Page 34 of Lunar Diamonds
I wrung my hands, attempting to formulate questions. But my mind struggled to compute, completely wonky, submerged in a swamp of bemusement.
“We’ll soon give you all the answers,” the guy said. “Don’t worry.”
The driver took a sharp corner, my stomach flipping from the jolt.
“First, let’s introduce ourselves,” the woman beside me said. “I’m Alice. This is Aaron and our driver here is April.”
“We’re the Bramble siblings,” Aaron said, offering his hand for me to shake.
They all sported red hair, freckles on their fair faces, and green eyes. Kind of identical.
Only Aaron wore glasses.
I shook his hand weakly. “N-Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. I’m fae, these two are witches—if you haven’t checked already. We’ve got a fae dad and a witch mum.”
I nodded, chewing on my bottom lip.
“I’m the oldest,” April said. “He’s the baby.”
Aaron pushed his glasses up his nose, facing forward again.
Alice drummed her fingers on her thigh. “We’ll be working for your family. Our dad used to be a caretaker at the mansion, and we were called to join the staff for the incoming Aurora triplets.”
This couldn’t be right. We didn’t need sacred witches anymore. And I couldn’t be one of them. I was Riley Croft. Born to Emily and Daniel Croft. I’d come so quickly my mum delivered me in the box room of number six Broomstick Gardens where she now lived with my stepdad, Peter Hall.
I did not belong to House Aurora.
“This is a lot to take in,” Alice said.
I’ll say!
“Erin Lovell will explain everything.”
Everything I knew was a lie. I wasn’t sure whether to be angry, upset, or confused. All of the above, I guess.
By Hecate. What was happening? Why was the damn day so packed with drama?
I wanted to cry, to lay down, to fling the door open and make a dive for it. But I stayed still, as tightly wound as a coiled spring. About to break. About to laugh at the ridiculousness of this whole thing.
“Why did the scrying witch bring you out here? Why not take you to the mansion?” Aaron wondered. “We’re what? Five miles out from Coldharbour?”
“To confuse Rhianna,” a muffled voice answered from behind me.
“You’re awake,” I blurted.
Shuffling. “Yes.”
I squirmed, continuing to bathe in confusion.
Arsehole.
Hottie.
Damn.
“The sleeping potion will have cleared her system by now,” Drake continued. “She’s resilient. And she’ll be long gone by now.”
