Page 3 of Lunar Desires
“It’s alright,” he soothed, squeezing my hand again.
Licking my lips, I leaned on a seat, catching my breath. My heart rattled in my chest, echoing the movement of the train.
“Oh, God…” I rasped. “Oh, God.”
Reality gave me a sharp jab in the ribs. Things were so messed up, and I was out here away from the sanctuary of Aurora Mansion, away from my brother. A kernel of ache flared to life in my chest.
I want to go home…
Yep. To that huge, cliff-top house, and not my cute flat with the awesome views of Coldharbour Downs.
Wow. More of the changing me. More embracing of my new life.
Drake removed his hand from mine, slipping his arm around my waist instead. “Let’s sit down.”
“O-okay.” I let him guide me to a four-seater spot. I shuffled over to the window seat, him taking the one beside me.
His arm moved to spread across my shoulders. “Take a breather,” he whispered. “I’m right here.”
Thank Hecate for his presence, for the soothing properties of his minty scent. I rested my head on his shoulder, my skull nestling against it so perfectly.
My thoughts came thick and fast, scrambling for a clue. About Uncle Jonathon, about my dad. He’d been… Oh, God. He was the blue figure who’d been stalking me, even taking the shape of the shade that’d bitten me six months ago. He’d attacked me and Isaac at the mansion before I popped up here because of my soul bond to Drake.
My. Dad.Washe the shade or just using its shape? How? What’d happened to him? He was supposed to be living a new life with his new family in America.
Crap. My head pounded like someone was slamming five hammers into my cranium at once.
Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad.
He’d given me a lunar diamond too, in the form of a ring I’d worn since the age of ten. Meaning he must have known about my Aurora blood all along.
Ugh. The pieces wouldn’t fit.
Was he even my dad? Emily wasn’t my real mum, Juliet Aurora was. So, was Daniel Croft my real father?
Damn. This really, really sucked. His face blazed in my mind, wreathed in blue, smothered in mystery.
Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad. Dad.
“I’m sorry for everything,” Drake said, pressing his head against mine.
His voice yanked me back into the moment. “It’s…” I placed a hand on his thigh. “I’m just happy you’re here.”
At some point, we’d have to have a chat about why he’d tried leaving me, but not now. I just wanted to be close to him.
The train left the tunnel, daylight pouring into the carriage. Everything was bright again, the darkening from my uncle’s vile presence gone.
“Are you okay?” I asked him.
Rhianna Kingwood and her cronies had attacked Drake on the platform of Coldharbour Station before I showed up to help.
Apparently, she was pregnant.
What the hell? How did that work? I smelled a rat wrapped in potent fishiness. Drake had slept with her once six months ago, only to be shadow bonded to her until his escape from her evil clutches. In all that time, she’d shown zero hints of impending motherhood. Only her mean streak and threats against Coldharbour.
Drake lifted his head. “I don’t get it.”
I shuffled slightly to face him, his eyes possessing a glassy sheen as he stared ahead.
