that they weren’t alone. The wind whispered through the trees, carrying an unease that settled deep in her bones.She sat beside Ronan, pressing a cool cloth to his forehead. His fever hadn’t broken, and though his breathing had steadied, his body was still burning with heat. His dark lashes fluttered against his cheek, his usual sharp expression softened by exhaustion.“You’re still awake,” his voice was hoarse, barely above a whisper.Selene smirked slightly. “Someone has to make sure you don’t die in your sleep.”Ronan huffed a quiet laugh, but his eyes remained heavy-lidded. “You’re always watching over me.”Her fingers froze against his skin. It wasn’t an accusation, but a realization. He was too weak to hide behind his usual walls, and something about that made her heart clench.“Someone has to,” she murmured.His hand, rough and calloused, lifted weakly, brushing against he
The scent of blood and smoke hung thick in the air as Selene crouched beside Ronan, her fingers pressing against his chest to check for injuries. His breathing was labored, but steady—for now. He had fought fiercely, despite his wounds, but she could see exhaustion settling in his sharp features. The attack had been too precise, too calculated. Someone had led them into this.A few feet away, Cassian wiped his blade clean, his golden eyes flicking toward the darkened tree line. “They won’t stop hunting us,” he muttered. “We got lucky this time, but next time—”“Next time, we’ll be ready,” Varian interrupted, standing with his arms crossed. His eyes glinted with suspicion as he turned toward Cassian. “If you’re not planning on leading us into another trap, that is.”Cassian’s expression darkened. “Watch your mouth.”Selene exhaled sharply. “Enough. Both of you.” She looked between them, frustration simmering beneath her skin. “We don’t have time for this. We need to get as far away fro
Selene’s dagger flew through the air, slicing toward her brother’s second-in-command. He dodged at the last second, but the blade still nicked his cheek, drawing blood.“That was a mistake,” he growled.And then the fight erupted.The surrounding soldiers lunged forward, swords flashing in the dim firelight. Cassian was the first to move, blocking a strike meant for Selene. His blade clashed against the enemy’s, the force of the impact sending sparks flying.Varian pulled twin daggers from his belt and threw himself into the fray, moving with lethal precision. His knives found their marks, cutting through the chaos, but for every man he struck down, another took his place.Selene spun, dodging a sword aimed at her ribs. She countered, slicing across the attacker’s arm before slamming her knee into his chest, sending him sprawling. But the moment she caught her breath, another enemy was already upon her.The fight was relentless. And they were losing.A strangled gasp pulled Selene’s a
The forest trembled with an unnatural stillness. Even the wind had ceased its whispering, as if nature itself braced for what was to come. Selene’s pulse thundered in her ears as she stood at the edge of the ruined temple, her dagger clenched tight in her palm. The flickering torches lining the crumbling walls barely held back the darkness, their glow casting twisted shadows over the figures waiting inside.Elias stood at the center, draped in a cloak as dark as the abyss, his piercing gaze locking onto her with unsettling ease. Beside him, a row of armed warriors stood like statues, their expressions cold and unreadable. The air was thick with the scent of blood and damp stone, a warning of the battle yet to come.Selene took a cautious step forward, her breath shallow. Behind her, Ronan’s presence burned like a wildfire, his heat radiating against her back. He was struggling—she could feel it. His breathing was too heavy, his stance too rigid. The transformation was devouring him, p
The fire crackled softly in the dimly lit cabin, casting flickering shadows across the wooden walls. The air was thick with the scent of burning embers and damp earth, remnants of the storm that had passed through the forest. Selene sat at Ronan’s bedside, her fingers lightly tracing the back of his hand, reassuring herself that he was truly there—that he was truly free.His breathing was steady, but his body bore the marks of Elias’s control. Faint bruises marred his skin, as if the dark magic had tried to root itself inside him. She had barely slept, afraid that if she closed her eyes, he would slip away again.Ronan stirred, his lashes fluttering open to reveal those deep, stormy eyes she had memorized. For a brief moment, confusion flickered across his face, but then his gaze found hers, and his body relaxed.“Selene…” His voice was hoarse, as if he had been speaking through a void for days.She squeezed his hand. “You’re awake.” Relief flooded her, but it was laced with something
Selene’s heart pounded as she stepped closer to Ronan. His eyes—once filled with fire and devotion—were now cold, distant, and shadowed by Elias’s power. He stood rigid, his muscles tense as if restrained by invisible chains. Every instinct told her to run, that this wasn’t the man she had fought beside, the man who had kissed her like she was his salvation.But she wasn’t leaving him behind.“Ronan.” Her voice was steady, but her heart trembled. “Look at me.”He didn’t move.Elias’s laughter echoed in the air, smooth and mocking. “You truly believe love can break my hold on him? You overestimate your worth, Selene.”She clenched her fists. “I don’t need to be enough for you. I just need to be enough for him.”Taking a shaky breath, she reached out, pressing her palm against Ronan’s chest. A shiver ran through her as she felt the unnatural chill of Elias’s magic seeping into him.“Come back to me,” she whispered.For a moment, nothing happened. Then—a flicker. His jaw clenched, a musc
The night was thick with mist, curling like phantom fingers around the ruins ahead. Selene barely felt the chill biting at her skin as she pressed forward, her heart a relentless drum in her chest. Ronan was out there—she could feel it, a tether between them that hadn’t broken despite the darkness trying to consume him.“Selene, wait,” Cassian hissed from behind, catching her wrist. His grip was firm but not forceful, his golden eyes scanning the eerie landscape with caution. “Rushing in without a plan is suicide.”“We don’t have time for a plan,” she shot back, wrenching her arm free. “If Elias tightens his grip on Ronan, we might lose him forever.”Cassian exhaled sharply, but he didn’t argue. He understood—perhaps too well. They had been tracking Ronan’s presence for hours, every lead drawing them deeper into the ruins of an ancient fortress long abandoned to shadows and whispered nightmares.The entrance yawned before them like the mouth of a beast. Selene barely hesitated before
Selene’s breath caught as she stared at Ronan—no, Elias—standing before her, his emerald eyes now laced with an unnatural, eerie glow. The body was Ronan’s, the sharp lines of his face and the battle-worn strength she had come to trust. But the way he moved, the way he smiled—it was all wrong.“Selene,” Elias purred, his voice a twisted echo of Ronan’s. “You look at me like I’m a ghost. Am I not real enough for you?”Her pulse thundered in her ears. “Let him go.”Elias tilted his head, a mockery of thoughtfulness. “Let him go? Oh, darling, I just got here. I don’t think I’ll be leaving anytime soon.”Cassian moved first, drawing his sword in a blur of silver. “Then we’ll force you out.”Elias smirked, shifting his gaze to Cassian. “Ah, the ever-loyal knight. You know, Ronan truly despises you.” His fingers flexed at his sides, and a rush of dark energy flared around him. “Shall I show you just how much?”Cassian lunged, but Selene threw out her arm. “Wait!”Cassian froze, his blade in
A heavy silence settled over the group as they moved through the dense forest, the night pressing in from all sides. The air was thick with damp earth and the lingering scent of blood. Selene stole a glance at Ronan. His jaw was clenched, his movements stiff, but it wasn’t exhaustion slowing him down—it was something worse.She had seen it in his eyes when Elias’s voice had echoed through the night. The way his hands had trembled. The way he had flinched, as if the voice had reached inside him and wrapped around his very soul.But he wouldn’t talk about it.And that scared her more than anything.Cassian was the first to break the silence. “We need to find shelter before dawn.” His voice was sharp, his usual sarcasm gone. “Ronan’s in no condition to keep moving.”“I’m fine,” Ronan growled, but even as he spoke, he swayed slightly.Selene stepped closer, gripping his arm. “You’re not fine.”His skin was burning beneath her fingers, feverish and unnatural. The black veins running up his
The clash of steel rang through the night, echoing against the jagged cliffs. Selene barely had time to dodge as a cloaked attacker lunged at her, twin daggers gleaming under the moonlight. She twisted away, slicing her blade across his arm, but he barely flinched.They weren’t ordinary warriors. Their movements were too precise, too fast. Magic pulsed through them like a dark current.Cassian was holding his own, his sword carving through the enemy ranks with brutal efficiency. But Selene’s attention snapped to Ronan—his breathing was ragged, his hands trembling as black veins pulsed beneath his skin.Not now.“Ronan!” she called, shoving back an attacker. “Stay with me!”He clutched his head, staggering. His golden eyes burned with an unnatural glow, his body vibrating with power. The very air around him seemed to crackle.Then, he moved.Lightning-fast, he grabbed an enemy’s throat and lifted him effortlessly off the ground. The man thrashed, choking, as Ronan’s grip tightened.“Ro
The night was thick with silence, the kind that felt alive—watching, waiting. The small cavern where Selene and Ronan had taken shelter was barely enough to keep the cold at bay, but neither of them seemed to care. Not when his transformation was worsening.Ronan sat against the jagged rock wall, his breath coming in slow, measured exhales. His body trembled—not from weakness, but from something deeper. Something unknown.Selene knelt beside him, dipping a cloth into the cool water from a small stream running along the cave floor. The dim glow of moonlight barely reached them, casting Ronan’s features in harsh, shadowed angles. He looked different—not just wounded, but… altered.His skin burned under her touch as she pressed the damp cloth to his brow. He tensed, jaw tightening, but he didn’t pull away.“You’re burning up,” she murmured.Ronan let out a ragged chuckle. “Feels like my insides are breaking apart and stitching themselves back together.”A chill ran through Selene. That w
The night air was thick with the scent of damp earth and lingering embers, the remnants of their last battle still smoldering in the distance. Selene sat beside Ronan, her fingers gliding gently over his bandaged arm, feeling the warmth of his skin beneath her touch. He was awake but silent, his golden eyes staring into the darkness, troubled and distant. “You’re still here,” he murmured, his voice rough with exhaustion. Selene arched a brow. “Where else would I be?” Ronan exhaled sharply, shaking his head. “You should keep your distance.” She didn’t move. “Why?” He flexed his fingers, then clenched them into a fist. “Because I don’t trust myself anymore.” A chill passed through her, but she didn’t let it show. “Then trust me,” she said softly. “Trust that I won’t let you lose yourself.” His jaw tightened, but he didn’t argue. Silence stretched between them, heavy with unspoken words. Selene could see the war raging inside him—the fear, the guilt, the torment of nearly