Page 2 of Lunar Desires (Celestial Magic #2)

DRAKE

T he shadow witches lined the platform, each one swaddled in a uniform-like long black coat and wearing shit-eating grins. About fifty of them, from what I could make out.

And there, perfectly positioned to meet our carriage, stood Rhianna Kingwood.

Her green eyes burned through the window, fixed to me, piercing my soul. Her coat was muddy from Riley’s attack, but her dark spirit seemed firmly intact.

Shit. My chest burned a blend of fear and rage. I cracked my knuckles, prepared to fight them all for him.

“Where the hell are the High Coven?” Riley said, flexing his fingers.

Good question.

“Get your arse out here, or we start the killing,” Rhianna called. “One by one.”

On cue, the shadow witches dragged people from the train, guns trained on them, blades drawn and pressed against throats.

I checked their auras with my aura lenses, most of them yellow, indicating human, a couple of them blue for witches, and one pink reading for a fae guy in a spiffy business suit.

“Sixty seconds,” Rhianna added, patting her flat stomach.

No bump. No baby.

You’re such a fucking liar…

“I’m not playing here,” she threw out. “Don’t make me get to zero.”

Riley moved toward the door. “We can’t let her hurt anyone.”

“And I can’t let her hurt you,” I countered, following him.

He clenched his hands into fists again. “It’s my job to protect people, isn’t it?”

“From a bigger threat further down the line, yes. Not like this.”

He didn’t answer.

Shit. I’d dragged him into this with the soul bond, forcing us into close proximity. It was supposed to be broken after Jonathon’s attack at the mansion, but had gone on to extend its range instead.

All this was because of me. I’d wanted to leave the mansion after the soul bond made him vulnerable to his uncle’s attack.

Without me hanging around, he’d be free of me and my bullshit.

He deserved better, his feelings and kisses misplaced on a worthless man like me.

Yet I hung around like a bad smell, clinging to the hope he naturally exuded.

And I’d pulled him straight into the belly of the beast. Marcus Kingwood wanted him and Isaac alive, for some nefarious reason, and I’d basically just handed him over.

I’ll make this right…

I darted around him, slamming my hand on the button to open the door, putting myself between him and the enemy.

Rhianna chuckled, her lips spread in her usual cruel smirk.

My heart jackhammered under the scrutiny of the shadow witches.

You won’t have him…

“The Moon,” a man hissed as Riley moved beside me.

“Much better,” Rhianna said sweetly, her grating tone testing my gag reflex.

“Now, we have a lot to talk about, don’t we?

” She never took her wicked gaze off me.

“Firstly, if The Moon tries anything, these people die. You might have the power of illusion and flinging people, Riley,” she paused, brow furrowing, “but I’ve got trigger happy people here with faster reflexes than any cowboy in a Western. Got it?”

“Got it,” Riley answered.

“Feel free to try, of course. If you want to play hero.”

Riley didn’t react.

She licked her lips, her eyes flicking to The Moon. “You’re lucky my dad wants you intact, otherwise I’d be taking some teeth for you throwing me.” She laughed, her cronies echoing her.

What was funny? “You?—”

“Speak and someone dies!” Rhianna howled, her voice startling pigeons up in the rafters.

I made a quick inspection of our surroundings, formulating an exit strategy to get Riley out of here. If anything happened to him, we’d lose the sacred power of his blood before it got the chance to fully develop.

Shadows swam in the glass roof like ink in water, swirling around clusters of Hecate Crystals—shimmering white shards that were the source of all magic on Earth.

Those same shadows fell in misty curtains around us, blocking access to the concourse and the far end of the platform, trapping us in a prison of evil magic.

I should’ve seen this move coming. Of course, she’d be waiting here like a wolf ready to slaughter some juicy lambs.

A low growl rumbled in my chest. For Rhianna, for my stupidity.

If he dies, I’ll ? —

I drew a deep breath, doing my best to circumvent the guilt.

I’ll make this right…

Rhianna winked at me. “I love having you by the balls. Although I only got to see them once.”

“Once is more than enough,” a man on her left said.

More laughter followed.

Rhianna nodded, pleased with herself. “Now, this doesn’t have to be difficult.

” She sniffed. “Hand over The Moon, and all will be peachy. Then I’m sure The Sun will follow soon after.

” She laughed yet again. “There was me thinking this would go to the wire. Ah. Nothing like a piece-of-cake moment. Am I right?”

Her cronies agreed.

I take that cake and slam it in your face!

House Kingwood had given us an ultimatum. Hand over Riley and Isaac within five days, or Coldharbour would suffer.

“Why don’t you let these people go?” Riley said. “They don’t have to?—”

“Oh, shut your face!” Rhianna snapped, showing off her short fuse. “This ain’t a situation where you get to sweet-talk me into a deal. I’m calling the shots. Anyway, don’t you get how much magic we’re using here to lock this shithole station down?” She wrinkled her nose. “I hate London.”

I saw Riley glance at me from the corner of my eye, making my lungs constrict.

Come on, trash. Figure this out!

“Tell you what, I’ll make it easy for you,” Rhianna added. “I’ll give The Moon another ten seconds to come with me, or you see that kid over there?” She gestured at a little boy in his mother’s arms. “He loses his head. Slowly. Your choice.”

Bile threatened to surge up my throat. “You wouldn’t hurt a child.”

Rhianna’s mouth curled into a deadly grin. “I’ll do anything to get what I want. Ten, nine, eight, seven…”

Riley stepped forward. “Fine. Take me. Don’t hurt anyone.”

I grabbed his arm. “Don’t do this.”

He glanced at me with an unreadable expression. “It’s okay.”

I shook my head, my throat closing.

“Let me go,” he said so gently my knees almost buckled. “It’ll be okay.”

“Good on you, Moon,” Rhianna said. “He gets it. There’s no need for unnecessary bloodshed. At least today.” More laughter.

I wouldn’t let him go. No fucking way. He stayed with me. Safe. Living. Breathing. Radiant. The most beautiful man to ever grace my life. The one I’d tried walking away from.

Man, I’d been so stupid, my head submerged in a murky soup, blinding my reason. And I wanted him, no matter if he wanted me. I couldn’t live in a world without his smile, his touch, his sparkle.

I’m sorry I walked away…

Riley tried breaking free of my grip. “Drake, please.”

I tightened my hold on him, terrified of losing him. “You’re not going with her.”

Rhianna’s forehead creased. “Anyone got a sickbag?”

Riley tugged for freedom, imploring me with his eyes.

Did he have a plan? How? If he tried using his magic, he’d give himself away before he managed to get anything done, condemning the little boy and everyone else.

“You were never this keen to stick by my side,” Rhianna threw at me.

“We had six months together,” I replied.

Six months of verbal abuse and being locked in the dark.

Down in the dark where trash belongs…

My horrid inner voice, always around to kick me in my self-worth. Right now, it seriously needed to fuck off.

Rhianna snapped her fingers. “Move it. Now. Or the kid gets it. We’re running out of time.”

A soft boom hummed through the platform.

Witchcops?

“We have to go, Master,” a woman warned. “They’re attacking.”

The shadows around us flickered as a second boom vibrated through the station.

Rhianna huffed and pointed to a spot directly before her. “I want you in kissing distance, Riley. Now.”

I’d break her fucking jaw if she tried putting her fetid lips on him.

I checked my surroundings again, cursing my lack of explosive power to pop the heads of these wankers.

There were trains on either side of this platform, blocking any escape.

The only routes out of here were off the end of the platform or via the concourse, and those were blocked by the flickering shadow curtains.

And any attempt to run would trigger a massacre.

Great. So I had nothing to go on. No plan. No hope.

Rhianna really did have me by the balls.

Riley slipped free from my grip, leaving me to watch him hand himself over. Rhianna looked him up and down, her expression very much the cat who found the fountain of eternal kibble.

Fear sloshed in my stomach. I went to move forward, quickly intercepted by Phil—a shadow witch I knew from my time at the Kingwood hideout. Their place was so heavily cloaked I couldn’t find its location. Even when I’d been their prisoner, I’d had no idea where it was.

Phil pointed a pistol at my head. “Good to see you again, matey.”

He would always show up on Saturday nights, looking for a good time with Rhianna’s best friend, Zara.

I puffed out my chest. “Move.”

“You’re staying right here, matey.” Acrid breath hit my nostrils, carrying the heavy stink of beer and onions.

Three booms came in quick succession, tremors quaking beneath my feet.

Phil’s eyes narrowed. “Leave, Master. I’ll take care of him.”

“Bless you in the honor of Kane,” Rhianna answered.

Shadow witches loved praising Kane Kingwood—the deceased creator of shadow magic.

Rhianna grabbed Riley by the collar, pulling him forward as she broke a potion at her feet. A black cloud whooshed around them, smothering their bodies from view for a few seconds.

And then they were gone.

“Riley!”

Failed. Failed. Failed.

The Moon is gone. The Moon is gone.

No. I wouldn’t allow it. I’d get him back and treasure him and?—

Another boom forced me to stagger back, cracks racing across the platform as it shook.

“Kill them all!” Phil cried. “For Kane!”

“For Kane!” they all bellowed.

Pop!

Riley reappeared, instantly pressing his hands together as if in prayer. Phil didn’t notice, too busy running toward the hostages with his gun held aloft.

The Moon vanished as his illusion power took hold, Phil suddenly bursting into song.