Page 44 of Lunar Diamonds (Celestial Magic #1)

RILEY

T he next afternoon, my rabbit totem full of lunar diamonds, I practiced my new power in the gym.

Like the silver page said, Tidal Pull did work like telekinesis but with a pulling and pushing vibe, echoing the rolling tides.

I pulled a punching bag toward me then sent it hurtling across the room with a telekinetic shove. It slammed into the wall, whacking the gym mat with a hearty slap.

“Nice,” my brother proclaimed. “I’m jealous.”

This seemed to be my main power, with no daily limitations or recharges like the other. From my training, I gleaned that I always had to pull in order to push, but a pull didn’t have to be followed by pushing.

Weird. But whatever.

Get ready for pain, Kingwoods.

I felt complete, connected to my destiny, every power in place. Now Isaac needed his diamond fixed, and Preston needed to get his hidden arse into this house.

Easier said than done.

After the diamonds were in place, I sipped tea, curled up on the recreation room sofa beside my brother. I rested my head on his shoulder, while he wrapped an arm around me.

It was amazing to have him back onboard. He promised to never saunter out of my life like that again.

“I’ll fling you into the sea if you do,” I’d warned. “I can do that now.”

Drake was in his room, Erin in hers, while the Brambles joined us for some chill-out time.

I struggled over killing Jonathon. Hating myself for giving into the darkness that drove the knife into him. No matter how many times I told myself it was a do or die situation, it didn’t ease this burden on my soul.

I’m changing…

Killing came with being an Aurora, and I’d have to get used to it. Because there were only four days to stop the Kingwoods now.

Hecate spare this city from bloodshed…

That was down to us, though. She’d given us the tools to stop it from happening.

I still considered my proposal on involving the High Coven. It’d be shot down, but maybe we could work with them. At least against the Kingwoods. Things didn’t have to be difficult. We were in a new age with a new generation.

Right?

“This family is fucked up,” Isaac said, kicking Uncle Jonathon’s diaries perched on the coffee table. “Why couldn’t he be like a wise old sage for his dear nephews?”

I lifted my head. “Because he was a monster.”

Who you butchered…

I swallowed, my hands twitching with remembrance of the stabbing. Of the blood. Of his betrayal against his family.

He deserved it. He deserved worse. I just needed to accept myself as the justice giver.

Isaac sipped his whiskey on the rocks. “What if there’re more out there?”

“Scary relatives?” Aaron asked.

“Twisted second cousins.”

“I hope not,” I said.

Isaac swirled the ice in his glass. “I’m so worried about Preston. Feeling it here.” He touched his heart with his thumb.

Okay, I wasn’t quite numbed enough to face the rest of the day. After a rollercoaster of horror, sex, and more horror, I needed a stiff drink.

I slid off the sofa, hitting the mini bar. I poured out a neat spiced rum, knocking it back in one.

Better.

I poured another drink, adding coke, craving more of a release. I wouldn’t find much of it in this bottle, but there was a different avenue of distraction.

“Guys?”

Their heads turned my way.

“Want to sing?”

We spent an hour performing Motown classics, turning the recreation room into our very own karaoke night along the lines of Glitter Fox.

I missed Danny and Lee so much. Having to lie in my texts about being poorly hurt. Lying to everyone in my life did.

Not now. Sing it out! Let it be tomorrow’s problem.

Yeah, and all the tomorrows after that.

With a spring in my step, I entered my bedroom, considering paying Drake a visit. See if he might be up for some more distraction.

My cock liked that idea.

I found a letter on my bed.

“What’s this?” I asked aloud, picking it up.

Dear Riley,

I’m sorry for everything.

I’m sorry for walking away.

But I have to go now. I’ve caused you so much trouble already. I don’t want to cause any pain.

Wishing you all the best,

Drake x

Gone? What the hell?

Assaulted by dizziness, I sat on the bed, my breath hitching. A jabbing pain, like a stitch, hit me under the ribs.

Gone? How could he be gone?

I dropped the paper, fresh pain pulsing in my temples.

Drake was gone? Just like that? Out of my life?

My bedroom door flew open. For a moment, I hoped it was him having a change of heart or admitting he’d just played a mean prank.

But it was my brother.

“We’ve got trouble.”

I jumped to my feet, the bite scar on my thigh suddenly itching. “What?—”

A blue figure slammed into Isaac from behind. He flew at the TV, the crash and clatter deafening.

“Isaac!”

“Fuck…” he moaned, lying in an awkward heap.

The blue figure strode into the room, familiar tendrils dancing across his body.

“You…” I squeaked, my throat closing, my heart threatening to stop. “But…”

But Uncle Jonathon was dead. He was?—

The figure morphed into a shade.

The shade, that black eel swimming around its body.

Oh. Crap.

“I tasted Moon,” it said in a crackling male voice.

Sweat ran down my spine, panic blocking my reactions. “You… You can’t be here…”

“Moon is mine. Moon is path.”

He rushed me, gouging my chest with a blue claw.

I screamed, falling back onto the bed. Heat flared in my chest, blood flowing freely from the wound.

The shade sprang onto the bed, its blueness bright and blinding, those red eyes wide and hungry.

“Give me Moon!” it bellowed, decay on its breath.

My scar screamed in agony, my teeth clenched so tightly they were about to break. What was the damage to my chest? It felt bad.

Fight back!

The shade’s mouth lowered, my guts roiling from the acrid stink wafting in my face.

“Moon mine. Will open path.”

It wasn’t our uncle. It couldn’t be our uncle.

“Who are you…” I rasped out, still searching for my courage.

“Moon mine. Moon mine.”

“Riley!” His hands alight with sunshine.

His voice and golden glow slapped me out of my stupor.

Screw this. I summoned my courage, seizing the shade with my new power and pulled it closer so it got in my face.

“Moon!” it wailed, digging its knee into my thigh.

“I’m evolving past you!” I flung it upward.

It vanished in a burst of blue before hitting the ceiling.

“Riley…” Isaac said again. “I’m here…”

The Brambles charged into the room.

Uncle Jonathon? Was he still alive? We’d buried him out back, but maybe he wasn’t dead. What were we missing here? There were pieces scattered here and there, none of them clear.

“What happened?” April cried.

My brain swam in confusion, my chest on fire. “Not him…” I breathed. “Not him…”

Isaac healed me, despite his forehead bleeding. But I couldn’t move off the bed, paralyzed by the surprise.

If the blue figure wasn’t our uncle, then who the hell was it? Why did it take the shape of that shade?

I can’t stand this…

Isaac leaned over me. “Are you?—”

The shade returned in an explosion of blue light. Isaac spun, reacting too late to a backhand. He flew into the balcony doors, smashing through the glass.

Time slowed, my heartbeat a languid hum. Everything dimmed, the sounds muffled and distant.

The shade jumped onto the bed, straddling me. It stared down at me with hungry eyes, its mouth hanging open.

“Moon. Moon mine.”

It lowered its head, my scar blazing with agony.

Hecate help me…

“Moon is mine.” It dragged a talon over my jumper, slowly splitting the fabric open. “Will have. Getting stronger. Will have. Will have. Will have.”

“Jo—” I coughed, riddled with pain. “Jonathon.”

The shade grunted, its face changing, flickering into something else for a moment. It offered me a glimpse of a man’s face within the blue.

A face I hadn’t seen for fifteen years.

A face I’d pined for, cried for, begged for.

“Dad?”

Pop!