Page 54 of Lunar Desires
He held the grape out to her.
She chuckled, leaning forward to claim it. “Mmmm.” She chewed, never breaking eye contact.
Juliet Aurora. The Sun before Isaac.
Our mother.
Heavy melancholy dug its claws into me.
Our mother. Our actual mother.
Dad licked his lips. “Let’s stay here forever.”
Juliet finished the grape, looking up to the sky. “I wish.” Her smile wavered.
“Why don’t we?” Dad said. “We can live our lives away from Coldharbour. Fuck the High Coven and the shame. Let’s raise our kids together. Be free of it for good.”
Juliet’s hand slid to her stomach. It was then I noticed the swell beneath the loose, yellow fabric. “Our sons.” She stroked the bump. “The next generation.”
How far gone was she at this point?
The sadness passing over her face made me flinch, especially knowing her fate. “Oh, Daniel.”
Dad sat up. “What?”
“It’s nothing but a dream. You’re married and I’m a pariah. There’s no future for us.”
Dad did not take that well. His brows pinched together, crimson flooding his face. “Says who?”
“Says the world. Says the High Coven. I have shamed my house. I’m a fallen sacred witch. I failed in my duty.” She sighed deeply, the pain of her situation so clear in her breath.
Isaac bumped into me, throwing his arm around my shoulders. “Our parents.” He trembled against me.
I put an arm around his torso, pulling him close. No words available to convey our feelings, only the aching sensation of grief for the missed years, for never knowing our real mum.
But what happened to Dad after this?
He shuffled closer, taking Juliet’s face in his hands. “I love you so much.”
The former Sun closed her eyes, her bottom lip trembling.
“So, so much,” Dad added. “We can do anything. We can go anywhere.”
Erin had told us how Juliet left the mansion for a while after the fall of House Aurora, depressed, needing some space. Shereturned pregnant months later. She’d then given birth to three boys, only to have them cloaked, separated, and adopted. The same day we were taken away, her sadness forced her to end her life.
What happened to get her from here to walking into the sea?
“Oh, God…” I breathed, holding tightly to my brother.
Dark clouds seemed to engulf Juliet, her mood soured, her hunched shoulders reflecting her misery.
“Go to your wife, Daniel. Be happy.”
Dad didn’t release her face, his eyes glistening with tears. “Run away with me, Juliet. We’ll raise the boys in secret and be happy. I love Emily but I’minlove with you.”
I recoiled at the sound of my mum’s name.
No. Not my mum.
