Page 5 of Lunar Diamonds (Celestial Magic #1)

RILEY

T he purple-and-orange neon lights of Glitter Fox were always a beacon of joy. An animated sign above the door of a fox in a purple ballgown winked in a loop at the entrance.

I gave her a wave as always, smiling at the two Hecate Crystals behind her.

Witchcops patrolled nearby, their white unforms a massive reassurance to the city. It was good to hear laughter in the air.

I greeted the two cheerful yet foreboding bouncers on the door, Frankie giving me the once over, chewing on his gum. The muscly human never hid the fact that he wanted to date me, asking me out for drinks a few times. Flattered? Yeah. Interested? No. A lovely guy, but not the one for me. Anyway, he also had eyes for several other guys who frequented this bar. We’d even slept with the same fae a week apart.

“Have a good one,” Frankie said.

“You too.”

Danny wasn’t wrong about the competition trending on social media. My goodness, I’d never seen the place this packed. People really wanted those bubbles and voucher.

Pop music played at a level to enable conversation—the true blasting would come after karaoke. People chatted, danced, drank, and temporarily forgot their troubles.

Glitter Fox’s interior resembled a glittery compass with copious amounts of fairy lights and disco balls, with the ballgown fox appearing again and again throughout the club.

The north point housed the bar, which I made a beeline for. The south was the main entrance and a few booths, the west the dancefloor, the east the stage for the karaoke—complete with rainbow sequin backdrop.

What should I sing tonight? Lee and I were great at Spice Girls numbers. Should we rely on an old faithful, or switch things up with something new?

I made it through the throngs of people after bumping into a few acquaintances for air kisses and hellos.

“You’re here!” Lee called, dressed in head-to-toe gold, wearing a matching tinsel wig. He poured a whiskey, serving a guy a few bodies down from me.

“I’m here.” I offered him my biggest smile.

The bar gleamed with trinkets from Danny and Lee’s annual summer holidays. A random collection of things from snow globes to eggcups, all expertly placed amid the bottles and glasses and bar things. So sweet, so chaotic.

By Hecate, I loved it.

After serving the customer, Lee let his staff take over. He sorted me a double spiced rum and coke, then leaned across the bar with sympathetic eyes.

“How are you, luv? Danny told me all about the library. Shocking.” He sipped his strawberry daiquiri, gold painted nails glittering under the bar lights.

“I’m fine. A bit rattled, but fine.”

“This world we live in, eh?” He shook his head. “We won’t go there. Tonight is a glorious evening.” He cocked an eyebrow, glancing in the direction of the stage where Danny checked on the karaoke equipment dressed like a sailor with a purple feather boa wrapped around him.

I felt underdressed.

“Are you okay?” I asked, taking a blissful sip of my drink.

Ah, the power of spiced rum to blow the cobwebs away.

“He really bollocked me earlier.” Lee flicked tinsel out of his face. “But I had it coming.”

I stepped carefully. They loved each other dearly, but their spats were the stuff of legend. “Have you talked things out?”

His shoulders sagged. “Meaning have I apologized?” He kept his eyes on his husband. “I’m too embarrassed.” He gulped his drink. “Ah.” He winced. “Shouldn’t have done that.”

I waited for the epiphany to hit properly. Especially with the way he kept staring at Danny.

The sailor caught him watching, lifting a tentative hand.

Lee lifted one back, cocking a smile.

Adorable. Things would be okay as they always were in the universe of Danny and Lee. I took another sip of my drink, leaving Lee to wave coquettishly at his husband while I mingled for a bit.

Arriving at the dancefloor point of the compass, I leaned against a pillar, watching a woman dance solo to a Britney Spears number, giving it her all, busting out some serious moves, her blue witch aura swirling like happy flames around her.

I turned off my lenses for the night, contemplating joining her for a boogie.

Someone tapped my shoulder.

I turned to face them, almost dropping my drink in surprise. “Hot Guy!”

Oh. Crap.

That smile of his almost broke me. “Excuse me?”

If the floor could swallow me up right now, I’d really appreciate it…

Too humiliated to speak, I felt the heat rise in my face. Terrible heat, the kind to bring sweat to the back of my neck and instability to my dignity.

“Nice to see you again,” he said, slight concern painted across his gorgeous face.

What a beautiful shade of plum his long-sleeved shirt was, paired with a pair of white jeans and lovely black shoes. His chocolate brown hair shimmered, those dark eyes disarming me. And he smelled like mint, all fresh and yummy.

Go dunk your face in the nearest ice bucket!

With a deep breath, knowing I could be cooler than this, I spoke. “Likewise. What brings you here?”

Hmmm. Not the best line, but at least there were no cracks in my tone.

He glanced at the stage. “I heard this is the place to be.”

That voice. Wow. My boxers were about to flee my body. “Do you sing?”

He shook his head. “Nope. Stage fright.” He smiled, his eyes twinkling. “Do you?”

I took a few seconds to answer, composing myself. “I do. But only for fun.”

“I see.” He traced a long, elegant finger around the rim of his glass. I couldn’t be sure, but it looked like a vodka lemonade with ice.

Or just a lemonade. Or a sparkling water. Or?—

Who gives a crap? Stop staring at his glass when there’s a perfectly scrummy face to gaze upon!

“I never got your name,” he said.

“Oh. I—” The solo dancer decided this would be the moment to charge from the dancefloor in our direction, driving us apart with the worst possible timing.

“Pardon me!” she cackled, almost spilling my rum.

I checked myself for splash marks. All fine. But is this where I looked up to find the hot guy gone?

No. He still stood there, smiling, the perfect cupcake of a man.

Please let this be a meet cute.

“Someone was in a hurry,” he said.

I giggled. “Did she spill your drink?”

“No. As I was saying, I didn’t get your name. I’m Drake Parish.” He offered me his free hand.

“Riley.” We shook hands, his skin deliciously soft.

“Witch,” he added.

“Both of us,” I chirped.

He chuckled, the sound like hot honey.

Yeah, hot honey dripping down my chest, waiting to be licked off by a certain piece of man candy.

“Indeed,” he said, his eyelashes perfect fans. “How about a drink before you take to the stage?”

“Sounds great.”

He turned, gently moving through the bodies, thanking everyone who stood aside for him. So gentlemanly, so classy.

Where was the twist? Would he turn out to be a complete arsehole after a few drinks? A killer? Or even a shadow witch looking to use a librarian for his blood ritual?

He reached the bar first, offering his hand to guide me the last few feet. I took it, going with the flow, butterflies swooping in my belly.

Was this really happening?

I wriggled up beside him, getting Lucy the barmaid’s attention to put in an order.

“On me,” I told him.

Drake. I liked that name. Riley and Drake. Yeah. Went together in my head. But I must tone down the googly eyed crap immediately.

Play it cool.

“Danny said all drinks are on the house for you,” Lucy answered.

“Oh.”

“And him.” She nodded at Drake.

“Thank you,” Drake said, his voice making me quiver.

“You didn’t have to do that.” He was taller than me, so I had to look up slightly. Six-two to my five-nine?

Lucy handed us our drinks.

A surge of bravery moved through me. “So, tell me more about yourself. Are you from Coldharbour?”

“No. Just passing through.”

Damn.

“I’ll be heading home tomorrow,” he said, picking up his new glass.

He’d barely touched his original vodka lemonade—which I’d been right about.

“Where’s home, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Norwich.”

“Cool.” Should I pry further, ask him what he’s been doing to end up here? Coldharbour wasn’t exactly a close neighbor, being next door to Bournemouth on England’s southern coast. Miles away from Norwich.

I held fire. As hot as he might be, something bugged me about the lack of drinking. Not that anyone was required to neck drinks as if they were going out of fashion. But neither glass had touched his lips since we’d been talking.

Did it mean anything? Or was I overthinking it?

“And you?” Drake asked, showing me his flawless pearly whites.

“Oh. I…” Did the temperature just shoot up? Things were a little stifling.

“Riley?” He leaned in slightly, his scent planting kisses up my nostrils.

I cleared my throat, determined to keep it together. “I live here. Born and bred. I work in a library.”

His little finger slid up and down the glass. “I’ve always wanted to visit. Especially with all the House Aurora history here.”

He didn’t mention today’s incident. “Yeah. Have you seen the mansion?”

“Yes.” He didn’t elaborate.

Inner warnings stirred, telling me be careful. Something wasn’t right here. But my heart, well, it wanted more of Drake, to kick those warnings in the balls and give myself fully to the evening.

And maybe his arms.

Hmmm. Better not have too many rums tonight, then. My imagination already ran wild, fantasies swirling here, there, and everywhere, cementing Drake at the center of the bookshop dream.

Obsessive? Maybe. But try mustering resistance when caught in the crosshairs of a pair of dreamy eyes.

Impossible.

Drake looked to his right, observing the crowd. I studied his delicious profile, a sinking feeling in my belly. Was his sexy vibe nothing more than a veneer? I really hoped not.

Can we stop being so negative about this?

Drake caught me staring, his mouth spreading wide. “What is it?”

Kiss me. “Oh, I…”

He licked his lips, giving off mischievous energy. “You have the most amazing blue eyes.”

Wow. My cheeks were nuclear, the butterflies chaotic.

I liked it.

“Thanks,” I whispered.

He chuckled. “And those rosy cheeks are adorable.” His hand found mine, a finger tracing my knuckles, enticing vibrations skipped across my skin. The heat in my face moved lower, heady desire taking over.

What was happening here? Had I really found myself in a meet cute?

Drake craned his head in the direction of the door, his brow furrowing.

Don’t look that way!

He removed his hand. “Excuse me a moment.”

“Oh. I?—”

He disappeared into the sea of bodies.

Dammit. Talk about whiplash. I knocked back my drink, bristling with frustration.

“Who was that, darling?”

I turned to face Danny, Lee now on his arm.

Aw. So cute. “You’ve made up?”

Lee kissed his hubby on the cheek. “I’m such a bitch.”

“But you’re my…sugar plum.” Danny, being taller, kissed the love of his life on his tinseled crown.

I really, really wanted a slice of what they had.

“His name’s Drake,” I said.

“Handsome.”

“Yeah. And gone.” Cue another swig of rum.

“He’s not gone,” Danny countered. “He’s talking to a woman at the entrance.”

I spun, going on to tiptoes. “I can’t see him.”

“Over there, with the severe blonde bob. See? Wait. They’ve gone outside.”

I returned my heels to the ground. Why was I sulking? I didn’t know this man. He could talk to whoever he wanted, go wherever he liked.

So why did I feel like the rug had been yanked from under me?

Get. A. Grip.

I ordered another drink.

Lee added a pink umbrella to the glass, leaning forward to cup my chin. “Don’t fret about anything, you gorgeous boy.”

“What? I’m not fretting.”

“Disappointment causes wrinkles.” He tapped my nose. “Relax. If it’s right, it’s right.”

My forehead must be wrinkle central right now. “Am I that transparent?”

“Stars in your eyes,” Danny added.

Ugh. Yes, I was looking for love and craved romance. At the same time, I didn’t want to be easy to get.

Damn Drake.

Damn, beautiful Drake.

I straightened my spine, rising above the nonsense. “I’m not here for that. I’m here for you.” I pointed a finger at Lee. “What are we singing?”

We opened the competition with a rowdy version of ‘Believe’ by Cher, spurred on by the giddying effects of the booze and thriving on the crowd’s cheers. I might not be a pop star, but I did have some nifty pipes. And so did Lee.

After a few more crowd-pleasers, we closed with a rowdy rendition of ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’ by the Spice Girls.

Along with books, karaoke was my happy place. The thrill of singing, the release it gave me really helped with my healing over the years.

Giddy with applause, my heart danced merrily in my chest.

It beat faster when I caught Drake watching me from the back of the crowd. He lifted his glass in a cheers, his captivating smile as bright as the disco balls.

Full glass still, though.

I lifted a hand in greeting, then left the stage as Danny performed his MC duties.

“You were great,” someone said.

“I bloody love Cher!” another cried.

Lots of praise and a couple of hugs came my way as I closed the distance between Drake and me.

Doubt and excitement crashed together, my steps a little hesitant.

Why wasn’t he touching that drink of his?

“You were amazing,” he praised, breaking down my doubts.

“Thank you.” My mouth matched his in the beaming department.

“Good luck to whoever follows that.”

“Ah, stop.”

His hand found my shoulder. A touch as light as a feather, yet full of knee-buckling force. I thought I saw rainbow stars as my belly performed a backflip.

“Listen, I?—”

The first official duet began with a roaring cheer, music and voices blaring through the bar.

Crap.

Drake winced, his hand dropping from my shoulder.

I moved closer, my foot bumping his. “Want to talk outside?”

He tapped his ear.

I repeated it with more volume.

He nodded, and in no time, we were outside in the cold air.

I moved us further down the street away from Frankie’s jealous gaze. “Much better.”

Hands on my hips, I stretched my spine, my head titled back. The bitter air hit me with refreshing slaps.

“How are you feeling?” Drake asked.

I kept my eyes on the clear night sky. No clouds up there, though the city lights dimmed the stars. But the full moon made up for it, bathing the street in its lunar rays.

“Pretty,” I muttered, entranced by its beautiful fullness.

Moon…

“Riley?”

I tore my gaze from the moon, fixing my eyes on Drake.

“Wow,” I gasped in awe. The moonlight acted like a natural spotlight on him, taking his beauty and magnifying it to a million. Guys like him came along once in a, well, a blue moon. And that bright rock above us handed me a huge sign.

Don’t let this one go, it said.

But my instincts weren’t having it, an army of teeth chewing at my insides.

Don’t let this one get too close, their collective voices rebutted the moon.

Moon.

Sun.

Star.

A vibration in my veins, images of the blue orb from my nightmare. Hands on my throat, the air so cold.

Too cold.

I’m too cold.

I’m—

“Nothing like fresh air, is there?”

Drake’s voice yanked me out of my weird spiral, but my high came crashing down. I never should’ve left my flat. My duvet, a hot chocolate, and a cute movie would’ve been perfect. Better. Not this.

People died today, and I could’ve met the same bloody fate. How dare I come out to party? Screw chasing away the shadows. I should be crestfallen, crying into a pile of cookies.

I dipped my head. “I’m really sorry…” Ugh. Admitting defeat hurt.

Drake stepped closer. “About what?”

“I have to go home.”

No response.

“There was an incident at the library today.”

“I heard.”

My eyes remained on the ground. “Oh.”

“But you can’t go home.”

His tone changed. Colder, losing its luster.

I looked up. There was no smile on his face, everything about him suddenly unnerving, as if a veil lifted to reveal the real Drake.

Such cruel beauty…

Oh. Crap. My instincts had been correct. He’d been avoiding his drink to stay sharp so he could, what? Kidnap me? Murder me?

“You’re coming with me,” he said.

No warmth in that tone.

“What—”

A muffled pop, a puff of blue light, and suddenly I smelled violets.

“What have you done?” My eyes grew heavy, my limbs giving up. I tried to stay upright, opening my mouth to call out for help.

Sleeping potion? I heard the concoction smelled of violets. And they were bad, meaning Drake Parish was a shadow witch.

Stupid starry-eyed fool. Stick a hot guy before me and I became a dog around a juicy T-bone steak.

Okay. How to get out of this…

With one step, I collapsed, falling forward. Drake caught me, my face hitting his chest.

Smells so yummy…

I lost all feeling in my limbs, sliding down his body. He hefted me upright, my neck droopy. He scooped me up, maneuvering my head so it rested against his collarbone.

Help me…

Had anyone clocked this? I heard traffic, the noises of Glitter Fox. Nothing else.

Please help me…

Drake started walking, someone else joining us. My eyes were too weak, unconsciousness encroaching. But I thought I made out a woman with blonde hair.

Severe bob.

Help…

…me.

I blacked out.