I nod. “You think he orchestrated the whole thing?”
“I don’t know yet. But I’m going to find out.” Leon stands,steadier on his feet than he should be after all that whiskey. “In the meantime, you need to keep an eye on Selene.”
I scowl. “Easier said than done. She can barely stand to be in the same room as me. Ever since the bond disappeared on her end, she has started acting out. I didn’t even know she could say such vindictive things.”
“Vindictive things?” Leon studies me. “What did you do to make her talk to you like that?”
I look away, and he kicks me in the leg. “You’re a fool, Seth. A bigger fool than I ever anticipated. And here I thought you were good with women.”
“I just wanted her to think I was an asshole, and then maybe she’d reject me!” I burst out.
“Yeah? Well, you are an asshole. If you hate her so much, why didn’t you reject her yourself?”
“I don’t hate her!” I growl. “I just—” Another sigh escapes me. “She would never survive in my family, Leon. You know how domineering everyone is. They would eat her alive.”
“You didn’t even give her a chance before you decided that.” It’s rare for Leon to sound so angry. “If that’s why you’ve been pushing her away, then you don’t deserve her.”
I frown. “I just—”
“I don’t want to hear it.” Leon presses his fingers to his temple as if the very sound of my voice is giving him a headache. “Figure out a way to keep an eye on her. Because if Zane is using her for something, if this bond is fake somehow, she’s in danger, whether she realizes it or not. In the meantime, we’ll have to tell Lucian. There’s no hiding this from him.”
I already figured as much.
“Fine.” The idea of Selene being used by someone makes me feel uncomfortable. I may have been harsh with her, but it was to make sure she stayed away from me. I don’t want her to get hurt. My wolf snarls at the idea.
As we return to the palace, I keep thinking about how Selene smiled at Zane—and how she has never smiled at me like that.
The palace groundsare quiet at this hour, well past midnight, with nothing but the sound of my boots against stone and the occasional hoot of an owl. My squadron has guard duty tonight, and I’ve been walking the perimeter for the past two hours, my mind still churning over my conversation with Leon.
“Nobody gets two fated mates.”
The words keep circling in my head like vultures. Leon’s right; I know he’s right. But what does that mean? That Selene’s lying? That Zane is manipulating her somehow?
My wolf paces in my mind, agitated in a way that makes my skin crawl. Something feels wrong tonight. Off. Like the air itself is holding its breath.
I’m near the eastern wall when I see a figure in white drifting across the lawn toward the tree line. Pale fabric catching the moonlight, dark hair loose and flowing. My heart stutters in my chest.
“Hey!” I call out sharply. “The forest is off-limits after dark!”
The figure doesn’t stop. Doesn’t even pause. Just keeps walking with slow, measured steps toward the woods.
Warning bells go off in my head. I break into a jog, wanting to cover the long distance quickly. “I said stop!”
Still nothing. No response, no acknowledgment. The figure just keeps moving forward with that same mechanical gait.
I’m close enough now to see details—bare feet, a thin nightdress, dark hair falling loose past her shoulders.
Something about the way she moves sets off every alarm in my body. I angle my approach to catch a glimpse of her face.
Auburn hair. Pale skin.
“Selene?”
My stomach drops, and I stop in my tracks. What the hell is she doing out here at this hour, dressed like that?
She doesn’t turn. Doesn’t react at all. She just keeps walking, her footsteps heavy and sluggish, like she’s moving through water.
Every instinct I have screams that something is wrong.Whatever this is—sleepwalking, a spell, some kind of compulsion—she needs help. I make the decision in a heartbeat and sprint after her, my wolf howling in panic.
