- The Trial of Light and Blood-
Selene's POV
Selene stood in the center of the ancient hall, her boots echoing on cold stone.
Twelve Elders lined the crescent-shaped tribunal above her. They wore ceremonial cloaks, silver masks, and grim expressions that smelled of fear disguised as duty.
"Selene of the Moonborn," Elder Darius intoned. "You stand accused of treason against the sacred order."
"I spoke to the Moon Goddess herself," Selene replied, voice calm. "Are you accusing her of treason, too?"
A murmur rippled through the chamber.
Kael stood behind her, tense, hand already near his blade.
Elder Mira stepped forward. She was the youngest of the twelve, but her eyes were cold.
"You claim divine visions. You claim the prophecy can be changed. These are dangerous beliefs."
"They're not beliefs. They're truths."
"Truths," Elder Mira said sharply, "that directly threaten the balance of power in this pack."
Selene didn't flinch.
"Maybe power is the real problem."
Gasps.
Kael stepped forward, but Selene raised her hand, stopping him. She wouldn't let them say she was being controlled by a man. Not today.
Elder Darius frowned.
"You forget your place."
"No," Selene said. "You forget mine."
"I'm not a child anymore. I'm the Heir of the Moon. Marked by the Goddess. You don't get to decide how I use my gift."
Elder Mira's eyes glowed faintly. "Then you leave us no choice."
The other Elders raised their hands.
Silver runes began to glow.
"By the ancient rites," Darius chanted, "we invoke the Rite of Severance. We will strip your link to the Moon Goddess. And return balance—"
But Selene raised her hand—
And her own runes blazed to life, brighter than any elder's glow.
The magic they cast sputtered.
Then failed.
One by one, their light dimmed.
"You can't sever what's not yours," Selene said coldly.
"You didn't give me this bond. The Goddess did."
Kael stepped beside her now, stunned.
Selene looked up at the twelve elders, her golden eyes glowing like a full eclipse.
"If you want to stop me, you'll have to do more than chant."
"You'll have to kill me."
Silence fell like thunder.
Not one of them moved.
"Then we are finished here," Selene said, turning.
"But understand this…"
She paused at the chamber door, her voice soft but sharp as steel.
"You can cling to your thrones and your laws—but the prophecy is already unraveling."
"And when war comes… I hope you're strong enough to fight the monster you created."
---
Outside the hall, Kael grabbed her arm.
"Are you insane? That was the Elder Tribunal!"
"Yes," she said, pulling free, "and they just tried to erase me."
Kael exhaled sharply, brushing his hair back.
"You just declared war."
Selene smiled, faint but fearless.
"Then I hope they're ready."