Page 23 of Lunar Desires (Celestial Magic #2)
DRAKE
T he pain in my nose stayed inside an orb of determination—built from getting Riley back on his feet.
I cracked my knuckles, trying to channel The Moon’s positive outlook.
Let this work…
“Johnathon Aurora is the ultimate dickhead,” Jake said, taking the car onto a main road cutting through the Woodside Estate.
He spoke the truth, but my grinding teeth kept me from answering.
The rain pounded the car, falling even heavier than before. Any harder and it might start cracking the glass.
How are there multiple Jonathon Auroras?
And how did the fae woman summon me?
Questions for later. Everything could stay on hold until Riley was alright.
Jake wove through the vast maze of the industrial estate, passing warehouse after warehouse.
Still no Riley.
He turned into a sloping road, flanked by two bagel factories, down to a roundabout with four turnings. Jake took the left turn, picking up speed. This winding country road led straight to Aurora Mansion.
I drummed my fingers on my thighs, praying, begging to any god listening. The human God, or Hecate, whatever deity had the time to make things right.
Riley uses both, I thought.
He did. He used both God and Hecate in his speech, like a lot of people did when exclaiming. Words I wanted to hear again tonight.
You better be alright, Mr. Moon…
“Fucking weather,” Jake complained.
My stomach looped as we went up and down some mounds, my breathing labored.
Be alright. Be alright. Be ? —
Pop!
A small, wet doll-like figure appeared in my lap gazing up at me, getting mud all over the white uniform.
Giddiness hit me right in the heart. “Riley!”
“I’m not a real boy yet, am I?” he said in a higher pitched version of his voice.
“What the fuck!” Jake cried, hitting the brakes.
I leaned in closer, the muddy doll wearing his lovely face. There was even a silver streak in the scoop of mud where his hair should be.
“Afraid not.” I licked my lips, beyond bemused.
Also grateful for our soul bond and its rule-bending.
Riley dipped his head. “Crap.”
Jake caught my eye. “Well, it sort of worked.”
I returned my attention to Riley. “Are you alright?”
“I will be,” he answered, not looking up.
Jake took off again. “Love the optimism.”
Even as a doll, Riley’s light still reached the deepest recesses of my core.
He lifted his tiny head. “This is better than being a puddle.” He shivered, more liquid mud oozing from his body, spreading across my trousers.
I couldn’t help but smile. “Everything will be alright.”
He nodded, tiny droplets of mud falling from his head. “Your poor nose.”
“It can be fixed.”
“Should’ve asked Isaac to heal you.”
Man, he sounded utterly adorable. “You come first.”
His sigh was a squeak. “I don’t like you being hurt.”
“Ditto.”
He giggled, the noise like a dog’s chew toy. “How ridiculous is this?”
“You’re never ridiculous,” I answered, recoiling from my cheesiness a tad.
“Aw, what a cutie,” Jake said.
“I’ll say.” Riley’s tiny lips spread into smile. “I’d kiss you if it wasn’t like tasting the back garden.”
Jake snorted.
I chuckled, the mansion appearing on the horizon at last, like the best beacon in existence.