Selene's POV
The heavy wooden doors of Damien's chamber creaked as they opened, and for the first time in hours the royal physician stepped out. His hands and sleeves were stained faintly with crimson, and his face carried that solemn weariness of a man who had wrestled with death itself. My heart seized. I rushed forward before he could even fully shut the door behind him.
"How is he?" I demanded, though my throat was tight and my voice trembled.
The physician bowed slightly, but the gesture did nothing to soften the sharpness of his words. "We've done our best, Your Highness. The poison, the Black Venorix has been slowed. We set siphon-stones along his veins and bled out what we could. The rest will drain slowly over the days to come." He looked down, unable to meet my eyes.
"But you must pray to the gods. His survival rests on whether his body can endure the pain."
I blinked, trying to register it. Black Venorix.
The name tasted like venom itself. I had heard the stories, it was said to crawl through the blood like fire, eating away strength until the heart gave in. The idea of Damien enduring it, even while unconscious, was unbearable.
"Show me," I whispered.
The physician looked hesitant, but after a moment he stepped aside. I pushed past him and entered.
What I saw will never leave me.
Damien lay upon the grand bed, his strong body reduced to trembling stillness. His chest rose and fell in uneven rhythm. Long rods of crystal siphon-stones had been driven gently into his arms and sides, each glowing faintly as they pulled threads of blackened blood into bowls at the floor. His skin was pale, almost translucent and sweat drenched him though he was cold to the touch.
My knees weakened. I covered my mouth, choking back a sob. Even unconscious, I knew he was suffering. I could almost feel the burning crawl of poison through my own veins. My body shook violently, the pain that wasn't mine becoming my own.
The physician touched my shoulder softly. "My lady, I will return each day to adjust the stones and monitor his strength. But I cannot say when or if he will wake. Only his willpower can draw him back."
He bowed and excused himself, signaling to the four aides who had labored with him.
Kael fell in step with them, escorting them out. The door closed again, leaving me alone with Damien's broken body.
I couldn't bear it. His face, his stillness, those cruel rods, it was too much. Fury tore through my chest, fighting with grief. My brother, my king, reduced to this because of Adrian. Because of the traitorous vampires who thought they could steal his crown and our freedom.
I stormed out of the chamber, my fists trembling.
"Summon the council!" I ordered the guards standing outside. My voice cracked with fire. "Now!"
The great council hall reeked of smoke and iron. Torches spat light against the tall stone walls, shadows swaying like restless spirits. I slammed my palms down on the oak table, hard enough that the parchment maps scattered.
"My brother lies poisoned and broken," I said, my voice trembling with barely contained fury. "And you sit here whispering of patience? I will not sit idle. Ready the armies. Gather every able wolf and steel blade. We march against the vampires by dawn."
Gasps and murmurs rippled across the table. The elders shifted uncomfortably, exchanging nervous glances.
Councilor Theron, his beard white as bone, rose first. "Princess Selene, we grieve with you. But you must think beyond vengeance. If we rush headlong into their lands now, we risk annihilation. Their victory at Blackthorn shows their strength."
"Strength?" I spat the word back at him.
"They crept in like cowards, striking my brother in the shadows. That is not strength, that is treachery. And I will not forgive it."
Another elder, Maelis, spoke gently, almost pleading. "Your Highness, if we go to war without strategy, we endanger every family under our protection. Would Damien want that? He has always chosen his people first, even above his own pride."
"Do not speak his name to me as if you know his heart better than I!" I snapped, my claws threatening to extend. "He is my brother. My king. And he lies dying because of their venom. If I do nothing, his blood is on my hands as much as theirs."
The hall fell into tense silence. My breaths came heavy, my chest aching with the raw weight of grief and fury.
Then Councilor Eris, sharp-eyed and cold, leaned forward. "If we act recklessly, Princess, you may very well doom us all. Do you wish to see the rest of the realm burn simply because you could not master your temper?"
I felt the heat flare behind my eyes, tears mixing with rage. "You speak of temper, but you did not cradle Damien as he bled in my arms. You did not hear his breath falter, or feel the life slipping from his skin. I did." My voice broke. "Do not tell me how I should grieve."
Several of them bowed their heads, unable to meet my gaze. But Theron pressed on, stubborn as stone. "Your grief is understood. But war is not the answer. We must hold council with allies, weigh our options..."
"I will not wait!" I roared. The torches flickered at the strength of my voice. "Every second we wait is another second the vampires believe themselves victorious.
Shall we gift them our silence? Shall we show them that the wolves cower?"
"Selene..."
"No!" I slammed my fist on the table again, splintering the wood. "If Damien dies, then I swear by the gods, I will burn their kingdom to ash with my own hands. I will carve their king from his throne and feed him to the hounds. And if any of you try to stand in my way, I will see you chained beside them!"
The entire council recoiled. Some looked horrified, others frightened. A few, just a few looked moved, even swayed by my fury. But none dared speak further.
And that was when the doors opened.
"Enough."
The council turned as one.
Duchess Elara Moonsong entered, her very presence demanding reverence. She was a vision of quiet strength, her long silver hair flowing like moonlight down her back. Her gown was of deep midnight blue, embroidered with sigils of peace from her home, the kingdom of Lyria. A wolf pelt of snowy white rested on her shoulders, and her eyes, those piercing, motherly eyes settled on me.
I swallowed hard. Of all people, Elara was one I could not defy. She had been my mother's dearest friend, a woman who carried diplomacy like a sword, always urging peace between realms. She was more mother to me than anyone else had ever been.
"Elara," I breathed.
She walked straight to me, her gaze never wavering. "Selene, child. Call off this storm. Vengeance cannot bring Damien back to you. Calm yourself."
I tried to hold her eyes, but the tears blurred my vision.
The council bowed to her and slowly excused themselves at her wordless command. Soon, the hall emptied, leaving just the two of us.
My chest collapsed. All the fury I'd clung to unraveled into raw grief. A sob tore from my throat. Elara stepped forward and caught me in her arms. Her embrace was warm, steady, like an anchor in the chaos. She stroked my hair gently, whispering, "Let it out, my dear. Let it out."
"I can't, Elara, I can't bear to see him like that," I cried into her shoulder. "He's all I have left. If Damien dies, what is left of me?"
Her hand moved soothingly along my back.
She pulled away slightly, searching my face. "Tell me truly. Is he gone, as the rumors say?"
I shook my head violently. "No. He's alive. For now. But he's unconscious. We don't want word spreading. If they know he breathes still, they may come again to finish him. We must keep it secret."
Elara's face softened further, though her eyes glistened. "Then take me to him."
We entered Damien's chamber together. Elara's breath caught at the sight of him.
"Oh, my son…" she whispered, her voice breaking. She moved to his side, sinking into the chair near the bed. Her hand reached out, trembling, and she gently brushed the damp hair from Damien's brow. Her thumb traced the line of his cheek as though trying to remind him of life.
"What are these rods? What is this cruel magic upon him?" she demanded softly.
"The physician," I explained, wiping at my eyes. "He says it will slowly bleed the poison out. Black Venorix. I found him bleeding, fading, I thought he would die in my arms. The physician swore it was the only way."
Elara nodded faintly, though her expression was heavy with sorrow. She continued to pet Damien's face, her lips trembling.
"He was always strong," she murmured. "Even as a child. I remember him running through the fields, chasing the moons with that stubborn grin of his. He will fight. He must."
Her words broke me further. I sank into the chair across from her, clutching Damien's limp hand in mine.
"Elara… what if he doesn't wake?" My voice was barely a whisper. "What if I lose him? I don't know how to be without him."
Elara looked at me, her gaze steady though wet with unshed tears. "Then you will rise because he would want you to. But I believe, no, I know that Damien will not leave you so easily. His heart is stronger than this poison, stronger than betrayal. He will find his way back."
We stayed there together in silence for a long while. Just holding him, watching the faint rise and fall of his chest.
At last Elara stood. "I will not leave. I will stay in this palace until he opens his eyes. He is as much mine as he is yours, Selene. We will wait for him together."
I rose as well, clinging to her words like lifelines. "Thank you. I don't know what I would do without you."
She kissed my forehead softly. "You are not alone, child. Not now, not ever."
And for the first time since finding Damien bleeding on the floor, I allowed myself a flicker of hope.