Chapter 258: Ch 257: You’re a guest- Part 1
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 ti.
She wasn’t going to let herself be a puppet to a voice that only whispered conquest.
The longer she listened, the easier it beca 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 , she’d be in a cell right now."
She snapped.
Selene didn’t flinch. Not at the glare, not at the threat.
There was steel behind Julie’s words—but sothing told Selene she could break that steel if she had to.
It was a dangerous thought. One she didn’t want to explore too much.
Surprisingly, it wasn’t Selene who pushed back—it was Atticus.
"I think that’s a bit much. She didn’t start the fight. We did. We ambushed her on our land and expected her to just surrender."
He said coolly, stepping out from behind Julie with practiced grace.
Julie opened her mouth, but Atticus raised a hand.
His tone didn’t change—calm, rational, even—but Selene saw the flicker of control he was exerting.
"She showed restraint. Even when she turned her blade on , she didn’t finish the swing. That’s more than most intruders can say. I say we treat her as a guest. Temporary, of course."
He continued.
Selene raised an eyebrow.
The boy’s words were asured. Too asured.
She didn’t trust him.
Not even a little.
His flattery felt like bait, his hospitality a net waiting to close around her. The way his eyes kept flicking toward her—not with fear, but with curiosity—made her skin crawl.
’Manipulator’
She thought.
The kind who saw people as pawns. And right now, she was a particularly valuable one.
But even knowing that, Selene saw no advantage in turning him down.
She needed information. A place to rest. And this offer was just that—an opportunity.
Atticus held out his hand.
Selene hesitated. Then reached forward and clasped it.
The mont their hands touched, a rush of warmth spread through her body, followed by the faint tug of a system lock.
She knew what it was: a binding handshake, a technique used to seal agreents under magical law. Nothing permanent, but enough to keep her powers suppressed temporarily in their domain.
She said nothing.
Instead, she followed them back toward their so-called palace.
______
The castle was nothing like she expected.
No crumbling stone towers or ancient tapestries.
Instead, the structure before her was sleek and imposing—white stone fused with tallic trim, glowing veins of energy threading through its walls like living circuits.
The outer gardens were lush and radiant, lined with trees that shimred in colors she’d never seen before. Birds that didn’t belong to Earth chirped from the branches, and the air was unnaturally fresh.
It was... beautiful.
And alien.
Inside, it was even stranger.
Lifts with transparent walls carried people between floors.
Water flowed freely through open channels that cooled the building naturally. Screens displayed real-ti reports and visuals from the outer territories.
Everything was advanced—far beyond Earth tech.
They entered through a grand hall, and instantly, their group was sward.
Servants, guards, officials. People bowed to Atticus, addressed him with reverence, so pleading for attention, others rely wishing to be seen.
Atticus pinched the bridge of his nose, obviously used to the chaos.
"I apologize, Lady Selene. I’m afraid I won’t be able to show you around myself."
Selene didn’t bother correcting the title.
"Julie, would you mind?"
He said, glancing toward the red-haired woman.
Julie blinked—clearly not expecting that. Her mouth tightened, and for a brief mont, Selene saw disappointnt in her eyes. But she gave a crisp nod.
"As you wish, Your Highness."
Selene followed Julie down the marble hallways without complaint.
She noted every turn they took, every guard stationed nearby, every ergency exit she could spot.
Julie remained silent.
Selene tried.
"So...Nice place. Looks... well-maintained."
She started, offering a polite smile.
Julie gave her a side glance.
"It’s not a complint. It’s a responsibility."
Right.
Selene let the silence linger a mont, then tried again.
"You’ve known the prince long?"
Julie’s jaw tensed.
"Since before he could walk."
The possessiveness in her voice didn’t go unnoticed.
Selene’s brows twitched slightly.
There was sothing off about the dynamic.
Julie wasn’t just a protector—there was sothing deeper there. Sothing that clashed against what she saw with her own eyes.
A near-grown woman showing signs of affection for a child.
Selene didn’t speak it aloud. She wasn’t stupid.
This wasn’t her world, and it wasn’t her place to pass judgnt. But the unease settled like a weight in her gut.
They walked through several more halls before Julie finally stopped in front of a room.
"This will be yours for now. Stay inside. You’ll be watched."
She said flatly.
Selene raised an eyebrow.
"You trust
that little?"
Julie turned.
"I don’t trust anyone who draws a blade on the prince."
Selene didn’t argue.
"It was not my intention to do that."
Julie lingered at the door for a mont. Just long enough to say sothing more. But whatever it was died on her lips, and she walked away without another word.
Selene stepped into the room. It was comfortable. Clean. Almost luxurious.
But it wasn’t hers.
And sowhere in the back of her mind, the voice whispered again.
[Take it all.]
Selene sat on the edge of the bed, closed her eyes, and tried not to scream.
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