Chapter 17
Selene’s POV
You have three hours to get ready,” my stepfather announces from the doorway, not bothering to knock after I rushed meeting Dorian for the interview,
Intervies. Right. Like being forced to be his personal doctor vt a dose deat
I manage a tight smile, holding back curses “Thanks for the heads–up” I mutter, grabbing my jacket without looking up.
roons “Vaire
His sming voice grates on me, as if he’s doing me a favor while really just throwing me under the bus. That’s his game–using me for scraps of
power:
He leaves, satished that I’m stuck doing his dirty work. I wait until his footsteps fade down the hall before letting out a frustrated groan. Three hours to face Dorian and figure out why he suddenly wants me around.
1 know why my stepfather is pushing this—he wants Scout, their biological son, to be Chief Reta. I’m just a pawn in his plan. I agreed to helpi Scott and my mother, but the thought of seeing Dorian again twists my stomach.
Why does it still feel like this! After everything why can’t I shake the fear of standing in front of him? Of being in the same room as him again? Dorian. 11’s been five years, I don’t know what’s worse–the fact that 1 still remember every second of it, or that after all this time, he still has this bold on me
Our last conversation plays on repeat in my mind like a broken record. It wasn’t good. It never is. My words were sharp, cold, and unforgiving to let him know I’m done, and yet when 1 stared at those sage green eyes I have come to love underneath the moonlight last night, it was filled with so much emotion one could never fathom
Because honestly, I don’t get it Five years ago, he made it pretty damn clear where I stood. He chose Amara. Threw me out of the packhouse, our of hic Ide, like I was nothing. And now! Now they have a child. A whole life together. So why does it feel like he’s trying to pull me back in He already
The air feels heavy as I head to my closet, pulling out something simple and professional I don’t want to stand out: I just want this over with. My fingers fumble with the buttons, my mind racing toward the conversation ahead.
I picture the office, the scent of old wood and leather, Dorian’s voice slicing through the tension. My pulse quickens, but I push the fear down. I don’t have time for that
Grabbinue my bag. I slip it over r
cover my shoulder and step i outside. The cold air bites at my skin as 1 walk toward the packhouse. We haven’t lived there in years banished since Dorian kicked us out, stuck in a second–rate house on the edge of the territory. We may be within the borders, but I feel so far
The parkhouse loomis alarad, bigger and more imposing than ever. It still feels like home in a twisted way, I should’ve been raising our child here. bar Annuara took my place, leaving me ounide, knocking on doors that should’ve been open to me.
“Tochere for the intervar
mutter to a guard
“And you are?” he asks, eyeing me. I bite lack an eye roll, he clearly doesn’t know who I am.
Before Tran respond, the iron dour swings open, and the familiar face of an older guard steps out. “Let her through,” he mutters. He remembers
Euroi jo the parkhouse, some whispering of my old presence, most simply gave me a judgmental gaze. I stop in front of Dorun’s
ches away from knocking My bocatli catches in my throat, andd for a second, Loomsider walking away. Loondi tam around to my life in the human world and never look back. But I can’t. Not if I needto help Sonit. Not if I want to give my mother the
(pather that courage, the door swings open, and there he is. Dorian in a glorious tox, a vest that hugged his chest, and a few bottORES
The Goddess definitely took some time on creating him–how unfair
arm expression, which deck anything but confortable. His eyes rake over me as it he’s been expecting this. “Selene; he
This
rve utraming at nie to leave. But I sit in the chair in front of his desk, staring at the floor, trying to avoid his hall and trapped I feel in has parience. Hu officer is just
dark wood jumer einaliating from every comket— relaclin tier, folding my handh in my lap.
(pererend pour resume, and Emmet say, you spent quite some time in the human world, didn’t you?” His von r is ileep and gravelly, making it feel
could gave
dhe joint. Don’t want to linger in this room longer than I have to. “I was hoping you c
Chapter 17
Düren leans back in his chair, crossing his ammu as he ishies:
mufeel his eyes, but I rehur bi look up: “Visi don’t need to ask. Our word from
Lense. There’s abays a catch: Dorian’y even lock on siwerny Lspecially after Los night”
My stomach sinks. Last night. He’s still holding onto it—the way I shot alown his apology, rel
“You’re doing this on purpose. I muister, trying to steady my voice.
The tilts his head, smal Just retumudung von of the
I gri my teeth, ferving the wondant. Ti only here for boott,
“Of course,” he says, eyes gleaming with satisfaction.
1 had enough
Estandsip, heading towards the door
fet hun grovel. Ishonld’ve known he wouldn’t.
Yet, I puose, knowing full well 1 should just leave just walk out and forget I ever simple with Domani
orget I ever asked for anything from
ong from him. But of course, nothing is ever that
doorknob, frustration bubbling
I can feel him behind me, his presence heavy in the room, pulling me back into his orbit. My fingers tighten on ups from my chest. I already know where this is going, and thate that part of me no matter how much I try to bury it—wants to play along Wants tu hear him say whatever twisted offer he’s about to throw at ne
“What do you want. Dorian!” Lapit the words, refusing to turn around. “What’s the price for your help?”
The silence streiches just long enough to make my skin crawl before I hear the soft click of his shoes against the floor. I don’t need to look to know he’s circling around me, the way a predator stalks its prey.
His wonce is low when it finally breaks the silence. “You already know the answer to
exhale sharply. Of course, I do. I know exactly how this will go. He’ll string me along, make me jump through hoops just to satisfy whatever gaine
His fingers larush lightly against the back of my neck, sweeping my hair to the side. It’s such a simple gesture, yet it sends a chill down my spine, and I hate that my body reacts
Hou want something from me, Selene His breath is warm against my skin, his voice smooth and mocking “But the real question is, what are you
My jaw tightens
ident as I state straight ahead, refusing to let him see how much he’s getting under my skin. “Cut the bullshit, Dorsan. I’m not here to
“Aur you sure about that?” He numurs, stepping closer, so close that I can feel the heat of his body at my back. “You’ve always liked a little slanger.
ögen Trail uji my ami, a featherlight touch that should be easy to shake off, but instead. F’n rooted to the
Fuck
Thame túi Hate the way my body bartrays me. I’ve told myself for years that fiu dour with him, that he doesn’t have any power over me anymor
his breath on my skin, his touch sa lamis familiar, and suddenly, I’m not as sure.
this time my voice quieter, a ladle to breathless for my liking.
noose. “I want you. Selette. All of your”
burathe for a second. It’s not the first time he’s said something like
ng like that, but it still knocks me off balance. My
eyes are dark, predatory, but has expression is frustratingly calm, like he knows exactly what he’s
Tit Good That got under his skin
mai doje wath you” he replies smuutidly, his leaned
our to brush a strand of han behind my car. It’s such a simple touch, but
but be closes die gap effortlessly. “You tlarw me in,” Liemind him, my voice harder than I feel. “You made your
SHEPH
Chapter 17
“And I’m making a new one,” he says, his lips twitching into a smirk that makes me want to slap it off his face. Or kiss it. God, I’m fucked
“Is this what it’s going to take” I ask my tone biner. “You helping Scott in exchange for … what? Me falling back into your arms like nothing ever happened?”
He leans closer, the space between us disappearing. His hand trails up my arm again, and this time, I don’t move away. I can’t “I don’t need you to fall into anything” he whispers. “I just want to see how long you can resist.”
My heart pounds in my chest. my skin burning under his touch, and I hate that I’m not pulling away. I hate that I’m standing here, letting him do
this to me again
His hand slips around my waist, pulling me against him. “Tell me to stop,” he murmurs, his breath hot against my ear,
I open my mouth, but the words don’t come. Because some fucked–up part of me doesn’t want him to stop. Some part of me wants to see how far hell push, how far I’ll let him.
His lips brush against my neck, and a shiver runs through me. God, I’m so screwed.
But just as quickly as the tension builds, he pulls back, a wicked smile on his face. “You’ll come around, Selene,” he says, his voice full of confidence. “You always do.”
And with that, he steps away, leaving me standing there, my heart racing and my head spinning, wondering how the hell I’m going to survive this without losing myself all over again.
