Page 144 of Lunar Diamonds
My guts roiled, heavy nausea keeping me on the ground. The pain in my temples spread behind my eyes, which watered with grief. Stinging, ready to flood this station.
My dad. A shade. But… But no. No, no, no. This wasn’t possible. He… He?—
“The Moon!” a woman yelled.
The train rumbled past me, slowing to a stop.
I sawhim, flung over a big guy’s shoulder. Drake. Despite the sack over his head, the rest of him was unmistakable, his minty scent exclusive to him.
“Stay where you are!” the same woman commanded, shadow magic in her hands.
Rhianna Kingwood, her bob fluttering in the breeze, her mean eyes glued to me.
And her cronies had Drake.
Rhianna laughed. “How is it this easy?”
Vile piece of crap.
Adrenaline kicking in, I jumped to my feet. Seeing Drake in that position stoked a rebellion against my emotions. I stomped a heavy boot on the internal anguish, saving it for later. Shaking, terrified out of my mind, battle-ready.
Fight now, cry later.
I pulled her toward me and threw her over the station roof. My turn to laugh as she squealed, a satisfying thud following.
Unfortunately, I knew that wouldn’t be the end of her. Not by a long shot.
Her crony barked her name, dropping Drake and darting off to help her.
I pulled Drake toward me before he hit the ground, catching him in my arms, and falling back on my arse again. I gritted my teeth against the impact, brain rattling in my skull.
Drake lay across me, snoring and heavy.
I pulled the sack off his head and touched his face, tears breaking free. Tremors cracked my walls, colliding with my sparkle. Any moment now, I’d fall apart.
Dad. Drake. Pressure, pressure. Too much, my body and soul unable to bear its weight.
How the hell am I here?a smaller voice wondered.
The bond broke. Right? I’d felt it.
That stitch throbbed under my ribs, as if in response.
“Get me the fucking Moon!” I heard Rhianna bellow.
Time to go.
I cast about me, planning our escape. The exit was too far away. A time waster. Rhianna would catch up to us in no time.
“This train is ready to depart,” the robotic station voice announced.
Instantly, I scrambled from under Drake, getting to my feet. I dashed into the empty carriage, pulling Drake toward me.
“Please mind the closing doors.”
The door closing alert beeped, Drake sliding across the gray floor to bump into my legs.
I crouched down to him as the doors closed, the train pulling away.
