Page 121 of Lunar Desires
Drake and Jake were still on their knees, the witchcop fiddling with his restraints. But Drake was slumped, his chin on his chest.
Had he expected to see a child born?
“I gave up everything for you…”
What did that mean?
Marcus took Preston’s hands in his. “We have a lot to discuss, my darling.” He kissed both hands, my brother still not reacting.
“What have you done?” I finally voiced. Queasy, confused. Were they lovers?
“Is this some sick joke?” Isaac chimed in.
Marcus glanced between us, his lips spread in an unpleasant smirk. “The triplets reunited once again. For the next minute or so, at least.”
Drake got to his feet. “What happened to the baby?” His voice was as dusty as the particles painting his body.
Marcus kept his eyes pointed upward. “My daughter gave me the greatest gift of all. Your brother. She sacrificed her child for my heart. Sacrificed my chances of being a grandfather.” He closed his eyes. “For my happiness. For me to heal.”
My breath caught in my throat, words cut off from me again.
“Your happiness?” Jake joined in, on his feet, his hands almost free. “What spell did you use?”
But Marcus ignored him, smiling at Preston, mesmerized by my brother’s handsome face. “No spell is greater than falling in love. My heart swells for him, my aches are eased.” He kissed Preston’s hands again. “I’ve longed for you since the special night we shared.”
I’m going to puke and puke hard.
Sorrow washed over Marcus’s face. “I lost you, and it cost me so much to make this possible.” His eyes returned to me first, then Isaac. “Thank you for the gift of your blood. I won’t forget it.”
“Is this what you wanted all along?” I questioned. “To get your hands on…him?”
“Yes. And you. Join me, become a new version of the Aurora triplets on the right side of history, or die.”
How much more was I expected to withstand? I found myself in another cage. A metaphysical one, the walls closing in.
Marcus and Preston? Really? What was the other twist here?
“As I told you before,” Marcus continued. “I am your future. You choose how you want it to look.”
“What if we tell you to fuck yourself?” Isaac said haughtily.
“You won’t if you value Preston’s safety.”
“So loving,” Isaac rebutted. “All this just to hurt him?”
Marcus caressed Preston’s face with the back of his hand. “I would never hurt him. But don’t fuss with me. I won’t stand for acid tongues.”
“Oh, honey. You have no idea what acid I’m capable of,” Isaac tossed back.
Marcus chortled rather than slap Preston, as I anticipated. “Without The Star, you are weak,” he said. “If you want him, then join me. Join us. Reclaim your name. Be better. The spells inside our grimoires are far beyond your imagination. The power we can wield will be incredible.”
Screw him and his apocalyptic tendencies. Never mind the fae woman. Marcus just shot to the top of my list of potential ultimate threats.
Marcus pulled out a potion bottle filled with black liquid. “Your choice, Auroras. Choose wisely. Return here in two weeks at eleven in the evening with your decision.” He smashed the bottle on the ground, black smoke engulfing him and Preston.
Seconds later, they were gone, along with every other shadow witch in the room.
Pure, unbridled shock landed. I grabbed the bars, chest as tight as a snare drum, lost in confusion, a new surge of grief rising.
