Page 19 of Lunar Desires (Celestial Magic #2)

DRAKE

B lue bolts sent me hurtling between the two front seats, my face smacking off the dashboard.

There went my nose with a nasty crack.

Should’ve worn a seatbelt…

I tasted blood as colorful dots exploded across my vision. I rolled to the side, my head landing in Jake’s lap, my legs up in the air at a painful angle. I was locked in place and wracked with pain.

Great.

Just great.

“Bollocks!” Jake cried, the car spinning and screeching to a halt.

I spasmed from the bolt strike, unable to move my limbs.

Was this all I was good for? Getting hurt?

I heard another car pull up, doors slamming as Jake threw open his door.

“What happened?” a woman demanded.

A witchcop.

“Help me move him.” Jake returned her order with his own.

The woman didn’t argue, dragging me out of the car, laying me down on the wet road.

Heavy rain pounded my face, forcing my eyes and mouth closed.

Riley…

Riley…

Riley…

Blue. His dad. Again.

“Riley…” I said, rainwater getting in my mouth.

I coughed, the action clearing the fog, control over my body returning.

Riley needs me…

With a surge of energy, I sat up. Pain flared in my broken nose, blood and water spilling over my lips. But I didn’t care.

Only Riley mattered.

Man, you’ve got it bad…

“Where…” I winced, my skull on fire. “Where is he?”

My head had suffered too many blows today.

“Is he alright?” Erin asked.

She hurried around the car to stand beside me, as drenched as me.

“Yes,” I answered, my eyes narrowed from the pain.

Jake crouched to my level. “We need to get you some help.”

The rain fell in a heavy curtain, the world beyond the car blurred. Hiding things, the almost deafening sssshhhh sounds a barrier between us and him.

Jonathon Aurora.

Here. Somewhere on this road. Coming for Riley again.

“Riley…”

I saw The Moon through the sheets of water, lying against his brother still in the car, the two of them slumped to their sides. Eyes wide, mouths hanging open. Their blue eyes brighter, pulsating with the light of their possible father.

“Riley…”

But where was the blue figure? I couldn’t see him anywhere.

I wiped my eyes, working through the rising agony in my nose.

At least I didn’t crack my head open on the dashboard.

Small mercies…

A witchcop, a man, went to help the brothers. The moment he touched Isaac’s arm, he got zapped by a blue bolt, thrown over my head.

Thud!

“What the fuck?” Jake barked.

“He’s okay!” a woman called.

Sssshhh went the rain, triggering me to use my magic.

I checked for Jonathon, finding him dangerously close. Lurking on the verge across the road.

Shit. My scalp prickled, his proximity getting me to my feet.

“He’s here,” I warned with a grunt.

“Who?” Erin asked.

“Jonathon.”

The witchcops sprang into action, fanning out with their guns drawn, their witch bangles at the ready.

“Blast!” Jonathon roared, his clap to release the spell like thunder.

A stream of glittering scarlet energy hit the front of the car with a boom. The vehicle rocked, the windows blowing out in a spray of glass.

I covered my face as shards rained down on me.

“I am The Moon!” Jonathon bellowed.

There’s only one Moon, wanker!

Dropping my arms, I got to my feet. Erin was on the ground, cuts over her face.

“I’m fine,” she said before I could ask. “We have to?—”

Fire broke out in front of the car.

“No!” she yelled. “Riley! Isaac!”

The brothers sat up as smoke engulfed them.

“Ril—”

I was pulled out of there, finding myself back at Blue Orchard.

“Hello, Sweetvoice. I’ve missed you.”