Lanie Xander had been properly shamed about kicking in the door, but once he told me that Iâd been in the bathroom for hours and wasnât answering when they called my name in worry, | forgave him. | blamed the wine and tired eyes, but the truth wa s...som e time had gone missing as much as that book had.
| intended to take the children to school, but Xanderâs mother had offered to do it so | could enjoy breakfast with my mates. Fat lot of good that had done-the three of them had been huddled around their platters of eggs and toast talking about doing some kind of training exercises that sounded like a complicated mess to me.
| could tell that Zane was happy they were including him, though. Whatever had been causing the strain between the three of them seemed to be better this morning. They were all laughing and punching each other on the shoulders and knuckling each other's heads. My boys, | thought fondly, watching them behave like overgrown children.
| hadn't told any of them about the book, or its disappearance. Iâd started thinking maybe Iâd dreamed it up. The vision from the Moon Goddess that Iâd had in the library might have continued on home with me, making me think | held that book in my hands when I'd only been holding it in my mind.
Was | still in the vision? Everything around me felt real. | looked at my hands and noticed a faint glow surrounding them. | turned them over and watched a trail of light follow the motion of my fingertips.
None of my mates seemed to notice, not until | pulsed out some of my Luna energy. Then they all stopped horsing around and looked at me.
Three male faces gazed at me with love so strong, so powerful, | knew this had to be real. Because if it wasn't, | didnât want there to be anything else. Our energies met and mingled, weaving strands of gold and silver and green and all the colors of the rainbow.
it.
It lasted no more than a second or so. No longer than a blink. | donât think they even saw it, but we all felt âGo on, all of you,â | told them. âItâs obvious you need to go let off some steam.â
One by one they kissed me and headed out, leaving me alone. | made my way to my grandfatherâs fake villa, hoping to find him there. Fortunately, he was.
He and Braden sat at their table, mugs of red fluid in front of them. The fake sun outside the windows mimicked morning, and no matter how realistic it was, it was no real comparison or substitute for the genuine article.
I'd never actually pitied my grandfather before, but | did now.
| didnât let him see it, though. âGood morning.â
âTo what do | owe this pleasure so early in the day?â
Malachi asked curiously.
| wasnât sure if | should talk in front of Braden, but then decided to go for it. There were so many secrets around here. Too many.
Besides, he and my grandfather were lovers. | doubted there was much Malachi wouldn't share with him.
â| found a book yesterday. In the small library.
The Moon Goddess showed it to me. It was called Celestial. Have you heard of it?â
Malachi frowned. âI have not. | take it the tome is of some importance in regard my great-granddaughter?â
âYes. It told me a lot of things. Strange and wonderful things, but also terrifying. The book said that Celestials have the power of every single supernatural being that exists.â At his shocked expression, | decided to sit down. | told him the rest of what the book had said. âIâm worried about Stella. If sheâs really able to choose which talents to show or hide...sheâs just a child, Malachi. How can we teach her what we donât even know?â
âWhere is the book now?â he demanded.
1 hesitated. âThis is going to sound crazy, but...itâs gone.â
âYou lost it?â
| described the night before. The bath, the wine, the sleepiness. âAnd when Xander burst into the room, the book had vanished.
Could someone have come into the bathroom without me knowing about it?
Locked the door behind themselves?â
âIt's unlikely, although | suppose not impossible.
More likely the Moon Goddess took the book back for some reason. So your Alpha didnât see it, perhaps.â
Malachi shook his head. âCan you recall anything else about what it said?â
| shook my head. âIâve told you everything | can remember. | was really hoping to show it to you so we could go over it together.â
My grandfather got up from his seat to pace back and forth. He moved fast, double speed, and a lump grew in my throat. My daughter could do that.
He faced me. âAre you sure you didnât dream this?â
âActually,â | told him, âIâm not.â