CHAPTER 9: REFLECTION

(Selene's POV)

The air was thick with the scent of blood.

Selene stood in the grand chamber, her face blank, her body still, but her mind was anything but calm.

She could feel Kastiel's rage like a living thing, a heat that radiated through the room as he sat, his fists clenched against the marble table. His dark red eyes burned, his fangs bared ever so slightly as he seethed.

"Whoever did this—whoever betrayed us—" Kastiel's voice was low, dangerous, dripping with vengeance. "I swear on death, I will tear them apart limb by limb."

Selene remained impassive, though her heart pounded in her chest.

The weight of her actions clawed at her insides.

She had been reckless.

Foolish.

And now—if she wasn't careful—she would die for it.

Across the vast hall, the four Elders sat upon their thrones, watching.

Ancient. Unyielding. Terrifying.

They were the oldest of their kind—four siblings, each born of the original vampire's blood. They were the highest authority, the true rulers of the vampires.

And right now, they were watching Kastiel with cold amusement, sipping from goblets filled with thick, crimson blood.

"You failed," one of them, Dorian, spoke at last. His voice was smooth, like silk soaked in poison. "A witch escaped, and now she will carry word of our power. You should have killed them all, Kastiel."

Kastiel's jaw locked. "I did what I could, my lord. But there was an interference."

Selene's stomach twisted.

She kept her face emotionless, but the weight of their gazes pressed down on her like a slow, tightening noose.

They could not know.

They must not know.

One word. One moment of doubt. And her fate would be sealed.

"An interference?" Dorian's twin, Sorin, tilted his head. His golden eyes gleamed. "From whom?"

Kastiel exhaled sharply. "That is what we must find out."

His rage was barely contained, his fingers twitching against the table as though itching to drive a blade through the culprit's throat.

Selene stared at him, unblinking, her expression as cold and empty as ever.

She had been by his side for centuries.

Fought beside him. Killed for him.

And now, if he knew what she had done—

He would rip her apart without hesitation.

"Summon the detective."

At the sound of Dorian's command, a ripple of unease passed through the room.

Even Kastiel stiffened.

Selene forced herself to remain still.

They were bringing him in.

The vampire who saw everything.

Who unraveled secrets with an unnatural ease.

The Elders' own personal hound.

A twisted, dangerous thing known simply as Veylan.

The name sent a chill down her spine.

No vampire in their right mind wished to have Veylan's attention. He was merciless, obsessive, and absolutely insane.

Selene had witnessed his methods before. He did not rest. He did not stop. He did not fail.

If he caught even the faintest scent of her guilt—

She would not survive.

"Find the traitor," Dorian ordered, his voice like a death sentence. "Bring them to us."

The meeting was dismissed.

The vampires began to disperse, murmuring among themselves. The news of a betrayal would spread fast, whispers of treason poisoning the air.

Selene turned swiftly, moving to leave—

But a hand gripped her arm.

She froze.

Lucien.

His dark eyes gleamed as he leaned in slightly, his voice low. "Can you believe it?" He scoffed, disgust curling his lips. "Someone among us—one of our own—betrayed the clan. Shot Kastiel in the heart."

Selene feigned disinterest, her face carefully blank.

"Whoever it is," Lucien continued, "they deserve worse than death."** His voice dripped with venom. "A coward. A disgrace. To betray our own—"**

Selene arched a brow, forcing her voice to remain flat. "And yet, here we are, talking about it instead of acting."

Lucien chuckled, shaking his head. "Cold as ever, Selene." He smirked. "One day, I'll get a reaction out of you."

Not in this lifetime.

She gave him a sharp look before slipping away, her expression composed, her body moving like liquid shadow.

But inside—

Her mind was spiraling.

The walls were closing in.

And she had just become the most hunted creature in the vampire clan.