Page 13 of Lunar Diamonds (Celestial Magic #1)

DRAKE

R iley disappeared, steel walls rising around the kitchen, sealing off every window and door, swallowing the décor.

Interesting.

“What is this?” Zara cried, backing away from the metal.

The lights flickered, dimming down to an anemic glow.

“There’s no way out, boss,” one of the other witches said, testing the new walls.

Zara spun at me, snarling behind her mask. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“Have any ideas on what’s happening?”

Why don’t you smack your head against the wall to see what happens? “No.”

“Maybe it’s magical,” one of the other witches suggested.

Zara snarled again. “Obviously. What’re The Moon’s powers, again?”

Illusion and Tidal Pull, according to my research. The same two abilities passed down through the celestial bloodline. Clearly, Riley’s first diamond gave him the illusion power.

I couldn’t help but smirk.

“Loving this, are you?” Zara hissed. “What are his fucking powers?”

You should’ve paid more attention, I thought at her.

Zara huffed, bending to touch the ground. “Fucking Auroras. If you were any sort of decent man, you’d have found them quicker to avoid this shite. Now look what you’ve done.”

Yes, all my fault. Never mind Marcus failing to find a scrying witch this whole time. He’d wanted to find the Aurora triplets since discovering House Aurora hadn’t died with Juliet. I wasn’t sure how he found out, but he did, about a year ago. Thus, stepping up his efforts to find them, snaring me via his daughter, and making me scry.

As much as I resisted, the vile bond between me and Rhianna forced me to comply. I found the diamonds first, accidentally revealing that nugget of information in a weak moment, locked in the dark. Shortly after, I found Riley, formulating my plan of escape.

I had to be free tonight.

Zara huffed again, slamming her fist into the floor.

I cracked my knuckles. “What are you looking for?”

“Don’t speak. Help.”

How incredible, to hear her fear. “Help with what?”

She lifted her head. “If you want to keep your balls, help. Now.”

I moved to the island at the heart of the kitchen, taking in every corner of the space. There were no signs of escape, the steel walls seamless with no joins or holes.

I called to my magic, slipping into scrying mode.

Find the exit of this room.

I saw the room from all angles at various points of view, mapping the area. Zoomed in, zoomed out, my super GPS system drawing a map, searching, processing the details.

Nothing. Not one hint. Because this wasn’t real.

The other witches whispered together, opening drawers, tapping on the steel.

“Why did we have to attack tonight?” Zara grumbled.

I leaned against the island, resting my foot on one of the six stools. The Kingwoods moved quickly, but with greed. They were unprepared for a group hellbent on whatever plan they had. Although, I wasn’t allowed to know anything about their cause, I did know they wouldn’t be getting their slimy hands on The Moon.

For the world’s sake, and for the sake of me seeing more of his face.

That beautiful, warm face.

“Well?” Zara stood upright again. “Find anything?”

I shook my head.

She rushed me, raising a fist. I didn’t flinch, holding my ground.

“Trash!” she seethed.

Indeed. Never more than trash, from my childhood to now.

“I can’t wait for the day I get to crush your head.” She stomped her foot, water splashing from the action.

Water?

“What’s this?” one of the other witches said. “Boss?”

Zara moved back, water sloshing around her boots. “Is there a leak?”

I stepped to the side, the water already passing my ankles, flooding my shoes.

“I’ll fucking kill you!” Zara screamed, lunging at me.

I dodged, kicking up water in her face. “How is this my fault?”

She barreled toward me, swinging a punch. It bounced off my forehead, a surge of kinetic force sending her flying across the kitchen. She landed in the water with a huge splash, her arm twisting beneath her.

“Motherfucker!” she screamed, a witch helping her to her feet.

“I think it’s broken, boss,” the woman said, examining her twisted arm.

“Fuck!” Zara hissed. “Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!”

They stayed on their side of the kitchen, Zara’s masked face pointing my way.

There’s more where that came from.

Within half a minute, the water came dangerously close to my knees. Regardless of the illusion, panic set in now. A tiny flutter, but there.

What next? Would I be spared or trapped in here until the High Coven descended to execute us? Would this house toss me out with the rest of these wankers?

Like the trash you are…

I gripped the edge of the island, wrapping chains around my mental locks. If I let the panic take over, I could lose everything.

Don’t falter now…

The water reached my waist, as cold as the sea on a winter’s day. Zara whimpered, clutching to the woman who’d helped her up.

“What are we going to do?” she asked pathetically.

The water passed my stomach.

“Help us, Drake,” Zara begged. “You have to help us.”

Isn’t it funny how things turn on a dime? One moment I’m trash, the next I’m the target of her desperation.

I’d rather drown here, my last moments spent watching her struggle to cling to her rotten life as the water took her life.

I would die a happy man knowing she no longer plagued the realm of the living.

Could an illusion kill us?

The water reached my shoulders, picking me off my feet to float. It quickly reached my chin, forcing me to tread water.

The lights died out one by one, darkness spreading across the kitchen.

Zara screamed, the other witches pleading for their lives.

My heart leaped into my throat, my resilience failing. Any moment now, the locks on my emotions would break, setting my phobia free to gouge at my soul.

I don’t want to die in the dark.

I kicked my legs, praying to Hecate to spare me. My head swam with fresh possibilities of a new life, of the freedom I craved. If the goddess found it in her blessed heart to get me out of this, I’d buy her a drink in the afterlife. Years down the line, not now.

The water almost touched the ceiling, testing the limits of my reason. Icy fingers pawed at my sanity, ready to break it, opening the gates for destructive terror.

Alone in the dark.

In the dark.

In the dark.

In the dark.

“Drake?”

Riley’s voice came out of the blue, winding me with a jolt.

Shit. Had that really been him?

“Drake? Can you hear me? It’s Riley.”

Yes. Definitely his warm tones. “Riley?”

“Thank goodness! I’m trying to get you out of there. Crap. Give me a second.”

Almost submerged now, water filling my mouth.

Come on, sacred witch…

Only three lights remained, flickering toward their end.

Come on. Come on. Come on.

My heart was about to pound its way out of my chest.

I’m going to die.

I’m going to die.

I’m going to die in the dark, in the cold and lonely and wet dark where no one ? —

“I’ve got it!” Riley cried.

As the lights went out and the water swallowed the air, majestic sapphire eyes cut through the inky blackness. Riley’s face appeared next, his skin glowing like a full moon. The rest of him followed, reaching out to take my bound hands.

“It’s okay,” he whispered, his voice a balm to my fear. “Hold onto me.”

I did as he asked, my cold hand connecting with his warmth. Sparks nipped my skin as he closed his fingers around me, yanking me forward.

Within a flash of a second, I stood in the kitchen. The kitchen with no steel and cold water, gasping for air, my senses scrambled.

Dry. Warm. Standing under working lights.

“What…what…” Speech failed me, my chest on fire.

“It’s okay,” Riley soothed. “You’re safe.”

His face served as a port in a storm. I locked onto it, catching my breath, realigning my equilibrium.

“I used my power,” he said, still holding my hand.

As I came back online, my heart rate returning to normal, I noticed Zara and her minions on the floor. Shivering and unconscious.

I drew in some pacifying breaths. Chaos still sounded around the mansion. This was no time to sit on our behinds. But I thanked Riley anyway.

“You’re welcome,” he answered sweetly. “But we can’t stay here. I need to get upstairs.”

I rubbed my neck. He trusted me to go with him?

“This way.”

He took me through a door into a narrow corridor with exposed lightbulbs and gray stone walls.

Riley closed the door behind us. Seconds later, footsteps hurried past, a woman calling Zara’s name.

“I need a moment,” he said, slightly breathless. “I can’t believe I just did that.” There were twinkles in his eyes. Gleeful ones. “I actually created an illusion.”

I listened, the sound of his voice as pleasant as warm cocoa with all the trimmings.

“I couldn’t let those shadow witches touch you. I just couldn’t.” He chewed on his bottom lip, his nerves practically radiating from him as heat waves. “I know I should be angry at you, but I feel like that’s already in the past. You know?”

“I’m sorry,” I replied weakly, unnerved by the possibilities of his power, and stunned by his lack of fury.

He should probably hate me more, not be this adorable as he spoke.

“You brought me to this mansion to keep me safe,” he said. “Not to hurt me.”

“And to bargain,” I countered. This wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. My goals were still awaiting discussion.

He kept chewing his lip, his eyes hypnotic. Beads of sweat glistened on his forehead, everything about him whispering to my desire.

“The illusion,” he said. “It just happened. I started thinking about water and steel and… Let’s not talk about this.”

He looked ready to throw up. “Alright.”

“There’s a grimoire upstairs,” he said. “I have to get to it. Wait. I need Isaac.”

I followed him along the corridor until he stopped beside a sleeping Aaron.

“He’s not here.”

Pounding sounded from above, followed by the roar of a man.

He looked up. “What if he’s hurt?”

Can I hug you? “I’ll find the grimoire.”

He faced me. “Really?”

I fired up my magic.