60

Selene didn’t stop moving.

She couldn’t.

Because if she stopped—**if she gave herself even a second to think—**she would have to face the truth.

The truth that her body still burned from Kieran’s touch.

The truth that her lips still tingled from the weight of his kiss.

The truth that, despite everything, despite the war between them, despite the lies and betrayals…

She had wanted it.

And that?

That was the most dangerous truth of all.

The halls of Darkfang’s temporary outpost were empty as she strode through them, her mind a storm of emotions she refused to name. The walls were lined with old torches, their flickering flames casting long, jagged shadows across the stone.

She should have gone straight to her quarters.

Should have locked herself away and let the exhaustion take her under.

But instead, her feet carried her somewhere else.

To the war room.

To the one person who could look at her and see what she was trying to hide.

Lucian.

She found him exactly where she expected—leaning against the war table, studying the map of Bloodmoon’s territory with that knowing smirk on his lips.

He didn’t look up when she entered.

Didn’t need to.

"Well, well," he drawled, flicking his gaze over the map before finally shifting it to her. "Look who finally decided to show up."

Selene ignored his tone, stepping into the room.

She needed to focus.

Needed to get Kieran out of her head.

"We need to talk," she said.

Lucian smirked. "About the war? Or about the fact that you reek of him?"

Selene’s breath caught.

Her pulse skipped.

Because of course he knew.

Lucian always knew.

She clenched her jaw. "This isn’t a game, Lucian."

Lucian exhaled sharply, straightening. "No, it’s not. Which is why you should be careful about playing with fire, little wolf. You might just burn yourself."

Selene hated that he was right.

Hated that he could see the war still raging inside her.

But she forced herself to push it aside.

She wasn’t here to talk about Kieran.

She was here to win.

She crossed her arms, leveling him with a steady gaze. "I need a plan."

Lucian arched a brow. "A plan for the war? Or a plan for your broken heart?"

Selene didn’t flinch.

Didn’t react.

Because Lucian wanted her to.

He wanted to see her crack.

She wouldn’t give him that.

Instead, she lifted her chin.

SELENE:

"A plan to take down Bloodmoon."

Lucian studied her for a long moment.

Then—slowly, deliberately—his smirk faded.

And for the first time since she entered the room, he looked at her seriously.

"Then let’s get to work," he said.

Selene exhaled.

Finally.

Something she could control.

Something that wasn’t him.

Because Kieran might have kissed her.

Might have shaken something loose inside her.

But that didn’t change a damn thing.

This was war.

And she was going to win.