Page 25 of Lunar Desires (Celestial Magic #2)

“Giving you your privacy,” Erin answered. “And to get out of these wet clothes. Tea?”

“Yes please.”

“Meet us in the living room as soon as you’re ready. We may have found something.”

Yay! Good news!

After the others left, Isaac held back, one foot on the stairs, his head bowed.

“I’ll wait for Drake, so you’re not alone.” His posture changed, his shoulders sagging.

“Isaac?” I spoke with a lump in my throat. “Are you…are you okay?”

He grabbed the banister, his knuckles turning white. “Was that really our dad?”

“I think so.” I swallowed the lump, only for another to take its place.

Isaac’s shoulders visibly tensed under his wet witchcop clothes. “Unless the vision was fake. We’re dealing with magic and twisted fuckers here. But…but I don’t think so. Deep down, I know it’s him. I know he’s my dad.” He shook his head. “Why you? Why did he take you?”

A kernel of angst flared under the ribs. “I—” I couldn’t speak, my brother’s question too loaded with pain.

But he’d been right to ask it. Why did Dad take me? Why not all three sons? Maybe separating us was for safety reasons, being under one roof too dangerous. Sure. But why me? What made me so special?

Isaac pulled his shoulders back as he drew in a deep breath. “I can’t… Fuck.”

Guilt tore chunks out of me. “You can talk to me.”

He moved up a couple of steps. “My head hurts as much as my fucking heart.” His voice fractured with sadness. “It’s the worst sort of pain, you know? Physical, emotional, getting into every nook and cranny. I don’t…” He let out a tiny whimper, hitting me right in the feels.

My eyes pricked with heat. “Isaac…”

He sniffled. “Why do I feel so jealous?”

An overwhelming desire to hug him flushed through me. “Isaac…”

Footsteps on the stairs. My brother lifted his head. “Hey. He’s all yours.” He sidestepped, allowing Drake through, a fluffy white dressing gown in his arms.

Without another word, Isaac left the basement.

I leaned back on my hands, my head titled back. I was emotionally exhausted, trying to hold back the tears.

“What happened?” I listened to Drake approach, getting little traces of his minty scent.

Lifting my head, I let the tears roll free. A ton of sorrow crashed down on me, everything hurting in the way Isaac described. No inch of me spared, reality here to slap me around.

So many secrets, so much grief, cracks spidering across my sparkly walls.

Always cracks. Always space for sadness to infect the glitter.

“Dammit…” I whispered.

As much as I strived to live my life in the sunshine, lately I found myself stumbling into the shade.

Things were dark and I couldn’t bury my head in the sand anymore.

A smile and a cheery attitude weren’t enough.

Positives vibes wouldn’t take down the Kingwoods or Uncle Jonathon.

Violence would, along with nerves of steel.

I was changing, a scary road ahead of me, peppered with mysteries.

I don’t know if I can do this…

Sobs exploded out of me like mini bombs one after the other. I collapsed onto my back, covering my face as white-hot tears tracked down my face.

Dad. Mum. Every damn thing, it pinned me to this floor, not letting me breathe. Powerful yet powerless, with nothing to snatch me out of this sorrowful orbit. Trapped. Spinning. Broken.

I’m done…

“Riley…”

And just like this, I left one orbit, only to be snared by Drake’s.

I dropped my hands, his face my port in a storm.

“I’m here,” he said.

Sniffling, I reached my hand out to him, too worn down to move any other part of me. “Hold me. Please…”

He lay down beside me, curling himself against my trembling, naked body. I rolled onto my side, his arms opening to embrace me. Two muscular security blankets keeping me safe from the demons of this world.

“I’m here,” he said again, kissing the back of my head. “I’m right here.”

****

Eventually, I managed to get off the floor and into a shower.

The hot water washed the muck and difficulties of the day down the drain, my skin grateful for the heat and the carrot cake shower gel.

Alice gave me a bottle a few days ago, telling me it’d change my life.

What a wise witch. I smelled like walking dessert.

Clean, my body a little more relaxed, I scrutinized my face in the mirror.

God, I looked so worn out. Even with the energy of the moon humming in my veins, the mental exhaustion left cobwebs in my mind. I hadn’t felt so lost since my bulimia upturned my life, throwing me into a vicious gauntlet of struggles.

It still clung to me, a sticky monster on my back. Dormant now, under control, but always there. Through therapy, and lots of karaoke, I’d gone to war with it, coming out stronger on the other side.

These were wildly different circumstances, but I’d have to take up arms again. I wasn’t losing myself to this. I wanted to do my duty as The Moon, yet hold on to the components of Riley.

“I’m a fighter.”

I drew a circle on my left palm—a trick my therapist taught me. I used it to assuage the burden of a spiral, the technique an absolute game changer.

“Okay, let’s get dressed,” I told myself, returning to the bedroom.

I went for a pair of loose boxers, some pink sweatpants, and a yellow jumper with a picture of a happy turtle on the front. Nice and bright.

Slipping on my fluffy green bunny slippers, I left the bedroom, gasping for a cup of tea.

Drake waited for me by the stairs beside a painting of the Orion constellation, dressed in sweats, looking so effortlessly scrumptious. He had a soft smile on his face, his nose now healed thanks to my brother, those eyes of his dialed up to the highest smolder setting.

“Alright?” he asked, his hands in his pockets.

I nodded, greeting him with a kiss on the cheek.

He licked his lips, his smile widening. “What was that for?”

“For everything.”

How could I be mad at a man who’d put me above himself? And, honestly, if he hadn’t left the mansion, then we wouldn’t have this potential clue Erin had mentioned.

Silver linings tempered the bad stuff, I guess.

So, he gets a free pass?

Ugh. Fine. I’d iron out those pesky wrinkles.

He kissed me on the mouth, just to confuse the wrinkles. “I’ve got some good news.”

My lips tingled, ready for more of his lip action. “I love good news.”

“Molly’s back in her shop.”

“Thank God!” I barked. “Is she okay?”

“She’s fine. I owe her a shit load of drinks.”

“Me too.”

He took me by the biceps, his lips parted. “Riley, I really am sorry.”

“I know. It’s okay.”

I didn’t want to do this right now. I’d rather relish this good news for a bit.

“Come on,” I said, taking his hand. “I’m gagging for a cuppa.”

He nodded, planting another kiss on my cheek. “Ditto.”

I led the way downstairs, a tiny spring in my step.