Selene's pov
Darius helped me draw the heavy curtains tight to block the moonlight streaking in, but now I wish I had told him to leave them the way they were. Perhaps the light would have helped me get some strength. I was already leaning towards unconsciousness, and the dim blue light in the room was not helping matters.
I tried to move my body, but it was unresponsive, the weight of my failed magic bearing down on me like a smothering blanket. I should have just stopped meddling with things I did not understand.
That was what Darius had told me, and it was terribly true. My limbs ached, and I couldn't seem to open my eyes more than just a crack. I really didn't want to black out, but it seemed like there was no other choice for me.
The smell hits me first, the smoke and something wild rising before the door opens. How many werewolves had access to my room without my consent?
This one was familiar. I didn't like that it had become familiar, but I surely did recognize Lucian's scent even as his footsteps came closer.
I saw his shadow stretch across the room as he approached the bed, and I wanted to flinch. Did he have to come close to me?
He stopped just short of the bed, hovering over me like he was deliberating something.
I wanted to scream at him, to demand why he was keeping me here and what his intentions were. I was living a very happy, contented life until he came along and destroyed everything. So how come I was the one weakened and he was still standing there, strong as ever? Why was everything going according to his plan?
No words came out though. I was too weak to even move my mouth to speak. Pathetic. My throat was dry, voice buried under layers of exhaustion, so I resorted to watching him stare.
"Look what you've done to yourself," he said in a surprisingly gentle voice. It was so low that I barely heard it, more whisper to himself than to me.
My heart gave a treacherous flutter.
He sighed, shoulders moving up and down with the motion. Then he reached out and brushed a strand of my hair away from my face.
The touch was fleeting, but it was enough to send a wave of electricity through my skin. What was going on here, and why was my heart suddenly beating very fast?
My breath hitched with the effort of trying to summon the strength to confront him. "Why are you doing this?" I wanted to ask. "Why are you pretending to care? And don't you dare touch me again."
The questions screamed in my mind, but my lips remained sealed.
He had a conflicted look on his face, and his hand hovered just above my cheek as though he was contemplating touching me again.
He thought better of it, pulling back sharply and taking a step away from me. He stood there for a moment, his jaw tight, before turning and striding towards the door.
The low click of it closing behind him was the last thing I heard before succumbing to the darkness.
---
The soft sound of something clinking nearby brought me back into consciousness. Perhaps it was glass on metal, but I couldn't be sure.
My body felt lighter now, though still weak, and thankfully the ache in my limbs had dulled to a manageable throb.
My eyes fluttered open, the room spinning briefly before settling. I squinted at a small figure seated by the small table in the corner.
"Oh, you are awake!" The woman's voice was smooth, almost musical, her grey eyes sharp and attentive. I sure hoped she was not another person related to Lucian.
"Who—" my voice cracked, and I swallowed hard before trying again. "Who are you?"
She glided towards me with an air of grace that seemed so effortless, I was jealous for a fraction of a second.
"Raven," she said simply, smile widening. "Advisor to the Alpha pack. I've been helping you recover after your little stunt. That was impressive, by the way, but really reckless. It's no wonder that you've been out cold for days."
My eyes widened. "Days?"
"Two, to be precise," she flicked her golden hair over her shoulder. "You were barely recovered from what happened before, and then you had to go and meddle in things you don't understand. Not very wise unless you seriously wanted a reason to go unconscious."
"You were really burned out. You're lucky I stepped in. Your body needed the rest, and of course, the mate bond you share with Lucian complicated things also."
Once again, someone was making reference to that bond that I didn't know what it meant.
"This bond was mentioned to me before, but I don't understand what it's about."
"Oh, he hasn't explained yet? Typical of him." She sounded pleasant enough, but I reminded myself not to forget that she was Lucian's advisor. Perhaps she even had a hand in his decision to bring me here. I could not start trusting her.
"Well, do the honors to explain?"
"The connection between you two is unique," she began, settling herself down on the spot beside me. "That's why you feel drawn to him, no matter how much you resist it."
I bristled, turning away from her. "I'm not drawn to him!" She made it sound like I was hopelessly attracted to him, which was so untrue.
She laughed softly. "Of course you're not." She leaned closer to me. "The bond ties you to Lucian whether you like it or not. That's why you feel like your body has been through a wringer. It's unique, but it also makes you vulnerable. You must tread carefully unless you want to dissipate."
I flinched at the way she said the last word so lightly, with a smile on her face even. "Dissipate?" I asked.
"It's what happens when you burn yourself too much and your body cannot contain the exhaustion any longer."
I blinked slowly at her. That sounded terrible.