Page 162 of Magic of the Damned

“Probably this. Straight,” I said, pushing humor into my voice that I knew wouldn’t soften anything I was about to tell her.

Emoni got the whole story, from being attacked by Conventicles, Helena and Areleus’s betrayal, me saving Dominic by slamming a car into them. I paused while Emoni took another shot after being told that hitting them with a car didn’t kill them.

“You might want to pace yourself. It gets weirder.” Once I’d told her about meeting Ileana, her creatures, and becoming one of her created with magic, Emoni shoved the bottle in my direction.

“I think this should be for you.”

I rejected the offer, and she appeared to lose the desire for it, too. The information was so sobering, alcohol couldn’t dull it.

“Is the mom as terrible as her daughter and husband?” Emoni frowned, I suppose recollecting her meeting with them. They hadn’t left a good impression.

“They weren’t married. They just wanted to customize their children,” I admitted, her question prompting me to tell her about the reason for Helena and Dominic.

“Everything about these people is calculating and dangerous. You don’t need to be involved. Nothing good can come of it.” She sighed. “I don’t think he’s worth it. None of this is worth it.”

It was like my heart felt the need to remind me how much I cared about Dominic, because the mere thought of walking away left emptiness that I wasn’t sure I could handle.

Not addressing her comment, I continued, revealing Peter and my magic being stolen, Helena’s releasing the worst prisoners, the Dark Caster’s plans, and Helena being taken when my abduction was unsuccessful.

Emoni pulled me into a tight hug as if she feared I was moments from being snatched away. The load felt lighter after telling it to her, but I felt guilty, knowing it was a burden we now shared. Her phone buzzed, pulling her from the hug. Grabbing her phone off the coffee table, she looked at it.

“It’s your brother,” she mumbled, then answered the video call with a tight grin and told him that I was right beside her. Without further discussion, she quickly passed me the phone.

“Hey.” I made my tone light and airy. Not a trouble in the world.

“What the hell do you mean hey!” he growled, a streak of pink running along his cheeks and the bridge of his nose.

“Give me a minute, I need to grab something,” I lied. I muted the phone and turned off the camera to keep him from reading my lips. “What does he know?” I asked Emoni.

“Nothing. He’s been calling and texting me since your disappearance, but I avoided them all. I sent him a text to let him know I’d contact him as soon as I heard from you. I didn’t want to lie, but I damn sure wasn’t going to tell him the truth.” She frowned. “I didn’t really know the truth, did I? Things are so different than what I was expecting.” She cast her gaze downward. Perhaps looking at me reminded her of how she felt being in the dark about everything.

Taking a slow measured breath, I released it while unmuting the phone and turning on the camera. “Forest?—”

“Are werewolves real?” he blurted.

CHAPTER 8

“What?”

It was the only thing I could manage. My mouth bone dry, I picked up the glass of water and gulped half of it. I heard his question but it shocked me into silence. Emoni had relayed that social media had been inundated with reports of a werewolf sighting that created a whirl of speculation about the existence of magic and its creatures. Since all evidence of the video had disappeared with the help of a techno-witch and the supernaturals having implemented processes they’d used in the past to remain hidden, I thought Forest’s curiosity would have been squelched. That day, I did my part to downplay the alleged sighting. Forest’s interests tended to be fleeting. I left my parents' home believing I had successfully convinced Forest that werewolves were just an entertaining idea. I was wrong.

“You heard me, Luna.” His usual playful, breezy demeanor was gone. His tight, jagged voice was the result of a restless worry. I couldn’t imagine how unsettled he was, speculating whether magical creatures existed. His brows knitted together as he waited for me to answer.

Since he hadn’t modulated his voice, Emoni could hear the conversation. Her stern, earthy brown eyes locked on me, awaiting my response. The answer was stuck in my throat. Even if I managed to say something it would be a jumbled mess since I hadn’t sorted the stream of thoughts running through my mind.

I sighed and picked up my glass of water again. Withholding information and skirting around the truth was getting to me. Could Forest handle the knowledge that magical beings lived alongside us, albeit unnoticed? People always believed in their self-resilience and ability to handle almost anything. And Forest had always been optimistic and open minded, but this might be too much for him.

“No,” I managed. Emoni’s jaw dropped before she ushered the shock away and replaced it with a scowl of disapproval.

“You’re a terrible liar. Not only can I hear it in your voice, but I can see it in your face, Luna,” Forest scoffed. Being an adept liar wasn’t something to be proud of, but I thought I was adequate at disguising the truth. But not from my brother, who knew me too well.

While I debated how to respond, Forest eliminated the need to come up with a convincing lie. “I saw you. And them. The man being stabbed by the claws. You running those people over with the car. And another man disappearing. There were things that definitely weren’t human there. Don’t give me any bullshit excuse about it being costumes, make-up, cosplay, or any other sort of make-believe. I know what that looks like and what they can do, and this wasn’t anything like it. Luna, I need the truth.” It wasn’t a request but an order.

I couldn’t breathe. Disclosing the information meant I was putting another person I loved in danger.

“I’m coming over there,” he said.

“No!” Emoni had joined my objection. Him coming over meant I’d have to break the ward to let him in.

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