Her boots echoed against the polished floor of the castle.
And so it had happened. Lucian was her mate now. And Callum? She didn't know what to say about Callum. She recalled what she hoped was his final request at the feast.
"So what do you say?" he had held her arms firmly at her sides, his gaze steady.
Selena's eyes brushed his lips, a mix of longing and confusion. She blinked rapidly, her heart racing as she became aware of the eyes around them. "What?"
"What do you say?"
Her eyes scanned the hall anxiously.
"What do you say we get away from all this?" He held her gaze expectant and desperate. "You and I"
Selena searched about them, cautious of how unseemly, almost scandalous, their proximity was. Freya dropped a while before so luckily, the attention had been diverted elsewhere. People trooped out of the hall. "We're in public Callum. Not right now" she said, her voice tight.
"You think I care what they say? Let them. For once, I don't give a damn"
"You don't mean that"
He laughed under his breath, bitter "Don't I?"
"Callum–"
"Just–" he sighed. "Will you come with me or not?"
"I–I don't know" She exhaled, her bones fatigued with emotions. "I can't"
"Look" He held her shoulders, searching her face. "I know you're not happy. You don't want this"
"Callum I can't come with you. Okay? We can't just run away. That's not how this works"
"My brother is your mate. I get that. But I've seen the way you look at him. You're afraid. You're miserable" He held her chin. "I have your heart" his voice softened. "Things don't have to be this way"
"Please let's not do this now. At least not here"
"Let's fix this, Selena," he muttered. He brushed her hair from her face, his fingers sending shivers through her.
She brought her hand up to his bruised crimson cheek. He closed his eyes, the warmth of her palm taking his ache away for a moment. "There's nothing to be fixed, Callum. If it's the Moon's wish, then there's nothing to be fixed"
He snorted. "That's what everybody says when they're afraid to fight for what they want"
Her finger brushed a cut in his jaw. "I'm not afraid"
"Then prove it"
She hesitated. "How"
"Come with me"
"Callum–"
"Come with me tonight"
"I can't"
"Yes, you can"
He shook his head. "Selena, please"
Her palm slowly left his cheek, but he caught her wrist. He shook his head. "Please"
But she left him there, the spot where her palm had been, chill lingering, cold as a gaping hole in his face.
Selena gathered her dress in her fists. Her boots thudded as she rushed out the hall. Tears welled in her eyes.
Hopefully, he'd move on from this and brace his heart for his own true mate. And sure it tugged at her sanity, the whole thing– which was exactly why she wouldn't be spending the night in the castle. In fact, she would be away from MoonGlade for a while.
"I can't stand this place, Clara. I'm losing it" She had told her sister at the feast, rubbing her temples.
Clara snorted. "Or you're just high"
"Clara, it's just grape juice" , she swirled the contents of the goblet in her hand.
Clara made a face.
"I don't think I can spend the night" Selena said. "I need a break from all this"
"Oh now you sound really high"
Selena groaned, pressing her temples. "I think I need a break from you too"
"You wish"
Selena's eyes flickered. It hit her. "What of that party you invited me to"
"Zedd's birthday party?" Clara asked, her brows raised.
"Uh…I think so? I can't remember"
"It's five moons away"
"Great!" Her face lit up.
"Great?"
"I'm coming with you"
Her sister's lips puckered up as she held herself back from choking on her drink. Here was Selena, her sister, more indoor than the flipping furniture back home, telling her she would go for a party. She swallowed, recovering. "Did-did I just hear you say–"
"I also can't believe I said that"
"Who are you and what have you done with my sister" Clara narrowed her eyes.
"I said I need a break. What part of that don't you understand?"
"You must loathe him"
"Something like that" she had downed her drink, throwing her head back.
Now, she headed towards the outskirts of the castle to meet Clara, a duffle bag slung over her shoulder.
Clara's eyes took her in, her gaze traveling from Selena's leather pants that hugged her form, to the black turtle neck tucked in, and the cloak around her shoulders. "What is this, a mission? I got no prior notice. I'm dressed so casually" She was in a purple ruffled long dress, raised to her ankles by her brown boots.
A dark cloud little as a piece of cotton crackled with static. It bursted before them, revealing a portal entryway.
Selena stepped in right after her sister, her heart racing. Her eyes were shut tight. She'd never opened her eyes in portals before. She never liked it. It felt like a cushion of bubbles. Her body felt light as the complete opposite of her life right now. Light pressed against her closed lids. Opening them again, Silvergleam castle towered the landscape in the distance. The portal sucked in on itself begin her until it was nothing.