Page 130 of Lunar Desires
“Riley…please…” Bleeding profusely, Peter crawled across the floor. “I’m sorry…I…”
I pulled him again, shoving him into the oven. The pots of vegetables boiling on the hob keeled over, dousing him in scalding water.
He roared his agony, igniting more fury, more bloodlust.
“You’ll suffer for this,” I said. “I’ll… I’ll…”
A memory flared, one of Peter Hall pushing me on a swing in the park. We’d spent so many happy days at the park together. Just me and him being carefree. Laughing. Full of joy.
“Just me and you,” I whispered, the kitchen a blur around me.
Further memories arrived.
Swimming lessons, holidays with ice cream and seashells. Him laying the flooring in my flat, sharing a spiced rum afterwards. Listening to me in the darkest days of my bulimia, hugging me, loving me, being my dad.
The tears rolled thick and fast, the guilt anchoring me back into reality.
Isaac healed him, stepping back to let Mum cradle him.
“How could you?” she sobbed against him. “How could you?”
Drake appeared before me, his hands on my face. “Riley?”
Excruciating sadness tore out of me in a screech. It burned my throat yet didn’t feel real. As if someone else screamed for me.
Dad wanted to kill me…
And I’d almost killed Peter Hall.
Drake dragged me to him, crushing me in his embrace. The scream cut off, silence engulfing me. I couldn’t move, think, feel. Only stand here in my boyfriend’s arms.
And then blue light exploded into the room, Drake thrown off me.
Dad…
“Moon. Is. Mine.”
He appeared as my dad, but with the talons of a shade.
“Dad…” I said. “Please…”
“Moon is son. Moon is path. Moon… Moon… My son… My son… My path.” He lifted an arm. “Moon. Is. Mine.”
He lashed out, driving his talons deep into my chest.
Chapter 40
DRAKE
Daniel lifted Riley into the air, my boyfriend skewered on the end of his talons.
My heart stopped and skipped and twisted. I ran forward under the glare of Isaac’s sunlight, an onslaught of raised voices in my ears.
Not Riley.
Not him.
Before I could reach him, I was pulled into the snowy clearing of Blue Orchard.
