Page 48 of Lunar Desires
I wanted to take him somewhere private, fall to my knees, and beg for his forgiveness. To offer myself to him completely. Because I’d do anything to make this right.
But facts were facts. I’d landed him and the whole of House of Aurora in this shit.
Fuck Stefan Rushden.
The London HQ might be huge and bright, but it felt compact and darker. A more sinister prison than any dark cell back at the Kingwood hideout, a stifling container with extra weight piled on top. Every wall seemed to close in, the air thick with danger.
I didn’t trust the inquisitor one bit. Menace practically swam in his face from the first moment I met him.
“You will not be questioned about the Auroras,” he’d said as I lay in the hospital bed. “I have the information I need already. But I am curious about your relationship with Rhianna Kingwood. Why on earth would you be so reckless to get her pregnant?” He tutted. “Some men really do have their brains in their penises.”
I explained it’d been one drunken night, feeling the touch of his truth spell pass over me in a queasy wave.
With a slow nod, he’d answered with, “Interesting. And now you are smitten with The Moon?”
Massively.“Yes.”
“I see. Then be sure to stay by his side. Despite the rarity of your magic, the elders are willing to allow you to stay with HouseAurora. They need you more than us, and you could be key in finding The Star.” His smile had forced my guts to squirm. “Now, go and clean yourself up.”
Riley took my hand, giving it a squeeze. I blinked at the windscreen, rain starting to fall, pattering on the glass.
The others were talking about Stefan.
“I’m sorry this is happening,” Jake said. “Ain’t nothing worse than having Stefan breathing down your neck.”
“My fists were ready to break his nose,” Isaac chimed in. “Arrogant prick. I can’t stand people like him.”
I’d pay big money to watch the famous supermodel pummel the inquisitor into next week.
Maybe one day…
As Jake sped down the motorway, the subject changed.
“Do you think he’s my dad, too?” Isaac asked about the blue figure.
Riley squeezed my hand again. “I’ve been wondering about that.”
The Sun tensed beside me. “How would we even find out?”
“By asking my mum first,” Riley answered. “Adopted mum.” He sighed, shaking his head. “This family stuff hurts my brain.”
Not even Erin, who was close to Juliet Aurora, knew who their father was. The former Sun never revealed his identity.
Isaac reached over to pat Riley on the leg. “We’ll get to the bottom of this, little brother.”
Riley leaned forward, turning to face him. “I’ll give Mum a call, see if she can tell me anything. Probably won’t.” He grimaced. “Should I start calling her Emily rather than Mum? God, that feels wrong.”
My heart went out to him.
“We can always invite her to dinner, if you like,” Erin suggested. “Although it would mean revealing your secret unnecessarily if she doesn’t know already.”
“Call first,” Isaac said. “Then we can go from there.”
Riley leaned back, letting go of my hand. “She hates talking about Dad. Understandably. But why would he be a shade? And why would he want to hurt me? This doesn’t make any sense. What does he mean by The Moon being the path?” He drew in a sharp breath. “Oh my God…”
“What is it?” I asked, tensing in reaction to the sound.
“She…” he whispered. “She…”
