The voice in Selene's head was relentless now.
[Take it. Rule. This world could be yours.]
She gritted her teeth, shaking her head to herself.
No.
Not this time.
She wasn't going to let herself be a puppet to a voice that only whispered conquest.
The longer she listened, the easier it became to imagine giving in. So she did the only thing she could—she forced it out.
'Tune it out. Focus on the now.'
The pain in her wrist helped.
Prince Atticus still hadn't let go, his small fingers locked tight around her like iron.
The pressure made her skin throb, the bones underneath growing sore with every passing second.
Finally, Julie had enough.
With a sharp step forward, she wedged herself between them and gave Selene a look that could've turned fire to ash.
Her hand caught Atticus's shoulder, pulling him protectively behind her.
"That's enough. You've touched her enough. If it were up to me, she'd be in a cell right now."
She snapped.
