Page 34 of Blood Marked

He was thinking of her.

The way Selene had looked at him before the kiss—equal parts challenge and ache. The way her lips had parted with a sharp, quiet gasp. The heat of her hands in his shirt, tugging him closer like sheneededhim.

Like shechosehim.

He’d spent so long believing he was cursed to carry this weight alone. That he’d lost the only softness he’d ever been allowed. That everything after Elara would be duty and sacrifice.

But Selene wasn’t Elara.

Selene was fire.

Selene fought him tooth and nail and still kissed him like she could feel the world cracking too.

And that was the problem.

He didn’t know how to want someone who could hurt him that deeply again.

He didn’t know how to survive it.

The snow fell slower now, soft flakes clinging to his shoulders. Somewhere above, the moons were rising. And Kael stood still, staring at the citadel windows, knowing exactly which one was hers.

And wondering what the hell he was supposed to do with everything burning inside him.

FIFTEEN

SELENE

Selene hadn’t seen him since the kiss.

Three days.

Three days of pacing the corners of her room like a restless ghost. Of waiting—hoping—for his knock, his voice, the damn flicker of his shadow under her door.

It didn’t come.

And it shouldn’t have mattered. Gods knew she was glad to have air again. Space. Control.

Except…

She wasn’t glad.

She was pissed.

And worse—hurt.

The way he’d kissed her, like he’d been starved for her, like his soul was clawing through his skin—and then turned cold, walked out like it was nothing?

Like she was nothing?

Selene stared down the corridor leading to the council wing, boots echoing sharp against polished stone. She wore black today. Simple, fitted, marked at the sleeves with House Fenrir’s sigil. Not to claim it. But to wear it like armor.

Let them talk.

Lethimlook.

If he even dared to.

She reached the main hall and spotted him instantly.

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