Page 108 of Lunar Diamonds
I hunched and puked my guts up, a ringing in my ears. I’d screwed up badly, allowed myself to be manipulated by my uncle.
It had to be him.
“It’s okay,” Isaac said gently.
Nothing about this was okay.
After retching a few more times, I found the strength to leave the cave. Held myself together until I asked for a minute back at the mansion.
I threw myself onto my bed and screamed into the duvet until my lungs burned.
Dammit.
Damn everything.
Chapter 30
RILEY
The next morning, we held a meeting in the living room.
I hugged a pillow, exhausted from the lack of sleep. I’d spent most of the night staring at the TV, trying to block out the shade’s hissing infecting my brain, sometimes crying, sometimes cowering, my determination taking a wallop.
Drake wouldn’t speak. He’d stayed in his room until this moment, not answering my knocks. As much as I wanted him to have alone time, it kind of stung that he didn’t want to see me. Which was some selfish crap on my part.
What happened to him in that place?
Erin was now utterly convinced our uncle did this and faked his death.
“He must retain some of the illusion power,” she said. “Possibly boosted by shadow magic.” She brushed cookie crumbs from her black cardigan, having eaten four for breakfast.
The crackling fire burning in the open fireplace filled the living room with cozy warmth—an antidote for the bitter, overcast day. But my insides were cold with unease, my brain heavy with confusion.
Jonathon Aurora had tricked us badly, using our fears against us. But how? What did he know about us? And how did he manage to scramble Drake’s powers? Scrying power was incredibly powerful and reliable. It cut through cloaking, worming its way to the truth. But not this time.
Damn. I wished he’d talk to me about this.
“We must start again,” Erin said. “The diamonds are out there. We cannot lose hope.”
Drake finally broke his silence. “I’m sorry I failed you. I didn’t lure you there.” He sat forward, his head almost between his knees. “I promise I didn’t trick you. I…I kept checking last night and the readings always go back to that location. But…” He hesitated.
“What is it?” Erin asked.
“There’s no catacombs there. They don’t… They don’t exist.”
His defeat hurt my heart.
“Are you certain?” Erin asked softly.
“Yes. They’re not there. But the diamonds are.”
“This isn’t your fault, Drake,” I tried.
He said nothing, just remained sitting with his chin on his chest.
Erin injected hope into her tone. “This is a hurdle. The enemy is smart. And we will undo them. Jonathon Aurora is a vain, selfish man.”
I knew that barb took a lot for her to say.
