Chapter 4 4

Selene snuffed out the candle with a flick of her wrist, and the room was plunged back into darkness. Ciaran's senses, heightened by the curse and the lingering effects of their spell, immediately adjusted to the dim light, but the silence felt heavy, almost suffocating.

He stood up slowly, his legs shaky from the strain. His mind buzzed, trying to process everything that had just happened. The darkness he had fought back-was it a manifestation of the curse, or something more? Selene's magic had held it at bay, but for how long?

"What's next?" he asked, his voice hoarse from the battle with the beast inside him.

Selene, still standing near the table, didn't answer right away. She was silent for a long moment, as if weighing something in her mind. Finally, she sighed, turning to face him.

"Next?" Her lips quirked slightly, as though the very word annoyed her. "You want to know how we're going to break the curse, don't you?"

He nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I didn't come here to waste time. I need answers, Selene. I can feel it getting worse. The full moon's coming soon. I don't have much time."

Selene's gaze softened for just a moment, and Ciaran could have sworn there was a flicker of something else behind her eyes-something not quite as cold as usual. But the moment passed, and she hardened again, folding her arms.

"You're right about the full moon," she said, her voice taking on a more clinical tone. "And you're right that we're running out of time. But answers don't come easy." She walked across the room, her fingers trailing along the edge of a shelf filled with ancient books and potions. "We need to get deeper into the magic, into the source of the curse. I can't just break it with a spell. Lucius Thornclaw was meticulous when he placed it. It's woven into the fabric of your very soul."

Ciaran felt a shiver crawl down his spine. The weight of those words sat heavily on his chest. "So what are you saying? You need to dive into my soul to break this?"

She paused, her hand resting on a thick tome, as if considering the words carefully. "Something like that. But it's dangerous, Ciaran. I can't guarantee that I'll be able to separate the curse from you without... consequences."

Ciaran's eyes flashed with determination. "I don't care about the consequences. I'll do whatever it takes to get rid of this. I'm losing myself."

"I know." Her voice softened, the steel in her tone almost gone. She turned back to face him, and for the first time, there was something in her expression that almost resembled sympathy.

He didn't want her sympathy. He wanted results. But for the first time, he felt the weight of the situation in a way that was impossible to ignore. This wasn't just a battle for control; it was a fight for his very soul.

"Tell me what I need to do," he said, his voice low but firm.

She tilted her head, her lips curving into a knowing smile. "First, you need to rest. You're exhausted. You can't go into the next phase like this."

"I'm fine," he snapped, irritated at the idea of weakness showing.

But Selene didn't seem to care. She crossed the room and retrieved a small vial filled with a glowing blue liquid. "This will help. Drink it."

Ciaran eyed the vial suspiciously. "What is it?"

"Potion to calm the mind," she replied, uncorking the bottle and holding it out to him. "I can't have you falling apart on me when we're this close."

"Close to what?"

She gave him a wry look, not even bothering to answer the question directly. "Just drink it, alpha. Or don't. It's your funeral."

Ciaran took the vial with a grunt and tilted it back, the liquid sliding down his throat with a cold, tingling sensation. It didn't taste like anything he had ever experienced-sweet and bitter at the same time, a strange combination that sent a shiver through his spine. Within moments, he felt his muscles loosen and the pounding in his head subside.

"Better?" Selene asked, raising an eyebrow as she watched him.

He didn't answer right away, instead taking a deep breath. The effects of the potion settled quickly, his mind clearing like the mist after a storm. It wasn't perfect-he still felt the curse gnawing at the edges of his awareness, but it was easier to breathe. Easier to think.

"Fine," he muttered. "That's better."

"Good," Selene said. "Because now comes the hard part."

Ciaran's stomach tightened. "What do we do?"

She turned back to the table, gathering her tools, preparing for whatever was coming next. "I need to perform a ritual to enter the deeper layers of your curse. It's not just about magic. I'll be diving into the deepest parts of your mind, your memories, your very essence. It's dangerous for both of us. If I'm not careful, we could both end up trapped in there."

Her eyes flicked to him briefly, the seriousness of the moment sinking in. "Do you understand what that means?"

Ciaran's heart thudded harder in his chest. "You'll be inside my head."

"Exactly," Selene said, her voice almost too calm. "You'll be conscious, but it won't be easy. The curse is a twisted thing, Ciaran. And if Lucius made sure that it latched onto your soul, then that's where I'll have to go. I'll have to reach deep inside and sever its hold, piece by piece."

The words felt like an anchor, sinking into his chest. He had no idea what it would feel like to have someone inside his mind-let alone someone like Selene. The thought of her rummaging through his memories, seeing his darkest fears, his most private moments, was almost too much to bear.

"You don't have to do this," he said, his voice quieter now, a subtle desperation creeping in. "I didn't ask you to risk your life for me."

Selene gave him a pointed look, the sharpness in her eyes cutting through the tension. "You didn't ask. But you need me. And I'm not going to let you lose yourself. Not on my watch."

Ciaran's throat tightened as her words sunk in. There was no turning back now. They were in this together-whether he liked it or not.

"I'll do whatever it takes," he said quietly.

Selene's eyes softened for a moment, and for a heartbeat, there was no anger or bitterness in her gaze. Just a quiet understanding.

"Then let's begin," she said.

And with that, she raised her hands, her voice slipping into a low chant once more, the magic in the room intensifying, wrapping around them like a cloak. Ciaran felt it-like a wave pulling him down, deeper and deeper into the darkness.