Selene’s hand shot out and gripped my upper arm, stopping me. I whimpered. She hadn’t hurt me, but my heart raced, and my head spun. She was predatory in the way she had backed me against the boxed flowerbed. It was difficult to stay calm when someone as powerful and angry as Selene Borealis crowded your space.
“Shh,” she hushed me softly. “Little pet, don’t run from me. Not now. Not when I am so distressed. Hmm, don’t tempt my instincts?” she continued, her voice sweet and low.
“I was only practising how to harness my magic, I swear,” I told her, trying to calm myself. Selene wouldn’t hurt me. Not truly. But the foreign anger in my chest burned. I gripped my tie, loosening it.
“What is wrong, Pet?” Selene asked, tilting her head, her nostrils flaring. “Why are you panicking?” she continued, leaning away from me, her eyes narrowing in distrust.
“Are you lying to me about your practices this afternoon?” Her grip on my upper arm increased fractionally, and she huffed an angry exhale.
“I need to know the truth, Percy. I can’t protect you otherwise. I don’t care if you were dabbling in inter-coven magic. By Hades, I’d let you damn us all if you so wished it! But I won’t allow you to foolishly and fearfully damn yourself by keeping secrets from me.”
She shook me by the arm and drew closer to me.
“How could I ever keep a secret from you?” I gasped, the burning in my chest increasing as I pulled at my collar with my free hand.
“You know when I am lying. You smell it, or hear it, or just know it somehow, Selene.”
Frustration fuelled the burning in my chest and my rising voice.
“What is wrong with your neck?” she asked, grabbing my free wrist and pulling it away from my collar.
“I don’t know,” I nearly shouted. “I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t understand anything that’s happened in the last hour!”
Tears burned my eyes. I hated angry tears. They were the worst. I didn’t want to cry. I wanted to scream. Where was all this frustration coming from?
Selene released her hold on me and stepped back, allowing space between us. I watched as she breathed in and out steadily for a few moments, controlling herself. Her eyes closed in concentration. When she opened them, they were no longer glowing.
“Do you feel better?” she asked.
“Better?” What did she mean? But the burning in my chest died, and I felt a hollow coldness where it had been, almost like something was missing. I didn’t want the burning back, but I wanted the space filled. With the burning gone, the frustration left as well. I felt like I was seeing clearly, like a fog had lifted that I hadn’t even realised had descended in the first place. “I, uh, yeah?” I said, confused.
Selene smiled, softer. “I apologise. It appears my enchantments are not enough to completely shield you. When Iam next able, I will have the Royal Enchanter see what he can do,” she said, reaching out her hand towards my face, her thumb sweeping gently across my cheek to brush away a tear.
“What?” I was beyond confused. What world was I living in?
“You were being impacted by my emotions, darling. The soul match bond is growing in strength. Before now, enchantments designed to protect me from magic—the likes of Coactus—have shielded you. Forgive me for not recognising sooner that you were afflicted,” she explained and dropped her hand from my face. “You were not lying, then? The magic that caused—I’m not sure what to call it other than death—was yours alone?” she asked.
“Yes…” I started and shook my head. “Wait, what do you mean I’ve been shielded from your emotions? What about our bond?” I questioned. My head was beginning to hurt. Everything was happening to me today. It was like I wasn’t part of the script; I was simply there, without control.
“The soul match bond, Percy. Did you not think—not assume—knowing of my enchantments, that that was what was blocking my emotions from you?” she asked.
I was more confused.
“Are you saying that I should be feeling your emotions?” I asked and rubbed at my temple.
“It is standard to share in the emotions and physical sensations of one's soul match. Were you unaware of this?” she asked, something in her voice close to irritation.
“I thought I was meant to feel your love for me. I’ve been waiting for the bond to complete,” I admitted. I didn’t know how long the bond would take to properly form. I worried it hadn’tdone so yet because Selene still had doubts about us. “Wait, have you been blocking me from experiencing the bond?”
“Of course,” she replied, and I recognised that I had somehow frustrated her in the clipped tone she had used.
“Why would you do that?” I asked, hurt. Why would she stop us from sharing the truest of bonds? “Do you not want the bond with me? I thought you had chosen me, too?”
“Percy, pet, I don’t understand why you’re getting upset,” she said, and took hold of my shoulders.
“You wear my ring, do you not?” I nodded, feeling the weight of her grandmother’s ring against my chest where it hung on the necklace around my neck. “I have refused all suitors and told my father I will pursue only you, have I not?” I nodded again. “Then why do you doubt me?” she asked and released a quiet growl of frustration.
“Why have you been blocking the bond?” I asked in accusation, too hurt and rejected to accept her words.
