MasukSelene's POV Everything happens incredibly fast after that, swords crash violently against each other, creating deafening sounds. Warriors scream in pain and fury as they fight, and blood sprays onto the ground and the trees around us.I draw my own sword and manage to block the first attack that comes directly at me. The blade vibrates painfully in my hands from the hard impact.A second warrior lunges at me from my left side. I dodge just in time and swing my sword, managing to catch him across the arm. He yelps in pain and stumbles backward away from me.But then a third warrior comes at me from behind when I'm not looking. I spin quickly to face him, but my legs feel strangely heavy and slow.What's wrong with me right now?I manage to block his strike at the last second, but just barely. My arms are shaking badly from the effort.A fourth warrior charges straight at me with his sword raised. I try desperately to move out of the way, but my body won't respond fast enough to my co
Selene's POVWe walk through the forest in complete silence, and nobody speaks a single word to each other. The only sounds filling the air are our footsteps crushing leaves and branches snapping under our boots as we move forward.I keep my eyes focused straight ahead, trying desperately not to think about what just happened with Garrick only minutes ago. Trying not to feel the unwanted pressure of his lips on mine or see the deep hurt that filled his eyes when I told him to leave and never come back.But mostly I'm trying not to think about how Casimir reacted to seeing that kiss, how violent he became in just seconds, and how possessive his words sounded when he screamed at Garrick.He called me his, like I belonged to him completely.I glance sideways at him walking beside me, noticing his jaw is still tight with anger, and his hands are clenched into fists at his sides. Blood has dried on his knuckles from punching Garrick repeatedly in the face."We should reach the Forbidden Li
Ronan's POVMy hands squeeze tighter around Garrick's throat. His face turns red, then purple. His hands claw at my wrists, trying to break free."Casimir, stop!" Selene screams behind me. "You're killing him!""Good!" I snarl.Her hands grab my shoulders, pulling hard. "Please! Let him go!"I don't want to. Every part of me wants to watch the life drain from his eyes. He kissed her. He dared to touch what's mine.But Selene's voice cracks when she says my name again. "Ronan, please."That name from her lips breaks through the rage. My grip loosens just enough for Garrick to gasp for air."Get off him!" Selene yanks at my arm.I stand up slowly, breathing hard. Garrick rolls onto his side, coughing and wheezing.Selene moves toward him, but I step in front of her. "Don't.""He needs help—""He needs to leave," I say. "Right now. Before I change my mind about letting him live."Garrick pushes himself up onto his hands and knees, still coughing. "Seraphina—""Don't talk to her," I warn.
Ronan's POVThe second Garrick's lips touch Selene's mouth, something inside me explodes.I don't think. I just move.My fist connects with his jaw before anyone can blink. The sound of bone hitting bone echoes through the forest.Garrick stumbles backward, blood already dripping from his split lip."What the hell?" he shouts, touching his mouth."Don't you ever touch her again!" I roar, lunging at him.But Selene jumps between us, her hands pressed against my chest. "Casimir, stop!""Move aside, Seraphina," I growl, trying to push past her."No!" She shoves me harder. "What's wrong with you?"I can't explain it. I can't tell her why watching him kiss her felt like someone ripped my heart out through my throat. All I know is rage, pure and burning.Garrick wipes the blood from his mouth, his eyes hard. "You don't own her, Casimir. You're her brother, not her keeper.""I said don't touch her!" I shove Selene aside, not hard enough to hurt her, just enough to get her out of my way.Garr
Selene's POV I walk down the hallway and find Helena waiting for me outside my door. Her eyes are red and puffy like she's been crying all night."My lady," she says, her voice breaking. "Please come back safely. Please."She grabs both my hands and squeezes them so tight it almost hurts."Helena, I'll be fine," I say, trying to sound confident even though my stomach is twisted in knots."You don't know that." Tears start rolling down her cheeks again. "What if something happens? What if the Forbidden Light hurts you? What if Lord Malakar finds out and comes after you?""Then Casimir will protect me," I tell her. "That's why he's taking warriors with us.""But what if it's not enough?" Her voice gets higher, more desperate. "What if you touch that light and you forget me? Forget everything? What if you become someone else completely and I lose you forever?"I pull her into a hug. "You won't lose me, Helena. No matter what happens, no matter who I turn out to be, you'll always be impo
Selene's POVA shake on my shoulder jolts me awake. My eyes fly open, heart pounding, and there he is; Casimir, standing over my bed, his face deadly serious.“Seraphina,” he says quietly, “it’s time to wake up, we're leaving in an hour.”I bolt upright, blinking fast, trying to shake off the fog of sleep. “Leaving? Where are we going this early, Casimir?” My voice comes out thick and confused.He stares at me for a long second, then his jaw tightens then gasps softly. “Seraphina… are you serious right now?”“What? What’s wrong?” I rub my eyes harder, panic creeping in. “Why are you looking at me like that?”He steps closer, towering over the bed. “You really don’t remember? Today is the day, Seraphina. We’re going to the Forbidden Light. You’re supposed to touch it. You’re supposed to get your memories back.” He reminded me, and it hits me like ice water.My hand flies to my forehead. A weak laugh slips out. “Oh… right. The Forbidden Light. I… I forgot.” The words sound ridiculous ev







