Chapter 2 The Unbreakable Thrall

“Who are you?” he asked again, his voice low and rough.

Selene tore her gaze away and scrambled to her feet. She needed to escape him, whatever it took.

She rushed down a hallway and tried another door. The same thing.

Every room was locked.

Every exit locked.

He stood up, his eyes locked onto her.

Selene stumbled backward, tears blurring her vision.

"Please," she cried. "Please don't hurt me."

Lucien walked toward her, unhurried, and predatory.

She bolted into the nearest bathroom and slammed the door shut. Her heart kept pounding frantically in her chest.

Seconds later, the door swung open effortlessly.

Lucien stood there, terrifying, and monstrous.

"Look at me."

His voice wrapped around her mind like invisible chains.

Selene's body froze.

Her heartbeat thundered in her ears.

"Come here."

The command pressed against her thoughts.

For one terrifying second again, her body obeyed.

But again, something inside her pushed back.

She pressed her back against the wall, eyes tightly shut as she shivered at his overwhelming presence.

Lucien frowned. "Look at me."

Still nothing.

Frustration flashed across Lucien's face immediately as his voice rose into an angry roar.

"Look at me!"

A burst of golden light exploded between them.

Lucien staggered backward with a pained hiss, covering his eyes.

Selene opened her eyes and gasped.

A glowing band of gold had appeared around her right wrist.

She stared at it in shock. Where did it come from?

Lucien lowered his hand slowly, losing his powers.

Selene's pulse hammered.

She didn't wait to think, she immediately ran back into the living room. The other boys were standing there, looking at her like she was some kind of threat.

She spotted an access card that sat abandoned on a side table. She rushed forward and grabbed it with her trembling fingers.

She swiped it across the door lock.

The light flashed green, and the door clicked open.

She sprinted into the hallway, her breaths coming in ragged gasps as panic surged through every inch of her body.

Behind her, she heard hurried footsteps and Lucien's furious roar echoing through the apartment.

"Stop her!"

Selene ran faster.

The luxurious hallway blurred around her. Her vision burned with tears, but she forced herself forward.

The golden band around her wrist pulsed beneath her skin, growing warmer with every step.

She reached the elevator and slammed her hand repeatedly against the button.

“Come on!” The seconds stretched endlessly.

Footsteps thundered closer behind her.

The elevator immediately slid open.

Selene stumbled inside and hit the close button repeatedly.

The elevator doors slid shut.

Selene collapsed against the mirrored wall, her chest rising and falling in uneven gasps. Her trembling fingers clutched at her blazer as she fought to catch her breath.

She was safe, at least for now.

The glowing band around her wrist had faded, leaving behind only a faint warmth beneath her skin.

Her eyes darted toward the descending floor numbers above the door.

Six, five, four.

A shaky breath escaped her lips.

Then the elevator jerked violently, and the doors slid open.

A blur shot inside.

Selene screamed.

One of the boys with Lucien upstairs stood in front of her.

The doors snapped shut again, and the elevator resumed its descent.

His eyes glowed crimson.

Dark veins spread beneath his pale skin, and sharp fangs gleamed as he bared his teeth. His chest rose and fell with quick, agitated breaths as he stared at her like a predator cornering its prey.

"Please don't kill me!" Selene cried, backing herself against the wall.

But he ignored her, and raised his hand toward her.

His crimson eyes locked onto hers.

"Stay still." The command crashed into her mind.

For a split second, her body stiffened.

Then the warmth returned.

A soft golden glow spread beneath her skin.

The air around her shimmered.

The vampire hissed and stumbled backward.

His hand flew to his face as though he'd touched fire.

"No..." he growled, and lunged again.

The golden light intensified, more brighter and stronger.

The invisible force slammed into him, throwing him backward against the elevator wall.

He snarled, fighting against it with all his strength, but every step closer only forced him back.

The elevator chimed, and the doors slid open.

The vampire lost his balance and staggered out into the hallway.

Selene fell forward onto the floor outside the elevator.

Her palms scraped against the polished marble.

She scrambled to her feet, and immediately turned to run.

Then…she crashed into someone.

A startled gasp escaped her lips as she stumbled backward and hit the floor again.

Strong hands reached down immediately.

"Hey, are you okay?"

Selene looked up, and saw a boy around her age standing above her.

He had dark brown hair that brushed against his forehead and warm amber eyes that held genuine concern. Dressed in Ravenwood's black uniform, he looked effortlessly composed despite the chaos unfolding around them.

For the first time since arriving at the academy, Selene saw kindness.

She opened her mouth to speak.

Footsteps thundered behind her.

"Hey!"

The furious shout echoed through the hallway.

Selene's blood ran cold.

The vampire from the elevator stalked toward them, still in his vampire form.

The boy in front of Selene frowned, confusion flashing across his face. Then his amber eyes narrowed in recognition.

"What?" he said. "Kael?”

That was Kael Viremont, Lucien Draven's closest friend and a member of one of Ravenwood's elite vampire families.

Kael's crimson eyes locked onto Selene.

"Move, Cassian," he growled.

Selene scrambled behind Cassian instinctively.

Her fingers clutched to the back of his blazer.

Cassian Thorn.

The heir to the Thorn bloodline.

Unlike the Dravens, the Thorn family was known for diplomacy rather than dominance. Though nearly as powerful as Lucien's family, Cassian preferred peace over conflict.

But at that moment, as Selene hid behind him, his expression hardened.

"What's going on?" Cassian asked.

"Get out of my way," Kael snapped.

Before Cassian could respond, another voice cut through the hallway.

"Get out of his way now!"

Selene's heart sank, as she saw Lucien

He walked toward them with the others at his side, his silver eyes burning with fury.

Cassian's expression shifted from confusion to disbelief.

His gaze moved from Lucien to Kael, then to Selene trembling behind him.

For a brief moment, he seemed genuinely stunned.

Cassian and Lucien rarely involved themselves in each other's affairs. Everyone at Ravenwood knew that.

The Dravens and the Thorns were rivals, both powerful and proud, careful not to cross lines.

"Cassian," Lucien said coldly. "Move."

Cassian exhaled quietly, and took a step aside.

Not because he feared Lucien, but…because this wasn't his problem.

But before he could walk away, Selene grabbed the back of his uniform tighter.

"Please help me.” Her voice cracked, as tears streamed down her face.

Cassian looked over his shoulder.

Her wide hazel eyes were filled with pure terror.

Something twisted painfully in his chest, and he looked back at Lucien, then at Selene.

"Okay," he said slowly. "What did she do?"

Lucien's expression darkened."She's my thrall." His voice dropped lower. "I have every right to do whatever I want with her."

"Lucien"

"Get out of my way." Lucien flicked his hand.

An invisible force slammed into Cassian, throwing him across the hallway.

His back collided with the wall.

Selene gasped.

For a split second, everyone froze.

Cassian pushed himself up on one elbow, shock flashing across his face as he stared at Lucien.

Lucien didn't spare him another glance.

"Handle Cassian," he ordered, his silver eyes fixed on Selene.

The others moved toward Cassian immediately.

Panic crashed through Selene, and before she could think twice, she turned and ran.

Lucien vanished immediately.

One second he was behind her, the next second he stood directly in front of her, blocking her path.

Selene stumbled to a halt, her pulse hammering in her ears.

His silver eyes locked onto hers. "What are you?" he asked, his voice low and unsteady.

He took a step closer and reached for her.

The golden light exploded around Selene.

A radiant shield wrapped itself around her body, bathing the hallway in a warm glow.

Lucien's hand collided with the invisible barrier.

A sharp jolt shot through him, forcing him back a step.

His brows furrowed.

For the first time in years, uncertainty crossed his face.

He tried again.

The moment his fingers touched the shield, the light flared brighter.

Pain flashed across his features.

His breathing turned uneven as his strength seemed to drain away, and he staggered back.

Selene looked down at the glowing band around her wrist, her own fear momentarily eclipsed by confusion.

What was happening to her?

Lucien lifted his gaze to meet hers.

Shock replaced every other emotion on his face, as if he were looking at something impossible.

Gasps echoed through the hallway.

Students had gathered near the Vampires Wing.

Some were scholarship students waiting to be assigned.

Others were vampires returning to their apartments.

Everyone stared in shock.

Selene sat on the floor frozen inside the glowing shield.

Her eyes dropped to her wrist again, staring at the golden band pulsed beneath her skin.

Where did this power come from?

The others hurried to Lucien's side.

Kael dropped to one knee beside him.

The remaining boys stared at Selene in stunned disbelief.

At the end of the hallway, Cassian slowly pushed himself away from the wall.

His amber eyes fixed on Selene.

He had never seen anyone overpower Lucien Draven.

"Who is she?" he murmured to himself, completely stunned.

"Arrest her." Lucien's voice immediately cut through the silence.

The command snapped everyone back to reality.

Two academy supervisors rushed forward and grabbed Selene's arms.

She didn't resist, she just sat there, still in shock.

At first, she thought what happened upstairs was nothing more than fear playing tricks on her mind. But now, she knew better. Something was inside her, something she couldn't expla

in.

Lucien rose to his feet, his jaw tightening as he stared at her.

Then he turned and walked away.

Whispers immediately spread through the crowd.

"Did you see that?"

"She overpowered Lucien Draven."

"She's not human."

"That's impossible."

Selene lifted her eyes to the glowing band around her wrist one last time, still completely lost.