Chapter 53

Selene's POV

My hands were still shaking from earlier, and my heart hadn’t slowed down too. I really hated that Victor could still get to me like that, and I didn't know how to stop it.

"Get a grip," I whispered to myself as I slowly looked around the guest room. It was quiet, clean, and smelled faintly like lavender.

I had to shift my focus. My mind needed to be somewhere else—anywhere else but him, so I decided to distract myself with the ongoing investigation.

This investigation wasn’t just about paperwork or strategy. It was about my future, about proving I was ready to rule. The Council was already watching my every move. They needed to know I could protect the borders and the people who depended on me. Every unsolved rogue attack made me look weak. Every death, every injury, every missing person—was a reflection on my ability to lead.

I flipped to the back of the folder where the border reports were marked in red. Red meant casualties. Some of the towns hadn’t seen peace in re