Page 10 of Lunar Diamonds (Celestial Magic #1)

RILEY

H ow I didn’t pass out was beyond me, my head in an endless spin.

Go me for staying vertical.

Isaac stepped out of the silver car looking like a million dollars, pounds, and every currency. His flawless fair skin glowed with a luminous golden hue only money could buy, his light brown hair styled to perfection. A set of blue eyes sparkled in his face. As he approached, an expensive scent wafted in my direction, making me feel like pond scum in his presence.

No, no, no. Don’t let this in…

Self-deprecation was not welcome here right now, thank you.

His teal suit, complete with an open white shirt, didn’t help my self-esteem. Envy was a big part of my dysmorphia, as well as feeling ugly.

Call me beastly and smother my head with a paper bag.

I fortified my sparkly inner walls against the wicked tide. I’d been doing so well to not fall apart tonight.

Isaac regarded the mansion, then the rest of us, his eyes landing on me last. “Hello.”

Was he The Star?

Erin came down the stairs to stand beside me. She smelled of rose perfume.

“Welcome back, Mr. Davenport,” she said.

He moved closer to me, his eyes narrowed in scrutiny. “You’re The Moon?” Isaac’s accent sounded both British and American at the same time—Cheshire by way of California.

“Y-Yeah.” I swallowed, overwhelmed and gasping for that tea.

His left eyebrow shot up. “Your eyes are like mine.”

I got a little starstruck, squirming as my scalp itched. “Are they?”

“Yep. Anyway, I’m Isaac. The Sun.”

“Riley.”

Oh, not The Star. I guess that would have been too obvious.

“Come inside for tea,” Erin said. “We have much to discuss.”

This supermodel was my brother.

Wow. The shock kept piling on, and I kept standing.

What a miracle.

Isaac folded his arms, stony faced yet pretty as hell. “Got anything stronger?”

Erin smiled, a harder gust of wind blowing around us. “Of course. Come.” She went back up the stairs.

The supermodel coughed, fumbling in his suit jacket pocket for something.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

“Holy fucking fuck,” he mumbled, pulling out a blue asthma inhaler. He puffed on it twice.

“Do you need anything?” I said, unsure of what to do.

He shook his head, clutching the inhaler to his chest. “We’re brothers. How the fuck is that even possible?”

“I don’t?—”

“I’ve already received the big Aurora reveal speech,” he cut me off. “But seeing your face makes it real, you know?”

I nodded, saying nothing.

It’s too real.

Erin promised us tea, heat, and booze from the doorway. The Bramble siblings joined in, insisting we get out of the cold.

Those collective pleas finally moved us into a huge entrance hall.

Terracotta-and-gold décor greeted me, along with a delicious warmth, wrapping itself around me like a blanket. My shoes clicked on a glossy wooden floor, a large staircase directly ahead leading up to a mezzanine.

Various paintings of the moon, sun, and star constellations adorned the walls, their golden frames glittering under the light of ornate chandeliers.

Neither Isaac nor I said anything. Alice and Aaron moved past us, heading down a long corridor to the left of the stairs.

“See you soon,” Alice called back. “Along with the cargo.”

The front door closed, cutting off the howl of the wind and the roaring of the waves.

What would happen to Drake? I heard the faint starting of an engine, and then nothing but the wind trying to break the doors down.

Wow. It really started picking up.

Brother. Moon. Aurora, whispered my brain.

Yeah, yeah. Like I don’t know!

“Follow me.” Erin led us toward an open door, leading us into a large living room with the same terracotta-and-gold décor, more of those celestial paintings, and an open fireplace.

I took a moment to drink it in, examining the closed drapes, the pine furniture, and the three large terracotta sofas positioned around a coffee table close to the fire.

Despite the heat, I shivered, agitation crawling across my skin. I wanted out, to make a run for it and forget this night. Get to my bed, dive under the covers. Never leave the flat again.

Isaac’s voice broke my spiral. “I’m thinking champagne would go down a treat.”

“Of course,” Erin said again. “We have a vast selection of champagnes in our wine cellar.”

“Mo?t?”

“I’ll have a bottle brought up.”

I blinked, looking over to the supermodel’s perfect posture, his expression indifferent yet handsome.

Did we really have the same color eyes? Both blue, yes, but his were bluer. Right? Bright and vibrant and…just like mine.

I scrutinized him further, discovering elements of a similar bone structure.

The weight of this bore down on me, bringing my inspection to a close. I bit down on my lip, drawing a circle on my left palm like my therapist taught me. The repetitive, tickly motion calmed my nerves, anchoring me in the moment. I used it whenever I felt like I was about to be pitched into the worst type of meltdown.

Isaac’s whole demeanor brightened. He clapped with glee, facing me with a mega-watt grin. “What do you say?”

I stopped drawing the circle. “Can I have tea, please?”

“For real?” Isaac countered.

Erin nodded and called, “Ollie?”

A man with tightly cropped brown hair entered the living room, tall enough to have to duck under the doorframe. His arrival drew a gasp from Isaac.

“Hi there,” Isaac said, scurrying over to shake his hand.

“Nice to meet you,” he answered with a gruff baritone.

This guy was built from pure muscle, his white vest showing off his big, dark-brown arms.

Isaac practically drooled. “What’s your name?” He purred, loosening a button on his shirt.

“Ollie is our handyman, and my son,” Erin answered. “And sometimes a butler.” She chortled, Ollie’s hazel eyes glancing between us.

Isaac didn’t say anything, keeping his attention on the guy.

“Don’t get used to him,” Erin added. “He’ll be leaving us on February first to join the High Coven as a witchcop.”

“In Coldharbour?” Isaac asked coquettishly.

“Yeah,” Ollie answered abruptly.

Isaac seemed unperturbed by the cool response. “Good for you. I wish you the best of luck.”

Ollie ignored him.

Erin asked her son to fetch the tea, champagne, and some nibbles, then asked us to gather on the sofas.

“He’s too hot to live,” Isaac whispered to me. “I want to see his toolbox.” He gave me gentle nudge with his elbow.

I giggled.

Isaac sighed dramatically. “But let’s get serious.” He snapped a finger, pointing at the sofas.

We sat together on the sofa parallel to the fire, while Erin occupied the left one. My bum thanked me along with my legs, the softness of the cushions pure bliss for the body.

Erin crossed her legs, resting her folded hands on her knees. “Allow me to extend the warmest welcome to the House of Aurora.”

Ollie returned with a tea trolly carrying goodies. He laid out packets of crisps and biscuits on the table, and prepared my tea for me—milk, one sugar.

I took the cup from him. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He answered me with a little more warmth.

Ollie popped the champagne and poured it out. When Isaac thanked him, the coolness returned in his response.

Isaac made seductive eyes at him, but Ollie never looked at him once.

Isaac huffed, sipping his bubbles as the handyman departed.

“Help yourselves to the snacks,” Erin said.

“Is he single?” he asked.

“Who?” Erin responded.

“Ollie.”

“Yes. He’s single.” She didn’t elaborate, taking a sip of her champagne.

Maybe Isaac shouldn’t be asking this stuff right now.

“I see.” He drank more champagne.

Erin put her glass down. “There is a lot to get through tonight.”

Here we go. My stomach tightened. I drew a deep breath, putting my tea down. At the rate my hands were trembling, it’d only end up in my lap.

“You each wield celestial power,” Erin said.

Isaac shuffled a little closer in my direction.

“You, Isaac, are The Sun. Riley, you are The Moon. Unfortunately, The Star is missing.”

Dizzy bubbles fizzed in my head, giving the champagne a run for its money. “He is? Where… Do…” I cleared my throat. “Do you know who he is?”

Erin took a moment to answer. “Aaron, who you met earlier, is leading the investigation into his whereabouts. We did find him in London, but he vanished without a trace hours before we could reach out to him.”

“He’s not dead, is he?” Isaac asked.

“No. We would know.”

“How?”

“I’ll show you shortly. Until Preston is found, your magic will not be strong enough to fight the coming storm. Although you will accumulate great strength from tonight, each of you must be together when the true threat shows itself. The alignment of Sun, Moon, and Star.”

A painful kernel bloomed in my ribs, reality beginning to sink in.

This is happening.

“Are the Kingwoods the threat?” I asked.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “It will show itself in time, as it has done over the year. But you will become a target to many, regardless of who or what it is.” Erin picked up her up glass. “The mansion is defended by protection charms, as well as cloaking charms to hide our activities from the High Coven. For the time being, at least.”

Wow. That hit like a ton of bricks. “Really?”

She tapped her champagne glass with her pinky finger. “There are dangerous days ahead, and the High Coven will want to help us thwart the apocalypse. After all, they haven’t managed to destroy the shades.”

Very fair point.

“But this will require delicate negotiations later down the line.”

I could only imagine the headache they’d conjure.

“I have every confidence in you,” she continued, “as I always have with this family. We will fight, and maybe we can make a deal with Drake Parish.”

My heart rate intensified. “We can?”

“Scrying witches are precious commodities. He may be able to help find Preston. He found you before me, and apparently knows where we can find the lunar diamonds.”

My brother and I looked at each other. He was paler than before, and I was sure my face resembled a nice shade of shocked horror.

Celestial triplets. Sacred witches, and heirs to a great power.

Anguish spiked in a sudden flood. “What about my mum? Our families? Are you saying we’ve been living a lie?”

“I’d say so,” Isaac contributed.

Not helpful.

A glimmer of anger joined my anguish. I straddled the middle ground between fury and sadness, unsure of my next move, stewing in my thoughts.

How could I be anyone else other than myself? Impossible. This life was all I’d ever known, along with the people in it.

Tears brimmed in my eyes. “This can’t be happening…”

Isaac slid closer, throwing an arm around my shoulders. “Easy there.”

I tensed, as rigid as stone. What was he doing? Offering me comfort like a brother should? I didn’t know him. We’d only just met, and he should be in the same state as me. Shaken to the core, on the verge of screaming to the heavens to wake me the hell up before I smashed that vase over by the fireplace against the wall.

Ha! As if I’d ever do that.

Crap. Here came the waterworks, the sniffles, a breach in my sparkly wall. A pathetic sob escaped my throat. I hunched forward with my hands over my face, whimpering into my palms.

I want my mum…

I just want my mum…

“It’s okay,” Isaac soothed, patting my spine. “We?—”

I sat ramrod straight. “No! It’s not okay. It’s… It’s…”

It was real. I was still awake in this living room with these people, anchored in a strange new reality.

Anchor…

Immediately, I drew the circle on my palm for some respite.

You have to face this…

“Be angry,” Erin said. “Both of you have every right to be. This is an incredible revelation. Your lives have been lies, and I can only apologize.”

You have to face this…

Isaac slid away from me to the other side of the sofa. “I don’t know how to feel.” He sounded so empty. “This is insane.”

The circle calmed me down, helping me see things a little clearer.

We could both run the gauntlet of emotions or listen and face the music.

I sniffed, rubbing at my eyes. Wow. I’d certainly made a fool of myself.

“Here.” Isaac grabbed a box of tissues from the coffee table.

“Thank you.” I took two, sorting out my snotty, teary self.

Crying really could be cathartic. Not a cure, but a steppingstone to more levelheadedness. Combined with the circle technique, it even patched up the hole in my sparkly.

I drank some tea to steady more of my nerves.

“All good?” Isaac asked.

I nodded. At some point, I would face my mum, I would ask all the questions. Right now, I just wanted answers so I could throw the pieces into a melting pot and watch it come together.

“Carry on,” my brother said to Erin.

His phone rang. With a spectacular eye roll, he switched it off and dumped it beside him. “Can’t I have five minutes peace?”

“Are you ready?” Erin steered the conversation back to the matter at hand.

Gnawing on my bottom lip, I sat back and listened.

“After the fall of House Aurora, and the shame it brought to your family name, your mother became withdrawn.” She looked between us. “Juliet Aurora.”

The Sun of her time.

We stayed silent, letting Erin tell the story.

“She never left the mansion, receiving no visitors. She became a hermit.” Erin drew some shaky breaths. “For a little over four years. Until she left for a month. She told me she wanted to think outside of these walls, and that she would be back soon.” She licked her lips, her hazel eyes glistening. “Of course, I obeyed. I have served this family since the age of eighteen, taking over from my mother, who served your grandmother.”

Rosalind Aurora. Not sacred herself, but her mother Elizabeth had been The Star. A legend who, along with her siblings, took down an army of dragons conjured by a psychotic coven of witches. And that was after defeating a flurry of threats, each one an apocalyptic red herring until the fire-breathers showed up.

Even before Kane Kingwood created his shadowy spin off, there were those who used magic in nefarious ways. Conjurers of monsters, plagues, all manner of things. Which the High Coven always assured would never happen again under their suppression. So this new threat must be shadow-related. Maybe.

“I never questioned her,” Erin said. “I let her go, continuing to perform my daily duties, counting down the days until her return. And she did. Pregnant.”

My stomach flipped, my grip on my teacup tightening.

“Your father’s identity is a mystery, your mother offered me no information.”

Our father. Heat crept up my neck, my resolve threatening to break. So, the guy who’d ditched me and Mum for another woman wasn’t really my dad.

Keep up!

“Did you ever see him around here?” Isaac asked.

Erin shook her head. “There is no information on him whatsoever. And she forbade me from looking for him. Before you ask,” she directed that at Isaac as he leaned forward to say something, “I will never disobey her wishes.”

“Doesn’t mean we can’t dig,” he retorted.

She responded with a sip of her drink.

Interesting way of giving her blessing for us to look.

“You were born first, Isaac, followed by Riley, then Preston.”

“I’m the big brother?” Isaac responded.

Making me the middle child.

“Yes.” Erin brushed her cardigan. “You were born during an eclipse twenty-five years ago, on February twenty-ninth. A few days after your birth, your mother began the adoption process.”

“Whoa. Hold on,” Isaac interjected. “The twenty-ninth? My birthday’s the twenty-eighth.”

“Mine too,” I added.

“A common practice for those born in a leap year,” Erin said.

More big reveals, although not as dramatic as the other stuff.

“Fuck. We’re only what? Six?” Isaac knocked back his champagne, then laughed. “Sorry. Carry on.”

Erin did just that. “Miss Juliet didn’t want you to suffer the shame of this house. At that time, House Aurora’s future seemed bleak, irrespective of your birth. The High Coven took almost everything from the mansion and were threatening to take you away next. So, you were separated, hidden under a cloaking spell Miss Juliet hid inside her mattress.” Her bottom lip trembled. “I saw how much she loved you, the way she cradled you. But things were so dire, the hate so potent. So global. That same day you left, she walked out into the sea, washing up on shore a few days later.” She closed her eyes.

I felt a flicker of grief for this woman I never knew. “She took her own life?”

Isaac moved closer to me again.

“Her sadness became unbearable.” Erin kept her eyes closed. “She’d lost everything, her sister dead, her brother abandoning her.”

Janet and Jonathon Aurora—The Star and The Moon respectively. Seeing as we studied some of House Aurora’s history in school, I knew a few details. Janet was killed by a shade while drunk in a pub, and Jonathon fled Coldharbour in disgrace. He’d been a bit of a pinup, the golden boy before the big crash.

Erin whimpered softly. “I wish I could have helped her, but not even the birth of you blessed sons helped.”

Did we make it worse?

I slid closer to Isaac this time. “I’m so sorry.”

Isaac nodded slowly in agreement.

Erin opened her eyes, sitting a little straighter. “There is an extensive library here containing texts on the Aurora histories. Please read everything in your own time. Tonight is about your powers.”

At that moment, as if everything was perfectly timed, the Bramble siblings entered the room. Led by April, they each carried a silver statue of an animal.

A bear, a lion, and a rabbit, all looking up to the sky.

The siblings placed them on the coffee table, Alice hurrying off, leaving the other two to stand with their hands folded behind their backs. They both wore black leather necklaces, a black velvet pouch hanging from each one.

“These are your totems,” Erin said. “They are the source of your powers, each one representing you. The bear belongs to The Star, the lion The Sun, and the rabbit for The Moon. If Preston was dead, his totem would turn black until the birth of his successor.”

Thank goodness the bear was silver!

Erin continued her explanation. “For each of the three indents you see on the totems, a diamond must be present to awaken the powers within you.”

April stepped forward, tipping the contents of her pouch into her palm. Diamonds spilled onto her skin. Isaac and I leaned forward at the same time, in awe of the sparkling jewels.

They were spherical with a hint of golden light to them. Subtle, but there. Apart from one, which appeared to be damaged.

“These are the solar diamonds,” Erin said. “To be inserted into the lion totem. One of the diamonds needs repairing. I’m working on outsourcing help. The fae tend to be good with these things.”

“For you, sir,” April said, offering Isaac the diamonds.

He stood, letting the witch place two of them into his palm. She bagged the other one, stepping back with a bow.

“Insert them into the totem,” Erin said.

Isaac rolled his shoulders, looking down at me with frightened eyes. An instinct kicked in. Kind of like sibling support, coming right out of the left field.

I got to my feet. “You can do this. No matter how insane the situation, we’re in this together.”

My nerves were in a blender, but I also found myself smiling.

Isaac drew some deep breaths. “Thanks.”

“No worries.”

“Does it matter which indent?” he asked Erin.

“No. Just pop them in and gain two of your powers. The third will unlock a bolt at the celestial room. Once every witch has filled their totem with diamonds, the door will open.”

These diamonds weren’t in the history books, along with anything about a celestial room. And I didn’t remember any chapters on the individual powers of the Auroras.

“Without the diamonds, your powers don’t work,” Erin explained. “These jewels were gifted to the very first Auroras by Hecate. Under a full moon, on a sunny morning, and in the late of night when a swathe of stars shone brightly. Treasures to be taken care of, and a condition of Hecate’s blessing. Think it of as proving your worth to her. That you respect your power and your place. At least, that’s how your mother explained it to me.” She took a brief pause. “When the High Coven came, the diamonds were removed and hidden. This deactivated the powers, and sealed the celestial room, along with its contents.”

Wow, this was a lot.

“The room is off limits to anyone other than sacred witches. And greater power lies inside.”

“I like the sound of that,” Isaac said.

Galvanized by the new information, he inserted the solar diamonds into the lion totem. Each one clicked into place, their golden glows intensifying.

“What—”

Two beams of sunlight cut Isaac off, shooting into his chest. His body lifted into the air, his arms outstretched. He lit up as if sunbathing on a beach, an incredible warmth radiating from him. Goodness, he looked amazing up there, super luminous.

“And The Sun rises,” Erin proclaimed, on her feet now. “Praise be to Hecate.”

The sunlight vanished, Isaac lowering to the ground again.

“Fuck me hard.” He held up his hands, examining them, totally awestruck. “Did that really just happen?”

“It did. And now you are ready to begin your training. We will all help you make the most of your powers.”

“Your turn, Riley,” Erin said.

Aaron stepped forward, my diamond ring sliding out of his pouch into his palm.

I rubbed at my chest, that kernel still there. “That’s a lunar diamond?”

“Yes, sir.” He offered it to me.

I swallowed, taking the ring between thumb and forefinger. Silvery light shimmered within it, much like the glow of the full moon tonight. A trait I hadn’t noticed before.

“What happened to the others?” I asked.

“They were stolen,” Erin answered. “I’ll explain later. Unfortunately, I’m not sure how the solar diamond was damaged.”

“My dad gave me this ring,” I said. “Do you know why?”

Erin’s forehead creased. “I wish I could tell you more, Mr. Croft.”

Was that it? I’d been in possession of a powerful jewel and that was all she could say?

Although, if she didn’t know, she didn’t know.

“I will find answers for you,” she added.

“Thanks.” I put a pin in my inner complaint. “How do I pop it out?”

“Try pressing it into an indent,” Aaron suggested.

“You’ve got this,” Isaac added.

As I held the ring over an indent, a magnetic force sucked the diamond out of the ring with a pop. The rabbit totem shimmered, the silvery light inside the jewel glinting.

Whoa.

A moonbeam hit me in the chest, lifting me off the ground, forcing my arms out. A pleasant coolness flooded my body, calling to a part of me I never knew existed, strengthening my muscles, my bones. Every pain vanished, a rejuvenating energy filing me up.

Power. There was power within me, connected to the moon.

I am The Moon.

I am sacred.

“And The Moon rises,” Erin said. “Praise be to Hecate.”

“Wow…” I breathed as I returned to the floor. “I feel… I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life.”

Erin chuckled. “And it will only get better. Both of you are more resilient now, able to endure more than you could before.”

“Like a kick to the face?” Isaac asked.

Ouch.

“Exactly,” Erin said. “You are built to withstand a lot. The Brambles are skilled in combat, so will provide you with a training program to add to your skills, as well as flex your powers.”

“Like our dad did before us,” April added.

“Thank you,” Isaac and I said at the same time.

“And you can continue to use your bangles should you need them,” Erin added. “You can also take cloaking potion to hide your magic outside the mansion.”

“The stuff that rots your teeth?” I asked with a shudder.

“A safer blend,” she said.

I ran my tongue across my teeth, horrified by the idea of my pearly whites tumbling from my mouth.

Isaac stretched his arms above his head. “This is incredible. I could run a bazillion marathons.”

Erin seemed a lot happier than a few moments ago but kept her tone serious. “Utilize drawing upon the sun or the moon to feed your magic. You can use your powers at any time of day, but connecting to your respective element, for want of a better term, will provide you with magical sustenance.”

“Noted,” I said.

“What about The Star?” I asked.

“Now, let’s take a break before we discuss him.”

Alice returned with a handcuffed Drake, a plaster on his forehead from being hit.

There went my pulse again, skipping away, my veins throbbing.

He seemed rather calm, still handsome as hell. Indifferent, not as freaked out as I’d be if I were cuffed like that.

Damn arsehole thinking he could get me hot under the collar before kidnapping me.

Kind of kidnapping…

Whatever. He was bad news.

“Wait there,” Alice barked at him.

He obeyed, his gaze fixed to me. I squirmed, avoiding all eye contact. He wasn’t important right now.

“Ooo. Progress,” Alice said, admiring the totems.

I looked to Drake, his dark eyes now on the diamonds.

Damn, he looked so mysterious with a side of sexy.

“I can help you find the others,” he said.

“Zip it!” Alice yelled at him. “Or I’ll bung you back in the boot.”

Drake kept his mouth shut, his attention staying on the diamonds.

Could he really help us, or did he have a more insidious plan?

An alarm wailed with high-pitched ferocity, forcing my hands to my ears.

What the hell?

Ollie tore into the room, a gun in his hand. “The protection charms have been breached.” His witch bangle’s light flashed green, along with April’s and Alice’s.

Not good.

“We’re under attack,” Erin said.

Really not good.