Selene's POV
"My father betrayed me."
I say the words out loud as Kael drives. I need to hear them. Need to make them real. Because part of me still can't believe it.
"Yes," Kael says quietly. He doesn't sugarcoat it. I appreciate that.
"Why?" My voice cracks. "I'm his daughter. Why would he help Ryan destroy me?"
Kael's hands tighten on the steering wheel. "Money. Power. Or maybe something darker."
"Darker how?"
He glances at me. "I told you. Ryan and Vivienne are reincarnations. Souls that have done this before. Sometimes other souls get... influenced. Pulled into the pattern without knowing why."
"You think my father is being controlled?"
"Maybe. Or maybe he's just a terrible person." Kael's voice is cold. "Not everyone needs a supernatural excuse to betray their children."
The words hurt. But they're true. I've been making excuses for my parents my whole life. Maybe they really are just cruel.
We pull up to a huge glass building downtown. The sign reads: "First National Bank - Executive Offices."
"Why are we at a bank?" I ask.
"To buy your company back." Kael gets out and opens my door. "Stay close to me. Let me do the talking."
Inside, everyone stares at us. At him, really. Kael moves like he owns the world. People step out of his way automatically.
A woman in a business suit rushes over. "Mr. Ashwraith! We weren't expecting you today."
"I need to speak with Marcus." Kael doesn't slow down. "Now."
"Of course. Right this way."
She leads us to an elevator that needs a special key. We go up to the top floor. My stomach does flips. Everything is happening so fast.
The elevator opens to an office with windows on every wall. A man in his fifties stands behind a massive desk. When he sees Kael, he smiles.
"Kael! What brings you—" He stops when he sees me. His smile falters. "Is that..."
"Yes," Kael says shortly. "Marcus, I need you to buy Moonlight Events. Today."
Marcus blinks. "The event planning company? The one that's been in the news?"
"That's the one."
"Kael, that company is a mess right now. The owner was caught embezzling—"
"The owner was framed," Kael interrupts. His voice gets dangerous. "By her fiancé and sister. They forged documents and stole everything from her."
Marcus looks at me with new interest. "You're Selene Carter."
I lift my chin. "Yes."
"And you're saying the embezzlement was fake?"
"I can prove it," I say. My voice is stronger than I feel. "The signatures on those documents aren't mine. The transfers were made from an IP address I've never used. And the timing—everything happened while I was busy planning my engagement party. Someone wanted me distracted."
Marcus studies me for a long moment. Then he looks at Kael. "You believe her."
"I know she's telling the truth," Kael says. "And I want that company. How much?"
"The bank is holding it as collateral while the investigation continues. Current market value is around two million, but with the scandal..." Marcus taps his computer. "We'd let it go for one point five."
"I'll give you three million," Kael says. "Cash. Today. But I want full ownership transferred immediately. No waiting period."
Marcus's eyes widen. "Three million? Kael, that's double what it's worth."
"I know what it's worth." Kael pulls out his phone. "I'm transferring the money now. Have your lawyers draw up the papers."
"Wait." I grab Kael's arm. "You can't just buy my company. That's—that's too much. I can't pay you back."
Kael looks at me. His silver eyes are intense. "I'm not buying it for me. I'm buying it for you. The ownership papers will be in your name."
"But three million dollars—"
"Is nothing to me." He turns back to Marcus. "The money's transferred. Send the papers to my lawyer."
Marcus checks his computer. His face goes pale. "It's already here. Kael, you're serious about this."
"I'm always serious about protecting what's mine."
The way he says "what's mine" makes my heart skip. He's looking at Marcus, but I feel like he's talking about me.
Thirty minutes later, we're back in the car. I'm holding papers that say I own Moonlight Events again. My company. Mine.
"I don't understand," I say. "Why would you do this? You don't even know me."
Kael is quiet for a moment. Then: "What if I told you I've known you for a thousand years?"
"I'd say you're crazy."
"Maybe I am." He starts driving. "But crazy or not, in two weeks we're going to crash Ryan and Vivienne's wedding. And we're going to destroy them using the company they tried to steal from you."
A thrill runs through me. Revenge. I never thought I was the revenge type. But after everything they did...
"What's the plan?" I ask.
"First, we need proof that they framed you. Real, solid proof that even your parents can't deny."
"How do we get that?"
Kael smiles. It's not a nice smile. "We break into Ryan's office and find the original documents. The ones he used to forge your signature."
"That's illegal."
"So is fraud." Kael glances at me. "Are you in or out, Selene?"
I should say out. I should walk away from this dangerous, mysterious man who claims to have loved me for a thousand years.
But he just spent three million dollars to give me back my company. He's the only person who believes me. The only person willing to help.
"I'm in," I say.
"Good." Kael's smile grows. "Because we're breaking in tonight."
My phone—Kael's phone that he let me keep—buzzes. A text from an unknown number:
"Selene, it's Mom. Your father and I need to talk to you. Come to the house. Alone. Tonight at 8 PM. This is important. Don't bring anyone."
My blood runs cold. "Kael..."
He reads the message over my shoulder. His face goes dark.
"It's a trap," he says immediately.
"You don't know that."
"I know that your father helped frame you. I know that Ryan and Vivienne want you gone. And I know that in every single one of your past lives, your betrayers always make one final move." His silver eyes meet mine. "They try to finish what they started. They try to kill you."
"My parents wouldn't kill me."
"Your parents aren't your parents anymore. Not if they're working with Ryan." Kael grabs my hand. "Selene, please. Don't go."
But I need to know. I need to hear it from them. Why they did this. Why they hate me so much.
"What if this is my only chance to get answers?" I ask quietly.
Kael's jaw clenches. "Then I'm coming with you."
"The text says to come alone."
"I don't care." His grip on my hand tightens. "I'm not letting you walk into danger alone. Not again."
There's so much pain in his voice. Like he's remembering something terrible.
"Okay," I whisper. "We'll go together."
Kael nods. But his face stays worried.
We drive in silence. My parents' house gets closer with every mile. The house where I grew up. Where I was never good enough. Where Vivienne was always the favorite.
"Kael," I say. "If this is a trap... if something happens to me..."
"Nothing will happen to you."
"But if it does—"
"It won't." He looks at me. "I've spent a thousand years losing you. I'm not losing you again. I'd burn the world down first."
The intensity in his voice should scare me. But instead, I feel safe.
We pull up to my parents' house at exactly 8 PM. All the lights are on. My father's car is in the driveway. So is Vivienne's.
"They're all here," I whisper.
Kael studies the house. "Something's wrong."
"What?"
"I don't know. But I feel it." He pulls out his phone and texts someone. "I'm calling Thorne. He'll wait nearby in case we need backup."
"You really think it's that serious?"
Kael looks at me with ancient, sad eyes. "In the sixth life, your family poisoned you at dinner. In the thirteenth life, they pushed you down the stairs. In the fifteenth life—" His voice breaks. "They're capable of anything, Selene. Your face changes but the pattern stays the same."
A chill runs down my spine.
We walk to the front door together. I raise my hand to knock.
The door swings open before I touch it.
My mother stands there. Her face is blank. Empty.
"Selene," she says flatly. "You came. Good."
"Mom, I need to talk to you about what happened. Dad helped Ryan frame me and I need to know—"
"Come inside." She turns and walks away. Like I'm a stranger. Not her daughter.
I look at Kael. He nods. We step inside together.
The house is too quiet. No TV. No music. Just silence.
We walk into the living room.
My father sits in his usual chair. Vivienne sits on the couch.
And next to her, smiling like the cat who caught the mouse, is Ryan.
"Hello, Selene," Ryan says. "Glad you could make it. We've been waiting for you."
The front door slams shut behind us.
I spin around. Two large men block the exit. Security guards. The same ones from the hotel.
"What is this?" I demand.
My father stands. His face is cold. "This is an intervention, Selene. You've lost your mind. You're making accusations. Harassing Ryan and your sister. We can't allow it to continue."
"I'm not harassing anyone! You helped them destroy me!"
"You destroyed yourself," Vivienne says. She stands and walks toward me. "Poor, pathetic Selene. Always playing the victim."
She's holding something behind her back.
Kael steps in front of me. "Whatever you're planning, don't."
Ryan laughs. "Or what? You'll call the police? Good luck with that." He pulls out his phone and shows us a document. "This is a psychiatric evaluation. Signed by Dr. Morrison. It says Selene Carter is a danger to herself and others. She needs immediate hospitalization."
No. No no no.
"That's fake," I say. "I never saw a psychiatrist."
"Dr. Morrison is very convincing," my mother says emotionlessly. "He'll testify that you've been having delusions. Violent outbursts. He'll recommend a facility where you'll be... comfortable."
"You mean locked up," Kael growls.
"For her own good," my father says. He nods to the guards. "Take her."
The guards move toward us.
Kael's eyes flash silver—actually flash, glowing in the dim light. "Touch her and I'll break every bone in your body."
Everyone freezes.
Ryan's smile fades. "What the hell..."
Vivienne gasps. "His eyes! Did you see—"
"He's one of them," my mother whispers. Her voice sounds different. Scared. "The watchers. The old ones."
How does my mother know about that?
Kael's whole body goes rigid. "What did you just say?"
My mother's eyes roll back in her head. When she speaks again, it's not her voice. It's deeper. Ancient.
"The eighteenth life ends tonight," the voice says through my mother. "The cycle must complete. The priestess must die so the magic can be harvested. It has been written. It has been done. Seventeen times before. Seventeen times again."
Terror floods through me.
"Mom?" I whisper.
But my mother isn't my mother anymore. Something else is looking out through her eyes.
And it wants me dead.
Vivienne pulls her hand from behind her back.
She's holding a knife.